Disciples of the Witness

Disciples of the Witness
Overview
Type:	Resonant-shaped Followers
Functions:	Follow the teachings of the Witness Command the Witness's armies Bringing about the Final Shape
Engagements:	Lucent War Severing of the Nightmares Invasion of Neptune
Leadership:	The Witness
Affiliation:	Black Fleet The Dread
At war with:	The Coalition Lucent Brood
Allied with:	Scorn Shadow Legion Taken

"Not kings. Not gods. Disciples. Prophets. Saviors serving existence. An undying purpose. A privilege."

— Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness

The Disciples of the Witness are a powerful group of entities that follow the teachings of the Witness and command its forces of the Black Fleet. Little is known about these beings, only that they are originally from a variety of species and backgrounds reshaped into powerful paracausal wielders of the Darkness, are completely devoted to their leader's beliefs, and oppose the forces of the Coalition. One of them, Rhulk, controlled a Pyramid of the Black Fleet in the Court of Savathûn, where he built Harvest to serve as a breeding facility for Hive Worm larvae. However, when Savathûn betrayed the Witness and gained the Light, Rhulk was trapped in his Pyramid and became the effective leader of the Scorn in the throne world, calling on them to punish Savathûn for her betrayal.

More recently, Calus, the former Emperor of the Cabal, was anointed as the newest of the Witness' Disciples. Nezarec was also recently revealed to be a Disciple, having led the Black Fleet's first invasion of the Sol System during the Collapse.

Objectives

The Disciples follow the leadership and teachings of the Witness, and are dedicated to its goal of bringing about the Final Shape. However, it appears that each of the Disciples have their own interpretation of what the Final Shape entails, and are permitted to act accordingly by the Witness. An unnamed Disciple once privately wondered about this apparent contradiction with the Witness' philosophy, which seems to shun unnecessary proliferation and diversity, before coming to the conclusion that the Witness' plans would realize all of the Disciples' seemingly disparate visions of the Final Shape.

"Lightbearer... These meager pawns you allow to lead you... their strength pales in comparison to your own. They hold you back from all that you could become. We judged humanity before you made your greatness known. Your worth. Your might. You deserve power. More than your Traveler would ever grace you with. Join us. Not as part of the final shape, but as a god."

— The Witness offering the Guardian the chance to become a disciple

During the events of The Final Shape, The Guardian is offered power by becoming a disciple. But as it does so, it states how they won't become a part of the final shape if they do so. It can be assumed that Had the Witness succeeded in achieving the Final Shape, it's Disciples would be spared from the fate of the entire universe would suffer. Repressed memory's of Emperor Calus add onto this, as Calus states that he would be the last being left, when the end comes.

Known Disciples

• Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness - (The First Disciple)
• Nezarec, Final God of Pain - (Herald of the First Collapse)
• Calus, the Disciple - (Herald of the Second Collapse)

Potential Disciples

There are individuals that have been considered by the Witness to be elevated into Discipleship.

• Uun (formerly)
• Savathûn, the Witch Queen (formerly)
• Mara Sov (formerly)
• An unnamed potential Disciple whose thoughts are recorded in the Inspiral Lore book entry "The Cave"
• The Guardian (formerly)

List of appearances

• Destiny 2: The Witch Queen (First appearance)
  • Season of the Haunted
  • Season of Plunder (Mentioned only)
  • Lightfall
  • Season of Defiance (Mentioned only)
  • Season of the Deep (Mentioned only)
  • Season of the Witch (Mentioned only)
  • Into the Light (Mentioned only)
  • The Final Shape (Mentioned only)
• Breakdown (Mentioned only)
• Entelechy (Mentioned only)