Techeun

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A Techeun

"The chamber was dark. The seven of them were rarely in a room together anymore, but this was the eve of their greatest journey, a plan that overcame death and spanned universes."
— Grimoire

The Techeuns, also known as Tech Witches, are an order of Awoken mystics employed by Queen Mara Sov as her personal advisors. They are charged with the study of paracausal forces.[1][2] Three of Queen Mara Sov's Techeuns were Taken following the Battle of Saturn, while the remaining four perished shortly before the others were freed.

The Techeuns seem to have a particular relation to the Harbingers, apparently "bonding" with one being part of their training.[3][4] This may explain why a part of the monastery in the Dreaming City is named Harbinger's Seclude.

History

In the Distributary

The Techeuns of the Reef have their origins in the founding era of Awoken civilization. After the establishment of Awoken society in the Distributary, a council of scientists was tasked with preserving the useful technology that had been brought with them into the pocket universe. These individuals were known as "eutechs", as they worked with the so-called "good technology" or "eutechnology" that would aid in advancing Awoken civilization.[5] Under the rule of Queen Devna Tel, two eutechs, Imar and Yara, rose to prominence as her advisors. Imar was notable for being one of the few male eutechs.[6]

In Service of the Reef

After her faction departed the Distributary, Mara decreed that as the paracausal forces apparent in the Solar System (including those newly inherent to the Awoken) could not be explained through science alone, they required an order of witches to explore and tend to them. Those eutechs who accompanied her out of the Distributary were thus invested as the first Techeuns, and granted unilateral authority in their studies.[2]

The Techeuns possess strange powers of mysterious origins; they wear blue, jewel-like implants of some kind,[7] which augment their innate powers.[8] Some their known abilities are illusions[9] and telepathy.[10] They can also apparently communicate with the Ancients thanks to amethyst augments.[8] The Techeuns have always served the Queen in some capacity, but recently have replaced her Fallen bodyguards after the Wolves' rebellion.[7] Variks is quite wary of the Techeuns' power, to the point that he'd dock his arms before going near them.[11] Unlike the Guardians, their power appears to be unconnected to the Traveler.

Illyn helped Mara Sov and Riven shape the Dreaming City.[12] Basing on the information provided by Eris Morn, The Techeuns also created the Blind Well and Mara's throne world, Eleusinia, with the aid of Riven.[13]

At some point, three unnamed Techeuns were killed by an Aphelion while in trance together. Statues of them were carved and placed in the Gardens of Esila.[14]

The Techeuns made their first physical appearance in The Taken King when they followed their Queen into battle against Oryx, the Taken King at the Battle of Saturn. Acting in synergy with the Queen they conjured a collection of powerful projectiles, the Harbingers, which tore apart every Hive cruiser in their way and pulled thousands of Tombships in their wake. They were unable to even scratch Oryx's Dreadnaught, however, and were instead apparently absorbed by the hull.[15] The three Techeuns who had been present in the battle were presumed dead by the Reef, along with the Queen.[16]

All of this was apparently planned for by the Coven, as they sought to somehow usurp Oryx's power from him with the Harbingers.[17] It remains to be seen if they prevailed.

The surviving Techeuns did not cooperate well with the Reef's interim regent, Petra Venj. However, they acquiesced to partnership in Reef experiments to extract and control Taken energies. Their participation in the transfer process increased success rates to 100%, with only one Techeun needing to be present at a time.[18] During one of their studies, Illyn tried to communicate with Shuro Chi and made the fatal mistake of *wishing* for her and Mara and Uldren to come back, attracting Riven. All the Techeuns present - Illyn, Portia, Nascia and Lissyl - were presumably murdered by the Ahamkara.[19]

Following the Battle of Saturn, Sedia, Shuro Chi, and Kalli - formerly presumed deceased - were all Taken by Oryx, the Taken King. Following his death, Savathûn assumed control of them, where they now serve under her champion, the Taken Ahamkara Riven, within the Dreaming City. Fortunately, a Guardian Raid team managed to breach the Dreaming City and actually free the Techeuns from their Taken corruption which allowed them to aid the Guardians in defeating Riven and cleanse the Awoken homeland.

It is unclear how many Techeuns have been there in total, with Shuro Chi speaking about "generations" of them. However, by the decree of the Queen, the three surviving ones will train no more new ones.[20]

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The New Coven

Despite the Queen's decree, Petra Venj persuaded Illyn to train more Techeuns in order to find the Queen.[21] This led to the recruitment of thirteen new Techeuns, among them Austyn, Ylaia and Sjari. Led by Austyn, the young coven successfully rescued Mara Sov through the Ley Lines, but ended up sacrificing themselves to distract Xivu Arath who was pursuing them.[22] Upon returning to the Dreaming City, Mara tasked the Guardian with finding and guiding her lost Techeuns home.

Known Techeuns

Techeuns of Queen Devna Tel

Techeuns of Queen Mara Sov

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Trivia

  • The Techeuns could be in fact the first and only known beings to break free from the Taken corruption with the aid of Guardians.
    • Given that the Techeuns were crucial in fulfilling Riven's last wish that allowed the Dreaming City to be taken, thus beginning Savathun's plan, it was likely the Witch-Queen intentionally made this possible.
  • There is a line of dialogue by Petra Venj saying she 'wishes she finished her Techeun training,' making it possible that she had trained and either resigned or failed to become a Techeun.
  • Part of the Techeun training is apparently rejecting the feeling of jealously. [3] The Techeuns are taught absolute obedience to the Queen, to have no fears but what she fears and no desires but what she desires.[14]
  • When a Techeun takes her title, she swears an oath to cover her eyes as a reminder of her vows, showing them to no one. They can be uncovered only when she has died.[23] The ceremony of becoming a Techeun would traditionally be held in the Hall of Names in the Harbinger's Seclude.[24]

Gallery

  • Techeuns Shuro, Sedia, and Kalli acting in concert with Mara Sov at the Battle of Saturn.

    Techeuns Shuro, Sedia, and Kalli acting in concert with Mara Sov at the Battle of Saturn.

  • A closeup reference sheet of a Techeun.

    A closeup reference sheet of a Techeun.

  • The full reference sheet of a Techeun.

    The full reference sheet of a Techeun.

  • Reference sheet for Techeuns as they appear in Destiny 2.

    Reference sheet for Techeuns as they appear in Destiny 2.

  • Closeup of the Destiny 2 model.

    Closeup of the Destiny 2 model.

List of appearances

References

  1. ^ Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny, PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Ghost Fragment: The Queen
  2. ^ a b Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, Techeun Force
  3. ^ a b Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Activision Blizzard - Pilgrimage: Garden of Esila, Garden Bench
  4. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Pilgrimages: Spine of Keres, Summoning Pillar
  5. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, Lore: Ecstasiate III
  6. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, Pilgrimage
  7. ^ a b Bungie (2015/5/19), Destiny: House of Wolves, PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Ghost Fragment: The Queen 2
  8. ^ a b Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Pilgrimages: Spine of Keres, Wall
  9. ^ Bungie (2015/5/19), Destiny: House of Wolves, PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: WANTED: Pirsis, Pallas-Bane
  10. ^ Bungie (2015/5/19), Destiny: House of Wolves, PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Ghost Fragment: The Reef 2
  11. ^ Bungie (2015/5/19), Destiny: House of Wolves, PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Skolas: Defeated
  12. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Pilgrimages: Gardens of Esila, View
  13. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, The Dreaming City - Throne
  14. ^ a b Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Pilgrimages: Gardens of Esila, Techeun Statues
  15. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, The Coming War
  16. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Telesto
  17. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: The Coven
  18. ^ Bungie (2015/9/15), Destiny: The Taken King PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Report: Taken Power
  19. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, The Awoken of the Reef - Illyn
  20. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Pilgrimages: Spine of Keres, Meditation Circle
  21. ^ Bungie (2021/8/24), Destiny 2: Season of the Lost - Pathfinder's Helm
  22. ^ Bungie (2021/8/24), Destiny 2: Season of the Lost - Pathfinder's Bond
  23. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Activision Blizzard - Pilgrimage: Harbinger's Seclude, Kelda Wadj
  24. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Activision Blizzard - Pilgrimage: Harbinger's Seclude, Shrine
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