Ahamkara
Overview

Other name(s):

"Dragons"

Focal world(s):

Earth
Venus
Jupiter[1]
Reef
Ascendant realm

Goals:

Impart their vast knowledge in exchange for "boons"

Distinctions:

Draconic
Avian
Scaled
Idiosyncratic speech patterns
Shapeshifting abilities

Notable individual(s):

Eao
Azerim
Riven

 

"And thus the Ahamkara were made extinct, their call silenced, their solipsistic flatteries erased, their great design - if it ever existed - broken. Of this you can be assured, oh reader mine. "
Grimoire description [2]

The Ahamkara are a mysterious and powerful species of shapeshifting creatures that first appeared in the Solar System after the Traveler arrived.[3][4]

Overview

The Ahamkara were said to be wish-fulfilling "dragons", and were sought after by many Guardians for the paracausal gifts they granted. After much debate it was decided that the bargains made with these creatures came at too high a price,[5][6] beginning a Great Hunt in which the Ahamkara were made all but extinct.[7][3] Survivors are rumored to have been spotted as far out as Jupiter and Io[1] Currently, the only known survivor is Riven, a former ally of Mara Sov who was Taken, now a powerful commander under Savathûn.

Ahamkara bones were subsequently incorporated into charms and new varieties of armor. These were known to cause auditory hallucinations in their bearers, as if the bones were speaking to them.[8]

Biology

Based on their remains, the Ahamkara were believed to be avian or draconic in appearance, possessing scales, feathers and sharp beaks.[8] Various armor pieces adorned with supposed Ahamkara bones suggest that they had skulls with fanged jaws, with the lower jawbone being split down the middle, not unlike a pair of arthropod mandibles. Notable differences in bone structure can be observed between the skulls of young and Dire Ahamkara, suggesting significant developmental changes throughout their lifecycle. Lord Shaxx has a gigantic skull hanging above his station in the Tower following the Red War, which has the split jaw and reptilian characteristics associated with other Ahamkara skulls, but otherwise looks quite different again.

According to documents recovered from the Reef, Ahamkara are in fact shape-shifters, perhaps explaining the wide variety of shapes observed in their skeletal remains. During most encounters with Guardians, they preferred dragon-like forms; Riven, an Ahamkara who was befriended by Mara Sov, also typically resembled a dragon, adopting the shapes of a winged and crested beast, a "needle-nosed basilisk," or an antlered creature with tiger's paws.

Ahamkara were studied on Venus by the Ishtar Academy because of their unique genome, which contained unknown new proteins.[4] They were apparently parasitic in some sense, one of several pieces of evidence which may indicate some relationship to the Worms. [4]

Riven, in particular, displays the ability to seemingly create Chimera, Servitor-like creatures that serve as her servants and ambassadors, going by the existence of Voice of Riven. It is unknown if this is a universal ability of Ahamkara, the result of Riven being Taken, or an ability unique to her.

Gameplay

"I came to find you, only you, because you're special. You're from somewhere real. And together we can burn our way back there. Can't we, o player mine?"
— Skull of Dire Ahamkara

The fossilized remains of the Ahamkara are of continued interest to Warlocks, who adorn their armor with them and thereby acquire unique powers. Some Hunters and certain Titans also wear armor with Ahamkara bones, but have less of an understanding of the risks involved. The bones seem to retain a will of their own, flattering and urging their owners to recklessness.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][6]

Trivia

  • There is evidence that suggests Ahamkara were hunted earlier, as Lord Gheleon possessed many Ahamkara fragments.[16]
  • The name "Ahamkara" comes from the Sanskrit term for attachment to one's ego.
  • Some players believed that the winged, flying creatures seen in the skies above Venus may have been living Ahamkara. According to Bungie, these creatures are "batadactyls". They got their informal name during an argument between members of Bungie's environment team over what animal the creatures most resembled.[17] This led to the misconception that the Ahamkara were predominately found on Venus.
  • It seems to be that the Ahamkara are aware of Destiny being a video game. In Destiny 2, the lore tab for Skull of Dire Ahamkara suggests that it speaks directly to the player of the game, and the Claws of Ahamkara suggest that they are trapped in a prison behind a screen.
  • It was formerly widely believed that due to both species using variations of the "O-mine" phrase, Ahamkara were closely related to - if not being Worm Gods. This was later confirmed to be false by Eris Morn in a lore entry, who revealed that both species separately evolved to harness the underlying power within the phrase.[18]

List of appearances

References

  1. ^ a b Bungie (2014/5/19), Destiny: House of Wolves Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, Long Tomorrow 9G
  2. ^ Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: GHost Fragment: Legends 3
  3. ^ a b Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Ghost Fragment: Warlock
  4. ^ a b c Cayde's Treasure Island Book Cayde's Treasure Island Book
  5. ^ Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, [1]
  6. ^ a b Bungie (2017/28/3), Destiny: Age of Triumph Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, Knuckles of Eao
  7. ^ Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Ghost Fragment: Legends 3
  8. ^ a b Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard
  9. ^ Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, Sealed Ahamkara Grasps
  10. ^ Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, Bones of Eao
  11. ^ Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, Claws of Ahamkara
  12. ^ Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, Scales of Eao
  13. ^ Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, Ahamkara Scale
  14. ^ Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, Skull of Dire Ahamkara
  15. ^ Bungie (2014/9/9), Destiny: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Item Description, Young Ahamkara's Spine
  16. ^ Bungie (2016/20/9), Destiny: Rise of Iron Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Grimoire: Lord Gheleon
  17. ^ Ride Along - Venus - Bungie Commentary
  18. ^ https://www.ishtar-collective.net/entries/asudem?highlight=Dreaming+City