Scarlet Keep

Scarlet Keep
Overview
Planet:	Moon
Enemy factions:	Hidden Swarm
Connecting areas:	Sorrow's Harbor ; Tower of Woe
Gameplay
Area type:	Private

This article is about the location on the Moon. For the Strike, see The Scarlet Keep.

The Scarlet Keep is a massive Hive fortress established on the Moon. Its construction was overseen by Hashladûn, Daughter of Crota, who designed it to harness the energy of the Pyramid buried in the chasm beneath.

Overview

The Scarlet Keep's central tower, the Tower of Woe, acts as an amplifier for Hive magic, which also shields them from the Pyramid's influences.^[1]

The Keep appears to be gradually overtaking other nearby Hive structures, as patches of red, spined architecture can be seen within the Hellmouth, The World's Grave, the Temple of Crota and even the Shrine of Oryx.

History

The Scarlet Keep was created at an unknown time following the Red War. It was built by the remaining Hive Broods on the moon who consolidated into the Hidden Swarm. Hashladûn, Daughter of Crota and her sisters lead the Swarm in designing it to amplify their magic and allowing the Cryptoglyph's spells to shield them from the Pyramid's influences. When the Vanguard assaulted the Keep, they secured the entrance and opening it up for Guardian exploration. Later, Hashladun would lure the Guardians up the Keep, culminating in a final battle at the top of the Tower of Woe. Following the deaths of Hashladun and Besurith, the area around the Keep would be used as a ritual ground for the Hive to sacrifice nightmares to harvest their Phantasmal Essence. After the death of their sisters, the two surviving daughters of Crota, Voshyr and Kinox would hide in the pit beneath the Keep. The Swarm would begin sacrificing Nightmares for a ritual to attempt to speak to the Voice in the Darkness. However a fireteam sent by Eris Morn would enter the pit and slay Zulmak, Instrument of Torment who was resurrected by the daughters to serve as a puppet champion.

Banner of War

The Hidden Swarm were left divided and scattered a year after the events of Shadowkeep. Voshyr had two daughters Yishra and Ayriax, while Kinox had a son named Ulg'Urin to continue their family’s legacy. The Scarlet Court would call out to Xivu Arath, God of War to unite them once more. The God of War’s emissary the High Celebrant would arrive to have a meeting with the Scarlet Court, to remove them of the Witch Queen’s influence and under the banner of War. Osiris would infiltrate the meeting and kill Crota’s remaining lineage, but would be overwhelmed and defeated by a echo of the Hive God of War. Osiris’s Ghost Sagira sacrificed herself to destroy the Echo and save the legendary Warlock, however Savathûn, the Witch Queen would appear and possess him. With the end of Oryx and Crota’s bloodline, the Hidden Swarm would pledge their allegiance to Xivu Arath, God of War.

Lucent War

Years later, when the Scarlet Keep fell under the purview of Xivu Arath's forces, it would become a contested zone between forces loyal to the War God and those of the Lucent Brood, Lightbearing Hive of Savathûn, the Witch Queen, led by the Lightbearer Wizard, Korosek, Thronebringer. The Lucent Brood planned on using the Scarlet Keep as the center point for a ritual, using Light stolen from Guardians, to launch an invasion of Earth. Unfortunately for the Hive, the Guardians, working alongside the Cabal of Empress Caiatl, would be able to disrupt the ritual, thwarting the invasion.

Dark Future Timeline

In the Exo Stranger's Timeline, the Scarlet Keep became a base of operations for Eris Morn, when the remaining Earth Guardians, Mara Sov, Cabal and Fallen began their attack, they were met by Hive and Dark Guardians. Zavala became supercharged by the captured Travelers Light and used his power to utterly destroy the Keep.^[2]