Ascendant Realm

"Whispered lore and fragmentary theories suggest that Crota represents a distinct class of Hive entities, not resident in our material world. My latest synthesis of this scattered esoterica suggests that Crota's 'home' is a universe created or remade by his power and occupied by Hive organisms of immense age."

— Ikora Rey

An Ascendant Realm (also known as the Ascendant plane) is an alternate dimension ruled by the gods of the Hive. Each of the gods of the Hive—Oryx, Savathûn, Xivu Arath, and Crota—rules their own Throne World within the Ascendant Realm, where they have absolute power over it through the Sword-Logic. The Worm Gods of the Hive also dwell in a deeper part of the Ascendant Realm, much closer to The Deep

Characteristics

If one of the Hive Gods is slain in the material world, their soul will pass to their Ascendant Realm, where they will regain their strength until they can re-enter the material world. The lesser Hive may enter the Ascendant Realm, but only if they are Ascendant Hive, those Hive warriors who command legions of lesser warriors and can pay a tithe of death and destruction to the Hive god who rules them.

They are completely immune to the effects of paracausal weaponry, such as the Harbingers of the Awoken, being miniature universes created from the mind of their resident god. If the god is killed, they persist still as all Ascendant Realms are located on the "ascendant plane". Ascendant Realms have a connection to the Deep, with the Worm Gods and Oryx knowing how to go there.

History

The Ascendant plane was first discovered by Auryx when Savathûn killed him for negotiating with the Ammonites, and the innate power it held when the Worm Gods told him to slay his children and observe the effects. These realms would prove to be a boon in the Hive's quest for immortality as they warred amongst themselves to deepen their power and understanding and during the war with the Ecumene giving them a place in which to recover.

When the Hive Kings discovered the betrayal of the Worm Gods, Auryx and his sisters met in his throne where he killed the two in order to gain enough killing logic to find a way to save them. He then traveled the Ascendant realm in search of the Worm God Akka, to take the power needed to save himself and the Hive. Oryx would later return to explore the Ascendant Plane more, trying to unlock the secrets of The Deep. He would later move his throne world outside of the Ascendant Realm when he built his Dreadnaught, turning it inside out and pouring it into the material plane.

Only five times were recorded in which these Realms were breached: the Vex; the Harmony wish-dragons; and the Guardians of Earth. The Vex were let into the High War by Savathûn tricking her nephew and proved difficult to dislodge. Later the Harmony wish-dragons stalemated with Xivu Arath until her sister came to her aid. Finally, billions of years later, Crota's own realm was breached and the God-Prince killed; and Oryx's invaded twice by Guardians, who first killed his material form and later hunted his true self to extinction.

Known Ascendant Realms

• The High War—Ascendant Realm of Oryx. Later merged with the Dreadnaught.
• The High Coven—Ascendant Realm of Savathûn.
• The Oversoul Throne—Ascendant Realm of Crota.

List of appearances

• Destiny
  • The Dark Below (First appearance)
  • The Taken King