Empress Caiatl: Difference between revisions

|othernames= Princess-Imperial <br> Heir Apparent <br> Her Royal Tuskiness <br> Caiatlkel<ref> '''Bungie (02/28/2023)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Defiance]], [[Prodigal Return]] lore tab''</ref>

She and a group of others staged a [[Midnight Coup (event)|coup]] to overthrow her father and later succeeded [[Dominus Ghaul]] as leader of the Empire following his death during the [[Red War]]. After the [[Sol System]] was [[Arrival of the Black Fleet|invaded]] by the [[Black Fleet]], Caiatl sought to bring [[Humanity|humanity]] into the Cabal Empire as subjects to aid in her war against the [[Darkness]] and [[Hive]].  As of [[Season of the Risen]], Caiatl has become an ally, as the [[Imperial Cabal]] and the [[Vanguard]] have formed a provisional alliance to fight against the [[Lucent Brood|Lucent Hive]], as well as her father's forces aboard the [[Leviathan (ship)|Derelict Leviathan]] and on [[Neptune]].

As her father was often busy in either his pleasures or depression, Caiatl spent much time in the company of the tutors and caretakers he sent to watch over her in his absence. One of them was the mythkeeper [[Ahztja]], who would regale the young princess with stories of the worlds the [[Cabal|Cabal Empire]] had conquered. One night she asked her to tell her a story of how another species claimed the universe was created. Ahztja told her of the [[Tiiarn]] how they believed Irkyn La, the First Host had thought herself into existence and then brought order to the chaos of the cosmos. Caiatl questioned where Irkyn La lived and Ahztja explained that the Tiiarn claimed she was woven into the very fabric of the universe and that the sky was her mouth. Contemplating this for a moment, Caiatl resolved to challenge Irkyn La to battle so that once she was defeated the Cabal would have claim over the entire universe. Her amused caretaker noted that the Cabal had already conquered and brought the Tiiarn to extinction, and that no one believed in Irkyn La any longer. Caiatl decided that she would believe in her so that she could be fought, amusing Ahztja further, who declared that she was so mighty a warrior she would wish her enemies into existence.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 1: STORYTELLER|Empress: CHAPTER 1: STORYTELLER]]''</ref>

When Caiatl grew older she eventually became disgusted by her father's revelries and instead found a friend and mentor in Evocate-General [[Umun'arath]], the Primus of All Legions. She played games of war and conquest with the general to learn strategy and soon embraced the military lifestyle, wearing pressure armor at all times, even on the capital of [[Torobatl]].<ref name="CBCaiatl">'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Cabal Booklet]] - [[Cabal Booklet#My Daughter: Caiatl, the Princess-Imperial|My Daughter: Caiatl, the Princess-Imperial]]''</ref> Caiatl soon fell in love with flying and began training as a pilot. During one training session Umun'arath had her fly a simulation through the swampy world of [[Aark]], which had been conquered by the [[Hive]]. She was fascinated by the alien landscape, and her distraction cost her when a simulation of a massive [[Wizard]] destroyed her fighter craft. The simulator mimicked death as part of the learning process and Caiatl emerged from it shaken and with a tremor in her arm. Umun'arath criticized her for being distracted and dismissed her as being weak and coddled by her upbringing, but Caiatl insisted she would not fail again. Her mentor disagreed, informing her that failure would teach her how to live and ordered her to run the simulation again.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER_2: STAR PILOT|Empress: CHAPTER 2: STAR PILOT]]''</ref>

Caiatl and Umun'arath soon joined a conspiracy led by [[Dominus Ghaul|Primus Ghaul]] of the [[Red Legion]] and the exiled [[The Consul|Consul]] to overthrow Calus and end his negligent rule of the Empire. Knowing Calus' closest secrets, Caiatl was a key player in the [[Midnight Coup (event)|Midnight Coup]], securing the throne room and the [[Ahamkara]] bone he kept there as part of a special arrangement that helped secure his throne. As her father rushed into the throne room to utilize the bone in the midst of the coup, Caiatl greeted him and vowed never to be weak before crushing the bone, ending his chances of stopping the coup.<ref name="CBCaiatl"/> Calus' popularity with the common people prevented the plotters from executing him, and he was instead imprisoned aboard ''[[The Leviathan]]'' and exiled to the edge of the galaxy along with his [[Loyalists]] by the ascended Dominus Ghaul.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Midnight Coup]]''</ref>

Many years later, Caiatl sensed an [[Shadows of Calus|assassin]] watching her. The assassin spoke and informed her they brought Calus's regards. Turning to face the assassin, Caiatl did not recognize their species but noted their pressure suit was styled with Calus's colors. She told the assassin her father could keep his regards, but they responded that the Emperor also had a message. Before they could relay it Caiatl charged them as they fired a [[Void]] weapon that tore into her bicep. Ignoring the pain, Caiatl knocked the assassin to the ground and grabbed them by the throat and inquired about the message. The assassin stated that she was nothing more than a child playing general and lacked the vision of her father and the drive of Dominus Ghaul. She was caught off-guard as the assassin plunged a knife into her side and finished the message by stating that she would not be remembered. Infuriated, she rolled away to remove the blade as the assassin leveled their weapon at her head. Caiatl quickly placed her palm over the weapon's muzzle and jerked it away as it fired, ripping a hole into her palm. With the assassin now unarmed, Caiatl grabbed them by the head and slammed it into the ground repeatedly until it cracked and blood began to pour from her foe's broken form. She questioned if her father was listening and warned him that she would come for him no matter how far he traveled. The assassin gasped out that his death would not stop the end from coming and that their gods had foreseen the end. Pondering those words, Caiatl crushed the assassins skull with a blow from her good hand and declared that their gods were dead.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 3: ASSASSIN|Empress: CHAPTER 3: ASSASSIN]]''</ref>

Caiatl became the new ruler of the Cabal Empire after the demise of Dominus Ghaul during the [[Red War]], though she did not initially claim the title of Empress. While making preparations in her war room to lead her fellow Cabal into a new age, Caiatl contemplated her bitterness towards Calus and Ghaul in lieu of their failings. She blamed her father for delving their people in vice and luxury, and Ghaul for his obsession with the [[Traveler]] and its [[Light]]. However, she also credited Calus for instilling within her an active imagination due to all the stories and plays he had subjected her to as a child, and now Caiatl planned on utilizing that imagination to save the Cabal and forge a better future for her people. She intended for this new future to be of war and conquest of rival nations under her direction so that the Cabal would rule the galaxy once more.<ref name="HA">'''Bungie (2020/3/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Worthy]], [[Heir Apparent]]''</ref>

To aid in her ambitions, Caiatl began attempting to rally the remnants of the Red Legion back to her side and exhorted all loyal Cabal across the Sol System to prove themselves by capturing Calus. Although the remnants of the Red Legion on [[Earth]], [[Nessus]], and the [[Reef]] responded to her call and offered tribute, they could not comply with her orders, as following the [[Arrival of the Black Fleet|arrival]] of the [[Black Fleet]] to that system, the ''[[The Leviathan|Leviathan]]'' disappeared without a trace.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/20)''', ''[[Weblore]]: [[Weblore:Season of the Hunt#Immolant Pt. 2|Immolant Pt. 2]]''</ref> She dispatched [[Caiatl's Emissaries|emissaries and scouts]] to the system, however, they began to report abandoned Red Legion camps with signs of internal conflicts.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]] - [[Vanguard Communications]]''</ref> Additionally, a [[Wrathborn|mysterious disease]] of [[Hive]] origin began to spread amongst the fringes of the Cabal empire.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Hunt]], [[Wild Hunt Armor (Titan)#Wild Hunt Helm|Wild Hunt Helm]]''</ref>

As the ''de facto'' ruler of the Cabal following the death of Dominus Ghaul, Caiatl presided over the Cabal Empire from the royal palace on [[Torobatl]]. When one of her generals came to her complaining of a horrendous stench coming from Umun'arath's quarters. Concerned, Caiatl visited her mentor's room and discovered it stank of death and poison. Instead of the neat and tidy war room of the Cabal's military leader she found the tables covered in papers and tomes which she did not recognize, and saw to her horror in the corner was a Hive [[Thrall]] chained to the wall. She questioned Umun'arath on what she was doing, noticing that the tome the general was currently reading was bound in flesh, and was disturbed as she explained that she saw the future of the Cabal in the ways of the Hive and their lack of fear towards death. Caiatl reminded Umun'arath that it was she who had taught Caiatl about how the bravery to defy death was what made soldiers. Her mentor dismissed that, and now proclaimed that with the rapidly deteriorating state of the galaxy they must embrace new ways and new gods to survive. After a long silence, Caiatl came to a decision and ordered Umun'arath to step down from her council.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 4: SOLDIERS|Empress CHAPTER 4: SOLDIERS]]''</ref>

Some time later, Caiatl was alerted by Advisor [[Taurun]] that Umun'arath had been apprehended in the central square of Torobatl's weaponsmith district, in the midst of conducting what appeared to be a Hive ritual. Caiatl arrived on the scene to confront the disgraced Evocate-General and was disturbed to find her nearly naked with glyphs carved into her skin and a sickly green fire burning behind her. Dismissing the guards, Caiatl demanded to know what new god her former mentor was rambling about greeting. Umun'arath stated it was the the god of war, causing the ground to begin rumbling. Caiatl declared that her obsession had turned her into a threat to Cabal society and began to pronounce her sentence, but Umun'arath then raised her hands, which glowed with energy and made the fire burn brighter while a stranger chattering began. Concerned, Caiatl drew her ceremonial blade and drove it into Umun'arath's gut, seeking to halt the ritual, but the corrupted general only laughed. Disgusted, Caiatl kicked Umun'arath off her blade and into the fire, inadvertently completing the ritual and summoning [[Xivu Arath, God of War|Xivu Arath]], the Hive God of War, and her army to Torobatl through a massive portal.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 5: NEW GODS|Empress CHAPTER 5: NEW GODS]]''</ref>

A [[Fall of Torobatl|battle]] began to defend the Cabal homeworld, but the endless army of Hive ground down the Cabal's military. The capital city was quickly overtaken by [[Cryptolith]]s which emerged throughout its streets. Caiatl took to the skies in her starfighter to defend the world, but found that while every missile she fired destroyed one set of foes, they were soon replaced, and she was eventually shot down. Wounded and with her combat suit leaking gel, Caiatl reflected on her role in the invasion, reflecting that even if she had been unwitting it was still her blade that completed the ritual Umun'arath set in motion. Xivu Arath then spoke, declaring that the Cabal had long worshipped war and thus her, and that she had finally come to claim her tribute.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 6: BATTLE SONG|Empress: CHAPTER 6: BATTLE SONG]]''</ref>

Caiatl withdrew to her flagship, the ''[[Eligos Lex V]]'', and met with her council of advisors. Taurun reported that the Hive's [[War moon]]s were too powerful and overwhelming their defenses. As [[Ca'aurg]] and [[Tha'arec]] began arguing over the role [[Emperor Calus]] and [[Dominus Ghaul]] had played in weakening their society and defenses, Caiatl interrupted before a fight commenced. She noted that her father had built a mythology around himself and what the Cabal could be while taking only half-steps towards his goals, while Ghaul imagined slights and sought to use the Legion as a tool to entrench his own legacy. Declaring herself to be like neither of them, Caiatl stated that Umun'arath had misled them as well and that they could not be the Hive and throw themselves at their enemy without hope of victory. She decided they would evacuate the entire surviving population of Torobatl and undertake a tactical retreat to the [[Sol System]] to reclaim what remained of the Red Legion. Noting the worry and shame on her council's faces at the dishonor in retreat, Caiatl further declared that this was her first order as the new Empress of the Cabal Empire.<ref name="E7">'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 7: CORONATION|Empress: CHAPTER 7: CORONATION]]''</ref>

Caiatl's coronation was held the next day as the Cabal fleet retreated from Torobatl.<ref name="E7"/> Following her coronation, Caiatl addressed the entire Cabal fleet to address their concerns about the fall of their homeworld and their retreat, reassuring them that there was no shame in withdrawing to consolidate strength for future conflict. She urged them to remember that they found themselves in a war with the embodiment of war itself, and admitted that she now found conflict to be ugly and poisonous and that the Cabal must fight for a greater purpose than the fight itself. Caiatl declared they would fight for each other and the Empire and would do so with the remnants of the Red Legion in the Sol System. She vowed that she would lead the Cabal into a new age, one where she would fulfill promises that her father left incomplete. She began by announcing that all [[Psion]]s were now free and full citizens of the Empire and any who wished to depart could do so and be granted a reasonable amount of supplies. Caiatl cautioned that those who remained would soon find themselves in another war, but that together they would build an army that fought for each other. She then ended her address by declaring that they would emerge victorious against the false gods of the Hive and would unite to draw strength from the past to forge a new united future for all Cabal.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 8: EMPRESS|Empress: CHAPTER 8: EMPRESS]]''</ref>

As the Cabal fleet traveled to the Sol System, Caiatl weighed what to do upon their arrival. Taurun entered her private quarters and informed her that the rest of the council was awaiting her word, Caiatl invited her advisor to sit with her and discuss their options. Noting that the [[Guardian]]s of to the Sol System had slain Ghaul and many other powerful foes, including multiple Hive gods, with Xivu Arath's brother [[Oryx, the Taken King|Oryx]] among them, Caiatl and Taurun wondered if the cost of continued war against humanity was too high when they needed all their resources to strike back against the Hive. She asked Taurun if war was needed to reclaim the Red Legion, and her advisor carefully asked if Caiatl did not believe they would win. Careful not to show weakness to her advisor, Caiatl stated that they would but only after a long war with many casualties that would leave them even more vulnerable to Xivu Arath. Instead, she suggested that the open negotiations with the Guardians, although she disliked doing so and knew that many of her advisors would also protest. Taurun advised that she would need to make a concession to the rest of the council to maintain their support after the retreat from Torobatl. Stressed and understanding that her position limited her options, Caiatl decided that she would need to demand the Guardians kneel before her, although she was resigned to the fact that they would most likely reject her offer immediately.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 9: TRUCE|Empress: CHAPTER 9: TRUCE]]''</ref>

[[File:Caiatl Meets with Zavala and Osiris.jpg|350px|thumb|Caiatl meets with Zavala and Savathûn, posing as Osiris.]]

Caiatl was pleased by Zavala's offer, which she considered clever and a way for both sides to avoid wearing themselves out before fighting the Darkness. As she considered who to select as the Cabal's Chosen champion, she reflected that her choice had to honor tradition to hold the Cabal together. She informed Taurun that she would select [[Ignovun, Chosen of Caiatl|Ignovun]], but her advisor cautioned that not all of her supporters would accept that choice or her agreeing to the Rite of Proving. Caiatl noted that Taurun had encouraged her to embrace tradition and thought she would have been pleased by her decision. Taurun warned that some warriors believed that Caiatl was denying them glory through a full-scale war and sought to follow in the footsteps of [[Ixel, the Far-Reaching]] in their quest for infamy. Disgusted by their lack of foresight, Caiatl reminded her that they must conserve their strength for the Hive. She was angered by Taurun stating that she was seemingly valuing conclusion over victory and declared that their honor was at stake and more important than victory, and that they would win or lose the Rite as Cabal.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:From the Front#VII. The Imperial Throne|From the Front: VII: The Imperial Throne]]''</ref>

The other conspirator was caught and brought before Caiatl, and was revealed to be another Psion, [[Qalec]]. With the traitor before her, Caiatl broadcast another message to the Cabal Empire and declared that by adhering to the Rite of Proving they chose strength and honor over seeking personal glory. She denounced the Psion's attack on Zavala and condemned them for pursuing their own honor before the good of the Empire. Stating that Valir had at least faced death with honor, Qalec was a coward who ran rather than face consequences for his actions. Declaring him a stain on the history of the Cabal and revoking his name for his cowardice and treason, Caiatl executed the traitor. Vowing to find the remaining conspirators and deliver the same fate upon them, Caiatl stated they were one Cabal and would strike only as one fist.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[H.E.L.M.]] Radio Message: [[H.E.L.M.#Qalec's Execution|Qalec's Execution]]''</ref>

Several weeks after the treaty between the Cabal and humanity was established, Caiatl learned of political trouble in the Last City after her fleet intercepted broadcasts from [[Lakshmi-2]] of the [[Future War Cult]], who was stirring discontent against the Vanguard after they allowed the [[Eliksni]] [[House of Light]] to settle into the city. The fleet also detected a [[Vex]] anomaly known as the [[Endless Night]] afflicting the Last City. Caiatl contacted Zavala to discuss the issue, but the Commander was suspicious of her concern. Caiatl claimed not to be concerned and noted that if the Vanguard were destroyed she needed to be aware. Zavala retorted that they were still there, but Caiatl responded that was true for now. The Titan responded with an edge in his voice demanding to know why Caiatl was really calling. After a few moments of silence, Caiatl dropped her imperial tone and told Zavala that he was a proud hawk with a nest of vipers surrounding him and worried he might find a knife in his back soon. Zavala noted she had past experience with such issues, a fact she freely acknowledged while cautioning him that although Lakshmi was a politician her words of division were diminishing the Vanguard's authority and swaying minds against them. Caiatl worried that if he fell she could not trust whoever replaced him to honor their armistice. The Commander angrily stated that this was not the first challenge he faced and warned the Empress not to let her guilt for betraying her father delude her perception of the situation. Caiatl admired Zavala's fierce reply and admitted that she did not feel guilt for deposing Calus, but for allowing Ghaul to corrupt her people and set the stage for Xivu Arath's invasion. All she wished was to not see a fellow warrior she admired fall prey to the same trap, but noted he might not wish for her counsel. After a moment, Zavala inquired what she might advise. The Empress told him that Umun'arath had been her most trusted advisor and that the Darkness acted through many hands that he needed to recognize before it found his throat.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/5/11)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Splicer]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Beneath the Endless Night#II - FRACTURES|Beneath the Endless Night: II - FRACTURES]]''</ref>