Act III: Crossed Blades

Prev:	Act II: Rites of the Deep
Act III: Crossed Blades
Game:	Episode: Heresy
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Act III: Crossed Blades is the main quest for Episode: Heresy Act III.

Steps[edit]

"And my vanquisher will read that book, seeking the weapon, and they will come to understand me, where I have been and where I was going."The following is a verbatim transcription of an official document for archival reasons. As the original content is transcribed word-for-word, any possible discrepancies and/or errors are included.

Step 1[edit]

Vile forces lurk within the halls of the Dreadnaught and the Hive sisters scheme to tear the Echo of Navigation from your grasp. Armed with Eris Morn's guidance, Sloane's leadership, and Drifter's resourcefulness you are tasked with dismantling this threat once and for all. Meet with your team and devise a way forward.

Return to the rift near the Shaping Slab in the Last City to see Eris.

Eris Morn: Your sisters seek to reclaim you. They would carve you into the brother they remember.

Echo of Navigation: The inquisition of the self. Heresy. They have changed too much.

Eris Morn: For love, a sister would do more than heresy.

Echo of Navigation: Not love. Without our war, without me, they have found failure instead of victory.

Eris Morn: You were slain. Do you think your killer, my truest knife, could not do the same again?

Echo of Navigation: A bold claim. You barely hold me here. Though your throne reeks of a familiar ichor.

Eris Morn: Savathûn dead by my hand. Xivu Arath, cut from her throne. These are my foundations. You think I barely hold you. Test me, and find how I have used your sisters' strength.

Echo of Navigation: I promise that I will. To break your chains with my own might would be a new triumph.

Eris Morn: Then prove it is your own might. A victory while I am distracted by Xivu Arath is worth nothing at all.

Echo of Navigation: [sighs] She would cleave your throne world from my Dreadnaught to steal me.

Eris Morn: By rituals of battle, I presume. I have dealt with them before.

Echo of Navigation: I have not seen these deeds. Not yours, nor those of the Guardian you wield as knife. Xivu Arath must choose an altar rich with violence. Triumph again. I await it.

Eris Morn: Guardian. There is a place deep in the Dreadnaught that I know. You must halt what Xivu Arath has begun. Or she may yet claim her prize.

Step 2[edit]

You are tasked with taking a fireteam into the Sunless Cell in order to stop a ritual conducted by Xivu Arath and to steal away the Echo of Navigation.

Venture into the Sunless Cell and stop Xivu Arath's ritual to tear the Echo from Eris's throne.
- "Sunless Cell" strike completed

"Xivu Arath weaves a ritual to tear into my throne and steal away the Echo. Silence her, my Knife."

— Eris Morn

Note

See The Sunless Cell for a transcript of the mission.

Step 3[edit]

With a new hilt for Willbreaker in our possession, and Xivu Arath's plan halted, the Hive sisters regroup for another attack. In the lull, we have a moment to retaliate.

Visit the Shaping Slab vendor and acquire your directives for extracting Vengeance on Xivu Arath and Savathûn. Extract your vengeance; show no mercy.
- Vengeance quests obtained: x/4

Sloane: So… we've woken the Hive sisters' ire. Well I've got a little ire of my own. Drifter's found us plenty of targets. We're going to focus on breaking their ranks and disrupting their assaults. Most importantly, we keep Savathûn and Xivu Arath pointed at each other, and away from Eris and the Echo. If they’re on two fronts, we're fighting half the battle. More missions in your dossier, by the way. Let the Hive come. We'll test whose blade chips first.

Step 4[edit]

Eris is known as the avatar of vengeance within Hive broods, and you as her Knife. Sloane believes that if we hit the Hive we can break their focus and delay any further assaults against Eris' throne.

Strike the Hive while Eris and Sloane research how to utilize the hilt of Willbreaker.

Hone your Taken power and thin the Hive numbers by completing Vengeance side quests obtained from the Shaping Slab.
- Vengeance quests completed: x/4

Step 5[edit]

The Echo of Navigation, Oryx, scoffs at the failed efforts of his sisters. He invites you to meet them in battle and offers an edge.
- Echo of Navigation visited

Echo of Navigation: My proud sisters reduced to this. Our joyful war nothing but… a tantrum. Could you not taste it in the violence you just made your own? I took the power of my sisters to slay the worm Akka. Their true deaths, made in the sword world. There is no closer embrace. I drew Xivu Arath and Savathûn about myself, and their hunger was my own. But the betrayer Taken King gave their true lives back. Our sword logic, poisoned. My sisters now are hollow. Blunted. His mercy made them so. I barely know them. So you have forestalled Xivu Arath. Her ritual scatters. This throne world and its chains stand. Knife of My Slaying, you show your sharpness well.

The Echo of Navigation, Oryx, has shared disdain for his sister's attempts, and has challenged you to defeat them. He believes his heir, you, will resist them, and if you are able to resist then his sisters do not deserve to take him. Let the sword logic prevail.

Step 6[edit]

The Echo of Navigation, Oryx, is silent for now, waiting for an opportunity to present itself. Our plans have worked, but the next step is unclear. Continue delving into the Dreadnaught and thinning the opposition.

"My proud sister reduced to this," Oryx laughs.

He is simultaneously pleased by the triumph of his presumptive heir and disappointed by the defeat of his sister.

"My sisters are now hollow. Blunted…"

Oryx considers his role in what has become of the Hive pantheon.

"So, you have forestalled Xivu Arath. Her ritual scatters. This throne world and its chains stand."

Step 7[edit]

Oryx has called us to council in Eris's throne world. Apparently, he has information regarding Savathûn's plans that he intends to share with us. His information about Xivu Arath proved useful, we should hear him out.

Meet with the Echo of Navigation in Eris' throne world via the Last City Portal.
- Echo of Navigation consulted

Echo of Navigation: Savathûn has made her play. I feel the threads of her power. She would tear me from this prison and bind me to her throne world. The heretic queen, Eris Morn, tells me that Savathûn's throne is a garden filled with Light. That’s not how I remember it. My sister's High Coven was a place of sharp knives and subterfuge. No longer. She acts in earnest, and so she acts predictably. She's betrayed her nature. Remind her that her starving worm would have eaten her alive. Go to her throne. Disrupt the words of her binding and the strength of her brood. To be bound to that place would take me from one jailer to another. I would need time to break my sister's snares… But soon, I will break the hand that wields you.

"Savathûn has made her play," the Echo of Navigation begins. He shares that the version of the Witch Queen's throne we know is no longer the same.

He conveys to us that his sister is attempting to steal him from Eris's throne—he can feel it and has no wish to be chained from one warden to another.

"She acts in earnest, and so she acts predictably. She's betrayed her nature…"

The Echo burns with fury.

"To be bound to that place would take me from one jailer to another."

He bids us to stop her, if we are strong enough.

Step 8[edit]

Find a way to thwart Savathûn's ritual to bind the Echo of Oryx in counter to Eris's ritual.

Infiltrate Savathûn's throne world and put a stop to her ritual to steal the Echo from Eris's throne.
- Ritual thwarted

Eris Morn: Guardian, the Witch Queen reaches into my throne and seeks to excise the Echo from it. Make haste, and infiltrate her court.

Echo of Navigation: My sister's spellcraft will choke this nascent cyst if you do not intervene. She wishes to free me, not only from you, but from this world. She believes we are prisoners to a game of lies. But I will not trade one warden for another.

The Guardian enters Queen's Bailey.

Eris Morn: Savathûn's brood conducts a similar ritual to the one we used to bind Oryx.

Echo of Navigation: She summons me through the discovery of poisoned progeny, to an altar in my image.

Eris Morn: The Temple of the Navigator. Savathûn formed that place to honor her brother, who fell. You have your heading, Guardian. We do not have much time.

The Guardian claims Willbreaker.

Eris Morn: There is a tear in the fabric of reality. Open it and will yourself closer to our goal. Hurry, the Witch Queen's claw are taking hold.

Echo of Navigation: Yes… embrace my power.

The Guardian opens a wound.

Echo of Navigation: Those Knights. They were not Taken by this Oryx, but within them, I sense my will. Challenge them and die.

The Guardian challenges the Disciples of Malok.

Eris Morn: Guardian… my binding is… being tested! You. Must. Move. Quickly!

The Guardian approaches the Temple of the Navigator.

Eris Morn: This one must die to break the ritual. Now, Guardian! Hurry!

The Guardian defeats the final Disciple of Malok.

Eris Morn: It is done. Oryx’s presence is contained, secure once more. It appears the progeny he spoke of was no other than Malok. It has been some time since that name was spoken. Recover it, so that we may learn its secrets.

The Guardian tries to claim the head of Malok. It is revealed to be a deception of Savathûn.

Savathûn: Tsk, tsk. You're always meddling in other people's affairs. Normally, I admire that type of gumption. It's why we get along. But stealing my son's head? This is below you. This time, you've crossed a line.

Eris Morn: This time?

Savathûn: I warned you, I even tried to do this the nice way and leave your brand new throne intact. No more of that. Enjoy every Hive in the vicinity descending on you. I hope you have an escape plan.

The Guardian fights back Savathûn's swarm. They claim the true head of Malok.

Eris Morn: A nephew of Oryx, son to Savathûn, he was partially Taken. Perhaps… we can procure a panacea for Sloane from this. Malok was one of the only Taken to retain their will. They were a unique being, now reduce to an — albeit powerful — artifact.

Step 9[edit]

Savathûn's ritual has been prevented, and Oryx's Echo remains bound to Eris's throne world. You have secured the head of Malok—nephew to the Taken King, and Savathûn's son.

With Savathûn's ritual thwarted, assist Deputy Commander Sloane in reforging the Willbreaker.
- Willbreaker reforged

Note

See Appellation for a transcript of the mission.

Step 10[edit]

Confer with Eris Morn and Sloane at the Shaping Slab.
- Eris and Sloane visited

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Step 11[edit]

Your weapon is forged. Your allies stand by your side. It is time to launch a final assault on the Dreadnaught and slay the Resonant Knife.

Visit Eris Morn in her throne world and speak with her about next steps.

Eris Morn: The Dread congregate to make Oryx’s High War theirs. Xivu Arath and Savathûn prowl in the wings, waiting for opportunity. The Echo even now struggles for freedom. This will never end, so long as the Echo exists… and I have no desire to spend my life a jailer. Go. Defeat the Dread. Preserve their tools. I have a plan.

Step 12[edit]

The Dreadnaught hangs in the cold dead silence of space, awaiting your attempts to subdue it. It is time.

Bring your blade to bear against the Resonant Knife. Complete the mission "Resile."
- Mission "Resile" completed

Note

See Resile for a transcript of the mission.

Step 13[edit]

Return, victorious, to the Shaping Slab and share your triumph over the Echo of Navigation.
- Shaping Slab visited

Sloane: Savathûn retreated, but her Lucent brood have been active across the system. And Xivu Arath is sharpening her sword. We can expect a fight eventually. Something to monitor. Still, we survived them. And whatever the hell is going on with the Taken… I know we sealed it away, burned away the blight. But I do feel the Deep's hook in my heart. You must too. That… tugging restlessness. Dreadnaught's still an active combat zone. So we'll keep running fireteams until it isn't. Otherwise, stay sharp. We don't know what's on the horizon.

Your mastery of Taken power, the Path of Resolve, the Path of Ambition, and your triumph over the Echo of Navigation reflect in the polished obsidian of the Shaping Slab. Conquest fits you, Lightbearer, do not forget the strength you have gained here.

Step 14[edit]

You were called and confronted by the Witch Queen. She laments the loss of her brother in the form of the Echo of Navigation, and makes it known that you are undeniably foes from here on out.

An eerie cold courses through the apartment behind you as a dormant Hive worm suddenly radiates with Lucent energy… beckoning you to answer.
- Hive worm investigated

Savathûn: My brother. My BROTHER, dead. May all that you desire ever be stolen from your grasp. And if the cold and unfeeling universe does not see to it, then I certainly will. Goodbye, Traveler's pet. Don’t wait up.

Appearance[edit]

Destiny 2: Episode: Heresy (First appearance)