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==History== ===Origins=== According to Lodi, the Cabal used to be a nomadic species, which is reflected in the Ulurant language, where communal terms are linked in some manner to herd behavior.<ref name="Lodi Learning Ulurant">'''Bungie (2026/6/9)''', ''Destiny 2: [[Monument of Triumph]] - [[Lodi]]: [[Lodi#Near|"I started studying the Cabal language, Ulurant. Their communal terms relate to herd behaviour since they used to be a nomadic species."]]''</ref> ====Era of Lead==== {{Quote|In the Cabal legend, a hero seeks to possess the sun. He succeeds. Then, he becomes Emperor. The Cabal… are not a subtle people.|[[Tyra Karn]]}}<ref name="Acrius">'''Bungie (2017/9/13)''', ''Destiny 2 - Item Description: [[Legend of Acrius]]''</ref> The earliest period of the Cabal's history is the Era of Lead; before they had extended their reach beyond their immediate star system.<ref name="Bell of Conquests">'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''Destiny 2: [[Season of the Chosen]] - Item Description: [[Bell of Conquests#Lore|Bell of Conquests]]''</ref> According to Cabal myth, three Cabal warriors sought to claim the sun atop a great mountain that was guarded by a mighty beast. The first two were killed attempting to outwit and evade the beast, but the third died with pride and honor after challenging it to battle. Her sacrifice had left a mark on the creature and inspired her Cabal kin to face the creature despite repeated deaths; with each leaving their scars upon the latter. Finally, the last warrior named [[Acrius]] had delivered the killing blow upon the beast which had grown wounded and weary of the constant fighting.<ref name="Praefectus Cuirass">'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - Item Description: [[Praefectus Suit#Praefectus Cuirass / Plate / Robes|Praefectus Cuirass / Plate / Robes]]''</ref> Acrius became the first Cabal to succeed in claiming the sun and thus united their race under his reign as the first Emperor.<ref name="Acrius"/> ====Era of Conquest==== The Era of Conquest came as a largely unknown period of military expansion and galactic colonization as the Cabal extended beyond their system to incorporate many worlds and client races into their empire; most notable was the [[Psion]] race who became assimilated into Cabal society through indentured servitude but were prized for their psychic abilities.{{Citation needed}} Conquered worlds were enriched with ceremonial gold to ease defeat and allow challenging officers for representation within the Cabal's leadership.<ref name="Gilded Conquest">'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - Item Description: [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/gilded-conquest Gilded Conquest]''</ref> During the Era of Conquest, warriors nearing death were integrated into the legions and deployed as vanguards and in frontal assaults, to grant them one last glorious charge, a death preferable to slow ossification.<ref name="LR">'''Bungie (2023/5/23)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Deep - Item Description: [[Last Rite (Scout Rifle)|Last Rite]]''</ref> In the earliest days of this new empire, the Cabal emperor ruled alongside the venal military aristocracy known as the [[Praetorate]], which allowed the people to suffer so the Legions who served them could grow.<ref name=EG>'''[[Cabal Booklet]]''', "[[Cabal Booklet#The General: Evocate-General Umun'arath, Primus of All Legions|The General: Evocate-General Umun'arath, Primus of All Legions]]"</ref> The Praetorate had also popularized the [[Rite of Proving]]: an ancient tradition of gladiatorial combat for free Cabal to prove their worth in battle and ascend in status.<ref name="The Hopeful Legion">'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - [[Lore]]:[[Lore:From the Front|From the Front]], [[Lore:From the Front#I. The Hopeful Legion|I. The Hopeful Legion]]''</ref> ===Foundation Age=== {{Quote|Under Calus, this system will unite. And when the end comes, we'll be ready. All of us.|[[Valus Nohr]]}}<ref name="MoN">'''Bungie (2017/12/5)''', ''Destiny 2: [[Curse of Osiris]] - Item Description: [[Armor of Nohr#Mask of Nohr|Mask of Nohr]]''</ref> Upon Calus's Inauguration, he had the wasteland of Torobatl cleared of any stone or plant to have a desert of pure white. Three days later, a violet pavilion was constructed and Calus's court was recreated in every detail. The first act of his coronation was to send the Consul into the wasteland as a symbol of the revolution he would soon bring.<ref name="Address">'''Bungie (2017/9/13)''', ''Destiny 2 - Item Description: [[Inaugural Address#Lore|Inaugural Address]]''</ref> During his reign, Calus decided to purge the corrupt Praetorate and he and his imperial guard marched into the temple where the former Cabal senate convened and assassinated them.<ref name="Alone">'''Bungie (2017/9/13)''', ''Destiny 2 - Item Description: [[Alone as a God#Lore|Alone as a God]]''</ref> He then granted citizenship to the various Legions and set Evocate-General [[Umun'arath]] as Primus of All Legions.<ref name="EG"/> During this time, Calus moved the Capital to Torobatl so it could be closer to his people, throwing parades daily as he bought from the local marketplaces. Following his "great purge", Calus spoke to the people at Dau'uss, announcing that he had repossessed the wealth and plunder of the Praetorate elite.<ref name="LS">'''Cabal Booklet''', "[[Cabal Booklet#The Bodyguard: Lictor Shayotet, the_Emperor's Protector|The Bodyguard: Lictor Shayotet, the Emperor's Protector]]"</ref> The rise of Calus as Emperor would mark a paradigm shift in Cabal society as he began a campaign to reorganize the empire from its militant roots into one favoring art and philosophy. Much of the empire's history (which was transcribed in the Codex of Lawful Transgressions) was rewritten by his own [[Loyalists|cult of personality]] to cast a more favorable light upon Calus during his ascension. He also repressed the Rite of Proving by gradually introducing draconian and byzantine bylaws into the Proving; most notably the role of an arbiter wielding the [[Hammer of Proving]] whose role was abused to the point that the Rite fell out of common usage in a century.<ref name="Hammer of Proving">'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - Item Description: [[Hammer of Proving#Lore|Hammer of Proving]]''</ref> ====Early Exploits==== {{Quote|The war is all there is. All this- this is just logistical support.|[[Umun'arath]]<ref name="EG"/>}} Calus's reign was not without personal troubles. He was wary of Umun'arath, his Evocate-General, for her paranoia and obsessive fixation on war. His own daughter and heir, Caiatl, grew up similarly despite his efforts.<ref name="EG"/> During his reign, he also removed the practice of leaving Cabal near death in the military. Instead, he surrounded himself with a council of petrified elders. Those who opposed this practice were sent to the fighting pits. Most of the veterans were recalled to Torobatl and rewarded with Imperial citizenship. Yet many still preferred the opportunity to die on the battlefield.<ref name="LR"/> One of Calus's pleasures was the Coliseum, and one day, an albino gladiator named Ghaul made his first appearance there. Ghaul's patient skill and unusual coloration soon made him a favorite of Calus's, and the Emperor eventually made him Primus of the Red Legion, where his talents would be put to better use.<ref name="GP">'''Bungie (2017/9/13)''', ''Destiny 2 - Item Description: [[Ghost Primus#Lore|Ghost Primus]]''</ref> Calus grew to love Ghaul like a son and believed they were kindred spirits who both envisioned a newer, more perfect world. Ghaul's association with The Consul and members of the Praetorate worried him, but not enough.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/13)''', ''Destiny 2 - Item Description: [[Conspirator#Lore|Conspiritor]]''</ref> ====Golden Era==== {{quote|Is this not Calus's new Empire, an empire of achievement? Can't the Psions grow fat in thought, as you grow fat with power?|[[Freeborn Otzot]] appealing to [[Emperor Calus]]}}<ref name ="FBOPS">'''Cabal Booklet''', "[[Cabal Booklet#The Scientist: Freeborn Otzot, Psion Savant|The Scientist: Freeborn Otzot, Psion Savant]]"</ref> Calus claims to have overseen a reign of glory. His Empire was an immense military power, but valued willpower, learning, gentility, and subtlety. Debate was as celebrated as warfare. Savage pit fights coexisted with precise marksmanship and refined martial arts. The Empire crafted technological marvels<ref name = "InsigneGloves">'''Bungie (2018/5/11)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: [[Insigne Shade Armor#Insigne Shade Gloves|Insigne Shade Gloves]]''</ref> that allowed every need to be met and every life to be lived in comfort.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/11)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind] - Item Description: [[Equitis Shade Armor#Equitis Shade_Boots|Equitis Shade Boots]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/11)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: [[Equitis Shade Armor#Equitis Shade Cloak|Equitis Shade Cloak]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/11)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: [[Equitis Shade Armor#Equitis Shade Grips|Equitis Shade Grips]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/11)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: [[Turris Shade#Turris Shade Helm|Turris Shade Helm]]''</ref> As the Cabal Empire expanded, it encountered countless alien races and absorbed them into itself: indoctrinating their species, collecting their technology, learning their knowledge, and merging with their culture. The number of species within the Cabal Empire ''"defied reckoning,"''<ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/11)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: [[Insigne Shade Armor#Insigne Shade Cover|Insigne Shade Cover]]''</ref> and examples of the things they created, whether texts, tech, or superweapons, were archived in carefully maintained [[athenaeum world]]s for study and potential future use.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/11)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: [[Insigne Shade Armor#Insigne Shade Robes|Insigne Shade Robes]]''</ref><ref name= "InsigneGloves"/> Centuries after destroying the Psions' clairvoyant [[OXA Machine]], word reached the emperor that it had been rebuilt on the moon of [[Brand]]. The Evocate-General then sent her ships to bomb the moon but Calus stopped her ships and instead proposed an alliance with [[Otzot]], the Psion which rebuilt the machine.<ref name="FBOPS"/> It was seemingly during Calus's reign that the Cabal learned of the Traveler and the [[Light]], and gained some knowledge on the [[Darkness]] from the "Dreams of worms".<ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/11)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind -Item Description: [[Equitis Shade Armor#Equitis Shade Rig|Equitis Shade Rig]]''</ref> His Empire has even defeated a Light-empowered race on at least one occasion.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/11)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: [[Turris Shade#Turris Shade Gauntlets|Turris Shade Gauntlets]]''</ref> ====Midnight Coup==== [[File:Midnight Coup event.png|300px|thumb|A mural depicting Caiatl, Ghaul and Umun'arath overthrowing Calus]] {{quote|For centuries, I led the revels of my empire, and the stars themselves burnt sweet and clear. But in time the jealous and the tight-fisted rose up and sent me into exile.|[[Emperor Calus]]}}<ref name="Invite">'''Cabal Booklet'''', "[[Cabal Booklet#An Invitation|An Invitation]]"</ref> However, having grown disillusioned with Calus's reign and determined to return the Cabal to their warmongering ways, Ghaul conspired with the Consul and several of Calus's closest friends and advisors: Umun'arath, [[Shayotet]], Otzot, [[Moli Imoli]], [[Iska'al]], and Caiatl in a bid to usurp the Emperor. Ghaul and his Red Legion launched his [[Midnight Coup (event)|coup]] in the dead of night, arresting Calus and his Loyalists. With the Emperor too popular to simply execute, Ghaul, his Red Legion, and the Consul sentenced Calus and his supporters to exile aboard the Leviathan, taken far from the Empire along a pre-programmed course.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/13)''', ''Destiny 2 - Item Description: [[Midnight Coup#Lore|Midnight Coup]]''</ref><ref name="Invite"/> Ghaul swiftly assumed power. Declaring that there would be no more emperors, he instead assumed the title of Dominus and imposed radical reforms on the Empire.<ref name="the Dominus">'''Cabal Booklet''', "[[Cabal Booklet#Ghaul, the Dominus|Ghaul the Dominus]]"</ref> Under his leadership, Cabal culture moved from hedonism and pleasure for all to militarism and personal glory. The Empire's member species were diminished in relevance. Its subtlety was replaced by brute, industrial force. It conquered rather than absorbed.<ref>'''Bungie (2019/6/4)''', ''Destiny 2: [[Season of Opulence]] - Lore:[[Lore:Confessions|Confessions]], [[Lore:Confessions#Entry I|Entry I]]''</ref> ===War for the Sol System=== ====Arrival in the Solar System==== [[File:Destiny-Cabal-Attack-Wallpaper.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Cabal in battle on [[Mars]]]] {{Quote|Whether we wanted it or not, we've stepped into a war with the Cabal on Mars.|Commander [[Zavala]]}}<ref name="CVIII">'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''Destiny - [[Cerberus Vae III (strike)|Cerberus Vae III]]''</ref> The Cabal's scouting legions arrived in the [[Solar System]] at some point following the [[Collapse]]. Encountering no meaningful opposition, they established a beachhead on [[Phobos]], constructing massive facilities such as [[Fleetbase Korus]] and [[Black Shield|Firebase Thuria]] before invading Mars.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''Destiny: The Taken King - Grimoire:[[Grimoire:Places|Places]]/[[Grimoire:Places/Mars|Mars]], [[Grimoire:Places/Mars#Fleetbase Korus, Phobos|Fleetbase Korus, Phobos]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2015/5/19)''', ''Destiny: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]] - Grimoire:[[Grimoire:Activities|Activities]]/[[Grimoire:Activities/Crucible Arenas|Crucible Arenas]], [[Grimoire:Activities/Crucible Arenas#Black Shield|Black Shield]]''</ref> Their initial intention was to mine Mars for resources, but the scope greatly expanded upon the discovery of Vex ruins. The Virgo Prohibiton, the Vex collective on Mars, didn't take too well to the Cabal's arrival and began a war that wouldn't end until the Red War.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''Destiny - Grimoire:Enemies/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Vex|Vex]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Vex#Virgo Prohibition|Virgo Prohibition]]''</ref> A [[Ghost]] that had infiltrated a Cabal base on the planet took note of visible dissent among their ranks: while some remained loyal to the Empire and obeyed their ancient orders without question, others did not, and tensions between the two groups may presage a schism.<ref name="GF:Cabal"/> It may be that some Cabal were aware of Ghaul's coup against the Emperor, which may have been an additional source of tension, but the transmissions for this do not make it clear whether all of the Martian Cabal knew, or if they had taken any sides.<ref name="Dunemarchers">'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - Item Description: [[Dunemarchers#Lore|Dunemarchers]]''</ref> One unit, the [[Broken Legion]] commanded by [[Valus Trau'ug]], even mutinied, massacring his superiors and attacking the [[Reef]] without authorization, resulting in their capture by the [[Awoken]]. For Trau'ug's treason and failure, Cabal High Command disavowed the entire legion, leaving them in the [[Prison of Elders]].<ref>'''Bungie (2015/5/19)''', ''Destiny: House of Wolves - Grimoire:Enemies/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Cabal Command|Cabal Command]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Cabal Command#Valus Trau'ug|Valus Trau'ug]]''</ref> During the Guardians' mission to reach the [[Black Garden]], the Guardians had to charge a Gate Lord's eye to unlock the gateway. Traveling to Mars, the Guardians breached into the [[Conflux]] to power the eye but encountered regiments of the [[Blind Legion]], a cabal army tasked with capturing and holding Vex artifacts. Despite the Cabal's efforts, the Guardians were able to reach the main site of the Conflux and begin to charge the eye but are then confronted by the Blind Legion's commander, [[Primus Sha'aull]]. After a heated battle and despite the Primus' efforts, the Guardians were able to charge the eye and kill Sha'aull. With the eye fully charged, the Guardians were able to reach the Black Garden.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''Destiny - [[The Garden's Spire]]''</ref> With the Primus dead, the Blind Legion was without a commander; a huge blow, and one from which the Blind Legion would never recover. At a later date, the Vanguard received a message from the [[Warmind]] [[Rasputin]], warning them that a trio of [[Psion Flayers]], called the [[Ice Reapers]], were attempting to hack its mainframe on Mars after the Warmind used Warsats to bombard Cabal troops. Wanting to prevent the Cabal from hacking into the Warmind's data and weapon systems, the Guardians formed a strike team and battled with the Cabal through the [[Dust Palace]] located in Freehold. Reaching to the Flayers' position, the Guardians made combat with the elite Psions and their guard but despite their power, they succeeded in slaying the Psions, saving Rasputin.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''Destiny - [[Dust Palace (strike)|Dust Palace]]''</ref> A huge blow to another Cabal Legion, and one that seemingly destroyed the Ice Reapers, as they were never seen again. Wishing to take the fight to the Cabal, the Vanguard saw an opportunity to strike a blow against the Cabal when [[Valus Ta'aurc]], the infamous commander of the [[Siege Dancers]], was seen in his Land Tank, [[Cerberus Vae III]], stationed in the Valley of Kings. Forming a strike team and managing to breach past the Cabal's defenses, the Guardians were able to enter the Land Tank and confront Valus Ta'aurc. After a struggle, the Guardians succeeded in slaying the Valus, dealing a critical blow to the Siege Dancers and Cabal leadership on Mars. Not only did they slay the Valus but they also slew four others; ending the Siege Dancers' chain of command and knocking them out of the war on Mars.<ref name="CVIII"/> ====The Taken War==== [[File:Grimoire V5.3 1.jpg|thumb|300px|The Cabal crashing the Dantalion Exodus VI into the Dreadnaught]] {{Quote|It came from the Emperor Himself. I'm ordered to board and capture the Hive flagship. At any cost.|Primus Ta'aun}}<ref name="Cabal 3">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''Destiny: The Taken King - Grimoire:Enemies/Cabal, [[Grimoire:Enemies/Cabal#Ghost Fragment: Cabal 3|Ghost Fragment: Cabal 3]]''</ref> Before the start of the [[Taken War]], the [[Vanguard]] speculated that a new task force, a "second fleet" led by the [[Skyburners]], was being assembled at [[Phobos]] to invade [[Earth]].<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''Destiny: The Taken King - Grimoire:Enemies/Cabal, [[Grimoire:Enemies/Cabal#Skyburners|Skyburners]]''</ref> After the arrival of [[Oryx, the Taken King]] and his [[Dreadnaught]], however, the Cabal were forced to evacuate their Fleetbase and other sites in the system due to [[Taken]] infestations. This was a huge blow. In the ensuing battles, various detachments across Phobos and Mars suffered enormous casualties against the [[Taken]], with the [[Sand Eaters]] losing 58% of their troops, the Blind Legion losing 35%, and the [[Dust Giants]] losing 39%.<ref name="Losses"/> In addition, the entire local Cabal fleet was mobilized, and any ship that was not already on the move by the time [[The Guardian]] arrived on Phobos was believed to have been destroyed.<ref name="TCW">'''Bungie (2015/9/19)''', ''Destiny: The Taken King - [[The Coming War]]''</ref> With the Skyburners being redeployed to reinforce the other battered Cabal throughout the Taken War, the campaign against Earth was temporarily placed on hold. Following this considerable setback, [[Ta'aun, Hand of Oryx|Primus Ta'aun]], commander of the Skyburners and the mightiest Cabal in Sol, sent a report up the Cabal chain of command suggesting that the [[Hive]] technology aboard the Dreadnaught could be co-opted for Cabal use. Ta'aun also proposed any technology recovered could be used against Guardians, as the Primus had begun to realize that the Cabal battle strategy was becoming hopelessly mired in a losing attrition war with the City.<ref name="Cabal 4"/> His report reached [[Dominus Ghaul]], who then ordered Ta'aun to personally board and capture the Hive vessel by any means necessary.<ref name="Cabal 3"/> In the aftermath of the [[Battle of Saturn]], Ta'aun rammed his [[Cabal warship|warship]], the [[Dantalion Exodus VI]], into the Dreadnaught to establish a beachhead. While leading a squad through the [[Mausoleum]] in an attempt to reach Oryx's ascendant realm, Ta'aun was Taken and transformed into Ta'aun, Hand of Oryx, forced to guard the entrance to the Taken King's altar where he would be slain by the Guardian..<ref name="EOME">'''Bungie (2015/9/19)''', ''Destiny: The Taken King - [[Enemy of My Enemy]]''</ref> Ta'aun's bond-brothers [[Valus Mau'ual]] and [[Valus Tlu'urn]] then ventured deep into the Dreadnaught and planted explosives at its [[The Narthex|power core]], either as part of a preconceived plan to force the Hive's surrender, to avenge their lost Primus or both. If allowed to succeed, the blast would have destroyed the majority of the Solar System. Fortunately, the two Shield Brothers were stopped by a Guardian [[fireteam]] before the explosives could be detonated.<ref name="Shield">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Shield Brothers]]''</ref> With their leaders vanquished, the surviving Cabal on Dantalion Exodus VI transmitted a distress signal to the rest of the Empire. Though the Guardian disabled this signal, they were unable to prevent it from reaching its intended recipient.<ref name="Signal">'''Bungie (2015/9/19)''', ''Destiny: The Taken King - [[Outbound Signal]]''</ref> The remaining Skyburners on the Dreadnaught continued to fight a desperate struggle to survive as their beachhead was slowly overrun by Hive and Taken,<ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''Destiny 2 - Item Description: [[Skyburner's Oath#Lore|Skyburner's Oath]]''</ref> but were whittled down overtime to only one known survivor.<ref name="Psychopomp">'''Bungie (2025/2/4)''', ''Destiny 2: [[Episode: Heresy]] - Item Description: [[Psychopomp#Lore|Psychopomp]]''</ref> Meanwhile, on Mars, the Cabal clashed with the resurgent [[House of Wolves]], who had gathered on the red planet to heed the call of their new God-Servitor [[Orbiks Prime]]. Weakened by the casualties suffered in previous conflicts, the Cabal were unable to evict the scavengers as they took the Cabal's subterranean labyrinths for their own. The Guardians solved the problem by destroying the Servitor, leaving the Wolves broken once more.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''Destiny: The Taken King - [[The Wolves of Mars]]''</ref> Shortly after Oryx's defeat, a [[New Monarchy]] agent sent a report to his Executor superior which noted the depletion of Cabal leadership: the Skyburners' Primus and his bond-brothers, [[Primus]] Sha'aul, [[Valus]] Ta'aurc, Valus Trau'ug, and a large mass of lesser [[Val]]s and [[Bracus]]es all dead or heavily outnumbered. The New Monarchy believed that in the face of such staggering losses, the Cabal Empire would have no choice but to respond to the Guardians' attacks.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''Destiny: The Taken King - Grimoire:Enemies/Cabal, [[Grimoire:Enemies/Cabal#Cabal Champions|Cabal Champions]]''</ref> In due time, the Cabal's response would arrive. ===The Red War=== ====Seeking the Light==== {{quote|I command Legions. Conquered worlds. Waged war across the galaxy to prove my worth. I alone am worthy of the Traveler's Light.|[[Dominus Ghaul]]}}<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8E7jUjOQi0'''YouTube''' - ''Destiny 2 – Official "Our Darkest Hour" E3 Trailer'']</ref> [[File:RedLegionCity.jpg|300px|thumb|The [[Red Legion]] fleet attacking the [[Last City]]]] Two years after the Taken War and one year after the [[SIVA Crisis]], the Cabal Empire's response would finally arrive, beginning the [[Red War]]. The Red Legion, under the command of Dominus Ghaul himself, would launch a devastating assault on the Last City which was carried out flawlessly. Taking the City by surprise, the Red Legion rapidly overwhelmed it and destroyed the [[Tower]] while his [[Traveler Cage|cage device]] latched onto the Traveler. Ghaul's forces took particular care to capture the [[Speaker]] alive, as the Dominus was interested in his connection to the Traveler. In a desperate plan to kill him, [[The Guardian]] boarded his flagship, [[The Immortal]], and destroyed its shield generator in advance of a concentrated counterattack. This attack never materialized, and Ghaul personally stepped out to confront the Guardian. As the two faced off, the Cage activated its suppressive shield and stripped all Guardians of their Light. With his victory assured, Ghaul beat and mocked the Guardian before kicking them off of the Immortal. Dominus Ghaul and his Red Legion had succeeded where previous forces had failed to accomplish for centuries: invading the Last City and defeating its Guardians.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[Homecoming]]''</ref> Days later, aboard the Immortal, Ghaul implored the Traveler to choose him and join his empire. The Consul, in contrast, only viewed it as an advanced machine and advised Ghaul to simply seize its Light by force. Ghaul disagreed with the Consul's approach and had the Speaker brought to him, seeking to use him to gain the Traveler's approval.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[Adieu]]''</ref> In addition to conquering the Last City, Ghaul sent his prized warship, [[The Almighty]], to the system's sun to destabilize it and cause it to go supernova should the system resist any further.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]] - [[Utopia]]''</ref> His remaining forces were sent to the [[European Dead Zone]] to hunt the remaining Guardians,{{Citation needed}} to [[Io]] to mine the remaining Light energy from the Traveler<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[Sacrilege]]''</ref> and to [[Nessus]] to study the [[Vex]].{{Citation needed}} Ghaul also sent a powerful force to Mars to reinforce the Cabal forces there, finally driving the Vex from Meridian Bay and destroying the portal to the [[Black Garden]], destroying most of the Virgo Prohibition.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - Ghost scan: [[Ghost scan#Arcadian Valley, Nessus|NE-CST-4]]''</ref> For a time, the Red Legion maintained complete control of the Solar System but one Guardian was able to regain control of their Light from interacting with a Shard of the Traveler in the European Dead Zone.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[Spark]]''</ref> In doing so, they began to fight back against the Red Legion, humiliating their forces. At first, the Guardians conducted minor operations such as scouting and analysis. These operations would soon advance into the theft of Legion supplies,<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[Supply and Demand]]''</ref> and the assassination of their leaders.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[Unbroken]]''</ref> Soon after, the Legion firebase is disabled, with further operations being carried out.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[Anti-Anti-Air]]''</ref> Gathering the Remnants of the Vanguard, the Guardians planned an organized attack to reclaim the Last City preceded by the disabling of the Almighty. Despite the loss of their Light, the Vanguard Leadership launched the attack to reclaim the Last City. As this occurred, the Guardian was tasked with boarding the Almighty and permanently disabling the superweapon. After eliminating the threat of the Almighty, the Guardian heads back to Earth to join the fight.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[1AU]]''</ref> Hearing of both the attack and the loss of the Almighty, the Consul angrily demanded Ghaul take the Light from the Traveler and destroy the Guardians. The Dominus, however, remained adamant that he needed to prove his worth to be chosen by the Traveler. In his rage, the Consul released the weakened Speaker and ranted that Ghaul had already been chosen, not by the Traveler but by the Consul, the day he found him as an orphan and raised him to be the warrior who would deliver their people and promise him vengeance. Convinced by this argument but angered by the Consul's arrogant insubordination, Ghaul killed his old adviser while swearing to take the Light by force.<ref name="Chosen">'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[Chosen]]''</ref> [[File:ChosenGhaulBattle.jpg|thumb|300px|left|The Guardian battling Dominus Ghaul before the caged Traveler]] At the top of his warship near the Traveler's Cage, Ghaul faces off against the Guardian he previously defeated once more, this time infused with some of the Traveler's Light, granting him similar abilities to the Guardians. However, the Light that was bestowed upon him was corrupted as he was not chosen like the Guardians. After a fierce battle between the two, Ghaul was eventually defeated. Upon his defeat, Ghaul attempts to use [[Radiance]] and is resurrected as a massive ethereal figure due to his corrupted Light, declaring himself immortal as he speaks to the Traveler directly. In doing so, the Traveler wakes from its slumber, destroying the device that was harvesting its power and then destroys Ghaul himself, sending a massive shockwave across the planet and system, restoring the Light and ending Ghaul's threat forever. With their Light restored, the Guardians succeeded in reclaiming the City and drove out the Red Legion. For the first time in history, the Red Legion has known true defeat and their seemingly undefeated leader was now dead.<ref name="Chosen"/> Despite Ghaul's death and the liberation of the Last City, the Red Legion continued to carry on the Red War but had become seriously weakened and demoralized at the loss of their leader. Even so, the Guardians continued to battle with the Red Legion across the System. The Guardians succeeded in thwarting numerous and desperate plots the Cabal planned to give them an advantage, from using Taken energy to strengthen their forces,<ref name="Dark Alliance">'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[Dark Alliance]]''</ref> to destroying [[Protheon, Modular Mind]] before they could utilize the Axis Mind as a weapon,<ref name="TIS">'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[The Inverted Spire]]''</ref> and acquiring deadly weapons from [[Bracus Zahn]] and his disgraced forces.<ref name="ArmsDealer1">'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[The Arms Dealer]]''</ref> The Legion would remain active on [[Mercury]], following Ghaul's death, attempting to use the Infinite Forest to create a future where the Cabal won the Red War, but were kept in check by the Vex and Guardian interventions.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/12/5)''', ''Destiny 2: Curse of Osiris - [[Tree of Probabilities]]''</ref> Another remnant of the Red Legion traveled to Mars to resupply its forces and plunder the secrets of the [[BrayTech Futurescape]] but encountered a mysterious Hive army, the [[Grasp of Nokris]]. The Cabal entered into a stalemate with the Hive for control of [[Hellas Basin]], while the Guardians stopped their attempts at using [[Rasputin]].<ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/8)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind''</ref> ====Return of Calus==== {{Quote|If you seek the means to live to your potential, I can guide you to it. There is power in the universe beyond your feeble Light. I leave you with those words, and these parting gifts. Take them, and grow fat from strength.|Emperor Calus}}<ref name="Leviathan">'''Bungie (2017/9/13)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[Leviathan (raid)|Leviathan]]''</ref> [[File:CalusWine.jpg|300px|thumb|Emperor Calus]] After the death of Ghaul, the former Emperor of the Cabal, Calus, arrived in the Solar System aboard his massive craft, the Leviathan, and immediately set to work on reclaiming the empire. He gave elements of the leaderless Red Legion the chance to "join the loyalist regime," sending them on missions to collect geological data on Nessus. These transmissions were intercepted by the Guardian. Calus intended to convert the soil of the planet into "Royal Wine".<ref name="IFTE">'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''Destiny 2 - [[Invitation from the Emperor]]''</ref> Calus extended an invitation to [[The Guardian]] to board his vessel for slaying Ghaul. The Guardians accepted Calus' challenge and following a long journey through Calus' palace and defeating his loyalist army, the Guardians seemingly meet Calus in person in his throne room. Facing off against the exiled Cabal Emperor, the Guardians survive his strange powers and after dealing critical damage to him, they find that the Calus they were facing was really a robotic duplicate. Regardless, the Guardians succeed in destroying the robot. Before the destruction of the machine, Calus boasted about his power and claimed to know the "real truth" about the galaxy and the purpose of the Traveler. Nonetheless, he rewards the Guardians for completing his challenge and offers them a place by his side should they seek him out.<ref name="Leviathan"/> Some months later, Emperor Calus called upon the Guardians again when his Leviathan broke off a chunk of Nessus that contained a powerful Axis Mind named Argos, Planetary that was clogging up the massive vessel. Instructing them to repair his ship, the Guardians travel through the bowels of the Leviathan and succeed in repairing it and battle with Argos in the fiery maw of the ship. After a perilous struggle against the Axis Mind, the Guardians succeed in disabling its shield and destroying the mind. However, with Argos's shield gone, the Guardians were soon to be devoured by the inferno of the Leviathan. Fortunately, Calus saves the Guardians and rewards them for their success as the Cabal Emperor once again offers them more than just the power of the Light, as he demonstrates that he can keep them safe. He also cryptically warns them that the "end" is near and therefore must be ready, as he will find them again.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/12/5)''', ''Destiny 2: Curse of Osiris - [[Leviathan, Eater of Worlds]]''</ref> ====Rise of Ca'uor==== [[File:ValCauor.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Val Ca'uor]] {{Quote|If Calus possessed an iota of dignity, he would have helped Ghaul against the Guardians instead of gallivanting around the system. This was his moment to redeem himself. Instead, he proved himself the traitor we knew him to be… I will take the Leviathan for the Red Legion.|[[Val Ca'uor]]}}<ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/11)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: [[The Emperor's Envy#Lore|The Emperor's Envy]]''</ref> Sometime later, following the end of the Red War, in the vacancy that was left behind by Ghaul's death, [[Val Ca'uor]] took advantage of the power vacuum and quickly asserted himself as the commander of the Red Legion. Under his direction, he hoped to resupply the [[Red Legion]] by pillaging Vex technology from [[Mercury]] and gathering energy from [[Mars]] to regain their strength following the failure to capture the Traveler and defeat by the Guardians. However, both efforts led to conflict with the Vex and the newly arisen Hive faction, the [[Grasp of Nokris]] respectively.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/11)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind - Item Description: [[Last of the Legion#Lore|Last of the Legion]]''</ref> After [[Xol, Will of the Thousands]] was killed, Val Ca'uor led a fleet against [[The Leviathan]] to kill Calus and seize the ship for the Red Legion's purposes. His forces occupied the Spire of Stars, inflicting many Loyalist casualties and even destroying one of Calus's robotic duplicates. However, a Guardian team was sent by Calus in response, and with the aid of his psychic powers, they raided the spire, killed many of his troops and commanders, and decimated the Red Legion fleet. Ca'uor was finally intercepted at the Celestial Observatory and in the following battle, he was overpowered by the team. Calus is impressed that the Guardians have grown "fat from strength and power" and rewards them once again. Calus then tells the Guardians that he awaits the day they will stand by his side when the end comes.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/11)''', ''Destiny 2: Warmind - [[Leviathan, Spire of Stars]]''</ref> ===A Broken Legion=== ====Scattered Across the Sol System==== {{Quote|You left the Cabal scattered after the Red War. Reef scooped some up. They took your Tower? You took their dignity.|[[The Drifter]]}}<ref>'''Bungie (2018/10/4)''', ''Destiny 2: [[Forsaken]] - [[Warden of Nothing]]''</ref> [[File:Forgewardencabal.png|thumb|300px|Guardians battling Ghalak the Forge Warden]] Following their decimating defeat on the Leviathan and the loss of Ca'uor, any remaining survivors of the Red Legion found themselves within the Reef struggling to survive even as the region of space descended into chaos as the [[Scorn]] rampaged across the Awoken's domain. Yet at the same time, they found themselves in between the Guardian's personal war with the Scorn, losing causalities to both groups during the conflict.{{Citation needed}} In addition to their disheveled state, the Red Legion began suffering from multiple desertions such as those following [[Garut Gra'am]] who rooted themselves in [[Trappers Cave]]. The most prominent of these groups, the ''Unbowed Legion'', made their debut in the EAZ during the Solstice of Heroes event in an attempt to take over the EAZ as a base of operations. Despite the group being led by [[Mouvurg, Unbowed Legion|three]] [[Daazaz Dar, Unbowed Legion|large]] [[Shogmar, Unbowed Legion|Cabal]] commanders similar to [[Ghalak the Colossus, Forge Warden]], they were quickly put to an end by the Guardians partaking in the event.<ref name="EAZ">'''Bungie (2019/7/30)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of Opulence - [[European Aerial Zone]]''</ref> In response, the Cabal took action against deserters, even placing Wanted Bounties through [[the Spider]], as in the case of [[Valus Dulurc]].<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''Destiny 2: Forsaken - Item Description: [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/wanted-valus-dulurc Wanted: Valus Dulurc]''</ref> Against the deprivation, the legion currently faces they have been seen to continue some operations such as an attempt to take over the EAZ led by two [[Vrag, Sister of Tluam|Bond]] [[Tluam, Sister of Vrag|Sisters]].<ref name="EAZ"/> Other operations by the Red Legion include multiple attempts to gain territory such as assaulting Lost Sectors across the system and flushing out their inhabitants. Only the [[Combustor Valus]] and [[Blood Cleaver]] would be successful in this before eventually falling to glimmer-hungry Guardians.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''Destiny 2: Forsaken - [[WANTED: Combustor Valus]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''Destiny 2: Forsaken - [[WANTED: Blood Cleaver]]''</ref> ====Opulence and Sorrow==== [[File:Menagerie.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Entrance into the Menagerie]] {{Quote|There is a dark place aboard my ship where you have never been. Where I was reborn. Like you were reborn. The Menagerie awaits you, Guardian.|Emperor Calus{{Citation needed}}}} Sometime following the Guardians' recent battles with the [[Kell's Scourge]] and dealings with the [[Drifter]], Calus called upon the Guardians once more for a challenge that threatens his Leviathan. One of his former Shadows, [[Gahlran]], had gone mad after using the Hive artifact the [[Crown of Sorrow]].<ref>'''Bungie (2019/6/3)''', ''[[Weblore]]:[[Weblore:Season of Opulence|Season of Opulence]] - [[Weblore:Season of Opulence#"Am I to Cast a Shadow?"|"Am I to cast a Shadow?"]]''</ref> It was soon revealed that Calus desired a Shadow to command the Hive and further his goals but [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Savathûn]] laid a trap for the Cabal Emperor using the Crown.<ref name="Shadow's Plate">'''Bungie (2019/6/4)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of Opulence - Item Description: [[Shadow of War Suit#Shadow's Plate|Shadow's Plate]]''</ref> Though Gahlran was bred to control the artifact to further Calus's goals, he was ultimately consumed by it, which allowed the Hive to infest the deep treasure vaults of the Leviathan.<ref>'''Bungie (2019/6/4)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of Opulence - Item Description: [[Shadow of War Suit#Shadow's Gauntlets|Shadow's Gauntlets]]''</ref> Wanting to cleanse the infestation and have Gahlran put down before his terror brought calamity, Calus had the Guardians form a Raid team to purge his spacecraft. The Guardians traversed the treasure vaults and encountered many dangerous Hive rituals but managed to persevere and reach Galhran himself. Despite the Crown granting Gahlran great dark Hive powers, the Guardians managed to slay the Sorrow-bearer, completely purging the Hive from the Leviathan. Calus, pleased with their continued successes, rewards the Guardians with great riches and officially names them one of his Shadows.<ref>'''Bungie (2019/6/4)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of Opulence - [[Crown of Sorrow (raid)|Crown of Sorrow]]''</ref> The Guardian's accession to Shadow became sour news towards some in the Last City, particularly the Warlock [[Aunor Mahal]], who believed that Calus was subverting the Guardians' priorities and brought her concerns and findings to the Vanguard. She proposed that the Last City should storm the Leviathan and take Calus out before his plans come to fruition. Unfortunately for the Praxic Warlock, while the Vanguard acknowledged that Calus was no ally, he kept the Red Legion in check and supplied the Guardians, nor did they wish to start a war with him. They reasoned that in time, Calus's influence over the Guardians would fall and, if the Cabal Emperor did make a wrong move, they would not hesitate to send a strike team.<ref>'''Bungie (2019/6/4)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of Opulence - Item Description: [[Shadow of War Suit#Penumbral Mark|Penumbral Mark]]''</ref> In the meantime, Calus extended an invitation to [[Eris Morn]], offering her the position to replace Gahlran as Shadow of the Hive, knowing of her history with her hated enemies.<ref>'''Bungie (2019/6/4)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of Opulence - Item Description: [[Shadow of Judgment Suit#Penumbral Bond|Penumbral Bond]]''</ref> ===The Triumvirate=== ====Meddling with Time==== [[File:PsionFlayers.gif|300px|Right|thumb|Inotam, fusion of the Psion sisters.]] {{Quote|The past and future are at our fingertips, sisters. Let us see what prospects they hold.|Ozletc, the Sky Piercer after gaining control of the Sundial}}<ref>'''Bungie (2019/12/8)''', ''Weblore:[[Weblore:Season of Dawn|Season of Dawn]] - [[Weblore:Season of Dawn#Sisters|Sisters]]''</ref> Sometime after the Guardians' conflict with the Hive and [[Nightmare]]s on [[Luna]] and defeating the [[Vex Offensive]]s, [[Osiris]] called upon the Young Wolf to Mercury. The legendary [[Warlock]] claimed that after [[the Undying Mind]]'s final destruction, the timeways of Mercury had been undone, and Psion Flayers of the Red Legion aimed to take advantage of the Vex's disorganization to assume control over time itself and undo their defeat during the Red War. Their meddling with Osiris's time-altering [[Sundial]] resulted in Mercury fracturing into three different eras, each with its own timelines dictated by the Psion Flayers. The Guardians team up with Osiris to ensure the safety of time, preserve the present and save a legend, [[Saint-14]].<ref>'''Bungie (2019/12/10)''', ''Destiny 2: [[Season of Dawn]] - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8w9ksLabno Season Intro]''</ref> The Guardians are successful in saving Saint-14 from his fate but during the three weeks of this conflict, the Guardians also manage to slay the Psion Flayer orchestrators; the sisters, [[Niruul, the Hollow Voice|Niruul]], [[Ozletc, the Sky Piercer|Ozletc]] and [[Tazaroc, the Sun Eater|Tazaroc]], one by one.<ref name="Sundial">'''Bungie (2019/12/10)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of Dawn - [[The Sundial]]''</ref> After a few more weeks of combating the Red Legion near the Sundial, the Flayer sisters would band together and use their power to fuse into [[Inotam, Oblivion's Triune]], to finish off the Guardians.<ref name="Joining">'''Bungie (2020/2/4)''', ''Weblore:Season of Dawn - [[Weblore:Season of Dawn#Joining|Joining]]''</ref> Inotam would violently clash with the Guardians for control of the Sundial but despite her vast powers and reinforcements, the Guardians are successful in slaying Inotam, ending the Psion Flayer's schemes to subvert time.<ref name="Sundial"/> Regardless of this victory, Osiris feels that other Red Legion radicals exist and the Guardians must be ready for when they will appear.{{Citation needed}} Osiris would be right as, unknown to the Guardians, a fourth Psion Flayer remains; [[Amtec]], the youngest of the sisters. Having been told of the possibility of her sisters' demise, Amtec schemed to exact vengeance upon the Guardians in the name of her sisters.<ref name="Joining"/> ====Collision Course==== [[File:D2SoW Almighty Adrift.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The Almighty set adrift towards Earth.]] {{Quote|The Red Legion has one last play. They've boarded their superweapon the Almighty. And it's on the move. You already destroyed its starkilling munitions. But whatever the Legion hopes to achieve… won't end well for us.|Commander Zavala}}<ref>'''Bungie (2020/3/10)''', ''Destiny 2: [[Season of the Worthy]] - [https://youtu.be/2lCOjueWHgs Previously in Destiny]''</ref> After their crippling defeat at the Sundial, a contingent of the Red Legion, headed by the last remaining Psion Flayer, Amtec, decided to direct the Almighty into a collision course with the Last City itself; disabling its propulsion engines and navigation systems despite the efforts of [[Zavala]] and [[Ana Bray]].<ref>'''Bungie (2020/3/10)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Worthy - [https://youtu.be/2lCOjueWHgs?t=49 Crash Course]''</ref> With little to no choice, the Vanguard decide to cooperate with the Warmind Rasputin, with Guardians arming his arsenal of Warsat satellites, to save their home from destruction. A minor assault was staged against the Warmind's core on Mars only to be thwarted by the Guardian and Rasputin's frames.{{Citation needed}} The Legion also had forces engaging the Seraph Towers throughout the system to prevent Rasputin's armaments from destroying the Almighty.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/3/10)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Worthy - [[Seraph Tower]]''</ref> Meanwhile, a [[Shadows of Calus|Shadow]] in service of Calus made off with [[the Fourth Horseman]], an infamous Cabal killer stolen from the [[Tower (Destiny 2)|Tower]], to eliminate key Red Legionnaires. However, the agent was disposed of by a countermeasure put into place by [[Emperor Calus]]'s daughter, the Imperial Princess Caiatl. Regardless of this countermeasure, the Guardians were successful in reclaiming the Fourth Horsemen from a company of Red Legion soldiers guarding it.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/3/17)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Worthy - [[In Rides A Pale Horse]]''</ref> During the past few months as Guardians succeeded in activating Rasputin's Seraph Bunkers, The Almighty had almost reached the Last City, so close, it could be seen from the Tower. Thankfully, Rasputin used his re-activated armaments and destroyed the Almighty, finally ending the Red Legion's plot to annihilate the City, as well as destroying one of Ghaul's finest and most destructive creations. While the remains of the legendary sun destroyer plummeted into mountains close by with a small chunk chipping off a piece of the Tower, the Guardian's home was saved and the Cabal's latest scheme had been reduced to rubble. It is unknown if Amtec died on the ship or not.{{Citation needed}} ====Desperate Times==== {{Quote|Ain't much of the Legion left these days. They must be getting desperate. Remind you of something?|The Drifter}}<ref>'''Bungie (2020/6/9)''', ''Destiny 2: [[Season of Arrivals]] - Item Description: [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/bloodied-legion Bloodied Legion]]''</ref> With the crash site of the ''Almighty'' no longer aflame and its debris no longer falling from the sky, the Red Legion was reduced to a barren few after countless losses.<ref name="SEC"/> Despite this, the Legion still operated. Several groups of Cabal interfered with Guardian [[Contact|efforts]] to collect energy from [[Pyramid Scale]]s on Io, seeking to take the phantasmal energy being gathered for their own unknown uses under the leadership of [[Unstoppable Incendior|many]] [[Barrier Colossus|Champions]]. These Champions have been seen to collect blooms, concentrated amounts of phantasmal energy from pyramid scales, and secure them for extraction.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/6/9)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of Arrivals - [[Contact]]''</ref> It is also unknown whether or not Amtec still leads the remains of the Legion due to the possibility of her death on the Almighty remaining unconfirmed. With their current state, their only choices seemed to be either Calus's Loyalists or, more likely, Caiatl's Regime.<ref name="SEC">'''Bungie (2020/6/9)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of Arrivals - Lore:[[Lore:The Singular Exegete|The Singular Exegete]], [[Lore:The Singular Exegete#CONTACT|CONTACT]]''</ref> From what is learned by the Guardians at the [[Tree of Silver Wings]], it is extremely likely the Darkness speaks/has spoken to the Cabal.{{Citation needed}} ===Empress' Advent=== ====Calling the Legion==== {{Quote|She's calling the Legion home…or, no… back to her bosom? She wants them to capture Calus to prove their loyalty.|[[Sagira]] to Caiatl's transmission<ref name="Immolant2"/>}} In the wake of Io, Mars, Mercury and Titan vanishing, [[Xivu Arath, God of War|Xivu Arath's]] [[Cryptolith]]s began corrupting many Red Legion Cabal just as Caiatl was beginning to rally the remaining remnants of the Legion through both the use of encrypted communications and emissaries. Caiatl commanded the Legion to return to her and to prove their loyalty by capturing Calus whilst she sent further Scouts and emissaries to the system.<ref name="Immolant2"/> Entire encampments were abandoned along with mass graves reported and entire groups slaughtering each other or suffering internal conflict due to the Cryptoliths' influence leading Caiatl and her Scouts to become wary and attempt to investigate the situation.<ref name="Transmission"/> Despite many emissaries and scouts sent by Caiatl, most reported the same events.<ref name="Immolant2">'''Bungie (2020/11/16)''', ''Weblore:[[Weblore:Season of the Hunt|Season of the Hunt]] - [[Weblore:Season of the Hunt#Immolant Pt. 2|Immolant Pt. 2]]''</ref> Around the same time, Calus, the Loyalists, and the Leviathan mysteriously vanished from the orbit of Nessus. Osiris looked into its disappearance but found nothing hinting as to why the Leviathan left or where it was headed.<ref name="Transmission">'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''Destiny 2: [[Season of the Hunt]] - [[Vanguard Transmissions]]''</ref> It was later learned that the Wrathborn were not limited to the Sol System and that the Cabal empire under Caiatl had also mobilized to combat the 'disease' spreading amongst the fringes of their territory.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Hunt - Item Description: [[Wild Hunt Suit#Wild Hunt Helm|Wild Hunt Helm]]''</ref> ====Fall of Torobatl==== [[File:Xivu-Arath-Fall-of-Torobatl-Grimoire-Archive.jpg|thumb|300px|Xivu Arath Invading the Cabal Homeworld, Torobatl]] {{Quote|MY HOME IS WAR. MY VOICE IS A BATTLE SONG. FOR AS LONG AS YOU HAVE WORSHIPPED WAR, YOU HAVE WORSHIPPED ME. I AM HERE TO CLAIM MY TRIBUTE. IT IS OVERDUE.|[[Xivu Arath]] to the Cabal after invading Torobatl<ref name="C6: BS"/>}} Though Caiatl ultimately ascended the throne as Empress of the Cabal Empire following so many crippling defeats and losses to the Guardians and other factions, she remained determined to restore her people to glory. Unfortunately, Caiatl learns to her horror that her old teacher, Umun'arath, has been studying Hive rituals and began to worship the Hive and the power they possess. 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. Uman'arath dismissed what her former student said 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:Empress, [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 4: SOLDIERS|CHAPTER 4: SOLDIERS]]''</ref> Sometime later, Caiatl was alerted by her advisors that Umun'arath had been apprehended while 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 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. Umun'arath stated it was 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, 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:Empress, [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 5: NEW GODS|CHAPTER 5: NEW GODS]]''</ref> A battle began to defend the Cabal homeworld, but the endless army of Hive ground down the Cabal's military regardless of Caiatl's efforts. The capital city was quickly overtaken by Cryptoliths which emerged throughout its streets. Caiatl herself took to the skies in her starfighter to defend her people's 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 name="C6: BS">'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]:[[Lore:Empress|Empress]], [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 6: BATTLE SONG|CHAPTER 6: BATTLE SONG]]''</ref> The attempted defense of Torobatl resulted in billions of deaths, while other Empire worlds would later fall to either from in-fighting or further invasions from Xivu's forces.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/3/8)''', ''Destiny 2: [[Season of the Risen]] - [[H.E.L.M.]] Radio Message: [[H.E.L.M.#tabsection-2-4|Caiatl and Zavala's discussion]]''</ref> With no other choice for her people to survive, Caiatl ordered her people to retreat, the first time any Cabal leader had ordered. Weighing her options, Caiatl decided to venture with what was left of her people to the Sol System and recruit forces that have battled and slayed Hive Gods before: the Guardians.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - Lore:Empress, [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 7: CORONATION|CHAPTER 7: CORONATION]]''</ref> Aware that many of her Council would see such an offer of equal negotiation as weakness, she informed her advisors that she will demand the Guardians kneel.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - Lore:Empress, [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 9: TRUCE|CHAPTER 9: TRUCE]]''</ref> She would also free the Psions still enslaved in the Empire and promote the freed Psion to the rank of [[Optus]].<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - Lore:Empress, [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 8: EMPRESS|CHAPTER 8: EMPRESS]]''</ref> ====The Empress Arrives==== {{Quote|Even my people have a word for peace, but we do not use it often — or lightly. I wouldn't have summoned you if I was not sincere.|Empress Caiatl<ref name="Peace"/>}} [[File:Empress Caiatl SotC.jpg|thumb|300px|Caiatl, the new Cabal Empress]] Following the Guardians managing to push back Xivu Arath's corruption and the Pyramids still encroaching on the system, the Vanguard of the Last City received a surprise visit from the new empress of the Cabal Empire, Caiatl herself. More so, she came peacefully and wished to make an offer to the Guardians. Meeting with Vanguard Commander Zavala and former commander Osiris (Savathûn in disguise), Caiatl reasoned that, even though the Hive and the Pyramids have been pushed back, they have not been stopped and offered an alliance, bringing together the might of her empire to bear with the Guardians' Light and together, they can destroy their shared foes. In return, however, Caiatl demanded that the Guardians bend the knee to her, something Zavala and the Guardians categorically refused to do. Angered, Caiatl challenged the Last City for control over the system, pitting the Guardians to face her strongest champions in a massive war game by a rite of combat.<ref name="Peace">'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - [https://youtu.be/8OSUVBTGyD4?t=79 Peace]''</ref> The Vanguard began using Caiatl's own embrace of ancient traditions against her, challenging the potential members of her War Council to the Rite of Proving and slaying them. Among them include, [[Commander Dracus]],<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - [[Battleground: Behemoth]]''</ref> [[Basilius the Golem]],<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - [[Battleground: Hailstone]]''</ref> and [[Val Ma'rag]] were slain.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/16)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - [[Battleground: Foothold]]''</ref> Gaining ground against the Empress's Chosen, Caiatl sent a private message to Zavala without the knowledge of her advisors. She told him that, as a child, she believed rulers held absolute power to conquer and kill, but now understood that ruling was a form of servitude to one's people. Caiatl explained that she was beholden to the will of her people and that after the loss of Torobatl, she could not retreat from the Sol System empty-handed to preserve their honor. Going into greater detail on her offer, Caiatl revealed that she saw the Guardians becoming the elite force of the Cabal Empire and promised that humanity would be free citizens just as the Psions now were. She asked once more for Zavala to reconsider and join the Cabal to gain revenge upon the Hive to ensure all of their survival against the Darkness. Despite the offer, Zavala and the Guardians continued combating Caiatl's Chosen champions in the Rites.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/23)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - H.E.L.M. Radio Message: [[H.E.L.M.#tabsection-2-1|Caiatl's Message to Zavala]]''</ref> After several more weeks of losses to the Vanguard and tensions rising as members of both sides pushed for open war, Caiatl was contacted by Zavala, who issued a challenge for one final Rite of Proving, with each side selecting a champion and the winner setting the terms of their treaty. She agreed to the challenge and declared that if the Cabal's chosen champion emerged victorious, then Nessus would be ceded to the Cabal, humanity would support her claim to the throne of the empire, and Zavala would join her War Council as a Bracus and serve as a hostage to ensure the cooperation of humanity. However, should the Cabal lose the Rite, then she would cease all hostilities against humanity immediately and withdraw Cabal forces from Earth. Pleased by Zavala's offer, which Caiatl 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.{{Citation needed}} Caiatl ultimately chose [[Ignovun, Chosen of Caiatl|Ignovun]] as her champion for the final rite.<ref name="TIT">'''Bungie (2021/3/16)''', ''Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen - Lore:[[Lore:From the Front|From the Front]], [[Lore:From the Front#VII. The Imperial Throne|VII. The Imperial Throne]]''</ref> With Ignovun awaiting his challengers in the heart of the Imperial Land Tank, '''''Halphas Electus''''', Caiatl hoped to wear down the challenging Guardians before they reached her Chosen champion.{{Citation needed}} As three Guardians stormed the tank, Zavala issued the formal challenge to Caiatl and she accepted with a wish that their shared bloodletting would lead to unity. She warned the Guardians that they would not have safe passage through the '''Halphas Electus''', which she claimed hungered for battle and questioned if they felt the same. Encouraging them to surrender, Caiatl promised to be merciful in their shame, but Zavala accused her of provo