Editing The Caretaker

{{About|the boss|the Sword|Caretaker}}
{{Boss infobox
|nameBG=#BE980D
|BG=#BE980D
|sectionBG=#BE980D
|lineBG=#BE980D
|name= The Caretaker
|othernames=
|image= {{Tabcontainer
|title1= Purple|content1=[[File:Caretaker (Purple).png|300px]]
|title2= Yellow|content2=[[File:Caretakerinfobox.jpg|300px]]
}}
|species= [[Fallen]]
|race= [[Scorn]]
|rank= [[Ultra]] 
|class= [[Abomination]]
|mission= [[Vow of the Disciple]]
|weapon={{icon|Solar}} Scale Drone Launcher
|ability= High Durability <br> {{icon|Arc}} Overcharged Ether <br> {{icon|Solar}} Sacred Dematerialization <br> Summon Scorn <br> Summon [[Taken]] <br> Teleportation <br> Temporary Immunity <br> {{icon|Arc}} Ground Slam <br> Obelisk Decimation
}}
{{quote|'''Do Not Disrupt the Caretaker.'''<br>SCORN. They eat away at the decay within a shell of. SCORN. Truth exists all around outside the shell of. SCORN.|[[Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness]]}}

'''The Caretaker''' is a massive [[Scorn]] [[Abomination]] residing within Rhulk's [[Sunken Pyramid|Pyramid]] in the [[Court of Savathûn]]. Empowered by [[Darkness]]-based Resonant technology from the [[Pyramid]], the Caretaker was entrusted with a collection of [[Worm|Wormspawn]] as well as other entities the [[The Witness|Witness]] and Rhulk had previously obtained to be analyzed and stored within the Pyramid. It was slain by the intrepid [[Guardian]] [[Fireteam]] that stormed the vessel.<ref name="VOTD">'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Vow of the Disciple]]''</ref>

==Biography==
Not much is known about the Caretaker including its origin or true purpose. The only available information is from an [[Evidence Board]] entry, speculation from a member of the [[The Hidden|Hidden]], who posited that the Caretaker was the successful result of a fusion between the Scorn and a [[Worm]] larva.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Lore]]: [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/interactions/evidence-board-report-pyramid-inspect Evidence Board — Report: PYRAMID-INSPECT]''</ref>

The only encounter that the Guardians had with the Caretaker was in the [[Collection]] section of the Sunken Pyramid. The Caretaker is initially found at the top of a set of stairs, performing a ritual on a segment of the marble-like substance found throughout Pyramid-adjacent Throne World locations. When Guardians get into close proximity, the Caretaker looks over its shoulder to inspect the invaders, but quickly returns to its ritual. During this, it is completely immune to all interference, even passively damaging Guardians that get within extreme proximity to it and its ritual through an aura of malevolent energy.<ref name="VOTD"/>

Once disturbed from its ritual by Guardians interacting with shard-like switches, the Caretaker shows the ability to teleport and begins vigorously defending the area it is confined within. After it is defeated by the Fireteam, the Caretaker keels over, and from its back begins sprouting the same tree-like branch systems that Rhulk and [[Emperor Calus|other]] [[Tormentor|servants]] of the [[Black Fleet]] exhibit upon death.<ref name="VOTD"/> 

==Gameplay==
The Caretaker is a typical boss encounter in Destiny, wherein they are invincible until specific conditions are met to allow damage to occur. Its health is gated into 4 segments, with the 4th being much smaller than the other 3, intended as a final stand. Combat against it is spread between 4 different floors of the Collection area, with The Caretaker teleporting to the next once enough damage has been sustained, or enough time has passed from damage being possible. Damage is inflicted through the Resonant Breakthrough buff that is granted to Guardians while they stand on a lit-up plate, which surround the obelisks of Collection, and stand in a row on the final floor.

The Caretaker exhibits the ability to fire bolts of ether, much like a regular Abomination, though these are infused with what appears to be the same Darkness energy that Rhulk utilises. It can also perform ground slams to knock back and damage any opponents that are close-by. There is also an automated defense system on its back, appearing like a small coffin. This constantly releases drone-like Pyramid Scales that course around the room, and will begin aggressively homing onto and damaging nearby targets, inflicting Pervading Darkess upon them.

Throughout its encounter with the Guardians, its main objective appears to be to move towards the obelisk on each floor of Collection, so it can trigger a massive expulsion of energy to the surrounding area, killing all targets. It can only be stopped in its tracks by damaging its face, which then opens the coffin-like object on its back, allowing Guardians to shoot its contents to temporarily stun the Caretaker. After recovering from this stun, The Caretaker will continue to plod towards the obelisk, its face becoming vulnerable again after a few seconds. To its discredit, the Caretaker will face and fixate on the Guardian standing closest to it, allowing for its face to be easily shot by this Guardian, and to allow positioning of its back for easy stuns for other members of the Fireteam.

==Trivia==
*Reports from fireteams raiding the Sunken Pyramid mention that the Caretaker appears to have been both victim to and overseer of experiments seeking to fuse Worms and Scorn together. Multiple fireteams had also commented on what appear to be "pet" mutations that are believed to have belonged to the Caretaker. Whether these were rejected experiments or unsanctioned creations isn't known. <ref name="TWID">[https://www.bungie.net/7/en/News/article/twid-05-02-2024 This Week In Destiny - 05/02/2024]</ref>
*Many of the Caretaker's Wormspawn went missing en route to the Tower's containment vaults.<ref name="TWID"/>
*The Caretaker notably wears cloth that is strikingly similar to that worn by the [[Husk]]s and carries a device on its back similar to the [[Tech Pack]]s of the [[Shadow Legion]]. It may serve as the template for the Husks, considering that [[Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness|Rhulk]] was experimenting on [[Fallen]] and [[Hive]], meaning that it was part Scorn and part [[The Dread|Dread]]. 
**This is reinforced by the fact that the Unstoppable Champion for the Dread is a Husk that is a modified version of the Caretaker.
*Concept art indicates that the Caretaker wasn't originally an Abomination.<ref>[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/ZeJ12X '''Artstation''', ''Destiny 2 The Witch Queen - The Caretaker'']</ref>

==Gallery==
;Concept
<gallery>
File:The_caretaker_concept_art.jpg|Concept art for the Caretaker
File:Caretaker_render.jpg|Colorless render of the Caretaker
</gallery>

;Gameplay
<gallery perrow='3'>
File:Caretaker Arc.png|The Caretaker charging Overcharged Ether
File:Caretaker Slam.png|The Caretaker preparing to slam the ground
File:Caretaker Stunned.png|The Caretaker stunned

File:Caretaker Focusing.png|The Caretaker focusing on a statue
File:Caretaker Corpse.png|The Caretaker's corpse from behind
File:Caretaker Corpse Close.png|The Caretaker's corpse up close

File:Caretaker Device.png|The Scale Drone Launcher
File:Scale Drone.png|A Scale Drone
File:Scale Drone 2.png|A Scale Drone leaving the Caretaker
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[Season of the Wish]]'' {{nc}}

==References==
<references/>

{{Bosses|D2}}

[[Category:Enemies]]
[[Category:Scorn characters]]