Editing Xivu Arath, God of War

{{Outdated|[[Episode: Heresy]]}}
{{Character infobox
|nameBG=#637830
|BG=#637830
|sectionBG=#637830
|lineBG=#637830
|variant= Hive
|othernames= Xi Ro <br> Avatar of War <br>War Dominant <br> She Whose Victory Is Idempotent <br> Aspect of War <br>WGX-003<br> Blade Breaker <br> War Drinker <br> Conquerer Immortal <br>Eater of Weakness<br>God of the Rotting Slain<br>God of Strife<br>God of Love<br>God of Battlefield Filth<br>Agitator<br>Fomenter
|image=
{{Tabcontainer
|title1= God of War
|content1= [[File:ThronesXivuInfobox.jpg|300px]]
|title2= Knight Morph
|content2= [[File: Xivu-Witch-Queen-cutscene.jpg|300px]]
|title3= Xi Ro
|content3= [[File:XiroInfobox.jpg|300px]]
}}
|homeworld= [[Fundament]]
|species= [[Hive]]
|gender= Female
|affiliation= [[Xivu Arath's Horde]]<br>[[Wrathborn]]
|rank= God of War 
|class= [[Knight]]
|sn=
|notable= Hive God of War <br> One of the three founding members of the Hive race alongside Oryx and Savathûn <br> Master of the Wrathborn <br>Conquered the [[Torobatl|Cabal homeworld]] <br> Rendered mortal and separated from her throne world because of [[Eris Morn]]
}}
{{quote|Xivu Arath, knight morph of Xi Ro. You love to conquer, don't you? We love to see you work. Nearly two percent of Fundament's surface is now our dominion. Your species embraces the worm. ''[...]'' Overwhelm the Kaharn bastion. Slaughter everyone there. From your acts we shall obtain the logic we require to cut space open and migrate to orbit. Reality is a fine flesh, oh general ours. Let us feast of it.|[[Worm|Worm Gods]]}}

'''Xivu Arath, God of War''', formerly known as '''Xi Ro''', is a [[Hive]] god and youngest sister to [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen]] and [[Oryx, the Taken King]]. Together with her two siblings, she was a progenitor of the contemporary Hive species and one of its chief gods, having made a pact with the [[Worm]]s of [[Fundament]]. She is driven to become the mightiest warrior in the universe, and her influence is present wherever armed conflict takes place.

==Biography==
===Origins===
{{quote|I am Xi Ro, youngest daughter of the dead king. I will take back my Osmium Court and kill the traitor Taox. On my left eye I swear vengeance.|Xi Ro}}
Xivu Arath was born Xi Ro on the gas giant [[Fundament]] with her sisters [[Oryx, the Taken King|Aurash]] and [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Sathona]]; her father was the [[Osmium King]], ruler of the [[Osmium Court]]. She was a member of a short-lived, proto-[[Hive]] species called "the Krill"<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Witch Queen]] - [[Preservation]]''</ref> whose original homeworld had crashed into the gas giant millions of years ago.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Darkness|Darkness]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Darkness#Calcified Fragments: Curiosity|Calcified Fragments: Curiosity]]''</ref> As a young Krill, she was fascinated by her surroundings, attempting daring feats that would have killed lesser beings; she took six of the [[stormjoy]]s' bait-stars because of this. Above all, she wanted to be a warrior, a Knight like her father's warriors.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#I: Predators|I: Predators]]''</ref>

When her father became mad and raved about the Syzygy, and the [[Helium Drinkers]] invaded at the urging of [[Taox]],<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#II: The Hateful Verse|II: The Hateful Verse]]''</ref> Xi Ro used her bait-stars to help her sisters escape and comforted Aurash as they fled their home.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#IV: Syzygy|IV: Syzygy]]''</ref> Together with her sisters, she swore a blood-oath on the mast of their ship, upon her left eye, to avenge their father and kill Taox.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#III: The Oath|III: The Oath]]''</ref> When they salvaged an ancient, high-tech ship from the Shvubi Maelstrom, Xi Ro wanted to sell it to raise an army and kill Taox immediately but was convinced by Sathona that it was worthless.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#V: Needle and Worm|V: Needle and Worm]]''</ref>

During their aimless journey at the behest of Sathona (who was guided by their father's worm-familiar), Xi Ro cleaned up the ship and attempted to take her sisters' minds off their task. Eventually, when Sathona fretted they would not be able to avenge their father, and Aurash concluded they would have to dive, Xi Ro was initially afraid but understood. Xi Ro warned them, however, that this was how the crew had died, but Sathona, urged on by the Worm, agreed with Aurash.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#VI: Sisters|VI: Sisters]]''</ref> The sisters took the needle into the deep. They finally reached a point where they could use the ship's sensors on the oceans. To their horror, they discovered that the Syzygy was real and that Fundament's moons had already aligned. Just then, they were encountered by the [[Leviathan (Fundament)|Leviathan]], a creature long spoken of in Krill myth.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#VII: The Dive|VII: The Dive]]''</ref> The Leviathan warned the sisters that they needed to turn back, or else it would unleash disaster upon the universe, saying that they faced a choice between the [[Light]], which offered civilization, and the [[Darkness]], which offered only violence. However, the Leviathan offered no hope to the sisters to avoid the Syzygy. Sathona then revealed the Worm's help to her sisters and how it urged them to go down. Rejecting the Leviathan's entreaties, the sisters dove into the core.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#VIII: Leviathan|VIII: Leviathan]]''</ref>

Reaching the very center of Fundament, the three sisters found the [[Worm Gods]]: [[Akka, the Worm of Secrets|Akka]], [[Eir, the Keeper of Order|Eir]], [[Ur, the Ever-Hunger|Ur]], [[Xol, Will of the Thousands|Xol]], and [[Yul, the Honest Worm|Yul]]. The Worm Gods offered the three sisters a chance for the Krill to escape Fundament as well as achieve immortality. All they had to do was take the Worms larvae into them as symbiotes and spread them among the Krill. The Worms posed the caveat that the sisters must never cease their natures: Xi Ro must always test her strength, Sathona must always be cunning, and Aurash must always try to understand.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#IX: The Bargain|IX: The Bargain]]''</ref> The sisters accepted the pact and became the first Hive: Xi Ro took the Knight morph and became Xivu Arath,<ref name="X">'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#X: Immortals|X: Immortals]]''</ref> Sathona took the Mother morph and became Savathûn,<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XI: Conquerors|XI: Conquerors]]''</ref> and Aurash took the King morph, transforming into a male and became Auryx, the King of the Hive.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#X: Immortals|X: Immortals]]''</ref>

===Campaign of Destruction===
{{quote|We have marooned Oryx within the [[Darkness|Deep]]. This is our obligation as lords of the Hive, to make war upon each other, to eradicate weakness and make ourselves sharp.|Xivu Arath}}

As Auryx and his sisters forced an ultimatum on the remaining Krill to accept the worms or perish, turning them into the Hive,<ref name="X"/> Auryx turned his attention to Fundament's moons and the [[Ammonite]]s there who had allied with the [[Traveler]] and gave asylum to Taox.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XIV: 52 and One|XIV: 52 and One]]''</ref> During the [[Hive-Ammonite war|war]] with the Ammonites, Auryx would attempt to negotiate with the Ammonites, but Savathûn, under pressure from the Worms, killed Auryx as punishment.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XVII: The Weakness Verse|XVII: The Weakness Verse]]''</ref> Xivu Arath faced them by using new tactics advised by the Worm Gods, such as spreading her broods across Fundament's moons.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XV: Born As Prey|XV: Born As Prey]]''</ref> After Auryx's return from his Throne World, the three siblings would erradicate the Eccumene, with Xivu Arath killing [[Chroma-Admiral Rafriit]] and building a temple from his corpse.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XIX: Crusaders|XIX: Crusaders]]''</ref> She and her siblings warred with and killed one another on a regular basis after this, as part of their worship of the Sword-Logic and their attempt to become the sharpest blades in the universe, heading to their Ascendant realms when defeated. Their war of revenge against Taox had transformed into a campaign of genocide when they slew other interstellar civilizations to feed their worms.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXI: an incision|XXI: an incision]]''</ref> While Auryx and Savathûn established [[Court of Oryx|courts]] to practice and study the sword logic, Xivu Arath declined, declaring that her court would be everywhere war was found.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXII: The High War|XXII: The High War]]''</ref>

During the war with the [[Ecumene]], Auryx came to realize that the Worm had deceived him and his sisters: their Worms' appetites were growing past their ability to feed with death. Meeting with his sisters in his ascendant realm, surrounded by their servants (some of which despised them for showing weakness), they despaired over their dilemma. When his sisters offered their power to help Auryx find a way to save them, Auryx killed them and then used that power to confront his patron god [[Akka, the Worm of Secrets]].<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXVI: star by star by star|XXVI: star by star by star]]''</ref> He killed Akka so that he may steal its ability to call upon [[Darkness|the Deep]] and created the Tablets of Ruin, which gave him the power to [[Taken|Take]]. His transformation complete, Auryx was now Oryx, the Taken King.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXVIII: King of Shapes|XXVIII: King of Shapes]]''</ref> During the subsequent war with the Ecumene, Oryx revived Xivu Arath in an act of war and revived Savathûn in an act of cunning. He then decreed the tithe system: each Hive would kill their enemies, take some to feed their own worm and tithe the rest to their superior. Thralls would tithe to Acolytes, Acolytes would tithe to Knights or Wizards, and the Knights and Wizards would tithe to the Ascendant Hive, those who commanded legions of warriors and earned the right to enter the Hive gods' Ascendant realms. All of this violence would eventually reach Oryx, Savathûn, and Xivu Arath, allowing their worms to feed on violence while continuing to invoke their inner natures.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXIX: Carved in Ruin|XXIX: Carved in Ruin]]''</ref>

Following the [[Golden Amputation]], Oryx declared to his sisters that the Hive had conquered its way to the edge of the Deep and that it had granted him a personal audience.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies#Books of Sorrow/XXX: a golden amputation|XXX: a golden amputation]]''</ref> As Oryx retreated into his throne world to commune with it, Savathûn conspired with Xivu Arath to strand him there and steal his Tablets of Ruin by cutting off the tribute flowing through his tithe system.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXXV: This Love Is War|XXXV: This Love Is War]]''</ref> They were ultimately unsuccessful. On returning, Oryx deceived Xivu Arath and poisoned her own flow of tribute so that she could never try to steal his Tablets again.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXXVI: Eater of Hope|XXXVI: Eater of Hope]]''</ref>

In the aftermath of this attempted betrayal, one of Oryx's daughters, Ir Halak, visited Xivu Arath's throne world and tested her [[Deathsong]] there. All who heard it were irreversibly killed. Xivu Arath complained about Ir Halak's behavior to Oryx, who was greatly amused.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XXXVII: shapes : points|XXXVII: shapes : points]]''</ref>

After the [[Vex]] invaded Oryx's throne world, Savathûn tipped Xivu Arath off to its location. Xivu Arath planned an ambush, but Oryx, aware of his own vulnerability, evaded her by moving his throne into the [[Dreadnaught]].<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XL: An Emperor For All Outcomes|XXXVII: shapes : points]]''</ref>

Following the war with the [[Harmony]], Savathûn decided that her fleets would enter the black hole that the Harmony lived around, claiming that they would become stronger for it, while Xivu Arath took her fleets away from Oryx's as she felt he constrained her too much.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]] - [[Grimoire]]:[[Grimoire:Enemies|Enemies]]/[[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow|Books of Sorrow]], [[Grimoire:Enemies/Books of Sorrow#XLVI: The Gift Mast|XLVI: The Gift Mast]]''</ref>

===War in Sol===
A year following the [[Red War]], Xivu Arath began committing some of her forces to the Solar System, possibly in aid of her sister Savathûn or for her own schemes. An Ogre, [[Megor, Spawn of Xivu]], was imprisoned in the [[Prison of Elders]] and broke free during the [[Scorn]]'s [[Hunt for the Scorn|jailbreak]].<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]] - [[Last Call]]''</ref> A [[Xivu Arath's Horde|substantial force]] of Hive and Taken apparently obedient to Xivu Arath also invaded the Dreaming City after its unsealing, pillaging it for [[Awoken]] relics towards an unknown purpose. These forces were destroyed by [[The Guardian]], and the relics returned to the Awoken.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]] - [[Broken Courier]]''</ref>

===Fall of 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 of Torobatl}}
At some point, her sister Savathûn had been secretly working in her name to undermine the Cabal homeworld of [[Torobatl]], corrupting Evocate-General [[Umun'arath]] into becoming a worshipper of Xivu Arath. Driven by obsession over war, Umun'arath undertook a Hive ritual in the capital city to summon the God of War to their planet, which was accidentally completed when [[Empress Caiatl|Caiatl, the Princess-Imperial]] slew Umun'arath, providing the blood and sacrifice needed to open a portal for Xivu Arath to cross through with her armada of [[War moon]]s and armies of Hive.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]:[[Lore:Empress|Empress]], [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 5: NEW GODS|CHAPTER 5: NEW GODS]]''</ref> As she invaded Torobatl, Xivu Arath declared that the Cabal had been worshipping her for as long as they venerated war and that she had finally come to claim her "overdue" tribute.<ref>'''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> Her forces overwhelmed the Cabal's defenses and drove Empress Caiatl to evacuate the remaining population to the remnants of her fleet and retreat to the Sol System.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]:[[Lore:Empress|Empress]], [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 7: CORONATION|CHAPTER 7: CORONATION]]''</ref>

===Rise of the Wrathborn===
{{Quote|I AM THE WAR YOU CRAVE. PURPOSE ETERNAL. A LEGACY IN BLOOD.<br>WHEN YOU DRAW BLADES, YOU DRAW ME.<br>YOU CANNOT RESIST WITHOUT INVOKING MY BANNER.<br>EMBRACE ME, LIGHTBEARER, AND BE A GOD OF DEATH.<br>CONSUME OR BE CONSUMED.|Xivu Arath to [[Osiris]]}}
Following the [[Arrival of the Black Fleet|second arrival]] of the [[Black Fleet]] in the Sol System and the sudden disappearance of [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Savathûn]] from her Court, Xivu Arath began marshaling her forces into the system and making her influence more overt. Her [[High Celebrant of Xivu Arath|High Celebrant]] began spawning [[Cryptolith]]s throughout the system, corrupting [[Hive]], [[Fallen]] and [[Cabal]] alike that came under within range of them into [[Wrathborn]] subjects. Though Xivu Arath's High Celebrant would be hunted down and killed by the Guardians,<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Hunt]]''</ref> it was later revealed that her Wrathborn were not only attacking the Solar System but also spread out across the galaxy. Most notably, the Cabal themselves had been under siege since the fall of their world, prompting the newly coronated [[Empress Caiatl]] to propose an alliance with the Last City to stand against the Hive God of War.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]:[[Lore:Empress|Empress]], [[Lore:Empress#CHAPTER 9: TRUCE|CHAPTER 9: TRUCE]]''</ref>

===Hunting her Sister===
{{References|section}}
{{Quote|Xivu Arath will never relent, as long as you possess her sister."<br>"What does she want with Savathûn?"<br>"The Witch Queen's importance stretches beyond the Hive's politics. There are greater forces at play.|[[Ikora Rey]], [[Uldren Sov|Crow]] and [[Mara Sov]]}}
Despite the "gift" Savathûn had given her, Xivu Arath has begun to actively hunt her sister, apparently at the behest of another, forcing the Witch Queen to go into hiding. Following Osiris' loss of his Light, Savathûn "saved" him from Xivu Arath and began to adopt his form, knowing that Xivu Arath would never expect to find her sister within the Last City. Xivu Arath would continue to hunt her sister regardless, but her efforts would distort the Ascendant Plane, which ultimately led her to corner the Awoken Queen, [[Mara Sov]], who was being escorted by her [[Techeun]] Coven. Though Mara Sov managed to escape, Xivu Arath began hunting the coven.

To save her people, the Dreaming City, and combat the Black Fleet, Mara Sov strikes a bargain with Savathûn; in exchange for excising her worm from her being, she would release Osiris. In addition, Mara Sov wishes to stabilize the Ascendant Plane with her rescued Techeuns using the Ley Lines, which would prevent Xivu Arath from corrupting it to her advantage.

Later on, she would task [[Kelgorath, Risen from Bones]] to steal [[Ager's Scepter|an Awoken artifact]]. Kelgorath would attempt to do so but the Guardian would get there first taking the relic and using it to kill Kelgorath and the pillagers accompanying him.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/8/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Lost]] - [[A Hollow Coronation]]''</ref>

Despite the efforts of Xivu Arath's Horde, they failed to prevent the Guardians from saving Mara Sov's Coven as well as securing the Ley Lines back into the Awoken's hands. On the day of the ritual to exorcise Savathûn's worm, Xivu Arath, in a last-ditch effort to capture her sister, had her horde launch a massive assault on the Dreaming City and attempted to overwhelm the Blind Well. Despite being unsuccessful in preventing the realignment of the Ley Lines, this would allow the Hive army to travel through the Ascendant Plane and begin swarming the Ritual Spire, in which the exorcism was taking place, until they were once again pushed back by the Guardians.<ref name="Exorcism">'''Bungie (2021/8/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Lost]] - [[Exorcism]]''</ref>

Desperate to capture Savathûn, Xivu Arath sent [[Kruutiks]], [[Kholks]], and finally her champion, Kelgorath, to stop the ritual, forcing their way into the Spire. Regardless of her Horde's forces and her champion's efforts, they ultimately failed and were defeated at the hands of the Lightbearers, allowing Mara Sov to successfully remove the Witch Queen's worm.<ref name="Exorcism"/>

===Attacking the Subminds===
Following her failure to prevent the exorcism and being unable to capture her sister, Xivu Arath would have her forces lie low and gather their strength as the Guardians would handle the Witch Queen themselves after she had resurfaced as a Lightbearer, along with some of her followers in the [[Lucent Brood]]. Her forces would engage the Lucent Hive in defending the [[Scarlet Keep]] from being taken from them for a ritual to invade Earth, but would engage the Guardians and the Imperial Cabal, who sought to prevent the Lucent ritual.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/2/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Risen]] - [[PsiOps Battleground: Moon]]''</ref>

However, after the Guardians defeated Savathûn, learned the existence of Xivu Arath's master, [[The Witness]], forced back the Lucent Brood, dealt with a resurgence of [[Nightmare]]s on a returned [[Leviathan]] and bested [[Eramis]] from claiming the relics of [[Nezarec]] as ordered by the Witness, Xivu Arath and her forces would reemerge and consolidate their power in preparation for the the Witness's return. In addition, Xivu Arath would be ordered by her master to punish Eramis for her failure by subsuming the majority of the [[House of Salvation]] into her Wrathborn.<ref name="Hierachy">'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Hierarchy]]''</ref> Some of the House's leaders were even slain and then raised as [[Scorn]].<ref name="Moon">'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Heist Battleground: Moon]]''</ref><ref name="Shield">'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Operation: Seraph's Shield]]''</ref> To prepare for the Black Fleet's return and weaken the denizens of the Sol System, Xivu Arath and her Wrathborn sought to corrupt the Warsat Network, which remained vulnerable ever since the Warmind [[Rasputin]] was left incapacitated by the Black Fleet's earlier arrival. With the aid of House Salvation's Splicers, the Wrathborn and Xivu Arath's Horde managed to gain access to some of Rasputin's defense systems, even gain entry onto [[Seraph Station]], the main hub of the Network, but the whole Warsat Network remained out of reach.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Operation: Archimedes]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Operation: Diocles]]''</ref><ref name="Shield"/>

To gain full control over the Warmind's arsenal, Xivu Arath directed her forces to seek out and subjugate one of the Warmind's creators, [[Clovis Bray I]], who existed as an AI within the Exoscience Labs on [[Europa]]. Her combined force of Wrathborn Fallen and Hive gained entry into the labs and nearly claimed Clovis, but the scientist would be rescued by the Guardians as they sought him out to restore the Warmind.<ref name="Hierachy"/> The Guardians would reluctantly work with the Bray patriarch, who would direct them to seek out the Subminds, pieces of the Warmind that were separated from Rasputin in the event of damage.{{Citation needed}} Xivu Arath would have her forces guard these vaults from assaults, but the Guardians would instead infiltrate the vaults, slay their defenders and claim the data they need.<ref name="Moon"/><ref name="Europa">'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Heist Battleground: Europa]]''</ref> One defender was her most loyal and devoted warrior, Kelgorath, who returned once more despite his past failures, now made a Darkblade.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Heist Battleground: Mars]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - Item Description: [[Judgement of Kelgorath#Lore|Judgement of Kelgorath]]''</ref>

After the Guardians gathered enough submind data for Rasputin to speak directly and reveal Clovis's deception,<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[Operation: Son of Saturn]]''</ref> leading to him being cast out by his granddaughters,{{Citation needed}} Mara Sov would begin to have suspicions about Xivu Arath's motives. Noting that the War God's armies are legion, yet using only her Wrathborn as a token-level force, and she was more tactician than brute than originally believed, the Awoken Queen suspected that corrupting the Warmind's Network may not be the end goal Xivu Arath was seeking.{{Citation needed}} Remembering that Xivu Arath's Worm feeds off of destruction and conflict, just as [[Savathûn's Worm]] fed off of guile and deceit, Mara would conclude that Xivu Arath's true plan is her wanting the Guardians to restore Rasputin and have him use his vast arsenal to smite her Wrathborn to not only feed her worm from the destruction that would follow but also fuel a powerful ritual that would open a portal over Earth large enough to send her armies through and overwhelm humanity, just as she had accomplished on the Cabal's homeworld of Torobatl. Mara would bring this conclusion to the Vanguard Coalition, stating that to prevent Xivu Arath from achieving her goal, they had to cease restoring the Warmind. Ana Bray, however, voiced her objections, stating that Rasputin was more than a weapon and that humanity needed him as an ally if they were to survive the Witness's coming. Mara then suggested that instead of a complete victory, they restore Rasputin as Ana wanted, but he refrain from smiting the Wrathborn, denying Xivu Arath the requirements she needed for her ritual. The rest of the Coalition's leaders agreed to the plan.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [https://youtu.be/Bf72Fazd3Ck?t=310&si=U6a98L4NrQHt7RNu Quorum]''</ref>

Unfortunately for Xivu Arath, her aspirations for invading Earth would be for naught. Though Eramis finally managed to gain access to the Warsat network, activating the Warmind's ABHORRENT IMPERATIVE, a protocol where the network would target the Traveler should the entity leave humanity, Rasputin sacrificed himself with his AURORA SACRIFICE order to destroy the entire Warsat Network.<ref>'''Bungie (2022/12/6)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Seraph]] - [[ABHORRENT IMPERATIVE (mission)|ABHORRENT IMPERATIVE]]''</ref> With her aspirations for her ritual ruined, Xivu Arath ordered her Wrathborn and Hive forces to pull back from the inner system,{{Citation needed}} though her forces would continue to cling to Europa, forcing the Guardians to continue operations there.<ref name="Europa"/>

===Hunting Ahsa===
{{Quote|I AM THE MOUNTAIN UPON WHICH ALL SWORDS SHATTER! HONE YOUR EDGE AGAINST ME!|Xivu Arath, announcing herself to the Guardian on Titan}}

Following [[Titan (moon)|Titan]]'s reappearance after having previously been [[Taken]] by the [[the Witness|Witness]], a team of Guardians consisting of the Guardian, [[Commander Zavala]], [[Saint-14]], and [[Lord Saladin]] landed on the Rig in an attempt to reach Deputy Commander [[Sloane]], who had broadcast a distress signal shortly after the moon reappeared. The team encountered [[Hive]] and [[Taken]] forces belonging to Xivu Arath, who directly addressed the Guardians telepathically through her battlesong. She taunted Saint-14 in particular, remarking that [[Sagira]] had been a foe worthy of death while [[Osiris]] had not, driving the Titan into a rage.<ref name="Descent">'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[The Descent (mission)|The Descent]]''</ref>

The Guardians succeeded in locating Sloane and learned of her predicament.<ref name="Descent"/> The Deputy Commander was partially Taken after Titan was claimed by the Witness which allowed her to "tune into the enemy's radio" but was afflicted by demanding whispers which almost led her to be claimed by Xivu Arath but thanks to the creature [[Ahsa]], Sloane was saved and established a connection with her.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Beneath the Waves#Step 2|Beneath the Waves: Step 2]]''</ref> Understanding that they share a foe in the Witness, the Guardians would work with Sloane to help strengthen her connection to Ahsa, thereby allowing her to decipher her messages.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Beneath the Waves#Step 3|Beneath the Waves: Step 3]]''</ref> As the Guardians worked on this, they clashed with Xivu Arath's Wrathborn, with the War God taunting them.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Salvage (activity)|Salvage]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Deep Dive]]''</ref> However, as the Guardians learned about a Lucent Hive attempting to conduct a ritual to resurrect Oryx with the Light, they found Calcified fragments that recorded Xivu Arath's personal thoughts regarding the Hive's purpose in enacting the Final Shape and her potent grief at the loss of her brother.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Ghosts of the Deep]]: [[Ghosts of the Deep#Calcified Fragments|Calcified Fragments]]''</ref>

Despite the efforts of her Hive and Taken, including Kelgorath and those who once served the Witch Queen, the Guardians managed to gain enough egregore coral to help Sloane interpret Ahsa's messages, including one where she spoke of the Witness's origins.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Into the Depths#Step 33|Into the Depths: Step 33]]''</ref> However, during one of the Guardian's deep dive missions, Xivu Arath sensed an opportunity to strike at Ahsa while the Guardian was distracted, conducting a ritual that struck Ahsa, forcing the worm to leave the safety of the Arcologies to the ritual site in a vain attempt to disrupt the ritual but ended up captured.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Into the Depths#Step 36|Into the Depths: Step 36]]''</ref> Xivu Arath ordered the orchestrators of the ritual, three Screams of Xivu Arath, to begin the ritual where she would Take Ahsa. The Coalition caught wind of this, and the combined efforts of Sloane, Saint-14, Saladin and Zavala occupied her forces enough to allow the Guardian to reach the ritual site. Taking out each wizard and using the Drifter's machine to purify the egregore coral, the Guardian disrupted the ritual, wounding Xivu Arath herself. Though the Hive War God would laugh following each wounding, the ritual failed, allowing Ahsa to return to safety and deliver the last piece of her message while her forces initiated a full retreat. The worm attempted to speak through Sloane, but the Deputy Commander nearly became possessed by the Hive War God, who taunted her again. But thanks to Zavala, Sloane was able to regain control over herself. With her connection clear, Ahsa spoke through Sloane and informed the Vanguard that while the path to the Witness was obscured, one individual may know a way to follow. One Ahsa speaks as "she who hides truth in deception", Savathûn herself. If the Vanguard wished to follow and stop the Witness, they would have no choice but to allow the Witch Queen to be revived.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Barotrauma]]''</ref>

Following her failure to Take Ahsa, Xivu Arath communed with the Witness upon the Dreadnaught, who expressed doubts in Xivu's abilities but commanded her to prepare to fight against Savathûn in the event the Vanguard chose to allow her resurrection.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/6/27)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Lore]]:[[Lore:Purpose|Purpose]], [[Lore:Purpose#VI. Conviction|VI. Conviction]]''</ref> She would allow the Guardian an audience inside her [[The Drowning|temple]] underneath [[Kraken Mare]]. With this invitation, she issued a challenge to them, to defeat a Taken Knight named [[Khull, Executioner Knight]], then a powerful [[Tormentor]] in her service: [[Omen, Blade of the Black Terrace]]. After defeating the Tormentor, she deems them worthy, awarding them the [[Wicked Implement]], which would allow them to tithe to her and become strong enough to face her directly.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/5/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Deep]] - [[Deep_Dive#The_Whetstone|The Whetstone]]''</ref>

===A Challenger Rises===
After weighing their options, Ikora and Eris believed there was no other way to follow The Witness but to allow the Witch Queen to be revived and gain the information she possessed. Reaching out to Savathûn's Ghost, [[Immaru]], offering him the Witch Queen's body to be revived in exchange for the knowledge they seek, Immaru instead offered a bargain of his own, citing that Savathûn anticipated that the Vanguard would need her. He would revive Savathûn but only after they dealt with Xivu Arath. Despite the terms, Ikora and Eris would agree,<ref>'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[Way of the Witch]]''</ref> but after journeying through [[Savathûn's Spire]] and hearing a recording from the Witch Queen stating that Xivu Arath couldn't be defeated conventionally, for she feeds off of all conflict. Therefore, only a Hive God of equal strength could defeat Xivu Arath using the Hive's own Sword Logic.<ref name="Spire">'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[Savathûn's Spire (activity)|Savathûn's Spire]]''</ref> Understanding that the task now fell to her, Eris Morn volunteered to become a Hive and with the Guardian as her "acolyte", she would feed from their kills until she grew strong enough to challenge the Hive God of War.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[Toil and Trouble (Quest)#Step 2|Toil and Trouble: Step 2]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[Toil and Trouble (Quest)#Step 3|Toil and Trouble: Step 3]]''</ref> Though Ikora objected to this plan, fearing for Eris's well-being, she was convinced that there was no other way, for simply maintaining their current stalemate with Xivu Arath was not feasible, nor could they outright battle with her, for in either case, they would lose.{{Citation needed}}

After performing a ritual that turns Eris Morn into the Hive God of Vengeance, the Guardians begin slaying Hive and other creatures found within the Witch Queen's oubliette beneath Savathûn's Spire as tithes to her, which allowed Eris to grow in strength.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[Altars of Summoning (activity)|Altars of Summoning]]''</ref> However, Xivu Arath became aware of Eris's "ascension" and welcomed it, even calling Eris her new sister, which Eris adamantly denied. Nonetheless, Xivu Arath sent her forces to claim Savathûn's Spire, once viewing the sanctum as heresy, but concluding that even the Light can adhere to the Sword Logic, the Guardians managed to clear the Spire of Xivu Arath's forces.<ref name="Spire"/> Further, the Guardians prevented the War God's forces from slaying the prisoners found in the [[Altars of Summoning]], slaying them themselves as tithes to Eris. During all this, Xivu Arath continued to taunt Eris, goading her to give in to her new Hive nature and accept the Sword Logic as truth, even welcoming the upcoming challenge the two will have, but Eris remained steadfast against her words. With her hand forced, Xivu Arath summoned one of her most powerful warriors, the [[Leviathan-Eater, Bane of the Ammonites]], to face the Guardians, but the entity withdrew as it merely tested their capabilities, and it would be back once Xivu Arath's brood had been organized.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[Mission: Conjure]]''</ref>

After Eris prepared herself for the Guardian's final tithe, she opened the way to the [[Altar of the Sword]], where Xivu Arath had her Leviathan-Eater waiting. Though the God of War welcomed the challenge greatly, her favored champion ultimately fell to the Guardians, their tithes strengthening Eris.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[Mission: Sunder]]''</ref> However, what Xivu Arath didn't expect was Eris Morn slaying a revived Savathûn, gaining millennia worth of power as the Witch Queen hadn't been killed since the separation of her worm. Combining that power with the tithes the Guardians had collected, Eris Morn had become the most powerful Hive God, surpassing even Xivu Arath. However, instead of directly challenging the Hive God of War, Eris Morn wove a spell that banished Xivu Arath from her own Throne World, rendering her mortal and vulnerable. With her spell finished, Eris collapsed and returned to her human form.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPrwuAJOx6s&t=395s Rejection]''</ref> But she later confirmed to the Guardian that Xivu Arath was furious at her defeat and, being severed from her Throne World, she couldn't grow in strength from her tithes,<ref>'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[The Bladed Path#Step 50|The Bladed Path: Step 50]]''</ref> which Ikora believed would make her more open to being challenged should Xivu Arath appear.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[H.E.L.M.]] Radio Message: [[H.E.L.M.#tabsection-6-8|Ikora's mission report]]''</ref> Savathûn, meanwhile, found great amusement in her sister's predicament, enough to send Xivu Arath a message taunting her, though the War God would not respond.<ref>'''Bungie (2023/8/22)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Witch]] - [[H.E.L.M.]] Radio Message: [[H.E.L.M.#tabsection-7-8|Savathûn's message to Xivu Arath]]''</ref>

===In Hiding===
Following her banishment from her own Throne World, Xivu Arath would go into hiding, not taking part in the final battle between the Coalition and the Witness. Her Hive forces, however, would still serve the Witness in combating the Guardians as they found a path to enter the Traveler's [[The Pale Heart|Pale Heart]].<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[Exegesis]]''</ref>

After the Guardians [[Iconoclasm|found]] the weakness of the Witness, they would continue their efforts to heal the Traveler and locate any remaining lost Ghosts. One of these [[The Ascendant|missions]] involved finding and saving [[Akasha]], a Ghost that had been systemically scanning Awoken territory for years and whose last known location was the Dreaming City. After finding Akasha, Mara Sov, Micah and Crow would deduce from the movements across the Ley Lines, that, as Xivu Arath didn't join the Witness in its invasion of the Pale Heart, she was playing to turn the forces of the Black Fleet and the Coalition against each other to gain an advantage. Xivu Arath would continue to move the Hive forces from her brood through the Ascendant Plane en masse, while Mara was focused on holding back the Final Shape and couldn't keep an eye on her city's Ley Lines, cutting her losses from her previous master and gathering her strength for the war that would follow the [[War against the Witness]].<ref name="ascendant">'''Bungie (2024/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[The Ascendant]]''</ref>

Another of these [[The Past|missions]] involved finding and saving [[Citrine]], a Ghost obsessed with Warmind hardware and whose last known location was Mars. Here, the Guardian would traverse the unpredictable rifts that cursed the planet. Micah would detect Xivu Arath's Hive forces were sent back to the planet to investigate the time anomalies and the team would confront and kill [[Kelgorath, Risen from Bones]], manifested from when he was trying to conquer the location, to prevent Xivu Arath from retrieving any functional Warmind tech while Mara would dispatch her Techeuns to seal the rift even if temporarily.<ref name="past">'''Bungie (2024/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[The Past]]''</ref>

Though the Coalition rejoiced in the [[Excision|Witness's fall]], they nonetheless understood that its death left a power vacuum that some of its former servants are seeking to fill and continue to enact the Final Shape. They also hadn't forgotten that Xivu Arath remained at large, for though she was mortal, the Hive God of War remained a threat that the Guardians would have to contend with in the future.<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/7)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[Excision]]''</ref> Eris Morn inquired as to where Xivu and Savathûn had fled after the Final Shape was prevented.<ref>'''Bungie (2024/6/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Episode: Echoes]] - Item Description: [[Ill Omen#Lore|Ill Omen]]''</ref>

===A Familiar Echo===
{{quote|I AM STRIFE. I AM DEATH. I AM XIVU ARATH, AND I AM YOUR END. YOUR FALSE GOD, COWERS IN HER CYST WORLD, SCHEMING TO PROFANE A TRUE THRONE. DEFY ME, LIFT YOUR BLADE TO MINE, LET THEIR EDGES CLASH AND KEEN AND SING. RAISE A HYMN TO THE GOD OF WAR!|Xivu Arath addressing the Guardian}}
Xivu Arath sent an [[Voice of Xivu Arath|avatar]] to the Dreadnaught where she met with Savathûn and the Guardian to speak with the newly discovered [[Echo of Navigation]], containing the memories of Oryx. Savathûn and Xivu Arath explained to him that he had been killed by the Guardian, and in his current form, he was merely a memory of a younger version of himself. Xivu Arath and the Echo argued about the Sword Logic, with Xivu believing he could retake his mantle as Taken King, while the Echo believed that if he was killed, then he deserved to be dead. Savathûn told them to stop bickering as they were now free to carve their own paths, and the sisters promptly left to begin mobilizing.<ref>'''Bungie (2025/2/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Episode: Heresy]] - [[Kludge]]''</ref>

[[File:Xivu Heresy.png|thumb|300px|Xivu Arath appears before the Guardian.]]

{{Stub|section=A Familiar Echo}}

==Personality and Traits==
{{References|section}}
{{Quote|I AM WAR.|Xivu Arath.}}
Compared to her siblings, Xivu Arath is the least subtle but the most bloodthirsty, boisterous and wrathful of the three. Nearly every time Xivu Arath has spoken, her voice has boomed, akin to ferocious growls and screams of bloodlust, even when she would otherwise be speaking more mellow words. However, while her tactical smarts are mentioned in the Books of Sorrow to be fairly impressive, Xivu Arath is consistently shown to be simpler, easier to fool, and generally less intelligent than her siblings. Savathûn herself spoke, when disguised as Osiris, that her sister lacked a sense of creativity and ambitions of her own after observing that she was merely pushing through the cracks within the Dreaming City that the Witch Queen had left behind. However, it would be gravely foolish to underestimate Xivu Arath at all, for while she might not have her siblings’ subtlety, she could arguably be much more determined than either of them, with absolutely nothing stopping her from reaching her goal, regardless of what she has to destroy to acquire it. Further, despite her lack of cunning, Xivu Arath is stated to be a master of siege warfare and an expert strategist, with her brood being considered far better organized and battle-hardened than even Oryx's forces. Even Savathûn's Ghost, Immaru, has stated that Xivu Arath is the Witness's best general. She can also be just as cruel as her siblings, as Xivu Arath taunted Osiris after he lost his Light and that of Sagira's sacrifice, doing so once more towards Saint-14 on Titan. Xivu Arath also went as far as to mock the Cabal's way of life of constant warfare and expansionism, claiming that by waging war, they had been "worshiping" her all along as she laid waste to the Cabal's homeworld.

In essence, if compared to her siblings, one who worked out how to commune with the Darkness and master the power to Take, and the actual Hive god of cunning and trickery, Xivu Arath does come out looking less intelligent, but this by no means should be taken to mean that she is. In the events of ''[[Season of the Seraph]]'', she aimed to corner the forces of Earth into a checkmate situation, wherein any move to combat her would only inch her closer to summoning her Throne World on Earth, sealing her victory. Even when her plans do not go accordingly, Xivu Arath is smart and tactical enough to withdraw her forces, regroup and wait for another opportunity to launch an assault. Xivu Arath also values persistence as much as strength, as one's willingness to continue conflict steadily empowers her. This is best exemplified by her continued support of Kelgorath, Risen from Bones, whom Xivu Arath continues to resurrect and prop up as a steady source of tithe, despite his repeated defeats and deaths. Further, Xivu Arath has proven very adept at emotional manipulation and taunting of her foes, most notably with Sloane after Titan was taken, mocking her and tempting her to give into violence. In Xivu Arath's words, she targets her enemies' weaknesses and "infects" them. Doing so leaves her opponents doubting themselves or giving into rage, which fuels the conflict that feeds her and her worm.

Xivu Arath has also shown to be a deep believer in the Hive's Sword Logic and the goal of enacting the Final Shape, entering into zealous fanaticism. In fact, when learning of her brother's death and that the Guardians refused to assume his mantle as the Taken King, Xivu Arath was left utterly furious and hysterical, calling it blasphemy. In addition, she felt utter betrayal when she learned that Savathûn turned her back on their original decision in joining the Darkness and converted to the Light. However, for all her fanaticism and wrath, Xivu Arath may actually be deeply unhappy with her position in the Black Fleet. Xivu Arath is aware that she could never break free of the Witness' influence the way her sister did, and the fact that she has not been named a Disciple yet indicates that while she may torment Eramis and her House, her own standing with The Witness is little better. Most notably, following her brother's death, Xivu Arath outright asks whether or not their decision to take up the Sword Logic and side with the Witness was all for nothing. After all, the Guardians have killed Oryx and rejected the Sword Logic by not taking his vacant throne, something Xivu Arath couldn't understand, and her own sister spurned the Witness and the Sword Logic in favor of the Light. Eris Morn would derisively state that Xivu Arath is desperate to prove the Sword Logic as absolute, to gain vindication for all the Hive's efforts, to prove the Traveler's path is a lie, and every death the Hive committed in the name of the Sword Logic proves it. However, Eris would state that Xivu Arath's desire for the Sword Logic's truth, of a world without doubt, pity or grief is akin to a child's cry.

===Relationships===
Though Xivu Arath has battled with her siblings in the past, she nonetheless loves them both in the usual Hive fashion. Most notably, Xivu Arath has nothing but glowing praise and affection for Oryx, as seen in the memories found in the "Ghosts of the Deep" mission. Xivu Arath sees him as a source of inspiration and guide throughout their lives as Krill and Hive, calling him the Navigator of her life. She was utterly furious after learning of his death and laments the doubt it left behind, audibly wailing when recounting his death, showcasing a sister in mourning. In fact, she doesn't appear to care if the Lucent Hive resurrect her brother with the Light, which is a heretical violation of the Sword Logic, as it would bring her brother back.

Xivu Arath's relationship with her sister Savathûn is more complicated, as while the Witch Queen "gifted" her with the conquest of Torobatl, Xivu Arath relentlessly hunted the Witch Queen after learning of her intention to abandon the Sword Logic and betray the Witness for the Light, something that the war god not only found heretical but also infuriating. Savathûn claimed that Xivu Arath was actually hunting her out of fear of losing her because separating herself from her worm would also separate Savathûn from her sister. Somewhat sadly, the Witch Queen admitted that however deeply she cared for Xivu Arath, it wasn't enough to deter her from her chosen path. Nonetheless, despite the love that the sisters may have once had, Xivu Arath remains angry with the Witch Queen's abandonment of their ways, leading the War God to deface what Savathûn once possessed and twist her former lieutenants into her servants.

==Family==
{{Hive Pantheon}}

==Trivia==
*Xivu Arath is voiced by [[wikipedia:Kimberly Brooks|Kimberly Brooks]].
**For an extended period of time, Xivu Arath went unvoiced in ''Episode: Heresy'' due to an actors' strike.
*[[Umun'arath]], Evocate-General and Primus of All Legions of the Cabal Empire, was named after Xivu Arath by her parents, who like many Cabal were aware of the Hive pantheon through secondhand myths and legends.<ref>'''[[Beloved (lore)|Beloved]]''', "[[Beloved (lore)#I am thirty-five years old.|I am thirty-five years old.]]"</ref>
*Xivu Arath is the second confirmed female knight. The first is her Daughter, Tir Balok.
**However, Xivu Arath could be considered the first of the Hive Knights.
*Xivu Arath is the only one of the three Hive gods to not have any confirmed offspring as they are only referred as her children exclusively in gameplay. 
*Though Xivu Arath has been mentioned throughout the Destiny series and her forces didn't appear until ''Forsaken'', she wasn't mentioned by name until ''Shadowkeep''.
*Similar to her sister, Xivu Arath has likely discerned her own path through the Sword Logic. She is described by one of her knights as a master of 'operontological warfare' whereby she can directly attack an enemy's very being through mere strategic prowess, essentially winning a battle before it is fought simply through insurmountable tactics.
*Since ''Season of the Chosen'', Xivu Arath's speech has been consistently transcribed entirely in uppercase, without quotes where it would otherwise be applicable.
*During [[The Witch Queen]]'s reveal trailer, the image used for Xivu Arath on [[Ikora Rey]]'s evidence board was that of a fanmade render. After substantial attention, Bungie would publicly apologize for the mistake and state that the creator of the artwork has since given permission to use it.<ref>https://x.com/Cozmo23/status/1442534201165635587</ref>
*The image of Xivu Arath and her brood invading Torobatl takes inspiration from a shot from the 1926 silent film ''Faust''.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fnew-image-of-xivu-arath-on-torobatl-from-the-preordered-v0-rhqvutpvr4da1.png%3Fwidth%3D646%26format%3Dpng%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dfc70362fd5dacd42aa281e5193de3fa0be8d568b</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:XivuArath.jpg|Xi Ro as depicted in the [[Destiny Grimoire Anthology]]
File:Xivu-Arath-Fall-of-Torobatl-Grimoire-Archive.jpg|Xivu Arath as depicted in the Destiny Grimoire Anthology
File:XivuArathWitch.png|Xivu Arath as depicted in Season of the Witch
File:Xivu Arath Excision Cutscene.png|Xivu Arath as depicted at the end of the Final Shape
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]]'' {{First mentioned}}
*''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Shadowkeep]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Beyond Light]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Season of the Hunt]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Season of the Chosen]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Season of the Splicer]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Season of the Lost]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[The Witch Queen]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Season of the Risen]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Season of the Haunted]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Season of the Seraph]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Lightfall]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Season of the Deep]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[Season of the Witch]]'' {{Vo}}
**''[[Season of the Wish]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[The Final Shape]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Episode: Echoes]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Episode: Heresy]]''
*''[[Breakdown]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Destiny Grimoire Anthology, Volume VII]]'' {{Mo}}

==References==
<references/>

{{Hive}}
{{Taken}}

[[Category:Hive characters]]
[[Category:Main antagonists]]
[[Category:Paracausal entities]]