Ylaia

Ylaia
Biographical information
Species:	Human
Race:	Awoken
Gender:	Female
Political and military information
Affiliation:	The Reef
Rank:	Techeun Adept

"The stars roar with violent destruction. Channel their astral rage."

— Ylaia, Awoken Techeun

Ylaia was one of thirteen Awoken who was selected to undergo training to become a Techeun in the aftermath of the Battle of Saturn in an effort to restore the depleted numbers of the order and aid Queen Mara Sov's return journey to the Dreaming City.

Biography

Sometime after their training began, Ylaia and her twelve fellow Techeun coven sisters were brought to the Dreaming City to practice their abilities within a building that was a nexus of several Ley Lines. During one session, Austyn watched as Ylaia struggled to interact with the Ley Lines, being the only one amongst the thirteen unable to do so. She warned Ylaia that the lines would shift soon, but her fellow student's concentration was broken by a nearby explosion that shook the building. As Ylaia threw her focusing crystal across the room and expressed her frustration with training in a war zone, Austyn began noting that if she could not connect with the Ley Lines at a powerful crossroads she might not be able to at all, but her coven sister cut her off in anger and vowed to try again. The Petra Venj then arrived and began advising them on her own struggles she had faced during her own brief time training as a Techeun.

Ylaia and Petra met in a courtyard in the Dreaming City. Petra told Ylaia how she and her sister, Pinar, were trained to be Techeuns by Imar. However, while Pinar excelled in her training, Petra was left behind, eventually leaving the training program and joining the Corsairs. Petra told Ylaia to give the training a chance, and if she failed, there would still be other work she could do.

Despite her inexperience, Petra Venj promoted her to the rank of Adept, and asked Kalli to perform the necessary augmentations.

Ylaia and twelve other new Techeuns met with Petra and Sedia in the Blind Well to begin their search for Mara. Wielding the Wayfinder's Compass, the Techeuns traveled a Ley Line to the distant edge of Sol, where they met with Mara. However, due to Austyn accidentally witnessing the Black Terrace before their search for Mara, Xivu Arath was able to track the group, forcing Mara Sov to shatter the Ley Line behind them. The group attempted to flee to the Dreaming City, but Xivu Arath gave chase, and in a final effort to rescue Mara, Austyn gave her the Wayfinder's Compass and the Techeuns fled into the Ascendant Realm to draw Xivu Arath's attention away.

While searching for a way to the Dreaming City, Ylaia witnessed Savathûn encased in crystal. The Hive spotted Ylaia, and she escaped the Ley Line, dangling from runes as the Hive fell into the abyss. She climbed back into the Ley Line, cleared her mind, and continued to wait.

Ylaia was one of several Techeuns who were rescued by the Guardian from the Ascendant Plane. The reassembled coven was tasked by Mara with preparing a ritual that would separate the Savathûn from her Worm in exchange for the return of Osiris. Ylaia began restorative meditation, but on one such occasion, she was interrupted by Glint seeking knowledge in the Headless Ones. Ylaia had some knowledge to share, but first requested clarification on what a pumpkin was.

Glint explained the process of pumpkin carving, and how during the Golden Age, pumpkins were used to communicate with the dead.

Ylaia explained how both humanity and Hive had attempted to subvert the laws of life and death. She noted that Nokris had experimented with necromancy using the living and dead, including the K1 miners, and likely used pumpkins to support the rituals.

After weeks of preparation, Ylaia joined Sjari and Austyn in conducting the ritual alongside Mara whilst the Guardian and Saint-14 defended them from Xivu Arath's invading army. The ritual was successful, but Mara planned on executing Savathûn while she was weak from the removal of her worm. Ylaia helped Sjari and Austyn break the crystal that held Savathûn so their Queen could kill their foe, but the Witch Queen was prepared for the betrayal and used a contingency spell to swap places with Osiris the moment she was freed.

A year later, Ylaia travelled with a group of Corsairs in the Ascendant Realm to analyze the Hive's presence on Sol's Ascendant borders. Ylaia discovered Hive patrols setting up a perimeter parallel to the Tangled Shore. Parallel to Phobos, they were ambushed by a Shrieker, and two Corsairs were injured. Ylaia sent the injured back to the Dreaming City, while the remainder of the group became parallel with Luna, and discovered a massive army of Hive rallying under the Black Terrace.

List of appearances

• Destiny 2: Season of the Lost (First appearance)
  • Season of the Seraph (Mentioned only)