Scorn

"Come... kill us! Death is our sword!"

- Fikrul, the Fanatic

The Scorn are a horde of undead Fallen spawned by Darkness-tainted Ether. Formerly led by Fikrul, the Fanatic and Uldren Sov, they orchestrated a massive breakout from the Prison of Elders and murdered Cayde-6 in the process, and have since spread throughout much of the Reef and the Dreaming City. Most recently, they have come under the sway of both Xivu Arath and the Witness, using them as pawns against the Guardians and the turncoat Hive God Savathûn.

Terror of the Reef
Capitalizing on the lack of leadership in the post-Taken War Reef, a group of Dregs who collectively titled themselves the "Scorned Barons" banded together after they were cast out from the House of Exile. They waged a civil war against the Fallen Houses for practicing the old Eliksni ways and terrorized Awoken settlements within the Reef, degrading the once prosperous civilization into a lawless frontier. The terror they unleashed had almost grown as powerful as any Kell even having driven the House of Wolves to extinction through the destruction of all their Servitors. They even successfully took control of a local Hive brood with Hiraks, the Mindbender taking In Anânh, Brood Queen as his consort.

Sometime before the Red War, acting Regent-Commander Petra Venj enlisted the support of the Hunter Vanguard Cayde-6, and with the assistance of a small group of his most trusted Guardians, together hunted down the Scorned Barons. At a final standoff, the Barons were defeated and those not killed were thrown deep within the Prison of Elders. Only one at the scene, their Archon, Fikrul, the Fanatic, managed to escape. The Barons bonded together here in their shared situation.

Rise of the Scorn
"Kill a Fallen, I claim it as Scorn. Kill a Scorn, I raise ten more!"

- Fikrul, the Fanatic

At some point following the Taken War, Prince Uldren, who had been corrupted by Darkness and was working with the House of Kings, discovered a mortally wounded Fikrul. Uldren wished to save him, attracting the attention of the Taken Ahamkara Riven. Riven granted Uldren's wish, and part of Uldren's Darkness transferred into Fikrul's Ether, transmutating into Dark Ether which raised him as the first of the Scorn.

Fikrul and Uldren became allies and worked together to usurp Craask, Kell of Kings, immediately taking over the House of Kings; Fikrul docked the latter of his arms and demoted Craask to Dreg status before slaughtering the House in a grand betrayal as Uldren decides that the Kings are too bothersome for his ambitions. With the use of Dark Ether, Fikrul raised the deceased Kings as a new army of undead Fallen to lead, which became known collectively as the Scorn.

The Prison Break


A year after the Red War, both Uldren and Fikrul were caught by Petra and Cayde-6, willingly surrendering themselves and taken to the Prison of Elders. During the warden's interrogation of Fikrul on the whereabouts of Kaliks Prime, the former prince took advantage of Variks' wavering loyalty and tricked him into releasing the prison's inmates, causing a massive riot in which The Guardian and Cayde-6 were forced to contain, unaware of the Scorn raised by Fikrul to aid them in releasing the Barons. During their escape, Cayde-6 was confronted by Uldren and the eight Scorned Barons in a tense standoff, to which Uldren finished the Hunter Vanguard off with his own Ace of Spades.

After the escape, the main horde of Scorn fled into the Tangled Shore behind the leadership of Prince Uldren, Fikrul and their seven commanding Barons. Without the sanction of the Vanguard, the Guardian took it upon themselves to avenge the fallen Cayde-6 and hunt down the Scorned Barons throughout the Tangled Shore.

Hunting the Barons
"Divide. Conquer. Isolate Uldren. He'll wind up at your feet. And all you have to do... is pull the trigger."

- The Spider.

After their release, the Scorn entered into a war with the Spider for control over the Tangled Shore, and forcing the Fallen crime boss into a deal with the Guardian and Petra Venj for information on their whereabouts. The Guardian drove the Scorned Barons out of their den and scattered them across the Shore, taking out their forces bit-by-bit and soon discover each Baron had plans for when they would be done with the Reef.

Encountering a trail left by Araskes, the Trickster, the Guardians discover the Trickster developed a wicked plan to sabotage engram caches with explosives which she intended to send to the Last City and incite mayhem. The Guardian manages to destroy her caches and chase the Trickster throughout the Shore and corner her. Despite her cloaking and constant traps, the Guardian was able to kill Araskes.

Later on, the Guardians find fiery trail blazes over the Shore and soon find the one responsible, Yaviks, the Rider and her Pike gang. Within the Shore, Yaviks intended to continue her trail of destruction and anarchy over the Reef while also wishing to beat Cayde-6's Pike riding record since last time, the Hunter Vanguard bested her. The Guardian manages to procure a Pike of their own and initiate a destructive race with Yaviks. But, despite Yaviks' modified Heavy Pike, weaponry, and the aid of her gang, the Guardians were able to kill the Rider, thereby preserving Cayde's record.

After a while, the Guardians were contacted by Kaniks, the Mad Bomber who challenges them. Tracking the message, the Guardian encounters the Mad Bomber who gleefully attacks them with his arsenal of explosives. The Guardian survives the initial attack and chases after Kaniks, who continues to mock Cayde's death, but despite his erratic tactics and explosives, the Guardian kills the Mad Bomber.

Following intel provided from the Spider, the Guardians follow the evidence of Pirrha, the Rifleman, the one who killed Cayde's Ghost. The search leads the Guardian to Pirrha's initial sniper's nest in Hellrise Canyon. Once they enter, the Guardian realizes the nest was a trap as Pirrha's forces attack them. Surviving the trap, Pirrha contacts them, threatening to destroy their Ghost just as he did with Cayde's. Fighting past Pirrha's forces and keeping their Ghost safe from Pirrha's sniping, the Guardians manage to corner the Rifleman. Despite his Crossbow weapon and bothersome decoys, the Guardian kills Pirrha, avenging Cayde's Ghost.

Within the fields of the Tangled Shore, the Guardian finds remains of Servitors, completely drained of their ether. The Spider takes this as evidence that Reksis Vahn, the Hangman, a Scorn Baron with a hatred for Servitors, is nearby. Following a trail of ether to Quitter's Well, the Guardians encounter the Hangman within his lair. Despite his great strength and Flame Cauldron weapon, the Guardian manages to slay the sadistic Baron.

With another tip from the Spider, the Guardian search for Hiraks, the Mindbender, a Scorn Baron with a morbid fascination for the Hive. The search for Hiraks takes them to a downed Hive Warship from the Taken War, which became a breeding ground for the Hive stranded in the Shore. Fighting past Hive soldiers under the control of Hiraks, the Guardian soon finds a portal rupture that leads to Hiraks' throne world, the Ascendant Plane which manifested from all the deaths of Hiraks' foes, including Cayde-6. Within the Ascendant Plane, the Guardian faces off against Hiraks, who is more powerful within his throne world, but despite his Hive servants and Ascendant powers, they kill the Mindbender which causes his Ascendant Plane to destabilize. The Guardian manages to escape just in time before the Ascendant Plane collapses.

With most of the Barons dead, the Guardian manages to track down the Baron's second-in-command, Elykris, the Machinist to Salvage Zone QX. There, the Machinist challenges the Guardian and forces them to question their motives in the deaths of her comrades. Nonetheless, the Guardian battles with Elykris where she unleashes the full force of her stolen and salvaged weaponry. Even with the force of her weaponry and tactics, the Guardian manages to kill Elykris and destroy her stockpile.

With the Machinist's death, the Scorn's leadership has been reduced to Fikrul, the Fanatic, the Scorn's Archon, and Uldren himself.

Meanwhile, as the Guardians continued their vendetta in the Shore, Petra maintained her hunt for Uldren. She managed to track him to Earth deep within the Dark Forest of the European Dead Zone. There, she witnesses him taking a shard of the Traveler bearing its Light. Though she managed to find Uldren, Petra failed in her chance to kill him, leaving her position exposed to the Dusk Fallen and enabling Uldren to escape.

The Fall of Uldren
With the death of the Scorned Barons, Uldren escapes and walled himself inside the Awoken Watchtower, to find his sister, Mara Sov. Guarding the structure were his Scorn forces, led by Fikrul, the last Scorn Baron. When The Spider's agents heard of this, The Spider's Crime Syndicate, under the command of The Guardian and Petra attacks the Scorn. In his final battle, Fikrul questions the Guardian's motives to kill them for revenge, or just outright. However, despite his Dark Ether powers, the angered Baron was slain, and the Guardian continued to find Uldren. Upon arriving at the Gateway, they find a horrific Chimera, named the Voice of Riven had captured him after using the rogue prince in releasing it. Despite the Taken monster's powers, it was destroyed, saving Uldren. Left crippled and defenseless, Uldren questions his killers' motives and says that despite his crimes, what he has done was for his sister. Uldren was executed then, leaving the Scorn broken.

The Dreaming City War
"The Scorn seek revenge for the death of the Fanatic. They will never willingly leave the Dreaming City."

- Petra Venj

Following the demise of Fikrul and Uldren, the Scorn lingered within the Dreaming City and engulfed themselves into a conflict against the Taken. The Spider notes how he was placed in charge of safekeeping the City, but lost control due to the rising Scorn presence.

Several Chieftains sought revenge and the thieves stole an oracle offering which fell into the hands of Elikaa. Later Scorn champions such as Sikariis, and Varkuuriis began plaguing the Blind Well and enlisted their heralds; Macuii, Itzlii and Tezcaa, to guard it. They were promptly defeated by the Guardians who sought to gain another offering.

Still vengeful against the Awoken, Tirksnii and his group of Corsairbanes hunted down and killed Corsairs across the Dreaming City. Petra immediately issued a Bounty to avenge her comrades and sought the elimination of Tirksnii.

Later she receives intel from Corsairs of a Scorn gathering by the entrance of the monastery. The Guardians are sent to investigate and depose the siege leader Drekaa outside and then defeat Kruvii within the Harbinger's Seclude. Petra also coordinates a team to rescue the Taken Sedia and Avakrii is defeated along the way. The Guardians also expurgate the Chieftains, Yirksii and Vilzii, out of their territories lost in the Dreaming City and Tangled Shore.

Return of Fikrul
"Hello, dead thing. Come to slaughter my children? Me, perhaps? You die instead."

- The Fanatic

Despite the Scorn's falling numbers, leadership finally came back in place, as the Fanatic returned from death for revenge and to raise the other Barons from the dead once more. Fighting through the Scorn, a strike team entered The Hollowed Lair, with Fikrul challenging them. Despite his hatred and Dark Ether powers, the Guardians defeated the Scorn Archon once again but he swears that he will return, no matter how many times they strike him down.

Another Baron, Elykris, the Machinist returned, but this time under the title "Reanimated Machinist" implying that she and the other Barons can be revived just like Fikrul. Despite the return of Elykris and Fikrul, the Scorn's power and numbers appear to be unknown as The Drifter mentions that Scorn are all over the place and that they must be breeding and have appeared in places like Titan and Nessus and other places in the system.

Even after the events of the Tangled Shore, they still managed to keep their numbers up with newly risen scorn. There are also a considerable number of them that are revealed on the Moon as the Lunar Pyramid would utilize several Scorn Nightmares when the Guardians went in pursuit of the Nightmare of Fikrul, the Fanatic.

Glykon Ritual
Following the Lunar Incident, many Scorn in the Tangled Shore would find themselves captured by Loyalist Cabal of former Emperor Calus, and sent to the Cabal Carrier, Glykon Volatus. There, the Scorn would be subjected to experiments to satisfy Calus' understanding of the Darkness. The experimentations would further develop after the Loyalists brought the Hive artifact, the Crown of Sorrow, aboard. Utilizing the Crown, the Loyalists had as a means of observing how the Darkness interfered with the Scorn's corrupted consciousness. Many test subjects would perish from "continuous neuron death" except for one who "spoke with many dead voices". This Scorn would become known as the Locus of Communion.

However, when the Black Fleet arrived in the Solar System, the Glykon Volatus would be caught in the very edges of the Darkness' sweep and become abandoned . The Guardian would find the derelict Glykon after intercepting its distress signal. After boarding the vessel, the Guardian would defeat the Locus and discover the secrets of the experiments conducted upon the Scorn, supported by Osiris and Caiatl.

Assaulting the Blind Well
After the Endless Night, a large number of Scorn would attack the Ley Lines situated in and around the Dreaming City. Led by Kruutiks, Reefbane, they would also attack the Blind Well directly. Even worse, they seem to have made a pact of nonaggression with the Hive and Taken, if not an outright alliance. They would also somehow gain access to the Ascendant Realm and take over the Debris of Dreams located in the Shattered Realm. After multiple expeditions to the Shattered Realm, it was learned the Scorn seemed to be evolving. They were seen to have been mining Ascendent energy from the Realm, as well as a fight pit. The latter of which heavily suggests the Scorn are developing their own culture.

In the Witch Queen's Realm
Following the Scorn's failure to seize control over the Dreaming City or capture Savathûn, the Scorn retreated from the Reef but would soon reappear in Savathûn's Throne World, looking to claim the Witch Queen's realm of their own. As the Guardian conducted their missions within the Throne World, looking to find out how Savathûn managed to control the Light, they noticed that the Scorn operated much more organized than previously encountered, leading Ikora to believe that the Scorn serve a new master. Throughout their missions against the Lucent Brood, the Scorn would attempt to impede the Guardian or clash with the Lightbearing Hive in their attempts to claim territory but ultimately failed in their efforts.

After the Guardian succeeded in defeating Savathûn and thwarting her attempt in sealing the Traveler away within her Throne World, her Ghost, Immaru, managed to escape and would lead the Lucent Brood in her stead, organizing the Hive in combating the Scorn who are looking to take advantage of the loss of their queen. This forces the Guardians to intervene before either faction could gain any significant ground. However, during their investigations in Savathûn's Throne World, the Guardians discover a Sunken Pyramid in the outskirts, with legions of Scorn guarding it. They soon learn that the Scorn's master: Rhulk, one of the first Disciples of the Witness, lies trapped within by the Witch Queen herself. However, with Savathûn gone, Rhulk was poised to break free but Mara Sov became aware of this and warned the Guardians of the danger he pose. The Guardians would form a Raid fireteam and storm the Sunken Pyramid, facing heavy resistance from empowered Scorn, including one notable Scorn Abomination called The Caretaker. Despite their efforts to protect their master, the Guardians managed to traverse deeper into the Pyramid even as the Scorn fought alongside the Taken. Ultimately confronting Rhulk at the center of the Pyramid armed with immense power and the Scorn's support, the Guardians slay the imprisoned Disciple, leading the Pyramid to fracture and the Scorn to retreat.

Despite the Guardian's victory against the Disciple of the Witness, the Scorn were unwilling to abandon the Sunken Pyramid, hoping to claim it for their own and continue Rhulk's experiments in infusing Hive-worms on other living beings. Mara Sov became aware of this and informed the Guardians, leading them to enter the Pyramid again and clear out the Scorn's presence and gather any useful secrets within.

The Scorned Barons
"The Barons had become heads of a new House, priests in their own rites, and arbiters of their own trials."

- Roll Call

The Scorned Barons are former members of the House of Exile who were cast out of the House before the Red War. As Dregs they banded together and self-proclaimed themselves as Barons and are not of traditional nobility held esteemed by Fallen Houses. Instead, they’ve formed a close kinship together and hold each other to high regard while the noble Fallen Houses disregarded them.

After their exile, they no longer affiliated themselves with any House and choose to follow Uldren Sov. He is given honorary titles such as "King Sov" and "Father" and the Barons will do anything to help pursue his goals. Beneath Uldren are eight Barons, led by the former Wolf Archon, Fikrul, the Fanatic. His most ardent follower is Elykris, the Machinist who serves the group as his second in command. The Barons challenged the sovereignty held by House of Spider and set their base of operations by the Tangled Shore. Each one has a unique set of skills and combat specialties.

Kaniks and Elykris respectively serve as the explosive and munitions expert for the group, while Araskes prefers to keep her operations behind the scenes and places traps for unsuspecting victims. She is also the spokesperson for the Scorn and sent for negotiations and to establish trades. Yaviks leads a gang of Pikers who steal supplies for the Barons, while Reksis Vahn brutally mauls Servitors to harvest their Ether. Pirrha acts as their line of defense by being an all-seeing sharpshooter. He is aided by a security network spread across the Tangled Shore and eliminates any threat who enters their territory. This gifts them the freedom to do anything they please as Hiraks can practice twisted experimentations on the Hive to the extent that they become loyal to him and command his own Brood called the Mindbent.

The group also differs in ideologies as Elykris prefers to hoard everything she salvages such as Servitors, while Reksis chooses to destroy them. The Hangman seeks nothing but destruction, while the Machinist aims to preserve Fallen technology. Pirrha is another example of Fallen enhancing themselves with technology and seeking evolution similar to Devil Splicers and Taniks. Similarly, Kaniks is also outfitted with mechanical limbs, a byproduct of his mad bombings that have disabled him. Hiraks explores a different path by studying Hive knowledge and transcended into an Ascendant Eliksni, while Fikrul appeases any tensions among the group as their spiritual leader. He is the propagator of the Scorn and once celebrated leader of Eliksni faith, banished for his heresies against it.

The Scorn Army
"The Scorn aren't Fallen. Not anymore."

- Petra Venj

The Scorn are created from deceased Fallen, either recently or after repeated deaths, reanimated by Fikrul, the Fanatic through the use of Dark Ether and transformed into warped, undead monstrosities. Described as "frenzied, bloodthirsty puppets" by Petra Venj, they are unwaveringly loyal to the Scorned Barons and Uldren and throw themselves into combat with little care for self-preservation.

Scorn vary drastically in size and form, with Abominations in particular nearly being the size of a Hive Ogre. Many of them have docked lower arms as a remnant of their previous status as Dregs. Rather disturbingly, some Scorn classes, including Ravagers and Abominations, seem to also lack heads. It could be possible that their interaction with the Dark Ether has allowed the Scorn extrasensory abilities as every class of Scorn have some kind of metal plating covering their eyes, aside from Screebs, that wear no armor, and the Barons.

Scorn generally wear crudely-fashioned armor fastened with chains and painted gray or ochre. Many of their unique devices and weapons follow a similar aesthetic, consisting of metal plates bolted or welded together. The Drifter said that their blood is flammable, as well as being able to breed quickly, implying that they are getting their numbers up in more ways than resurrection.

Leadership

 * Uldren Sov – Former Leader
 * Fikrul, the Fanatic – Leader of the Scorn and Archon

Scorned Barons

 * Elykris, the Machinist – Second in Command
 * Hiraks, the Mindbender – Leader of Mindbent Hive
 * Reksis Vahn, the Hangman – Destroyer of Wolves' Servitors
 * Araskes, the Trickster – Spokesperson for the Scorn
 * Kaniks, the Mad Bomber – Explosives Expert
 * Pirrha, the Rifleman – Chief Sharpshooter
 * Yaviks, the Rider – Leader of Scorn Pike Gang

Scorn Champions

 * Brutiks, Lightbane
 * Heimiks, Warden of the Harvest
 * Kruutiks, Reefbane
 * Ksimikaa the Painsmith
 * Locus of Communion
 * Rynax, Resonant Bulwark
 * Sikariis, Plague of the Well
 * Termiiks, Invasive Warrant
 * The Caretaker
 * Varkuuriis, Plague of the Well
 * Vezuul, Lightflayer
 * Zeerik, Lightflayer

Scorn Chieftains

 * Akaskis the Listener
 * Avakrii, Temple Claimant
 * Cadori, Lightscourge
 * Captain Taksisaa
 * Defiled Reysk, the Waning Light
 * Dread Tatsrekaa
 * Drekaa, Warmonger Chieftain
 * Elikaa, Sworn to Vengeance
 * Kruvii, Subversive Chieftain
 * Lillix, Lightscourge
 * Muloskii, Twilight Captain
 * Nakoix, Lightscourge
 * Riktakal the Unmade
 * Scorn of the Fanatic
 * Skirvaa, Abhorred Chieftain
 * Tirksnii, Corsairbane
 * Vilzii, Scorn Chieftain
 * Yirksii, Subversive Chieftain

Scorn Members

 * Itzlii, Herald of the Plague
 * Kaaskis the Hungerer
 * Macuii, Herald of the Plague
 * Paradii, The Vigilant
 * Samaa, the Deserter
 * Siirnak the Deepwalker
 * Tezcaa, Herald of the Plague
 * The Shieldbreaker
 * The Vengeful Hand
 * Tortured Abomination
 * Visiraa

Unique Forces

 * Screeb — a horrific breed of Scorn Fallen corrupted by Dark Ether, that crawl on all fours and explode in a burst of energy with greater range than a Cursed Thrall's explosion.
 * Corrupted Screeb
 * Stalker — a class of Dregs that have been mysteriously reanimated by the Scorn's power.
 * Corrupted Stalker
 * Drill Crew
 * Enforcer
 * Rider's Minion
 * Ravager — headless, cauldron-wielding members of the Scorn who actively charge their opponents.
 * Corrupted Ravager
 * Hangman's Ravager
 * Invasive Warrant Ravager
 * Ravagers of Xivu Arath
 * Wraith — ferocious Scorn bandits who charge into battle with dual Flame Torches.
 * Corrupted Wraith
 * Devoted of the Fanatic
 * Raider — bandits that can fire saws construed of Void energy from their Scorn Rifles and teleport across the battlefield. They also use Scorn Crossbows.
 * Corrupted Raider
 * Courier
 * Deranged Raider
 * Drill Crew
 * Ravagers of Xivu Arath
 * Lurker — a class of Scorn Fallen pirates, who wield Fallen Shields and Scorn Pistols in battle.
 * Abated Adherent
 * Corrupted Lurker
 * Hangman's Jailer


 * Abomination — terrifying large, monstrous Ogre-like Scorn creatures that can fire electricity from their hands.
 * Corrupted Abomination
 * Darkmind Abomination
 * Demented Abomination
 * Deranged Abomination
 * Ether Abomination
 * Invasive Abomination
 * Knowledge Bearer
 * Lacerated Abomination
 * Lurking Abomination
 * Ravagers of Xivu Arath
 * Unstoppable Abomination
 * Chieftain — commanders of Scorn crews akin to Captains. They can place down multi-element totems that can act as lethal weapons or shields for enemy Scorn combatants.
 * Assault Leader
 * Corrupted Chieftain
 * Drudge Chieftain
 * Fanatic's Chosen
 * Glyphkeeper
 * Hand of the Corsairbane
 * Hangman's Jailer
 * Overload Chieftain
 * Portal Warden
 * Ravagers of Xivu Arath
 * Resonant Shepherd
 * Shimmering Chieftain

Technology

 * Scorn Walker—modified Walkers that are employed by the Scorn.
 * Stolen Walker
 * Scorn Scrapwalker
 * Scorn Pike
 * Scorn Blaster
 * Scorn Boomer
 * Scorn Pistol
 * Scorn Mine Launcher
 * Scorn Cannon
 * Scorn Grenade
 * Scorn Repeater Pistol
 * Scorn Rifle
 * Scorn Crossbow
 * Scorn Shield
 * Fallen Mace
 * Flame Censer
 * Stasis Censer
 * Flame Torch
 * Fanatic's Staff

Trivia

 * They are the second enemy faction in-game to be led by an antagonist of a different species, the first being the Grasp of Nokris and their Worm God Xol.
 * The Scorn are the first faction of Fallen seen in the Ascendant realm, and the first to ally themselves with Hive combatants.
 * The Scorn is the first Fallen faction in the Destiny series that does not possess its own Servitors of any kind, likely as a result of their hatred for the Fallen's old traditions and beliefs. However, many of their lairs are littered with their extracted cores, such as the Bay of Drowned Wishes in the Dreaming City
 * The Game Informer Forsaken issue reveals that the Scorn do not take cover, and have the most aggressive AI in the Destiny series.
 * The Scorn are the third faction of undead beings seen in the Destiny series, the first being Guardians and the second being the Grasp of Nokris of the Hive.
 * With the Scorn's Barons, nearly all of them can speak English, some broken while others are more fluent.
 * The Mindbender is the only one who speaks a completely unintelligible speech, similar to the Hive
 * The Hangman and the Rider only give growls and roars.

List of appearances

 * Destiny 2
 * Forsaken
 * Season of the Forge
 * Season of the Drifter
 * Season of Opulence
 * Shadowkeep
 * Season of Dawn
 * Season of the Worthy
 * Season of Arrivals
 * Beyond Light
 * Season of the Hunt
 * Season of the Chosen
 * Season of the Splicer
 * Season of the Lost
 * The Witch Queen