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Empress Caiatl: Difference between revisions
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Several weeks after the treaty between the Cabal and humanity was established, Caiatl learned of political trouble in the Last City after her fleet intercepted broadcasts from [[Lakshmi-2]] of the [[Future War Cult]], who was stirring discontent against the Vanguard after they allowed the [[Eliksni]] [[House of Light]] to settle into the city. The fleet also detected a [[Vex]] anomaly known as the [[Endless Night]] afflicting the Last City. Caiatl contacted Zavala to discuss the issue, but the Commander was suspicious of her concern. Caiatl claimed not to be concerned and noted that if the Vanguard were destroyed she needed to be aware. Zavala retorted that they were still there, but Caiatl responded that was true for now. The Titan responded with an edge in his voice demanding to know why Caiatl was really calling. After a few moments of silence, Caiatl dropped her imperial tone and told Zavala that he was a proud hawk with a nest of vipers surrounding him and worried he might find a knife in his back soon. Zavala noted she had past experience with such issues, a fact she freely acknowledged while cautioning him that although Lakshmi was a politician her words of division were diminishing the Vanguard's authority and swaying minds against them. Caiatl worried that if he fell she could not trust whoever replaced him to honor their armistice. The Commander angrily stated that this was not the first challenge he faced and warned the Empress not to let her guilt for betraying her father delude her perception of the situation. Caiatl admired Zavala's fierce reply and admitted that she did not feel guilt for deposing Calus, but for allowing Ghaul to corrupt her people and set the stage for Xivu Arath's invasion. All she wished was to not see a fellow warrior she admired fall prey to the same trap, but noted he might not wish for her counsel. After a moment, Zavala inquired what she might advise. The Empress told him that Umun'arath had been her most trusted advisor and that the Darkness acted through many hands that he needed to recognize before it found his throat.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/5/11)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Splicer]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Beneath_the_Endless_Night#II_-_FRACTURES|Beneath the Endless Night II - FRACTURES]]''</ref> | Several weeks after the treaty between the Cabal and humanity was established, Caiatl learned of political trouble in the Last City after her fleet intercepted broadcasts from [[Lakshmi-2]] of the [[Future War Cult]], who was stirring discontent against the Vanguard after they allowed the [[Eliksni]] [[House of Light]] to settle into the city. The fleet also detected a [[Vex]] anomaly known as the [[Endless Night]] afflicting the Last City. Caiatl contacted Zavala to discuss the issue, but the Commander was suspicious of her concern. Caiatl claimed not to be concerned and noted that if the Vanguard were destroyed she needed to be aware. Zavala retorted that they were still there, but Caiatl responded that was true for now. The Titan responded with an edge in his voice demanding to know why Caiatl was really calling. After a few moments of silence, Caiatl dropped her imperial tone and told Zavala that he was a proud hawk with a nest of vipers surrounding him and worried he might find a knife in his back soon. Zavala noted she had past experience with such issues, a fact she freely acknowledged while cautioning him that although Lakshmi was a politician her words of division were diminishing the Vanguard's authority and swaying minds against them. Caiatl worried that if he fell she could not trust whoever replaced him to honor their armistice. The Commander angrily stated that this was not the first challenge he faced and warned the Empress not to let her guilt for betraying her father delude her perception of the situation. Caiatl admired Zavala's fierce reply and admitted that she did not feel guilt for deposing Calus, but for allowing Ghaul to corrupt her people and set the stage for Xivu Arath's invasion. All she wished was to not see a fellow warrior she admired fall prey to the same trap, but noted he might not wish for her counsel. After a moment, Zavala inquired what she might advise. The Empress told him that Umun'arath had been her most trusted advisor and that the Darkness acted through many hands that he needed to recognize before it found his throat.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/5/11)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Splicer]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Beneath_the_Endless_Night#II_-_FRACTURES|Beneath the Endless Night II - FRACTURES]]''</ref> | ||
===On Savathûn and the Awoken=== | ===On Savathûn and the Awoken=== | ||
After the conclusion of the limited war against the City, Caiatl's advisors repeatedly urged her to launch a full-scale invasion of [[the Reef]], believing its still-weakened state would result in a morale-restoring decisive Cabal victory. However, Caiatl considered such warmongering a distraction from their struggle against Xivu Arath, whose forces remained a persistent threat even in the Sol system, and had to be engaged wherever they emerged. Caiatl's efforts, such as personally leading a fleet ambush and boarding action against one of Xivu Arath's [[Tomb Carrier]]s, occupied enough of the Hive war god's attention and vice versa that Queen [[Mara Sov]] of the Reef believed neither would risk overextending themselves by attacking the Dreaming City in force.<ref | After the conclusion of the limited war against the City, Caiatl's advisors repeatedly urged her to launch a full-scale invasion of [[the Reef]], believing its still-weakened state would result in a morale-restoring decisive Cabal victory.<ref name = "Ripples/Ambush">'''Bungie (2021/8/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Lost]]- [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Ripples#I - Ambush|Ripples: I - Ambush]]''</ref> However, Caiatl respected the Awoken, whose legends she had heard from the mythkeeper Ahztja while she was still a princess, and was reluctant to do harm to them.<ref name = "Vulpecula">'''Bungie (2021/8/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Lost]]- [[Lore]]: [[Vulpecula]]''</ref> As well, on the strategic level, she considered such warmongering a distraction from their struggle against Xivu Arath, whose forces remained a persistent threat even in the Sol system, and had to be engaged wherever they emerged. Caiatl's efforts, such as personally leading a fleet ambush and boarding action against one of Xivu Arath's [[Tomb Carrier]]s, occupied enough of the Hive war god's attention and vice versa that Queen [[Mara Sov]] of the Reef believed neither would risk overextending themselves by attacking the Dreaming City in force. <ref name = "Ripples/Ambush"/> | ||
Nonetheless, when Caiatl learned that [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen]], had revealed herself in the [[Dreaming City]], she gathered her advisors and | Nonetheless, when Caiatl learned that [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen]], had revealed herself in the [[Dreaming City]], she gathered her advisors and drew plans for just such an attack in order to destroy Savathûn while she was still vulnerable. Further intelligence from [[Lord Saladin]] (liaising on behalf of the Vanguard) and Psion agents relayed that Savathûn was a willing captive of Mara Sov, but Caiatl, aware of Savathûn's reputation for cunning and uncertain that Mara could outplay her, continued to weigh the decision to invade.<ref name = "Vulpecula"/> | ||
Ultimately, Caiatl placed her trust in Commander Zavala, and sent Saladin back to him with a request for a secure meeting in the EDZ.<ref name = "Vulpecula"/> To this meeting, she sent a Psion volunteer briefed on her dilemma and a Legionary to record Zavala's response. After Zavala arrived, the Psion gave him a vision of the Cabal obliterating the Dreaming City with [[Cabal Heavy Munitions|planet-crackers]], killing Savathûn at the cost of countless Awoken (including Mara Sov and Petra Venj), and almost certainly leading the Reef to go to war with the Cabal. Zavala and Caiatl would bear sole responsibility for an atrocity in exchange for the final death of the Hive god of trickery and all her ambitions. <ref name = "The Hothead">'''Bungie (2021/8/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Lost]]- [[Lore]]: [[The Hothead]]''</ref> | Ultimately, Caiatl placed her trust in Commander Zavala, and sent Saladin back to him with a request for a secure meeting in the EDZ.<ref name = "Vulpecula"/> To this meeting, she sent a Psion volunteer briefed on her dilemma and a Legionary to record Zavala's response. After Zavala arrived, the Psion gave him a vision of the Cabal obliterating the Dreaming City with [[Cabal Heavy Munitions|planet-crackers]], killing Savathûn at the cost of countless Awoken (including Mara Sov and Petra Venj), and almost certainly leading the Reef to go to war with the Cabal. Zavala and Caiatl would bear sole responsibility for an atrocity in exchange for the final death of the Hive god of trickery and all her ambitions. <ref name = "The Hothead">'''Bungie (2021/8/24)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Lost]]- [[Lore]]: [[The Hothead]]''</ref> | ||