Hidden Swarm

Hidden Swarm
Purpose:	Frontline Military
Champion(s):	Swarm Princes (deceased) Xyor, the Unwed (deceased) Hashladûn, Daughter of Crota (deceased)
Realm:	Cosmodrome Hellmouth Scarlet Keep

"Mind the cracks and crevices of the Moon. There is an army in their shadows"

— Ikora Rey

The Hidden Swarm are a brood of the Hive under the command of the Hive god Crota and his disciples, lead by the Swarm Princes under their commander Sardon, Fist of Crota.

Since they're the first Hive encountered in The Dark Within. On the Moon, they're the outermost defensive line, warding off anyone attempting to enter the Hellmouth. They are identified by their red-orange coloring and the large nails driven through their arms and bodies. This sect of hive is encountered once more on Luna in Shadowkeep, their general look remains the same compared to Savathûn's hive but they now seem to have some form of spiked growth all over their bodies.

History

Arrival in the Solar System

When Crota, Son of Oryx and his spawn arrived at the Solar System and took over the Moon, The Hidden Swarm served as the beachhead force for Crota's staged invasion of Earth and also tasked with protecting their newly erected lunar strongholds, the most infamous, the Hellmouth. As they silently build their strength over the centuries, a Titan named Rezyl Azzir happen to intrude upon the Hellmouth and met with the Hive Wizard Xyor, the Blessed and her consort Knight. Though Rezyl survived his encounter, it would ultimately be Xyor's plan to curse the Titan with her dark whispers into becoming the infamous Dredgen Yor.

During the early City Age, the Hidden Swarm launched their Seeder Ships throughout Earth and engaged the Light-bearing Guardians at the Rusted Lands in the Eastern Flooded Zone; only one surviving Hunter warned the City of the Hive threat. Against overwhelming odds, the Guardians barely succeeded in repealing their forces at the Battle of Burning Lake, only to fail at their counteroffensive at the Great Disaster on the Moon.

Dark Below

Unopposed after their victory at Luna, the Hidden Swarm continued to seed their brood in secret beneath Old Russia for millenia, until Fallen from the House of Devils stirred them up at Skywatch much to the discovery of a newly-Risen Guardian. With word reaching the Speaker about the resurgence of Hive activity on Earth, the Guardian was send to investigate the Hellmouth for answers. What they found confirmed that the Hive was preparing a second invasion of Earth; this time also attacking the dormant Traveler in a ritual to drain its Light using a lost shard of it. The ritual was thwarted but the threat of the Hive remained; one which would be addressed by the former-Lightbearer Eris Morn.

Having sworn vengeance on the Hive and their master Crota for the losses of her Light, Ghost, and fireteam, Eris took tactical control over the Guardian operations as they work to dismantle the leadership behind the Hidden Swarm, including the legendary Swarm Princes (whom forged Crota's infamous Sword) and their commander Sardon, Fist of Crota (whom lead the Hive spawn on Earth). Eventually Crota fell to the Guardians, with word of his death would reach his father: Oryx, the Taken King.

Shadowkeep

"Crota's minions emerge once more. The Hidden Swarm that previously served Crota has banded together once again, leaderless but not purposeless."

— Eris Morn

Years after Crota's death and that of Oryx, the Hive on Luna would remain relatively quiet. As the attention of the Guardians became preoccupied by the chaos of the Red War, the conflicts on Mercury, Mars and in the Reef, the Hive on Luna would be overlooked. As a result of numerous deaths, the various broods on the moon consolidated into the Hidden Swarm, becoming the de facto Hive power on the moon. Rallying under the banner of the scheming Daughters of Crota, led by Hashladûn, the Hidden Swarm sought power to turn their situation around. The discovery of the Pyramid beneath Luna's surface by Eris Morn provided such an opportunity.

Hashladûn and her coven of sisters sought to use the Pyramid's power and connection to the Darkness to provide them the means to turn their situation to their advantage and exact vengeance against the Guardians for ravaging their lineage. Using a forbidden piece of arcane knowledge, the Cryptoglyph, Hashladûn and her sisters managed to create phantasmal Nightmares based on the Guardians' traumas and the necessary armor to shield themselves against the Pyramid's influence. Further Hashladûn had the Hidden Swarm construct a massive crimson fortress, the Scarlet Keep, that would act as an amplifier for their magics and to defend the Pyramid. However, the Hidden Swarm's resurgence would catch the attention of Eris Morn, whom called upon the Vanguard to commit their forces to Luna, sending in the Guardian to push back the Hive.

The Guardian would soon enter the Scarlet Keep to investigate but would soon discover the Pyramid and encounter the Nightmares for the first time, nearly getting overwhelmed as the Nightmares took the form of Crota, Dominus Ghaul and Fikrul, the Fanatic. Fortunately, Eris Morn would rescue the Guardian and soon leads the charge against the Hidden Swarm. Gaining the Vanguard's support, Eris Morn guides the Guardians into dismantling the Hidden Swarms power base while seeking a way to enter the Pyramid. The Guardians would soon enough confront Hashladûn herself within the Scarlet Keep, managing to slay the eldest of Crota's daughters at the peak of the Tower of Woe. Further, the Guardians risked the darkness of the Hive's most forbidden sanctum, the Catacombs, to acquire the Cryptoglyph so Eris can create armor to combat the Nightmares, slaying Besurith, Daughter of Crota in the process. Such actions were critical blows to the Hidden Swarm but they would remain a threat the Guardians continue to fight against as well as containing the Nightmares.

Heresy

Currently, the last of Crota's spawn, Voshyr, and Kinox, remain in hiding, seeking power regardless of the means going against the Sword-Logic to ensure that the legacy of their father and grandfather does not fade. The remaining daughters of Crota then make use of a weapon they gained following a conspiracy within the Pit beneath the Scarlet Keep, a powerful knight that became their puppet named Zulmak, Instrument of Torment. Using demented rituals that involved sacrificing Nightmares to an Ascendant Crystal to empower Zulmak, the daughter of Crota aimed to use their puppet to stand against the Guardians. However, as their Altars of Sorrow rituals caused seismic disturbances, the Guardians were altered to their activities.

Delving deep beneath the Keep, the Guardians explored the black Pit and encountered powerful Hive, Disciples of the Broken Blade. After slaying each disciple and solving intricate puzzles, the Guardians managed to reach Zulmak's lair, the Cradle of Damnation. There, the Guardians face off with the Daughter's puppet but despite his strength and his Ascendant Crystal, the Guardians used his own Swords and magic against him, allowing the Guardians to slay him. However, due to the Daughter's forbidden use of necromantic sorcery, Zulmak continually revives after every slaying, forcing the Guardians to return to the Pit and kill Zulmak.

Notable Members

• Swarm Princes - Leaders†
  • Banuk, Ur Prince
  • Dakoor, Yul Prince
  • Garok, Xol Prince
  • Merok, Eir Prince
• Daughters of Crota - Acting leaders
  • Hashladûn, Daughter of Crota
  • Besurith, Daughter of Crota
  • Voshyr, Daughter of Crota
  • Kinox, Daughter of Crota
• Blade of the Monarch
• Gotra, Eir Spawn
• Gothrax, Protector of the Swarm
• Kranox, the Graven
• Mormu, Xol Spawn
• Räkta, the Mournful
• Siphon Witch
• Telthor, Unborn
• Umra, Xol Spawn
• Vurok, Eir Spawn
• Xyor, the Unwed
• Zulmak, Instrument of Torment

Gallery

• 

  The Hidden Swarm's reemergence in Shadowkeep.

Trivia

• It's unknown what Hive deity spawned the Hidden Swarm, as none of the known gods have been referenced to giving birth to this brood.
  • Because of this, the Hidden Swarm is the only Hive brood besides the Cult of the Worm that has no main god leading or breeding the brood.
  • Its most likely that they serve the Hive god Crota, as their commanders all follow Sardon, Fist of Crota.
    • In Shadowkeep, it is confirmed that they are Servants of Crota.
  • In the cryptoglyphs given in the physical shadowkeep collectors edition, it is reaveled that the hidden swarm still believe Oryx is still alive but in some kind of spiritual sense, while even the hive come to use the book of sorrows as reference it must be stated that one. His sisters who were brought back into the world, did not die in their throne worlds, and second. The book of sorrows accountability has been put into question, it is most likely that the hidden swarm are using oryx as a symbol to cling unto a false sense of leadership.

List of appearances

• Destiny (First appearance)
  • The Dark Below
• Destiny 2
  • Shadowkeep