10,764
edits
Lore:Quintessence: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
(Initial page. (Info from Ishtar Collective)) |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Verbatim}} | {{Verbatim}} | ||
[[File:LoreQuintessence.png| | [[File:LoreQuintessence.png|300px|right]] | ||
'''Quintessence''' is a [[Lore]] book introduced in ''[[Season of the Risen]]''. Entries are acquired by progressing the Active Listener seasonal [[Triumphs|Triumph]]. | '''Quintessence''' is a [[Lore]] book introduced in ''[[Season of the Risen]]''. Entries are acquired by progressing the Active Listener seasonal [[Triumphs|Triumph]]. | ||
==I - Pith== | ==I - Pith== | ||
[[Caiatl]]'s feet stubbornly refused to touch the floor. | |||
She—at least, the loose approximation of her body—floated inelegantly in the [[Psion]]'s Mindscape. She reached out for purchase as a bit of geometry drifted by, but her hands were as intangible as smoke. | |||
She—at least, the loose approximation of her body—floated inelegantly in the Psion's Mindscape. She reached out for purchase as a bit of geometry drifted by, but her hands were as intangible as smoke. | |||
She growled. "Can you increase the… clarity?" she spoke aloud. | She growled. "Can you increase the… clarity?" she spoke aloud. | ||
| Line 23: | Line 19: | ||
She peered into the gray, unimpressed. Her tour of the arena where the Guardians and Lucent Hive would fight was proving disappointing. "Is this all there is?" | She peered into the gray, unimpressed. Her tour of the arena where the Guardians and Lucent Hive would fight was proving disappointing. "Is this all there is?" | ||
The Psion sent her a telepathic explanation: hosting | The Psion sent her a telepathic explanation: hosting [[Light]]less beings in a Psion's Mindscape was like holding up a hazy mirror, reflecting what was held inside. It would be different, more tangible, for the [[Lucent Brood|Lucent Hive]]. For the [[Guardian]]s. | ||
"For those with the Light," she sighed, and as she did, a yellow glow lit the mist around her. | "For those with the Light," she sighed, and as she did, a yellow glow lit the mist around her. | ||
She turned. Far above her manifested the immense visage of Dominus Ghaul. Dirty white storm clouds swirled to form the peaks of his armor. He burned with Light from within, triumphant even in defeat. | She turned. Far above her manifested the immense visage of [[Dominus Ghaul]]. Dirty white storm clouds swirled to form the peaks of his armor. He burned with Light from within, triumphant even in defeat. | ||
She shook her head. A Guardian with the Synaptic Spear would be able to destroy this aspect, but she was Lightless and could never share the Mindscape with another. She looked up at Ghaul's beatific face with rising anger, ashamed that her image of him was so magnificent. | She shook her head. A Guardian with the [[Synaptic Spear]] would be able to destroy this aspect, but she was Lightless and could never share the Mindscape with another. She looked up at Ghaul's beatific face with rising anger, ashamed that her image of him was so magnificent. | ||
The Psion sent her a sharp warning in response: regret, guilt, danger. | The Psion sent her a sharp warning in response: regret, guilt, danger. | ||
| Line 35: | Line 31: | ||
She understood: you face what you bring with you. | She understood: you face what you bring with you. | ||
Ghaul's image parted, revealing Torobatl shining proudly in the night sky. | Ghaul's image parted, revealing [[Torobatl]] shining proudly in the night sky. | ||
Caiatl tried desperately to change her focus. She willed into being Ignovun and his ridiculous tusked helmet, Commander Zavala and his cohorts, the holders of the blood treaty, but they were faint and small against the open sky. She searched herself for strength, but Umun'arath's form rose unbidden before her, blood pouring from her wounds, howling in victory. | Caiatl tried desperately to change her focus. She willed into being [[Ignovun, Chosen of Caiatl|Ignovun]] and his ridiculous tusked helmet, Commander [[Zavala]] and his cohorts, the holders of the blood treaty, but they were faint and small against the open sky. She searched herself for strength, but [[Umun'arath]]'s form rose unbidden before her, blood pouring from her wounds, howling in victory. | ||
Caiatl drew back. | Caiatl drew back. | ||
Torobatl withered in the sky, its greens and blues fouling to reds and blacks. Caiatl choked on the stench of corpses piled on fields of ash, seas clotted with rot. Dark smoke poured from her dead world and framed the screaming face of Xivu Arath. | Torobatl withered in the sky, its greens and blues fouling to reds and blacks. Caiatl choked on the stench of corpses piled on fields of ash, seas clotted with rot. Dark smoke poured from her dead world and framed the screaming face of [[Xivu Arath]]. | ||
And something loomed from behind it—something she knew. | And something loomed from behind it—something she knew. | ||
| Line 47: | Line 43: | ||
Xivu Arath towered in the sky, but now her father's corpulence spread to contain all she could see. His finery was tarnished; his purple silks dripped with rank saliva, his gold armor caked with pus. His form swelled grotesquely as it surged toward her. His wet mouth opened, lips slick with sweet fat. His bulging eyes stared wildly at nothing. | Xivu Arath towered in the sky, but now her father's corpulence spread to contain all she could see. His finery was tarnished; his purple silks dripped with rank saliva, his gold armor caked with pus. His form swelled grotesquely as it surged toward her. His wet mouth opened, lips slick with sweet fat. His bulging eyes stared wildly at nothing. | ||
She saw the floor of the Mindscape rise and transform into a barrier; the Psion was attempting to block Calus out. | She saw the floor of the Mindscape rise and transform into a barrier; the Psion was attempting to block [[Calus]] out. | ||
"No," she commanded, her voice tight. The barrier dissipated. | "No," she commanded, her voice tight. The barrier dissipated. | ||
| Line 62: | Line 58: | ||
==II - Devotion== | ==II - Devotion== | ||
"You brought your own cup?" | "You brought your own cup?" | ||
Devrim smiled awkwardly after asking the question. A tea set balanced delicately beside him on the split log he used as a seat. From the other side of the campfire, Saint-14 looked comically oversized as he cradled a blue-and-white ceramic teacup in one large hand. His helmet was off, set in the dirt beside his feet. A slow smile crept across Saint's mouth as he looked at the cup. | [[Devrim Kay|Devrim]] smiled awkwardly after asking the question. A tea set balanced delicately beside him on the split log he used as a seat. From the other side of the campfire, [[Saint-14]] looked comically oversized as he cradled a blue-and-white ceramic teacup in one large hand. His helmet was off, set in the dirt beside his feet. A slow smile crept across Saint's mouth as he looked at the cup. | ||
"Not that I mind," Devrim continued and motioned with his own teacup. "It's just—normally, people don't come this prepared for afternoon tea. Although, yours looks like it's, ah, seen a few fights." Though Devrim chuckled, his assessment was accurate. Saint's teacup was chipped around the brim; the handle had been broken off at one point and crudely glued back into place. | "Not that I mind," Devrim continued and motioned with his own teacup. "It's just—normally, people don't come this prepared for afternoon tea. Although, yours looks like it's, ah, seen a few fights." Though Devrim chuckled, his assessment was accurate. Saint's teacup was chipped around the brim; the handle had been broken off at one point and crudely glued back into place. | ||
| Line 71: | Line 66: | ||
Saint laughed to himself. "It is a memento," he said. "The cup is nothing special, just ceramic and paint. But it is the damage that makes it important." He finished his tea and offered the cup out to Devrim, who carefully took it to inspect. | Saint laughed to himself. "It is a memento," he said. "The cup is nothing special, just ceramic and paint. But it is the damage that makes it important." He finished his tea and offered the cup out to Devrim, who carefully took it to inspect. | ||
"I forget where I got it. Sat on a shelf in my home long before Osiris and I lived together, before he was exiled. One day, he barges into my home looking for an argument…" Saint said, watching Devrim. "Osiris, he gets very heated when he is angry; arms like this!" Saint waved his arms around in pantomime. "Very animated." | "I forget where I got it. Sat on a shelf in my home long before [[Osiris]] and I lived together, before he was exiled. One day, he barges into my home looking for an argument…" Saint said, watching Devrim. "Osiris, he gets very heated when he is angry; arms like this!" Saint waved his arms around in pantomime. "Very animated." | ||
Devrim laughed as he handed Saint's teacup back. "That sounds about right." | Devrim laughed as he handed Saint's teacup back. "That sounds about right." | ||
| Line 81: | Line 76: | ||
"Not good," Saint quietly confessed. "He is alive. But… his body is there, his mind is not. It is like he is on a journey and cannot find his way home. Or…" Saint shook his head. He honestly wasn't sure. No one was. | "Not good," Saint quietly confessed. "He is alive. But… his body is there, his mind is not. It is like he is on a journey and cannot find his way home. Or…" Saint shook his head. He honestly wasn't sure. No one was. | ||
Devrim set his teacup down on the log. He rose and crossed the distance to Saint and then laid a hand on the Titan's shoulder. Devrim looked into Saint's vibrant, mechanical eyes with sympathy. "Marc and I are having Suraya over for dinner tonight," he said with a small, hesitant smile. "I know it's short notice, but you should come." | Devrim set his teacup down on the log. He rose and crossed the distance to Saint and then laid a hand on the Titan's shoulder. Devrim looked into Saint's vibrant, mechanical eyes with sympathy. "[[Marc]] and I are having [[Suraya Hawthorne|Suraya]] over for dinner tonight," he said with a small, hesitant smile. "I know it's short notice, but you should come." | ||
"I…" Saint looked away. "I shouldn't. I should be with Osiris in case he—" | "I…" Saint looked away. "I shouldn't. I should be with Osiris in case he—" | ||
| Line 94: | Line 89: | ||
==III - Cold Forging== | ==III - Cold Forging== | ||
"Eyes up, New Lights." | "Eyes up, New Lights." | ||
Shaw Han spoke to the group of Guardians assembled at the edge of the Cosmodrome. A field of ancient automobiles spread out behind him. | [[Shaw Han]] spoke to the group of Guardians assembled at the edge of the [[Cosmodrome]]. A field of ancient automobiles spread out behind him. | ||
The Guardians gathered at uneasy attention, fidgeting in their new armor. Han leapt onto the hood of a rusted-out car so he could be seen over the massive | The Guardians gathered at uneasy attention, fidgeting in their new armor. Han leapt onto the hood of a rusted-out car so he could be seen over the massive [[Titan (class)|Titan]]s standing in the front. | ||
"You may have heard they're coming for you," Han said. "That the Hive God of Trickery got her claws on the Light somehow, and now she's sending the toughest baddies humanity has ever faced to drain the life from your carcasses." | "You may have heard they're coming for you," Han said. "That the [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Hive God of Trickery]] got her claws on the Light somehow, and now she's sending the toughest baddies humanity has ever faced to drain the life from your carcasses." | ||
Han shrugged. | Han shrugged. | ||
| Line 117: | Line 111: | ||
"And that's where they're wrong," he continued. | "And that's where they're wrong," he continued. | ||
"They have the Light, same as you. They're strong, same as you. But you kicked your way out of your coffins right here in the heart of Old | "They have the Light, same as you. They're strong, same as you. But you kicked your way out of your coffins right here in the heart of [[Old Russia]]—like so many of the greats before you—and you found yourself in the [[Vanguard]]." | ||
Han waited for a moment as if tasting the air. | Han waited for a moment as if tasting the air. | ||
"And being part of the Vanguard… that means something. The most powerful warriors the world has ever known are here for you. Ikora, Zavala, Saladin, Shaxx, Saint-14… the Guardians who have driven the Hive back into their holes again and again—they're up in the Tower, and they have your back." | "And being part of the Vanguard… that means something. The most powerful warriors the world has ever known are here for you. [[Ikora Rey|Ikora]], Zavala, [[Saladin Forge|Saladin]], [[Shaxx]], Saint-14… the Guardians who have driven the Hive back into their holes again and again—they're up in the [[Tower (Destiny 2)|Tower]], and they have your back." | ||
"Show them you're willing to fight for the Vanguard, and they'll show you things you wouldn't believe. You'll learn how to weave a shield out of starlight. You'll learn how to wield a blade as hot as the sun—" | "Show them you're willing to fight for the Vanguard, and they'll show you things you wouldn't believe. You'll learn how to weave a shield out of starlight. You'll learn how to wield a blade as hot as the sun—" | ||
| Line 127: | Line 121: | ||
Behind him, a sudden explosion sent a geyser of dirt and rusted metal high into the air. The startled Guardians huddled together. | Behind him, a sudden explosion sent a geyser of dirt and rusted metal high into the air. The startled Guardians huddled together. | ||
"—and you'll learn the importance of Tripmine Grenades," Han finished as he turned. Through the settling dust, he could make out the crumpled remains of a Lucent Hive Knight. | "—and you'll learn the importance of Tripmine Grenades," Han finished as he turned. Through the settling dust, he could make out the crumpled remains of a [[Lightbearer Knight|Lucent Hive Knight]]. | ||
"One second," he said. | "One second," he said. | ||
He crept toward the remains, shot his hand into the clearing smoke, and withdrew it with a Hive Ghost squirming in his fist. | He crept toward the remains, shot his hand into the clearing smoke, and withdrew it with a Hive [[Ghost]] squirming in his fist. | ||
The Ghost's sharp shell dug into Han's palm. Red blood flowed down over its flickering green iris. | The Ghost's sharp shell dug into Han's palm. Red blood flowed down over its flickering green iris. | ||
| Line 143: | Line 137: | ||
"Something like us," Han said. "Like you." | "Something like us," Han said. "Like you." | ||
A roar echoed from the distant forest. Dark flames erupted from the tree line as | A roar echoed from the distant forest. Dark flames erupted from the tree line as [[Wizard]]s took to the sky. The ground shook as a clot of bellowing [[Ogre]]s tore across the field, flinging the remains of ruined cars aside as they charged. | ||
"You," shouted Han over the cacophony, "each and every one of you are weapons, chosen by the Light. And sure, so are these Hive, and they're every bit as strong as you—when you're alone." | "You," shouted Han over the cacophony, "each and every one of you are weapons, chosen by the Light. And sure, so are these Hive, and they're every bit as strong as you—when you're alone." | ||