The Spider
Spider-quest-giver.jpg
Biographical information

Other name(s):

The Shore's Only Law
Don (The Drifter)

Species:

Fallen

Gender:

Male

Eye color:

Cyan

Political and military information

Affiliation:

House of Wolves (formerly)
Spider's Syndicate

Rank:

Mob Boss

Notable info:

Leader of his own crime syndicate

 

"I cannot wait to see how this ends."
— The Spider

The Spider is the leader of a Fallen crime syndicate based in the Tangled Shore. He is the planetary vendor for the Tangled Shore, and a powerful but ruthless ally of the Awoken of the Reef and the Guardians of The Last City.

Biography

Ruler of the Tangled Shore

 
The Spider, Leader of the Spider's Syndicate

The Spider was born into the House of Wolves, but as he grew up, he quickly came to see the House as a "bad investment".[1] Leaving the House of Wolves, the Spider eventually arrived at the Tangled Shore and established himself as a the head of a major syndicate. He amassed a large and loyal following of Fallen bodyguards, enforcers, and freelance operatives thanks to his generous Ether payment style, which included continued payments if one of his employees was injured while on the job.[2] The Spider's rule was aided by procuring a Transmat system that covered his entire territory from the Hunter Olu Alderdice.[3] During the exchange, the sly Guardian offered the Spider arsenic lipstick as well, but he noted that it looked far better on her. When she offered her hand to shake on their deal, the Spider began reaching out but quickly stopped himself and scrutinized her before withdrawing his hand, a decision which she applauded as wise.[3]

The Spider's reign was not without difficulties, as his brother and associate Siviks became outraged at how the Spider conducted himself and his fascination with human artifacts. When Siviks moved against him, the Spider had his brother captured and brought before him, offended that his hospitality and brotherly ties had been betrayed. He offered a chance to his brother to apologize, but Siviks merely spit in his face and laughed. The Spider ordered him to be handed over to the Awoken and sentenced to the Prison of Elders. As his brother was dragged away he accused the Spider of being worse than the rest of the Fallen due to his ties to humanity, but the Spider merely taunted him. However, once his associates had left, the Spider stared regretfully at where his brother had once stood before sighing and returning to business.[4]

Prior to the outbreak of the Taken War, Queen Mara Sov evacuated the Dreaming City and made a deal with the Spider to protect the Watchtower and in return, she would turn a blind eye to his businesses. The Spider accepted this deal and continued to honor it even after Mara's disappearance and presumed demise at the Battle of Saturn.[5]

Hunt for the Scorned Barons

The emergence of the Scorn saw the Spider's Syndicate become embroiled in conflict with them and driven away from their original territory. In search of the Spider, Petra and the Guardian eliminate the Scorn's forces near the Spider's hiding place and later meet with him to negotiate a deal.

At first, the Spider was not very interested in getting involved in a man-hunt for Uldren, but he greatly desires the head of Uldren for driving him from his former territory. Thus, the Spider offers the Guardian and Petra a deal: the Spider would give the Guardian all the intel they need to hunt the Barons and in return, the Guardians would hunt them down and accept any favor the Spider asks within the future. Despite the terms, the Guardian agrees.[6] With the Spiders intel, the Guardians accept bounties from him and begin to dismantle the Scorn's operations. The Guardians succeed in killing Araskes, the Trickster, Yaviks, the Rider and Kaniks, the Mad Bomber.

Later the Spider provides intel of Pirrha, the Rifleman, which allow the Guardian to fight pass Pirrha's forces and decoys and kill Pirrha, avenging Cayde's Ghost. Within the fields of the Tangled Shore, the Guardian find remains of Servitors belong to the Spider completely drained of their ether. The Spider takes this as evidence that Reksis Vahn, the Hangman, who has a hatred for Servitors, is nearby. Despite his great strength and Flame Cauldron weapon, the Guardian slay the sadistic Baron. The Spider provides another tip to the Guardian search for Hiraks, the Mindbender who is residing near a downed Hive Warship from the Taken War. and the whereabouts of their second-in-command, Elykris, the Machinist near Salvage Zone QX.

The Guardians dispose Hiraks and Elykris reducing the Scorn's leadership to Fikrul, the Fanatic, the Scorn's Archon, and Uldren himself. The Spider shares new intel to the Guardian confirming that Uldren and Fikrul have been sighted at the Awoken Watchtower, a place which is said to house the Awoken's deepest secrets. Within the structure, Uldren orders Frikul to hold off the enemy while he finishes his work. The Spider's aids the Guardians with his main forces and engage with the Scorn's defenses as the Guardian breaches past them and enters the Watchtower. At the entrance, they face off with Frikul who desires revenge for his fellow Barons. Despite his Dark Ether powers, the Guardian manages to kill Frikul and later dispose Uldren.

The Starry Night

The Spider is a collector of precious artifacts. His web captured a Dead Orbit thief stealing from the Green Dove Arcology on Titan. He made the thief work for him to retrieve a particular item on the manifest. The man, Howe, questioned Spider which was a mistake. When he arrived with the item, Spider killed him. Spider put the item under his throne, which would only open when an ancient Earth song is sung. The item Spider wanted so much was the famous painting A Starry Night. [7]

The Black Armory

Siviks later escaped and started attacking The Spider's territory, forcing The Spider to request the Guardian's aid, revealing the secret location of the Black Armory in the Tower as an added incentive.

Joker's Wild

Around the same time that the Drifter introduced Gambit Prime, the Guardian visited the Spider on matters related to the Drifter after finishing a run of the Reckoning.

Siding with the Drifter

If the player chose to side with the Drifter, the Guardian visits the Spider to purchase an item known as "The Jerky" for the Drifter. Among the "Jerky" is a caged Ghost and a replica Gjallarhorn, though only "The Jerky" can be purchased. This exchange leads the Guardian to go to Titan to acquire supplies for the Drifter.

Siding with the Vanguard

If the player chose to side with the Vanguard, the Guardian confronts the Spider about his dealings with the Drifter. The Spider responds by saying that he is a "simple businessman" and would be willing to sever relations with the Drifter "for the right price." After paying a bribe of 50,000 Glimmer, the Spider informs the Guardian that the Drifter was planning something on Titan, which prompts them to go there to investigate further. The Spider later informed the Drifter of this investigation, prompting the Drifter to contact the Guardian directly while they were on Titan.

Season of Dawn

After the Guardian found the core for the Bastion in the Corridors of Time, they collected data from Fallen targets and brought them to the Spider. He deciphered the name "Lightkiller" from the intel, telling the Guardian about his legacy. He decides to help the Guardian by first tipping them on one of his old acquaintances hiding away in the Empty Tank, betting on fights with Azilis.[8] After killing the Captain, they bring a note to the Spider left behind by the original owner, Reysk, who was killed by a Guardian Fireteam and buried somewhere in the Tangled Shore.[9]

The Spider then orders the Guardian to patrol the Tangled Shore to force answers on the location of the grave from its inhabitants.[10] Eventually, one of Spider's Associates would catch word of the location of the grave in the Trappers Cave. However, the Guardian would discover Reysk was warped into a Scorn Chieftain.[11] Following the revelation, the Spider gave the Guardian the location of Reysk, the one place where Scorn influence was the strongest, the Hollowed Lair.[12]

Season of Arrivals

During the Festival of the Lost, The Spider hired the aid of the Guardian to investigate the operations of the House of Kings who ventured into the ruins of the Dreadnaught to learn Hive magic.[13] He notes that the Vex had taken an interest in the Kings' activities and stole their salvage and simulated it within the Haunted Forest.[14][15][16]

Personality and Traits

"Remember, my friend, even when you are doing your 'duty,' there are always opportunities to do what is profitable."
— The Spider

The Spider is much like a stereotypical criminal kingpin, he will go to great lengths to maintain his influence and has no qualms about battling his own kind to do it. He is even willing to ally with Petra Venj, an old "acquaintance" of his, and the Guardian, to restore his territory and deal with the Scorn and Uldren. This is further supported by the description of one of his daily bounties where he states that he would have even considered working out an agreement with the Red Legion had they not disrespected him. However, while he maintains that their alliance is merely for business, the Spider shows a level of honor and respect towards the Guardian, keeping his word in their deals and continuing their "friendship". Despite this, the Spider is willing to alter a deal to make sure that those who owe him a debt don't pay back too quickly and too easily, as he does not want to get the short end of the stick. This was apparent when the Guardians cleared out the Hive infestation within the Tangled Shore. After slaying the Brood Queen, The Spider found that the threat was too "easy" for it to satisfy their debt to him. Despite Ghost's objections, the Spider points out that the mission wasn't a deal, only "considerations". Likely he finds the Guardians too useful and skilled to simply say that all debts are paid.

Though the Spider can be very ruthless on how he runs his criminal enterprise, the mob boss has shown a capacity for generosity and a reasonable nature. Instead of just hoarding all the profits and leave next to nothing for his employees, he ensure his workforce is paid what they earned, far more generous than a contemporary Fallen Kell, Archon or Baron.

The Spider displays a fascination with various aspects of humanity and its culture. He has no interest in what Fallen would normally consider priceless,[17] and instead avidly collects ancient human artwork, as well as dead Ghosts.[18][19] In addition to this, the Spider does enjoy collecting trophies, out of interest or monetary purposes, from his dead enemies, so much so that he offers bounties on them.

The Spider is highly fluent in English. His voice lacks much of the growls and clicks associated with Eliksni speech; this may be due to either practice or some form of translation device (although he claims that Variks speaks perfect English as well, deliberately using poor grammar to seem more harmless to the Awoken). Reflecting his fascination with humanity, he frequently uses human figures of speech and body language, even when speaking to other Eliksni (to whom such gestures are meaningless). [20][21][2]

Gameplay

The Spider provides bounties targeting Prison of Elders escapees throughout the Solar System. He also sells infusion materials, with four planetary materials and the required currency rotating per daily reset. Purchasing Enhancement Cores from Spider will double their cost during that day until reset. Wanted enemies in Lost Sectors can also drop Spider-specific weapons and armor.

Faction Weapons

Infusion Materials

Quotes

  • "That's right, my friend."
  • "Very good."
  • "Good choice, my friend."
  • "What is your Earth phrase... If we meet again?"
  • "What do you say "friend"? Quid pro quo before you go?"
  • "I... approve."
  • "You have good taste!"
  • "Bring me Arrha. I have a task for him."
  • "House of Dusk, fah! House of Desperation! House of Erased Differences! Differences define us."
  • "The House of Dusk, such as it is, hangs on by a thread. I see no material harm to my people if you go ahead and cut them loose, my friend."
  • "Oh, of course the Prison of Elders was a collaboration between the Awoken and the Eliksni. Don't look so surprised."
  • "Don't be shy... it bores me!
  • "The Drifter? Here? And he didn't stop to say hello? I am... disappointed."
  • "So many questions! I'm beginning to become offended. You don't want to see me offended."
  • "I think you’ll find our friendship... agreeable."
  • "Perhaps if the Red Legion had spoken to me we could have worked out an agreement, but they disrespected me. I want them out."
  • "No one has called me Wolf in a very long time. I was born into that House, yes. But even then I knew a bad investment when I saw one."[22]

Trivia

  • The Spider was once a Wolf born, traces of his past can also be seen on his blue helmet.
  • Alongside Variks, The Loyal and Mithrax, the Forsaken, The Spider is the third known Fallen to be a Guardian ally.
  • He is the second Fallen observed speaking English behind Variks, The Loyal.
    • However, he speaks it far more fluently than Variks.
  • The Spider has shown to be rather fidgety with his hands, often moving his hands a great deal.
    • He uses a Ghost Shell to likely deal with this.
  • He has a fascination with Earth's culture before the Golden Age, as he collects the most famous pieces of art throughout Human history.
    • Identified in his collection are a several examples of ancient Greek pottery, Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night, and two paintings implied to be Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Georgia O'Keeffe's Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue.
  • The Spider is performed and voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.[23]
  • Before the Spider's Syndicate was founded, the Spider was allied with his brother, Siviks, Lost to None. At some point in time for unknown reasons, the two split to create two syndicates, one being the syndicate already mentioned and Kell's Scourge.
  • The Spider may possess his own ketch, as one can find such a ship by turning around in the safe zone at Thieves' Landing. The ketch is decorated in orange stripes, which reflects the Spider's insignia and bounties.
  • The Spider and the Drifter have a strong business relationship. So much so that Spider would send his failed associates to go survive the Drifter’s Gambit and Gambit Prime or die.
  • The Spider shows enmity towards multiple escapees from the Prison, such as Calzar, Scarred Captain, Fortifier Yann, and Student of Beltrik, personally issuing bounties on them.
  • In the lore tab of the Exotic Sparrow Warden's Wailer, the Spider is erroneously described as having 20 fingers, which is impossible as Fallen have always been portrayed with three fingers on each of their four hands (a total of 12). This is likely a developer oversight.

Gallery

List of Appearances

References

Template:Reflist

  1. ^ Bungie (2018/09/04), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, The Spider idle dialogue
  2. ^ a b Bungie (2018/09/04), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Ether Doctor
  3. ^ a b Bungie (2018/09/04), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Trackless Waste
  4. ^ Bungie (2018/12/4), Destiny 2: Black Armory, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Anarchy
  5. ^ Bungie (2019/03/08), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Beyond the Watertower
  6. ^ Bungie (2018/09/04), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Scorned
  7. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Scatterhorn Cloak / Mark / Bond
  8. ^ Bungie (2019/12/10), Destiny 2: Playstation 4, Backroom Brawl
  9. ^ Bungie (2019/12/10), Destiny 2: Playstation 4, Aksiniks Note
  10. ^ Bungie (2019/12/10), Destiny 2: Playstation 4, A Strong Arm
  11. ^ Bungie (2019/12/10), Destiny 2: Playstation 4, Rude Awakening
  12. ^ Bungie (2019/12/10), Destiny 2: Playstation 4, Altered Chief
  13. ^ Bungie (2020/9/8), Destiny 2: Playstation 4, Apocryphal Accomplice
  14. ^ Bungie (2020/9/8), Destiny 2: Playstation 4, A Cunning Mask
  15. ^ Bungie (2020/9/8), Destiny 2: Playstation 4, A Masked Treasure
  16. ^ Bungie (2020/9/8), Destiny 2: Playstation 4, A Smiling Mask
  17. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Scatterhorn Grasps / Gauntlets / Wraps
  18. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Scatterhorn Cloak / Mark / Bond
  19. ^ Game Informer #104: At the Crossroads
  20. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Scatterhorn Mask / Helm / Hood
  21. ^ Bungie (2018/9/4), Destiny 2: Forsaken, Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, Death to Kells
  22. ^ Spider’s in game quote
  23. ^ Atkin Downes' Twitter