Truth of Shadows (A Destiny RP)

[SilentxChaos]

Upon resurrection, we are told the Traveler is benevolent. It protects us. It died for us. It gave us the Golden Age. It created Ghosts so we Guardians maybe found and defend the last of the Light.
But....it is all a lie.


WORLD INFORMATION

Brief History

(Not taken from the Grimoire) On the first human expedition to Mars, we discovered the Traveler. The Traveler is a spherical being, moon-like in size, a celestial being. For one reason or another, the Traveler became a great aid to humanity. It gifted them its Light, terra-forming planets so we could expand across the solar system. Mercury became a garden world. Venus's endless storms ceased and the air became breathable. With Light, humanity's technology was uplifted, their lifespan tripled, and for centuries after humans basked in the Golden Age. Then the Darkness came. A ancient enemy of the Traveler, the Darkness entered the solar system like a galactic hurricane, destroying everything in its path and paving way for creatures like the Hive, Fallen, and Cabal to invade. This is known as the Collapse. The Traveler fought off the Darkness, pushing it out of the solar system, but injuring itself in the process. With its Light, the Traveler settled over the last City on Earth, protecting it to this day, and created Ghosts. These Ghosts were sent to seek out Guardians- last hope for survival as enemies still - and then the Traveler went dormant. But the Darkness is coming back.This is where Destiny begins.

Allies

Guardians- "Legends are carved across history by the brave." Guardians are warriors forged in the Traveler's Light, a final hope in a universe falling into Darkness. Chosen from the dead by the Traveler's Ghosts, Guardians are those rare few able to wield the Light as a weapon. For centuries they have defended the City. But that defense cannot hold forever. Now, with the Darkness rising again, the time has come to retake our lost worlds. The Guardians who lead the way will save humanity - and become legend.

Ghosts- "In its dying breath, the Traveler created the Ghosts...To seek out those who can wield its Light as a weapon. Guardians, to protect us, and do what the Traveler itself no longer can." - The Speaker Built from machinery and the Traveler's Light, Ghosts guide their Guardian companions in the quest to reclaim our solar system. Every Ghost seeks out its Guardian among the ancient dead. The Ghost serves as scout, librarian, and mechanic, waking ancient machinery and cracking alien codes. In the right situations, a Ghost can even save a Guardian from death. But Ghosts are not immortal. As far as Guardians know, every loss is irreplaceable.
Lore: Ghost Fragment: Ghosts

Humans- "This was our world, our solar system. We were here first. And no matter what the darkness brings, we will be here at the dawn." Humans are survivors, tough and resilient, descended from those who built a Golden Age only to see it ripped away. Now, after an age of retreat and desperate struggle, they fight to take back their solar system and claim a new future. There are those who believe The Traveler chose Earth for a reason. Now it is humanity's obligation to prove itself worthy of the Traveler's faith.
Lore: Ghost Fragment: Human 5

Exo- "Ask yourself: what threatened your Golden Age ancestors so much that they constructed the Exos to defend themselves?" Built for a long-forgotten struggle, Exos are self-aware war machines so advanced that nothing short of a Ghost can understand their inner functions. They remain ciphers, even to themselves: their origins and purpose lost to time. Whoever built the Exos fashioned them in humanity's image, gifting them with diversity of mind and body. Many of The City's Exo citizens live and work alongside their organic brethren. But others fight again, re-forged in the Light of the Traveler to serve as Guardians.
Lore: Ghost Fragment: Exo
Ghost Fragment: Exo 2
Ghost Fragment: Exo 3

Awoken- "The others sing this song of Light and Dark. We, together, have transcended such unimaginative limitations." It is said that the Awoken were born in the Collapse, descended from those who tried to flee its wrath. Something happened to them out on the edge of the deep black, and they were forever changed. Today many Awoken live in the distant Reef, aloof and mysterious. But others returned to Earth, where their descendants now fight for The City. Earthborn Awoken who venture out to the Reef, hoping to learn its secrets, find no special welcome from the reclusive Queen.
Lore:Ghost Fragment: Awoken 2
Ghost Fragment: Awoken 3

Enemies

Fallen- "We have butchers at our gates - four-armed and eager for slaughter." The Fallen are ruthless scavengers. Brutal and uncaring, they arrived on their massive Ketches in the wake of the Collapse to loot and pillage our devastated worlds. There are hints of ancient nobility to the Fallen - the scars of lost grandeur. The Kells of their scattered Houses still claim to be royalty. But they leave only grief and wreckage in their wake. Races: Dregs, Shanks, Vandals, Captains, Servitors, Kells
Lore: Ghost Fragment: Fallen

Hive- "There are nightmares rising from the shadows, and they hunger for our dying hope." The Hive are an ancient, festering evil. Their antipathy to the Light transcends hatred. To the Hive, the eternal struggle between Light and Dark is not only a war, it is a crusade - all Light must be devoured so Darkness can reclaim the universe. Races: Thrall, Acolytes, Knights, Ogres, Wizards
Lore: Ghost Fragment: Hive 2

Vex- "Living metal. Incomprehensible intelligence." The Vex are architects of ancient and complex structures thought to be buried within every celestial body. Linked by a network unlike any on Earth, they operate in unison, directed by a single unfathomable purpose. Races: Goblins, Hobgoblins, Harpies, Minotaurs, Hydras
Lore: Ghost Fragment: Vex

Cabal- "I think you could follow a trail of shattered worlds all the way to their home." Tactically efficient, disciplined, and unrelenting, the Cabal are the greatest known military force in the system. Their origins and ultimate objectives are a mystery, but it seems clear they have conquered more worlds than humanity has ever known. Cabal soldiers wear pressurized armor that replicates the environment of their high-gravity home world. Their field tactics depend on ranks of Legionaries supported by air power, elite infantry, and ultra-heavy armor. Races: Legionaries, Centurions, Colossuses, Psions, Phalanxes
Lore: Ghost Fragment: Cabal 2
Ghost Fragment: Cabal 3
Ghost Fragment: Cabal 4

Classes and Light

Classes:
Titan- "Strive for honor. Stand for hope." Titans are warriors - heroic defenders of the Light, channeling the gifts of The Traveler to wage war on The Darkness. Steadfast and sure, Titans face any challenge head-on, blunt force instruments of the Traveler's will.
Lore: Ghost Fragment: Titan

Warlock- "We have found new ways to weaponize curiosity. Pathways into the darkness." Warrior-scholars of the Light, Warlocks devote themselves to understanding the Traveler and its power. A Warlock's mind is an arsenal of deadly secrets, balanced between godhood and madness. On the battlefield, those secrets can shatter reality itself.
Lore: Ghost Fragment: Warlock
Ghost Fragment: Warlock 2
Hunter- "Our old worlds have grown feral - rabid beasts with teeth of rust and ruin. But such beasts are meant to be tamed. Or broken." Hunters stalk the wilderness beyond the City, harnessing the Light to reclaim the secrets of our lost worlds. They are daring scouts and stealthy killers, expert with knives and precision weapons. Hunters blaze their own trails and write their own laws.
Lore: Ghost Fragment: Hunter

Sub-Classes:
Guardian Abilities- "There is a Light in you from which no Darkness can hide." Only Guardians have the gift of the Traveler's Light - the ability to channel its energies to project vast power into the world. Even without a firearm, a Guardian is a radiant engine of destruction. While these abilities rise from within, Guardians master their power in different ways. Titans understand the Light as a force to hone through practice and strict discipline. Hunters roam and explore in order to learn, using dangerous methods to survive the wilds. And Warlocks study the Light and its inner mechanisms, confronting unfathomable mysteries in the search for transcendent might.
Lore: Ghost Fragment: Abilities

Light can be manifested in three different energies: Arc (lightning), Solar (fire), and Void (a form of pure energy, purple in color). Titans, Warlocks, and Hunters can use each type of Light as a subclass, are manifested in different ways. Subclasses are listed below:

Titan Subclasses- Strikers are Titans using Arc Light. They channel lightning through their fists and can create devastating shockwaves or electrical pulses through the ground. They are the tanks in battle, eager to be first to charge into battle.
Sunbreakers wield the infamous Hammer of Sol, a weapon made of pure Solar Light that can be thrown at enemies.Titans who train in this class are consumed by flames when wielding the Hammer, and can channel fire through their melee attacks. Sunbreakers are known for their unshakable honor- even those who still wander the wilds as mercenaries.
Defenders take to the Void to erect impregnable barriers. They protect allies, repel all incoming attacks, and hinder any enemies ignorant enough to enter their ward. They are the shields on the battlefield, rallying allies and providing an escape when retreat is the only option.

Warlock Subclasses- Stormcallers are fearsome conduits of lightning, channeling it through their bodies so they glide across the battlefield and release chains of lightning through their palms. They easily rip through enemy ranks and even other Guardians are wary when facing them in the Crucible.
Sunsingers are phoenixes personified, as fire cloaks them in the visage of phoenix wings. Using Solar Light, they replenish their attacks swiftly and can even heal themselves. If they fall, they resurrect themselves at a faster rate and without the need of their Ghosts.
Voidwalkers, masters of the arcane, use the Void light to create Nova bombs-- massive bolts of energy that hurdle through the air and disintegrate any enemies caught in its blast radius.

Hunter Sublasses- Bladedancers channel Arc Light through body and blade. Their speed and agility increase, movements untraceable to the eye, and can even gain invisibility for short periods. They can kill groups of enemies without receiving a scratch, and can be full of surprises.
Gunslingers own the Golden Gun, a legendary hand cannon infused with Solar Light. Limited in rounds, they are nevertheless brutal with one shot, instant kills, and their enemies turning to ash.
Nightstalkers are the equivalent of the Defender Titan-- with a few extra perks. They are the best at laying traps, using smoke bombs to cloak allies and disable enemies, and their Gravity Bow channels the Void into a concentrated vortex that ensnares any nearby enemies and siphons their energy.

Character Sketch

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Race:
Appearance:
Class and Subclass:
Skills: (what are they good at? List 2-6)
Flaws: (what are they bad at? List 2-6)
Personality traits: (Minimum of 3 positive traits, 2 negative)
Brief History:
Other: (anything else should we know? What their desires are? Goals? Likes/Dislikes? Anything can be added here but please limit to only what would be relevant in the RP)

Cast List

@Oryx: Isso-7, Sunbreaker Titan, Exo
@Dunruffle: Argo-82, Voidwalker Hunter, Exo
@SilentxChaos: Hestia, Sunsinger Warlock, Human

​

Reference links:
Destiny's Lost Plot
Destiny Wiki: Grimoire Cards
Destiny's Tracker: Grimoire

 

[Antiheld]

Ocean of Storms, Earth's Moon - Isso-7​

The terrain that sat before Isso flowed like water, its grey hues contrasted by the fires the raged on from the invasion. Earth's moon was once a quiet place with few Fallen scavenger teams that clawed at the remains of the outposts. The Fallen House of Exile was previously the only inhabitant on the grey rock, but now something far worse was present.

The Cabal Empire had decided they were tired of getting their asses kicked by Humanity and a distress call was sent out during the Taken War. At first we thought nothing of it as we were used to fighting the Cabal and we were sure that we could handle reinforcements. What we didn't expect was exactly how much reinforcements they sent.

The Cabal Empire was now knocking on Humanity's theoretical door, and we were forced to answer the call. Isso had been stationed at the front lines tasked with holding the Cabal back, but when things fell apart he found himself separated from his allies. Fallen and Cabal corpses were strewn about like unwanted scraps, but the worst were the bodies of Guardians that lay among them.

"Hestia, Argo, are you guys there?" Isso spoke as if they were in front of him, but in reality his Ghost was broadcasting his voice on secure channels that only the Guardians used. "The front line has been lost, I'm falling back to the Anchor of Light." His voice was calm, a rare thing for a Titan. The truth was that Isso had been suppressing the Titan's Fury that lived within him, but each moment was becoming more difficult than the last.



At the Anchor of Light, things were in worse shape than Isso had thought. The Guardians had been scattered and many of them lay dead, their Ghosts nowhere to be found but it was likely that they were dead too. A Cabal squad approached Isso and began firing on him. His armor and shield were able to take most of the damage as he returned fire. Every shot he fired from Touch of Malice sent sharp tingle down his spine and it wasn't long before Isso was charging fists first into the enemy.

Isso-7 was sure that he could hold out until the others arrived, but he was unsure if they were even making a dent in the sheer numbers of the Cabal. Part of him was sure that the moon was lost, but the Titan's Fury told him that he simply wasn't fighting hard enough.

Solar Light erupted from Isso and the Cabal around him were bathed in swaths of flame. Hammers soared through the air and impacted the massive enemies, leaving pools of flame in their wake. Isso growled at the enemies as he unleashed his Fury upon them, a wide smile sat on his face the entire time.

"Titan's are weird. But, this is why I like you." His Ghost's voice echoed in his head, and Isso only let out a laugh.

 

[SilentxChaos]

"Hesti- static- are you?-- The front—lost- static-"

Hestia turned off her comms and concentrated on the orange grid interface in front of her. That Isso's voice broke through told her she was on the right track—until the screen blared a blinking error symbol and the defense system knocked her out again. "Damn it!"

"Warlock! You done yet?"

A Defender titan yelled as he dodged behind the wall from incoming fire. His silver-gold armor was covered in dirt, blood, and bullet holes but the twin wolf crest gleamed through. Behind him sat a hunter bleeding from her gut. Beneath the sound of battle surrounding the outlook of Anchor of Light, Hestia could hear the hunter muttering over and over, Veridian. Where's my Veridian?

Her Ghost had been destroyed moments ago, when a Cabal legionary caught him in its grasp and crushed it, right after the hunter had been resurrected.

"Warlock!" the Defender snapped.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Hestia shot back as a loose missile hit the side of the outlook, shaking the foundation. "would you like to come and decrypted the highly advanced and secure Cabal communications' block while I stand around and let the Gunslinger bleed to death?"

He glanced and cursed when he saw the state of the huntress. While he began tending to her wound, Hestia rolled her eyes and returned to her job. Despite herself, adrenaline and urgency coursed in her fingers. She had to restore the Guardians' comms to reconnect with the Vanguard. Without their direction they wouldn't stand a chance against their enemy swarming the Moon. The disarray had already separated her from Isso-7 and Argo-82. She didn't feel like placing her life in the hands of a dying hunter and hotheaded Iron Lord.

"Thana. Have you located Isso yet?" she asked. The outlook shook again, and she worried how long would it hold.

No, Hesi!! It's impossible without the comm's up.

A sudden made her start. The Cabal had figured out their communication center had fallen. Legionnaires were marching up the ramps with phalanxes leading the way with their shields. Hestia opened her palms and threw two solar grenades at either entrance. Mini suns blossomed, burning them. Hestia threw two more to slow them down. Then a centurion flew through an open port, its heavy slug rifle aimed at Hestia. She reached for Dreadfan, too slow, and the centurion fired. She whipped around to shield herself, anticipating full impact—only for the round to explode without hitting its mark. Blinking through the smoke, Hestia saw a transparent wall of Void Light between her and the Cabal. Its armor was blackened and it shook its head, disoriented from the close-ranged blast. The Defender lunged, wielding a double-headed ax that he brought down on the centurion's neck. A geyser of black blood sprouted from its neck. It screamed and whirled, attempting to swat at the titan. He held on to his weapon for dear life.

"Hurry!" he screamed at Hestia. "Use your Ghost!"

Hesi, maybe he's right--

"No! You don't know what they'll do if they see you," Hestia said. She paused, thinking, then ordered, "Set up a beacon. Hopefully it'll attract someone to help us out." Preferably Isso or Argo.

But…won't it attract the Cabal too?

"Just do it!" Hestia snapped, right before the dying centurion dislodged the Defender, throwing him into her and the terminal.

 

[Dunruffle]

Argo sprinted across the open trail into the dark shelter of an abandoned house. Not a moment later, two cabal interceptors rumbled by as their pilots scanned their surroundings. Argo had been assigned to scout ahead to determine the strength of the enemy forces. Soon he quickly found himself outgunned and outnumbered as he tried to make his way back. He had occasionally sniped an officer or blew up an outpost, but his actions were noticed and soon a pair of interceptors had been sent to hunt him down.

His red and black armor pulsed like a heartbeat as Argo peered out of the doorway as the interceptors rounded a bend and disappeared from sight. Readying himself to sprint to the next safe haven, he was stopped when a beacon appeared on his hud. His siva enhanced ghost appeared next to him, "beacon s-s-set by guardian hestia. Comms cannot pierce c-c-cabal communications block. I suggest w-w-we make our way to the beacon." Argo huffed in annoyance, ever since he had infused siva into his ghost it had developed a stutter. But compared to the advantages the siva brought, a slight stutter was not too bad to deal with.

Argo set his sights on a cave opening 50 feet away, he knew that it connected to a series of interconnected caves that would put him right next to the anchor of light. Sprinting across the open area he jumped into the cave. His ghost turned on its flashlight to reveal a group of fallen staring at him. Nobody moved for several seconds until Argo's ghost turned off its light. Argo was well trained at fighting in the dark unlike the fallen. A vandal lept at Argo with its swords raised, recieving a handcannon blast to the throat causing blood to spray everywhere. A trio of dregs unleashed a fullisade of fire at Argo right as he threw a smoke bomb into their midst. He dodged the lasers aa the dregs coughed and fired blindly out of the smoke as Argo tossed a grenade into the middle of them. The resulting blast sent the dregs flying leaving only a fallen captain. The captain roared and charged at Argo, its swords ready to impale him. Argo slid between the Captain's legs, firing up into the alien as he went. The captain fell to the floor in a bloody heap as Argo stood up and holstered Fever and Remedy. He then set off into the cave network, following hestia's beacon.

 

[Antiheld]

Ocean of Storms, Earth's Moon - Isso-7​

Isso's synthetic ears rang as explosions echoed behind him. The Cabal force had not liked the beating the Guardian was giving them and they responded by sending in reinforcements faster than he could kill them. Their numbers didn't stop the Titan from sending Thermite Grenades and Hammers of Sol their way but he knew that without a place to garrison he'd likely find himself dead.

Subroutine's and simulations ran in Isso's synthetic brain, an operation that people called "planning". His chances of survival would triple if he could meet up with his team, and he hoped that they were at the anchor.

"Comm systems are down by the way, it was likely that your message wasn't received. Though I'd let you know." His Ghost, Artemis, was being sassy as usual and Isso- 7 scoffed.

"It would have been nice of you to let me know earlier." Isso quipped back at Artemis. "Alright new plan, find me all of the explosives around the Anchor. Mark them on my HUD."

"Oh, I really like where this is going. Say no more!" Artemis' robotic voice grew excited as it began searching for all of the explosive ordinance nearby.

Isso knew he had to be prepare for every outcome and every situation. It was possible that his allies wouldn't be at the Anchor, it was possible that no one was at the Anchor, it was even possible that the Cabal had already taken the Anchor. Isso hoped he would be able to get there before the Cabal did, and he had an idea about how he could find Hestia and Argo.

"What better way to get everyone's attention than I giant ball of fire? I mean, to me, that just screams 'hey! Isso's over here.'"