A Destiny Encyclopedia *WIP*

Section One - Guardians

"Legends are carved across history by the brave."

The Guardians' origins are rooted in the origins of the Last City itself, in the Dark Agethat followed the Collapse. In the earliest days, when the survivors of the Collapse were gathering beneath the Traveler and groups like Takanome's Rangers were all that separated refugees elsewhere from certain death, the Guardians were known as The Risen. Having been granted the power to wield the Light by their Ghosts, The Risen lacked a common, unifying purpose, and took up roles as enforcers and bodyguards for the first Factions. As the Factions feuded over their competing ideologies and competed for influence among the residents of the fledgling city under the Traveler, some of The Risen became disillusioned and abandoned their Factions, seeking a higher purpose. With tensions between the Factions already near the boiling point, this triggered the Faction Wars, a violent conflict that only ended when The Risen ceased fighting each other in order to unite against a new enemy that threatened them all: the Fallen. In the end, the Fallen were repelled, the Factions' iron grip was broken, the city under the Traveler became the Last City with massive walls erected to protect it, and The Risen became known as the Guardians.

Guardians of the present are chosen from the ranks of ancient dead by the Ghosts of theTraveler, and have defended the City for centuries. However, that defense cannot hold out forever. Guardians are charged with the protection of humanity's survivors, but many have splintered off into other groups with their own agendas. For example, it is commonplace for Guardians to align with one of the City's many Factions for support. Some, however, leave the City altogether, such as those aligned with Concordat or the Cult ofOsiris. Few have turned their back on the Light and humanity, such as the villainous Dredgen Yor.

Guardians are equipped with an advanced arsenal of weaponry and vehicles, as well as the ability to channel the Traveler's power(referred to by some as "magic"). It is said that Guardians rarely speak.

Thanks to their Ghosts, Guardians are effectively immortal in most situations. They take advantage of this fact in a number of ways, whether its the live-fire training exercises of the Crucible, or by making new discoveries via visions as thanatonauts. However, Guardians can be permanently killed if their light is drained by a powerful enemy, or if their Ghost is destroyed.