Destiny 2 Lore - The Great Hunt & How the Ahamkara were wiped out! Did Riven help cause this?

[@Executioner5510]

Babe wake up new ahamkara lore just dropped.

[@robc4495]

I'm here babe.

[@augustopatricio5517]

Yes, honey

[@uyuyuyuya]

"Babe, new daddy lore's video just dropped"

[@lordpumpkinhead265]

I'm wide awake.

[@Armyladreece6969]

This Is infinitely funnier because I actually did this

[@logandanks8077]

43:48 Gotta love the random flying Taken Psion and the clear double-take of confusion in the background gameplay

[@JesperVille]

I love how Salad man is always gruff and serious, but then he wanted to live out a fantasy tale and fight a straight up Arthurian Dragon

[@johngancarcik5682]

I mean given the opportunity who wouldn't want to Ole forge just wants to live the dream Cmon efferyeet indulge a little lol

[@JohnKerans]

"we are what we survive" sounds very sword logic

[@JonEffinZoidberg]

Lol that acolyte that flew across the map at around 44 minutes made say "WTF?" and apparently it did you as well.

[@benhuckaby]

I think Saladin's phrase went far beyond what he intended: on top of being a "dragon" and the last survivor of a group, he also survived the Red War, fought valiantly against the Cabal, and now has found himself as a Cabal, Valus and at a seat at Caiatl's war table.

[@Quizzoli]

Hey byf just wanted to say that I speak for a lot of us in saying thank you for the complete ahamkarah story it’s something I’ve wanted for a while, and these videos are all absolute bangers

[@FieldAgent-D]

He's right you know -Morgan Freeman

[@lDoVahKiiN]

I approve this message. -Barack Obama

[@attackboss6]

You don't speak for me

[@Quizzoli]

@@attackboss6 I just gotta say I’m your biggest hater hate the way that you talk hate the way that you talk hate the way that you dress hate the way that you sneak diss on sight it’ll be direct

[@RossAshmore]

The ahamkara lore is some of my favorite. Destiny excels with the weird and alien aspects of the universe!

[@here_formemes]

I imagine sometimes that Destiny 2 is the storyline of an alternate universe

[@LittleWritingV]

@@here_formemes it is

[@Arkaeus04]

@@LittleWritingVwe call the that season of the dawn

[@JohnKerans]

Whatever happens after the final shape, I'd like to get some sci fi fantasy novels written by the people who write the lore of destiny

[@eduardofelipe548]

It would be amazing if the video had ended with "I will see you starside, O viewer mine". Excelent work with the series!

[@yhelloh]

16:50 you have no idea how happy i am hearing this. i left a comment on destiny lore vaults video a few days ago about the last wish dialogue at the end of the raid making this exact point. The chamber was dark. The seven of them were rarely in a room together anymore, but this was the eve of their greatest journey, a plan that overcame death and spanned universes. They were all connected in trance, communing as the ancients did. Speaking would tip their hand to the Harbinger Minds they kept here, trophies from an ageless war, and weapons in the right hands. “Oryx could kill her, if she holds on too long.” Sedia offered through the silence, fearing what was to come. “We took an oath long ago, obedience even in the face of defeat.” Nascia despised fear. “Only a defeat here, now. Not there, then.” Illyn wandered between the two sides of three. The amulet around her neck marked Illyn as the coven’s mother, granting her visions beyond the veil, places only the Queen could go. “So we hope.” Kalli had long sought the power of the amulet, but Techeuns are taught not to desire. “Our Queen awaits.” Lissyl attempted to end the challenges. There was little time and a war to fight. “So now the decision is nigh. The Harbingers, which to prepare?” Shuro was determined to see this all through. Excitement was taught to be kept at bay. “We cannot send them all.” Portia reminded. “All but one, the oldest. It stays with us. Sedia, Kalli, Shuro, take the children, tell her they are to be planted into a dead thing to have children of their own.” A plan hid behind Illyn’s eyes, but Techeuns do not share their eyes with others. “What if they are not wise enough for the Dreadnaught?” Illyn turned back to the source. “Sedia, do you not have faith in our Queen?” *this lore card was from 2015. 2015... mentioning THE VEIL. Illyn knows the path. So does Mara.* Mara and Riven shaped her third throne together, and the artistry of their work was a testament to the hungry joy they felt in that partnership. They named it Eleusinia, and it was in those Ascendant halls that Mara finally carved a statue for Sjur. When it came time to connect the Well to the unreality that lay beyond the gateway, Sedia asked, "Would it not be wiser to leave this door without a key?" Riven, now an immense antlered serpent with broad tiger paws, tightened around the perimeter of the room like a noose. "Egg," Mara corrected absently, chewing on her thumbnail. "The key is so heavy as to be unliftable," Kalli ventured, since they were speaking metaphorically. Sedia flapped her hand dismissively. "Yes, yes, I know." They all knew that the gate required a continuous multi-week charge of paracausal energies, and that almost nothing in this solar system could produce such energies at the scale required by the gateway. Almost. "It's just- do we…" "Do we wish to trust the Guardians?" Illyn filled in dryly. Mara ran her hand along the sleek surface of the primary well's control mechanism, then turned and walked alone toward the fresh, foggy air that blew in from the coast. The Techeuns watched her go. "There is only the plan," Illyn said. "Remember your vows, Sedia."

[@salphoris911]

What is this path you refer to Mara and Ilyn knowing?

[@inoli3164]

The thought that pocket infinity is so chaotic and buggy coming from a wish to use the vex abilities against the vex check out. Great episode, gave me a lot to think about.

[@danieltiger7249]

My head canon for a number of years is that Tallulah Fairwinds death was actually the catalyst for the Great Hunt. Since the time line is so vague it is possible, and tbh that could be a breaking point in the decision making of the Ahamkara's extinction. The death of Fairwind must have been quite harsh amongst the early Hunter ranks and she was highly respected and loved. Let alone the fact it solidifies the whole dare tradition. And if the Ahamkara were trouble enough, this death in leadership would definitely inspire some vengeance.

[@TDKR21104]

37:45 What if Shaxx's wish was just for the ahamkara to have a painless, peaceful death? It fits the context of shaxx and the lore tab

[@tysonkrunek4132]

Calibans Hand, he became the vanguard when she got away and he knew he was being left the responsibility her mantle meant. Shaxx’s skull is ahamkara, people have fought him to get rid of it. But we know how people who fight Shaxx end up.

[@jesseritchie9282]

Yeah I could have sworn it was already established. The skull was used by Savathun to spy.

[@acgearsandarms1343]

Except Ikora.

[@Fendershred50]

Many things go up and go down in Destiny, but there is one constant; Byf. Thank you for your awesome lore delivery and commitment to quality. Much love!

[@firenzarfrenzy4985]

I love the dichotomy between Saladin and the Ahamkara. All but one dragon died. All but one Iron Lord died. Riven was slain but their heart is still there. Saladin’s life is forefeit to Caiatl but his body is still all there.

[@Spitfyre1011]

That last line from Calus to Caiatl is so sweet. Maybe the bone did work for him.

[@dynojackal1911]

I think part of the reason Titans don't have any Ahamkara Exotic armors is explained in the lore tab of the Great Hunt Vest; Eris notes that she'd seen other Titans driven mad because the wish-dragons wouldn't die of brute force. This might have influenced the traumatized survivors to eschew wearing trophies of their individual parts in the Great Hunt.

[@bandithm7784]

but shaxx has an ahamkara skull right above him... he's just built different

[@dynojackal1911]

@@bandithm7784 I specified Ahamkara *Exotic Armor* not trophies in general.

[@stevenjackson9028]

Shaxx wished for consistent crucible updates. The wish dragon skewed it to make no updates, thus providing consistency.

[@soraxstacy1477]

Shaxx wished for Blueberries to never see him without his helmet... The Ahamkara true to their word, made that a reality. To this day, the legend goes: "The Helmet stayed on"

[@GothDreamsss]

Wishful Ignorance is a thing now

[@aceundead4750]

Saladin fighting an a classic dragon is just epic

[@Christopher-yc5py]

Hey Byf just thought I’d mention that even with all the drama that’s been going on your videos motivate me to play. You are fantastic at breaking down and narrating a story in a way that makes me excited and optimistic about the future. Thanks tons for the high quality content

[@firenzarfrenzy4985]

This series is turning out to be very informative. Something of a low budget Dynasty for the Ahamkara. It’s good to have all the lore of one topic packed relatively close together in time. I didn’t even realise there was this much.

[@whoamama8705]

Thinking about Saladins wish and it’s parallels, how when he said “WE are what we survive” that maybe he inadvertently included efirdeet in his wish, and that now we know that there is one one more ahamkara in the form of the uncorrupted egg and how there is one more iron lord being efirdeet

[@inquisitorichijou883]

I actually want a GIF of a Titan pounding a cthulhu-faced creature again and again like Wei Ning did.

[@castillejan]

These are my favorite videos you’ve ever made. Please spare no detail and no concern for runtime, and dive as deeply into this as you feel is appropriate. 10/10

[@DredgenStorm]

34:30 My brothers and sisters of the Hunter Pack, raise a glass to our first leader, her successor, and one of the worst bets ever made. To Talulah Fairwind, the First Hunter Vanguard! 🍻

[@makoredeyes]

+10 psychic damage from lore aside, however, AMAZING work! And as a relative new-light ultra critically valuable because I (and so many others) missed ALL of this in-game. Had NO clue. Vague understanding of who and what Riven was, The Ahamkara in general, but wouldn't have even known where to start for the details.

[@chrisjackson7669]

Hi Byf, loving the new series on Ahamkara, just wanted to chime in regarding Shaxx's skull in the tower, IIRC it's confirmed to be an ahamkara skull by Eris, I believe it was pre Witch queen; Drifter asked Eris if she'd sung shaxx "a little ditty" to which Eris brushed off his question as proposterous (i think was the word used) and then asked if it this was the song *hummed savathuns theme* drifter said yes, and Eris then asked about shaxx still having the skull, he replied yes again and Eris asked Drifter to request Shaxx remove it, to which Shaxx had already said "no", I can't fully remember if she specifically says Ahamkara skull but I believe this it was heavily implied if not.

[@MynameisByf]

^^ correct you are. I think I half remembered that and just missed part of it in my research for this. Regardless, glad that we have that context.

[@chrisjackson7669]

@@MynameisByf No worries, Glad to help :D, Gave me a little smile hearing you mention a comment helping on the newest Vid in the series "The story of Riven", I was like, "He might mean me :D"

[@hammer9856]

Shaxx might have wished that no one see his tears of sadness at the death of the dragon... That's why the helmet MUST stay on.🤣🤣🤣

[@efialtislykos5318]

Okay I love this video but I have to point out. Are we not gonna talk about the visible confusion this man had with the flying taken acolyte at 43:45

[@AgentZarkov_2133]

The age old bond lore is referring to Immigrant Song from one of those very early live action trailers. Fantastic 😂

[@Posted-jenk]

these longer videos are amazing! not that I don't appreciate the shorter ones, but I do a lot of driving for work, and I love being able to dive into the longer stories.

[@RyanOConnell02]

I think we will do something similar to get into the portal. I think our wish will result in 3 things... Getting inside the pale heart, reviving cayde, and the return of the ahamkara

[@dereckguerra6863]

i think what will happen is instead of saying how do we get into the pale heart, we will wish for a person to guide us into it, and who is the best guide in the destiny world, a hunter named Cayde

[@Rivr_Shen]

The idea that something as large as Riven started out smaller than Uldrens hand is so cool. Assuming shes not changing her form when we fight her.

[@GrayvesX]

She may have changed her size for Uldren

[@Kroekestop_NL]

I wanted to thank you Byf, for taking your time with the lore from the Ahamkara. this is my favorite topic lore wise from Destiny. always shrouded in mystery, i hope we learn alot more next season.

[@digitalephemera]

I very much enjoy these long form lore videos. Thank you for all your hard work! I use your videos to keep tabs on what's going on in the Destiny universe when I take breaks from the game.

[@Fordmister]

I almost wonder if its more the case that Ahamkara are simply incapable of not granting a wish if put before them. Like a hyper intelligent magic crocodile they will be talking poetry with you one minute and enjoying your company only for a desire to slip out and the Ahamkara has slammed its metaphorical jaws shut and struck a bargain as a reflex before even it really knows what's happened never mind the person who it bargained with. Would explain how Riven was so easily capable of assisting in the extinction of her own species just to grant Mara a wish (or perhaps how all Ahamkara were complicit in their own demise because the Guardians wished it) would equally explain how she so easily outsmarted Oryx, Riven didn't even have to think. The Taken King wished to take her and before anyone can blink Riven has already won

[@skognamitipiglio]

Byf just thank you for everything you do, for the effort, for the quality. You really are an insiration for people like me. Thank you again

[@dredgen0268]

I really hope that this next season gives us new Ahamkara bone exotics.

[@therussbuss5314]

43:45 Are we not gonna talk about the taken that just tried to flying kick you?

[@JimTheFly]

And then just completely seemed to disappear? Like you see him turn left, then right, and then back left, then just stop for a moment like he went "... weird... ANYWAY..."

[@jamal9824]

I may have stopped playing Destiny years ago but Byfe you have kept me well informed about my favorite part of the game. Thank you

[@Lemon-kw2iq]

I love coming home from school to a new lore vid!

[@RaigarWasTaken]

I love the included footage of a blueberry not understanding the ball mechanic in the Dreaming City strike lmao

[@Dewrevolution1]

Watching your teammate at 19:24 and all the choices made by him in that short amount of time had me rolling my eyes lol

[@Dewrevolution1]

Even at 20:08 you were waiting for him to throw it. Guardians are soooo cute. Just wanna put em in a chokehold and not let go

[@Cojosho97]

An unrelated note, the skyboxes in the Dreaming City both here at 35:30 and in the Last Wish Raid just before the Morgeth in the Ascendant Plane jumping puzzle are all messed up, since like Lightfall’s launch. That pause in the back gameplay when the large tower disappeared was humorous, imo.

[@twistedsnebula2504]

These ahamkara lore videos are some of the best yet. 47 minutes flew by is a blink.

[@williamlabadie932]

At 18:30, in the french version of the lore tab, the request was made by multiple Ahamkara.

[@jeremymatthies726]

Byf, great job on the video. Thank you for putting so much effort into these lore videos, I know I really appreciate them and I am sure everyone else does as well. Keep up the great work.

[@14padilcamz]

This is the best video you’ve ever made IMO

[@masondoyle8745]

The Transfiguration lore tab is one of my favorites in all of Destiny, it’s so badass

[@reamoinmcdonachadh9519]

Thank you Byf, I did TRULY enjoy thsi video, some info I was not aware of!! May your Light shine Brightly!!

[@Kt4nk]

I’m sure these long ones take a lot longer and more effort to make, but I personally love the 1hr+ videos. Fantastic for when I’m working mindlessly. Eyes up, Guardians. See you Starside.

[@trichogaster1183]

the lore of this game is a leg-shaking loregasm

[@KngdmHrts1989]

Absolutely loved these Ahamkara Lore videos. So much interesting information on the wish dragons.

[@AhhSnow]

Hi Byf! Hope you’re having a great day!

[@colincampbell465]

Def some of the coolest D2 lore out there, thanks for sharing it Byf!

[@seanstrickland3771]

Bro thank u for doing these videos. I really enjoy the longer story telling.thanks byf the lore king

[@Brad-ut1ro]

7:09 Oof… man… that line hits hard.

[@thatanimefan91]

You're lore videos is the main reason why I still haven't deleted destiny out of my life 👍 thank you very much for your hard work 👊

[@L1qu1d-2qu1d]

Always thought it weird that titans never made armor out of the dragon’s bones too.

[@Omega_2]

43:46 That got me going. I hate when they do something like that, then they're gone the next instant.

[@LonewolfDusk]

This is by FAR my favorite lore video that you have ever done, Byf! Awesome!!! One thing that I have been thinking about and maybe someone else has already asked… but here is the question… Now that we know that we have an Ahamkara Egg, and they are Wish Dragons… Could this be the reason why Cayde-6 is alive? Perhaps a wish brought him back inside the Traveler?

[@albeen1786]

Byf I love you man I love this lore I can’t wait for the next one bro. You’re the best and never stop man. Wonderful wonderful job my friend ❤

[@twomillion8383]

This series is one of the greats. Great job

[@here_formemes]

These videos capture my attention more than anything and I get exited every time I see a new one because of how interesting they are

[@ShazotoTouge]

Just watched Part 1 just a few minutes ago to see Part 2 appear. Talk about perfect timing.

[@makootithebionicman3612]

I still do not understand something about the ahamkara. What technically counts as extinct? Something as small as a bone fragment can still feed off desire and grant wishes that can move stars? Can still communicate, think maybe even feel. Even Xivu uttered the words "cage", like she knows she cannot kill them. I think the idea of the great hunt is ill informed, because nothing about the ahamkara screams to me that they all died out when their bones are as much of a threat as their living being is.

[@joshuatheargonaut4412]

Ok side question that I thought of while listening to the fate of the fire breakers. So when the ghaul blocked our light and guardians died how come it was their final death? I mean their ghost didn’t die. After we won the red war and restored the traveler or rather it restored itself those ghost would come back online so to speak. So why couldn’t they just rez their guardians?

[@Shadowstrife86]

Love your work and the lore tales you piece together for these videos

[@SystemGlitch_04]

The only thing that I can think of right now is - everything that we are going through now in Destiny has been the result of a single or multiple Guardian's unintentional/intentional wishes that were made when fighting an Ahamkara. I wonder what else will happen to all those unresolved wishes have been finaly twisted through the course of time. - Damn! My brain is overloading with all the epic info that you have been giving us Byf.

[@GhostRydr1172]

No doubt the old Earth song Kabr's fireteam was blasring was Immigrant Song.

[@TheLuckyTim7]

Skull above Shaxx is definitely ahamkara, there’s a line from arrivals between Eris and drifter discussing that he refuses to take it down, and if I remember correctly there’s a lore tab where Savathun is spying through the skull

[@sammylee105]

@mynameisbyf it is confirmed that the skull in the tower above Shaxx is Ahamkara, by lore found on the Chrysura Melo, which is how Savathûn was able to influence with the song during the events between beyond light and Witch Queen

[@BiblicallyDestiny]

Dragon lore is the best! Thanks for the hard work, Byf!

[@Soulverine]

This just cements my assertion that BUNGIE needs to do a live action Destiny show, starting with the Warlords and Iron Lords. Even if it's just from the dark age up through the Great Hunt, a Game of Thrones-esque Destiny show would be 🔥

[@Orkimeedees]

This is some of the absolute best lore Destiny has kicked out. Thanks Byf, I actually look forward to cleaning the house when you drop this shizzle!

[@petergutierrez8730]

Very much dig the long videos, great stuff

[@Ch1pD0ug1as]

Thanks for doing what you do Byf

[@thelostcompass1320]

I've always been of the belief that riven inadvertently intended, the near extinction of the ahamkara.

[@abyssal_beans]

From what I could find there’s some lore reasons as to why titans don’t have any ahamkara exotics, although there’s a lot of contradicting information about it. If you can pick out what’s backed up in official lore it could be a fun tidbit in a future part of the series.

[@Rivenisthebestdragon]

Wish dragon vs hive worm god needs to happen still imo.

[@makoredeyes]

Was grinning my damn head off on the loretab with Efrideet and Saladin until I caught up with exactly where Byf was going with it seconds before he got to his conclusion and MAN talk about a hecking gut punch excuse me why I go throw up and then scream at the sky for twenty minutes OUCH. HECK.

[@redfalcon8062]

Here's my question. Why didn't Shin Malphur join in on the Great Hunt?

[@LightmodePurgatory]

I can feel my brain expanding whenever I watch a Byf video.

[@feralprocessor9853]

I'm worried that once the egg hacthes, not only it will feed off of the Hidden's wish but it might feed off of the Last Cities citizens which has a higher chance of their wishes be vague and a disruptive nuances in the immediate area.

[@ballisticgecko5531]

I never considered that the vanguard dare could have been set up by wish magic before! Makes you wonder if becoming the hunter vanguard after losing the dare is not because of honor and is actually from an inescapable fate set up from the wish. Not to throw shade at hunter honor, I know it’s a big part of their identity, but it could add another layer onto the dare. It definitely becomes more interesting when you throw Crow and the events of forsaken into the equation.

[@inktoxicant]

The lore tab for Chrysura Melo confirms that Shaxx does indeed have an ahamkara skull above him. "Savathûn squeezes through the calcified channels of ascendant energy and manifests within the dangling Ahamkara skull. The man standing below the netting senses her appearance. His Light flares as he draws his weapon with impossible speed."

[@richardcombs2734]

Loving it. So well timed with the new season coming out.

[@ZugaTurrelai]

Two things I do want to point out that you should cover. The first is Venus, the great hunt was started because of what the Ahamkara were doing there, and if I recall a warlock killed themselves when they looked at what the Ahamkara had done. I think this bears covering as if the Ahamkara did want themselves to be hunted as it is hunted could be the truth then why terraform (for lack of a better word) Venus? What goal did it serve in their “great design”? Next which you might cover next video is Ikora Rey, she actually made a wish with a Ahamkara, (a named one, though i forget his name at current), and she wished to be someone he couldn’t tempt as she had been tricked by him before. And Wei commented that Ikora didn’t laugh after that day. Feel like that could be dug into a bit with her strict personality.

[@MynameisByf]

So if I’m not mistaken these are all featured in the hunter set from last wish. All those entries feature Eris Morn prominently to the point that I wanted to give her an episode of her own. That’s our part 4 if we get there. Part 3 needs to come first though. Riven is a whole massive topic all of her own.

[@gwenchadwick780]

We do know the skull shax has is an ahamkara. Eris talked about it with drifter in the season of arivals.

[@SuperMikeAttack]

There is something about the love that Calus has for his daughter that I find very touching.

[@Archizombie]

My 6yo and I ADORE this series, thanks Byf!!

[@arcana8012]

Part of me wonders if it was truly Illyn who Joxer met with. Given Ahamkara's ability to shape shift, it wouldn't surprise me if Riven could've taken the form of Illyn to meet with Joxer.

[@MynameisByf]

Oh now that is a devious thought.

[@arcana8012]

@MynameisByf (firstly thank you for the reply is like meeting personal hero). But with Riven's malicious nature in mind, it makes me both extremely interested and also terrified to see how things are gonna go down next season (provided we are interacting with her and why would we not?). Especially because Mara's not only in the Teaser Tailer but also the most recent teaser art in the Twid, and Riven and Mara have a currently... complicated relationship. Mara's coming off from the events of Defiance, and she was exhausted at the end of that season. Riven's kinda just been sitting and waiting to screw Mara over, and I don't think Riven's done. Mara's on level where there's very few beings who could do her serious harm. And while Mara's been knocked down a few pegs, I can only imagine that Riven's going to rub some salt in her wounds.

[@essaalsaud9836]

43:52 yeeet 🫡🫡😂

[@ORegan77]

I think Efrideet left the Iron Lords before they were wiped out by SIVA. The grimoire card for Skorri has a bit where the bard is contemplating whether or not she should keep Efrideet in the Iron Song.

[@pelarinbacosiii448]

36:56 His helmet stayed on that time too.

[@ciudecca]

14:28 The Guardian who tried to go into the portal was Reed-7

[@TwilightFox777]

Hmm...while it isn't confirmed it is hinted that the skull Shaxx has hanging above him is an ahamkara skull. When the Drifter asks Eris if Shaxx sang her a song once she asks if the skull is still above his spot. When the Drifter confirms it is and claims that he wouldn't have tangled with it she says it was "Desperate Times."

[@liamcool2139]

3:08 even watching the last one I forgot about it.

[@alvinbcd]

It makes me happy to hear Tellulh Fairwinds name, I wish we got more lore entires with her!

[@ripplered869]

43:50 Taken Acolyte jumpscare lmao

[@cappy1530]

i remember eris talking to drifter about the savathatuns song and she asked if shaxx stillhad to skull

[@ronin9380]

Thanks for the great hard work!