Savathun

About

Savathûn, originally known as Sathona, is a Hive god and the sister of Xivu Arath, the God of War, and Oryx, the Taken King. Alongside her siblings, she played a crucial role in the creation of the modern Hive species and is one of its principal deities. This was achieved through a pact with the Worms of Fundament. Savathûn is deeply motivated by a desire to uncover the universe’s most profound secrets, deriving power from the deception and confusion of those who attempt to comprehend her complex plans. Her true intentions were ultimately revealed to be in opposition to the Witness and its objective of achieving the Final Shape. She operated covertly from within to thwart humanity’s extinction during the Collapse and to safeguard and maintain the Traveller at all costs. Additionally, she devised a plan to liberate her species from the original pact with the Worms made on Fundament, seeking alternative means of sustenance beyond the Sword Logic. As a result of her actions, she was reborn as the first Hive Lightbearer, with Immaru as her Ghost. Together, they established the Lucent Brood, an army of Light-wielding Hive.

Personality

Savathûn is characterised by her deviousness, immense pride, a thirst for grand secrets, and razor-sharp intellect. Her true feelings and intentions towards others, including her family, remain largely unknown. She frequently interacted with her brother’s children, especially his sons, and played a significant role in Crota’s failed assault on the Vex, leading to his banishment. The Books of Sorrow indicate that she was both proud and envious of her niece Ir Anûk’s spellcasting abilities and knowledge. After Xol’s death, her nephew Nokris reached out to her, forming a mutually beneficial partnership where Savathûn learned necromancy from him and offered him protection. However, she betrayed the Scarlet Court, the last descendants of Crota and Oryx, by luring them into a trap for the Guardians to destroy, believing her brother’s bloodline had ended. Savathûn had at least three children, two of whom, Balwûr and Malok, were integrated into her brother’s Court, similar to how she later took Nokris into hers. Her children were often involved in her schemes, with Malok being conceived to steal tribute from Oryx and give it to her instead. Her daughter Dûl Incaru played a role in the curse in the Dreaming City. According to Truth to Power, an unreliable source, Savathûn’s children were uncertain if she felt any love or pride towards them or if she would sacrifice them for some cosmic design. Savathûn’s relationship with her siblings is the closest yet most complex, rooted in their shared childhood on Fundament. Initially marked by tenderness and care, Aurash, Sathona, and Xi Ro often comforted and counselled each other. Despite the dooming pact with the worm gods, their love persisted, albeit in a violent Hive manner following the Sword Logic. Savathûn frequently tested her siblings with tricks and cunning, encouraging them to retaliate as a way to “sharpen themselves” in combat. When Oryx discovered she had convinced Xivu Arath to trap him in the Deep to steal the Tablets of Ruin, he expressed his love for her, as no one else would challenge him in such a way. The Books of Sorrow also recount Oryx’s love for Savathûn when he resurrected her with cunning, glad she had not perished eternally. Although it might have been a scheme to keep Xivu Arath away from the Solar System, Savathûn summoned her sister to the Cabal homeland of Torobatl to ravage it as a gift. In her conversations with the Guardian, Savathûn shared insights into her sibling relationships, stating that their millennia-long journey of conquest was for each other and that they would go to any lengths to avenge their family. She understood Xivu Arath’s fear of losing her, as separating from her worm would also separate Savathûn from her sister. Despite her deep care for Xivu Arath, Savathûn admitted she could not deviate from her path. However, a recording in her Spire revealed that Savathûn found her sister “spoiled” for always getting what she wanted regarding their Sword Logic. Another recording from Oryx’s demise showed that despite her care for her siblings, Savathûn held a low opinion of them, calling her brother a hypocrite for seeking vengeance over Crota’s death, as their Sword Logic dictates that anyone who dies deserves it, and Xivu Arath was spoiled by their brother for believing their Sword Logic was absolute. Savathûn’s Ghost, Immaru, initially seems her opposite—blunt where she is oblique and vulgar where she is elegant. However, their differences complement each other, and they share a sharp mind and tactical skills. Their bond is a genuine friendship marked by warmth and trust, contrasting with how other Lightbearer Hive treat their Ghosts. They refer to each other with terms of endearment, though Immaru calls Savathûn his “little buddy,” sharing embraces and confiding in one another. In her first moments after resurrection, Savathûn relied on Immaru for guidance and advice as she navigated the world without her memories. They worked closely together leading the Lucent Brood, with Immaru serving as the Head Tactician and overseeing the Hive’s manoeuvres. Although unable to resurrect her after the failed ritual and the Traveler’s departure, Immaru continued to preside over the swarm, hiding from the Vanguard’s forces and waiting for the right time to bring his Lightbearer back. This opportunity arose when the Vanguard needed to cooperate with Immaru to combat Xivu Arath, requiring the Witch Queen’s knowledge to pass through the Witness’s gateway.

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