Destiny 2: "Final Dawn"

Hello Guardians,

The Storyline for Season of the Seraph has a climatic ending that I certainly did not expect. Community reaction across the board (even on Twitter) has been overwhelmingly positive. Why? Somehow, a Studio that had trouble developing a cohesive Story for the Destiny Universe a few years ago has completely turned the tide in everyone's favor. What makes this Story so compelling? Let's rewind to the Beginning of this Season

More than a Weapon.

The Warmind, Rasputin, is re-introduced into the Story Campaign after The Witness, a brooding figure clothe in Darkness, apparently took the Artificial Intelligence Program offline. Disabling it. Dr. Ana Bray, who taught the A.I. how to think independently, worked feverishly to keep the Warmind from being completely destroyed. Bringing it back online would be a difficult challenge.

As players, we fought through the Hive Wrathborn along with House Salvation to keep both factions from taking control of the Warmind's Security Network. Rasputin controls a network of satellites capable of mass destruction, which earned it the name, Warmind. However, because Ana Bray taught Rasputin to think independently, the A.I. became more 'human' than expected. The more it learned, the more it cared, the more it found its true purpose in ...Life.

Oddly enough, this Artificial Intelligence program felt regret, shame, anger, love, even empathy. It began to trust the human race and felt people were worthy of its protection. Ana Bray grew to see Rasputin, or Red, as family. Gamers found themselves treating Rasputin as human or at least a living being. We became more invested in the future of this unexpected kinship.

And then, everything changed. I encourage you to play through the Quest, Final Dawn, which will be available for the remainder of Season 19. On February 28th, 2023, the next major game expansion entitled, Lightfall, will begin the next chapter of a Story that's about the close.

SPOILER SECTION.

Now, for the Spoilers of the Story. You have been given your last warning. The video above is my gameplay from the Quest. Started in outer space, well above the Earth's atmosphere. Being in such a vulnerable position by having to literally spacewalk to another part of the Seraph Station is jarring to say the least.

Jumping from one platform to the next. Dodging sniper fire from various enemy positions. What was worse? Your Power Level is capped at 1350, which means even the minor enemies could hit you like a truck. Thankfully, I was well prepared on my Solo Mission with a Hunter Build that featured Invisibility.

After falling off the Seraph Station to my death a few times, I finally made it inside. Where Eramis and her minions were waiting for me. You will not be able to defeat Eramis this time around. She has a ridiculous amount of Health. My shots barely did any damage. Ultimately, she was disappointed in my futile efforts to damage her and simply decided to leave the room. Odd, isn't it? Still, House Salvation attacked.

Enter one of the highlights of this Mission, Heavy War Frames summoned by Rasputin arrived. Firing huge beams of solar energy, my enemies began to scatter.

One area after another, swarms of Hive and Fallen were taken out by Heavy War Frames with a bit of help from myself. However, Eramis used Stasis crystals to seal herself in a Control Room. She had full access to firing the Warsats. Her target: the Traveler.

Yes, the Traveler who gives us our Powers of the Light. Eramis initiated the Firing Sequence, which was over 70% Complete by the time I made it to a separate area to manually upload Rasputin into the Seraph Station Network. The A.I.'s plan: to trigger the Self-Destruct protocol. Rasputin and his entire satellite network of Warsat weapons had to be destroyed before Eramis could lock-on and blow the Traveler out of the sky.

Back at the H.E.L.M., Ana Bray was in tears as the Firing Sequence eclipsed 93% Completion. She didn't want Rasputin, her friend, to sacrifice itself for the good of humanity. If the Warsats fired, not only would the Traveler be destroyed, but the entire Earth would likely be left in burning ash.

Ana would have to do it. She would have to disconnect Rasputin from the Seraph Station Network. Unplugged, the Network would shut down and the Warmind would be gone. As Eramis triggered the Warsats to fire, Ana Bray unplugged Rasputin.

Even more shocking? In the middle of all this, the Traveler reacted, which it rarely does. Rarely. Practically never. But it elevated, rising higher and higher into the sky until it broke through Earth's atmosphere into Orbit and in clear view of Eramis' line of sight. She had a clean shot at it.

Eramis said the Traveler would never leave anyone else ever again. Savathun believed the Traveler left the Hive for dead. The Eliksni watched the Traveler leave their homeworld in the past before their home was destoryed. Yes, when the Traveler is in danger, it's reputation is to abandon those who revere it. And it was leaving, again. Wasn't it?

Suddenly, the Traveler halted. Just above the Earth's atmosphere, it stopped. Why? Some say it wants to protect the Last City on Earth. Others repeat what The Witness thinks: It stopped mid-course because the Traveler suddenly realized it has nowhere else to go.

Several Pyramid Ships flew passed the planet Jupiter as Hive forces began to pull their forces back. The feeling is, something worse than the Hive is coming. A good ol' fashioned standoff is brewing between Light and Darkness. The Traveler and The Witness. And everyone needs to choose whose side they're on.

Today. An odd feeling. Without The Traveler hovering directly above us, The Last City on Earth feels unprotected. Or perhaps.. we are finally free. ecj