A topic a couple of weeks ago (couldn't dig it up, if you have the link post it in a comment and I'll add it) There was a post about why in the Oryx raid fight why the Taken King doesn't just use his considerable bulk to just squash us like an ant, rather then all of that seemingly pointless and over complicated attacks he uses. Today I will attempt to answer that. To begin with I have to clarify why Oryx's Grimoire and in-game power-levels are so different. Oryx and the rest of the hive receive their powers from a deal they struck with the Worm Gods [quote]Take into your bodies our children, our newborn larvae. From them you shall obtain eternal life. From them you shall gain power over your own fragile flesh: the power to make of it as you will. And should you find an imperfection in the world, an injustice or an inconvenience — you will have the power to repair it. Let no mere law bind you. We ask one thing in exchange, oh Princes. You must obey your nature forever ... If you do(n't) , your worm will consume you. And as your power grows, oh Princes, so will your worm’s appetite. [/quote] -Yul: Book of Sorrows Verse 1:9 Basically, eternal life for eternal hunger, and as they conquered it became apparent that no one being could no longer satisfy the Hunger of their Worm [quote]My worm’s hunger grows faster than the might I draw from it. We are bound by our covenant to obey our nature: eternal search. Eternal cunning. Eternal conquest. But as we do this, my siblings, we feed our worms. And the more we feed them, the hungrier they grow. Faster and faster. Soon, my siblings, we will be so mighty, and our worms so hungry That not with all our might could we possibly feed them. And we will be devoured. WHAT CAN WE DO? [/quote] -Auryx (Oryx): Book of Sorrows Verse 3:4 The eventual solution was that all lesser hive give their energy to the Ascendant Hive though a Tithe (Tax) so that they could survive [quote] And thus the tribute will flow, up the chain, so that Savathun and Xivu Arath and myself will be fed by a great river of tribute, and we will use that excess to feed our gods, and to study the Deep. Thus all worms will be fed — as long as we continue our crusade. This is my law. I carve it thus, in ruin. Aiat. [/quote] -Oryx: Book of Sorrows Verse 3:9 Basically a gigantic Pyramid scheme, the Hive keep Killing, Oryx's worm is satisfied and his power builds eternal, seemingly unstoppable, as long as the momentum persists. But the Guardians changed that, we have been killing the hive, wiping out their ranks and reducing the Tithe, which weakens the higher-ups, in turn making them more vulnerable, the momentum thus swings in our favor [quote]Where is my son? Where is Crota, your lord, your princely god, your godly prince? Tell me no lies! I feel his absence like a hole in my Stomach. Where once his tender tribute whetted burrowed mouths, Now only hunger remains. [/quote] -Oryx: Grimorie Card Oryx, the Taken King The single greatest blow to this was the Warpriest, any transfer as large as the Hive's Title has to be managed, Lesser hive direct Worship to Shrines of Oryx, the Shrines all feed to the Court of Oryx on the Dreadnought where the Warpriest controls and presents it to Oryx and the other Ascendants [quote] to Oryx, King of Taking Tithing to his Lord, that the First Navigator might escape the need to kill for subsistence, the worm need That He might use His power to lead the final work A most faithful servant. Most faithful. [quote] Grimoire Card: The Warpriest Killing the Warpriest breaks the chain, while there are skill millions of Hive and Taken that praise Oryx, their Tithes no longer reach him, his food source is dry, and his ever-hungry worm begins to turn on him. Therefore before we even kill his daughters (whom I imagine were trying to repair the chain) Oryx is in deep s**t to put it mildly, and when we face him he is weaker than he's ever been as Oryx. So why not end the fight quick? Because the Worms bargain is very specific, they asked something specific of Oryx (Aurash at the time) when they made the Bargain [quote] In your immortality, Aurash, you may never cease to explore and inquire, for the sake of your children. In your immortality, Xi Ro, you may never cease to test your strength. In your immortality, Sathona, you may never abandon cunning. [/quote] -Yul: Book of Sorrows Verse 1:9 Sathona/ Savathun must deceive to survive, Xi Ro/Xivu Arath must constantly fight & kill but Aurash/Oryx has to explore and inquire; This is separate to Sword Logic which was introduced later in Verse 2:6, just killing the Guardians that challenge him won't feed the worm, this is now about more than Vengeance for Crota, this is about survival. To demonstrate all that he has discovered Oryx must prevail with Science, with magic, with Technologies that he has fashioned, skills that he has learnt, the killing song, taking, Doxology, what exactly doesn't matter but it has to be complex, it has to be something that needed exploration or inquisition to use, a kill with Brute Force will mean his end as well as the Guardians. Any comments and criticism are welcomed and if people are interested, I'll make a follow-up topic about the Light-Eater Ogres and their part in all of this. Edit: Q&A now available here https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/197566236/0/0