While researching Eris' failed raid, I realized how vague many events are. For example, Hive gods respawn in their throne worlds, so why did Crota need to have his soul in some crystal? Similarly, the chronology of the failed raid is unclear. I kept digging for answers, and I think I found them. [b]HISTORY OF CROTA & THE FAILED RAID[/b] - Crota was tricked by auntie Savathun into letting Vex in Oryx's throne world. This was before Oryx inverted his throne world into physical reality of the Dreadnaught. [quote]With his sword Crota cut open a new wound, into a new space. In here he thought he might obtain a secret power. Out of this wound came machines called Vex. They invaded Oryx’s throne world. (Verse 4:8)[/quote] - After returning, Oryx exiles Crota by throwing him in a Vex gate. Crota fought and conquered for centuries before taking Earth's moon after the Collapse. Crota and Oryx's relationship did recover, and Crota did have interaction with Oryx. [quote]“My son,” he said, “this is your punishment. Come home glorious, or die forgotten!” He picked up Crota by the legs and threw him into the Vex gate network. Crota battled through history, becoming a legendary demon. In his early centuries he often spared a few victims to hear oaths and protests against his father. Later, he came to understand Oryx, and he made temples and monuments wherever he went. (Verse 4:10)[/quote] [quote]When Crota’s victory over our little blue world seemed certain [...] it was Oryx who called His Child back into the nether world to plan final victory. (Oryx: Rebuked)[/quote] - During the Great Disaster, thousands of guardians died to Crota while trying to take back the moon, Eriana-3 learns the name of Crota from telepathically interrogating a wizard, and that he must be killed in his throne world. [quote]The swordbearer's name is CROTA. Record that. [...] Incredible. Where? Where is his throne? (Ghost Fragment: Warlock 2)[/quote] - Eriana-3 wants to avenge Wei Ning who died at the Great Disaster. Her and Eris recruit Toland for intel on the Hive, and Omar Agah, Vell Tarlowe, and Sai Mota. Toland informs her that Crota's presence is a "shadow," much like the shades projected by Oryx. Eris Morn confirms that this shadow is made of a piece of Crota's soul, and this soul piece is projected out from Crota's throne world. [quote]Toland tells us that Crota's presence in our world is a shadow. That its true power resides in a netherworld forged by his will. (Crota's End)[/quote] [quote]“I watched as Crota's soul rose from the abyss, his sword cracking the Moon's surface with every stroke. (Rise of Crota)[/quote] - The fireteam follows Sardon who leads to Temple of Crota. Toland says Crota's disciples are all Crota, perhaps meaning Crota telepathically controls them. EDIT: Someone suggested that it's possible the disciples are, or contain pieces of Crota's soul. This would make sense given the "shadow" ability. [quote] I'm afraid each disciple is Crota. [...] When we face him, you will lead the charge. Come, Crota's Temple lies ahead. (Sardon, Fist of Crota)[/quote] - Crota's shadow (made of a piece of his soul) is found in the temple. Rather than letting this piece of Crota's soul get destroyed by Eris' fireteam, the Hive sealed it in a crystal. [quote]I was vain enough to believe we could defeat Crota. But the Hive caught his soul before we could destroy him. (The Wakening dialogue)[/quote] - They hear Omnigul for the first time and try to find her. They reason that if she dies, Crota's crystallized soul can't return as a shadow once again. [quote]Eriana-3: I hear them, even when I don't. I will tear this Omnigul's throat out. Toland: If you were to do so, our work here would be done. Without a Will to raise its army and [b]herald its ascendance, there is no Crota to fear, at least here and now[/b]. (Omnigul, Will of Crota)[/quote] *I think the "ascendance" part means remaking a shadow for Crota to act in the physical world; to ascend is to rise up, and Crota is down in the pit, so to come back to our world with a shadow is to ascend. - After failing to kill Omnigul, Toland speaks to Eriana-3 about his interest in the song of deathsinger, and how he'll learn it when they go in raid location. This suggests that they have not yet entered the pit. [quote]We'll learn the song down there. We can learn it from Her. (Ir Yût, the Deathsinger)[/quote] - They descend into the pit. Vell dies after being overwhelmed by thrall—the children of Verok and Alak-Hul. It might have been Alak-Hull himself who killed Vell. As to what these two were doing there, [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/185762969/0/0]I have a theory[/url]. [quote]"We called her Verok; it was her and her Thrall that finally overwhelmed him." - Eris (Mark of the Duskborn) [/quote] [quote]Do not underestimate the thrall as Tarlowe did! (Enemy of My Enemy mission dialogue)[/quote] [quote]"Alak-Hul, the Darkblade, is laid low. And thus Vell Tarlowe is avenged." —Eris Morn. (Darkblade Helm)[/quote] - Like a horror movie, the remaining members split into two groups. Sai Mota and Eriana-3 fight the Hand of Crota while the Light of the ghosts is being drained by a shroud of darkness. They hear Omnigul. [quote]Sai: Can you track the others? Eriana-3: No. There is too much interference. The shroud is too thick here. Ghost? [...] Ghost: No. Something is siphoning the Light. <chhk> I’m getting weaker by the second. <chhk> Eriana-3: And Sai’s Ghost? Same? Ghost: Faint charge detected <chhk> but it’s fading. Its shell is damaged beyond repair. <chhk> No comms. No transmat. <chhk> Even if there were a signal— [...] Unknown: [inaudible scream] Sai: Omnigul— [...] Sai: The Hand is falling back toward the screams beyond these tunnels. Eriana-3: Screw it. You ready? (Hand of Crota) [/quote] - After trying to fight the Hand of Crota, Sai Mota is killed by Omnigul. [quote] "Mota was so close -- clawing her way out with bones torn from the Acolytes. Her fall -- Omnigul. You honor her." - Eris. (Acolyte Rung)[/quote] - Eriana-3 dies shortly after. [quote]Again I will confess. I am Eriana-3 [...] I will not avenge you, but join you amongst the fires snuffed out upon this moon. (Ghost Fragment: The Hellmouth 2)[/quote] - Omar, Toland, and Eris fight Eyes of Crota while also being Light-drained by the dark shroud. [quote]Eris: Something is watching us. I can feel it. Omar: I hate when you say that. Toland: Crota has many Eyes. Every god does. [...] Toland: Do you feel your Light fading? They are offering it to Crota. Us coming here, we are the ones waking him. (Eyes of Crota)[/quote] - After the fighting the Eyes, Eris finds Omar being killed by the Heart of Crota. [quote]the Heart held Omar’s broken body in a vice of bone and pain. She was peeling the Light from his body. How? I can’t imagine, and I have tried. Tendrils of luminance tore away like flesh. (Heart of Crota)[/quote] - Toland and Eris are only survivors, and Toland teaches Eris to avoid detection. [quote]"They'll believe you are one of their own. And that is the only way." - Toland, the Shattered. (Emerald Light)[/quote] - Toland and Eris separate. Toland finds Ir Yut, and loses physical body. He then wanders through the Overworld linking the Hive throne worlds. [quote]she sang the song of that fearful autonomy. Revelation, my friends, it does go down hard. The definition killed me. The killing redefined me. [...] Now I fly between green-black suns in the labyrinth beyond Crota’s god-star. This is the Overworld, the Sea of Screams, where the throne-universes of the great Hive fester in eternal majesty. (Ghost Fragment: The Hellmouth)[/quote] - We kill the disciples of Crota, destroy the crystal, thus preventing a creation of a new shadow, and we kill Crota in his throne world. [b]SUMMING UP THE POWERS OF CROTA[/b] Crota was always in his throne world, and it seems like he hasn't entered our reality since before the Great Disaster. Not only could he project a piece of his soul to make a shadow to act in our world, he had telepathic connection or control on his disciples. EDIT: Someone suggested that instead of telepathy, ithe disciples are, or contain pieces of Crota's soul. [b]QUESTIONS[/b] 1) Crota is a male, and males can't asexually reproduce, so how did Crota get an army when he was exiled? He might have taken the wizard morph, asexually reproduced to make Omnigul, and then took the knight morph while Omnigul made him an army. Many Hive can manipulate their own bodies, and wizards can asexually reproduce, so it's entirely possible. [quote]our newborn larvae [...] From them you shall gain power over your own fragile flesh. (Verse 2:0)[/quote] [quote]Oryx decided to grow new wings. (Verse 4:8)[/quote] [quote]A mother Wizard gets fertility from a mate, or from herself. (Verse 3:0)[/quote] 2) Crota was sent to a Vex gate presumably leading to a Vex-controlled world. On top of that, Ikora speculates that Crota's throne may be related to the Vex gates. What is the relationship? Is there even one? [quote]The nature and possible interrelationship of the Vex gate system with Hive netherworlds remains unexplored. (Crota, Son of Oryx)[/quote] Crota's throne world exists in the same Overworld as other Hive throne worlds, there are no Vex structures present, and there is no temporal irregularities to suggest any Vex connection. This could just be a line of inquiry that lead to "no." [b]For more theories, click the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/183288968/0/0]Collected Treatises of The Warlock KAGEHOSHI[/url].[/b]