[quote]"Of all the Lights, we burned the brightest." —Unknown Sunbreaker[/quote]
Many have already heard plenty about the legendary Titans that wield the hammers of burning Light. Their infamy, their power, and the fear that they provoke; but before they were known as rogues and traitors, there was once honor to be found in the name of the Sunbreakers.
Though Guardians today can rest easy within the Walls of the Last City, the Sunbreakers never indulged in such a luxury as this. The Sunbreakers were formed in a time before Walls, before the City was the City, in a time that demanded swift action to ensure the survival of what remained on Earth. They were often referred to as a mercenary Order, serving the needs of those within the City, that existed as a force outside the City, operating to defeat the enemies that sought our destruction in the Wilds. They were active crusaders, never returning to the City for shelter as they believed that their place was where ever the Darkness was, so they could find it and end it.
During their time serving the City, they were approached by a once respected Warlock known as Osiris and wished to broker a contract between the Sunbreakers and the City. This occurred, most likely, when Osiris was the Vanguard Commander, before Zavala. Though Osiris was the Vanguard Commander, Zavala would still have enough power to deem the contract unacceptable, resulting in the exile of the Sunbreakers from the City permanately. It is unknown what the contract entailed or if this also was another case made against Osiris to exile him as well. Zavala makes it appear that his initial thoughts on the Sunbreakers is that they are naive and lack discernment when it came to choosing their leaders (refering to 'leaders they barely understand' most likely being a nod to Osiris). The Sunbreakers would follow Osiris to Mercury where they would learn and use Vex technology to develop a means to concentrate their Light into a pure, unyielding form; a place known only as 'The Forge'. This would be where Sunbreakers would make and purify their Light into their Hammers of Sol (literally: Hammer of the Sun). They would serve Osiris for many years.
Within the Sunbreaker lore found in Destiny 2, it is noted that the Sunbreaker Order was present at the Great Disaster, the failed offensive to retake the moon that was crushed by the Hive-God Prince Crota:
[quote]...I looked around the battlefield with pride upon the scores of once-disparate Guardians united to expel the Hive from our backyard. The Honor of Cormorant would win this day because of differences set aside and alliances hard-struck.
Alas, we both know how that day truly ended. Our early fortunes would be our doom. Green fire and failure would be your sole remembrance of that day. [/quote]
The mention of the 'disparate Guardians united' implies that the banishment of the Sunbreakers occurred well before the Great Disaster, but the most interesting thing is that despite not being allied with the City and the Vanguard, the Sunbreakers made the choice to fight and die alongside the Guardians of the City, despite being demonized and cast out by the Vanguard. This possibly gives more detail as to what the Sunbreaker's Oath is, more than seeking the enemies of humanity out, but understanding that regardless of Order or affiliation, the revival and survival of humanity as a whole is the ultimate goal of all people, Guardian or not. Thus, they will make any alliance necessary to blaze a new trail into the next Golden Age, including the dealings made with less than respected figures, such as Osiris.
Their leadership is mostly unknown, but one figure has presented herself to Titans who followed the Sunbreakers to Mercury (in the Taken King) being named as: Ouros, the Third Empyreal Magistrate of the Sunbreakers. As quoted by the Ghost:
[quote]"Guardian, Ouros is a legend. If even half the stories are true, she's one of the most powerful Titans alive today!"[/quote]
The title 'Empyreal Magistrate' roughly means 'celestical or sublime' (empyreal) and 'judge or law bringer' (Magistrate), indicating that she is most likely the only leader of the Sunbreakers, aside from some lower commmanders and lieutenants. Several quotes are known of Ouros:
[quote]"Some doctrines argue that the role of a Titan is to stand in defense of the Last City. The Strikers see a crackling offense as the best defense." —Ouros
"An unjust commander is not worthy of loyalty." —Ouros
"You who seek the Forge: your journey will be long, but your destination is closer than you think." —Ouros[/quote]
The first quote reinforces the mentality and doctrine of the Sunbreakers being an offensive force, acting not just as a defense. Whether the second quote is in reference to Commander Zavala or a former Magistrate of the Sunbreakers is not completely clear (given that Ouros is the [b]Third[/b] Magistrate). Coupling with the second quote, the third one gives a sense of fairness in Ouros, almost a reassuring nature to her, a notion that one could trust what she says, though she won't hold any punches in what she does say, brutal honesty. This is also evident in the Sunshot lore:
[quote]She had forged the Warlock gauntlets herself. Ouros laughed in her face when she told her their name. She wasn't very good at names.[/quote]
This brings us to the only other Sunbreaker that has been confirmed (other than The Guardian): Liu Feng, a Sunbreaker armor and weapon smith who forged the Exotic Warlock Guantlets: Sunbracers (originally Sunbreakers, that's why Ouros laughed) and the Exotic Energy Hand Cannon: Sunshot. She was present at the Battle of the Twilight Gap with Lord Shaxx and helped to fend off the Fallen offensive long enough for Commander Zavala and Lord Saladin to form their counter-attack. It is through Liu Feng that Lord Shaxx found a deep respect, and possible fear, of this Titan Order and the power that they wield.
With The Guardian (Titan) pursuing the Sunbreakers and becoming one within their ranks, Zavala sought to heal the gaps that he had created between this shamed Order and the Vanguard, as a sign of desperation for greater strength to protect Humanity and remorse for the actions he had commited. Communications were established between the Vanguard and the Sunbreakers. With the subclass being to taught to more Titans within the City walls, the relations would ease, but many would still hold to the images of rogues and barbarians that once portrayed these warriors:
[quote]''...go around touting that name and those mercs will come out of their caves and I'll have twice the trouble. I've got enough bad blood with those barbarians.”
“What?”
“The Sunbreakers, old Titan order, super serious mercenaries, fire hammers? Been in the wilds for decades, and word is they've made a new pact with the City, so there's bound to be more of them.”
“It's just a name.”
“You tell them that, they'll probably put a bounty on you and try to sacrifice you to their forge. I'll call them Sunbracers.” [/quote]
But with the arrival of Ghaul and the Red Legion, the Sunbreakers would be powerless to resist their onslaught without the power of their Light. The Red Legion would find the Sunbreaker's base of operations and show little mercy to these Guardians. Thus, the Sunbreakers were defeated and made extinct. But with every fire that dies, there are still the coals and embers that remain, glowing and awaiting the chance to rekindle the heat that once was.
The last message from the Sunbreakers (Hallowfire Heart Titan Exotic):
[quote]“The fire burned within us. Not by choice, not because we sought the flame. But because there was no other way.
“When you stood before the Forge, there was no doubt. No fear. Not even anger.
“My order stood for generations. We held against the shadow, bearing a weapon that seared flesh and melted bone.
“And now we stand at the end. May history remember the Forge. Remember the Hammer. Remember the Sunbreakers.”
—Ouros, Third and Final Empyreal Magistrate of the Sunbreaker[/quote]
Edit: Thought this was lost to the depths, cool to see that some people have found this again.
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The sunbreaker’s may be gone but we will keep the forge burning we will keep the order going here in the last city on earth