Who is Oryx in Destiny 2? – Lore

From Aurash to Auryx to The Taken King, the character Oryx has experienced a rich history in the timeline of Destiny 2. Although he was born a mere Krill, under the name Aurash, Oryx grew to command the Taken forces and become a monumental threat to the universe. Here is everything we know about Oryx in Destiny 2.

Who is Oryx in Destiny 2?

Who is Oryx?

Oryx was born Aurash, a female Krill who lives on the island known as the Osmium Court. This world was extremely dangerous and hostile to all life, with living clouds that eat creatures and poisonous rain. Aurash had two sisters: Sathona, who would grow up to become Savathûn, and Xi Ro, who would become Xivu Arath. On this island, surrounded by the seas of Fundament, Aurash lived a cautious life.

Although the environment was deadly, the land's inhabitants were more lethal. A group known as the Helium Court, which consists of Aurash's same species, are infamous cannibals. In the first Book of Sorrow, Xi Ro remarks that "The Helium Drinker ambassador ate ten of my sisters as tribute. This is normal. However, I resent it." Looking purely at Aurash's birthplace and the inherent violence of its people, it seemed as if Aurash would amount to nothing and simply die to predators.

Related: Who is Taox? – Destiny 2 Lore

However, the odds of survival changed when Aurash met Yul, The Honest Worm. Yul is one of the Worm Gods, reigning in the muddy seas of Fundament. Yul rose from the deep, offering a symbiotic deal to Aurash. The Worm Gods will place their larvae in the three sisters and become hosts. In return, the Worms offer immortality.

This deal contained one lethal caveat. The larvae in the three sisters would demand bloodshed and be fed by the death of others. To live eternal, the sisters must kill constantly. Only then will they receive the opportunity to become something more than prey. Aurash and his siblings accept the contract, becoming hosts to the parasitic and bloodthirsty worms with no hope and inevitable death on the horizon.

Aurash becomes King Auryx

After the encounter with the Worm Gods, Aurash became the king morph, claiming her royalty right. She became Auryx, transitioning into a male creature. With the help of his sisters, Auryx improved his strength and discovered the Sword Logic. Through killing his sisters in his throne world, Auryx increased his knowledge and learned his sisters' weaknesses.

With his newfound strength, Auryx killed Akka, the Worm God of Secrets, and stole its knowledge. He also forged the Tablets of Ruin and learned how to "take." This skill would become vital in his quest for power and his role as the Taken King.

Related: Who is Riven of a Thousand Voices in Destiny 2?

Oryx, the Taken King

As the Taken King, Oryx wreaked havoc on all life. He became a Hive God and sought continual bloodshed due to the demands of his worm. He killed for survival and helped his sisters do the same. After a time, Oryx had a son named Crota, and two daughters, Ir Anûk and Ir Halak. Due to a misstep by Crota, the security of Oryx's throne world was breached, and he was banished from the realm. After arriving in the solar system, Oryx confronted a fireteam of Guardians in the raid of King's Fall, which occurred in the original Destiny game.

In this raid, the Guardians challenged Oryx, protecting their world from destruction. They fought Oryx on his Dreadnought ship, but the Taken King was not dead yet. To kill a Hive God, you must slay them inside their throne world. As a result, the fireteam of Guardians confronted Oryx inside his throne world, killing him at last. However, his sisters Savathûn and Xivu Arath live on.

For more Destiny 2 lore guides, come check out Who is Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness? – Destiny 2 Lore here on Pro Game Guides.