Why is Rhulk in Savathûn’s Throne World? The Disciple’s Imprisonment Explained
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The core reason Rhulk, Disciple of the Witness, found himself confined within Savathûn’s Throne World boils down to a complex web of manipulation, deceit, and ultimately, betrayal. Rhulk was initially placed there by his master, the Witness, not as a prisoner, but as an overseer. His primary mission was to keep a watchful eye on Savathûn, ensuring her loyalty to the Witness and its grand design for the Final Shape. However, Savathûn, ever the master strategist, played the long game, eventually turning the tables and trapping Rhulk within her domain.
The Witness’s Plan: Oversight and Assistance
Rhulk’s presence in Savathûn’s Throne World wasn’t a random occurrence. The Witness, recognizing Savathûn’s cunning and potential for rebellion, strategically positioned Rhulk, its most formidable Disciple, as a safeguard. Rhulk also commanded a Pyramid ship that he brought along with him, later called the Sunken Pyramid. The primary functions of Rhulk’s presence were twofold:
- Surveillance: To act as a constant reminder and deterrent against any deviation from the Witness’s plans. Rhulk’s sheer power and unwavering loyalty to the Witness were intended to keep Savathûn in check.
- Resource Provision: Rhulk’s Pyramid ship held within it an almost limitless supply of Worm larvae. These larvae were crucial to the Hive’s power structure, allowing them to feed their insatiable hunger and maintain their connection to the Darkness. The Witness offered this supply as an incentive for Savathûn’s cooperation and to further solidify the Hive’s reliance on the Darkness.
Savathûn’s Gambit: Trapping the Disciple
Savathûn, however, is the Hive god of cunning, and she doesn’t play by anyone’s rules but her own. While seemingly compliant, she secretly plotted to undermine the Witness and protect the Traveler, even if that meant a temporary alliance with the Guardians. Her plan to trap Rhulk involved several key elements:
- Deception: Savathûn feigned loyalty to the Witness, appearing to embrace the Darkness and its goals. This lulled Rhulk into a false sense of security, making him underestimate her true intentions.
- Exploitation of Throne World Mechanics: Throne Worlds are reflections of their creators, governed by their will and shaped by their experiences. Savathûn used her mastery over her own Throne World to manipulate its laws and create an environment where she could exploit Rhulk’s weaknesses.
- A Calculated Risk: Savathûn knew that imprisoning Rhulk was a dangerous game. If the Witness discovered her treachery, the consequences would be dire. However, she calculated that the potential reward – protecting the Traveler and disrupting the Witness’s plans – was worth the risk.
- The Curse: Savathûn was able to use her knowledge of the Darkness to essentially curse and imprison Rhulk within his own ship. While the specifics remain shrouded in mystery, it involved some manipulation of the laws within the Throne World.
The Aftermath: Vow of the Disciple and Unforeseen Consequences
The events of the Vow of the Disciple raid see Guardians finally confronting and defeating Rhulk within his Pyramid ship. However, even in death, Rhulk’s legacy remains. His influence over the Hive and his connection to the Witness continue to be felt throughout the Destiny universe. Furthermore, his demise, as well as Savathûn’s, has paved the way for new players to enter the stage, including Xivu Arath, Savathûn’s sister and the Hive God of War.
The Games Learning Society, through its research and exploration of gaming narratives, can provide a framework for understanding the complex motivations and power dynamics that drive characters like Rhulk and Savathûn. You can read more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Rhulk and Savathûn’s Throne World
1. Did Savathûn betray the Witness?
Yes, ultimately. While she initially appeared to serve the Witness, her true goal was to protect the Traveler and disrupt the Witness’s plans. She used deception and manipulation to achieve this, even at the cost of her own life.
2. Why did the Witness trust Savathûn in the first place?
The Witness likely saw Savathûn as a powerful and useful tool. Her cunning and strategic mind made her an asset in the Witness’s plans. However, the Witness underestimated her capacity for betrayal and her own desire for self-preservation.
3. What is the significance of the Worm larvae in Rhulk’s Pyramid?
The Worm larvae were a source of power for the Hive, providing them with their immortality and their connection to the Darkness. The Witness used this as leverage to control the Hive and ensure their loyalty.
4. How powerful was Rhulk compared to other Hive gods like Oryx and Xivu Arath?
Rhulk was arguably more powerful than Oryx. While Oryx drew his power from the Taken and the Sword Logic, Rhulk was a Disciple of the Witness, wielding a more direct and potent form of Darkness. Xivu Arath remains an ongoing threat, and her true power level is still being explored in the game’s narrative.
5. What is a Throne World, and why is it important?
A Throne World is a personal dimension created and governed by a being of immense power, typically a Hive god. It serves as their seat of power, their refuge, and their means of achieving true immortality. If a Hive god dies in the material world, their essence retreats to their Throne World, allowing them to be reborn.
6. What is the “Final Shape” that the Witness seeks to achieve?
The Final Shape is the Witness’s ultimate goal: to reshape the universe into a state of perfect stasis, free from the suffering and chaos of free will. The exact nature of the Final Shape is still being revealed, but it involves the imposition of a single, unchanging pattern upon all of existence.
7. Is Rhulk truly dead after the Vow of the Disciple raid?
While Guardians defeated Rhulk, the nature of death and existence within Throne Worlds is complex. Given his unique position as a Disciple and the Witness’s power, it’s possible that Rhulk’s influence, or even his consciousness, could linger in some form.
8. Did Rhulk create the Hive, or did he just influence their evolution?
Rhulk played a pivotal role in the Hive’s creation. He subjugated the Worm Gods and facilitated the transformation of the Krill into the Hive, shaping their culture and driving them towards their conquest of the universe.
9. What was Savathûn’s plan with the Traveler?
Savathûn’s plan was to steal the Traveler and hide it within her Throne World, protecting it from the Witness. She believed that by doing so, she could disrupt the Witness’s plans and ensure the Traveler’s survival.
10. Why did Savathûn choose to become a Lightbearer?
Savathûn became a Lightbearer as part of her plan to deceive the Witness and protect the Traveler. The Light granted her new powers and a connection to the Traveler, allowing her to further her goals.
11. How does the Sword Logic relate to Rhulk and the Hive?
The Sword Logic, a philosophy of survival through strength and conquest, is central to the Hive’s culture. Rhulk, as the architect of their transformation, instilled this ideology within them, driving them to conquer and consume all that they encounter.
12. What are the symbols in Rhulk’s eyes, and what do they represent?
The symbols in Rhulk’s eyes are believed to represent the locations of the various Pyramid ships within the solar system. They serve as a constant reminder of the Witness’s influence and Rhulk’s duty to oversee its plans.
13. Why was Oryx not chosen as a Disciple of the Witness?
Oryx’s fanatical devotion to the Sword Logic may have made him unsuitable as a Disciple. The Witness likely sought beings who were more strategic and adaptable, rather than those who blindly followed a single philosophy.
14. What role did the Ahslid play in Rhulk’s story?
The article mentions “The Failure of the Ahslid!” in relation to Destiny 2 lore. The Ahslid were a people subjugated by Rhulk on his homeworld of Lubrae. Their failure to resist him ultimately led to the destruction of their civilization and the creation of the Lubraean Monolith, which Rhulk used to siphon power from the planet.
15. What is the significance of Rhulk turning into a tree after his defeat?
Rhulk’s transformation into a tree symbolizes his connection to the Darkness and the nature of his death. The vines and vegetation that emerge from his corpse are reminiscent of the Corruption that spreads throughout the Pyramid ships, suggesting that even in death, he remains connected to the Darkness.