Over the course of Destiny 2, we’ve learned a lot about the Emperor of the Cabal Empire and of his Loyalists, but one group that was missing when the Leviathan arrived in our system were the Shadows of Calus. The Shadows were Calus’ elite guard especially picked by the Emperor for their skills and abilities in battle; many of which came from races assimilated into the Cabal after being conquered. Before the events of Destiny 2 nearly all of these Shadows were eliminated by Ghaul and the Red Legion and much of what we know of them comes from the in-game lore. So allow me to introduce you to the Empire’s elite soldiers and to reacquaint you with those Calus is destined to pick according to the Chronicon.
Disclaimer: None of the Shadows have concept art nor models until we reach those mentioned in the Chronicon, so all interpretations should be left to your imagination.
The Shadows of Calus
Valus Nohr
Nohr was a phalanx chosen by Calus to lead the Shadows on behalf of him being a master strategist. The Valus met his end at the hands of Ghaul and his generals during an attack on the Almighty, before the Last City was destroyed.
Feltroc, The Skull Piercer
Feltroc was one of the Shadows representatives for the psions, a faction the cabal absorbed into their ranks, and lost his life providing cover fire for his team. As the other shadows escaped the attack of the Red Legion, he became trapped in a corridor that Ghaul had filed with neurotoxin, killing him.
Jarus, Ace Defiant
Jarus was a member of the Sindû, a species that Calus conquered but allowed to live. Jarus was pilot who hunted down Lictor Shayotet, a Red Legion general, and slit his throat. Jarus was honored by Calus, who would drink to the warriors victories. Jarus met his end in order to create an opening for the Shadows on the Almighty. Jarus kamikazied his ship into the Almighty’s hull and as the warrior died, Calus honored him by pouring out his wine.
Rull, Gun of the Kaga-Clipse
Rull was a shadow of the race known as the Clipse. Rull assassinated Iska’al, a merchant who betrayed the Emperor to Ghaul, but before escaping was met by Aedile Moli Imoli, another of Ghaul’s generals. After a long fight, Imoli began to retreat but Rull shot a harpoon into the Colossus’s back. Imoli dragged Rull throughout the local market and collapsed at Ghaul’s feet. Rull proceeded to ram the harpoon through Imoli’s head before looking up and smiling in Ghaul’s face, proud of his work, and accepting his death as a proud soldier.
Sekris, Baron of Shanks
Sekris was the oldest of the shadows having lived through the Whirlwind. Sekris was a Baron in the House of Rain who would go head to head with Saint-14. After the death of his house, Sekris would be offered a position in the shadows by Calus after the Emperor watched his fight with Saint-14. Sekris was rebellious causing trouble with Valus Nohr, but proved to be a valuable asset. Before dying at the hands of Ghaul, Calus noted that the Baron had been the inspiration for many infamous fallen including Taniks, the Scarred.
The Fulminator
The Fulminator was of the energy based beings known as the Arkborn. The Shadow lived within a containment suit which allowed him to fight alongside the other shadows. The Fulminator eliminated Statesman Tha’uul, a Red Legion supporter who aided in overthrowing Calus. The Fulminator helped lead the charge against Ghaul and in an assassination attempt on the Dominus he would destroy his containment suit, turning into a cloud of energy, in an attempt to end the Red Legion once at for all. His attempt would ultimately fail trapping the Fulminator in an ethereal state for the rest of his energy bound life.
Voyc, Shadow of the Wild
Voyc was another Psion turned shadow and would be deemed Huntmaster by Calus himself. Voyc was the creator of the exotic bow, the Leviathan’s Breath, a weapon he had used to hunt Ahamkara. Voyc would die at the hands of a Red Legion general, most likely Caiatl, during the assault on Ghaul.
Gahlran, The Sorrow Bearer
Gahlran was a bather on the Leviathan and would not become a shadow until the end of the Red War. Gahlran was Calus’ right hand and a trusted friend of the emperor. After finding a hive artifact on a conquered planet, Calus would appoint Gahlran his candidate as Shadow of the Hive. However, Savathûn used the artifact, the Crown of Sorrow, to control Gahlran and attack the Emperor. The Guardians would be called to end the infestation of hive and put a stop to Gahlran’s treason during the Crown of Sorrow raid.
Werner 99-40
Similar to his counterpart Benedict 99-40, Werner was a tower frame. However, Werner was programmed for battle and even brandished a sword of his own. Werner 99-40 was chosen to be the leader of Calus’ new shadows and is the only living shadow, aside from the Fulminator who is no longer in a physical form, in the current set of events.
The Chronicon
The Shadows below are those that have not, and may not, assumed their position alongside Emperor Calus and are only shadows in the Chronicon. The Chronicon is a book of visions the emperor had during the Season of Opulence.
Mithrax, the Forsaken
Mithrax would be recruited as a shadow by our Guardian, more on that shortly, as the new shadow of fallen. Mithrax would purge and kill all Eliksni unwilling to follow the Emperor and would later die on Atheneum World X while claiming the world’s hidden knowledge.
Petra Venj
Petra would be recruited in the Dreaming City by the Guardian and Mithrax. Following her recruitment, she would aid in eliminating all of the awoken loyalists. Petra would watch Mithrax die on the Atheneum world and would later die to unknown means herself.
Eris Morn
Eris Morn, after everything she’s been through to thwart the hive, would be chosen to be the Shadow of the Hive. Eris would be a major assistance when it came to eliminating Savathûn for Calus, but other than that the Chronicon doesn’t outline her fate.
Failsafe
Failsafe, the AI mind of the Exodus Black, would become the shadow of the exos after an incursion in the Deep Stone Crypt where our Guardian places her into a vessel of her own to serve the Emperor.
The Guardian
After aiding countless times in restoring the Empire to its glory, Calus would offer us a seat at his side. Our Guardian becomes the Emperor’s enforcer and sets out to recruit the shadows above. We would be deemed the Shadow of Earth would oversee every task the Emperor needed complete. These tasks included the elimination of Mara Sov, the Drifter, Rasputin, the Vanguard & the Last City, Savathûn, a newly awoken Cayde-7, and runner up for the hunter vanguard Uldren Sov. It is to be assumed that our Guardian also aided in the deaths of the other shadows when the universe neared its end. When the time came to grant Calus his wish of being the last living being in the universe, our Guardian obliged and shot our ghost eliminating the last source of light and in an act of loyalty committed suicide for the Emperor.
These were quick summaries of the Shadows of Calus, whether living, dead, or in an alternate timeline. Knowing this do you wish we could’ve seen more of the Shadows or does the lore do the elite squadron of assassins justice?
Image Source: Destiny Wiki
