From what I've pieced together, and reading all the calcified fragment cards (the book of sorrows, Oryx' very thorough origin story), the Traveler is a sufficiently advanced machine the size of a small planetoid created by some form of sufficiently advanced species that embraced the Light and hit that evolutionary wall where they became pure energy... more or less, and a single entity. This single entity resided in the Traveler and brought forward Golden Ages amongst all the civilizations it touched. The place where the whole mess began was in the Fundament system, and then a young Aurash and her(his? they made him switch genders almost on a whim between cards) found the Deep, accepted the terms of their deal they made with the "Worms of their God" and basically kicked off the eons-long hunt for the Traveler. In their game of cat-and-mouse, the most recent stop was the home world of the Fallen, or as they prefer to be known by Variks, the Eliksni. Why would I suggest this? they worship a machine god, for one, two, all their servitors are spherically shaped --which they worship, and the Whirlwind was basically their version of the Collapse. The Traveler was there, sensed Oryx and Xivu-Arath and Savathun were on their way, and picked up and scattered... to our solar system where we discovered it on Mars. Now, as to why the Traveler stayed on earth, and didn't leave and ended up 'dying' for the cause, I've got a solid theory about that, which I will do my best to make sense of. The one that I know makes the most sense has to do with why Rasputin (Warmind of Earth) is still very much alive and kicking and Charlemagne (Warmind of Mars) is not. The final(? .. 4th if that changes) Rasputin grimoire card gives us an impression that he and Charlemagne and the Traveler all knew what was to befall Mars during the events of the Collapse. I haven't seen enough 'word of god' lore floating around to prove this theory, or I'd have confirmed it. From what I can discern, Rasputin overwrote his own programming to prioritize his own survival over protecting humanity, and part of that equation to get the result he desired actually turned into him opening fire on the Traveler, thus 'wounding' and crippling it and keeping it floating over Earth where the Last City currently is, and where we can sit and admire it from the tower, wondering if that ball is ever gonna wake up with all the butt-kicking we've been doing to try and save humanity. Part of my reasoning as to why the Traveler chose to make the Ghosts and create the Guardians has to do with musings from Toland, but more on that later, as that's got to do with unraveling Sword Logic and the laws of the universe as understood by those who worship the Deep. Anyway, so Rasputin injures the Traveler and then decides to shut down, screwing over Charlemagne (who may NOT actually be completely dead, based on the Dust Palace mission, and the following strike and the Psion mind flayers trying to break into the protective layers Rasputin put up to keep his hold on Charlemagne's core systems and warsat networks (and possibly more)). Charlemagne puts up what fight he can, and then it's not clear on what happens in the calm afterwards... but our friend the Exo Stranger clearly knows something, because she's visited Rasputin's bunker numerous times, and very likely turned him back on... at first I thought it might have been Cayde, but Cayde can't be in the several places at the exact same time... and the Exo Stranger has that ability to time travel, clearly to try and find the best outcome of winning this possibly millenia-long war with the Vex across time. Now, as for Toland's views of the laws of the universe, the basis is pretty simple. The Dark wins simply by sentient, intelligent species doing [i]whatever it takes to survive[/i]. To the point where nothing else is allowed to exist. The Hive take this a step further with the Sword Logic, which is basically RPG rules (kill something, prove you're stronger than it is, and thus it doesn't deserve to live, etc), especially when applied to their own pocket universes known as the Ascendant Realms. With that in mind, thus the way to properly worship the Deep/Dark is to simply [b]take[/b]. Take what you need, take what you want. In Toland's analogy, he defines the laws of the universe and their principles more or less to coincide with 3 queens. One rules fairly, her laws are just, one thirsts for knowledge, and builds a tower with a library etc, etc. The third queen builds an army and kills everybody else and rules. Again, that's basically how you work for the Dark. Somehow, the Traveler, the representative of the Sky, the Light, did not seem to understand that running away every time its enemies, the Dark came to get it did no good in terms of trying to survive. Species just kept getting extinct and/or [i]Taken[/i]... as that word would imply with the capital T. So the Traveler comes to earth, and somehow, between Rasputin, it, and Charlemagne, it FINALLY figures out that running away isn't going to make the Darkness stop coming, and that the only way to finally make the Sky's ideals understood is by becoming a martyr, and beating the Darkness at its own game. This is to say, Toland's final musing. The Light can exist in this hostile universe as one country, but ruled by the principles of each of the three queens. A fair and just society where learning can be achieved, surrounded by a ring of spears. And because of that ideology, that we as Guardians follow unwittingly, that is how we are able to take down Oryx, which is totally left field of the actual thread topic, but I felt like it might be better understood with some insight. With all that said... I would remain wary and extremely suspicious of Rasputin and his goals... We're tools to him when convenient, nothing more (perfect example, read what the Sleeper Simulant card has to say...). Also, Rasputin might actually be keeping Charlemagne quiet, given that Rasputin took over most of his networks when we, as the unknowing player guardians let him spread his reach across the system. Thanks for reading my rant lol --If there are any questions about what I've mentioned thus far, feel free to ask in your replies, I'll answer as best I can.

Seven great spheres. Together their combined power could bring an age of peace and understanding to the universe, but also in the wrong hands could bring about it's destruction. So their creator who could not bring themselves to destroy it, had to scatter them until the threat had passed. Those who would seek to use them for evil have tracked this one and discovered it's destination, and planned to intercept it. To their surprise humanity was already at the destination, so they attempted to destroy us before we could claim the sphere. But just as they were about to end us, the sphere arrived and with it's power stopped the invaders, at a cost. The Sphere damaged and knowing it could no longer achieve it's purpose, looked to the remaining humans to carry on it's duty, so over time it would lend it's power and protection, till humanity could stand to hold the title as the seventh key. -blam!- Yeah!

this is good .

When the traveller came it was the reason the monster's followed for they want it's power....or need it. So you could say the traveller is our curse.....and our savior. That's my theory anyway.

Compare it to Halo massive halo that turns out to be a big halo version of the death star, and this is a huge golf ball that can help save life

Just came up with a new scenario. Perhaps mankind's golden age of space travel turned into hostile expansion into neighboring systems. Humanity starts attacking other species one by one taking planets, colonies and resources. The traveler is just one part of an automated peacekeeping system left a previous "caretaker" race (which would fit in nicely with some of Bungie's themes). The traveler takes notice of humanity's actions and starts fixing the the problem. The other species unite behind the traveler, but humanity puts up a hell of a fight and eventually gets pushed back to earth. Both sides' resources and numbers are almost completely exhausted. The Traveler, crippled and nearing its own death due to the prolonged battle, lies to humanity. It let's humanity believe that it still has the capacity to wipe them out so it offers them one last chance to save themselves. Humanity must cease hostilities and must never again venture into the solar system. Humanity resists and the traveler uses the last of its power to wipe out a majority of the population. Humanity begrudgingly accepts the offer and the traveler goes comatose. Generation are born and die raised on the lie that the traveler saved humanity from space bogey men and eventually it becomes the truth. Humanity wants to return to the "golden age" so they find a way to tap into what's left of the comatose traveler's power and uses it on their righteous quest to reclaim their former glory and repel the invaders.

It was a golf ball, but Sage nerfed it.

Maybe it's a sentient machine or an abandoned space ship.

Well if we look back to halo 3 there is a sphere at the center of the ark. The halo from the first game is around it being reconstructed. Being the heart of the ark and knowing the ark builds halos it could be surmised it is the heart of the halo making process. When the ark was destroyed it is possible the explosion was so large it ripped a hole in that universe and pushed this sphere into a different universe. So it is only logical to assume that this is how this similar sphere thing got into another Bungie game. In short the traveler makes Halo rings. The key to this making sense is to not analysis the many POSSIBLE flaws in this idea and just go with it.

Destiny is a retelling of the origins of Bungie, only metaphorically. Bungie IS the Traveler... Really though, I have no idea. The point of the game is to figure it out, I'd imagine.

Came frum space...

I bet its some kind of marker to help find a new planet or container from this so called "planet eating threat"

It probably moves from world to world advancing inhabitants to bring peace and prosperity. When that civilization achieves its golden era the Traveler moves on. Race after race desiring its power chased it to earth. We defended the traveler and we're so horribly beaten it made a sacrifice to protect us from total annihilation. Now with the Guardians working with the traveler our only hope is to reclaim all we've lost in an attempt to repel our enemy beyond the edges of Sol. Well it's the best idea I have rolling.

It's totally a TARDIS. At some point in the game, it will open, and a Time Lord will walk out.

Totally the forerunners. Best crossover ever!

Dude I would take either of these 3. Any of them would blow my mind in the actual game, especially the last two options.

Think time traveling Titan A.E.