This is going to be an adaptation, lengthening - and overall tweaking to an original post that I used in another user's 'Destiny Story' post. And I figured, enough people don't take the time to go out and do all the work on their own, so I'll shell out some knowledge. (Pffft, who wants that anyway?). So, needless to say, Spoilers a-plenty. [spoiler] You are dead - and have been for a long time. And the Traveler, in it's 'dying' breath, created the 'Ghosts' which go out and seek 'worthy' dead people on Earth (where they've been pushed back) to resurrect as Guardians. Now, you're a relatively new addition - and your Ghost has to aid you in escaping enemy clutches, helping you to steal your ship from the Scavengers, and fly to the main city. The 'Speaker' is a title, given to those who 'rule' over the Last City, generally a trusted individual; and he tells you that the Traveler, which ushered in the 'Golden Age' has since been wounded by the 'Darkness' which - if you listen to Xur, he mentions the Traveler having a 'mirror'. So possibly a similar entity, bestowing powers unto those who would harm us. The Fallen - whom it is your pleasure to first face off against. Are the remains of their own civilizations, ruled by Kells, who consider themselves royalty. They are split into 'Houses' and those houses have 'Castes', but for the most part, they are all Scavengers, and murderers. Hunting through the Cosmodrome for Rasputin - a Legendary, old AI, who has successfully come into contact and denied the Darkness, maybe even injured it. In an attempt to stop it [Rasputin] from defending Earth and it's neighboring allies. Your entire goal on Earth, is to hunt down what it is the Fallen are searching for, all while attempting to dismantle the House of Devils, to weaken - if not destroy, their grip on Earth. And it is here, you're first introduced to the 'Hive' who've used their (borrowed) seeder tech, to land and begin to populate secretly on Earth. (We'll get to them on the moon). At the end of Earth, Dinkle-bot lets you know that Rasputin has been working against various enemies on different planets, to keep Earth safe, as per it's directive. And that Rasputin isn't something he could hack or take control of, being as it's been around for so long, it's AI is learning and adapting to survive. Now - here we get to the Moon, which was some fun -- if I might say so myself. Dinkle-bot lets you know, that the moon was given up to 'placate' the Hive. Whom have taken to tunneling in it's expanses to secretly build their forces, and ready the tech that they've assumed control of. (I'm guessing a gift from the Darkness?) Now, these are religious Zealots, whom worship the darkness on what is described as a 'Crusade' to snuff out all light. And your venture to the Moon is based on subverting all the Hive's advantages - their shrines of power, the legendary "Sword of Crota" and "Swarm Princes" who made it, their sphere that was communing with a God or King. And it is on those missions you find a Ghost, who uses it's last moments (in a Grimoire card) describing his capture, torture, and observation of the Hive, it's plans, and forces. And it is here we first get a glimpse of, and hear from the 'Stranger' - who is a Herald of things to come, on multiple fronts. Now it's on to Venus, where you first encounter the 'Vex'. A mysterious, yet ancient race of Machines - linked together across a shared, neural network, all pleasantly named after mythical beasts, for they themselves are quite mythical. Their ability to transcend space and time with teleportation, enter stasis-like sleeps for undetermined amounts of time. And their vast array of tech. Having reportedly turned Mercury (which in the Intro, is described as being turned into a 'Garden World') into a 'Machine World'. And once more, you get a visit from the Stranger, urging you to strike out against the Vex - who really don't have a clear side in it. Because they seem to attack everything: Guardians, Fallen, Cabal, Shrubberies... And it's a good thing you do (Momentarily skipping the Cabal to fully get the Vex through). As you learn on Mars, that the Vex were planning on staging their takeovers of nearby worlds, as a front to take Earth like a tide of Rust-colored vengeance. You destroying them bought Earth the time it needs to begin staging a counter-assault on all fronts on the nearby planets, to fight back against the Darkness while it approaches. Now - the Cabal. A Militaristic Society, I'd probably equate to Warhammer's Space Marines. If they weren't massive, no-nosed, reptilian/rhino men! Man, I wish I'd never popped off one of those helmets!.. As far as I can tell, it's us that egg them on. Attempting to stealthily knock out their tech in order to move freely around Mars. And of course there's all the bases we've gotta cut through since they've set up shop. Probably like the Vex to try and plunder the Old City in the sands. Gathering any and all research or knowledge on Earth, it's allied planets, and our defenses. And it's our job to try and cripple their power base, weakening their hold on the system. Now, all of this local-area crippling, maiming, and outright destruction is going to earn us Ire from different sub-factions within these Races - and possibly races that serve the Darkness that we've never seen before. Ah, there's one thing I've forgotten - The Reef; and by proxy - the Awoken. Now, the Awoken from the Reef, are in wreckage from a great battle, hiding in dead space (Ha!). The Queen, defeated the Kell of a Fallen House (Wolves, I believe) and has since instilled a Matriarchal society, which she rules rather absolute. Her brother, is her biggest asset, and possibly her biggest liability. Everything from her Adviser, Tactician, Spymaster - you name it, he probably does it. And often times they differ on things like strategy, and how to handle situations (Obviously of the Diplomatic kind, two-faced welcome says what). As we can see with the mild friction during the 2 cutscenes we get from them. The brother being a condescending prig, who needed a swift Nova Bomb in his taint; and the sister being a rather Cold and calculating ruler. From her (Seemingly) blank looks, I could tell she was sizing up the Guardian (meaning all those who might be in such role) for their worth, and skill. Even if her Brother was quick to write us off from the very start - since he believes attaching themselves to the City in any way, is foolish. So - quick recap. You were dead, brought back to life by a Ghost (Who found or infused you) with the Light of the Traveler. To fight against the Enemies of Earth, the City, and the Light. Starting from your own back yard in the Russian Cosmodrome, and ending on at the Altar of the 'Black Heart' - from uploading old, powerful AI's into defense systems, long thought inactive. To discovering old, hidden vaults of knowledge, gathered by long-dead Warlocks and hidden from allies of the Darkness. Yours is the part of a man/woman, with only their future ahead of them, to try and secure that Future. Not for yourself, but for every, last person who's sought refuge on Earth.[/spoiler]