TYPE: Perspective – Jaren Ward DESCRIPTION: Jaren’s death Well, no point waiting any longer. Had this feeling for a couple days now, been feeling like things were coming to a head. Jaren – Not this again. Jaren’s Ghost – Yes, this. Shin deserves to know he is filled with the Traveller’s Light. Jaren – I don’t want Shin thinking I only took him in because of his Light. Jaren’s Ghost – I think Shin will be so excited he won’t even stop to think about why we took him in. Jaren – But it wasn’t because of that. I’d have taken care of him regardless. YOU were the one that only showed interest in him once you scanned him. Jaren’s Ghost – A fact that does not escape me. Had you not noticed how skillful he was with The Last Word I never would have even noticed him. Jaren – In the end, it is my decision, once I’m dead you can decide from there. Jaren’s Ghost – Don’t say that, you will be fine. Jaren stood quiet and stared at his ghost. He looked over at the others. These kids that followed him. They had been asleep for a few hours. Jaren knew Shin would be up first, he was on Jaren’s schedule. Jaren would need to depart before then. This was something he needed to face alone. About an hour before the sun started to rise Jaren got up and started walking. He knew he wouldn’t have to walk far, nor would he need to worry about being found. This guardian had left a message for him in the small valley to the east…he knew where he was expected. Jaren’s Ghost – I will be with you, there is nothing to worry about. Jaren smiled. Jaren wasn’t worried. Death was an eventuality, not something to fear. Everyone died. Jaren even suspected he remembered a bit from when he died the first time. He remembered the feeling of floating followed by the rushing of a blinding light into his eyes. Then he remembered waking up to see his Ghost floating over him. Jaren wasn’t in a hurry to die, but he also wasn’t gonna let others die in his place. This was his fight, even if he didn’t know why. Jaren crested the small impression that was the valley. In the center of the valley stood a guardian, the majority of his armor covered by his black cape. As Jaren approached he began to recognize parts of the armor. They had been much cleaner the last time he had seen them. But the guardian wore no helmet. Jaren – You? You did this? Why? Dredgen Yor – I’m happy you remember me, I was afraid the great Jaren Ward had forgotten. Jaren – Why? Why did you kill those people? Dredgen Yor – Simple, I wanted your undivided attention. Jaren – Well you got it. Now what? Dredgen Yor – You know. Jaren – And will that satisfy you? Dredgen Yor – Satisfy me? I’m not sure that is even possible. When you beat me in the Crucible it was a failure I could not carry. You are not the best, I am. Your weapon is not the best, my Thorn is. Once this is over those facts will no longer be in dispute. Jaren stared down at Dredgen Yor. This guardian, this monster had been of his own making. No, that wasn’t fair. Jaren didn’t do anything to make this guardian fall, that was of his own making. And now it was up to Jaren to stop it. Jaren drew his side arm. The speed of his draw even impressed Yor, but speed was not the game Yor was playing. Jaren fired 3 rounds at Yor, each hitting its mark. Yor took a stagger step backwards, soaking in the hits, while still aiming his Thorn at Jaren. Jaren stood there, gun still trained on Yor, but his target did not drop. Yor closed his eyes for a moment, and when they re-opened they burned bright with the green light of the Hive. Yor smiled with an evil only understood by those that relish in the death of others. Jaren – What… Dredgen Yor – My Thorn will steal the spark of Light in all things, but your Light I steal for me. Yor fired a single round into the chest of Jaren Ward. The sensation was not what Jaren had expected. Yor’s gun was quiet, it sounded like a whisper. And as the bullet carved its way through Jaren’s body he felt both sick, and at peace. He closed his eyes expecting to see the rush of light as death approached, but instead he plunged into the deepest darkness he had ever known. TYPE: Perspective – Dredgen Yor DESCRIPTION: Jaren’s death It is done. Jaren Ward is dead at my hand. His little ghost is still sitting there, scanning his body, looking for Light. But there is no Light left, my Thorn has devoured it all. I should steal it, offer it to my maker on the moon, but I prefer it find its way home. It will bare witness to my deeds. Then, more guardians will come looking for me, more Light for my Thorn to consume. My body is wounded, but the destruction I endured at the hands of the Hive was far worse. Already, the dead skin the bullets struck is being to revert back. Jaren did not expect that his target was already as dead as the hive on the moon. TYPE: Perspective – Shin Malphur DESCRIPTION: Jaren’s death and Dwindler’s Range Jaren's Ghost came to a halt a few paces in front of me. I exhaled and slumped forward. Still standing, but broken. The ghosts return without Jaren could only mean one thing, Jaren Ward, my mentor, my friend, and the last of my family, was dead. The tiny Light looked me over with a curious tilt to its axis, then shot a beam of light over my body. It scanned me as it had done the very first time we met. I looked up at it, staring into its singular glowing eye…and it spoke to me for the first time. Ghost – Hello Shin. I am a Ghost. More importantly, I am YOUR ghost. Shin – What? Ghost – Many years ago when we first met Jaren was aware that you were special. After speaking to me I scanned you and found that you were infused with the Travellor’s Light. It is not often we find newly-born humans infused with the Traveller’s Light, usually Ghosts find their guardians Light after they have been dead a long time. Shin – So…what does that mean? Shin’s Ghost – It means you are going to become a guardian. Shin – After all this? Jaren was just killed by a guardian! Shin’s Ghost – I understand your anger, but we have more pressing matters to attend to. I need you to follow me to Jaren’s body. Shin and his ghost began the short walk to the shallow valley. Shin’s mind was racing, a guardian, Light, Jaren’s death. It was a lot to process. Shin – Wait, if you can bring back guardians from death, why not bring back Jaren? Shin’s Ghost – This is very worrying to me. Jaren’s Light is gone from this world. Tried to resurrect him, but there was no Light to gather. His killer mentioned stealing his light, which also has me worried. If he wields a weapon that can steal Light that means he has created a Weapon of Sorrow. We must stop him before he kills others. Shin – Why me? Shin’s Ghost – Because, Jaren believed you could. He trained you to be the best, better than him. I will admit we were both hoping you would mature a little faster, but your skills are as good as Jaren’s. Shin – And he lost. How am I supposed to kill this guardian? Shin’s Ghost – You are going to shoot him in the head, and you are going to keep shooting him in the head until there is nothing left. Shin – Umm, ok. Sounds like a plan I would come up with. Shin’s Ghost – Like I said, I am your ghost now. They crested the hill and Shin could see Jaren’s body lying on the ground. Shin – Now what? Shin’s Ghost – Remove his armor. Did you bring water? Clean any blood off it, though I did not see any. I have some sapphire wire we can use to cover any damage. Shin felt uncomfortable stealing the armor from Jaren, but Jaren had shared many stories with him about old hunters scavenging from the frontiers to survive. Jaren would understand and want it this way. Shin’s Ghost – Excellent, now put it on. This part felt strange, as each piece of gear was put on, Shin felt both sick and excited. When he finished and looked at a small puddle to his side he thought for a moment he was staring at Jaren, but quickly realized it was him. This filled him up with pride, confidence, and a little bit of wisdom. Most importantly, it gave him some humility. He now represented what Jaren was, it was up to him to make Jaren proud. Finally, Shin picked up The Last Word. The weight of the weapon was so balanced, it fit so willingly into Shin’s hand. Shin’s Ghost – Now you look the part. We need to get the others to safety and get back on the trail of this guardian killer. [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/106891427/0/0]Link to Chapters[/url]