Traveler in Destiny: The Traveler a massive, enigmatic celestial orb has been the cornerstone of Destiny’s lore since the beginning. It brought humanity into the Golden Age, abandoned us during the Collapse, and became Earth’s last hope in the City Age. But after Lightfall, everything changed.
The Traveler ruptured, seemingly fled Earth, and left Guardians questioning: Did it abandon us? Is it truly gone? Will it return in The Final Shape?
This deep dive explores:
✅ The Traveler’s history from Golden Age to Collapse
✅ What really happened in Lightfall?
✅ Is the Traveler a god, a machine, or something else?
✅ Fan theories about The Final Shape
1. What Happened to the Traveler in Destiny?
The Golden Age: Humanity’s Peak
The Traveler first arrived in our solar system centuries ago, initiating the Golden Age. Under its influence:
– Human lifespan tripled.
-Mars and Venus were terraformed.
– Advanced AI (Exos) and space colonies flourished.
But this golden era didn’t last.
The Collapse: The Traveler’s Betrayal?
When the Darkness (the Black Fleet) arrived, the Traveler fled, leaving humanity to face annihilation. At the last moment, it made a final stand, sacrificing itself to:
– Create the Ghosts (who later resurrected Guardians).
– Push back the Darkness (but not destroy it).
– Lie dormant over Earth for centuries.
Destiny 1: The Traveler’s Reawakening
By the time of Destiny 1, the Traveler was a broken, silent shell hovering above the Last City. Its only sign of life? The Ghosts it created to seek out Guardians.
But in Destiny 2, everything changed.
The Red War: Ghaul Forces the Traveler to Wake Up
When Dominus Ghaul trapped the Traveler in a Light-suppressing cage, it finally reacted, unleashing a pulse of energy that:
– Destroyed Ghaul.
– Awakened the Pyramids (Darkness ships).
– Proved it was still sentient.
Lightfall: The Traveler’s Mysterious Departure
In Lightfall, the Witness attacked the Traveler directly, tearing a hole in it before entering. The Traveler then appeared to flee Earth, leaving behind a gaping rupture.
Big Questions:
– Did it run away to protect humanity?
– Was it pulled by the Witness?
– Is it dead, or just hiding?
2. What Happens to the Traveler in The Final Shape?
Bungie’s trailers hint at major developments for the Traveler in The Final Shape Here’s what we know:
The Pale Heart: A Twisted Reflection of the Traveler?
The Witness’s throne world, the Pale Heart, seems to be inside the Traveler’s rupture. Key clues:
– The environment resembles a corrupted version of the Last City.
– Ghost fragments suggest the Traveler is reforming itself there.
– The Witness seeks to reshape reality using the Traveler’s power.
Possible Outcomes
- The Traveler Returns – Healed and more powerful than before.
- It Merges with the Witnes – Creating a terrifying new force.
- It’s Destroyed – Ending the era of Light vs. Dark.
Fan Theories:
– “The Traveler is a Prison” – Some believe it was containing the Witness all along.
– “It’s a Seed” – The Final Shape may reveal it was planting life across the universe.
3. Who (or What) Woke Up the Traveler?
The Speaker’s Role
Before the Collapse, Speakers claimed to hear the Traveler’s voice. But after its injury, it fell silent.
Guardians Forced It to React
– The Red War – Ghaul’s attack made it fight back.
– The Black Fleet’s Arrival – The Pyramids forced it to take action.
– The Witness’s Assault – Its rupture may have been a last resort.
Big Mystery:
– Is the Traveler sentient, or just following ancient programming?
4. Is the Traveler a God?
Arguments For It Being Divine
✔ Grants Immortality – Through Ghosts and the Light.
✔ Opposes the Witness – Embodies creation (Sky) vs. entropy (Deep).
✔ Wields Paracausal Power – Defies physics, like the Darkness.
Arguments Against It Being a God
❌ It’s a Machine? – The Pyramid theory suggests it’s just advanced tech.
❌ It Abandons Civilizations – A true god wouldn’t flee from the Darkness.
❌ It Can Be Damaged – The Witness physically wounded it.
Verdict: It’s something beyond gods and machines a force of nature itself.
5. The Future: Will the Traveler Survive The Final Shape?
– If It Returns: Guardians may regain the Light in full force.
– If It Dies: The Light could fade, forcing a new power system.
– If It Merges with Darkness: A Gray Alliance might emerge.
One thing’s certain: The Traveler’s fate will redefine Destiny forever.
What do you think? Will it return or is this the end?
