What does the strange quote released by Bungie recently mean? Is it a hint at the future of Destiny 2?
In the current “This Week at Bungie,” the developers discussed some new features that are coming in the future. A large section was dedicated to the changes to the Nightfall strike. It will lose its time limit and be enhanced with strike scoring, modifiers, and new rewards.
The section about the new Nightfall strike was introduced by Bungie with an initially inconspicuous quote. A sentence in it suggests that the Nightfall is upon us. So probably it’s just a quote meant to set the mood for the Nightfall theme, right?
What is this quote about?
A few days later, game director Christopher Barrett reposted this quote without any comments via Twitter. At this point, speculation began: Apparently, these lines hold greater significance. Do they hint at the future of Destiny 2?
It is a quote from “Ulan-Tan.” Translated, it reads:
“Do you see the stars sparkling? Listen closely. Their cries bear witness to the wounds our enemies inflicted upon them. The balance has been threatened. The dusk is upon us. Never has the burden of light been heavier. We can no longer sleep.” – Ulan-Tan
Who is Ulan-Tan? Who is the “We” that can no longer sleep? What do these lines mean?
What could this quote mean?
Most Guardians may have little to no clue about the name “Ulan-Tan”. However, diving into the Destiny lore reveals that Ulan-Tan was a Warlock who spread controversial teachings among the Guardians.
The Guardians who followed his ideology formed their own faction known as “Symmetry”. When the Concordat, another Guardian faction, was expelled from the Tower, Symmetry could have taken their place, as Symmetry’s numbers grew rapidly. However, the theories of Symmetry were ultimately deemed too dangerous – they spread too much fear. Therefore, the War Cult of the Future took the place of the Concordat.
It is unknown how Symmetry, centered around Ulan-Tan, is currently positioned. There is an entry stating that Ulan-Tan supposedly died in some way. However, the quote above suggests that Ulan-Tan is likely still alive. And the “We” that can no longer sleep is probably Symmetry.
This means that if Symmetry awakens again, the Guardians will sooner or later have to deal with them.
Ulan-Tan and the Darkness
What controversial teachings did Ulan-Tan spread? Ulan-Tan was among those who attempted to define the Darkness, the mysterious, great danger in Destiny:
- The Speaker, for example, speaks of the Darkness as a cosmic force that came over us and caused the Collapse.
- Saint-14 believes that the Darkness was an invasion armada, an alien power with incredible but tangible strength.
- And Ulan-Tan presents a somewhat more abstract theory: In his opinion, the Darkness is a necessary symmetry to the Traveler to maintain cosmic balance.
To save humanity once, according to Ulan-Tan’s theory, the Traveler sacrificed itself and fell into a sleep so that the darkness would withdraw.
Therefore, Ulan-Tan comes to the following conclusion: If one wants to destroy the Darkness, one must destroy the Light. Because as long as there is one, the other must exist, as cosmic balance must always be maintained. He thus poses the question: “How many of us would be willing to make this trade?”
This is probably why his theories were deemed “too dangerous.”
What does this have to do with the quote above?
Ulan-Tan now says that the balance has been threatened. The dusk is coming because never has the burden of light been heavier.
This statement fits with the events seen in the last story cutscene of the main campaign of Destiny 2. The Traveler awakens, its light floods the universe, and the balance is now strongly tipping back towards “Light.” And as seen in the last seconds of the cutscene: A mysterious threat awakens as it is touched by the light.
We have already speculated that this could be the Darkness that has been activated to restore cosmic balance. Ulan-Tan seems to have noticed this, according to the quote. The dusk, meaning the return of the Darkness, is coming.
He and his Symmetry faction can no longer rest.
Keep in mind that these are just speculations. All this information is not officially confirmed. But it suggests that soon we will have to deal with the Symmetry faction, which might help us fend off the Darkness.
Most likely, this event will occur at the earliest in autumn 2018 with the first major expansion of Destiny 2, but possibly much later, with a Destiny 3. The future will tell.
What do you think of these theories and speculations?
