Two years ago, we reported on paradoxical theories surrounding Saint-14 (the 14th saint) as it turns out in the current Season 9 of Destiny 2, the speculations are true.
This is what the theory is about: Basically, we dealt with two theories in the article back then, which belong together in content. How did Saint-14 become the “greatest Titan who ever lived” and where did he get his iconic weapon?
First, we focused on his weapon, the legendary shotgun Perfect Paradox. According to theory, the weapon was forged by our Guardian.
Subsequently, we handed the famous weapon to the even more famous Saint-14. However, the Titan has long been deceased in our time. From his perspective, he must have received the weapon from us far in the past.
From our perspective, however, this must be the future since we have never met the good man in person before. This resulted in a paradox: How could the now-dead hero have received a weapon from us and performed his heroic deeds with it?
We only create the weapon centuries later from scrap, light, and willpower. We find the parts at the grave of the 14th saint. The lore text of the weapon further states that the weapon will find its way back to us.
Back then, in the expansion Curse of Osiris, it was not a return. Rather, it was our first point of contact with the shotgun.
The Season of Dawn Brings Clarity
What do we know since Season 9? The focus of the current Season is story-wise entirely on Saint-14 and the time-manipulating Warlock Osiris. Through his Sundial, a time machine, we embark on a quest to find the lost Titan.
In the process, we travel through the corridors of time and meet Saint-14 in different eras:
- In an impossible task 1, we encounter a very young version of the later hero.
- In the mission an impossible task 2, we travel to the time when the Titan is overwhelmed by the Vex and is about to die.
During our first time travel, we help the Titan against an overwhelming force of Fallen. Saint-14 does not seem to be the glorious fighter and annihilator of numerous Fallen, as legends tell.
After the skirmish in the past, our Guardian actually hands him the paradoxical shotgun. So, it was us who gave the young fighter his weapon and inspired him with our fearless actions. Just as the two-year-old lore text described.
Thereafter, the Titan took it upon himself to help everyone in need. He became famous for the Battle of Six Fronts and his headbutt against a Fallen leader.
Here’s how the story of Saint-14 continues: As Destiny veterans know, Saint-14 was a hero from days gone by. Apart from a few relics, most notably his exotic helmet, not much remains of him in the present of our Guardians.
But his close friend Osiris wants to change that with our help. As before, we venture through the corridors of time once again. This time, we finally find the moment when the Vex rob Saint-14 of the light and kill him.
Once again, we stand by the “greatest Titan who ever lived”. Together, we defeat the powerful martyr spirit, prevent Saint-14 from dying, and open a portal in the infinite forest.
Success: In a cool cutscene, Saint-14 enters the present. After centuries of absence, he also returns to the Tower. With that, he sets foot in the Last City again. A city that still exists only because of his actions.
We can look forward to the adventures Osiris will send us on and in which battles we will stand by the legendary headbutt distributor.
My conclusion about the paradoxical story: Let someone say Bungie can’t tell stories. The search and rescue of Saint-14 are, at least for me, well-executed story missions. From sharp battles to atmospheric moments, it’s all included.
The events also prove that the Destiny developer works with foresight and places two-year-old lore fragments into a larger context. Finally, the great story has made its way into the game.
In addition, attention is paid to small details. In the different time periods, Saint-14’s armor changes, for example. In the first encounter, he has almost a standard armor, later he wears the martial armor adorned with purple straps that we know. His helmet even has a dent at the end, likely from his famous headbutt.
More of this, please, Bungie!
Did you think that the strange theories from back then would actually turn out to be true? What do you think of the story missions involving Osiris and Saint-14?
