The Sunless Cell

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The Sunless Cell
Game:	The Taken King Episode: Heresy
Player(s):	1 - 3
Location:	Dreadnaught
Destinypedia has a walkthrough guide for this level; see The Sunless Cell/Walkthrough.

The Sunless Cell is a Level 36 Strike available in The Taken King. Deep within the Dreadnaught, Oryx's Darkblade, Alak-Hul is found imprisoned, never having seen the light for countless years for his defiance to Oryx. The main task is to kill one of Oryx's former lieutenants before he rises and takes over leadership of the Hive.

Guardians must delve deep into the Dreadnaught, navigating to the cell of the Darkblade, and destroy him before he can take the vacant throne left by Oryx's death.

Objectives

Original

• Find the Darkblade
• Enter the Hive Prison
• Unseal the Doors
• Eliminate the Hive
• Defeat the Taken
• Track the Darkblade
• Enter the Darkblade's Cell
• Enter the Circle
• Defeat the Darkblade

Reprised

• Disrupt the Ritual

Follow signs of violence and combat through the Hive prison, stealing victories from Xivu Arath.

• Defeat Channelers of Terror

Eliminate the channelers of terror to move forward.

• Tread Deeper into the Dreadnaught

Push forward through Hive and Taken forces to find and disrupt Xivu Arath's ritual.

• Unseal the Doors

Break through Taken barriers to open the way.

• Clear the Area

Defeat the Taken barring your path.

• Press Forward

The way is clear. Keep moving onward.

• Defeat the Taken Ogre

The Taken rally against you. Defeat them.

• Find the Ritual Site

Continue your pursuit of Xivu Arath's rituals of violence.

• Defeat Taken Wardens

Wardens guard the barriers. Defeat them to open deeper passages.

• Issue Your Challenge

Step forth to disrupt Xivu Arath's ritual.

• Defeat the Darkblade

Claim the true hilt of Willbreaker from Xivu Arath's champion.

Transcript

Original

(Loading screen)

• ERIS: Some creatures of the Hive strain against the Will of Oryx. Alak-Hul, the Darkblade is one such. Long ago he fomented rebellion against the King, and attempted to take his mantle. Alak-Hul failed, and now awaits the 'mercy' of the Hive. Given the chance, the Darkblade will step in to take Oryx's crown. We must not allow another Prince to rise.

(Gameplay)

• ERIS: The Darkblade suffers his judgement in the depths of a Hive prison. I am feeding an energy marker to your Ghost. It will lead you to his cell.

The fireteam heads into the Founts, where they are attacked by Hive. They make their way through, killing Thrall, Acolytes and Wizards along the way. A door on the far side of the prison opens, leading the Guardians to a large open sanctum. Two towers sit on opposing sides, as floating platforms rotate around each shrine. A Shrieker guards each tower.

• ERIS: I can sense a powerful incantation... Hive runes hold the far door shut.

• GHOST: My scan says the runes draw energy from those towers. If you get me over there, I can hack them and open the door.

One Guardian reaches the tower on the right, and another heads left. They each send their Ghost to scan a rune. The Shriekers open and attack, and Hive reinforcements pour in through the center.

• GHOST: The spell is getting weaker. Let's get to the other battery!

Once both runes are eliminated, the trio regroups in the middle to eradicate the rest of the Hive. Once they do, the far door opens, revealing a large group of Taken inside. The fireteam fights in the small room against larger and larger squadrons, finally revealing their lieutenant, Urlot, the Trampler. The Guardians kill him, and the door behind him opens, revealing an Ogre. They either destroy it or escape, running down a bridge to the Hanging Crypts.

• GHOST: We're on the right track. Alak-Hul's energy marker is getting stronger.

• ERIS: Find the Darkblade... (firmly) finish this.

Seven Hive Shriekers occupy the far side of the Taken cemetery, making direct attacks a fool's errand. The Guardians destroy the Shriekers and fight their way through a Taken squadron. They eventually reach a hanging bridge. An immense group of Thrall stampede the long way across.

• GHOST: I think this is going well!

• ERIS: Then you do not know what you face. The Darkblade is formidable. And left unchecked, a worthy successor to lead the Hive. Dawn has not come... it hasn't been dark enough yet.

• GHOST: That's... very encouraging...

or

• GHOST: Eris, why did the Darkblade rise against Oryx?

• ERIS: The Wizard Verok was his mate. He slew a legion of Thralls in her name. Marched on the King's throne, at the head of an army built on hate and pain.

• GHOST: (flatly) How... romantic.

or

• GHOST: Eris, why does Oryx have a prison?

• ERIS: "Prison" is the wrong term. He holds his victims, tortures them, then renders them down into chitin for his ship.

• GHOST: (sarcastically) Chitin. Lovely.

The fireteam reaches the end of the bridge, and walks to the end of a ledge. The view is pitch black, and the cell seemingly looks bottomless.

• GHOST: Nothing left now... but the drop.

or

• ERIS: Your fate lies below. Embrace it.

or

• GHOST: You first.

The Guardians drop into the pit, finding it to be completely dark. Save for four spires in the center, a few cores strewn about, and some sparse debris, the area is empty. Suddenly, thudding footsteps are heard.

• ERIS: The Darkblade... I sense him.

or

• ERIS: Alak-Hul is near.

or

• ERIS: Alak-Hul... he is hunting you.

Within the Darkness, the trio of Guardians discover and open fire upon Alak-Hul's massive body as he drags an enormous two-handed axe with him. Thrall and Cursed Thrall surround the cramped fireteam, even further limiting their line of sight. The Darkblade uses the blackness to his advantage, disappearing and reappearing at will. Eventually, he suffers too much damage, and becomes enraged as his large helmet splits open, revealing his skull and brain. Alak-Hul flies into a rampage, breaking into a sprint towards the Guardians, and swinging his axe even harder. The Guardians stand firm, however and destroy him. The cell turns quiet now.

• ERIS: (sighs pleasurably) Yeesss... May his dark soul go screaming into the pit between the stars.

• ERIS: The creatures of the Hive are treacherous... vicious. But they can still fall to infighting. To... petty distractions of the flesh. (chuckles darkly) That is why we must rise above, Guardian. It is the only way we will survive the long night.

or

• ERIS: With none left to lead in Oryx's wake, the Taken will languish, decay... but they will not die away. You have given us time—time to recover...to bury the dead...and make ready for the next shadow on the horizon.

or

• ERIS: A pretender to the crown is dead. Know this, Guardian: Alak-Hul was there... when we went down into the pit. What you have done... you have done in their names: Toland, Sai Mota, Omar, Eriana-3, Vell Tarlowe.

(Mission ends)

Reprise

• Eris Morn: Once, these cells were kept by Oryx. He imprisoned defeated enemies and discarded progeny. To be stripped for chitin and repurposed into something useful. Now this prison is occupied by the Taken. And Xivu Arath's Hive come to bring the war to them.

(Mission Begins)

The fireteam lands on the Dreadnaught.

The Mausoleum, Dreadnaught, Rings of Saturn

• Sloane: No matter how we slice it, Xivu Arath gains power from fighting. We're in a poor position to start. But we can minimize what she gains. Be efficient; strike fast. Disrupt her ritual before it can gain traction.

• Xivu Arath: I KNOW YOUR TACTICS AS THE BLADE KNOWS THE MEAT OF OFFERING. I AM WITH YOU ALL ALONG.

• Sloane: Ignore her.

Travelling through the Mausoleum, the fireteam arrives to the Founts.

The Founts, Dreadnaught, Rings of Saturn

Fighting through the Hive of Xivu Arath's brood, the fireteam arrives to the centre of the Founts where they find Hive warring against the Dire Taken, including Channelers of Terror summoning large Taken eyes.

• Xivu Arath: INSTRUMENT OF WAR, BRING ME A FEAST.

• Sloane: Her forces glory in these fights. They build tithes in battle, not only victory. Cut them short.

Eliminating the Channelers of Terror along with the remainder enemy forces, the fireteam dispels the locks on the gate, opening the door in the process.

• Echo of Navigation: What an elegant piece of violence.

• Eris Morn: I see Xivu Arath's ritual proceeds apace, if you reach beyond your own prison.

• Echo of Navigation: So it does. And I see you are familiar with the art of fighting our God of War. You cut her battles short. Blunt, but respectable. I have in my time done the same.

• Eris Morn: I am well aware.

Treading deeper into the Dreadnaught, the fireteam arrives to the Asylum guarded by forces of the Dire Taken and the Dread.

The Asylum, Dreadnaught, Rings of Saturn

• Sloane: Taken putting up walls after the Hive are already inside? That's not late, that’s strategy. They're up to something.

• Echo of Navigation: Xivu Arath's hunters will become the hunted. They will have no retreat.

• Sloane: What, no faith in your sister's troops?

The fireteam battles the Dire Taken and Dread.

• Sloane: Hive or Dread, doesn't matter. Take them down while they're off-balance!

• Echo of Navigation: What a killing floor this would be.

Destroying two Taken Blights and slaying the enemy forces, the fireteam unseals the door leading further into the Asylum. Entering into the area, the fireteam is confronted by additional enemy forces led by the Custodian of Terror. Defeating a variety of different combatnts, the door is unsealed only to be barred by a Taken barrier. Slaying the last wave of enemies led by a Consumed Ogre, the barrier dissipates and the fireteam progresses to the Hanging Crypts.

The Hanging Crypts, Dreadnaught, Rings of Saturn

• Echo of Navigation [laughs] Oh, I do see why she likes you.

• Sloane: Eris, are you sure you can't rein him in any more?

• Echo of Navigation: Xivu Arath has something of mine. I can taste it from here. Sword edges and screaming.

• Eris Morn: Not until we claim that artifact.

The fireteam enters into another room.

• Eris Morn: Nothing more than pockets of battle here. You must keep going deeper still.

• Echo of Navigation: The deepest part of this prison has seen the most death, the most suffering.

• Eris Morn: If you cannot bring yourself to provide something useful, be quiet.

• Echo of Navigation: Useful? The Dreadnaught was made after my memory. But I understand the flow of energy here. You're running out of time.

The fireteam slays the Taken Wardens to progress further into the Hanging Crypts until they travel into the cell where they once confronted Alak-Hul.

Darkness Zone. Respawning Restricted

The fireteam is confronted by Obak-Hul, Imprisoned, a champion of Xivu Arath wielding the hilt of Willbreaker.

• Eris Morn: There! You are there. The Hive, and the Taken, and the ritual between them… The hilt of Willbreaker! By the relic of her brother's sword, Xivu Arath would cleave the Dreadnaught from my throne.

• Sloane: Willbreaker's - we NEED that hilt. Guardian, get shooting.

After damaging Obak-Hul, two Channelers of Terror materialize and summon forth large Taken eyes.

• Echo of Navigation: You treat the Taken as something apart from the Hive. They do have other species among their number. But it was I who made them. They are Hive. And their newfound curiosities serve me well.

The fireteam defeats the channelers and deals substantial damage to Obak-Hul. However, a Taken ray strikes Obak-Hul and encases him in a Taken Blight.

• Eris Morn: Good. You've disrupted the ritual. But something else has stepped into the gap.

• 'Echo of Navigation: This is not my Taking. Knife of My Slaying, to arms.

• Eris Morn: You have no authority here.

• Sloane: What matters is taking it down won't empower Xivu Arath. Right? Then we cut the matter.

The Taken Blight dissipates as Obak-Hul re-emerges as a Taken Knight and rechristened as Obak-Hul, Transformed. Despite his newfound transformation, Obak-Hul is defeated and the fireteam acquires the hilt of Willbreaker.

• Sloane: No more Hive in the area, activity's dying down. Xivu Arath's sword is still in the Dreadnaught, but everything else seems… fine?

• Eris Morn: She will not soon be able to try again. For now, we have won — and we have Willbreaker's hilt.

• Sloane: What about Oryx?

• Eris Morn: He's secure. Discontented, but held fast.

• Sloane: …I trust you.

• Eris Morn: Do you hear him? Do you hear him intervening any further? He is secure.

• Sloane: You do have control. I know that. But taking his advice is risky at best. Riskier than everything else you've done.

• Eris Morn: I have him… I have him.

{End Mission:The Sunless Cell}

Enemies

Original Hive - Blood of Oryx and the Silent Brood Thralls Cursed Thralls Hallowed Thrall Acolytes Knights Hallowed Knight Wizards Ogre Shriekers Taken Taken Thrall Taken Acolyte Tortured Acolyte Taken Knight Taken Wizard Tortured Wizard Taken Psion Taken Phalanx Taken Centurion Bosses Agrax, the Rotted Drarok, the Watching Kalboh, the Unclaimed Nolthok, the Withering Adleg, Warden of Oryx (Epic variant) Heolstor, Warden of Oryx (Epic variant) Thracu, Warden of Oryx (Epic variant) Alak-Hul, the Darkblade

Reprise Hive — Xivu Arath's Horde Thrall Cursed Thrall Revenant Cursed Thrall Revenant Thrall Acolyte Knight Revenant Knight Shrieker Taken — Dire Taken Taken Thrall Dire Thrall Taken Acolyte Dire Acolyte Ravenous Dire Acolyte Dire Knight Ravenous Dire Knight Ravenous Dire Wizard Channeler of Terror Consumed Ogre Dire War Beast Dire Psion Dire Phalanx Ravenous Dire Phalanx Dire Centurion Ravenous Dire Centurion Ravenous Dire Vandal Ravenous Dire Captain Taken Warden Ravenous Dire Hobgoblin The Dread Frozen Attendant Weaver Grim Husk Carnage Husk Bosses Custodian of Terror Obak-Hul, Imprisoned

List of appearances

• Destiny: The Taken King (First appearance)
• Destiny 2: Episode: Heresy (Reprise)