A man walks silently across the Tower's courtyard, towards the Vanguard's chamber. News of his arrival has already spread, and he is met outside by Commander Zavala, Ikora Rey, and Cayde-6.
"Who are you?" Zavala demanded.
Ikora answered for him. "Toland, the Shattered."
"No; he isn't. I can accept your supporting Eris Morn, but this creature is transformed far beyond her deformities."
Perfectly on cue, the hive-eyed Warlock arrived at the courtyard, uncharacteristically eager to see the new arrival.
"Toland. I saw you die! What did Crota do to you!?"
For the first time, the dark guardian spoke, his voice deep and raspy. "Not Crota… no. I have a new master now."
"What has happened to you?" Eris' tone was now one of suspicion and wariness.
"Where is the one who destroyed the Black Garden, who slew Crota?" he asked, ignoring his old comrade.
"That would be me."
One of the many guardians surrounding the scene stepped forward, a small, white Ghost following behind.
"Are you sure you want to admit to that?" the Ghost asked nervously.
"Who's this master you speak of?" the guardian asked as he came close to the corrupted man.
"His name is Oryx, the Taken King… and he's coming for you, Guardian."
"Oryx!" Eris recoiled at the name and bared her teeth, but the guardian stood strong.
"Can you blame him? You killed his son. With his own sword." Toland cocked his head almost in admiration. "Now… he's out for revenge. And he's building a dark army to hunt you down."
"Oryx's armies are like nothing we will ever have faced before." Eris was clearly on edge, terrified at the prospect of meeting the father of the demon who had stolen her light.
Toland turned back to the warlock. "That's why he sent me here. To tell you to be afraid. To show you... how afraid you should be. He did this to me. Turned my Light inside out and forged me anew in Darkness. And he did it effortlessly." Whispers began to flow through the crowd of guardians. "I'm here to show you how hopeless resistance is. Of course you'll still try - he knows that. And he knows you'll fail." Commander Zavala glared into the black pits where the man's eyes once sat. "But I've heard the legends. I know... otherwise." Toland continued. "You're ready."
"If we're ready, why would he come to us?" the Ghost whispered to its host.
"I think we are." the guardian nodded.
"Do not speak too hastily. Oryx is coming, Guardian. You got his attention. A very dangerous thing to have. Now…" Toland stepped forward, a dim green and white light starting to shimmer over his form. He placed a hand on the guardian's shoulder. "For all our sakes, go get his head."
With his last word, a green fire consumed him, and he disappeared from sight.