The universe of Destiny presents a vast and deep setting crowded with characters of many species and cultures. Its varied locations host all kinds of people, both among the survivors of humanity and the numerous alien species that have come to occupy the Sol system.

Consider all the variations among these peoples, even among those of the same species, clan, or race. Imagine a smuggler’s market in the Reef, nestled into a tethered asteroid floating in perpetual twilight, quiet on the surface but bustling inside with scavengers, pirates, and the rangers sent to dispatch them. Humans, neohumans, and aliens haggle over glimmer and goods, while heavily built Exos work alongside gaunt, houseless eliksni to shift cargo. A stout Reefborn Awoken bounty hunter chases down a one-armed Cabal deserter who has evaded her for years, while an Earthborn Awoken Guardian observes from a shadowed alcove.

All this potential complexity and diversity is available to you in choosing your character’s species and related details. This section presents basic background information and gameplay characteristics to inform your selection.

Choosing a Species

Humans, Exos, and Awoken are canonically those who comprise the population of Risen. Your choice of species establishes the first building blocks of your character and gives them qualities that may affect your Guardian’s journey in subtle but substantial ways. No matter which species you pick, it is always worthwhile to consider what sets your character apart from other members of their species, and why they might have been chosen to be resurrected as a Risen. Strict adherence to the listed characteristics isn’t required if you have good reasons for why your character might be different. 

Humanity Beyond Humans

The term ‘human’ can have variable meaning depending on context. Usually, ‘human’ refers only to homosapiens, the human species that evolved on the planet Earth. During the Golden Age, significantly modified or augmented people, such as Exos, came to be called ‘neohumans.’ Later usage extended this label to the Awoken as well. Thus while both Exos and Awoken are broadly considered human in the sense of belonging to humanity collectively, usually the phrase ‘humans and neohumans’ is used to specifically include them alongside homo sapiens.

Unconventional Species

When you play Dungeons & Destiny, you need not necessarily limit yourself to Destiny canon. That is why you’ll find characteristics for unconventional Risen belonging to the eliksni, Cabal, psion, Vex, and krill species. Homebrewing your own species, or using a species from other sources, is also an option. Just make sure you’ve cleared your choice of species with your Architect and the other members of your fireteam. Some people want to play a canon campaign, some don’t—neither is wrong! But you’ll have more fun if everyone is in agreement at the start.

When creating an unconventional Risen, you will likely need to give extra attention to considering how they became a Risen, or what circumstances led to a Ghost being able to resurrect this member of a nonhuman species. You will also need to consider how your unconventional Risen regards humanity, and what it means to them to be a Risen. If your Architect and fellow players are on board, unconventional Risen can contribute to all sorts of new and unique stories never before seen in the Destiny universe!