"IMPERATIVE CORRUPTED. SEEK LIGHT. DESTROY LIGHT. OBEY THE COLLECTIVE MIND, OBEY THE #$422*! ORYX. OBEY ORYX." — recovered from a taken Vex's simulation core
The Taken served as the personal army of Oryx. Their ranks are comprised of samples of every sentient race in the solar system, their willpower wholly consumed by the Darkness and their bodies reduced to mere puppets for the Taken King.
Known History
Oryx first learned to Take after slaying one of the Worm Gods, Akka, for defying the laws of sword logic (Akka granted Oryx power; the Darkness demands that you take what you desire by force). He used this newfound ability to devastating effect against the galaxy-spanning civilization of the Ecumene, who were so utterly annihilated by The Hive that they are entirely forgotten by all other species in the universe.
Recent Events
Unsurprisingly, the Taken have done little since the death of their King. Mindless, shambling, groups of them still lurk within the dark places in this solar system, however, and some of the Hive whisper of a new King or Queen who has arisen in Oryx’s stead.