Halo: Primordium (Forerunner Saga (Halo), 2)

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Lotus-Eater Machine: After the main characters are captured by Mendicant Bias, they're at first provided with the illusion of being transported to a banquet in a paradise-like environment on Earth. Chakas does sense that something is off, even before the scenario turns into a Mind Rape. Records of prehistoric humanity began to be encountered as well. On Onyx, an artifact referred to as the Bornstellar Relation gave a testimony of the life of the Forerunner Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting, including the knowledge that humanity had once been a Tier 1 species. [32] This account was complemented by the testimony of the remains of 343 Guilty Spark, who related to listening scientists about his life as the prehistoric human Chakas. [33] [34] The majority of this information was mythology with a dubious historical basis, providing a set of explanations for the innumerable mysteries surrounding the Precursors. The facts were very different from what the Forerunners had ultimately chosen to believe. Judith Rosen; Claire Kirch; Marc Schultz; Wendy Werris (September 9, 2011). "Summer's Over, How Did Bookstores Do?". Publishers Weekly . Retrieved March 22, 2013. The humans of this time were willing to forge relations and alliances with other sapient species as evidenced by their alliance with the San'Shyuum, whom shared their disdain for the Forerunners. This bond deepened over time, with the two species co-inhabiting worlds and creating political and cultural centers along the galactic periphery. [44]

A science fiction icon and winner of the field’s highest awards, Greg Bear has signed on to write three Halo novels set in the time of the Forerunners, the creators and builders of the Halos. Almost nothing is known for sure about this ancient race. Worshiped by the Covenant as gods, their engineering relics pepper the galaxy, and their connections to humanity remains unanswered. Devoted fans of both the books and games will finally get to delve deep into the era of these enigmatic beings, and discover for themselves the epic story behind one of the great mysteries of the Halo universe: the complete disappearance of the Forerunners from existence. World publication rights to Tor Books." — Tor Books James, Andrea (April 19, 2009). "Sci-fi author Greg Bear to feed Halo fans hungry for details". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. After Chakas recovers, he soon finds that he is host to the archived personality of Forthencho, the Lord of Admirals, who commanded the human military forces against the Didact's fleets in the final battle of Charum Hakkor. Vinnevra takes Chakas to see Gamelpar, who explains that he was originally from Earth and, like Chakas, also holds an "old spirit" within him. The old man also explains the history of the humans on the installation, and reveals that he has once been taken to what the humans call the Palace of Pain; a term used by the People for the Flood research facilities on the installation. Following the Battle of Charum Hakkor, the Didact and a group of Prometheans gained access to the prisoner, though only the Didact ultimately faced it in person. Initially, the Didact believed the Primordial to be a hoax - a psychological weapon created by the humans to demoralize the Forerunners. [18] It was also theorized that the captive may have been preserved as an ultimate weapon of last resort, to be unleashed in case of an imminent defeat of the humans and the San'Shyuum. [19] However, upon conversing with the creature, the Didact discovered that it was - or claimed to be - the last Precursor, and that the Forerunners had rebelled against the Precursors. [3] While the Didact revealed the existence of the Primordial to several others, he withheld what it had said to him from all, even the Librarian, regarding its potential implications as being too destructive. [18] Installation 07 [ edit ] When the Contender-class artificial intelligence Mendicant Bias tested Installation 07, one of the original twelve Halo rings, in the Charum Hakkor system, the Halo's energies destroyed every Precursor structure on the planet, freeing the prisoner. The creature was then taken to Mendicant Bias' Halo for study; both the Halo and Mendicant Bias disappeared soon after, not to return for 43 years. [20]Eridanus Government • Gao Republic • Khabnathwa • Swords of Sanghelios • United Nations • Unggoy government • Ussans Greg Bear writing new Halo Forerunner trilogy". Joystiq. April 6, 2009. Archived from the original on February 16, 2011 . Retrieved March 21, 2013.

During her encounter with another personality imprint of the Librarian beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, Rion Forge felt love and loyalty towards the Forerunner but recognized them for what they were: a genetic disposition built into human DNA giving the Librarian a way to be heard, a way to inspire loyalty and a way to nudge her children to fulfil their potential. The Librarian was able to use this to briefly communicate with Rion and possibly the rest of the crew of the Ace of Spades and warned Rion of the trials ahead, the battles to come, the safe place and the things that needed healing and tending as well as a message to take care of 343 Guilty Spark who the Librarian stated was more fragile and important that Rion could ever know. [26] The book's cover was designed by Sparth, an artist at 343 Industries known for his "futuristic vistas", [7] and who would later become a creative director at the company. [11] The artwork was adapted from concept art for Halo 4, [12] intended to capture the wondrous scope of the Forerunners. [7] Sparth and Gabriel Garza collaborated for Silentium's cover. [13] Shortly after arriving on the other side of the lake, the three were found by a Lifeworker named Genemender Folder of Fortune, accompanied by several Denisovans, and a large ape. At this point, Gamelpar was becoming ill due to a sore leg that had not been tended to, and the Denisovans proceeded to carry him on a litter. [10] They eventually arrived in a human village, and were fed before being sent to sleep. The following night, Gamelpar's condition worsened. Genemender revealed that he and the humans in the village were actually holographic illusions, and that their minds had been archived to prevent their imprints from falling in the wrong hands. Genemender stated that he should extract Gamelpar's consciousness and his "spirit", lest they be lost forever. Gamelpar strongly refused, wanting to die "free" and asking Chakas to stave off the machines before he had passed away so they could not scan him. In his final moments, Gamelpar said his farewells to Vinnevra while asking Chakas to accompany him alone. Chakas recited ancient prayers to prepare the old man for his passage to the afterlife, while Gamelpar had him promise to take care of Vinnevra, also telling him her true name before dying. [11] Physical features [ edit ]Description Porn: The descriptions in the book can get very detailed, especially when it comes to the Halo ring, but also all the way down to details like the moisture on leaves. Little is known about human culture of this time. According to the Ur-Didact, humanity believed themselves to be the true inheritors of the Mantle of Responsibility, a notion the Forerunners considered heretical. [13] Ironically, the Precursors had actually intended for humans to inherit the Mantle instead of the Forerunners. [42] Regardless of the pressure on their growing populations and the Flood, humans were also said to be particularly cruel toward other species. Chakas, examining the harvested memories of his ancestors imprinted to him as part of a geas, discovered that they believed in "creating many souls", or expanding their population by conquering and claiming other worlds. [43]

The horizon curved upward to both sides. Not good, not right. Horizons do not curve up." — Chakas' first assessments regarding the unfamiliar environment of the Halo. [16] Upon crossing the lake, the group encountered a Lifeworker named Genemender-Folder-of-Fortune, several Denisovans, and a large ape known as Mara and were taken to a village populated by numerous humans, where they were fed and sent to sleep. During the following night, Vinnevra and the others awakened to the startling realization that the whole village, the Lifeworker and the humans had been a holographic illusion, which had disappeared as the area experienced a brief power outage. [11] Meanwhile, Gamelpar had become very ill and was dying, with the Lifeworker refusing to treat him, stating they should scan him for his imprint, but Gamelpar adamantly refused. Gamelpar then said his farewells to Vinnevra while having Chakas promise to take care of her and telling him her true name. [12]Gamelpar's "best wife" also came from Earth and told him stories of it. [4] At one point in his life on Installation 07, he lived with his family in a newly-constructed city, but the Tudejsa abandoned the city after the Forerunners started abducting more humans for their brutal experiments with the Flood in the " Palace of Pain". After fleeing the city to the nearby plains, Gamelpar witnessed the Primordial and Mendicant Bias observe them and decide who would be taken for experimentation. [6] Gamelpar was once taken to the Palace of Pain himself, but he was not infected. He survived and was returned to his community; however, he would never speak of what he had experienced. [7] Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal The characters of the Didact and the Librarian, introduced in the Terminals in Halo 3 and later encountered in Halo 4, are featured as central characters in the series. With the Didact returning as the primary antagonist of Halo 4, one of the goals of the Forerunner Saga was to give him a character arc portray his tragic transformation into the character seen in the game. [13] The series also solves a discrepancy involving major differences in the Didact's actions between the Halo 3 terminals and Halo 4 by establishing a secondary Didact created by the original Didact through an imprinting procedure. 343 Guilty Spark, the principal monitor character from the games, is also heavily featured throughout the series, along with the revelation of his origins.

Missy Wadkins (June 26, 2011). "Halo: Cryptum: The Forerunner Saga". Portland Book Review . Retrieved March 20, 2013. Millions of years ago, the Precursors placed geas on the Librarian's ancestors. These geas led the Librarian to discover seeds of Precursors during the Audacity 's expedition to Path Kethona to uncover the origin of the Flood. The Librarian brought these Precursor seeds to Bastion. [27] Trivia [ edit ] Alexander Sliwinski (October 11, 2010). "Halo: Cryptum novel by Greg Bear launching in Jan. 2011". joystiq . Retrieved March 21, 2013.Exploring the Evil Lair: When Chakas and the other main characters get transported to Mendicant Bias' underground lair. The ominousness isn't even very subtle when the floor looks like a glowing spider web and the mobile armature used by Mendicant Bias itself resembles an enormous spider. a b Halo Waypoint - Tor Books Reveals Title, Cover Art, and Release Date of Second Halo Novel by Greg Bear