In War Chief Escarum’s speech to Master Chief, he mentions that soon somewhere or something called the Auditorium will be in the Banished’s control. I can’t say with any certainty what it is, but I have a hunch I’d like to share. By definition, an auditorium is “a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances.” Theaters, concerts, venues like that are the norm. Might be a reach, but music comes to mind whenever I think of an auditorium. What is something music-related that has been in the Reclaimer Saga and connected to Installation 07? Geas, or geneSONGS.
The Halo is littered with Lifeworker beacons that can remotely provide a geas to humans, or at least that was what they were used for. Evidently, a geas seems to be what allows humans to truly use and activate Forerunner tech no easily. So far it’s only been humans blessed with this. But what if that’s the Banished’s goal? If they can give themselves the same geas as humans have had, could they then just as easily activate and control Forerunner tech? That would be a game-changer in any galactic conflict. I’m thinking the Auditorium may be linked to all the Lifeworker beacons and if the Banished gain access, what’s stopping them from stealing the Librarian’s blessings to humanity?
I would love this idea as it takes heavily from the forerunner books. If Brutes and Elites could use forerunner tech intended for humans to reclaim the mantle… we are screwed. They would have access to shield worlds, Halo’s, and maybe even guardians?
Side note/slightly off topic: Isn’t it thought that John have some of the geas from Bornsteller?
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> I would love this idea as it takes heavily from the forerunner books. If Brutes and Elites could use forerunner tech intended for humans to reclaim the mantle… we are screwed. They would have access to shield worlds, Halo’s, and maybe even guardians?
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> Side note/slightly off topic: Isn’t it thought that John have some of the geas from Bornsteller?
That’s a thing HaloFollower popularized, but it’s got lots of holes in it. Last we see of Bornstellar, he, his wife, and child are living a primitive lifestyle as farmers on some unknown world. If he was turned into a similar style geas like Chakas and Riser has (ancient humans in their heads), then someone would have to find him, compose him, and plant him in some humans years after the Halos fired.
There’s plenty of stuff to go against it, but it was stuff HF not anyone else knew about at the time and he has not yet updated his video to reflect it. In fact, he made it a Halo 5 theory and when it didn’t pan out just changed the title to make it a Halo 6 one.
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> That’s a thing HaloFollower popularized, but it’s got lots of holes in it. Last we see of Bornstellar, he, his wife, and child are living a primitive lifestyle as farmers on some unknown world. If he was turned into a similar style geas like Chakas and Riser has (ancient humans in their heads), then someone would have to find him, compose him, and plant him in some humans years after the Halos fired.
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> There’s plenty of stuff to go against it, but it was stuff HF not anyone else knew about at the time and he has not yet updated his video to reflect it. In fact, he made it a Halo 5 theory and when it didn’t pan out just changed the title to make it a Halo 6 one.
I thought Bornsteller died at the end of Silentium!? HF is a load of crap, that wouldn’t make sense then like you said he would have to be dead to pass on the geas or do it himself (or someone else).
You’re theory gets interesting when it comes to some humans who cannot use forerunner tech, this would allow them to use it.
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> > That’s a thing HaloFollower popularized, but it’s got lots of holes in it. Last we see of Bornstellar, he, his wife, and child are living a primitive lifestyle as farmers on some unknown world. If he was turned into a similar style geas like Chakas and Riser has (ancient humans in their heads), then someone would have to find him, compose him, and plant him in some humans years after the Halos fired.
> >
> > There’s plenty of stuff to go against it, but it was stuff HF not anyone else knew about at the time and he has not yet updated his video to reflect it. In fact, he made it a Halo 5 theory and when it didn’t pan out just changed the title to make it a Halo 6 one.
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> I thought Bornsteller died at the end of Silentium!? HF is a load of crap, that wouldn’t make sense then like you said he would have to be dead to pass on the geas or do it himself (or someone else).
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> You’re theory gets interesting when it comes to some humans who cannot use forerunner tech, this would allow them to use it.
Funny thing is the whole Reclaimer status (which now seems to mean you have a geas) has always been conditional. Ash was branded a Reclaimer in Ghosts of Onyx, then reclassified by a Sentinel and almost killed. 343 Guilty Spark stopped caring if people were Reclaimers if they threatened his ring. The list goes on.
But yeah, if there were a way to grant someone the status of a Reclaimer, that’d be huge. Definitely for humans, but also for non-humans. The Banished are the last people who should have full control of a Halo.
That’s a frightening theory. I’ve always seen the Banished as a more rational and agressive Covenant, but giving them full control over Forerunner artifacts would be horrible. The fact that Brutes are already acting with genius level strategies is worrying, let alone giving them access to galactic super weapons.
One question, which media was it that mentioned the geas again? I vaguely remember reading about it.
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> That’s a frightening theory. I’ve always seen the Banished as a more rational and agressive Covenant, but giving them full control over Forerunner artifacts would be horrible. The fact that Brutes are already acting with genius level strategies is worrying, let alone giving them access to galactic super weapons.
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> One question, which media was it that mentioned the geas again? I vaguely remember reading about it.
Halo: Cryptum introduced the concept and it comes up across the rest of the Forerunner Trilogy. Spark actually mentions it in the CEA terminals (“I must measure the presence and pitch of your geas”) and Halo 4 brings it up with the Librarian
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> but it was stuff HF not anyone else knew about at the time
The oldest instance of the “Rebirth” theory dates back to 2001 and it was one of the competing explanations of Guilty Sparks two betrayals speech. The gea theory was just a specific reinterpretation of the older “rebirth” theory.
I’m sorry for making you read this eye sore - which my younger self made all the more difficult to read but here are a couple examples:
https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/460928?sort=0&page=0---- https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/649413—
As for the supposed issue, the Librarian had two digital essences preserved, the one on Requiem and the one inside of Mt. Kilimanjarojaro. This anomaly has yet to be explained. There really is no evidence that the Confirmer experienced anything like what Bornstellar experienced or that Ur-Didact experienced the same phenomenon as Bornstellar when he took on the brevet from the confirmer. The Ur-Didact doesn’t behave like, identify as, or appear to possess the memories of the Confirmer. Nor are we told that this ever happened, there are no hints of it.
Cortana seemingly appears to have obtained some of Halseys memories, the only way that is possible is if there was some sort of genetic or epigenetic mechanism of passing down memories.
Cortana says something about genetic memories in human weakness:
" What ever mechanism allowed the flood to accumulate the genetic memories and materials of its victims, the gravemind certainly used it as well".
What we’re discussing wouldn’t necessarily be a “geas” in the traditional sense. Keep in mind that “geas” don’t have to include a wholly separate entity. They can communicate memories, tendencies, inspirations, desires, etc really all of the individual elements of a personality.
The difference here is that Chief isn’t really “possessed” by a ghost, as much as he is simply the personality of the Didact reborn.
So to contrast what this would look like with an example vs a traditional geas:
Traditional geas:
Spark seeks the Librarian. She places a geas of vinnerva inside of Rion Forge, this spirit possesses Rion Forge, and makes her life miserable.
The Librarian places a geas in mankind which causes Vinnerva and all of Sparks friends to reincarnate, and be born into new bodies. At worst the person they otherwise would of become was aborted during gestation. The Librarian conspires to bring the group together, and for them to come to Mt. Kilimanjaro where she reawakens/ imprints their original memories, even returning some of Sparks own memories. When Spark regains some of his memories he deduces the truth, but refuses to tell Rion Forge, concluding that “some things are better left unsaid”.
Cortana having some residual memories from Halsey isn’t that remarkable. Smart AIs evidently retain some aspects of the brains they were made. Serina had an interest in chocolate because her donor did. Sloan was staunchly anti-UNSC, his donor supported rebels. Looks like a byproduct of the creation matrix (which funnily enough seems to be much like the Composer in a way).
As far as manufacturing, say, a personality, I don’t think we’ve seen the geas as established with the Forerunner Trilogy utilized that way. We’ve seen them make people follow directions or instructions, yes, but not essentially create a duplicate personality like you describe. Doesn’t mean they can’t, but so far that isn’t on the table.
Any chance the Auditorium is the large palace looking type building on top of the mountain (in the key art, and seen in the demo)?
I know that place is also speculated to be a palace of pain, but could also be something else.
On the flood topic, could be a place to amass bodies for a grave mind to absorb the minds/memories of specimens (total stretch there, just spit balling)
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> Cortana having some residual memories from Halsey isn’t that remarkable. Smart AIs evidently retain some aspects of the brains they were made. Serina had an interest in chocolate because her donor did. Sloan was staunchly anti-UNSC, his donor supported rebels. Looks like a byproduct of the creation matrix (which funnily enough seems to be much like the Composer in a way).
Right, the problem is that Cortana isn’t made from Halseys brain. Her initial AI seed was created using a clone. That clones only connection to Halsey was their shared DNA.
“Doesn’t mean they can’t, but so far that isn’t on the table.”
If by not on the table we mean, “not confirmed”, I think I can agree with this statement. But I do think it - or something like it is the best interpretation of many things. Including two betrayals and subtext at the end of Renegades that I deliberately nodded to. Anyway sorry for pushing the convo into this tangent.
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> Any chance the Auditorium is the large palace looking type building on top of the mountain (in the key art, and seen in the demo)?
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> I know that place is also speculated to be a palace of pain, but could also be something else.
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> On the flood topic, could be a place to amass bodies for a grave mind to absorb the minds/memories of specimens (total stretch there, just spit balling)
Might be, but I’d question putting a major location so close at the start of the game. I figure it also be better defended than just at a distance by 3 AA guns.
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> > Any chance the Auditorium is the large palace looking type building on top of the mountain (in the key art, and seen in the demo)?
> >
> > I know that place is also speculated to be a palace of pain, but could also be something else.
> >
> > On the flood topic, could be a place to amass bodies for a grave mind to absorb the minds/memories of specimens (total stretch there, just spit balling)
>
> Might be, but I’d question putting a major location so close at the start of the game. I figure it also be better defended than just at a distance by 3 AA guns.
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> > Cortana having some residual memories from Halsey isn’t that remarkable. Smart AIs evidently retain some aspects of the brains they were made. Serina had an interest in chocolate because her donor did. Sloan was staunchly anti-UNSC, his donor supported rebels. Looks like a byproduct of the creation matrix (which funnily enough seems to be much like the Composer in a way).
>
> Right, the problem is that Cortana isn’t made from Halseys brain. Her initial AI seed was created using a clone. That clones only connection to Halsey was their shared DNA.
I don’t think the brains being cloned matter all too much. Remember, they cloned the Spartan-II candidates and they weren’t vacant shells without any thoughts.
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> > Cortana having some residual memories from Halsey isn’t that remarkable. Smart AIs evidently retain some aspects of the brains they were made. Serina had an interest in chocolate because her donor did. Sloan was staunchly anti-UNSC, his donor supported rebels. Looks like a byproduct of the creation matrix (which funnily enough seems to be much like the Composer in a way).
>
> Right, the problem is that Cortana isn’t made from Halseys brain. Her initial AI seed was created using a clone. That clones only connection to Halsey was their shared DNA.
ONI had this advanced cloning technique that allowed them to transfer memories. They used it for the SII candidates clones. It’s established cortana has some of halsey’s memories because her first words are a phrase her mother often used, if I remember correctly.
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> > > Cortana having some residual memories from Halsey isn’t that remarkable. Smart AIs evidently retain some aspects of the brains they were made. Serina had an interest in chocolate because her donor did. Sloan was staunchly anti-UNSC, his donor supported rebels. Looks like a byproduct of the creation matrix (which funnily enough seems to be much like the Composer in a way).
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> > Right, the problem is that Cortana isn’t made from Halseys brain. Her initial AI seed was created using a clone. That clones only connection to Halsey was their shared DNA.
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> I don’t think the brains being cloned matter all too much. Remember, they cloned the Spartan-II candidates and they weren’t vacant shells without any thoughts.
True, never really thought much about that as it pertains to this. What was the mechanism for memory and personality transfer there?
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> > > > Cortana having some residual memories from Halsey isn’t that remarkable. Smart AIs evidently retain some aspects of the brains they were made. Serina had an interest in chocolate because her donor did. Sloan was staunchly anti-UNSC, his donor supported rebels. Looks like a byproduct of the creation matrix (which funnily enough seems to be much like the Composer in a way).
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> > > Right, the problem is that Cortana isn’t made from Halseys brain. Her initial AI seed was created using a clone. That clones only connection to Halsey was their shared DNA.
> >
> > I don’t think the brains being cloned matter all too much. Remember, they cloned the Spartan-II candidates and they weren’t vacant shells without any thoughts.
>
> True, never really thought much about that as it pertains to this. What was the mechanism for memory and personality transfer there?
I don’t think they ever really went into detail about how they did it. However, Halsey’s journal had sketches she did when she made the cloned brains. We see malformed fetuses because she prioritized (I believe) growth of the brain over everything else. I’d imagine the Spartans were the same but with growth eventually throughout.