Editing Reversed messages

{{Status|Gameplay}}
'''Reversed messages''' refer to a series of messages hidden in ''Halo'' music tracks. There are thirteen reversed messages in the ''Halo'' series: one in ''[[Halo 2]]'', three in ''[[Halo 3]]'', 8 in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', and one in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.

== Destroyer's Invocation Message ==
In the ''Halo 2'' soundtrack ''Destroyer's Invocation'', (the first movement of the ''[[Mausoleum Suite]]'' on the ''[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack]]''), a mysterious voice chants. If this mumbling is reversed ([[Media:Reversed_message.ogg|listen]]), a voice is heard saying: 

:''...I have walked among men and angels for three thousand years. Time has no end... no beginning... no purpose.''
:''I wander the earth, seeking forgiveness for my horrible crimes against God and man.''
:''I live to see death and destruction, evil... over the light, but the light cannot be extinguished.''
:''I live in a prison of my own demise.' ''
:''I am lost...in time''

The voice can be heard in the beginning cutscene of the level ''[[The Arbiter]]'', the level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]'' when [[John-117]] rescues the Marines, and during the level ''[[The Great Journey]]'' when [[Thel 'Vadam]] battles [[Tartarus]].

In [[2007 (real world)|2007]], [[Martin O'Donnell]] posted on the [[halo.bungie.org]] forums that he wondered "why the transcript (of the reversed message) is still wrong."<ref name="hbo">[http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive26.pl?read=783501 '''halo.bungie.org''': ''i wonder...'']</ref>

== Black Tower message ==
In the ''Halo 3'' soundtrack, during the first few minutes of the track ''Black Tower'', there is yet another message that can be heard if one reverses the music. Here is a transcript:

:''Eyes from Death's dream kingdom,''
:''Appear as sunlight on a broken column.''

:''There in Death's other kingdom walking alone,''
:''Trembling lips form prayers to broken stone.''
This message appears to be a reference to T.S. Elliot's Poem, ''The Hollow Men.'' The first part of the transcript refers to lines 20-23.

:''In death’s dream kingdom''
:''These do not appear:''
:''There, the eyes are''
:''Sunlight on a broken column''

The second part refers to lines 47-49.

:''Waking alone''
:''At the hour when we are''
:''Trembling with tenderness''
:''Lips that would kiss''
:''Form prayers to broken stone.''

It is also worth noting that lines from the last stanza in T.S. Elliot's ''The Hollow Men'' were used in the [[Cortana Letters]], which was repeated at the end of the [[Halo 3 announcement trailer|''Halo 3'' Announcement trailer]] and in ''Halo 3'' itself.

== Dread Intrusion message ==
In the ''Halo 3'' soundtrack, a reversed message can be heard in the tracks ''[[Gravemind (music)|Gravemind]]'', and ''[[Dread Intrusion]]''. The entire message is currently unknown, however, several lines are intelligible. Oddly, the voice during these messages sounds different from Gravemind. It echoes considerably, rendering several lines unknown, it is much deeper in pitch, and multiple other voices can be heard. This could be a reference to multiple Graveminds from the past that  speak as one because of inherited knowledge. The first two lines both have [[Seven|7]] syllables each, a possible '''7''' reference.

:''Side by side, we march as one,''
:''Humans and Elites will die,''

:''The Earth will fall if we strike together,''
:''So forth shall all of life.''

The exact person who is speaking is unknown. Just like the ''Destroyer's Invocation'' Message, there are many possibilities about whom it could be. The likely candidates are the [[Gravemind]] and the [[Prophet of Truth]], since only [[Sangheili|Elites]] and [[human]]s are mentioned.

A voice can also be heard on the level, [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]. It can be found in the second [[barrier tower]]'s control room, where there are [[Brute Stalkers]].

==Data pads==
Similar to Halo 3's terminals, ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' has reversed [[Forerunner]] audio in the background of the [[Data pads]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_HcWBU9dJg '''YouTube''': ''DATA PAD SECRET MESSAGES FINALLY DECIPHERED - Halo Reach'']</ref>

:''Culling data''
:''Corruption contained''
:''Breach identified''
:''Welcome Scion''
:''Lineage confirmed''
:''Rogue confirmed''
:''Purge Initiated''
:''Protocols Reinstated''
:''Gathering sources''
:''Scouring Arrays''
:''Prioritizing''
:''Cross-referencing''
:''Referencing''
:''Daemon Running''
:''Searching''
:''Researching''

==Cryptic Whisper message==
In the ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' soundtrack ''[[Cryptic Whisper]]'' a mysterious voice chants. If this mumbling is reversed, a voice is heard saying: 

:''We squander eons in the darkness''
:''While they seize our triumphs for their own''
:''The [[Mantle|Mantle of Responsibility]] for all things belongs to [[Forerunner]]s alone''
:''Think of my acts as you will''
:''Do not doubt the reality''
:''The [[Reclaimer|Reclamation]] has already begun''
:''We are hopeless to stop it.''

The voice can be heard in the beginning cutscene of the level ''The Arbiter''. The message alludes to the [[Ur-Didact]]'s [[Wikipedia:Suasoria|suasoria]] from ''[[Halo 4]]'''s [[Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|Epilogue]].

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Easter Egg}}

[[Category:Halo 2 Easter eggs]]
[[Category:Halo 3 Easter eggs]]
[[Category:Halo: Reach Easter eggs]]