View source for Bitterness-of-the-Vanquished

==Biography==
Bitterness-of-the-Vanquished was one of the oldest Forerunners alive at the time of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]]. She had been blinded centuries earlier; her [[Forerunner personal armor|armor]] had since seen for her. She led Warrior forces during the [[Kradal conflicts]], and trained the [[Ur-Didact]] over ten thousand years before the war with the Flood.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 246''</ref> 

Bitterness also guided [[Endurance-of-Will]] through her mutation to first-form.{{Ref/Site|Id=CF132|https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-high-value-histories|Halo Waypoint|Canon Fodder - High Value Histories|D=6|M=9|Y=2022}} During the [[Human-Forerunner wars]], Endurance would serve Bitterness as her advisor. Before the [[Ecumene Council]] declared war on [[Ancestors|ancient humanity]], Bitterness requisitioned a [[Backdraft Cindershot]] for Ur-Didact's personal use, after correctly predicting her old disciple would be interested in testing the weapon himself after hearing about the [[Cindershot]]'s capabilities.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=392}}{{Ref/Site|Id=CF|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-didact-delights|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Didact's Delight|D=18|M=05|Y=2023|LocalArchive=Armory Infinitum#Backdraft Cindershot}}

In the years after the Ancestors' defeat, Bitterness would be folded into Builder Security after the Warrior-Servant rate lost its political power in the Forerunner ecumene. Her loss of sight became the subject of wild speculation by members of both [[Warrior-Servant]]s and [[Promethean]] rates, as the exact nature of how she lost it remained unknown; some theorized it was due to advanced age, while others thought it was a result of being injured in battle.{{Ref/Site|Id=CF151|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-lorelord|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Lorelord|D=20|M=3|Y=2024}}

Upon the Ur-Didact's return from [[Uthera Midgeerrd]], Bitterness questioned the need for the [[IsoDidact]]. After [[Faber]]'s speech about the necessity of the [[Halo Array]], she told the IsoDidact he should go to the [[Installation 00|lesser Ark]] and defend it, if not for the Forerunners then for future generations.

When the greater Ark [[Battle of the greater Ark|fell under siege]] by the Flood and [[star road]]s, Bitterness, [[Examiner]], [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]] and the IsoDidact traveled to the nearby [[Omega Halo]]. Faber fired the ring to create a momentary escape corridor through the wall of star roads, but the remaining [[Precursor]] constructs soon overwhelmed both the Halo and the Ark. With both installations being torn asunder, the [[control room|control center]] collapsed, sending Bitterness and the others falling to their deaths. Only the IsoDidact survived, having been saved by [[343 Guilty Spark|Monitor Chakas]].{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Chapter=String 33}}

After being [[Composer|Composed]] and sent to the [[Domain]], the Ur-Didact learned the truth about his past and Bitterness' role in it. The Didact's parents had led the opposing faction during the Kradal conflicts and were executed for it. As part of the punishment, the Didact, who was just a few domestic years beyond a decade at the time, had his memories of his early life erased and he was renamed Shadow-of-Sundered-Star, his true name and history left forgotten. Shadow would only know about this because the tale had been revealed to him in his later life by those seeking to cause Shadow pain and humiliation. However, Shadow had never wanted to believe that it was true. He was subsequently raised by [[Silence-in-the-End]] who honed Shadow's skills while Bitterness oversaw his training, both of whom were present and prevented the young Shadow from interfering in his parents' execution.{{Ref/Novel|Epi|Chapter=11}}