Editing Deadbolt

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Quote|A deadbolt needs a key—it is not the key. It is put in place to keep something locked safely away.|[[Walking-in-Light-of-Falling-Stars]] explains the purpose of a deadbolt.}}
A '''deadbolt''' is a form of [[Forerunner]] technology designed to keep something locked safely away.<ref>''[[Halo: Fractures]]'', ''[[Promises to Keep]]''</ref> [[Engineer (rate)|Engineers]] were familiar with deadbolts.

==History==
{{Quote|The Deadbolt, they called it, though perhaps 'they' had no idea, really.|Splendid Dust, while discussing the construction of the Mysterium and the deadbolt there.}}
A deadbolt, known properly as ''the'' Deadbolt, was ostensibly used to secure a wealth of [[Precursor]] technology in [[Maethrillian]]'s [[Mysterium]] during the Capital's construction. The entire [[astroengineering|megastructure]] was built around the Mysterium and the Deadbolt. This deadbolt was not a security measure for the Mysterium, however. It was in fact what secured access to the Domain itself. The [[Ecumene Council]]'s [[First Councilor]] was entrusted with the key to the Deadbolt, which was hidden among the formal collar that adorned their regalia alongside other keys.

Well over a century after the Halos' activation, a number of Forerunners returned to Maethrillian on a [[Mission to Maethrillian|mission]] to repair the [[Domain]], which had been rendered inactive by the Halos. As former First Councilor, [[Splendid-Dust-of-Ancient-Suns]] possessed knowledge of a Precursor relic—the [[Organon]], housed deep within the  Mysterium, believed to control the Domain itself—and the Deadbolt key to activate and interact with it. Upon arrival, the Organon revealed itself to be a powerful construct called [[Abaddon]] which desired to bring the Forerunners to trial for their crimes. Abaddon killed two of the Forerunners but it vanished when [[Growth-Through-Trial-of-Change]] used the key to successfully begin the process of restoring the Domain. In doing so, she vanished in a flash and was presumed deceased.

==Description==
The specific deadbolt key that could interface with Abaddon and the Domain was hexagonal in shape. [[Bornstellar-Makes-Eternal-Lasting]] thought it pretty and radiant and noted that it looked as though it had been newly-created from [[hardlight]], even though it was in reality precisely carved from stone. It typically hung from the First Councilor's collar, hidden in plain sight. The Mysterium's deadbolt itself took the form of a slag heap wherein one stone was a deep, beautiful, amethyst hue. Feeble light sparked along its edges and outlined a hexagonal hole for the key. The Deadbolt could be [[baffler|glamoured]] to keep it from sight, instead replaced by the imposing [[avatar]] of the Precursor creation, [[Abaddon]]. 

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{C|Key only}}
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[Promises to Keep]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]'' {{Mo}}

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

{{Forerunner|artifacts}}

[[Category:Forerunner characters]]
[[Category:Forerunner technology]]
[[Category:Forerunner artifacts]]