Editing Faber-of-Will-and-Might

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Pageimage|Enc22-Faber-Unmasked.png}}
{{Character infobox
|variant=Forerunner
|name=
|image=[[File:Enc22_Faber.jpg|300px]]
|homeworld=[[Secunda]]<ref name=EN>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'', p. 366</ref>
|birth=[[110,962 BCE]]<ref name="HWFaber">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/master-builder '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Faber'']</ref>
|death=c. [[97,445 BCE]]
|causeofdeath=
|parents=
|siblings=
|spouses=
|children=
|species=[[Forerunner]]
|gender=Male
|height=358.4 centimetres {{C|11 ft 9 in}}{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|mass=379.2 kilograms {{C|836.1 lbs}}{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|hair=White
|eyes=Black
|affiliation=[[Ecumene]]
|rank=formerly [[Master Builder]] ([[Rate|R]]: [[Builder]])
|sn=
|notable=Commissioned the [[Halo Array]]
}}
{{Quote|The Flood cover more of our galaxy with each passing day. They feast on the essence of life itself. The only way to stop their advance is to remove that life upon which they feast.|Faber discussing the necessity of the Halo Array with the Librarian.}}<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal Five]]''</ref>

'''Faber-of-Will-and-Might''' (often shortened to '''Faber'''),{{Ref/Reuse|HWFaber}} most commonly known by his title as the '''[[Master Builder]]''', was an immensely powerful but exceedingly corrupt [[Forerunner]] [[Builder]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 206''</ref> A ruthless and cunning figure, he commissioned the construction of the [[Halo Array]] and was the [[Ur-Didact]]'s political arch-enemy for many millennia due to the latter's adamant opposition to the Halos. This conflict eventually culminated in Faber's takeover of the [[Ecumene Council|Old Council]] and the Didact's exile.

==Biography==
===Human-Forerunner wars===
While he would later be known as the Didact's greatest opponent among the Forerunners, Faber was once the Didact's ally and even friend. When [[Prehistoric human civilization|humanity]] first began attacking Forerunner worlds and vessels, Faber (already the Master Builder) attended a meeting of the [[Ecumene Council]] to determine the proper course of action. The Didact proposed a policy of neutralization rather than extermination, intending to defeat the enemy and exile them back to their homeworld, in accordance with the tenets of the [[Mantle]]. Faber conceded that the Didact made "a fair, if uncomfortable, point", and gave the Didact his support.<ref>'''Halo 4''', ''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminal One]]''</ref> At one point, he co-created the {{Class|Contender|artificial intelligence}} [[Mendicant Bias]] alongside the Didact. Faber also authorized the [[Design seed|seed pattern]] for the Didact's [[Promethean]] command warship ''[[Mantle's Approach]]''—without the Council's approval.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/mantle-s-approach-size/db6315c7-a250-494b-8729-fe68dffeed1f/posts?page=2|Site=Halo Waypoint Forums|Page=Mantle's Approach Size|D=29|M=11|Y=2019|LocalArchive=Catalog/Archive/2014#Mantle's Approach Size}}

===The Halo Array===
Following the end of the [[human-Forerunner wars]], Faber commissioned the creation of the [[Halo Array|Halos]], an array of weapons capable of purging all sentient life from a star system and, if the situation became dire, the entire [[Milky Way|galaxy]]. The purpose of this project was two-fold: to be used as a defensive measure against the [[Flood]] were they ever to return to the galaxy, and to secure the pre-eminence of the [[Builder]] rate. Despite opposition from the Didact and the [[Promethean]]s, who managed to delay the construction of the Halos for thousands of years, the [[Ecumene Council]] eventually agreed to Faber's proposal, causing the Didact to go into [[Cryptum|exile]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 273-274''</ref> Under Faber's orders, [[Wise-Hands-to-Forge]] designed the Halo Array, and 12 of the weapons were built by his [[guild]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 243''</ref> At some point between [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]]'s departure for [[Mars|Edom]] and his return three years later, Faber sponsored Wise-Hands-to-Forge - Bornstellar's father - for a [[Forerunner mutation|mutation]], resulting in him bearing a distinctive and disturbing resemblance to Faber. Bornstellar came to believe that this suggested that Faber was grooming and tutoring his father for great advancement.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 224, 235''</ref>

However, the [[Librarian]] and the [[Lifeworker]] rate strongly opposed the construction of the Halos, viewing them as contrary to the principles of the [[Mantle]]. With the Lifeworkers threatening to go on strike if the weapons were constructed, the Council agreed to the Librarian's demands to provide a workable plan to save sentient life in the galaxy in the event the rings were ever fired. This plan, known as the [[Conservation Measure]], involved giving the Lifeworkers biological preserves for specimens of numerous species on several of the Master Builder's installations, including the Halos and their construction foundries, known as the [[Ark]]s.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 274''</ref> After the onset of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], Faber authorized the use of the Lifeworkers' biological specimens on the Halo installations for experimentation on the Flood in hopes of finding a cure to the parasite.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 334''</ref> Of particular interest to his researchers were [[human]]s, primarily housed on [[Installation 07]], many of whom seemed to exhibit an immunity to the parasite - unaware that this was due to an ongoing strategy on the Flood's part. He authorized that more humans with ancestral [[Mind transfer|personality imprints]] provided by the Librarian be brought on the installation from [[Earth]], against the instructions of the Council and the Lifeshaper.<ref name="prim190">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 190-192''</ref>

Circa [[97,495 BCE]] Faber, with the Council's authority, tasked [[Mendicant Bias]] with conducting the first test of a Halo installation near [[Charum Hakkor]]. Installation 07, fired on a system-wide power setting, released an ancient being known as the [[Primordial]]; the entity was taken on the installation by Faber's orders afterward. As he did not trust the Lifeworker scientists who at first studied the creature, Faber soon assigned Mendicant Bias to interrogate it.{{Ref/Reuse|prim190}} Faber had the Halo moved again to prepare for what he believed would be his crowning triumph - when he would reveal his solution to the Flood.<ref name="prim191">'''[[Halo: Primordium]]''', ''pages 191''</ref> Over the course of the extended conversation, the Primordial managed to encourage the Master Builder to continue the experiments on humans, and eventually convinced Mendicant Bias to turn to [[rampancy]] and [[Logic plague|defect to the Flood]].<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 365''</ref> As a result, the Primordial, the Halo and Mendicant Bias vanished, leaving Faber desperate to find them. The [[San'Shyuum]] became aware that Faber had lost something "so tremendous and important that surely it cannot be hidden."<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 215''</ref>

===Crisis===
43 years after Installation 07's test-firing, Faber arrived at [[Janjur Qom]] to seek information on the Flood from the [[San'Shyuum]] leadership. Their arrival, following the Librarian's indexing of the San'Shyuum, caused the San'Shyuum to [[Battle of Janjur Qom|rebel against the Forerunners]]. During the battle, Faber's forces intercepted [[Didact's ship|the ship]] carrying Bornstellar and the Didact, who had also come to meet with the San'Shyuum leadership. During this time, Faber demanded information on the [[Primordial]] and supposed Flood cure, but had inadvertently killed the [[First Prophet]], the only San'Shyuum the Didact knew of who had knowledge of the cure. As the conversation went on, Bornstellar perceived that Faber was desperate, having lost something so important that it's loss could not be hidden. Having witnessed the arrival of a second Halo ring, Bornstellar confronted Faber with the realization that Faber had lost not only the Primordial, but the Halo it was upon as well, leaving Faber horror-struck. Recovering quickly, he placed the Didact under arrest and sent Bornstellar back to his family thanks to Wise-Hands-to-Forge asserting his authority.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''Chapter 26''</ref> Shortly afterwards, the Master Builder had a Halo used to sterilize Janjur Qom in retaliation for the San'Shyuum rebellion.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 275''</ref> The Didact remained in captivity and was interrogated by the Master Builder, but Faber failed to extract any vital information regarding the Prometheans' [[shield world]]s or the [[Contender-class artificial intelligence|Contender-class AIs]] from him. Although the rest of the galaxy would come to believe the Didact to be dead, he would continue interfering in Faber's plans, as his memories and personality had been transferred to Bornstellar.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 339''</ref>

However, the Master Builder had overestimated his control over his allies. They believed that the Halo Array was intended as a last resort weapon, not to punish uprisings. Many of his closest allies felt he had violated the [[Mantle]] with his actions, and a political revolution occurred, with many [[Councilor (Forerunner)|Councilor]]s resigning in protest. Meanwhile, many Lifeworkers and [[Warrior-Servant]]s on Installation 07 [[Battle for Gyre 11|violently rebelled]] against the Master Builder, but this revolt was mostly suppressed by Faber's loyal [[Builder Security]] forces.{{Ref/Reuse|prim190}} Though Faber put down the armed rebellion, he lost the political rebellion; the Builders stripped Faber of his title, and he was put on trial before the Ecumene Council for the unsanctioned use of a Halo and other [[war criminal|war crimes]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 250-251''</ref> However, the trial was interrupted by Mendicant Bias' [[Fate of Maethrillian|assault]] on the [[Capital]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 299''</ref> During the battle, with [[the Warden]]'s help, Faber was delivered to [[Sharp-by-Striking]], a former Promethean now working for the Builders, who took him to a fast frigate. Aboard the ship, Faber ordered the Builder Security crew to escape the system. Before they did, Faber's personal security attacked and killed all but Sharp. Faber exiled Sharp-by-Striking along with the [[Ur-Didact]], a [[Catalog]], and a high ranking Builder known as [[Maker-of-Moons]] to an ancient Builder hulk near the Flood-infested [[Uthera Midgeerrd]].<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''String 5''</ref>

===Final years===
Although some believed Faber had been killed on Installation 07,<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 374''</ref> he went into exile in an isolated region of the ecumene. There, he remained active in fighting against the Flood for many years with Builder Security and disgraced Warrior-Servants under the [[regional commandant]]'s Letter of Marque. While claiming to have overcome vast Flood forces, Faber was actually capturing small, weak Flood ships. He put the ships through inadequate decontamination before extorting them to Warrior-Servant crews for a disproportionately high payment. Due to the inadequate decontamination, many of the crews assigned to these ships were overwhelmed by Flood forces still onboard.<ref name="string21">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 191-195''</ref>

During this campaign, he came across the Ur-Didact, adrift on an empty vessel; the [[Gravemind]], who had held the Didact in captivity, had intentionally sent the Didact the Master Builder's way with a painful message: the Master Builder's wives and children, who had relocated to [[Path Kural]], had all been absorbed by the Flood and were now taunting him from within a Gravemind. With sadistic delight, the Didact remarked that Faber had himself caused this with his Halos. Afterwards, the Master Builder returned to the core of the ecumene and brought the Didact with him. Faber was subsequently interrogated by the [[Master Juridical]] as part of the [[Juridical]]s' investigation into his possible crimes against the Mantle.{{Ref/Reuse|string21}}

After the ecumene's leadership was placed on the [[greater Ark]], the last survivors of the New Council gave all power over to Faber, regardless of the evidence against him and the inconclusive outcome of his interrogations.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''String 28''</ref> Subsequently, the Forerunner leadership conferred to lay out their final defense plans. During this meeting, the Master Builder unexpectedly spoke on the behalf of the [[IsoDidact]], whose position was being put to question due to the return of the Ur-Didact. While the other commanders were eager to put their faith in the legendary Promethean as opposed to his copy, Faber asserted that the IsoDidact was superior to his original in many ways - not only had the Master Builder outwitted and defeated the Ur-Didact twice, but the latter had also been driven mad by the Gravemind. Faber cited the Ur-Didact's delivery of the Gravemind's message about his family as proof of the Didact's mental instability and gained the sympathies and support of the other leaders.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''String 29''</ref>

===Death===
{{Quote|Throughout my life, I sought power and profit for myself, for my rate. Now, at long last, I think I understand the meaning of a crime against the Mantle. After this, no need to seek balance. I will await my penance here.|Faber deciding to stay and die on Omega Halo.}}
As the greater Ark came under siege by the Flood led by Mendicant Bias and supported by Precursor [[star road]]s, Faber joined the [[IsoDidact]], [[Bitterness-of-the-Vanquished]] and the [[Examiner]] on [[Omega Halo]], stationed over the greater Ark. The ring was to be fired at [[Path Kethona]], purging the satellite galaxy of Precursor constructs and potential Flood infection, while opening a corridor past the star roads surrounding the Ark. Without ceremony, he handed the coordinates of the secret lesser Ark, [[Installation 00]], to the IsoDidact, who was to carry out the distribution and activation of the final Halo Array. Faber had specifically asked to meet the IsoDidact on Omega Halo—seemingly for no reason other than having him see the ring fire. The Master Builder then primed the ring and announced that he would make no attempt to escape, sharing the fate of "his" Ark and the last of the original Halo installations. With uncharacteristic humility, he declared this as an act of penance for his many crimes. Even though the firing of Omega Halo destroyed a portion of the Precursor constructs, the remaining star roads soon converged on the ring and tore it asunder, with the destruction complemented by the installation's own kinetic energy. The floor of the control center collapsed and Faber and the other commanders were plunged to their deaths; only the IsoDidact survived, having been saved by [[343 Guilty Spark|Monitor Chakas]].<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''String 33''</ref>

==Personality and traits==
{{Quote|If not for your family's power, I would strip you down to a haze of burning brain cells and spread you out upon this field.|Faber to Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting.}}
Despite his high standing in Forerunner society, Faber displayed arrogance and cruelty wholly at odds with the Forerunner ideals of peace and enlightenment. He held utter contempt for less-advanced species, as well as lower-ranking Forerunners. He also was not above using torture against those who crossed him. Regardless of his cruelty, Faber was exceptionally powerful in many ways; in addition to his political power, he was noted as being an individual of "near-infinite complexity and mental resources," equally cunning to the Didact, and possessed immense knowledge of Forerunner politics and technology.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 284''</ref>

However, Faber's behavior in his final hours stood as a stark contrast to his previous callousness.<ref>[http://www.gregbear.com/blog/display.cfm?id=7291 '''Greg Bear Discussion Board''' - ''Topic: The Master Builder'']</ref> With the Ur-Didact gone mad and the IsoDidact struggling to maintain authority, he successfully united the bickering Forerunner commanders at the greater Ark. Choosing to die with his Halo as atonement for his sins, Faber's "uncharacteristic display of courage and humility" in the face of death impressed even the IsoDidact.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 380''</ref> His final prayer to the Mantle before firing Omega Halo also suggests that he retained some belief in that ideal. 

Faber dedicated considerable attention to his personal appearance, making use of perfumes and maintaining an attitude of superiority in all encounters.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 203''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 205-206''</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:FaberConcept.jpg|Concept art of Faber for ''[[Halo 4]]''{{'}}s [[Terminal (Halo 4)|terminals]].
File:HTMCC-H4 Terminals MasterBuilder.png|Faber in Maethrillian.
File:HTMCC-H4 Terminals Faber.png|Close-up of Faber's helmet.
File:HM-Forerunners.png|Faber (far left) in ''[[Halo Mythos]]''.
File:Enc22-Faber-Unmasked.png|Close-up of Faber's face in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]''.
File:Enc22 Faber roster.png|Monochrome portrait of Faber in the ''Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)''
</gallery>

==Trivia==
"[[Wiktionary:faber|Faber]]" (the root of the word "fabricate") is Latin for "artisan" or "smith", echoing his role as the Master Builder.

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]'' {{Im}}
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 4)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Rebirth]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[Promises to Keep]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''
*''[[Halo: Whispers from the Pyre]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|2}}

[[Category:Forerunner characters]]
[[Category:Builders]]
[[Category:Politicians]]