Editing Geas

{{Status|Canon}}
{{New content|[[Halo: Edge of Dawn]]}}
{{quote|[[Installation 04|This ring]] contains significant dangers, and even with [[human|your]] [[Reclaimer|assumed legacy]], I must verify the presence and pitch of your geas before allowing full access.|[[343 Guilty Spark]] in a transmission to the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}{{Ref/Game|CEA|[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminal 1]]}}}}

'''''Geas''''' (pronounced ''geSH''), also called '''genesong''',{{Ref/Reuse|reclaimer}} was a [[Forerunner]] term that referred to a genetic command imposed on an organism or species. Under the influence of a ''geas'', an organism could be given a set of subconscious orders that would either be specific to that organism, or passed on to their children, in some cases lasting several generations.{{Ref/Site|Id=CryptumGlossary|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/text/cryptum-glossary/62e29c59-a3f9-4b63-af76-def71fda5459|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Cryptum Glossary|D=14|M=03|Y=2014|LocalArchive=Halo: Cryptum/Glossary}} ''Geas'' technology was considered to be groundbreaking for its day and on the cutting edge of [[Lifeworker]] science.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD21|EOD|Chapter=21}} Only highly skilled Forerunner Lifeworkers, such as the [[Librarian]], were capable of creating a ''geas''. Forerunner students of the [[Mantle]] also hypothesized that the [[Precursor]]s may have imposed a ''geas'' on the Forerunners themselves.{{Ref/Novel|Cry|Page=49}} The [[Xalanyn]] known as the [[Harbinger]] had access to either a similar or parallel ''geas'' technology developed by her species, or co-opted the Forerunners' own technology.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD15}}

==Overview==
===Erde-Tyrene===
During her stewardship of [[Earth]] and the [[Erde-Tyrene civilization|remains of humanity]], the [[Librarian]] imposed a ''geas'' upon various humans at birth; they later recalled the experience as her physically visiting them, but in reality she used an automated imprinting system of [[Lifeworker beacon]]s to broadcast the ''geas'' remotely.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=374}} Humans who were part of the Librarian's "special population" on Earth were used as living archives,{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=45}} with their ''geas'' containing [[mind transfer|extracted personalities]] and memories of their ancestors who had fought in the [[Human-Forerunner wars]]. These memories required specific triggers in order to awaken within the carrier individual; for example, the ancestral memories of [[Chakas]] and [[Riser]] surfaced after they traveled to [[Charum Hakkor]], once the heart of the [[Ancestors|ancient human empire]].{{Ref/Novel|Cry|Page=121}}{{Ref/Novel|Cry|Page=341}} Though initially both accessed the memories of multiple ancient warriors, one archived personality emerged dominant over the others.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=52}} The other personalities subsequently appeared to go dormant as Chakas could no longer feel them.{{Ref/Novel|Id=p185|Pri|Page=185}} Once active, an archived personality — or "essence" — could effectively exist as a fully aware consciousness alongside the carrier's own mind, even temporarily take control of their physical body.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=226}} The memories of the archived individual often manifested themselves in the carrier's dreams,{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=128-129}} and encompassed specific knowledge the archived individual may have had on subjects such as physics, engineering and mathematics.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=44}} Chakas proved able to access the archived memories once the ''geas'' had been activated inside of himself in order to learn the ancient language used by the [[Tudejsa]]. Once Chakas extracted the knowledge he needed, he could understand fluently what the Tudejsa were saying around him, although it took him a little bit to be able to speak the language fluently as his tongue was not used to forming the ancient words.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=21-23}}

The ''geas'' she imposed on various humans played a crucial part in the Librarian's elaborate plan to reunite with her husband, the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]. Riser's ancestors were imprinted with a drive to pass the defenses surrounding the Didact's [[Cryptum]] in the [[Djamonkin Crater]] and create a safe path through the various traps that surrounded it. Riser himself was instructed by his ''geas'' to seek out young [[Human|ha''manush'']] and find them work; this resulted in him meeting and befriending a ha''manune'' known as [[Chakas]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Cry2|Cry|2}} Both also began to have dreams of a young Forerunner visiting them in search of treasure,{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=31-32}} which soon became a reality as a [[Manipular]] called [[Bornstellar-Makes-Eternal-Lasting]], who had been manipulated by [[Bornstellar's ancilla|an]] [[ancilla]] secretly assigned to him by the Librarian, came to enlist the humans' guidance in finding [[Precursor]] relics.{{Ref/Novel|Cry|1}} Chakas and Riser led the Manipular to the Djamonkin Crater, where the sight of the Didact's Cryptum triggered preprogrammed songs which served as verbal codes to activate the Cryptum. Bornstellar noted that the humans had explored the island at Djamonkin Crater, built walls, laid down trails and kept defying the [[dazzler]] and then, as if giving up, departed before suddenly returning in more recent times as if something had changed, following their ''geas'', having obviously been tuned by the Librarian for a particular, very difficult task.{{Ref/Reuse|Cry2}} Given the circumstances, the Librarian most likely used her beacons' ability to alter the ''geas'' of those that it was used upon{{Ref/Reuse|pri184}} to prepare Chakas and Riser for Bornstellar's arrival as part of the culmination of her plan to awaken the Didact.

In [[2557]], the former [[Monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark]], who was once Chakas, sought to bring back his friends Riser and [[Vinnevra]] by accessing the [[Domain]] and having the Librarian use ''geas'' to bring them back in the body of modern humans. During [[Mission to Mount Kilimanjaro|his encounter]] with a personality imprint of the Librarian herself beneath [[Mount Kilimanjaro]], Spark was reminded of his own experiences with the imprint of [[Forthencho]] and how hard it was upon him. The Librarian refused to apologize for her actions as she felt that they were necessary for the greater good. The Librarian told Spark that his friends were at peace and their gene song quiet. She instead helped him to see the friends that Spark had found amongst the ''[[Ace of Spades]]'' crew.{{Ref/Novel|Ren|Chapter=48}} Spark later admitted his plan to [[Rion Forge]] to access the Domain and use it to bring back his friends as ''geas'' or to join them before he had changed his mind.{{Ref/Novel|Ren|Chapter=53}}

===Tudejsa===
On [[Installation 07]], the [[Tudejsa|transplanted human populations]] were given a ''geas'' through a similar imprinting system. For example, in the event of encountering a strange visitor, humans were programmed to bring such curiosities to Lifeworker outposts for evaluation.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=183}} New or altered orders could also be triggered remotely via the beacons that transmitted the signal across the installation. Such an event occurred after the [[Primordial]] and [[Mendicant Bias]] seized full control of operations on the Halo; all humans born on the installation were given instructions to seek out research stations, known to the humans themselves as "[[Palace of Pain|Palaces of Pain]]".{{Ref/Novel|Id=pri184|Pri|Page=184}} Such a need to travel would manifest itself in many ways, including a seemingly innate knowledge of where to go in the event of trouble,{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=74}} pleasing mental images of the destination, such as safety, home, food, water, or shelter, as well as a voice in one's head telling them where to go.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=244, 276}} Ignoring the influence of a ''geas'' took remarkable willpower, to the point that resisting it was nearly impossible even with the conscious knowledge that following it may be harmful, as demonstrated by [[Vinnevra]]'s struggle to avoid her ''geas''-induced urge to travel to a "Palace of Pain".{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=284}}

When Vinnerva was sent to Earth as part of the [[Reintroduction]], she was allowed to live out her life in peace with her ''geas'' silent.{{Ref/Novel|Ren|48}}

===Reclaimers===
The Librarian also imposed a broader ''geas'' on the entire human race, which has affected them a great deal throughout their history following the activation of the [[Halo Array]]. The ''geas'' includes, among other things, a familiarity with Forerunner technology and control interfaces,{{Ref/Novel|TF|Page=84, 146, 170}}{{Ref/Novel|FS|Page=142}} as well as subconscious instructions on how to gradually achieve more sophisticated technology, including [[smart AI]]s and [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR armor]].{{Ref/Level|Id=reclaimer|H4|[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]}} In addition, as a result of the Librarian's influence on humans, the basic image of what humans view as an ideal female is based upon the Librarian.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=375}} Some of the features of the ''geas'' are carefully hidden and will only be activated by the right triggers, such as a latent immunity to the effects of the [[Composer]]. On [[Requiem]], a [[mind transfer|personality imprint]] of the Librarian activated [[John-117]]'s Composer immunity in order to allow him to defeat the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], who planned to enslave all of humanity with the Composer. It was indicated she did more than this, saying she was going to advance his evolution by activating his ''geas'', telling him she had left humanity many gifts, of which the Composer immunity was only one. The Librarian also said that the Master Chief's evolution through this ''geas'' was the result of a "thousand lifetimes of planning," but never got to tell him exactly what she was planning for.{{Ref/Reuse|reclaimer}} The Master Chief later attributed a few oddities that he experienced{{Ref/Reuse|EOD25}} such as hearing the Didact's voice in his head{{Ref/Level|H4|Shutdown}} and Cortana using some kind of mental connection to the [[Domain]] to guide him{{Ref/Level|H5|Blue Team (level)|Blue Team}} to the other "gifts" that the Librarian unlocked when she gave him the Composer immunity.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD25}}

During [[Mission to Mount Kilimanjaro|her encounter]] with another personality imprint of the Librarian beneath [[Mount Kilimanjaro]], [[Rion Forge]] felt love and loyalty towards the Forerunner but recognized them for what they were: a genetic disposition built into human DNA giving the Librarian a way to be heard, a way to inspire loyalty and a way to nudge her children to fulfil their potential. The Librarian was able to use this to briefly communicate with Rion and possibly the rest of the crew of the ''[[Ace of Spades]]'' and warned Rion of the trials ahead, the battles to come, the safe place and the things that needed healing and tending as well as a message to take care of [[343 Guilty Spark]] who the Librarian stated was more fragile and important that Rion could ever know.{{Ref/Novel|Ren|Page=329}}

After Rion used the Librarian's [[coordinate key]] on [[Installation 07]],{{Ref/Novel|Id=PoL16|PoL|16}} she began experiencing dreams in which the Librarian showed Rion the truth about what she had found in [[Path Kethona]] and her plans for the rebirth of the [[Precursor]] race.{{Ref/Novel|PoL}} Rion suspected that this was a story stored in all of humanity that had just needed an activation to come to light which didn't make Rion special, it just meant that she was in the right place at the right time.{{Ref/Novel|PoL|38}} When the [[Precept]] tested Rion before giving her access to [[Bastion]], he scanned her ''geas'' and read the results that it gave him.{{Ref/Novel|PoL|35}}

[[Joyeuse]] explained to [[Lucas Browning]] that the Librarian had used technology to place a genetic imprint on humanity that could be instructions or subconscious orders that might pertain to a single individual or passed down through generations. As the Librarian had placed these within the humans seeded on [[Earth]], in a way all humans have some remaining ''geas'' built into their DNA which is why they're recognized as Reclaimers by Forerunner systems.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD15}}

===Precursors===
Millions of years ago, the Precursors placed ''geas'' on the Librarian's ancestors. These ''geas'' led the Librarian to discover seeds of Precursors during the ''[[Audacity]]'' 's expedition to [[Path Kethona]] to uncover the origin of the Flood. The Librarian brought these Precursor seeds to [[Bastion]] to begin working on a rebirth of the Precursor race.{{Ref/Novel|PoL|44}}

===Ancestors===
Despite the regression of [[human]]ity following the [[Human-Forerunner wars]], the human race continued to carry a fragment of the [[Ancestors]]' spark, a connection to a time long past, waiting to be awakened. This resulted in a "dreamer" having a series of visions while conducting research upon [[Site Yankee-002-G3|an]] [[Ancient human cruiser]].{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Tulpamancy}}

===Xalanyn===
The [[Xalanyn]] known as the [[Harbinger]] placed a ''geas'' within [[Lucas Browning]] that acted as a compulsion. The ''geas'' stored the preliminary access code to the Xalanyn prison on [[Installation 07|Zeta Halo]]. [[Joyeuse]] theorized that the Harbinger had stored the code in Browning as a backup and, with her last transmission, potentially stored the location somewhere else as a backup as well{{Ref/Reuse|EOD30}} which was apparently in the [[Huragok]] [[Rises High]] who possessed a similar compulsion to Browning.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD34|EOD|Chapter=34}} Browning didn't understand the numbers that he had in his head, only knowing that they were a container for something.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD25|EOD|Chapter=25}} The numbers were encoded into the memory of Browning's [[service number]],{{Ref/Reuse|EOD15}} leading to him repeating it endlessly in his data drops.{{Ref/Game|Id=tp7|HI|HINF:Audio log#The Prisoner 2|UNSC Audio log|Detail=The Prisoner #07 - 42410-02214-LB}}{{Ref/Game|Id=tp6|HI|HINF:Audio log#The Prisoner 2|UNSC Audio log|Detail=The Prisoner #06 - Price Paid}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=rp37|RP|Chapter=37}} [[Joyeuse]] theorized that the Xalanyn had access to a similar or parallel technology to what the Librarian used given their level of advancement or the Harbinger simply co-opted the Forerunners' own systems.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD15|EOD|Chapter=15}}

Like how the "gifts" that the [[Librarian]] had unlocked within the Master Chief presumably enabled the Spartan to hear the [[Ur-Didact]]'s voice in his head,{{Ref/Reuse|EOD25}}{{Ref/Reuse|reclaimer}} the ''geas'' apparently allowed the Harbinger to communicate with Browning in his head even at a distance. It also manifested in Browning struggling to remember information from his captivity and repeating some of what the Harbinger had told him in a way that made it clear that she still had a hold on him, even dead.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD25}}

The Master Chief and Joy sought to use the ''geas'' technology at [[Lifeworker Central]] to possibly remove the imprint and decode what the Harbinger had put into Browning's mind.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD15}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD16|EOD|Chapter=16}} However, Lifeworker Central proved to be inaccessible, so Dr. [[Genie Dawson]] directed them to the [[Lifeworker Archive]] instead.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD21}} While waiting for Joy to access the systems at the Lifeworker Archive, Browning revealed the story of his imprisonment to the Master Chief who compared Browning's ''geas'' to his own experiences with the technology after meeting the Librarian on [[Requiem]]. While telling the Master Chief about how the Harbinger's goal was to free her people, Browning's voice took on a rhythmic cadence as if reciting words that were not his own as Browning described the Xalanyn's imprisonment by the Forerunners finishing by declaring that the [[Reformation]] would fix things by enabling the Harbinger to find the Xalanyn. However, the ''geas'' also made Browning feel like he had psychic hooks that lodged in his brain and squeezed whenever Browning tried to think about things and an internal barrier erected by either the Harbinger or Browning's own trauma kept him from revealing what the Harbinger intended to do once her people were free.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD25}}

Once in the Archive, Browning's ''geas'' manifested as a pull on his mind and a feeling that he was on the right path. As he got closer to Rises' location, the pull got stronger to the point that Browning was compelled to run to the Huragok. At Joy's request, Rises scanned Browning{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD29|EOD|Chapter=29}} and revealed that the ''geas'' couldn't be removed, but it could be rewritten with the proper tools.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD30|EOD|Chapter=30}} After scanning Browning's ''geas'', Rises' own ''geas'' caused it to bring itself, the Master Chief, Joy and Browning to the [[Silent Auditorium (location)|Silent Auditorium]] via Zeta Halo's [[teleportation grid]]{{Ref/Novel|EOD|Chapter=31}} where it activated the [[Grand Edict]]'s [[Durance]],{{Ref/Novel|EOD|Chapter=32}} showing the Master Chief and his AI the Grand Edict's memory of the Xalanyn trial.{{Ref/Novel|Id=EOD33|EOD|Chapter=33}} Continuing to be driven by its own compulsion, Rises left with [[Jega 'Rdomnai]] when he and the [[Banished]] took the Harbinger's body while simultaneously the dying Browning's mind felt clearer than it had in months.{{Ref/Reuse|EOD34}}

==Trivia==
*In ''Halo: Cryptum'' and ''Halo: Primordium'', it is noted that most terms and phrases are translated to "localized" analogues in order to be intelligible to the reader. The word [[Wiktionary:Geas|"geas"]] comes from a Scottish Welsh corruption of the Old Irish word [[Wiktionary:Geis#Irish|"geis"]], referring to a mystically-enforced command, which closely reflects the ''Halo'' universe definition of the term, but was most likely not the original term used by the Forerunners.
*In ''[[Rebirth]]'', the audio epilog to ''[[Halo: Silentium|Silentium]]'', Greg Bear pronounces the word as "''gé-ash''", whereas it is pronounced ''"gesh"'' in its native Gaelic. This mispronunciation was carried forward by [[343 Guilty Spark]] in [[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)#tabsection-0-0|Terminal One]] of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
*The ''[[Halo 2 Anniversary Original Soundtrack]]'' features a track named ''[[Genesong]]'', which is a remake of ''[[Reclaimer (music)|Reclaimer]]'' and is named after ''geas''.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H4 ChiefEvolved.png|[[John-117]] after having his genesong unlocked and his evolution accelerated by the [[Librarian]].
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Rebirth]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: Tulpamancy]]''
*''[[Halo: Edge of Dawn]]''

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

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Forerunner technology]]