Editing Luminary

{{Status|Canon}}
[[File:H2A Terminals - Luminary.jpg|thumb|300px|A Luminary.]]
{{Quote|A Luminary does not lie.|A Holy Writ of the Covenant, as quoted by [[Chur'R]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=CH6|CH|Chapter=6}}}}
A '''Luminary''' is a [[Forerunner]] device designed to scan for and identify Forerunner relics. The [[Covenant]] reverse-engineered their own Luminaries, modeled and sculpted after an original Forerunner device recovered from the Covenant-controlled {{Class|Supernal Spiral|keyship}}, ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]''.{{Ref/Site|Id=Glossary|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/the-new-halo-encyclopedia-is-out-today|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=The New Halo Encyclopedia is Out Today|D=11|M=03|Y=2023}}

==Overview==
Luminaries are [[Forerunner]] devices capable of detecting technology and artefacts left by the long-dead civilisation.{{Ref/Reuse|Glossary}}{{Ref/Book|Id=fb5|Halo: Fleet Battles - The Fall of Reach campaign guide|Page=4-5}} When used, they are capable of scanning an entire [[planet]], identifying signatures of suspected Forerunner relics and assigning them with various glyphs.{{Ref/Reuse|CH6}}

===Design details===
There are several different forms of Luminary. The original designs were created by the [[Forerunner]]s, and are considered holy artefacts within themselves; they are the greatest Luminaries, and were jealously guarded by the Covenant's leaders and rarely allowed to leave [[High Charity]].{{Ref/Reuse|fb5}} These devices (the earliest being the one found aboard ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]''){{Ref/Novel|Id=CH16|CH|Chapter=16}} were reverse-engineered by the Covenant to serve as the basis for Covenant-built Luminaries,{{Ref/Reuse|Glossary}} which are mass-distributed as a mandatory piece of equipment on all [[Covenant starship]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|CH6}} However, the security of the Luminary is paramount; as such, during the [[Human-Covenant War]] they were covered by a piece of Covenant scripture recalled by [[Kip Silas]] as named something akin to the "Writ of Security" or "Writ of Sanctity". Under the Writ, Covenant soldiers were ordered to prevent sacred objects (including Luminaries) from falling into [[human]] hands - with the Luminary's destruction a priority should a Covenant ship be at risk of being [[Naval boarding|boarded]] and captured by human troops.{{Ref/Novel|SaS|Chapter=5}}

Standardised Covenant-issue Luminary models are shaped like a series of three silver pyramids: two smaller ones supporting an upside down, larger one in the center. The Luminary is connected to a given vessel's communications systems, with a given [[shipmaster]] required to report its findings to the vessel's controlling organisation (such as a sponsor [[ministry]]). As such, should a given shipmaster wish to steal the relics on a given planet for their own gain, they must first disconnect the Luminary from the communications systems, then reactivate it once they have taken their share - ensuring the Luminary reports a consistent number of relics. However, tampering with Luminaries is a serious crime under Covenant law, and punishable by death or worse.{{Ref/Reuse|CH6}}

Alongside the detection of Forerunner technology, Luminaries are notable for also detecting [[human]]s and registering them as Forerunner technology. This was the initial catalyst for the Human-Covenant War, and spurred [[Mendicant Bias]]' revelation that humans were the [[reclaimer]]s designated to inherit the legacy of the Forerunners. The [[Hierarchs]] covered up this knowledge in an effort to prevent the empire from breaking apart in civil war, though the [[Prophet of Truth]] noted that the Luminaries' ability to detect humans was not a hindrance, but in fact a help. By so reliably detecting the presence of humans, it would make the Covenant's mission to wipe out the entire species much easier.{{Ref/Novel|Id=CHE|CH|Chapter=Epilogue}}

==History==
[[File:H2A Terminals - Luminary activated.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A Luminary depicting the Halo Array.]]
The Luminary aboard ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' was used by the [[San'Shyuum]] [[Reformists]] during their exodus from [[Janjur Qom]]. During the [[War of Beginnings]], it was used by the Reformists to locate valuable relics, which ultimately put them into conflict with the [[Sangheili]] and resulted in battles such as the [[Battle of Anvarl|battle]] on [[Anvarl]].{{Ref/Novel|BC|Chapter=Prologue}}

After the end of the war and the formation of the Covenant, the San'Shyuum continued to experiment with ''Anodyne Spirit''{{'}}s Luminary. By attempting to copy it, they were drawn to the gas giant [[Te]] in the [[Svir system]], relatively close to [[Sanghelios]]. The Luminary detected a trove of relics in the system only to find the remnants of a Forerunner [[space station]] that had been eaten by the [[Lekgolo]] worms. This ultimately led to the Lekgolo joining the Covenant, after being "tamed" by [[Arbiter]] [[Jeht 'Lcmutee]].{{Ref/Reuse|CH16}}

For much of their history, the Covenant attempted to acquire new Forerunner Luminaries. In [[850 BCE]], [[Prophet of Inner Conviction|Mken Scre'ah'ben]] led a mission back to Janjur Qom in an attempt to recover a Luminary believed to reside on the San'Shyuum homeworld.{{Ref/Novel|BC|Chapter=3}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HBCC8|BC|Chapter=8}} However, the Luminary - thought to contain the location of the [[Halo Array]] - was lost when the [[dropship]] carrying it, ''[[Vengeful Vitality]]'', was attacked and destroyed.{{Ref/Novel|BC|Chapter=12}}

===Role in starting the Human-Covenant War===
Luminaries were instrumental in the outbreak of [[Human-Covenant War|war]] between [[human]]ity and the Covenant. The first detection of humanity by a Luminary was by that aboard the [[Kig-Yar]] missionary vessel ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', which initially drew the vessel to the [[Human colonies|colony world]] of [[Harvest]], claiming to have detected millions of Forerunner relics. In reality, the Luminary had detected the presence of millions of humans on Harvest's surface, though this fact remained unknown to ''Minor Transgression''{{'}}s crew. [[Shipmaster|Shipmistress]] [[Chur'R]] intially severed the Luminary from the ship's communication systems in the hopes of skimming some of the relics from the find to sell on the black market. The Kig-Yar attempted to board the [[freighter]] ''[[This End Up]]'' to steal its cargo of "relics" but ultimately found nothing.{{Ref/Reuse|CH6}} While later boarding a second freighter, the Luminary aboard ''Minor Transgression'' was reconnected to the signals equipment by the [[Unggoy]] [[Deacon]] [[Dadab]], resulting in the Luminary transmitting its findings to the [[Ministry of Tranquility]].{{Ref/Novel|CH|Chapter=8}} While ''Minor Transgression'' was ultimately [[self-destruct]]ed by Chur'R, the information discovered by its Luminary was passed to Minister of Fortitude and Vice-Minister of Tranquility, who used the information to begin plotting their ascension to [[Hierarchs|Hierarch]].{{Ref/Novel|CH|Chapter=9}} The Vice-Minister dispatched the [[Jiralhanae]]-crewed vessel ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'' to investigate the find, with the ship reporting back that not only had it detected relics, but even an [[Monitor|Oracle]].{{Ref/Novel|CH|Chapter=15}}

The two San'Shyuum brought the Luminations to the [[Prophet of Mercy|Philologist]] aboard ''Anodyne Spirit'', with the hopes of presenting them to [[Mendicant Bias]] - the dormant [[Metarch-class ancilla]] that had silently inhabited the vessel for millennia. While discussing the findings, Mendicant Bias awoke for the first time in living memory, noting that the Covenant had misinterpreted the Luminary's sign as "Reclamation", rather than the actual translation "[[Reclaimer]]" - and that the symbol represented the ancilla's makers. The revelation that humanity were connected to the Forerunners disturbed the trio of San'Shyuum present, resulting in the realisation that were the news to spread, it could be the undoing of the empire. As such, they endeavoured to blackmail their way into becoming Hierarchs, with the goal of steering the Covenant on a new path - the complete and total genocide of humanity.{{Ref/Reuse|CH16}}{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=193}} At their ascension to the throne, the newly-crowned [[Prophet of Truth]] noted that he had covered up the lie by claiming that the [[glassing]] of [[Harvest]] was the result of humanity's attempt to destroy the relics on their world, and a portent of what they would do to the [[Halo Array]], were they to find it. Using this as a ''casus belli'', the Covenant declared war, and began to use Luminaries to find humans and hunt them down.{{Ref/Reuse|CHE}} This event began the thirty-year war that would ultimately culminate in the [[Great Schism]] and the empire's collapse into [[Covenant remnants|disparate warlord states]]. 

===Use in the war===
During the [[Human-Covenant War]], Covenant commanders used Luminaries to both hunt down humans{{Ref/Reuse|CHE}} and uncover new Forerunner relics. In the early war, a delay in installing Luminaries on newly-constructed ships resulted in an edict being issued by the Prophet of Truth dictating that on each vessel lacking a Luminary, one in 64 Unggoy were to be executed by Kig-Yar death squads, with choice of executee done by a [[Sangheili]] overseer. This practice would continue daily for every ship until a Luminary was installed.{{Ref/Game|HW|Halo Wars Timeline Events|Timeline Event|Detail=Edict of the Office of the High Prophet of Truth|Quote=It is known that there is a delay installing Luminaries upon newly constructed vessels of war. On each vessel still lacking a Luminary, 1 Unggoy worker out of every 64 is to be executed. To preserve discipline between the Sangheili overseers and Unggoy, choice of victim and execution is to be by Kig-Yar death squads. This is to continue daily until that vessel's Luminary is installed.}}

{{Pattern|Makar|light corvette}}s were installed with Luminaries as standard and used as scouts with the purpose of both locating Forerunner artefacts and keeping a watchful eye over their own fleet for signs of disloyalty.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=268}}

Upon his promotion to [[Supreme Commander]], [[Rho 'Barutamee]] was entrusted with a rare Forerunner-built Luminary with which to use as part of [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence|his fleet's]] duties as a long-ranged scout for the empire.{{Ref/Reuse|fb5}} Rho hoped to use his Luminary to eventually uncover [[Maethrillian]], the long-lost capital of the Forerunner [[Ecumene]];{{Ref/Book|Id=fb35|Halo: Fleet Battles - The Fall of Reach campaign guide|Page=35}} however, it ended up ultimately leading him to the [[Beta Eridani system]], and ultimately [[Reach]] itself - beginning the climactic [[Fall of Reach]].{{Ref/Reuse|fb5}}

In [[2551]], Covenant forces under the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s command discovered a Luminary on [[Meridian]] cataloguing the astrogration data for the entire Halo array, the Ark, and the network of [[slipspace portal]]s connecting to it.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22346|Enc22|Page=346}} Choosing the [[Excession|closest portal]]{{Ref/Reuse|enc22346}}, Regret ordered the [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration]] to head to a planet known as [[Earth|Erde-Tyrene]], unaware that Erde-Tyrene was actually [[human]]ity's homeworld, Earth. Regret sought to outdo his fellow [[Hierarchs]] by claiming the monumental discovery for himself, but ultimately found himself overrun and quickly routed.{{Ref/Game|H2A|Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal #14}}

===Post-war use===
The [[UNSC]] developed the [[VECTOR-class Mjolnir]] armor based on Covenant technology, for [[Spartan-IV]]s to commune with Luminaries. This was notably used to seek artifacts among the debris of [[Installation 04|Alpha Halo]] on [[Basis]].{{Ref/Game|H5G|Armor customization (Halo 5: Guardians)|Armory|Detail=[[VECTOR-class Mjolnir|Vector]] helmet description|Quote=VECTOR features a Covenant dataport and dummy plug, allowing the user to commune with artifact-seeking Luminaries.}} The UNSC also installed a Luminary alongside a Covenant [[hyperscanner]] aboard {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=42-43}}

The high rate of Luminary destruction (both by hostile action and Covenant self-destruction) in the Human-Covenant War means that they are a rare prize for post-war scavengers, with [[Rion Forge]] considering the acquisition of one her ticket to an early retirement.{{Ref/Novel|SaS|Chapter=1}}

==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Silver Timeline===
{{Main|Silver Timeline}}
{{Notice/Silver|category=no}}
As a child, [[Makee]] was discovered on [[Oban]] by two [[Sangheili]] warriors who were using a Luminary to search for a Forerunner artifact. Instead, the Luminary proved to be leading them to Makee herself, a [[Reclaimer]].{{Ref/Film|TV|Episode=[[Emergence]]}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H2A Terminals - Meridian Relic.jpg|A Luminary found on [[Meridian]].
File:H2A Terminals - Stewards.jpg|[[Steward]]s present a Luminary.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Wars]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' 
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
**''[[Emergence]]''
**''[[Reckoning]]''

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

{{Forerunner|artifacts}}

[[Category:Sensors]]
[[Category:Covenant technology]]
[[Category:Forerunner technology]]