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Flood: Difference between revisions
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{{quote|One single Flood spore can destroy a species.|[[Rtas 'Vadum]]<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''' level, [[Floodgate]] </ref>}} | {{quote|One single Flood spore can destroy a species.|[[Rtas 'Vadum]]<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''' level, [[Floodgate]] </ref>}} | ||
The '''Flood''', designated as [[LF.Xx.3273 Flood Super Cell|LF.Xx.3273]] by the [[Forerunner]]s ([[Latin]] '''''Inferi redivivus'''''<ref name="bestiarum">''[[Bestiarum]]''</ref> meaning "the dead reincarnated"<ref>[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=865888 '''Halo.Bungie.Org''': Updated and abbreviated list, errors amended]</ref>) and referred to as '''the Parasite'''<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', level ''[[The Heretic]]'': Thel 'Vadamee: ''"Noble Hierarchs, surely you understand that once the parasite attacked-"''</ref> by the [[Covenant]], is a species of highly virulent parasitic organisms that reproduce and grow by consuming sentient life forms of sufficient biomass and cognitive capability. The Flood was responsible for consuming most sentient life in the galaxy, including many [[Forerunner]]s, during the 300-year-long [[Forerunner-Flood war]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', campaign level ''[[Two Betrayals]]'': First cutscene, referenced by [[343 Guilty Spark]]</ref> | The '''Flood''', designated as [[LF.Xx.3273 Flood Super Cell|LF.Xx.3273]] by the [[Forerunner]]s ([[Latin]] '''''Inferi redivivus'''''<ref name="bestiarum">''[[Bestiarum]]''</ref> meaning "the dead reincarnated"<ref>[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=865888 '''Halo.Bungie.Org''': Updated and abbreviated list, errors amended]</ref>) and referred to as '''the Parasite'''<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', level ''[[The Heretic]]'': Thel 'Vadamee: ''"Noble Hierarchs, surely you understand that once the parasite attacked-"''</ref> by the [[Covenant]], is a species of highly virulent parasitic organisms that reproduce and grow by consuming [[sentience|sentient]] life forms of sufficient biomass and cognitive capability. The Flood was responsible for consuming most sentient life in the galaxy, including many [[Forerunner]]s, during the 300-year-long [[Forerunner-Flood war]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''', campaign level ''[[Two Betrayals]]'': First cutscene, referenced by [[343 Guilty Spark]]</ref> | ||
Originating from the [[Path Kethona|Large Magellanic Cloud]],<ref name="sil35">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 35''</ref> the species reproduces and spreads by infecting other organisms, hijacking their bodies and nervous systems in order to transform them into one of many specialized Flood forms. Through infecting sentient life-forms, the Flood assimilates their memories and intelligence, and the species becomes collectively more intelligent as a result. Because of their frighteningly rapid growth rate, as long as enough hosts of sufficient biomass and intelligence are available, the Flood is effectively unstoppable. | Originating from the [[Path Kethona|Large Magellanic Cloud]],<ref name="sil35">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 35''</ref> the species reproduces and spreads by infecting other organisms, hijacking their bodies and nervous systems in order to transform them into one of many specialized Flood forms. Through infecting sentient life-forms, the Flood assimilates their memories and intelligence, and the species becomes collectively more intelligent as a result. Because of their frighteningly rapid growth rate, as long as enough hosts of sufficient biomass and intelligence are available, the Flood is effectively unstoppable. | ||
All Flood forms share a single consciousness, which becomes progressively more intelligent and sophisticated with every sentient host that is assimilated. When enough hosts have been infected, the Flood consciousness becomes a [[Gravemind]] - a self-aware, highly intelligent entity that strategically commands all Flood forms in an outbreak. | All Flood forms share a single consciousness, which becomes progressively more intelligent and sophisticated with every sentient host that is assimilated. When enough hosts have been infected, the Flood consciousness becomes a [[Gravemind]] - a self-aware, highly intelligent entity that strategically commands all Flood forms in an outbreak. In the absence of a Gravemind, the Flood possesses only basic coordination; they are incapable of forming complex strategies, and focus solely on attacking and infecting nearby sentient organisms. This stage of a Flood outbreak is known as the [[Feral Stage]]. At this stage, the Flood seek to create an assembly of biomass, calcium, and nervous system reserves, which leads to the creation of a Flood hive and the beginnings of a [[proto-Gravemind]]. The nature of the Flood's collective consciousness can be likened to a sort of socialist utopia, due to the fact that the Flood act as a unified entity, with no individuality that would be present in other, more traditional species.<ref name="bestiarum"/> Each component of the Flood meta-organism works tirelessly for the advancement of their species. | ||
The Flood presents a highly variable and unconventional threat in combat, as it can infect and mutate dead or captured opponents into a myriad of deadly forms, effectively growing stronger as it weakens enemy forces. They are widely considered to be the greatest threat to the existence of life (or, more accurately, biodiversity) in the [[Milky Way|Milky Way galaxy]]. | The Flood presents a highly variable and unconventional threat in combat, as it can infect and mutate dead or captured opponents into a myriad of deadly forms, effectively growing stronger as it weakens enemy forces. They are widely considered to be the greatest threat to the existence of life (or, more accurately, biodiversity) in the [[Milky Way|Milky Way galaxy]]. | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
===Origins=== | ===Origins=== | ||
{{Quote|We are the last of those who gave you breath and form, millions of years ago. We are the last of those your kind defied and ruthlessly destroyed. We are the last Precursors. And now we are ''legion''.|A [[Gravemind]] to the [[Ur-Didact]] c. 100,000 BCE.}} | {{Quote|Our urge to create is immutable; we must create. But the beings we create shall never again reach out in strength against us. All that is created will suffer. All will be born in suffering, endless grayness shall be their lot. All creation will tailor to failure and pain, that never again shall the offspring of the eternal Fount rise up against their creators. Listen to the silence. Ten million years of deep silence. And now, whimpers and cries; not of birth. That is what we bring: a great crushing weight to press down youth and hope. No more will. No more freedom. Nothing new but agonizing death and never good shall come of it. We are the last of those who gave you breath and form, millions of years ago. We are the last of those your kind defied and ruthlessly destroyed. We are the last Precursors. And now we are ''legion''.|A [[Gravemind]] to the [[Ur-Didact]] c. 100,000 BCE.}} | ||
Millions of years before the Human-Covenant War, a civilization known as the [[Precursor]]s seeded the galaxy with life. Under their guardianship, numerous intelligent species developed and flourished, including the Forerunners and humanity. | Millions of years before the Human-Covenant War, a civilization known as the [[Precursor]]s seeded the galaxy with life. Under their guardianship, numerous intelligent species developed and flourished, including the Forerunners and humanity. After the Precursors judged them to be unworthy successors of the Mantle - the guardianship of all life in the galaxy - the Forerunners staged a [[Forerunner-Precursor war|massive rebellion]] against their creators. | ||
The ensuing conflict ended with the Forerunners successfully wiping out all but a few Precursors.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 335-336''</ref> The few Precursors that escaped from (or were spared by) the Forerunners either went into suspended animation or transmuted themselves into dust that would regenerate into their past forms at a later time. However, over time the dust became defective, creating sickness, disease and biological mutations in other organisms that came into contact with it. With this new form - the earliest stage of the Flood - the Precursors vowed that none of their creations would rise against them again.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''String 13''</ref> | The ensuing conflict ended with the Forerunners successfully wiping out all but a few Precursors.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 335-336''</ref> The few Precursors that escaped from (or were spared by) the Forerunners either went into suspended animation or transmuted themselves into dust that would regenerate into their past forms at a later time. However, over time the dust became defective, creating sickness, disease and biological mutations in other organisms that came into contact with it. With this new form - the earliest stage of the Flood - the Precursors vowed that none of their creations would rise against them again.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''String 13''</ref> | ||