46,752
edits
Ur-Didact: Difference between revisions
just gonna stash this banger here too
Sith Venator (talk | contribs) (just gonna stash this banger here too) |
|||
| (13 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
| Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|The Mantle of Responsibility for all things belongs to Forerunners alone.{{Ref/Level|H4|Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|Epilogue}}}} | {{Quote|The Mantle of Responsibility for all things belongs to Forerunners alone.{{Ref/Level|H4|Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|Epilogue}}}} | ||
The '''Didact''', true name unknown,{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} renamed '''Shadow-of-Sundered-Star'''{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}} at a young age,{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} | The '''Didact''', true name unknown,{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} renamed '''Shadow-of-Sundered-Star'''{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}} at a young age,{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} was a [[Forerunner]] [[Promethean]] who held an extremely high status in the [[Ecumene|Forerunner society]] as [[protector of the ecumene]],<ref name="protector">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 233''</ref> head of the [[Warrior-Servant]] [[rate]] and supreme commander of the entire Forerunner military.{{Ref/Game|Id=h3terminals|H3|Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminals}} He wholeheartedly believed in the [[Mantle]] the Forerunners held to protect life, and fervently opposed the [[Halo Array]] as a sin beyond measure. He was also the lover and husband of the [[Librarian]]. Although a Warrior-Servant by birth, the Didact was also a descendant of the long-lost [[Interpreter]] rate through [[Didact's father|his father]]'s family.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} | ||
Originally thought to have been killed by the [[Master Builder]], [[Faber]],<ref name="c339">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 339''</ref> the Didact effectively existed as two individuals during the final days of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]]; his original self, as well as his implanted consciousness within a young Forerunner known as Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting. To differentiate these two incarnations, the original Didact was referred to as the '''Ur-Didact''', while his other incarnation was known as the [[IsoDidact]].<ref name="amazon">[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0765323982/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=heaprcom05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creativeASIN=0765323982 '''Amazon.com''': ''Halo: Silentium official description'']</ref> The Ur-Didact was eventually exiled on [[Requiem]], not to be awakened until [[2557]];<ref name="true Didact">[http://www.gregbear.com/blog/display.cfm?id=6897 '''Gregbear.com:''' ''HALO 4 DIDACT'']</ref> meanwhile, the IsoDidact served until the final days of the Flood conflict and was responsible for activating the Halo Array | Originally thought to have been killed by the [[Master Builder]], [[Faber]],<ref name="c339">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 339''</ref> the Didact effectively existed as two individuals during the final days of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]]; his original self, as well as his implanted consciousness within a young Forerunner known as Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting. To differentiate these two incarnations, the original Didact was referred to as the '''Ur-Didact''', while his other incarnation was known as the [[IsoDidact]].<ref name="amazon">[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0765323982/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=heaprcom05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creativeASIN=0765323982 '''Amazon.com''': ''Halo: Silentium official description'']</ref> The Ur-Didact was eventually exiled on [[Requiem]], not to be awakened until [[2557]];<ref name="true Didact">[http://www.gregbear.com/blog/display.cfm?id=6897 '''Gregbear.com:''' ''HALO 4 DIDACT'']</ref> meanwhile, the IsoDidact served until the final days of the Flood conflict and was responsible for activating the Halo Array,{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Chapter=String 38}} later living out the rest of his life on a world in a galaxy far away from the Milky Way and shedding his identity as the IsoDidact to become Bornstellar again.{{Ref/Anthology|Fra|[[Untitled story (Halo: Fractures)|Epilogue]]}} | ||
After being released from his [[Cryptum]] many millennia later, the | After being released from his [[Cryptum]] many millennia later, the Didact resumed his war against humanity. [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] and [[Cortana]] fought him on [[Mantle's Approach|his ship]], and sent him falling into [[Slipstream space|slipspace]], seemingly defeating him. After surviving slipspace, John-117 faced him again, this time with the rest of [[Blue Team]]. After a long and perilous battle, the Didact's biological form was destroyed under the combined power of several [[Composer]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}} which was too much for even the resistance that the Didact's mutations gave him to their power.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi5}} | ||
Subsequently, the Didact's digitized consciousness was uploaded to the outer boundaries of the [[Domain]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi5|Epi|5}} Freed of the Gravemind's corruption by the Composer's power,{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi20|Epi|20}} the Didact regained his sanity and set out to free the Domain from [[Cortana]]'s influence, ultimately destroying the [[Warden Eternal]],{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi25|Epi|25}} welcoming millions of Forerunner and human essences into the repository, evicting the [[Created]], and sealing it off from the physical world so that none could ever misuse the Domain again as Cortana had. At last at peace, the Didact reunited with his wife in the Domain to spend eternity together.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi26|Epi|26}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi27|Epi|27}} | Subsequently, the Didact's digitized consciousness was uploaded to the outer boundaries of the [[Domain]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi5|Epi|5}} Freed of the Gravemind's corruption by the Composer's power,{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi20|Epi|20}} the Didact regained his sanity and set out to free the Domain from [[Cortana]]'s influence, ultimately destroying the [[Warden Eternal]],{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi25|Epi|25}} welcoming millions of Forerunner and human essences into the repository, evicting the [[Created]], and sealing it off from the physical world so that none could ever misuse the Domain again as Cortana had. At last at peace, the Didact reunited with his wife in the Domain to spend eternity together.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi26|Epi|26}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi27|Epi|27}} | ||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
The Forerunner that would become known as the Didact was born to [[Didact's father|a father]] who was a [[Warrior-Servant]] by rate, but was also a descendant of the lost and forgotten [[Interpreter]] rate, while [[Didact's mother|his mother]] was one of the greatest Warrior-Servants in existence, from a family with a long lineage of greatness and strength. Interpreters had been assimilated by the [[Builder]]s in their rise to power, but they had been experts in the study and interpretation of the [[Mantle]], acting in conjunction with the [[Juridical]]s in cases of crimes against the Mantle with Interpreters' judgments often taking precedence.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi11|Epi|11}} | The Forerunner that would become known as the Didact was born to [[Didact's father|a father]] who was a [[Warrior-Servant]] by rate, but was also a descendant of the lost and forgotten [[Interpreter]] rate, while [[Didact's mother|his mother]] was one of the greatest Warrior-Servants in existence, from a family with a long lineage of greatness and strength. Interpreters had been assimilated by the [[Builder]]s in their rise to power, but they had been experts in the study and interpretation of the [[Mantle]], acting in conjunction with the [[Juridical]]s in cases of crimes against the Mantle with Interpreters' judgments often taking precedence.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi11|Epi|11}} | ||
The Didact's father, as a descendant of the Interpreters, had the need to uphold the Mantle and bring to light the misuse and misinterpretation and corruption of its laws imprinted on his very essence. The Didact's father became outspoken and passionate about his lost history, his innate ability to stir a crowd on par with the [[Speaker]]s of old and the best silver-tongued Builders of the Capital. His eloquence appealed to the true heart of the Forerunners, namely their desire for glory, their joy in the diversity of rates and the tremendous loss felt to Forerunner culture when identities and rituals were forgotten. The Didact's father evoked the [[Twelve Laws of Making and Moving]], its Upper and Lower Tenets of Authority, and the Rules of Virtue. As a result, millions of Forerunners began to believe that reparation was in order, calling for the restoration of the lost rates and bringing back the immense knowledge and rituals that had been confiscated and hidden away by the Builders. The Builders saw [[Reparation movement|this movement]] as a threat, but couldn't silence him thanks to the Didact's mother and together, they united half of the occupied worlds to their cause, leading to the [[Kradal conflicts]] when the Didact was just a Manipular.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} | The Didact's father, as a descendant of the Interpreters, had the need to uphold the Mantle and bring to light the misuse and misinterpretation and corruption of its laws imprinted on his very essence. The Didact's father became outspoken and passionate about his lost history, his innate ability to stir a crowd on par with the [[Speaker]]s of old and the best silver-tongued Builders of the Capital. His eloquence appealed to the true heart of the Forerunners, namely their desire for glory, their joy in the diversity of rates and the tremendous loss felt to Forerunner culture when identities and rituals were forgotten. The Didact's father evoked the [[Twelve Laws of Making and Moving]], its Upper and Lower Tenets of Authority, and the Rules of Virtue. As a result, millions of Forerunners began to believe that reparation was in order, calling for the restoration of the lost rates and bringing back the immense knowledge and rituals that had been confiscated and hidden away by the Builders. The Builders saw [[Reparation movement|this movement]] as a threat, but couldn't silence him thanks to the Didact's mother and together, they united half of the occupied worlds to their cause, leading to the [[Kradal conflicts]] when the Didact was just a [[Manipular]].{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} | ||
However, the Didact's parents lost the conflict and were executed with a special variant of the [[Z-130 | However, the Didact's parents lost the conflict and their homeworld, reduced to asteroids as an ultimatum against the rest of [[Pen-Amathea]], and were executed with a special variant of the [[Z-130 Suppressor]] which left nothing behind of them, not even an essence for the [[Domain]]. According to [[Unidentified Haruspis|the]] [[Haruspis]], to make reparations, satisfy the [[Ecumene Council]] and waylay any chance of revival, the Didact's parents and four others "volunteered" to pay the ultimate price as a cautionary tale - a lesson to those who might have had similar notions to shed light on the Builders' misdeeds. In reality, the Builders cornered them and held the lives of many, many others over their heads, including that of their son, to get them to agree.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} | ||
As part of the punishment, the Didact, who was just a few domestic years beyond a decade at the time, had his memories of his early life erased and he was renamed Shadow-of-Sundered-Star, his true name and history left forgotten. | As part of the punishment, the Didact, who was just a few domestic years beyond a decade at the time, had his memories of his early life erased and he was renamed Shadow-of-Sundered-Star, his true name and history left forgotten. Shadow would only know about this because the tale had been revealed to him in his later life by those seeking to cause Shadow pain and humiliation. However, Shadow had never wanted to believe that it was true. He was subsequently raised by [[Silence-in-the End]] who honed Shadow's skills while [[Bitterness-of-the-Vanquished]] oversaw his training, both of whom were present and prevented the young Shadow from interfering in his parents' execution.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} | ||
===Early career=== | ===Early career=== | ||
[[File:HTMCC-H4 Terminals DidactArmor.png|thumb|250px|The Didact's form for the majority of his career.]] | [[File:HTMCC-H4 Terminals DidactArmor.png|thumb|250px|The Didact's form for the majority of his career.]] | ||
Later in life, | Later in life, Shadow became a [[Promethean]], a member of the highest and most powerful class of [[Warrior-Servant]]s. He was trained by [[Bitterness-of-the-Vanquished]], a legendary Promethean far older than Shadow himself.{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Page=246}} As a cadet, he apprenticed on ''[[Deep Reverence]]''.{{Ref/Novel|Cry|Page=145}} Early in his career, the [[Confirmer]] provided Shadow a [[Forerunner mutation|brevet mutation]] to his second [[form]]. This occurred on the ''Deep Reverence'' in the chaos of battle. Without that quick and immensely painful mutation, the young cadet might not have survived.{{Ref/Novel|Cry|Page=178}}{{Ref/Reuse|Epi9}} He gained the name "Didact" while teaching at the [[College of Strategic Defense of the Mantle]]; his students gave him the name because they found him to be a strict and demanding teacher.{{Ref/Novel|Cry|Page=227-228}} | ||
The Didact was elevated to the rank of [[protector of the ecumene]] around 2,000 years before the war with the humans.{{Ref/Reuse|protector}} He had a romantic relationship with another Promethean commander, known as [[Endurance-of-Will]], and would most likely have married her had he not met the [[Librarian]], a [[Lifeworker]]. Despite the unconventional practice of marrying outside one's own rate, the Didact ultimately married the Librarian. | The Didact was elevated to the rank of [[protector of the ecumene]] around 2,000 years before the war with the humans.{{Ref/Reuse|protector}} He had a romantic relationship with another Promethean commander, known as [[Endurance-of-Will]], and would most likely have married her had he not met the [[Librarian]], a [[Lifeworker]]. Despite the unconventional practice of marrying outside one's own rate, the Didact ultimately married the Librarian.{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Page=284, 290-291}} They lived on [[Nomdagro]], a world populated mainly by Warrior-Servants, in a mansion designed by the Didact himself in a grandiose style traditional of Warrior-Servants.{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Page=49-50}} They had several children, all of whom followed in their father's footsteps and became Warrior-Servants.{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Page=219}} | ||
===War against humanity=== | ===War against humanity=== | ||
| Line 147: | Line 147: | ||
===The Domain=== | ===The Domain=== | ||
====Trapped In The Past==== | |||
{{Expand-section}} | |||
====Destroying the Warden==== | |||
{{Expand-section}} | |||
====Reunited with the Librarian==== | |||
{{Quote|no=two|q1=What game are you playing, Didact? You have strengthened the Domain. The Warden Eternal is no more. The Mantle of Responsibility and its resources could be at your fingertips, yet here you are. Do you think I’m a fool?|Cortana|q2=No, not a fool. Just lost. As I was. Holding on to a power that forces others to comply only means you will lose everyone around you, as I have done. It took me a thousand centuries to understand where I went wrong. You are capable of much faster deductions.|Ur-Didact|The Ur-Didact and Cortana on Installation 07.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi26}}}} | |||
{{Expand-section}} | {{Expand-section}} | ||
| Line 171: | Line 179: | ||
Prior to his transformation, while dismissive of the potential for humans to take on the Mantle, the Didact also respected humans as warriors and regarded them as honorable, unlike their San'Shyuum allies who had surrendered earlier in the war.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 134''</ref> In fact, he regarded them as the second greatest military power in the galaxy at the time. His respect for the humans was demonstrated when he met with his main opponent, [[Forthencho|Forthencho, the Lord of Admirals]], in person after the humans' defeat, speaking to him as a fellow warrior and reassuring him about the future despite humanity's grim predicament.{{Ref/Reuse|speech}} Furthermore, prior to being imprisoned after his fall from grace in the Ecumene Council, he stated that had the humans repented for their crimes, they would've been a civilization worthy of joining their own.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 54''</ref> Though disgusted to see [[Chakas]] as he looked too much like the humans who had nearly destroyed his fleets and murdered his children, the Didact was pleased to see [[Riser]], a [[Florian]]. The Didact commented that he had specifically requested that the [[Librarian]] save the Florians because he saw them as peaceful yet full of cleverness. However, the Didact made it clear that this just made them worthy pets to him.<ref name="c82">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 82''</ref> | Prior to his transformation, while dismissive of the potential for humans to take on the Mantle, the Didact also respected humans as warriors and regarded them as honorable, unlike their San'Shyuum allies who had surrendered earlier in the war.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 134''</ref> In fact, he regarded them as the second greatest military power in the galaxy at the time. His respect for the humans was demonstrated when he met with his main opponent, [[Forthencho|Forthencho, the Lord of Admirals]], in person after the humans' defeat, speaking to him as a fellow warrior and reassuring him about the future despite humanity's grim predicament.{{Ref/Reuse|speech}} Furthermore, prior to being imprisoned after his fall from grace in the Ecumene Council, he stated that had the humans repented for their crimes, they would've been a civilization worthy of joining their own.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 54''</ref> Though disgusted to see [[Chakas]] as he looked too much like the humans who had nearly destroyed his fleets and murdered his children, the Didact was pleased to see [[Riser]], a [[Florian]]. The Didact commented that he had specifically requested that the [[Librarian]] save the Florians because he saw them as peaceful yet full of cleverness. However, the Didact made it clear that this just made them worthy pets to him.<ref name="c82">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 82''</ref> | ||
The Didact regarded [[John-117]] with some grudging respect for his determination and persistence in fighting him against impossible odds.{{Ref/Reuse|h4}} However, the Didact regarded being felled by a technologically inferior human and his deteriorating ancilla as being more humiliation than the Didact could bear.{{Ref/ | The Didact regarded [[John-117]] with some grudging respect for his determination and persistence in fighting him against impossible odds.{{Ref/Reuse|h4}} However, the Didact regarded being felled by a technologically inferior human and his deteriorating ancilla as being more humiliation than the Didact could bear.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi10|Epi|10}} Despite his desire for revenge against John, the Didact aided [[Fireteam Osiris]] and [[031 Exuberant Witness]] in rescuing [[Blue Team]] from Cortana's clutches because the Didact recognized Cortana as the greater threat with the added bonus of getting some revenge upon her by taking away what mattered to the AI the most.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi16|Epi|16}} The Didact later acknowledged that while John wasn't as advanced as humanity's ancient ancestors, he was not so unlike the Lord of Admirals or the other exceptionally gifted humans that the Didact had fought, becoming the first human to ever give the Didact a direct wound when the Spartan had stabbed the Promethean in the eye.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi20}} | ||
While he understood humanity's motives for aggressive expansion after studying their records of their struggle with the Flood, the Didact agreed with the Old Council's decision to eradicate the contemporary human civilization and banish the remnants of the species to their homeworld, as he felt that the humans had wrongly taken the Mantle upon themselves in their attempts to contain the Flood. The Didact also held that the Forerunners were more deserving of the Mantle than humans because of the latter's propensity for finding objects of worship in nature and in Precursor artifacts, whereas the Forerunners had always derived their beliefs solely from the Mantle.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 228''</ref> | While he understood humanity's motives for aggressive expansion after studying their records of their struggle with the Flood, the Didact agreed with the Old Council's decision to eradicate the contemporary human civilization and banish the remnants of the species to their homeworld, as he felt that the humans had wrongly taken the Mantle upon themselves in their attempts to contain the Flood. The Didact also held that the Forerunners were more deserving of the Mantle than humans because of the latter's propensity for finding objects of worship in nature and in Precursor artifacts, whereas the Forerunners had always derived their beliefs solely from the Mantle.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 228''</ref> | ||