Librarian: Difference between revisions

'''First-Light-Weaves-Living-Song''',{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}} better known as '''the Librarian''', was a highly influential [[Forerunner]] [[Lifeshaper]] and the head of the [[Lifeworker]] [[rate]] for ten thousand years.{{Ref/Novel|Id=cryptum1|Cry|1}} She was married to the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], the [[Promethean]] supreme commander of the Forerunner military.{{Ref/Novel|Id=cryptum|Cry}} During the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], she led the [[Conservation Measure]], which sought to index all species in the galaxy and transport them to [[Greater Ark|the Ark]] and other conservation facilities before the [[Flood]] could reach them or the [[Halo Array|Halo rings]] were fired. Frequently clashing with her husband over the morality of the Array, the Librarian died at the end of the war when the rings were activated, willingly stranding herself on [[Earth]] within range of the Halo effect. She viewed the [[human]] species as having special significance and is responsible for grooming humanity to be the Forerunners' [[Reclaimer|successors]]. 100,000 years after the firing of the Halo Array, the Librarian resurfaced through [[Mind transfer|personality imprints]] to help continue guiding humanity towards the [[Mantle]].

The Librarian enlisted the help of the crew of the ''[[Audacity]]'' to transform a small [[shield world]] in its construction phase, [[Bastion]], and make it what it needed to be to nurture this eventual new species. The Librarian created Bastion to resemble [[Earth]] completely. The Librarian had the starship ''[[Eden (spaceship)|Eden]]'' built to carry the Precursor seeds and blooms to a world outside of the Milky Way galaxy that is ideal for planting and growth and where they can't be reached by the Flood. There, in some distant future, life on the planet would emerge and grow sentient, following the complete genetic code of the Precursors and rebirthing the race. However, they would be utterly free of genetic memory and would be able to build a new civilization with a clean slate. Bastion became the Librarian's secret laboratory away from the Ecumene Council and their rules and regulations containing the Librarian's most dangerous research and experiments. This included studies and experimentation on [[Ancestors|ancient humanity]], the Forerunners and the Precursors, ingenious observation and trials, studies with [[Living Time]], working [[Composer]]s, [[Cryptum]]s and other endless mysteries.{{Ref/Novel|Id=POL|PoL|Chapter=??}}

After [[Installation 07]] was reclaimed from [[Mendicant Bias]] and the [[Primordial]], the Librarian spent time on the ring, creating the new [[Cartographer#Installation 07|Cartographer]], setting the parameters for [[the Monument]] and giving the ancillas new purpose after so much of their original purpose had been lost. While a functional Cartographer existed closer to the surface half a ring away from the Monument, the Librarian created a silent Cartographer at the Monument where she stored the part of the [[coordinate key]]{{Ref/Reuse|PoL16}} that granted access to [[Bastion]],{{Ref/Reuse|PoL38}}{{Ref/Reuse|PoL39}} the ''[[Eden (spaceship)|Eden]]'' and its mission, and unrestricted access and control over the [[shield world]] and its caretakers.{{Ref/Reuse|PoL41}}

The Librarian's worries for the Ur-Didact were proven true during the Flood's assault on the [[greater Ark]], when the Ur-Didact unexpectedly used a [[Composer]] to digitize the population of [[Omega Halo]], which harbored the last major population of humans, relocated from the greater Ark to make room for Forerunner refugees. Outraged and grief-stricken, the Librarian contacted [[Chant-to-Green]] to travel to Erde-Tyrene and gather any remaining humans there and transport them to the [[Installation 00|lesser Ark]]. She also ordered [[343 Guilty Spark|Monitor Chakas]], who had saved a number of humans aboard a [[Gargantua-class transport]], to find the IsoDidact and take him and the humans to the lesser Ark. The Librarian herself headed to [[Requiem]] with the intent of imprisoning the Ur-Didact within a [[Cryptum]], in order to prevent him from causing further harm and to allow him to recover via extended contact with the [[Domain]]. Upon arrival at Requiem, she discovered the Ur-Didact's scheme to use the harvested essences of both humans and Prometheans to build an army of [[Promethean Knight|mechanical warriors]] not only to fight an extended war against the Flood, but also to eradicate all potential threats to Forerunner power.

On her way to the Ur-Didact, however, the Librarian was confronted by [[Endurance-of-Will]], a Promethean and former lover of the Didact. Although Endurance appeared adamant in her support of the Ur-Didact, the Librarian managed to use the Promethean's lingering doubts about the Ur-Didact's state to convince her that the Cryptum was the best solution for him. The Librarian then personally incapacitated the Didact and sealed him within a Cryptum within [[Core of Requiem|Requiem's core]]. With the admission of Endurance-of-Will, the Librarian also [[mind transfer|uploaded an imprint]] of her personality [[Librarian's Rest|within Requiem's systems]] in order to guide future visitors and taking control of the Promethean machines. The Librarian intended for the Didact's mind to heal and cause him to realize the error of his ways while in meditation and hoped that he would take on the role of educating humanity on the Mantle and the Forerunners' mistakes once he awoke.{{Ref/Reuse|h4terminals}} In order to allow humanity to access and reclaim the Forerunners' many technological achievements, the Librarian left the [[Janus Key]] in the possession of her personality impression, intending to give the Key to the Didact once he was ready to accept the responsibility she had planned for him.{{Ref/SpOps|Id=Key|[[Key]]}}

Before the firing of the Array, and unknown to Catalog, the Librarian would record in a coordinate key the key events of her life.{{Ref/Reuse|PoL18}} She would also send, with Catalog's help, a final message to the IsoDidact about a way to restart the Domain.

 

The Librarian perished moments afterward when the IsoDidact activated the Halo Array, wiping out all sentient life in the galaxy.{{Ref/Reuse|s38}}

After the firing of the array, following the Librarian's directions, the ancillas of [[Installation 07|Zeta Halo]] spent centuries gathering the various essences, imprints and damaged submonitors left over from the civil war on the ring and gave them a new home in [[the Monument]]. The ancilla continued keeping watch over the Monument and the lifeforms living on Zeta Halo for the countless eons that followed as per the instructions of the Librarian and the IsoDidact. Their only deviation from these instructions was to purify the ring's atmosphere and end the shroud of mist over it because of the effect that it was having on the [[tullioc]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=PoL15|PoL|15}}

Although the Librarian herself perished on Earth, she left behind a number of [[Mind transfer|essences]], uploaded personality imprints in many ways indistinguishable from her original self. These constructs would later interact with by a number of individuals and continue to facilitate the Librarian's plan over 100,000 years after her physical death.{{Ref/Level|Id=reclaimer|H4|[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=Renegades|Ren}}

The Librarian informed John of the Ur-Didact's plan to use a device called the [[Composer]] to forever imprison all of mankind into digital form. For him to be able to stand against the Didact, she must alter the Master Chief's genetic code, making him immune to the effects of the Composer, to which he agreed. She revealed to the Spartan that she had been guiding mankind throughout the millennia since their [[Reintroduction|reseeding]], providing a blueprint for their evolution, their technological advancement, their [[SPARTAN-II Program|Spartan program]], the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR armor]] and even Cortana; all in an attempt to prepare them for what is to come. The Librarian told the Chief that he was the culmination of all her planning, what she was attempting to create with her actions. The Chief questioned her "Planning for what?" Before she could respond, they were interrupted by the Didact, and the Master Chief was forced to retreat, leaving the Librarian's cryptic warning unanswered.{{Ref/Reuse|reclaimer}} Thanks to the Librarian's actions, when the Didact used the Composer on [[Ivanoff Station]], the Master Chief survived to defeat him and destroy the weapon.

The Librarian had uploaded another essence of herself in [[Kilimanjaro Forerunner complex|a Forerunner complex]] beneath [[Mount Kilimanjaro]], near the site of her death. Following his near-destruction at the conclusion of the [[Human-Covenant War]], [[343 Guilty Spark]] had come to believe that the Librarian was still alive. Salvaged from the ruins of [[Installation 00]] by the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Rubicon}}, the Monitor uploaded his [[personality construct array]] aboard the ''Rubicon'' and set a course for where he believed the Librarian could be found.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=378-379}} However, the mission failed when the ''Rubicon'' crashed on [[Geranos-a]]. Spark was recovered three years later by the [[salvager]] vessel ''[[Ace of Spades]]'' and forged an alliance with the crew to find the Librarian, eventually [[Mission to Mount Kilimanjaro|leading them]] to the Forerunner facility at Mount Kilimanjaro.

In the facility, Spark and the ''Ace of Spades'' crew discovered a [[Lifeworker]] pod. After revealing the truth to [[Rion Forge]] about [[John Forge|her father's]] death, Spark entered the hard light beam containing the pod, where he encountered a personality imprint of the Librarian awakened by Spark's entry. Calling Spark by his human name, the Librarian recognized that she hurt her old friend greatly, but also expressed pride at what he had become. The Librarian revealed the awakening of the [[Ur-Didact]] on [[Requiem]] and her imprint there and expressed her hope that humanity would be able to achieve what the Forerunners could not and warned that darkness was coming from many sides for humanity.

The Librarian realized that Spark wished to raise his old friends and reminded him of what he went through as Chakas while carrying the personality imprint of [[Forthencho]], Lord of Admirals and asked if he would do the same to others to bring back his friends who were now at peace, though she acknowledged that she did the same with Chakas for the greater good. The Librarian assured Spark that his friends were left to live their lives out in peace, their gene song quiet. Spark asked for access to the [[Domain]] where his friends were remembered so that his memory could join them, but the Librarian warned him that they were only echoes now, remembered only through the experience of the Forerunners and nothing more; and the bad lives alongside the good if he went to the Domain.

Spark suggested that the Librarian join him walking amongst the living by using an [[armiger]] body as he did, but she refused, stating it was not yet her time. The Librarian helped Spark to understand that the friends he had been searching for he had found in the crew of the ''Ace of Spades''. The Librarian stated that this personality imprint would go to join her other imprints at the [[Absolute Record]] while humanity must be given the tools to hold the [[Mantle of Responsibility]] as well as the knowledge to tend to the Domain. Though Spark suggested that afterwards would be "[[Bastion]]," he could tell that the Librarian did not believe that she would ever make it there or to anywhere else where she would find rest and peace at last.

With time running out, the Librarian offered Spark two choices: to go with her to the Absolute Record or to remain behind and help his friends. The Librarian offered him a small etched box that she called a key with which he was to "find what's missing. Fix the path. Right what my kind has turned wrong." The Librarian sorrowfully admitted that she believed the Didact to be beyond redemption when asked if he could ever find peace and Spark decided to remain behind, having realized that the Librarian was right and he had found the friends he was searching for all along. The two promised to see each other again in the future before the Librarian's imprint departed for the Absolute Record in a massive pillar of light that shot into the sky.{{Ref/Novel|Ren|48}}

As she left, the Librarian appeared for a moment before the crew of the ''Ace of Spades'' with one look at her causing [[Rion Forge]] to understand Spark's devotion to the Forerunner. With one glance, Rion understood that her feelings towards the Librarian were a genetic disposition built into her very DNA, giving the Librarian a way to be heard, to inspire loyalty and to nudge her children to fulfill their full potential. The Librarian communicated to Rion in that moment the trials ahead, the battles to come, the safe place, the things that needed tending and healing and a message to "take care of him. He is more fragile and important than you could ever know."{{Ref/Novel|Ren|Page=329}}

After their escape, Spark explained that the Librarian gave him a [[coordinate key]] to a safe place, but did not elaborate further upon it. He also admitted that he sought the Librarian to access the Domain and find the ghosts of his friends so that Spark could either bring them back as ''[[geas]]'' or join them.{{Ref/Novel|Ren|Page=325-326}} With several hundred people having witnessed the departure of the Librarian's Lifeworker pod and multiple witnesses to the two humanoid figures inside the hard light beam, ONI realized that Spark had most likely met with an imprint of the Librarian. However, they were unable to determine what she gave to him though they had access to the facility where the imprint was found.{{Ref/Novel|Ren|52}}

In [[2558#August|August 2558]], the ''Ace of Spades'' crew began following the coordinate key that the Librarian had given to Spark. During this time, Rion began interacting in her dreams with the Librarian who told Rion of her own history and her expedition to [[Path Kethona]].{{Ref/Novel|PoL}} Rion came to believe that her dreams were an interactive simulation, either downloaded into her by the Librarian's imprint or, more wildly, a story [[geas|stored within all of humanity]] that had just needed an activation{{Ref/Novel|Id=PoL38|PoL|38}} which, given the timing of Rion's dreams, was likely triggered by Rion's use of the coordinate key at the [[Cartographer#Installation 07|Cartographer]] on [[Installation 07]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=PoL16|PoL|16}} The coordinate key eventually led Spark and Rion to Bastion which proved to be a [[shield world]] built by the Librarian using the template of Earth.{{Ref/Reuse|PoL38}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=PoL39|PoL|39}} Bastion was the Librarian's secret laboratory where she performed her experiments away from the [[Ecumene Council]]'s rules and regulations. Spark and Rion helped [[Keeper-of-Tools]] launch the ''[[Eden (spaceship)|Eden]]''{{Ref/NovelId=PoL41|PoL|41}} and launched Bastion, with Spark as its new caretaker, into a [[slipspace portal]] to keep it out of the hands of the [[Guardian]]s.{{Ref/Novel|Id=PoL42|PoL|42}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=PoL43|PoL|43}} Spark was left astounded by the data left behind about the Librarian's topics of study and experimentation which were described as being broad and breathtaking.{{Ref/Novel|Id=PoLEpilogue|PoL|Chapter=Epilogue}}

She held particularly deep respect for [[human]]ity, whom she viewed as "special" among all of the sentient life she had seen, and felt that it was well worth the sacrifice of her own life to save them. This was due to the belief among Forerunners that humans were also molded in a similar manner to the Forerunners by the [[Precursor]]s, as well as her own view that humanity had proved themselves more worthy of the Mantle than the Forerunners.{{Ref/Reuse|h4terminals}}

{{Quote|I see very clearly how much the Librarian has shaped humanity since the end of the first human-Forerunner war. Whenever you look inward and see an ideal female… whether it be goddess, anima, mother, sister, or lover... For a brief, barely sensible instant, you will see the face and feel the spirit of the Librarian.|343 Guilty Spark{{Ref/Novel|Pri}}}}}}

The Librarian was said to have simple, yet elegant features,{{Ref/Novel|Id=prim347|Pri|Page=347}} and her appearance was very youthful despite her age.{{Ref/Reuse|c338}} She was considered beautiful by both contemporary humans and Forerunners alike,{{Ref/Reuse|prim347}} and one effect of the [[geas]] she imprinted on humanity is that her image became what humans subconsciously view as the ideal female.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=375}} In purely physical terms, however, she was not viewed as perfect by Forerunner standards; rather, it was said that her beauty was more spiritual in nature. Additionally, [[Catalog]] noted that the Librarian's features were unusually human-like in contrast to Forerunners in general; this was likely the result of deliberate self-modification.{{Ref/Novel|Id=sil21|Sil|Page=21-22}} One of these deviations from Forerunner baseline physiology were her five-fingered hands,{{Ref/Game|Id=h4|H4}} as opposed to the six—or in some cases, seven—fingers per hand common among Forerunners. However these were not the result of self-modification but in fact ones she possessed since birth, a topic of discussion and confusion among the Forerunners who knew of it.