Forerunner: Difference between revisions

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The Forerunners were a bipedal species resembling humans in overall shape, though they were larger in stature. Over the course of their lives, Forerunners underwent a number of [[Forerunner mutations|artificially-induced mutations]], modifying their bodies to better suit the field of work of their [[rate]]. More specific aspects of their appearance varied with lineage, age and even personal tastes.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint forerunner}} They relied heavily on [[Forerunner personal armor|personal body-assist armor]] which, in addition to protecting the wearer from harm, augmented their physiology and mental faculties. Among many other advantages, it made their lifespans virtually indefinite by providing constant life support and medical care.<ref name="c47">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 47-48''</ref>{{Ref/Note|It is never directly stated that the Forerunners' armor granted them truly indefinite lifespans, although this can be inferred from several statements in ''The Forerunner Saga''. In ''Halo: Cryptum'', Bornstellar notes that Forerunners died only on rare occasions, usually by accident or during war (''Cryptum'', page 47). In ''Halo: Silentium'', the Librarian mentions having visited the collection of a former [[Theoretical]] on [[Keth Sidon]] (''Silentium'', page 67); since the Theoretical rate was dissolved a million years earlier, the former Theoretical would have been at least a million years old at the time, although it is not explicitly stated that the Theoretical in question was still alive.<br>Nonetheless, ''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide'' asserts that the Composers were originally designed to transfer old essences into youthful bodies. While this may seem rather trivial given the Forerunners' effective immortality, it is known that older members of the species (such as the [[Confirmer]]) could become significantly disfigured with age. [https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/tech/composer The Composer entry on Halo Waypoint] reiterates ''The Essential Visual Guide''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s statement and further reveals that composed essences may have been integrated into the Domain, granting them true permanence.}}

Before their first mutation, as [[Manipular]]s, Forerunners were tall and slender, and possessed patches of fine, purple-pink or white fur on the top of their heads, along their nape and shoulder area, as well as the backs of their hands.<ref name="prim33">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 33-34''</ref> Their facial features were similar to those of humanity, and they were capable of making analogous expressions, but this changed as they mutated to their higher forms, which characteristically had stiffer facial muscles and a more limited ability to convey emotions.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 28''</ref> There was also a cultural stigma associated with expressing emotions; while even certain higher forms were capable of producing some semblance of a smile or laughter, for example, such uncontrolled display of emotions was regarded as barbaric.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 89''</ref> Unlike humans, Forerunners lacked pronounced noses or ears, having two ~~slitted~~ nostrils and a set of bulbous protrusions instead.{{Ref/Reuse|halo 4}} Their skulls otherwise bore a very strong resemblance to those of humans, with subtle differences. The Forerunners also had a genetic code that was remarkably similar to humans, though they were not known to be genetically related.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 26''</ref> However the defunct Theoretical rate of the Forerunners own studies of human and Forerunner origins concluded that humanity share a genetic structure homogeneous to the Forerunners.<ref>'''Halo: Point of Light''', ''page 18''</ref>

Before their first mutation, as [[Manipular]]s, Forerunners were tall and slender, and possessed patches of fine, purple-pink or white fur on the top of their heads, along their nape and shoulder area, as well as the backs of their hands.<ref name="prim33">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 33-34''</ref> Their facial features were similar to those of humanity, and they were capable of making analogous expressions, but this changed as they mutated to their higher forms, which characteristically had stiffer facial muscles and a more limited ability to convey emotions.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 28''</ref> There was also a cultural stigma associated with expressing emotions; while even certain higher forms were capable of producing some semblance of a smile or laughter, for example, such uncontrolled display of emotions was regarded as barbaric.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 89''</ref> Unlike humans, Forerunners lacked pronounced noses or ears, having two slited nostrils and a set of bulbous protrusions instead.{{Ref/Reuse|halo 4}} Their skulls otherwise bore a very strong resemblance to those of humans, with subtle differences. The Forerunners also had a genetic code that was remarkably similar to humans, though they were not known to be genetically related.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 26''</ref> However the defunct Theoretical rate of the Forerunners own studies of human and Forerunner origins concluded that humanity share a genetic structure homogeneous to the Forerunners.<ref>'''Halo: Point of Light''', ''page 18''</ref>

The Forerunners exhibited sexual dimorphism largely mirroring that of humans, with the females being more slender and somewhat smaller in stature than the males. The height of higher-form males ranged from around three to four meters; for example, the [[Ur-Didact]] was three and a half meters tall,<ref name="evgdidact">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 16''</ref> while [[Wise-Hands-to-Forge]], a high-ranking Builder, was around four meters. [[Maker-of-Moons]], a female Builder of the same social standing, was just over two meters in height,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 224-225''</ref> while the [[Librarian]], head of the Lifeworker rate, was nearly three meters tall.<ref>'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 17''</ref> Males of higher forms also bore less resemblance to humans, while the females appear to have been more human-like in appearance.{{Ref/Reuse|prim33}} A large portion of this dimorphism was artificially induced with their mutations and determined by rate.<ref name="sil141">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 141''</ref>

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 The Forerunners were a bipedal species resembling humans in overall shape, though they were larger in stature. Over the course of their lives, Forerunners underwent a number of [[Forerunner mutations|artificially-induced mutations]], modifying their bodies to better suit the field of work of their [[rate]]. More specific aspects of their appearance varied with lineage, age and even personal tastes.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint forerunner}} They relied heavily on [[Forerunner personal armor|personal body-assist armor]] which, in addition to protecting the wearer from harm, augmented their physiology and mental faculties. Among many other advantages, it made their lifespans virtually indefinite by providing constant life support and medical care.<ref name="c47">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 47-48''</ref>{{Ref/Note|It is never directly stated that the Forerunners' armor granted them truly indefinite lifespans, although this can be inferred from several statements in ''The Forerunner Saga''. In ''Halo: Cryptum'', Bornstellar notes that Forerunners died only on rare occasions, usually by accident or during war (''Cryptum'', page 47). In ''Halo: Silentium'', the Librarian mentions having visited the collection of a former [[Theoretical]] on [[Keth Sidon]] (''Silentium'', page 67); since the Theoretical rate was dissolved a million years earlier, the former Theoretical would have been at least a million years old at the time, although it is not explicitly stated that the Theoretical in question was still alive.<br>Nonetheless, ''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide'' asserts that the Composers were originally designed to transfer old essences into youthful bodies. While this may seem rather trivial given the Forerunners' effective immortality, it is known that older members of the species (such as the [[Confirmer]]) could become significantly disfigured with age. [https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/tech/composer The Composer entry on Halo Waypoint] reiterates ''The Essential Visual Guide''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s statement and further reveals that composed essences may have been integrated into the Domain, granting them true permanence.}}
-Before their first mutation, as [[Manipular]]s, Forerunners were tall and slender, and possessed patches of fine, purple-pink or white fur on the top of their heads, along their nape and shoulder area, as well as the backs of their hands.<ref name="prim33">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 33-34''</ref> Their facial features were similar to those of humanity, and they were capable of making analogous expressions, but this changed as they mutated to their higher forms, which characteristically had stiffer facial muscles and a more limited ability to convey emotions.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 28''</ref> There was also a cultural stigma associated with expressing emotions; while even certain higher forms were capable of producing some semblance of a smile or laughter, for example, such uncontrolled display of emotions was regarded as barbaric.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 89''</ref> Unlike humans, Forerunners lacked pronounced noses or ears, having two slitted nostrils and a set of bulbous protrusions instead.{{Ref/Reuse|halo 4}} Their skulls otherwise bore a very strong resemblance to those of humans, with subtle differences. The Forerunners also had a genetic code that was remarkably similar to humans, though they were not known to be genetically related.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 26''</ref> However the defunct Theoretical rate of the Forerunners own studies of human and Forerunner origins concluded that humanity share a genetic structure homogeneous to the Forerunners.<ref>'''Halo: Point of Light''', ''page 18''</ref>
+Before their first mutation, as [[Manipular]]s, Forerunners were tall and slender, and possessed patches of fine, purple-pink or white fur on the top of their heads, along their nape and shoulder area, as well as the backs of their hands.<ref name="prim33">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 33-34''</ref> Their facial features were similar to those of humanity, and they were capable of making analogous expressions, but this changed as they mutated to their higher forms, which characteristically had stiffer facial muscles and a more limited ability to convey emotions.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 28''</ref> There was also a cultural stigma associated with expressing emotions; while even certain higher forms were capable of producing some semblance of a smile or laughter, for example, such uncontrolled display of emotions was regarded as barbaric.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 89''</ref> Unlike humans, Forerunners lacked pronounced noses or ears, having two slited nostrils and a set of bulbous protrusions instead.{{Ref/Reuse|halo 4}} Their skulls otherwise bore a very strong resemblance to those of humans, with subtle differences. The Forerunners also had a genetic code that was remarkably similar to humans, though they were not known to be genetically related.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 26''</ref> However the defunct Theoretical rate of the Forerunners own studies of human and Forerunner origins concluded that humanity share a genetic structure homogeneous to the Forerunners.<ref>'''Halo: Point of Light''', ''page 18''</ref>
 The Forerunners exhibited sexual dimorphism largely mirroring that of humans, with the females being more slender and somewhat smaller in stature than the males. The height of higher-form males ranged from around three to four meters; for example, the [[Ur-Didact]] was three and a half meters tall,<ref name="evgdidact">'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 16''</ref> while [[Wise-Hands-to-Forge]], a high-ranking Builder, was around four meters. [[Maker-of-Moons]], a female Builder of the same social standing, was just over two meters in height,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 224-225''</ref> while the [[Librarian]], head of the Lifeworker rate, was nearly three meters tall.<ref>'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 17''</ref> Males of higher forms also bore less resemblance to humans, while the females appear to have been more human-like in appearance.{{Ref/Reuse|prim33}} A large portion of this dimorphism was artificially induced with their mutations and determined by rate.<ref name="sil141">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 141''</ref>