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Forerunner: Difference between revisions
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{{Quote|We are Forerunners, guardians of all that exists. The roots of the galaxy have grown deep under our careful tending. Where there is life, the wisdom of our countless generations has saturated the soil. Our strength is a luminous sun towards which all intelligence blossoms. And the impervious shelter beneath which it has prospered.|The [[Ur-Didact]], giving a speech on the purpose of the [[Mantle]].}} | {{Quote|We are Forerunners, guardians of all that exists. The roots of the galaxy have grown deep under our careful tending. Where there is life, the wisdom of our countless generations has saturated the soil. Our strength is a luminous sun towards which all intelligence blossoms. And the impervious shelter beneath which it has prospered.|The [[Ur-Didact]], giving a speech on the purpose of the [[Mantle]].}} | ||
The '''Forerunners''' were an ancient species of [[Technological Achievement Tiers#Tier 1: World Builders|technologically advanced]] beings whose empire | The '''Forerunners''' were an ancient species of [[Technological Achievement Tiers#Tier 1: World Builders|technologically advanced]] beings whose empire — known as the [[ecumene]] — encompassed three million fertile worlds in the [[Milky Way|Milky Way Galaxy]].<ref name="cryptum">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 9''</ref> The Forerunners reigned for countless millennia as the ascendant civilization in the galaxy until the firing of the [[Halo Array]], their Pyrrhic solution to halt the parasitic [[Flood]], in [[100,000 BCE]]. Even though the Forerunners themselves disappeared, evidence of their former presence remained across the galaxy in the form of numerous installations, structures and artifacts. | ||
The Forerunners had taken up a role as custodians of the galaxy, and believed that this "[[Mantle]]" had been passed down to them by the [[Precursor]]s, an even more powerful race that preceded the Forerunner civilization.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''Epilogue''</ref> "Forerunner" is a literal translation of the species' name for themselves; they identified themselves as such because they believed that they held an impermanent place in the universe's [[Living Time]] and that they would be succeeded by other, superior races.<ref> '''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 31''</ref> Before their disappearance from the galaxy, the Forerunners would name [[human]]ity their successors, identifying them with the title "[[Reclaimer]]". | The Forerunners had taken up a role as custodians of the galaxy, and believed that this "[[Mantle]]" had been passed down to them by the [[Precursor]]s, an even more powerful race that preceded the Forerunner civilization.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''Epilogue''</ref> "Forerunner" is a literal translation of the species' name for themselves; they identified themselves as such because they believed that they held an impermanent place in the universe's [[Living Time]] and that they would be succeeded by other, superior races.<ref> '''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 31''</ref> Before their disappearance from the galaxy, the Forerunners would name [[human]]ity their successors, identifying them with the title "[[Reclaimer]]". | ||
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Forerunner spacecraft used special [[Slipspace flake|crystals]] embedded in their [[slipspace drive]]s to travel through slipspace. In order to move through ordinary space, they utilized [[reaction drive]]s which harnessed virtual particles as a propulsive force; however, they still required the use of onboard reaction mass.<ref name="c124">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 124''</ref> The reaction drive of a mere automated cargo transport allowed travel from Edom to Erde-Tyrene, (a distance of 100 million kilometers circa 100,000 BCE), within forty-eight hours; this was considered a mundane trip that did not warrant slipspace manipulation.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 19 and 20''</ref> In addition, the Forerunners created a network of [[slipspace portal]]s for high-traffic slipspace transit across the galaxy.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 200''</ref> Aboard starships, limited inertial dampening was achieved through the use of buffer fields,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 114''</ref> but during extreme acceleration, the occupants' armors had to be locked to the deck.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 129''</ref> | Forerunner spacecraft used special [[Slipspace flake|crystals]] embedded in their [[slipspace drive]]s to travel through slipspace. In order to move through ordinary space, they utilized [[reaction drive]]s which harnessed virtual particles as a propulsive force; however, they still required the use of onboard reaction mass.<ref name="c124">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 124''</ref> The reaction drive of a mere automated cargo transport allowed travel from Edom to Erde-Tyrene, (a distance of 100 million kilometers circa 100,000 BCE), within forty-eight hours; this was considered a mundane trip that did not warrant slipspace manipulation.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 19 and 20''</ref> In addition, the Forerunners created a network of [[slipspace portal]]s for high-traffic slipspace transit across the galaxy.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 200''</ref> Aboard starships, limited inertial dampening was achieved through the use of buffer fields,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 114''</ref> but during extreme acceleration, the occupants' armors had to be locked to the deck.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 129''</ref> | ||
Forerunner warships could be enormous in scale; the most recent models of [[Fortress-class vessel]] were around a hundred kilometers in length,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 312''</ref> while the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]'s personal command vessel, ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'', was 341 kilometers in height and was even then surpassed in size by the largest Forerunner ships.<ref>'''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 193''</ref> | Forerunner warships could be enormous in scale; the most recent models of [[Fortress-class vessel]] were around a hundred kilometers in length,<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 312''</ref> while the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]'s personal command vessel, ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'', was 341 kilometers in height and was even then surpassed in size by the largest Forerunner ships.<ref name="h4evg193">'''Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 193''</ref> | ||
The interiors of all Forerunner ships were not entirely composed of matter; for example, the structure of a [[planet-breaker]] was only half matter, with one third being fuel and reaction mass and the rest being comprised of [[hard light]], allowing the captain to configure the ship's internal layout and decoration at will. At least some types of Forerunner craft can alter their geometry to better suit their current situation; for example, making the ship more aerodynamic in preparation for surface landing.<ref name="c124"/> | The interiors of all Forerunner ships were not entirely composed of matter; for example, the structure of a [[planet-breaker]] was only half matter, with one third being fuel and reaction mass and the rest being comprised of [[hard light]], allowing the captain to configure the ship's internal layout and decoration at will. At least some types of Forerunner craft can alter their geometry to better suit their current situation; for example, making the ship more aerodynamic in preparation for surface landing.<ref name="c124"/> | ||
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While the majority of Forerunner buildings are composed of metals and alloys, the Forerunners were also highly skilled at creating stone architecture. Typically, these buildings were built from a pale brown or tan stone.<ref name="ttw"/> These structures were more subject to wear and aging, but their architectural sophistication remains apparent after 100,000 years.<ref>'''Halo 3''', multiplayer map ''[[Sandtrap]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Delta Halo (level)|Delta Halo]]''</ref> Most interestingly, certain Forerunner buildings incorporated "mutable" stonework: [[Temple of the Abiding Truth|a stone Forerunner structure]] in [[Ontom]], [[Sanghelios]] featured passages that could shift and change by literally reshaping the stone from which their walls were built.<ref name="ttw"/> | While the majority of Forerunner buildings are composed of metals and alloys, the Forerunners were also highly skilled at creating stone architecture. Typically, these buildings were built from a pale brown or tan stone.<ref name="ttw"/> These structures were more subject to wear and aging, but their architectural sophistication remains apparent after 100,000 years.<ref>'''Halo 3''', multiplayer map ''[[Sandtrap]]''</ref><ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Delta Halo (level)|Delta Halo]]''</ref> Most interestingly, certain Forerunner buildings incorporated "mutable" stonework: [[Temple of the Abiding Truth|a stone Forerunner structure]] in [[Ontom]], [[Sanghelios]] featured passages that could shift and change by literally reshaping the stone from which their walls were built.<ref name="ttw"/> | ||
In addition to physical structures, a large portion of Forerunner architecture is actually composed of sophisticated [[hard light]] construction. Such architecture is often crafted in the likeness of corporeal matter, most commonly gray Forerunner metal. Hard light structures can form complex shapes and in many cases, be entirely indistinguishable from physical construction,<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 116, 201''</ref> making it difficult to determine which structural components are made up of actual matter.<ref name="halo 4"/> This technology has many uses, from acting as basic structural components such as platforms or walls to decorating and furnishing everything from Forerunner homes and public spaces to starship interiors.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 242''</ref> Many Forerunner structures are capable of materializing when needed and then melting away when deactivated, a feature most likely facilitated through the use of hard light. The immaterial and flexible nature of this technology lends it a great deal of uses, but as a drawback, it is susceptible to power failures | In addition to physical structures, a large portion of Forerunner architecture is actually composed of sophisticated [[hard light]] construction. Such architecture is often crafted in the likeness of corporeal matter, most commonly gray Forerunner metal. Hard light structures can form complex shapes and in many cases, be entirely indistinguishable from physical construction,<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 116, 201''</ref> making it difficult to determine which structural components are made up of actual matter.<ref name="halo 4"/> This technology has many uses, from acting as basic structural components such as platforms or walls to decorating and furnishing everything from Forerunner homes and public spaces to starship interiors.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 242''</ref> Many Forerunner structures are capable of materializing when needed and then melting away when deactivated, a feature most likely facilitated through the use of hard light. The immaterial and flexible nature of this technology lends it a great deal of uses, but as a drawback, it is susceptible to power failures;<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 50''</ref> nonetheless, certain Forerunner ships, such as the command warship ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'', employ hard light bonding as a means of maintaining the vessel's structural integrity.<ref name="h4evg193"/> Some Forerunner structures, including many of those on [[Requiem]], incorporate components which float in the air without any physical support.<ref name="halo 4"/> | ||
Many symbols and patterns on Forerunner structures employ complex geometric shapes that appear to operate in dimensions higher than human understanding can comprehend.<ref name="GoO"/> The Forerunners also decorated the interiors of their structures with a complex pattern of engraved straight lines and applied decorative touches and designs to nearly everything that they built, from structures to weapons. Even Sentinel drones possess small holographic Forerunner script around their "eyes".<ref name="halo 3">'''Halo 3'''</ref> Some Forerunner structures, most prominently those on Requiem, mark bullet holes and other forms of weapon strike points with a small glyph automatically etched around the damaged portion of the surface within moments of the impact.<ref name="halo 4"/> | Many symbols and patterns on Forerunner structures employ complex geometric shapes that appear to operate in dimensions higher than human understanding can comprehend.<ref name="GoO"/> The Forerunners also decorated the interiors of their structures with a complex pattern of engraved straight lines and applied decorative touches and designs to nearly everything that they built, from structures to weapons. Even Sentinel drones possess small holographic Forerunner script around their "eyes".<ref name="halo 3">'''Halo 3'''</ref> Some Forerunner structures, most prominently those on Requiem, mark bullet holes and other forms of weapon strike points with a small glyph automatically etched around the damaged portion of the surface within moments of the impact.<ref name="halo 4"/> | ||