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{{Era|Forerunner}}
{{Status|Canon}}
'''Metarchs''' were a class of hyper-advanced [[ancilla]]s created by the [[Forerunners]] to serve the [[Forerunner Council|Council]]. They were so exclusive that only five were in existence at any given time.<ref>'''[[Halo Waypoint]]''': ''[[Halo: Cryptum/Glossary|Halo: Cryptum Glossary]]''</ref> Enormous ancilla networks known as [[metarchy|metarchies]] were coordinated by a metarch.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 281''</ref> The most advanced level of metarch was the [[Contender-class artificial intelligence|Contender-class]], an example of which is [[Mendicant Bias]].<ref name="Wayp">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-gb/universe/characters/mendicant-bias '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Universe'' - ''Mendicant Bias'']</ref>
[[File:HLeg MendicantBias.png|300px|thumb|Mendicant Bias, the most capable Metarch ever created by the Forerunners.]]
'''Metarch-class ancilla''',{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=341}}{{Ref/Site|Id=WaypointMendicant|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/mendicant-bias|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Mendicant Bias|D=27|M=09|Y=2020}} or more simply '''Metarchs''', were a class of hyper-advanced [[ancilla]]s created by the [[Forerunners]] to serve the [[Ecumene Council]], and served to administer significant portions of the [[Ecumene]]'s day-to-day operations.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/the-new-halo-encyclopedia-is-out-today|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=The New Halo Encyclopedia is Out Today|D=11|M=03|Y=2023}} Their exclusive nature meant that by law, only five such examples were ever in existence at any given time.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HC30|HCry|Chapter=30}}{{Ref/Site|Id=CryptumGlossary|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/text/cryptum-glossary/62e29c59-a3f9-4b63-af76-def71fda5459|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Cryptum Glossary|D=14|M=03|Y=2014|LocalArchive=Halo: Cryptum/Glossary}}{{Ref/Book|Id=WFGlossary|HWF|Page=91}}


A ''sub-metarch'' was a class of ancilla below a metarch. These AIs were commonly assigned to [[Forerunner fleet|flotillas]] of several vessels, their intelligence distributed among the ships under their control. While they would only respond to the flotilla's commander,<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 79''</ref> this could be bypassed with the proper verbal override codes. These codes were incredibly complex, consisting of hundreds of random words and numbers.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 82-83''</ref>
As part of their operation, a given Metarch-class ancilla governed an enormous network of lesser ancilla and [[monitor]]s known as a [[Metarchy]].{{Ref/Reuse|WFGlossary}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HC32|HCry|Chapter=32}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HC35|HCry|Chapter=35}} These networks and their commanding Metarchs were tasked with the most large and complicated [[Astroengineering|construction]] projects and were tightly constrained by law.{{Ref/Reuse|HC30}}
 
A ''sub-metarch'' was a class of ancilla below a metarch. These AIs were commonly assigned to [[Forerunner fleet|flotillas]] of several vessels such as [[Raptor]]s,{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=383}} their intelligence distributed among the ships under their control. While they would only respond to the flotilla's commander, this could be bypassed with the proper verbal override codes. These codes were incredibly complex, consisting of hundreds of random words and numbers.{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Chapter=String 5}}
 
During the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], the Forerunners activated a new ancilla known as [[Mendicant Bias]]. At the time of its creation, Mendicant Bias was considered to be the most advanced Metarch ever created, so much so that it existed in a class of its own - the {{Class|Contender|artificial intelligence}}.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HC36|HCry|Chapter=36}}{{Ref/Reuse|WaypointMendicant}} Ultimately, Mendicant Bias turned to a servant of the [[Flood]] during the war, resulting in all Metarch-level ancillas undergoing programming by the Forerunners to remove all traces of Mendicant Bias' corrupting influence from their systems.{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Chapter=String 17}} Flood [[Keymind]]s were considered more than a match for a Metarch's intellect.{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Chapter=String 18}}


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo 3|Terminals]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminals]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
Line 13: Line 18:
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Halo: Rebirth]]''
*''[[Rebirth]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[Promises to Keep]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[Promises to Keep]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{C|Hologram only}}
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
{{Forerunner AI}}
[[Category:Forerunner A.I.| ]]
[[Category:Forerunner A.I.| ]]

Latest revision as of 22:22, April 8, 2024

Mendicant Bias, as depicted by Cortana.
Mendicant Bias, the most capable Metarch ever created by the Forerunners.

Metarch-class ancilla,[1][2] or more simply Metarchs, were a class of hyper-advanced ancillas created by the Forerunners to serve the Ecumene Council, and served to administer significant portions of the Ecumene's day-to-day operations.[3] Their exclusive nature meant that by law, only five such examples were ever in existence at any given time.[4][5][6]

As part of their operation, a given Metarch-class ancilla governed an enormous network of lesser ancilla and monitors known as a Metarchy.[6][7][8] These networks and their commanding Metarchs were tasked with the most large and complicated construction projects and were tightly constrained by law.[4]

A sub-metarch was a class of ancilla below a metarch. These AIs were commonly assigned to flotillas of several vessels such as Raptors,[9] their intelligence distributed among the ships under their control. While they would only respond to the flotilla's commander, this could be bypassed with the proper verbal override codes. These codes were incredibly complex, consisting of hundreds of random words and numbers.[10]

During the Forerunner-Flood war, the Forerunners activated a new ancilla known as Mendicant Bias. At the time of its creation, Mendicant Bias was considered to be the most advanced Metarch ever created, so much so that it existed in a class of its own - the Contender-class artificial intelligence.[11][2] Ultimately, Mendicant Bias turned to a servant of the Flood during the war, resulting in all Metarch-level ancillas undergoing programming by the Forerunners to remove all traces of Mendicant Bias' corrupting influence from their systems.[12] Flood Keyminds were considered more than a match for a Metarch's intellect.[13]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 341
  2. ^ a b Halo Waypoint, Mendicant Bias (Retrieved on Sep 27, 2020) [archive]
  3. ^ Halo Waypoint, The New Halo Encyclopedia is Out Today (Retrieved on Mar 11, 2023) [archive]
  4. ^ a b Halo: Cryptum, chapter 30
  5. ^ Halo Waypoint, Cryptum Glossary (Retrieved on Mar 14, 2014) [local archive] [external archive]
  6. ^ a b Halo: Warfleet, page 91
  7. ^ Halo: Cryptum, chapter 32
  8. ^ Halo: Cryptum, chapter 35
  9. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 383
  10. ^ Halo: Silentium, String 5
  11. ^ Halo: Cryptum, chapter 36
  12. ^ Halo: Silentium, String 17
  13. ^ Halo: Silentium, String 18

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Forerunner ancillae
Other ancillas
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