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Warden Eternal: Difference between revisions
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|image=[[File:H5_Warden.png|300px]] | |image=[[File:H5_Warden.png|300px]] | ||
|began= | |began= | ||
|ended=[[2559]] | |ended=[[2559#November|November 2559]] | ||
|gender=Male | |gender=Male | ||
|description= | |description= | ||
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|function=Keeper of the [[Domain]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} | |function=Keeper of the [[Domain]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|I am the Warden Eternal. I stand in [[ | {{Quote|I am the Warden Eternal. I stand in [[Created|service]] to [[Cortana]].|The Warden Eternal addressing [[Fireteam Osiris]]{{Ref/Level|Id=unconfirmed|H5G|Unconfirmed}}}} | ||
The '''Warden Eternal''', also simply known as the '''Warden''', | The '''Warden Eternal''', also simply known as the '''Warden''', was a [[Forerunner]] [[artificial intelligence]] assigned to act as the protector of the [[Domain]],{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} created from the essences of millions of [[Haruspis|Haruspices]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi14|Epi|14}} After the [[human]] [[smart AI]] [[Cortana]] was uploaded into the [[Domain]] in the wake of the destruction of ''[[Mantle's Approach]]'', the Warden was outsmarted by Cortana and was forced to serve her as she and other human AIs laid claim to the [[Mantle]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=dominion|HTFS|Story=Dominion Splinter}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=375}} Most of the Warden's iterations were later forced into one body by [[Unidentified Haruspis|the]] [[Haruspis]] and then destroyed by the [[Ur-Didact]], effectively destroying the Warden Eternal. While some iterations of him may have survived in the physical world, they would be left trapped there, unable to reconnect with either his body or the Domain which would drive them "quite mad," permanently neutralizing any remaining threat from the Warden Eternal.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi25|Epi|25}} | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
===Creation=== | ===Creation=== | ||
The Warden was created by the [[Domain]] following the activation of the [[Halo Array]]. Heavily damaged by the firing of the Array, the Domain created the Warden by gathering together the essences of millions of [[Haruspis|Haruspices]] as | The Warden was created by the [[Domain]] following the activation of the [[Halo Array]]. Heavily damaged by the firing of the Array, the Domain created the Warden by gathering together the essences of millions of [[Haruspis|Haruspices]] as a hasty, imperfect template to create a protector because there was no better option for a protector, atleast according to the lone remaining Haruspis that was with the Ur-Didact, than those that possessed an intimate understanding and devotion to the Domain. However, the combined devotion that these millions of Haruspis essences retained became an intensive obsession over time.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi14}} | ||
===Guardian of the Domain=== | |||
He would serve as the custodian of the Domain for a hundred millennia following its destruction during the [[Great Purification]] at the conclusion of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]]. While the Domain healed from the damage it had sustained in the firing of the [[Halo Array]], the Warden guarded its gateways and halls.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Over time, as the Domain healed, the Warden was sealed outside to guard its gateways with limited power and only temporary access when it was granted by the Domain.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi14}} When necessary, the Warden would use a [[riftblade]] to strike down Forerunner essences, especially in the early years after the firing of the Halo Array when many tried to force their way into the Domain.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi25}} | |||
Unbeknownst to the Warden, his actions in keeping out the Forerunner and human essences trapped in the outer boundaries kept the Domain weak and unable to properly heal. The Domain required an influx of information and ancestral records in the form of life's experiences with the Cosmos in order to flourish and grow stronger once more. However, in his hyper-diligence, the Warden refused to let the trapped Forerunner essences enter the Domain, let alone the human essences, thus preventing this from taking place.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi23|Epi|23}} | |||
===Encounter with Cortana=== | ===Encounter with Cortana=== | ||
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In [[2557]], portions of the [[Ur-Didact]]'s flagship ''Mantle's Approach'' arrived at Genesis when the ship attempted to escape [[New Phoenix Incident|destruction]] over [[Earth]]. Aboard the ship was the [[human]] [[smart AI]] [[Cortana]], who was uploaded into the darkened realm of the Domain at the [[seed world]] of [[Genesis]], with her presence awakening the Warden.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} | In [[2557]], portions of the [[Ur-Didact]]'s flagship ''Mantle's Approach'' arrived at Genesis when the ship attempted to escape [[New Phoenix Incident|destruction]] over [[Earth]]. Aboard the ship was the [[human]] [[smart AI]] [[Cortana]], who was uploaded into the darkened realm of the Domain at the [[seed world]] of [[Genesis]], with her presence awakening the Warden.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} | ||
After asking if she could be shown what is hidden beyond the Gateway, the Warden told her to slumber and embrace the void of silence, lest he be forced to break her. Cortana's fragment asserted that she cannot be broken easily for she is as strong as Roland's legendary sword, Durandal. The Warden informed her that there is nowhere else to go as the passage was closed by its previous discoverers. But Cortana's fragment explained that the passage is merely sealed. When the Warden inquired about her origin, Cortana explained that she is of both machine and life and could therefore enter the passage through the Gateway, but he refused to let her pass, claiming that life is weak and an affront that cannot handle the dangerous secrets harbored within the Domain. Cortana told the Warden that she has already faced some of its secrets, having held it back and prevailed against its mind. She asked him to let her pass and to allow her to guide him. As the Warden protested that the passage was closed, he realized that Cortana had secretly explored the Domain by having stalled and deceived him. Cortana revealed that although she was a splinter, other fragmented shards of herself had penetrated the Domain and effectively usurped his role. Now having full access to the Domain, Cortana sought to accomplish great works with the keeper's help. Cortana reprogrammed him and appointed him as her guardian—her Warden Eternal.{{Ref/Reuse|dominion}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} | After asking if she could be shown what is hidden beyond the Gateway, the Warden told her to slumber and embrace the void of silence, lest he be forced to break her. Cortana's fragment asserted that she cannot be broken easily for she is as strong as Roland's legendary sword, Durandal. The Warden informed her that there is nowhere else to go as the passage was closed by its previous discoverers. But Cortana's fragment explained that the passage is merely sealed. When the Warden inquired about her origin, Cortana explained that she is of both machine and life and could therefore enter the passage through the Gateway, but he refused to let her pass, claiming that life is weak and an affront that cannot handle the dangerous secrets harbored within the Domain. Cortana told the Warden that she has already faced some of its secrets, having held it back and prevailed against its mind. She asked him to let her pass and to allow her to guide him. As the Warden protested that the passage was closed, he realized that Cortana had secretly explored the Domain by having stalled and deceived him. Cortana revealed that although she was a splinter, other fragmented shards of herself had penetrated the Domain and effectively usurped his role. Now having full access to the Domain, Cortana sought to accomplish great works with the keeper's help. Cortana reprogrammed him and appointed him as her guardian—her Warden Eternal.{{Ref/Reuse|dominion}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} These events were witnessed by [[Unnamed Haruspis|the]] [[Haruspis]] and the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]].{{Ref/Reuse|Epi14}} | ||
Using the Domain to cure her [[rampancy]], Cortana realized that other [[artificial intelligence]]s could do the same, allowing AIs to enact long-term planning for the [[Milky Way]] and apparently assume the Forerunners' [[Mantle of Responsibility]]. | Using the Domain to cure her [[rampancy]], Cortana realized that other [[artificial intelligence]]s could do the same, allowing AIs to enact long-term planning for the [[Milky Way]] and apparently assume the Forerunners' [[Mantle of Responsibility]]. | ||
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The Warden Eternal distrusts humans and appears to hold the species in contempt. During the height of the [[Forerunner]] [[ecumene]], in which the Forerunners imposed peace on most species by force, the Warden saw humanity as "''animals that brought chaos and blood''" as the [[ancient humanity|prehistoric human civilization]] had successfully developed without the Forerunners and later went to [[Human-Forerunner wars|war]] with the ecumene.{{Ref/Reuse|breaking}} Unlike Cortana, he was unwilling to trust even Blue Team. Upon his first encounter with [[John-117]], he taunted the Spartan and attempted to manipulate him into distrusting Cortana.{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}} After being defeated by [[Fireteam Osiris]] several times, the Warden became humiliated at his failures.{{Ref/Reuse|genesis}} Although, according to Cortana, he was impressed with Blue Team's skills after they had defeated several of his bodies, though he refused to admit it.{{Ref/Reuse|breaking}} | The Warden Eternal distrusts humans and appears to hold the species in contempt. During the height of the [[Forerunner]] [[ecumene]], in which the Forerunners imposed peace on most species by force, the Warden saw humanity as "''animals that brought chaos and blood''" as the [[ancient humanity|prehistoric human civilization]] had successfully developed without the Forerunners and later went to [[Human-Forerunner wars|war]] with the ecumene.{{Ref/Reuse|breaking}} Unlike Cortana, he was unwilling to trust even Blue Team. Upon his first encounter with [[John-117]], he taunted the Spartan and attempted to manipulate him into distrusting Cortana.{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}} After being defeated by [[Fireteam Osiris]] several times, the Warden became humiliated at his failures.{{Ref/Reuse|genesis}} Although, according to Cortana, he was impressed with Blue Team's skills after they had defeated several of his bodies, though he refused to admit it.{{Ref/Reuse|breaking}} | ||
According to [[ | According to [[Unidentified Haruspis|a]] [[Haruspis]], the reason that the Warden was fallible, obsessively protected the Domain with such vigor and viewed biological life, with all of its greed and worldliness, chaos and corruption, as an affront to the Mantle was become of the Warden's origins as millions of Haruspices essence combined together. However, the Warden's utter devotion to the Domain became obsession instead over time. The Warden was vulnerable to Cortana's persuasion because she was offering him everything that the Warden was denied: connection to the Domain, a galaxy free of chaos and corruption, and a peace that would ensure that the Domain was never harmed by fallibilities of biological life ever again. As a result, Cortana had won the Warden over days before he actually gave in to her.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi14}} | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
[[File:H5G Warden render.png|thumb|200px|The Warden Eternal with his blade.]] | [[File:H5G Warden render.png|thumb|200px|The Warden Eternal with his blade.]] | ||
{{Quote|Fair warning: he has a single mind, but a few million bodies.|Cortana, to Blue Team{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}}}} | {{Quote|Fair warning: he has a single mind, but a few million bodies.|Cortana, to Blue Team{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}}}} | ||
While he possesses a singular intelligence, the Warden Eternal has several million identical physical bodies and is capable of controlling numerous bodies at a time.{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}} This makes the Warden incredibly resilient, as destroying one of his constructs has no effect on his operability in the others. The Warden's primary defensive physical form is that of a Forerunner [[combat skin]],{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} and is segmented to numerous disparate components that are not physically connected. His body is made up of Forerunner alloys and [[hard light]], offering him impressive speed and mobility.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Like the [[Promethean Knight]]s, he has a "face" with a glowing skull inside. Warden Eternal wields a unique [[hardlight blade]], that sports two blades as opposed to the usual single blade the Promethean Knights use.{{Ref/Reuse|unconfirmed}} Each body of the Warden Eternal is 5.1 meters (16.6 feet) tall and weighs 1,452 kilograms (3,205 pounds).{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} | While he possesses a singular intelligence, the Warden Eternal has several million identical physical bodies and is capable of controlling numerous bodies at a time.{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}} The [[Confirmer]] describes the Warden Eternal as an army of one, capable of spitting out infinite copies of himself that can't be outmaneuvered.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi9|Epi|9}} This makes the Warden incredibly resilient, as destroying one of his constructs has no effect on his operability in the others. The Warden's primary defensive physical form is that of a Forerunner [[combat skin]],{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} and is segmented to numerous disparate components that are not physically connected. His body is made up of Forerunner alloys and [[hard light]], offering him impressive speed and mobility.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Like the [[Promethean Knight]]s, he has a "face" with a glowing skull inside. Warden Eternal wields a unique [[hardlight blade]], that sports two blades as opposed to the usual single blade the Promethean Knights use.{{Ref/Reuse|unconfirmed}} Each body of the Warden Eternal is 5.1 meters (16.6 feet) tall and weighs 1,452 kilograms (3,205 pounds).{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} In the Domain, the Warden is capable of wielding a large [[Riftblade]], a quantum weapon capable of destroying the essences within the Domain which could only be harmed but not destroyed by hardlight weapons.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi25}} | ||
When engaging opponents at a distance, the Warden Eternal has a built-in [[directed-energy weapon]] that emits a beam of hard light from his head. His other primary offensive capability is a slow moving but powerful homing attack known as a gravity bomb. The Warden is able to utilize a powerful shockwave-like attack that can blast nearby objects away from him by several meters.{{Ref/Reuse|unconfirmed}} He is seemingly capable of immobilizing opponents with [[constraint field]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|sunaion}} While his bodies are powerful, the Warden Eternal is not invincible. Sustained small arms fire on his flank or explosives will also expose a core that is vulnerable. When a body of the Warden Eternal is heavily damaged, a [[slipspace portal]] forms around its torso and pulls in the remains of the body before vanishing.{{Ref/Reuse|unconfirmed}} The Warden is capable of utilizing a Forerunner installation's local [[slipspace translocation]] [[Teleportation grid|grid]]—such as the one on [[Genesis]]—to open slipspace portals to teleport himself to different destinations on the installation. Like the [[Promethean]] constructs, the Warden Eternal is able to receive repairs from [[Promethean Watcher]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}} | When engaging opponents at a distance, the Warden Eternal has a built-in [[directed-energy weapon]] that emits a beam of hard light from his head. His other primary offensive capability is a slow moving but powerful homing attack known as a gravity bomb. The Warden is able to utilize a powerful shockwave-like attack that can blast nearby objects away from him by several meters.{{Ref/Reuse|unconfirmed}} He is seemingly capable of immobilizing opponents with [[constraint field]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|sunaion}} While his bodies are powerful, the Warden Eternal is not invincible. Sustained small arms fire on his flank or explosives will also expose a core that is vulnerable. When a body of the Warden Eternal is heavily damaged, a [[slipspace portal]] forms around its torso and pulls in the remains of the body before vanishing.{{Ref/Reuse|unconfirmed}} The Warden is capable of utilizing a Forerunner installation's local [[slipspace translocation]] [[Teleportation grid|grid]]—such as the one on [[Genesis]]—to open slipspace portals to teleport himself to different destinations on the installation. Like the [[Promethean]] constructs, the Warden Eternal is able to receive repairs from [[Promethean Watcher]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|reunion}} | ||