Bungie Universe
This topic has moved here: Subject: Halo: Cryptum underlying Themes and Lessons Learned *SPOILERS*
  • Subject: Halo: Cryptum underlying Themes and Lessons Learned *SPOILERS*
Subject: Halo: Cryptum underlying Themes and Lessons Learned *SPOILERS*

I'm a lead farmer, mother lover!

As the title has indicated, below this there will be quite a few spoilers for the book Halo: Cryptum. If you do not wish to find out beforehand, please leave. They gone yet? Good. For those still with us, Halo: Crpytum has a lot of underlying themes and allegory I think that would be nice to look at.

Theme 1: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - "Reason in Common Sense", volume 1 of "The Life of Reason"

A simple theme that we see throughout Crpytum. This quote is misinterpreted by many as "History repeats itself." We learned of the Human-San'Shyuum battle against the Flood. We also learned that the humans were able to win, discovering a cure of sorts and fight them back. Interestingly enough, due to the forgotten lesson included, not only are the Forerunner forced to fight the Flood (and lose), Humans once again must battle the flood in the distant future with the assistance of a different pact (Sangheili/post-Schism covenant factions).

Theme 2: Religious Allegory
So to say that Halo has a lot of religious allegory is really understating things. From the fact that the main nemesis is called the Covenant, to the Ark, to the fact that the Gospel John 1:17 speaks of the great flood - Cryptum continues Halo tradition with gusto. Where is the Christian Allegory here? Simple. The Didact has extremely large connotations to Jesus himself. A man that was respected and esteemed by all, trying to uphold the mantle of life (albeit in different ways), betrayed by others who disagreed with him on council. His exile reminiscent of Christ's death only to be raised at a later time. His spirit going so far as to merge and transfer within Bornstellar. Now my reading of this was a bit muddled, and it could be argued that there is more Buddhist allegory here. Meditation to attempt and find nirvana/peace. Reincarnation in different forms and better lives, which is clearly seen if you compare the Didact (A Warrior-Servant), who later is technically genetically imprinted onto Bornstellar (A Manipular who after first mutation is primarily a Builder but also imprinted with Lifeworker and Warrior-Servant details), whom by the caste system is of higher standing. There is even Shinto allegory as the Domain is more or less a collective consciousness of Forerunner ancestors, worshipped by the living and prayed to for answers.

I'm sure there's even more I may not be touching upon with religious examination so feel free to let me know and I'll include it in this post. If there's other themes too, think on it and let me know. Now onto what is solidified and learned:

Humans
This was the biggest surprise for me. A human intergalactic empire having once existed and then even going so far as to war with the Forerunner? They were then subdued, quarantined to their planet Erde-Tyrene (Which btw, in German Erde means Earth for those who don't know), and then systematically devolved into several subspecies. I'm curious as to how the other side-subspecies will come into play and we see what happens to them. Clearly Chakas is a early human example however what comes of the Florians (Riser's people).


Forerunner
Possible brethren to Humans and a lot more hot-headed then we originally thought. They displayed a wide variety of emotions which we don't often attribute to "higher beings." Betrayal, Rage, passion, compassion.

Precursor & "The Prisoner"
If the prisoner is indeed a precursor and not a gravemind as implied we know them as physically large creatures that resemble monstrous Humans with forked tails, 4 massive upper arms and powerful bodies. They also can live millions of years in age. Apparently he blames Forerunner for the fall of the Precursor though if they are directly to blame is unknown. Here's a key detail people seem to be forgetting: He was imprisoned. He was imprisoned by the Precursor themselves as shown by the locks. It is entirely probable that he was a criminal even within precursor society, exiled to a remote planet and locked up to prevent him from doing future harm (which would make sense if the Precursor truly believed in the mantle, they wouldn't have him killed). It is suggested by some in threads that the Precursor as retribution against the Forerunner created the Flood, however this is refuted still.

San'Shyuum
They changed dramatically in the thousands of years. In the beginning they were a race embroiled with a "sensual" beauty. A term I don't think any of us would use to describe the Prophets we know and hate from Halo 2/3. They formed an alliance with Humanity to combat a common threat in the Flood, and hope to expand afterwards, combating the Forerunner. However they clearly didn't command much pride, as as soon as the battle turned against them, they surrendered. In the years following their forced quarantine we see their entire society changed to something we recognize more. Then they are all killed by a Halo activation by the Forerunner, putting them down for their rebellion.

Flood
Started as Spores and grew from there...Wooooot?

Other
The only other races really touched upon were the Huragok (Engineers) whom are pretty much exactly as we know them. Efficient, only interested in work, and proud of their flotation ability in different environments.

Ok, I'm good now. Thanks for any reads/comments all.

  • 01.10.2011 9:48 AM PDT

Don't forget the biblical story of Babylon. It seems to be where they got humanity being knocked down to earth and splintered.

  • 01.10.2011 9:56 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Deva Path


Posted by: DecepticonCobra

We are all going to get banned aren't we?

going from the current knowledge we know it SEEMS that the prisoner IS the gravemind. and i think that if the humans weren't fighting the flood the would have beat or crippled the forerunners.

  • 01.11.2011 6:22 PM PDT

i seem to remember graveminds are produced when a flood infection reaches critical mass - that they are products of that singular flood infection/area and there have been hundreds of them at one point or another throughout time/space.

i thought it was very clear that the prisoner was precursor, and it convinced mendicant bias to turn against the forerunners. the book talks about how much any contact with the precursor screwed with your head (humans committing suicide) and mb had 47 years with it.

it also would make sense that a precursor would convince mb to help a precursor bio-weapon.

  • 01.11.2011 11:24 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

"Time was your ally human. But now it has abandoned you. The Forerunners....have returned. And this tomb... is now yours". - The Didact


Posted by: grey101
going from the current knowledge we know it SEEMS that the prisoner IS the gravemind. and i think that if the humans weren't fighting the flood the would have beat or crippled the forerunners.


I doubt that
Halo rings,planet crackers,superbody armors,...

But i'm sure those ancient humans would teach the covies a lesson

I want this book so badly

*screams*

  • 01.12.2011 4:35 AM PDT

In relation to OP, we can see the beginning of the Prophet's Gravity Thrones. When they revisit the San'Shyuum homeworld, the new tradition of paraplegic leaders is briefly touched upon.

And I haven't strictly ruled out their appearance. Remember, you have a very different narrator than you would otherwise. Forerunners see many things differently. They might be sensuous in the same way someone could call a smooth piece of furniture sexy, you know?

Or maybe Bornstellar wants himself some wrinkly brown tail.

Posted by: Colichemarde
Don't forget the biblical story of Babylon. It seems to be where they got humanity being knocked down to earth and splintered.


You mean Babel?
Babel: Tower built by all of humanity to reach the heavens in their hubris. It was knocked down and their tongues were scrambled to give everyone different languages, preventing such a thing from happening again.

Babylon: Ancient city infamous in the Bible, factually existed in history, and perhaps best known for King Nebuchadnezzar.

Posted by: hotshot revan II
I doubt that
Halo rings,planet crackers,superbody armors,...

But i'm sure those ancient humans would teach the covies a lesson


Read the book, then come back. You'll be doing everyone a favor. You won't be subjected to spoilers, and we won't have to hear you blather on without knowing what you're talking about.

Humanity about 9000 years before Cryptum takes place was nearly a match for the Forerunner Empire. It is explicitly stated that the Forerunners had much more difficulty then anticipated when fighting the humans, and it was only afterwards that they realized it would have been even more difficult if the Flood had not been attacking humanity.

[Edited on 01.12.2011 5:40 AM PST]

  • 01.12.2011 5:17 AM PDT

Couple points. If you remember Bornstellar states that old wrinkly elders look nothing like the younger San'Shyuum who were still "specimins of the sensuallity their species was known for" [sic].

Didact himself questioned if they would have conquered humans if they hadnt already lost about 2/3 of their population fighting the Flood.

I believe the ancient ships carrying the Flood powder was created by the Precursors.

To the guy who posted learning that Graveminds were created when the Flood reached certain biomass, you are correct. That was in the Halo 3 Legendary encyclopedia.

Perhaps that was how Precursors were. The Prisoner is described as looking like an advanced Flood form. Perhaps the Precursors WERE the Flood to an extent. The Flood just being a more mutated form.

Also, how much you want to bet the Forerunners end up being the Elites? So much is similar between them. Think of the Arbitors armor and think how they describe Forerunner armor. Think of how they describe some of the Forerunners: big, powerful, mostly grey, some with pink and grey, they live long.. even theyre honor / religious system has tones that echo in the Elites

  • 01.12.2011 12:01 PM PDT

http://halofanon.wikia.com/wiki/Forerunner_(Kluutak)

Found this somewhere. Thats all I can find but I can tell you that it doesnt look like an elite lol

[Edited on 02.19.2011 4:09 PM PST]

  • 02.19.2011 4:06 PM PDT


Posted by: OdinsPride18
http://halofanon.wikia.com/wiki/Forerunner_(Kluutak)


HAHAHA Oh wow, you have no idea what that site is used for, do you?

Edit: You might want to look somewhere else for your pictures, as Halo Fanon is not the most accurate resource to use, to say the least.

[Edited on 02.19.2011 4:39 PM PST]

  • 02.19.2011 4:36 PM PDT