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Subject: Who are the precursors exactly "Spoilers"

In memory of those fallen in the defense of Earth and her colonies.

March 3, 2553

After reading halo cryptum i was very confused but interested about what the precursors were. I had originally thought they were highly advanced humans, then i believed from reading the books they were a species that looked much like us and the forerunners. Now i dont know what to believe.

The final words of the book have the prisoner telling the didact that he was forerunner, (somebody quote me on that). He told him that the forerunners had omce risen up and defeated them, which doesnt make sense because thier technology is practically indestructable. Is what the prisoner said true? Or is it lies used to be released or somethinh like that.

If he were precursor, then they looked like hidiously ugly beasts, they may even be flood, by what was found in those canisters but that maybe a bit rediculous.

  • 01.28.2011 3:02 AM PDT

<(-_-)> Teh mokey is not amused

The precursors created the forerunners, who then rose up against them and destroyed them. The flood is the precursors revenge against the forerunners.

  • 01.28.2011 3:11 AM PDT

In memory of those fallen in the defense of Earth and her colonies.

March 3, 2553

Though it doesnt male sense that a tier 1 civilisation could beat a tier 0 in technological advancement.

  • 01.28.2011 3:17 AM PDT

<(-_-)> Teh mokey is not amused


Posted by: cameo_cream
Though it doesnt male sense that a tier 1 civilisation could beat a tier 0 in technological advancement.

The precursors probably didn't expect it, also other races such as the humans may have helped.

  • 01.28.2011 3:20 AM PDT
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"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: SubtleSpartan
The precursors created the forerunners, who then rose up against them and destroyed them. The flood is the precursors revenge against the forerunners.


There is no proof for that

And what if the captive is an evil precursor and the precursors locked him up?

We can only speculate now till the next books

  • 01.28.2011 5:12 AM PDT
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The prisoner claimed to be the last Precursor, however, his words should be accepted as a grain of salt. There are many, more logical, reasons why he would be lying instead of telling the truth.

  • 01.28.2011 5:15 AM PDT


Posted by: cameo_cream
After reading halo cryptum i was very confused but interested about what the precursors were. I had originally thought they were highly advanced humans, then i believed from reading the books they were a species that looked much like us and the forerunners. Now i dont know what to believe.

The final words of the book have the prisoner telling the didact that he was forerunner, (somebody quote me on that). He told him that the forerunners had omce risen up and defeated them, which doesnt make sense because thier technology is practically indestructable. Is what the prisoner said true? Or is it lies used to be released or somethinh like that.

If he were precursor, then they looked like hidiously ugly beasts, they may even be flood, by what was found in those canisters but that maybe a bit rediculous.



Remember: Precursor technology is susceptible only to one thing: Neural Weapons (such as Halo). Assuming the Precursors used weapons of their own, I suppose it can be said the ancient Forerunners cracked the secret of their weapons and started using Neural Weapons on them.

But there is a lot of evidence stating the Captive was lying.

1) Why would the Precursors lock him up? He must've been dangerous and deceiving to warrent such a fate

2) There is vast evidence pointing to the fact the Captive is the Gravemind. Never trust the Gravemind in any situation. He's probably lying to mind -blam!- the Forerunners.

3) If the only race that can evidently use Precursor technology is the Precursors (as no other race has ever asctivated Precursor tech save only for one time with the humans), it would make any war with the Precursors impossible to win, no matter what kind of technology the Forerunners had. This begs the question: if the Captive was being truthful, HOW did the Forerunners defeat them?

4) The terminals state that the Didact wanted to "follow in their footsteps." This indicates the Forerunners discovered something about the final destination for the Precursors (the true Great Journey?). Most likely, if the Covenant's understanding of the Journey has any value at all, the Precursors ascended to legitimate god-hood and the Forerunners wished to follow them.

This would mean the Precursors were not wiped out (they were at the very least an intergalactic empire, possibly even inter-dimensional, when you compare Forerunner ability to cross universes, why would the Precursors not settle other realms? Thus, how could a single galxy race ever have a hope in hell in defeating a race of near god-like beings with technology that couldn't be damaged?)

  • 01.28.2011 5:28 AM PDT

It's possible that whatever the forerunner did provoked the precursors to ascend, as a trump card "win". But there's no way to know what that ascention entailed. It makes me think of the Dwemer from the Elder Scrolls, the dwarves all ascended and returned themselves to a primal state of being in the universe, which was a nonexistence. The could have divided their race by zero, and the forerunner and galaxy where left wondering what happened.

  • 01.28.2011 5:50 AM PDT

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Don't the precursors look like Humans?
Posted by: SubtleSpartan
The precursors created the forerunners, who then rose up against them and destroyed them. The flood is the precursors revenge against the forerunners.

  • 01.28.2011 5:52 AM PDT
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"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: Colichemarde
It's possible that whatever the forerunner did provoked the precursors to ascend, as a trump card "win". But there's no way to know what that ascention entailed. It makes me think of the Dwemer from the Elder Scrolls, the dwarves all ascended and returned themselves to a primal state of being in the universe, which was a nonexistence. The could have divided their race by zero, and the forerunner and galaxy where left wondering what happened.


They are transentient beings,so they probably transcended(not ascended)

  • 01.28.2011 6:02 AM PDT

I like turtles


Posted by: ROBERTO jh

Posted by: cameo_cream
After reading halo cryptum i was very confused but interested about what the precursors were. I had originally thought they were highly advanced humans, then i believed from reading the books they were a species that looked much like us and the forerunners. Now i dont know what to believe.

The final words of the book have the prisoner telling the didact that he was forerunner, (somebody quote me on that). He told him that the forerunners had omce risen up and defeated them, which doesnt make sense because thier technology is practically indestructable. Is what the prisoner said true? Or is it lies used to be released or somethinh like that.

If he were precursor, then they looked like hidiously ugly beasts, they may even be flood, by what was found in those canisters but that maybe a bit rediculous.



Remember: Precursor technology is susceptible only to one thing: Neural Weapons (such as Halo). Assuming the Precursors used weapons of their own, I suppose it can be said the ancient Forerunners cracked the secret of their weapons and started using Neural Weapons on them.

But there is a lot of evidence stating the Captive was lying.

1) Why would the Precursors lock him up? He must've been dangerous and deceiving to warrent such a fate

2) There is vast evidence pointing to the fact the Captive is the Gravemind. Never trust the Gravemind in any situation. He's probably lying to mind -blam!- the Forerunners.


Perhaps Precursors went through different forms and mutations such as the Forerunners. Maybe The Captive was a Precursor that mutated many times and genetically altered itself.

On the subject of The Forerunners beating the Precursors, maybe, when they defeated them, they had the same technology as the Precursors.

[Edited on 01.28.2011 10:52 AM PST]

  • 01.28.2011 10:50 AM PDT
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Posted by: SoApS pistol
On the subject of The Forerunners beating the Precursors, maybe, when they defeated them, they had the same technology as the Precursors.


What? When did they EVER defeat the Precursor?

  • 01.28.2011 10:54 AM PDT
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"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: SoApS pistol

Posted by: ROBERTO jh

Posted by: cameo_cream
After reading halo cryptum i was very confused but interested about what the precursors were. I had originally thought they were highly advanced humans, then i believed from reading the books they were a species that looked much like us and the forerunners. Now i dont know what to believe.

The final words of the book have the prisoner telling the didact that he was forerunner, (somebody quote me on that). He told him that the forerunners had omce risen up and defeated them, which doesnt make sense because thier technology is practically indestructable. Is what the prisoner said true? Or is it lies used to be released or somethinh like that.

If he were precursor, then they looked like hidiously ugly beasts, they may even be flood, by what was found in those canisters but that maybe a bit rediculous.



Remember: Precursor technology is susceptible only to one thing: Neural Weapons (such as Halo). Assuming the Precursors used weapons of their own, I suppose it can be said the ancient Forerunners cracked the secret of their weapons and started using Neural Weapons on them.

But there is a lot of evidence stating the Captive was lying.

1) Why would the Precursors lock him up? He must've been dangerous and deceiving to warrent such a fate

2) There is vast evidence pointing to the fact the Captive is the Gravemind. Never trust the Gravemind in any situation. He's probably lying to mind -blam!- the Forerunners.


Perhaps Precursors went through different forms and mutations such as the Forerunners. Maybe The Captive was a Precursor that mutated many times and genetically altered itself.

On the subject of The Forerunners beating the Precursors, maybe, when they defeated them, they had the same technology as the Precursors.


The problem is that the precursors controlled other galaxies as said by the bestiarium,i doubt that the forerunners wiped out all precursors in the zntire universe.

  • 01.28.2011 10:55 AM PDT

I like turtles


Posted by: hotshot revan II

Posted by: SoApS pistol

Posted by: ROBERTO jh

Posted by: cameo_cream
After reading halo cryptum i was very confused but interested about what the precursors were. I had originally thought they were highly advanced humans, then i believed from reading the books they were a species that looked much like us and the forerunners. Now i dont know what to believe.

The final words of the book have the prisoner telling the didact that he was forerunner, (somebody quote me on that). He told him that the forerunners had omce risen up and defeated them, which doesnt make sense because thier technology is practically indestructable. Is what the prisoner said true? Or is it lies used to be released or somethinh like that.

If he were precursor, then they looked like hidiously ugly beasts, they may even be flood, by what was found in those canisters but that maybe a bit rediculous.



Remember: Precursor technology is susceptible only to one thing: Neural Weapons (such as Halo). Assuming the Precursors used weapons of their own, I suppose it can be said the ancient Forerunners cracked the secret of their weapons and started using Neural Weapons on them.

But there is a lot of evidence stating the Captive was lying.

1) Why would the Precursors lock him up? He must've been dangerous and deceiving to warrent such a fate

2) There is vast evidence pointing to the fact the Captive is the Gravemind. Never trust the Gravemind in any situation. He's probably lying to mind -blam!- the Forerunners.


Perhaps Precursors went through different forms and mutations such as the Forerunners. Maybe The Captive was a Precursor that mutated many times and genetically altered itself.

On the subject of The Forerunners beating the Precursors, maybe, when they defeated them, they had the same technology as the Precursors.


The problem is that the precursors controlled other galaxies as said by the bestiarium,i doubt that the forerunners wiped out all precursors in the zntire universe.

De-evolution?

  • 01.28.2011 10:56 AM PDT
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Posted by: hotshot revan II
The problem is that the precursors controlled other galaxies as said by the bestiarium,i doubt that the forerunners wiped out all precursors in the zntire universe.


If I'm not mistaken, it says they were theorized to be intergalactic; it wasn't a definitive.

  • 01.28.2011 10:57 AM PDT
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"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: drummer0702
Posted by: hotshot revan II
The problem is that the precursors controlled other galaxies as said by the bestiarium,i doubt that the forerunners wiped out all precursors in the zntire universe.


If I'm not mistaken, it says they were theorized to be intergalactic; it wasn't a definitive.


Tier 0: Transsentient As the [Forerunners] had no examples of civilizations with technological accomplishment greater than themselves - with the exception of the Precursors - this is a theoretical ceiling. They can travel intergalactic and accelerate evolution of intelligent life. These may be creatures of legend.

It just says that "tier 0" is a theoritical ceiling,that's all.



  • 01.28.2011 11:02 AM PDT
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Posted by: hotshot revan II

Tier 0: Transsentient As the [Forerunners] had no examples of civilizations with technological accomplishment greater than themselves - with the exception of the Precursors - this is a theoretical ceiling. They can travel intergalactic and accelerate evolution of intelligent life. These may be creatures of legend.

It just says that "tier 0" is a theoritical ceiling,that's all.





Ya, that means they have no proof that they could do such a thing. The only tech they had available to them was what they found on planets within the galaxy. There was no conclusive proof that they could travel between galaxies; it was just a theory.

  • 01.28.2011 11:06 AM PDT
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"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: drummer0702
Posted by: hotshot revan II

Tier 0: Transsentient As the [Forerunners] had no examples of civilizations with technological accomplishment greater than themselves - with the exception of the Precursors - this is a theoretical ceiling. They can travel intergalactic and accelerate evolution of intelligent life. These may be creatures of legend.

It just says that "tier 0" is a theoritical ceiling,that's all.





Ya, that means they have no proof that they could do such a thing. The only tech they had available to them was what they found on planets within the galaxy. There was no conclusive proof that they could travel between galaxies; it was just a theory.


Most likely they can,just like the transentient thing.
If gravemind trully was a precursor then the precursors can never die(their mind)but their body could.

Wasn't that said by born that the mind and the universse were the same,that explains why gravemind never dies as he's probably a precursor.

*searches for book copy*

  • 01.28.2011 11:16 AM PDT
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Posted by: hotshot revan II
Most likely they can,just like the transentient thing.
If gravemind trully was a precursor then the precursors can never die(their mind)but their body could.

Wasn't that said by born that the mind and the universse were the same,that explains why gravemind never dies as he's probably a precursor.

*searches for book copy*


I don't think it is very logical to assume the Gravemind is a Precursor. I was thinking it was going to be Gravemind the whole book, however, the description does not match up. Also, why would a Precursor trap itself in its own trap? It just doesn't make any sense.

  • 01.28.2011 11:18 AM PDT
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"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: drummer0702
Posted by: hotshot revan II
Most likely they can,just like the transentient thing.
If gravemind trully was a precursor then the precursors can never die(their mind)but their body could.

Wasn't that said by born that the mind and the universse were the same,that explains why gravemind never dies as he's probably a precursor.

*searches for book copy*


I don't think it is very logical to assume the Gravemind is a Precursor. I was thinking it was going to be Gravemind the whole book, however, the description does not match up. Also, why would a Precursor trap itself in its own trap? It just doesn't make any sense.


Others came up with that theory and i think it's possible.And the precursors were the ones who locked up the captive,no one else could .

Note:When mendicant fired the ring near the planet ,the prisonor escaped i think it was 43 years before.Same year that gravemind and mendicant had their chat.

I think that the captive got infected by the flood and became their leader.I'm sure we will find out later.

  • 01.28.2011 11:26 AM PDT
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Posted by: hotshot revan II
Others came up with that theory and i think it's possible.And the precursors were the ones who locked up the captive,no one else could .

Note:When mendicant fired the ring near the planet ,the prisonor escaped i think it was 43 years before.Same year that gravemind and mendicant had their chat.

I think that the captive got infected by the flood and became their leader.I'm sure we will find out later.



The captive being the Gravemind is very believable. I'm saying that the Flood and Precursors are not one in the same. I'd consider the theory that a Precursor got taken over by the Flood and that is why he was contained. It would also explain why he claims to be the last Precursor, but that could easily just be a lie.

I'm also curious what he told the humans, because what he told Didact is not enough for him to kill himself.

  • 01.28.2011 11:29 AM PDT
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"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: drummer0702
Posted by: hotshot revan II
Others came up with that theory and i think it's possible.And the precursors were the ones who locked up the captive,no one else could .

Note:When mendicant fired the ring near the planet ,the prisonor escaped i think it was 43 years before.Same year that gravemind and mendicant had their chat.

I think that the captive got infected by the flood and became their leader.I'm sure we will find out later.



The captive being the Gravemind is very believable. I'm saying that the Flood and Precursors are not one in the same. I'd consider the theory that a Precursor got taken over by the Flood and that is why he was contained. It would also explain why he claims to be the last Precursor, but that could easily just be a lie.

I'm also curious what he told the humans, because what he told Didact is not enough for him to kill himself.


Yes,it's hard to belive his word

Maybe he told the humans something that is feared by the humans.I also want to know how the conversation between the didact and the captive went.
One thing is sure:he is a precursor
He might become the gravemind

Some people say that the captive is the one who created the flood and the precursors locked him up as punishment.

I love how this books brings alot of new myteries in

  • 01.28.2011 11:33 AM PDT
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Posted by: hotshot revan II
One thing is sure:he is a precursor


I couldn't disagree more. There is absolutely no conclusive evidence to point towards the prisoner actually being a Precursor.

  • 01.28.2011 11:35 AM PDT
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Posted by: drummer0702
Posted by: hotshot revan II
One thing is sure:he is a precursor


I couldn't disagree more. There is absolutely no conclusive evidence to point towards the prisoner actually being a Precursor.


You are right..if he really isn't then he could be another spacefaring civilzation rivaling the precursors

This get's intresting

  • 01.28.2011 11:38 AM PDT
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Posted by: hotshot revan II

You are right..if he really isn't then he could be another spacefaring civilzation rivaling the precursors

This get's intresting



My guess is it is the Gravemind or the thing that wiped out the Precursors from the Galaxy/Universe. They could also be one in the same.

  • 01.28.2011 11:41 AM PDT

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