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This topic has moved here: Subject: "There's an aspect of the Arbiter's character that is ...
  • Subject: "There's an aspect of the Arbiter's character that is ...
Subject: "There's an aspect of the Arbiter's character that is ...

Full quote is
"There is an aspect of the Arbiter's character that is still secret to this day and will remain so for a good reason."

Anyone know/have any guesses about this. It's been four years since that article was published, but Arbiter didn't have any huge character revelations in Halo 3. I'd really be interested in any more juicy bits, even if his role in the Halo story is essentially finished. I was personally a fan of his inclusion in Halo 2, it made the Great Schism really workable and believable.

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[Edited on 02.01.2011 12:31 PM PST]

  • 02.01.2011 12:31 PM PDT

May be about how the Arbiter finishes the Covenant by killing the Prophet of Truth?

  • 02.01.2011 12:34 PM PDT


Posted by: Chopsticks08
May be about how the Arbiter finishes the Covenant by killing the Prophet of Truth?
Except that's an action, and not a character trait.

  • 02.01.2011 12:54 PM PDT

His leadership towards the Covenant Separists then (Including the Ship Master).

  • 02.01.2011 1:16 PM PDT

Posted by: Chopsticks08
His leadership towards the Covenant Separists then (Including the Ship Master).


Possibly. I feel like its something that would have been more controversial, especially in light of the "Dervish" renaming and the way it was worded. This was also after his role in the Separatist group was already brought to light.

  • 02.01.2011 1:52 PM PDT

Now THIS is interesting. While I have no idea what it could be, perhaps it'll be better explained in future Halo titles (Karin Traviss' trilogy maybe?)

  • 02.01.2011 1:55 PM PDT

"Find where the liar hides, so that I may place my boot between his gums!" - Rtas 'Vadum

The article was written in 2006 it appears, 2 years before The Cole Protocol was released. It is possible that it was revealed in there. However that would mean any number of things.

It might also refer to the name change that he got during Halo 2's development. The fact that it was changed from Dervish to Arbiter was not revealed until some time in 2008. So they could have considered keeping it a secret until then.

  • 02.01.2011 2:10 PM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

I believe it's in the Cole Protocol where he's revealed to be a dishonourable Sangheili, that's what I think it is since that novel was released after Halo 3 and Thel was quite an important character in it - the first time we've seen a great amount of insight into him.

  • 02.01.2011 2:11 PM PDT

"The measure of a man is what he does with power"-Plato

Posted by: GanonSmash

Posted by: Chopsticks08
May be about how the Arbiter finishes the Covenant by killing the Prophet of Truth?
Except that's an action, and not a character trait.


Maybe the Prophets knew of the coming Schism and somehow manipulated Thel.

For what reason? I do not know.

  • 02.01.2011 2:15 PM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Posted by: II Cipher
Posted by: GanonSmash
Posted by: Chopsticks08
May be about how the Arbiter finishes the Covenant by killing the Prophet of Truth?
Except that's an action, and not a character trait.


Maybe the Prophets knew of the coming Schism and somehow manipulated Thel.

For what reason? I do not know.


Truth planned the Jiralhanae to take over as the Honour Guard, he knew that this would cause the Schism because of the tension there is between the Sangheili and Jiralhanae.

Thel would have been used as a means to an end by the Prophets at any rate, he was expendable because of the Arbiter role he'd taken so there wouldn't be any questions asked. He was to tie up all the loose ends before Truth put his plan into action.

  • 02.01.2011 2:17 PM PDT

Posted by: ajw34307
I believe it's in the Cole Protocol where he's revealed to be a dishonourable Sangheili, that's what I think it is since that novel was released after Halo 3 and Thel was quite an important character in it - the first time we've seen a great amount of insight into him.


I think this is the most reasonable guess so far. However, I would be inclined to think we still don't know. Frank said it would remain a secret for good reason. I don't think a book is very good at keeping a secret.

It just doesn't sound like "there's more juicy bits that we're going to see to you guys." It sounds like "something we planned but died on the cutting floor. No Russian, lol."

This is all just wild speculation, of course.

  • 02.01.2011 3:24 PM PDT
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I'd like to have a game that follows the story of arbiter after the covenant dissipated. We don't know what happened to the covenant after the war either.

They weren't all eliminated (just truth and his fleet) and it's not necessary for a prophet to be leader (I'm saying this, is because the majority of the prophet population came to delta halo, also where the great schism started, and they're currently being executed by existing elite fleets in the area).

Another major point, is that with the prophets out of the way, the brutes are free to do whatever they want, and there's been leadership struggles and civil wars between them, which would interestingly play out in their war against the elites.

Sources are the bestiarium, and one of the halo comics on waypoint.

  • 02.01.2011 3:51 PM PDT

Posted by: Sparty Boy 117
I'd like to have a game that follows the story of arbiter after the covenant dissipated. We don't know what happened to the covenant after the war either.

They weren't all eliminated (just truth and his fleet) and it's not necessary for a prophet to be leader (I'm saying this, is because the majority of the prophet population came to delta halo, also where the great schism started, and they're currently being executed by existing elite fleets in the area).

Another major point, is that with the prophets out of the way, the brutes are free to do whatever they want, and there's been leadership struggles and civil wars between them, which would interestingly play out in their war against the elites.

Sources are the bestiarium, and one of the halo comics on waypoint.


This is something I'd like as well, but I don't know how the scope or drama of it could possibly match the mainstream Halos. While I would try to dismiss that the same way I addressed the Cole Protocol revelation, with future Halo games being out of Bungie's hands, the secret might be shown there.

  • 02.02.2011 8:44 PM PDT

Don't worry, you're still your mom's favorite Bnet member.

He's ghey.

  • 02.02.2011 9:20 PM PDT

Posted by: MegaMuffin16
He's ghey.

Trollollollollllll

  • 02.02.2011 9:23 PM PDT

We believe that the universe is unbounded: this is not the same as infinite: the 2-D surface of a sphere, wrapped around a 3rd dimension, has a finite size, but has no end. If you start off in a given direction on the surface of a sphere, you could return to your start point without having to turn around -- you simply go all the way around. But wouldn't that mean the universe has an escape velocity like the earth?

Posted by: MegaMuffin16
He's ghey.


So thats why he needs 4 mandibles >.>

~B2

  • 02.02.2011 9:29 PM PDT


Posted by: MegaMuffin16
He's ghey.


Potentially. It would explain his lack of children. In a warrior society such as that one, where there is a great deal of importance in passing on one's genes, being homo-blam!- could be terribly taboo, and perhaps Bungie thought better of it.

  • 02.18.2011 12:40 PM PDT


Posted by: orphan

Posted by: Muechelmoerder

Posted by: MegaMuffin16
He's ghey.


Potentially. It would explain his lack of children. In a warrior society such as that one, where there is a great deal of importance in passing on one's genes, being -blam!--blam!- could be terribly taboo, and perhaps Bungie thought better of it.


I remember that most warrior Sangheili do not become a parent. A high-ranking warrior can mate with any female he desires, and then he goes on and kills more things, and the children are usually taken care of by the female and her relatives, if I'm correct. He probably does have a few, but they are never mentioned.


A lack of mention for something does not mean it does not exist or did not happen, it's not important to the story that Arby has kids, so why mention it?

  • 02.18.2011 1:07 PM PDT

Forklifts never die. They're just missing in Forge.

Posted by: Muechelmoerder

Posted by: MegaMuffin16
He's ghey.


Potentially. It would explain his lack of children. In a warrior society such as that one, where there is a great deal of importance in passing on one's genes, being -blam!--blam!- could be terribly taboo, and perhaps Bungie thought better of it.


Actually, in The Cole Protocol, he was thinking of more wives to mate with after he did something honorable. I'll find the page when I find the book, I lost it.

  • 02.18.2011 1:08 PM PDT