- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
There is alot of speculation about the Forerunners, about the Ark and about the story of the end of the trilogy but I just can't help thinking about Gravemind. What do we really know about him? That he's a "Terrifying Flood Intelligence", and that's about it... But what part does he play in the big picture?
My theory? Lets start of with the trailer..
First of all, when cortanas voice is distorted in the beginning of the trailer it sounds alot like him (it). Furthermore the ending of H2 when Gravemind says "Silence fills the empty grave, now that I have gone. But my mind is not at rest, for questions linger one. Now I will ask, and you will answer" it's possibly a link to what is happening in the trailer. By him saying this it's obvious that be wants to spill his guts, to who you might ask? I think he is using Cortana to comunicate with MC. And this is what we are listening to, and seeing, in the trailer. When MC is captured by Gravemind in H2 he says something that might help elaborate my theory: "This one is machine and nerve and has its mind concluded." Gravemind is therefore trying to tell, to show the chief something.
This actually forces us to speculate on what Graveminds role really is? If he implies that MC has his mind concluded and that Arbiter "is but flesh and faith, and is the more deluded" then none of the perpectives wich we have encountered in the past games are true! Neither the great journey NOR the fact that the activation of the rings must be stopped at all costs...
Therefore Gravemind holds the key to everything, in the press release of Halo 3 CJ Cowan says "'that our assumptions about the Halo universe are being challenged this late in the story is what I am personally most excited about leaving with our fans." What can be more challanging than to evade the commitment to saving the universe? What if the world must end to make possible a new beginning?
It´s here the Ark comes into the picture. But most importantly the essence of the Floods existence! We are assuming that he Flood is an uncontrolled outbreak, that it's beeing confined within the ancient rings and that the Forerunners tried to study them. But maybe they are beeing breeded, for an entierly different cause...And if we want to continue the biblical references and elaborate on the fact that the flood in the bible was created by God in order to drown the wrongful human race - then what if The Flood is simply the cure for all our sins... When we encounter Gravemind in the level with the same name in H2, Gravemind says : "I? I am a monument to all your sins". Ergo, The Flood is an elaborate "cure" that shall swell through the spaces of the universe and infect all that comes in its way. The Ark will serve as a preserving chamber for those who are meant to initiate the new beginning...
I am aware that this is a greatly incomplete theory, yet I want your opinions on it!