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Subject: Why the Covenant hates humans
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One of the unsolved mysteries of Halo is why humanity was so offending to the Covenant. We know that we offend their gods, the Forerunner, but in what way do we offend them? I was thinking about this and I realized one thing- we haven't seen a Covenant homeworld or colony yet. Is it possible that the Covenant are an entirely spacefaring race, and that living upon the surface of a planet is somehow sacrilegious to them? Do they live in massive city-ships like the High Charity? Maybe the fact that many Forerunner ruins and artifacts are found on planets is why it would be forbidden to them to live upon planets, that the surface of the planet is holy ground.

I have just come up with this theory, and so far I have little proof, and that little proof is this: this would help explain why they burn planets after they defeat the humans around them rather than colonize or just leave them. The only other reason I can think of would be to prevent humanity from returning to the colonies and reusing them, but wasting an entire fleet on burning a planet just doesn't make any strategic sense when they could be continuing the pursuit of the humans, to keep the humans off balance---unless there was a religous or cultural motive to burning a planet to a crisp.

It is entirely possible that they do live on planets, but since the story revolves around the Covenant invading humanity rather than the other way around, we haven't seen them as of yet. If you find anything that disproves my theory, go ahead and post it and shoot my theory down. I certainly won't be offended. Oh, and if this has already been posted, then I guess my idea wasn't so original after all.

  • 05.15.2006 4:24 PM PDT
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i say hear yee hear yee i will p00n u all in halo 2
o yes the topic well its interesting theory i might add but not enough to prove your point

  • 05.15.2006 4:31 PM PDT
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they believe its part of the Great Journey, although i think the prophets have info they havent let out yet

  • 05.15.2006 4:32 PM PDT

that would explain all their stupid purple ships. if they actually lived on land, they would think about the paint of their ships blending in their envirorment rather than sticking out. or maybe on their home planet, they have purple rocks and purple trees.

[Edited on 5/15/2006]

  • 05.15.2006 4:34 PM PDT
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... read the books/watch the Halo E3 vid....

ITs the will of the GODS.... as in the Forerunners... so probably.... they somehow got a mixed up message/heiroglyph showing an elite or prophet killing a bipedal sentient monkey.....and they (the covies) took that to mean.... kill humans... not bipedal sentient monkeys... but humans

  • 05.15.2006 4:37 PM PDT

Posted by: B4d_4s5_Cyb0rg
they somehow got a mixed up message/heiroglyph showing an elite or prophet killing a bipedal sentient monkey.....and they (the covies) took that to mean.... kill humans... not bipedal sentient monkeys... but humans


or more likely, they found some heiroglyph that shows a bipedal, human thing dying, and when they found a bipedal, human thing, they figured "lets kill them, our lord's heiroglyph told us to!" when in reality, the human like figure was a forerunner, and it dying was the result of halo. man my theories rule.

  • 05.15.2006 4:42 PM PDT

The life and world you see is just a cheery toped and sugar coated version. You know nothing of Hell. Unknown to you and everyone around you is that there is a war going on that you can't see. Now that you know, you are part of it. And if you are going to survive, your going to need to learn to pull the trigger.

Posted by: bumontheroad

this would help explain why they burn planets after they defeat the humans around them rather than colonize or just leave them.


planets are sacred...so they burn them... do see the problem?

  • 05.15.2006 4:42 PM PDT
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Posted by: Outsider
thear is no more covanent


What would you call the Brutes, Jackals, and drones that follow and are still in the convenant than?

  • 05.15.2006 4:45 PM PDT
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The following is from a theory I posted in Avignon.

"Why haven't the humans been offered the absolution of the Covenant?"

The above question has always nagged at me. But now I believe that I have got an answer.

The Covenant are imitative not inovative. All of their technology comes from the Forerunner. Humans are able to make their own technology without Forerunner technology as an archetype.

Quote from Mattski, Subject Theory: The Covenant.
The Covenant then took to space after mastering the available Forerunner technology. Appearing from the heavens upon primitive races like the Grunts, Jackals, Engineers (who may or may not have also lived on the Prophets and Elites homeworld), Drones, Hunters, and finally the Brutes, the Covenant religion was either accepted, or the ultimate price was paid.


The Covenant like their members to be ignorant. All their conscripted races were taken into the Covenant when they were primitive. It all started with the Elites.The Elites are somewhat intelligent but not as inteligent as the Prophets. The Prophets were inteligent enough to use Forerunner technology to broker a truce with the physicaly superior Elites. The Prophets knew that they were not the decsendants of the Forerunner, they knew that they were smarter than the Elites, so the lie worked and the Elites became their protecters. This became the Covenant standard; find a weaker or less inteligent race, land on their homeworld, show them their miraculous technology, and then be proclaimed their saviors. If the Covenant found humanity while we were in the dark ages, we would almost certainly proclaim them our gods. So the Covenant is reliant on ignorance.

Humanity evolved on a planet unmolested by the Covenant. We were able to develop our own unique cultures and technologies, without Forerunner artifacts. We conquered space and the atom, without the Covenant or their gods to guide us. We have something the Prophets fear; knowledge.

Humanity's very existence is a blasphemy to the Covenant. The Prophets said that they were descendants of the Forerunner; that they were all the sons of gods. The Prophets told the Elites that their ability to work Forerunner technology proved this. The Forerunners are supposed to be the givers of absolute truth. All Covenant technology is based on that "truth" and humanity's ability to achieve a level of technology near to that of the Covenant is heresy. We were threating enough just with our knowledge, to have advanced technology is even more threating to them. Now figure in the fact that humanity achieved this all without the truth giving Forernner artifacts. We are a very big threat to the Covenant. Our technology and civilization suggest that there is no need for the Forerunner, and if there is no need for the Forerunner than there is no need for their followers the Covenant.

>>> EXTRACT OF SANCTIONED SANGHEILI EAVESDROP// FOR THE ATTENTION OF JIRALHANAE MILITARY ADJUNCT AMBASSADOR >>>

The Humans are weak, but they are tenacious. Even the smallest ones hurl themselves against our defenses with honor. If only the Unggoy were as committed.

>>> I wonder about the Humans, Commander. Their technology is limited, but some of it is useful and their battle techniques are impressive. They are excellent strategists. But what I ask is this: Why have we not offered them the absolution of the Covenant? From the beginning of this war, the Prophets have made no attempt to absorb them or even offer the option of honorable submission. Why?

Perhaps they fear them? We do not know where their homeworld is. Their pattern of retreat is either hopelessly random, or brilliantly conceived. What if the Humans have more power, more numbers than we suspect? What if they lead us to a trap?

>>> No. I do not think that is the reasoning. They continue to lose territory, and pattern or no pattern, these defenses must be part of a perimeter. I suspect we are forcing them into a tighter arena than they care to fight in-soon we may be able to use the Sharquoi. And their victories, however few, always rely on the same thing-strategy, brute force, or luck. No. The only secret they hold is the location of their homeworld.

What about the atrocity at Halo? That was not luck, nor brute force. The Demon is a mystery. He outwitted and outfought entire legions on Halo. Perhaps there are more like him?

>>> I do not believe that. We have seen their kind before and destroyed them. Their numbers have dwindled and there have been no reported sightings since our victory at Reach.

Then why do we continue to hunt them? When surely they merit consideration to accept and embrace the Covenant?

>>> Let us discuss this at a more prudent moment. A Jiralhanae approaches.



The above is a conversation between two Elites. One Elite asks:
From the beginning of this war, the Prophets have made no attempt to absorb them or even offer the option of honorable submission. Why?


The other Elite responds:
Perhaps they fear them?


Why would the Prophets fear humans? Aren't humans vermin to the Covenant?

Here are two more interesting quotes:
I wonder about the Humans, Commander. Their technology is limited, but some of it is useful and their battle techniques are impressive. They are excellent strategists. But what I ask is this: Why have we not offered them the absolution of the Covenant?

And;
Then why do we continue to hunt them? When surely they merit consideration to accept and embrace the Covenant?


That sounds like the Elites are questioning the word of the Prophets. That would be bordering on heresy.

The Elites know that we would be acceptable members of the Covenant, and they are puzzled at why such a seemingly worthy race is sentenced to death by the Prophets. Once again you ask why? Why aren't we worthy? What do we have that makes them fear us?

Once again I say look at our technology. Look at our development. We didn't need the Covenant or their gods. We were doing fine on our own, all the other races were ignorant and undevelped when they were found. They needed the Covenant. They could be convinced that the Prophets were the descendants of gods. We would not be so easily convinced. Being the educated beings that we are we would ask questions about how they
performed their miracles. We would see that what they were doing had scientific explainations.

Yes,I know Im harping on this point but I think it is important. The Covenant owe everything they have to the Forerunners, that is why they worship them. The Covenant believe that the Forerunners are the only constant truth in the universe. The Forerunners in a way are the saviors of the Covenant. Humanity doesn't owe anybody anything. All we have acomplished was by our own hands. We advanced our culture and civilization through blood, sweat and tears. It was harder but we did it alone, without outside influence. In a way our acomplishments suggest that there is a alternate route on the Great Journey to salvation. That is humanity's heresy.


[Edited on 5/15/2006]

  • 05.15.2006 4:46 PM PDT
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Well, perhaps if the planet has been tainted by the humans, you would burn it....

  • 05.15.2006 4:50 PM PDT
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so essentially your theory is that because we work hard and are innovative, the Covenant hates us? interesting to say the least, mind-boggellingly insane, causes-head-to-explode to say the most

  • 05.15.2006 5:00 PM PDT
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Posted by: bumontheroad
so essentially your theory is that because we work hard and are innovative, the Covenant hates us? interesting to say the least, mind-boggellingly insane, causes-head-to-explode to say the most


No they hate us because several thousand years of indoctrination has taught the Covenant that the Forerunners and their "descendants" the Prophets are the only fountains of truth in the universe.

[Edited on 5/15/2006]

  • 05.15.2006 5:02 PM PDT

Posted by: Bezerko
The following is from a theory I posted in Avignon.


The Covenant like their members to be ignorant. All their conscripted races were taken into the Covenant when they were primitive. It all started with the Elites.The Elites are somewhat intelligent but not as inteligent as the Prophets. The Prophets were inteligent enough to use Forerunner technology to broker a truce with the physicaly superior Elites. The Prophets knew that they were not the decsendants of the Forerunner, they knew that they were smarter than the Elites, so the lie worked and the Elites became their protecters. This became the Covenant standard; find a weaker or less inteligent race, land on their homeworld, show them their miraculous technology, and then be proclaimed their saviors. If the Covenant found humanity while we were in the dark ages, we would almost certainly proclaim them our gods. So the Covenant is reliant on ignorance.


makes tons of sence. no wonder the jackals seems so retarded, along with the brutes...and the grunts, obviously.

  • 05.15.2006 5:03 PM PDT
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this theroy is not new, it isactually VERY old. check out the conversations from the universe that came with halo 2 special edition.

  • 05.15.2006 5:03 PM PDT
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Hmm, the traditional crazy, over-zealous religion goes on a crusade because their leaders, who, naturally, are the greatest sources of wisdom and knowledge, tell them to.

sounds familiar...like something in todays world...

  • 05.15.2006 5:05 PM PDT
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Posted by: DremolitoX
Posted by: Bezerko
The following is from a theory I posted in Avignon.


The Covenant like their members to be ignorant. All their conscripted races were taken into the Covenant when they were primitive. It all started with the Elites.The Elites are somewhat intelligent but not as inteligent as the Prophets. The Prophets were inteligent enough to use Forerunner technology to broker a truce with the physicaly superior Elites. The Prophets knew that they were not the decsendants of the Forerunner, they knew that they were smarter than the Elites, so the lie worked and the Elites became their protecters. This became the Covenant standard; find a weaker or less inteligent race, land on their homeworld, show them their miraculous technology, and then be proclaimed their saviors. If the Covenant found humanity while we were in the dark ages, we would almost certainly proclaim them our gods. So the Covenant is reliant on ignorance.


makes tons of sence. no wonder the jackals seems so retarded, along with the brutes...and the grunts, obviously.


They are not "retarded" they are just brainwashed by, like I said before, years of indoctrination; and their theocratic government doesn't help their mindset either.

  • 05.15.2006 5:07 PM PDT
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"You must face the truth squarely and without flinching from duty. Our enemies are mortal no longer. Mercy for such as they is a chimera, self-deception is its only ally. Dedicate this weapon, given unto your hand at the behest of the Emperor, to their destruction. Regard its function as your only duty: you live only to bring cleansing fire."

i just think the prophets know humans relate to the forerunner and the prophets dont want humans to control the galaxy via HALO because they are the only ones that can activate them, instead truth wants to activate all halos from the ark and shelter himself, he will wait for life to re-emerge (cryo freeze himself or something) and control the galaxy. he just needs and army to help, he will then kill the army

[Edited on 5/15/2006]

  • 05.15.2006 5:07 PM PDT
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or, and this is the point people haven't considered, Truth is over-zealous himself, and believes truly in the Great Journey, and has no hidden motives.

  • 05.15.2006 5:09 PM PDT
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... the Covenant have nothing against planets. The grunts constantly harp about the methane fields "back home" in the books. Covenant soldiers invade our planets to try to take them from us. Planets are not taboo to the Covenant.

I think it is just the Prophets being jealous/afraid of Humanity. Their religious control of this vast star empire would crumble if Humanity got in the way of this "not-so-far-off-as-it-was-yesterday" Great Journey business. Couple that with the fact that the Covenant are approaching this "Great Journey", the time when the Prophets will no longer lead the Covenant, will no longer be assured of their position of power... their need to destroy Humanity is great simply because the Prophets feel this way, and what the Prophets say is law - up until Tartarus went and blasted a couple of Elites, and made alot of aliens very, very mad...

  • 05.15.2006 5:10 PM PDT
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Posted by: baller068
this theroy is not new, it isactually VERY old. check out the conversations from the universe that came with halo 2 special edition.


I posted this a while ago but I didnt think I posted it outside Avignon.


Posted by: bumontheroad
Hmm, the traditional crazy, over-zealous religion goes on a crusade because their leaders, who, naturally, are the greatest sources of wisdom and knowledge, tell them to.

sounds familiar...like something in todays world...


No not familar to present day situations at all. The Prophets have been a steady government for thousands of years, they reigned unchallenged by any race, but in 2525 that changed, there was now a new inteligent race on the block and we threatened their power and way of life.

  • 05.15.2006 5:11 PM PDT
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we have pizza..they don't....became mad....try to kill us fo gaint forerunner pizza maker (artifact in movie)

  • 05.15.2006 5:12 PM PDT

Posted by: Bezerko

They are not "retarded" they are just brainwashed by, like I said before, years of indoctrination; and their theocratic government doesn't help their mindset either.

sure they are. the grunt can barely talk, the jackals dont do anything but sit and fire...well the brutes might be the least retarded of the bunch, but still, they drop their weapon when they are the last one on the battlefield...like some crazed, retarded animal. why would you drop your weapon? to go into a useless and stupid looking beserker mode? haha

[Edited on 5/15/2006]

  • 05.15.2006 5:12 PM PDT
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well, the grunts aren't exactly the most respected members of the Covenant, and their world has a methane atmosphere, rather than the nitrogen-oxygen one that humans and the rest of the covenant seem to breath, so perhaps their worlds aren't considered taboo (the Forerunner we can only assume breathed nitrogen-oxygen, since those sorts of planets have forerunner structures on them and the halos had that atmosphere).

Perhaps once humans taint the planet, they consider it sort of a crusade to invade the tainted land, remove the taint, and then burn the planet from orbit, a sort of ritual. Frankly, it's just a theory, and theories can be disproven.

  • 05.15.2006 5:14 PM PDT
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I think the Prophets are lying about the reason for war with the humans. If the Forerunner wanted humans dead, then why are all humans called Reclaimers? That doesn't sound like a name you would give a race you wanted dead. The Prophets fear the humans. They watched us for years, and saw what we had created by ourselves, and how fast our technological innnovation was. They knew that they couldn't hide from humans, because our territory would get larger and larger until we found a Covie world. If they were found, they thought we would conquer them. Maybe not even conquer them. We could just show up with superior technology, and then maybe the races of the Covenant would worship humans instead of Prophets. They didn't want to take that risk. The Prophets wanted to wipe us out as fast as they could, before our technology got any more advanced. Like how many rulers in the past tried to kill children, even though they weren't a threat then, because they knew when the chlid grew up, they might be greater than the ruler. The Prophet's war on the humans is a preemptive strike, not a war told to them by the Forerunners.

  • 05.15.2006 5:17 PM PDT

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