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This topic has moved here: Subject: Another great theory (long read)
  • Subject: Another great theory (long read)
Subject: Another great theory (long read)
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- Halo, the title of the game, suggests that there might be deep religious real life references. The word Ark means a place of shelter or refuge. I believe that the Earth is the ark and is the safe place the explosions from the halo cannot harm it. A clue, which is very minor, is given at the end of Halo 2 when the Arbiter asks 343 where the ark is and the scene cuts to MC returning to Earth.
- The Forerunner(s) are not covenant, they are human-like. Think about it why is the weather, climate and the atmosphere on the halos so similar to earth. Since the Forerunner(s) are humanlike they have chosen humanlike Reclaimers. In the book Halo: The Flood, the only two reclaimers are Master Chief and Staff Sergeant Mobuto Marvin and then in Halo2 (the game) the monitor of Installation 05 (forgot his name 2401 something) calls MC, Miranda Keyes and Sergeant Johnson the Reclaimer (there seems to be no covenant reclaimer)

- In the First Cortana Letter, which is the most startling of all, people have mistaken the person speaking as Cortana, which is wrong because it is Gravemind. Firstly the letter is signed by "a friend of a friend" and then it say "You poet Eliot", the word 'your' suggests that it is not the human part of Cortana speaking. This letter (might) give us information on Cortana’s situation while with Gravemind. My interpretation of the first letter is as follows:

I have walked the edge of the Abyss. It is Gravemind saying that he has lived through what he thinks is eternity
I have governed the unwilling. Still Gravemind saying that he is in charge/superior of the entire Flood
I have witnessed countless empires break before me. Through the memories Gravemind has collected via other flood he has seen many human empires and the covenant empires (recently) break
I have seen the most courageous soldiers fall away in fear. When the Flood is infecting anyone the feeling of fear surrounds them and Gravemind knows it. It can be said that whatever any Flood does Gravemind knows about it.
[I was there with the Angel at the tomb]. This angel could perhaps be MC when Gravemind meet him. MC jumps off the temples and falls in water. The word 'at' might not mean 'at' it could be 'under' (That temple, from where MC jumped off, was the tomb)

I have seen your future.
And I have learned.

There will be no more Sadness. No more Anger. No more Envy. Now Gravemind is talking to Cortana (or though Cortana to MC) suggesting that there will be no more sadness, anger, or envy.

I HAVE WON. This line is of particular interest since it comes out of context. What I think is that, this is actually Cortana speaking and telling herself that she has won against Gravemind and that she is still alive.

Oh, and your poet Eliot had it all wrong:
THIS is the way the world ends. Now this is again Gravemind, who has recently infected Cortana, and her seen memories, looks at a poem written by a human that’s why the word 'your', suggesting a human, is there. This is the way the world ends. Perhaps suggests that this is only for Gravemind; that he will be destroyed and the Ark will be activated

A friend of a friend

So, This is the way the world end. Do you think so?
But wait there is more...

- In the end of Halo 2 Gravemind says “I will ask and you will answer”. Since the food of the Flood is memories and information from others and Cortana has an enormous, gigantic amounts of it, Gravemind has gained more powers from that and is on the verge of knowing everything. In the second Cortana letter, Cortana (or should I say Gravemind through Cortana) says: “It is a blurred line that lies at the edge of Godhood and Insanity. Guess which side of it I am on.”

- If we look into the Ark again, references indicate that Ark of the Covenant (in real life) is a representation of god and is resting in Solomon's Temples. The word covenant means a contract but biblical references say that it is an agreement between God and his people, in which God makes promises to his people and, usually, requires certain conduct from them. One of the promises was to Noah and was that he will not destroy the Earth with a flood. (rings any bells?)
So the Ark of the Covenant is in Solomon's Temples and that is in the Middle East. Lets just say that the Ark is on the Earth (or is the Earth), the Forerunner structure found in Halo 3's trailer could be a map room to the Ark (Halo 1: Level Silent Cartographer: When it is activated Cortana says that the map room is in a "temple or a shrine if I interpret it correctly" (exact word said by her) and activating the map room in Halo 1 lead to the brief activation of Halo). So if you activate that structure you will find the Ark and if you activate the Ark all Halos will blow up.

Conclusion/Summary: To find the missing pieces of the story religious references are the most important. The Earth is/has the Ark which will be located from the structure seen the Halo 3 trailer. The flood will not kill the human (but I can’t say if the covenant will.)

How does that sound? Feedback appreciated…I have some more things I will talk about that later…

  • 07.10.2006 12:50 PM PDT
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Nothing personal...

You lost me near the end, but otherwise it's great- Especially the way you analyzed Gravemind's words.

  • 07.10.2006 12:55 PM PDT
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Wow, you really thought that out. That all sounds logical to me.

  • 07.10.2006 12:56 PM PDT
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YOu did an OK job but again another underanalyzing of the term ark. Only a few people on this site ever even give credit to the possiblity that the ark could very well mean either ark of the covenent or ark of noah. Both takes on the ark could fit in (one puts it as a safe haeven/ one is a weapon of mass destruction (sounds like a large ring like structure which fills a similar role)).

Though with the exception of your narrow view on that you have an OK theory even if it is a duplicate of half the theories out there already.

  • 07.10.2006 1:30 PM PDT
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thanks.. but as I said theres more. Another hint given that indicates that Gravemind will die (and perhaps MC will destroy him) is by Martin O'Donnell he says in the Halo 3 documentry by Bungie: "We dont know whats Cortana...it could be a bazzare sort of satanic sort of voice"

This is the way the world ends

We have all heard the dooms day sign: return of Jesus (a savious). Just like the Matrix, (where Neo is the one and the saviour kills Smith (the Satan) and brings properity to other human) Halo's story has a savior too, guess who, MC himself and the satan in this situation is Gravemind. MC will destroy/kill Gravemind thus kiling the Flood

  • 07.10.2006 1:52 PM PDT
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Some parts of your theory seem to be sensible but on the other hand other theories are not well thought out.... How can Cortana be infected by the Gravemind when she's a A.I its not possible becasue so far the flood only targeted Covenent and Humans how can a A.I be infected. even if hes smarter, bigger, and older there is no way thats possible.

over all well done

[Edited on 7/10/2006]

  • 07.10.2006 1:59 PM PDT

I'll have you know
that I've become
Indestructible!

Posted by: Umair
The word Ark means a place of shelter or refuge.

No it does not.
Ark means "box".
[edit]
If you are going for the Biblical interpretation of the word "ark", you will get the word "box".

Hebrew727. אָרוֹן aw-rone'; or אָרֹן; from 717 (in the same sense of gathering); a box: - ark, chest, coffin.
(Used only when talking about the Ark of the Covenant)


8392. תֵּבָה tay-baw; perh. of. for. der.; a box:- ark.
(Used only when talking about Noah's Ark)


The greek word is used for both Arks, but still means "box".
2787. Κιβωτός kib-o-tos'; of uncert. der.; a box, i.e. the sacred ark and that of Noah:




[Edited on 7/10/2006]

  • 07.10.2006 2:10 PM PDT
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my god... that actually made sense...

you get the offical "Smart person on the Halo 3 froum" Cookie.

  • 07.10.2006 2:14 PM PDT
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Though with the exception of your narrow view on that you have an OK theory even if it is a duplicate of half the theories out there already.

Well i haven't read all of them but most of it is my work. A lot of poeple can have similar thinking.

No it does not.
Ark means "box".


well i checked on answers.com and dictionary.com it says " A shelter or refuge."
and Merriam-Websters describes it "b : something that affords protection and safety"

Cortana could be infected by GM
In the fourth cortana letter it is written "They just don’t make AIs like
they used to.Thanks to this slavishly loyal and humorless AI, I am now sharing cramped space with the circuitry of some hybrid war machine, itself complicated by such useless clutter as a conscience. I do not like sharing. Sharing is for children."

The first like "they dont make AIs '''like they used to'''" I'm emphasizing the "used to" which could mean that the older one (GM) is talking about the newer one (Cortana). This could also take use to belive that Gravemind is perhaps an AI and has the ability to infect or take over another AI.

"I am now sharing cramped space with the circuitry of some hybrid war machine" In this case the 'hybrid war machine' could be Cortana because the UNSC uses her during battle (as well as other time). It couldn't be GM because he isn't fighting any wars.

"Complicated by such useless clutter as a conscience" Cortana is the one with the concisence because she is more human-like and has more feelings than GM. She knows between right and wrong, good and evil.

[Edited on 7/10/2006]

  • 07.10.2006 2:18 PM PDT

I'll have you know
that I've become
Indestructible!

Posted by: Umair
No it does not.
Ark means "box".


well i checked on answers.com and dictionary.com it says " A shelter or refuge."
and Merriam-Websters describes it "b : something that affords protection and safety"

Well I looked into a Strong's Exhaustive Biblical Concordance that has the original greek and hebrew words from the Bible, and it ALWAYS says that "ark=box".

Hebrew727. אָרוֹן aw-rone'; or אָרֹן; from 717 (in the same sense of gathering); a box: - ark, chest, coffin.
(Used only when talking about the Ark of the Covenant)


8392. תֵּבָה tay-baw; perh. of. for. der.; a box:- ark.
(Used only when talking about Noah's Ark)


The greek word is used for both Arks, but still means "box".
Greek2787. Κιβωτός kib-o-tos'; of uncert. der.; a box, i.e. the sacred ark and that of Noah:



[Edited on 7/10/2006]

  • 07.10.2006 2:30 PM PDT
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there are two meaings to that word both have bilical connection

the ark (the refuge) = The ark built by Noah to have shelter from the flood.
the ark (the box/chest) = The sacred chest representing to the Hebrews the presence of God among them

I'm only emphasizing the the first meaning becasuse if the whole galaxy is wiped clean of the sentient life by the activation of Halo(s) then the person activating it (ie the Reclaimer) may have no chance to escapse since him too is vulnurable to the Flood. There has to be a safe point on the universe where the Reclaimer and or other survivours can take shelter. I'm also emphazing because it references to the 'Flood' which is a fimiliar sound in the game and I think that it has something to do with it

  • 07.10.2006 2:41 PM PDT

I'll have you know
that I've become
Indestructible!

If you read what I just posted, BOTH Arks mean "box".

  • 07.10.2006 2:51 PM PDT
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well IceWeasel i think that we will have to agree to disagree with each other's thinking...btw i have read you other topic too...thats quiet good itself

  • 07.10.2006 3:08 PM PDT
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anyone...?? any more thoughts on this..?

  • 07.11.2006 10:09 AM PDT
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that 2 long 2 read

[Edited on 7/11/2006]

  • 07.11.2006 10:24 AM PDT