Quote from: Mr. Admirals on September 17, 2014, 10:47:50 PM

ayy lmao

I'm here now. I think my username should be Lord of Admirals, but if not, it's who I am.

Start writing reviews. Go. Now.

I've got a monster of a review on Destiny's story. 8 pages so far. I just need to finish the game and then tweak parts of it to be more volatile so it gets across how I feel about it.

Quote from: Mr. Admirals on September 18, 2014, 03:44:12 PM

Quote from: True Velox on September 18, 2014, 03:12:46 PM

You keep on writing great pieces.

These ones I'm posting are actually somewhat old, just thought I'd post them here since I know the Flood seldom ventured into Bungie Universe or #­gaming.

They're still great. I like reading them.

I don't write too often, just making sure you know. Last one I wrote was the Lekgolo piece. That one was a fun one to write. Love dealing with theoretical concepts.

Nope, but when the Covenant found them Balaho was suffering an ecological collapse due to over industrialization.

Quote from: Mr. Admirals on September 18, 2014, 03:46:48 PM

I'm more thinking to myself what that guy brings to the table to warrant such a glorious ass.

What an astonishingly beta thing to say.

GASP

How dare you!

*tips fedora*
"M'lady"

You keep on writing great pieces.

These ones I'm posting are actually somewhat old, just thought I'd post them here since I know the Flood seldom ventured into Bungie Universe or #­gaming.

I still find it hard to believe a bunch of worms developed an FTL drive.

How does it make you feel that the Grunts entered the industrial age and proceeded not to ignite their methane atmosphere on fire?

Aren't Scarabs also lekgolo?

Yes, they are driven by Sbaolekgolo colonies.

Andrew Del Rio’s placement as Captain of the UNSC was not one fueled by skill or integrity, but rather fueled by politics and forgetability. The UNSC Infinity was not an easily concealed project. When it began construction on 2537, it took up half the UNSC’s budget and required a Captain and construction force who could easily drop off the grid. Del Rio turned out to be the perfect choice. While he was a competent leader and Captain,  his particular way of handling navy battles allowed him to disappear relatively unnoticed.

“It’s not easy to find a competent commanders who can drop off the grid unnoticed for that long.”
-BB referring to Del Rio, Page 422, Glasslands

Despite the fact ONI had commissioned Infinity, Del Rio was not ONI’s choice as Captain. With the prototype ship taking up such a large chunk of the budget, the UNSC found out about the project rather easily. Not wanting ONI to dominate the project and to secure Infinity’s safety, they chose Andrew Del Rio, while ONI opted for Thomas Lasky.

“Unfortunately, the Woodentop Navy needed to know about her because even ONI couldn’t hide anything that big in the budget, but it’s still known to only a handful of very senior officers.”
-BB to Osman, Page 421, Glasslands

ONI would eventually concede from this battle, deciding it’d be better to share the ship. However, Del Rio would eventually prove to not be an adequate Captain of Infinity. He was no leader that people would die for, nor was he inspirational. He was simply a manager.

Del Rio wasn’t her choice of captain for Infinity. She’d learned to pick her battles and had conceded to that one, but she felt vindicated by observing his crew’s body language. He was just someone filling the uniform, a manager rather than a leader.
-Parangosky contemplating Del Rio as Captain, Page 48, Thursday War

Nevertheless, Del Rio handled Infinity fine in the years that followed. He would soon learn Infinity’s awesome power in the year 2553. During that time, the Sangheili Civil War was just beginning to heat up, and it threatened the Arbiter, the UNSC’s only Sangheili ally. This prompted Infinity to be sent on a Thursday War to Sanhelios as both an impromptu test, and defense of an ally. This Thursday War would show Del Rio just how powerful Infinity is as it was capable of shooting down multiple ships and outright halt the battle taking place.

“Good work, Austin.” Del Rio managed a smile. “I think I am going to like this ship.”
-Del Rio after shooting down Defender of Faith, Page 303, Thursday War

After Infinity was officially recomissioned as a ship for peace, it would be tasked with locating the remaining Halos and study them for decommission. This task would lead to the discovery of the Composer on Installation 03, and subsequently lead Infinity to Requiem in the summer of 2557.

Once the Didact had tricked Master Chief into releasing him, he immediately downed Infinity on Requiem, taking away power and control from the ship.

“Mayday! Mayday! This is the captain of the UNSC Infinity. Unknown enemy has seized control of our ship. We’re without power, and on a collision course with an unidentified Forerunner planet!”
-Cutscene, Forerunner, Halo 4

And despite the fact Infinity was being forced to crash on Requiem, Del Rio still assumed from his prior experiences that Infinity could handle its current predicament. So he sent out Pelican recon teams to locate the source of the gravimetric disturbance.

“You were sent on a scouting run in the middle of an attack on the ship.”
“The Captain thought Infinity could provide us cover and hold off the attack at the same time.”
-Cutscene, Infinity, Halo 4

Infinity would be thrust into a situation it could not handle. All Pelican recon teams would be shot down along with the invasion of Infinity by Promethean and Covenant forces.

“Infinity, this is Cmdr. Lasky. Pelican recon teams are down. Repeat. All birds are down. We’ve got numerous casualties and require immediate assistance. Over.”
“Finally… Did you get the coordinates for that gravity well?”
“Affirmative, sir. But we’re going to need a bus out of here—-
“Make it happen—-”
-Cutscene, Infinity, Halo 4

Infinity’s bridge would be breached minutes later, prompting Del Rio to order all UNSC forces to return to Infinity to repel the invaders in an attempt to save the ship.

“Mayday, Mayday, Code Red. Hostile elements attempting to gain entrance to Infinity bridge!”
“They’re outside the hatch!”
“Doors breached! Doors breached!”
“All units return to Infinity immediately! That’s an order!”
-Gameplay, Infinity, Halo 4

As UNSC forces began to take back Infinity, Master Chief would be sent by Del Rio to reactivate Infinity’s ship-wide defense network in order to break the Didact’s connection with Infinity’s mainframe and disable the nearby CRS-Class Light Cruisers.

“That satellite took down the ship’s defenses and is extracting data from the mainframe as we speak.”
-Gameplay, Infinity, Halo 4

This close encounter with Infinity’s destruction shocked Del Rio. His prior experience with Forerunner technology had never resulted in such a hostile response. His way of handling ships also prompted him to make Infinity’s return to UNSC space a priority. His service record is decorated with numerous ships under his command surviving engagements with the Covenant in one piece. He had no intention of losing Infinity and costing Humanity their dominant role in the Orion Arm.

“What I want to know, people, is: where the hell did those things come from?”
“It’s possible that they’re native to Requiem... or whatever counts as native for a Forerunner AI.”
“We’ve never seen this type of offensive reaction from any of the other installations.”
-Cutscene, Infinity, Halo 4

“This is a first contact scenario, Master Chief. Priority is to free Infinity from Requiem’s gravity well and file a threat assessment back at FLEETCOM.
-Cutscene, Infinity, Halo 4

Master Chief would of course object to Del Rio’s plan to leave. But with Infinity’s Ship-Grade AI destroyed during the crash and the harassment the ship received, Del Rio would be put in a hard place. He saw no other option but to make a tactical retreat and return better prepared.

“Sir, Infinity drove the Didact back. He’s vulnerable.”
“He isn’t the only one. You know, I’d think you of all people would appreciate the benefit of living to fight another day.”
-Cutscene, Infinity, Halo 4

Despite all of Infinity’s Pelican recon teams that were initially sent out being shot down, they did complete their objective of finding the source of the gravimetric disturbance that forced Infinity onto Requiem. With the Gravity Well keeping Infinity on Requiem, Del Rio made it their next objective to disable the Gravity Well so Infinity could leave. Not wanting to subject Infinity to any more time on Requiem than necessary, he chose to not send in recon.

“Captain, what’s Force Recon’s assessment of the terrain?”
“I know you’ve been off the field for awhile Master Chief, but this is a blowthrough op. Sending in recon would slow us down. Telemetry indicates the particle cannons are being controlled from a command post southwest of our position. Roll on that target and neutralize those guns. We’ll meet on the other side and take the gravity well. Infinity out.”
-Cutscene, Reclaimer, Halo 4

As the ground teams sent in began to take out the particle cannons blocking the air corridor to the Gravity Well, Infinity would move up in an attempt to neutralise the Well. That would prove to be more difficult as the sheer amount of Covenant air traffic would swarm and engage Infinity, giving it a beating and preventing a target lock.

“We’re taking a beating up here.”
“Does Infinity have a shot on the gravity well?”
“Negative. We’ll never be able to get a target lock with all the air traffic we’re seeing.”
-Gameplay, Reclaimer, Halo 4

Master Chief would give Infinity that target lock, resulting in a missile from Infinity collapsing the Gravity Well. Once the UNSC forces were back aboard Infinity, Master Chief would once again argue for a continued campaign on Requiem in order to defeat the Didact, claiming that an encounter he had with Forerunner technology revealed history shattering revelations. Humanity had once been a space-faring civilization capable of rivaling the Forerunner Ecumene. Ancient Humanity would be battered by the Flood, crushed by the Forerunners, and devolved and composed by the Didact. Del Rio would find difficulty in believing such ludicrous claims resulting from an intelligence on a on a seemingly, entirely hostile Forerunner world. Despite Master Chief’s persistence, Captain Del Rio would order Infinity’s return to UNSC space. 

“Infinity can not handle that kind of punishment, not again!”
“This isn’t about us or the ship anymore.”
“Sir, we’ve seen what the Didact is capable of. If we let him leave this world, Humanity will be at risk”
“Look, I understand what you think you saw—-”
-Cutscene, Reclaimer, Halo 4

“Nav —-  As soon as we know we’re airtight, I want a course laid into Carinae Station. Comm, prepare a warning beacon.”
-Cutscene, Reclaimer, Halo 4

The order to return to UNSC space would push Cortana over the edge and reveal just how badly she had deteriorated due to rampancy. Not wanting to endanger Infinity and it’s crew from a potentially life-threatening rampant AI, Del Rio ordered her termination.

“I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO LEAVE THIS PLANET.”
-Cutscene, Reclaimer, Halo 4

“Commander Lasky. Pursuant to Article 55 of UNSC Regulation 12-145-72, I am ordering you remove that AI’s data chip and retire it for final dispensation.”
-Cutscene, Reclaimer, halo 4

This event would reveal where Master Chief stood. He would take possession of Cortana’s chip, and keep it aboard Infinity; an act that could endanger the crew. Having undermined Del Rio’s authority, the Captain’s reaction was intense. As a manager rather than a leader, he would be unable to handle the situation correctly, and ordered Master Chief’s arrest.

“Lieutenant. Arrest that man!”
“Captain…”
“ARREST HIM!!!”
“CAPTAIN!”
-Cutscene, Reclaimer, Halo 4

But it was too late. Master Chief, being Humanity’s living legend and savior, had inspired Infinity’s crew by his unflinching resolve to meet the Didact’s thread head on. No one would attempt to arrest him.

As word spread of what had happened on Infinity’s bridge, and it became apparent that Del Rio would abandon Chief, the crew would speculate what Del Rio’s fate would be and mull over what had happened.

“Ah-ha! The old man tried tearing him a new one. Good luck with that.”
“And good luck on the night watch,  private. The old man is still your commanding officer and you will refer to him as such. Are we clear?”
“Sir, yes sir.”
-Gameplay, Shutdown, Halo 4

“Look, I fought to get this assignment, I’m just saying—-”
“The chain of command is still chain of command.”
“C’mon, who do you think FLEETCOM is going to side with? Don’t be naive.”
-Gameplay, Shutdown, Halo 4

As Infinity returned to UNSC space, its final destination would be Cairo Station, where Del Rio was presumably debriefed. A peaceful exploratory mission would lead to Infinity’s near destruction, the discovery of a new world, new enemies, and the survival of the Master Chief. Del Rio’s choice to not take the initiative would ultimately cost him his position and the loss of physical form and free will for millions of Humans.

“Affirmative, Sir. Where’s the Captain?”
“FLEETCOM didn’t take to kindly to his abandoning you on Requiem. I’m afraid I’ll have to do.”
-Gameplay, Midnight, Halo 4

Del Rio’s final fate is still unknown, but we can speculate that he was given command of another ship, or demoted and stationed elsewhere.

What is a geas?

The term ‘geas’ originates from Irish mythology. It is often described as a spell that forces the affectee to oblige to the caster’s desires. Typically, it is the women who will place geasa on men. Sometimes the woman who places the geas holds a status comparable to a deity.

geas - NOUN (plural geasa /ˈgeSHə/) - (In Irish folklore) an obligation or prohibition magically imposed on a person.

In comparison, it is rather similar in the Halo universe, albeit more tangible to those who understand the technology. For Halo, geasa provide a multitude of functions. Most commonly used to direct the affectee to perform certain tasks, behave certain ways, or even store memories and essences of composed individuals via genetic imprints that can be passed down through offspring. Geas are typically dormant until activated by a pre-determined trigger event.

GEAS–A generations-long genetic command which can nudge or persuade individuals or generations into a planned destiny.
Instead of carrying a mostly negative connotation like it does in Irish folklore, Halo’s geasa are seen as a blessing to the humans who are imprinted with one. 

The use of geasa in Halo

I. Origin of the word in Halo

The use of the specific word ‘geas’ by the Forerunners arose out of a UNSC AI making tactical translations of Forerunner records referred to as the ‘Bornstellar Relation’ found on ONIRF Trevelyan.

AI Translator Note: The best tactical translations involve automatic conversion to immediately understandable terms and phrases, including colloquialisms. That tradition has been followed in this work.

Additionally, Forerunner translation software makes use of the same strategy by translating obscure words and phrases into culturally relevant terms for the reader. This equates to the majority of the characters in Halo all referring to this technology as ‘geas’. However, there are at least two other terms used to refer to this technology. In Halo 4 the Librarian refers to a geas as a ‘genesong’ and geasa planted in the past as ‘seeds’.

II. How are geasa imprinted on individuals?

Forerunners most commonly use a series of automated imprinting systems to remotely imprint an individual (typically human) at birth.

“To my dismay, I had to acknowledge that it was likely not her touch I had felt at birth–not her personal touch–but that of an automated imprinting system.”
-Page 374, Chapter 42, Halo: Primordium

On Installation 07, similar systems were used to imprint humans . Most notably was a large, copper colored, egg-shaped beacon hidden from human eyes through the use of a dazzler.

“I wiped the dust from my eyes and looked over a platform of Forerunner metal, about fifty meters wide and shoulder-high. It supported a great, egg-shaped structure as high as the platform was wide. This central egg, the color of beaten copper laced through with swirls of dusky sunset sky, was incised all around by smooth vertical grooves spaced an arm span apart.”
-Page 88, Chapter 7, Halo: Primordium

Contrary to these large scale imprinting systems, smaller, more personal methods of imprinting an individual with a geas is indeed possible. In the case of a personal imprint, a small, handheld structure of energy in the shape of a liquid jewel pattern is used.

“The jewel's light drew up around his head, entered his eyes and ears, spread down through his neck into chest, and body. He lifted his arms and saw his veins glow. There were so many, so alive, beautiful! And Riser was not afraid. The glow faded, his flesh turned opaque again.”
-Rebirth, Halo: Silentium

Lastly, when being imprinted with a geas involving a composed essence, the essence is stored holographically within the individual’s flesh.

“As the humans devolved, the Composer-gathered personalities and memories of their fellows at Charum Hakkor would be holographically stored within their changing flesh.
-Page 43, String 3, Halo: Silentium

III. Effects of being imprinted with a geas

First hand experience of humans who were imprinted with geas often state they were visited at birth by the Lifeshaper known as the Librarian. This has resulted in her being spiritually revered by humans as a deity; a goddess.

“She comes to us when we’re born,” Chakas said, his face dark with indignation and something more. “She watches over us as we grow, knows good from bad. She joys at our triumphs and sorrows at our passing. We all feel her presence”
-Page 46, Chapter 2, Halo: Cryptum

Humans imprinted with geas also claim the Librarian knows who they will become, and tells them what their purpose in life is. However, this information is easily forgotten at such a young age.

“We’re told who we are and why we are here. Even if it’s not secret, it’s hard to remember.”
-Page 55, Chapter 2, Halo: Cryptum

As a result of imprinting geasa on humans over the course of nine-thousand years, the entirety of the human species has the Librarian’s face and image of beauty etched into the subconscious. This results in the ideal image of a human female being modeled after the Librarian.

“I see very clearly how much the Librarian has shaped humanity since the end of the first human-Forerunner war. Whenever you look inward and see an ideal female… whether it be goddess, anima, mother, sister, or lover… For brief, barely sensible instant, you will see the face and feel the spirit of the Librarian.”
-Page 375, Chapter 42, Halo: Primordium

Contextual Examples

These are a series of examples that show the wide variety of instances and uses of geasa being used, or possibly being used. These events will be given a rough or accurate date if possible, and presented in chronological order.

I. The Precursors
Date: Over 10,000,000 years ago

A popular theory among some students of the Mantle states the Precursors were the first users of geas, imprinting them onto the Forerunners they had created.

“Some students of the Mantle even believed that the Precursors had imposed a geas upon Forerunners…”
-Page 49, Chapter 2, Halo: Cryptum

II. Humans of Erde-Tyrene
Date: 109,000 - 100,000 BCE

After the defeat of ancient humanity, the Forerunners discovered evidence of the Flood. Translating human computers, Forerunners discovered that humanity had devised a cure. Knowledge of the cure would prove impossible to pry from the defeated humans.

“Captured humans could not be forced to divulge these secrets. Analysis of dead humans revealed little.”
-Page 37, String 3, Halo: Silentium

This prompted the Forerunners to gather their essences through the use of Composers in order to preserve the memory of the cure so that when the Flood would return, the knowledge might be passed onto the Forerunner Ecumene.

“Each devolved human would in effect carry the memories of tens of thousands of their kind, preserved for future study and investigation–and passed along to their offspring … Thus, the council believed, the secret to human resistance to the Flood would eventually be found.
-Page 43, String 3, Halo: Silentium

For rising up against the Forerunners in arrogant defiance, humanity’s original punishment was extinction. The Librarian convinced the Old Council that preserving humanity was the best course of action. Leaving as much of human civilization intact as possible would make it more likely to find the cure.

IIa. Awakening the Didact
Date: 100,300 ~ 100,000 BCE

Some time after the Didact was politically exiled to a cryptum for refusing to submit to the Master Builder’s plans, the Librarian placed the Didact’s cryptum in Djamonkin Crater on Erde-Tyrene. She knew the day would come where the Ecumene and she would require the Didact’s assistance again. So the Librarian imprinted the Florians of Erde-Tyrene with a geas to defy the tricks and traps of Djamonkin Crater, laying down walls and stones to lead a Forerunner youth and two other humans to release the Didact from his cryptum.

“Of late, however, visitors–mostly Florians, I guessed–had again begun to cross the merse-filled lake, as if in anticipation of a change, an awakening. Following their geas. The Librarian had obviously tuned these people for a particular, very difficult task.”
-Page 53, Chapter 2, Halo: Cryptum

Once a path had been completed, and a Forerunner Manipular chosen to initiate the awakening process, geas caused the human called Chakas to begin to have dreams of meeting a Forerunner.

“Then I started having dreams that a Forerunner would come to visit me.”
-Page 31, Chapter 2, Halo: Primordium

 The Florian called Riser, as a result of geas, not only began to also have visions of a Forerunner as well, but had visions of a young human that resembled Chakas. This resulted in Riser seeking out Chakas.

“He said his name was Riser and had seen someone like me in a dream: a rough young hamanush who needed his guidance.”
-Page 31, Chapter 2, Halo: Primordium

Shortly after, Riser began to prepare for the arrival of this Forerunner. Chakas began to learn the description and motives of this Forerunner before he even arrived.

“Soon after Riser took charge of my life, following a decline in our work opportunities, he began to direct his attentions toward preparing for ‘a visitor.’ … He would be a young one, a Manipular, not fully mature, perhaps arrogant and foolish. He would come seeking treasure.”
-Page 33, Chapter 2, Halo Primordium

After the Forerunner, called Bornstellar, had arrived, he was directed by his ancilla to Riser and Chakas on his quest for Precursor treasure. Once all three were united, the two humans’ geas began leading them to Djamonkin Crater.

“Following our geas, we lead Bornstellar into the inland wastes a hundred kilometers from Marontik to a crater filled with a freshwater lake.”
-Page 34, Chapter 2, Halo: Primordium

Reaching Djamonkin Crater, all three would follow the walls and stones laid out hundreds of years earlier by the Florians. Eventually, they would enter the baffler that was concealing the Didact’s Cryptum. There, the two humans’ geas would trigger, causing them to sing an auditory key, the first part in awakening the Didact.

“My relief was short lived. I heard a melodic wail. Chakas and Riser had joined in a hideous song. That made no sense at all. The sand, which had withstood the immense pressure of the miner, now whirled under my feet and upended me.”
-Page 54, Chapter 2, Halo: Cryptum

All that needed to be done now to awaken the Didact was for Bornstellar to play his role in the process.

IIb. Chakas and the Lord of Admirals
Date: 100,300 ~ 100,000 BCE

While the Lord of Admirals isn’t the only human essence Chakas has inside of him, it was the first and only one to fully awaken while he was still human. The activation and awakening process began when Chakas encountered the Didact in Djamonkin Crater on Erde-Tyrene. The process was furthered along by geas of ancient memories being triggered when visiting Charum Hakkor.

“A deeper imprint was germinated when you met the Didact, and flowered when you took he took you to Charum Hakkor. There, the imprint took on a distinct shape–a personality was revived.”
-Page 185, Chapter 19, Halo: Primordium

A few days after Chakas had crashed on Halo Installation 07 after the battle of the Forerunner Capital, the Lord of Admiral’s essence had awakened enough to begin speaking in Chakas’ mind. He, or possibly another human essence, was also capable of sharing complex mathematical and physics related concepts at the time.

“The old memories stirred violently. My brain seemed to leap with the excitement of someone else, watching and thinking inside of me. I saw diagrams, felt numbers flood through my thoughts, felt the hoop, the Halo, spinning on more than one axis…. What human that came from, I had no idea, but I saw clearly that based on engineering and physics, a Halo would not be able to precess very quickly.”
-Page 44, Chapter 4, Halo: Primordium

As time progressed, the Lord of Admirals gained more strength and power, capable of taking over Chakas’ sensorimotor skills, and staggering him. Or, even outright controlling his body if Chakas allowed it to some degree. This process would be physically taxing for Chakas.

“Half-compelled, I gave the Lord of Admirals my voice and and he spoke through my mouth. The effort racked my body. My muscles twitched and sweat beaded my brow. His words at first were clumsy and mumbled. … We had become puppets, and I feared these spirits would never let us go.”
-Page 224 & 226, Riser’s Story, Halo: Primordium

IIc. Human Docility
Date: 109,000-100,000 BCE

Among the geasa imposed on the humans of Erde-Tyrene, one of docility towards Forerunners was commonplace. This geas also affected the societal behavior of the humans.

“Here, she said, the genetically impressed rules of the Librarian included docility towards Forerunners, wariness toward strangers, and discretion in all else.”
-Page 21, Chapter 1, Halo: Cryptum

III. Humans of Installation 07
Date: 101,000 ~ 100,000 BCE

As with the humans on other Halos and Arks, the humans of Installation 07 were designated as reserve populations. Not to be tampered with. The Master Builder would violate the agreements he had made with the Librarian and take control of the reserve populations.

“ ‘But then the Master Builder reneged on his agreements with the Librarian. Over the last few hundred years, reckoning by the years you know, the Master Builder’s forces took command of the installation’s human specimens.’ ”
-Page 190, Chapter 19, Halo: Primordium

Humans from Erde-Tyrene would be brought to Installation 07. A contradiction from orders given by the Librarian and Old Council. The ancient human essences were not to be allowed access to Forerunner military installations.

“ ‘No humans from your planet were brought here–until recently.’ Not even the Librarian would risk my presence on such a weapon! … ‘In contradiction to specific instructions from both the Librarian and the Council, beginning just over a century ago, humans from the Librarian’s special populations were transported here from Erde-Tyrene.’ ”
-Page 189 & 190, Chapter 19, Halo: Primordium
 
The humans born on Installation 07 were outfitted with a few geas designed to cater to Forerunner research in someway. One of which was a geas that gave the humans a sense of direction, telling them where to go.

“ ‘Maybe she touched you with a sense of direction, not just a memory of the place.’ … For a moment she swayed back and forth and I thought she would fall over, but instead, she spun around several times–then she jerked out her arm and pointed a finger.”
-Page 76 & 79, Chapter 5, Halo: Primordium
 
This orientation geas was controlled by signals being sent out from beacons. However, as the situation on Installation 07 changed and escalated, conflicting signals began emanating from the beacons, pulling humans towards different locations like research facilities or the Palace of Pain.

“ ‘How could she know where to go with everything changing?’ ‘Yet you are here,’ Genemender said. ‘Beacons send signals, and the signals are updated as circumstances change.’ No sense arguing. Beacons across the wheel sending out conflicting signals…not impossible.”
-Page 184, Chapter 19, Halo: Primordium

The orientation geas is able to manifest itself in a number of ways. Some of which were a need for safety during danger, an urge or need to travel somewhere, the promise of good food, or the voice of a genderless child.

“ ‘Seen what?’ I asked. We crested a low hill. ‘A place where I should go when I am in trouble,’ she said. … ‘There!’ she cried hoarsely. ‘I feel it again! We need to go there.’ … ‘Well, I don’t know what to think, but it’s telling me there’s food and water nearby.’ … ‘It comes into my head like sunshine through the dark. It comes new and fresh when there is something important to tell me. And it is the voice of a child–a lost child, very young.’ “
Page 74, 79, 244 & 276, Chapter 5, 22 & 25, Halo: Primordium

A second geas imposed on the humans of Installation 07 was the instinct to bring things that were abnormal or strange to the Forerunners for them to examine. It is because of this geas, that when Chakas crashed on Installation 07, he was pulled from the wreckage.

“ ‘Not at all normal or what one would expect, even here. Her people were long ago imprinted with the need to bring such curiosities to a station where we might evaluate them.’ ”
-Page 183, Chapter 19, Halo: Primordium

IV. The Silentium and Reseeding
Date: 100,000 BCE

After the activation of the Halo Array, the surviving humans that were brought to the Ark would be given a new geas. One that would assist them during the time they would spend on the Ark as the Forerunners prepared to reseed the galaxy with the lifeforms they had indexed and sampled. First and foremost of the effects of the new geas was the understanding of what the Forerunners had done, along with images to give them context.

“Then something in his head clicked and the new geas brought forth memories both suppressed, and new. The jewel's words and images rose up behind his eyes and he saw, knew, for the first time, desolation. Villages deserted, farms abandoned, empty, roads stretching to empty houses. The great world scrubbed, and swept out like plague-filled huts! Everything he knew,gone! Sad crumpled bodies not even given time to rot! Dissolving, sinking into the dirt! That made him cry out. Not even bones to bury or burn!”
-Rebirth, Halo: Silentium

The geas did not only provide them with images relevant to them, but of other places in the galaxy in an attempt to make them fully understand what the Forerunners had done to the galaxy.

“The geas allowed him to see this as well. Above the places that were dirt and water, the great Forerunner ships would float forever through the sky, empty, their crews gone. They killed Forerunners too! Impossible to imagine the size and reach of it. Too vast to understand–Enough!”
-Rebirth, Halo: Silentium

In addition to these images provided for understanding what had happened, the geas provided the humans with a more tangible change. Skills in what plants on the Ark were safe to eat or to use for medicinal purposes.

“After Trial had introduced them to the food buildings, Lifeworkers gathered the humans large and small, and explained that their new geas would help them understand which plants here were safe to eat, and which could help them if they fell ill.”
-Rebirth, Halo: Silentium

V. Modern Humanity in the 26th Century
Date: 2511 - Present CE

Despite the fact geas were imprinted on humanity over 100,000 years ago, they remained dormant until needed after humanity was reseeded. The Librarian had very big plans for humanity. Chiefly of which involved obtaining the Mantle. Sometime around 2511, a geas was activated in Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey. This geas would nudge and tug her to an eventuality: MJOLNIR, the SPARTAN-II program, and Cortana.

“Reclaimer when I indexed mankind for repopulation, I hid seeds from the Didact. Seeds which would lead to an eventuality. Your physical evolution. Your combat skin. Even your ancilla, Cortana. You are the culmination of a thousand lifetimes of planning.”
-Cutscene, Reclaimer, Halo 4
 
Decades later, humanity would encounter Halo Installation 04. 343 Guilty Spark, the caretaker of Installation 04 would detect humanity as they entered the system. In an attempt to direct humanity to a designated landing zone on the ring, 343 Guilty Spark noted how he needed to be certain what kind of geas the humans had before allowing full access; an indication of the power geas still have in humanity.

“This ring contains significant dangers, and even with your assumed legacy, I must verify the presence and pitch of your geas before allowing full access.”
-Terminal 1, Halo CEA

After humans made landfall on Installation 04, geas began activating in humans, notably the Master Chief. The geas would give the humans a sense of familiarity with Forerunner technology. Even indicating certain buttons to press. For the Master Chief, this would continue throughout his journey on Halo.

“The display’s shimmering geometric patterns nagged at him, as if he should recognize them somehow. Even with his enhanced memory, he couldn’t place where he’d seen them before. They just seemed…familiar. … He wasn’t sure why he touched the ‘button’ on the display. He just knew it felt right.”
-Page 95, Chapter 3, Halo: The Flood DE

The ability to detect which button to press on Forerunner hard light panels is a process described as instinctual. On a comparable level to the flight or fight response.

“He seemed to know instinctively how to activate the panel–it almost seemed hard-wired, like his flight or flight response.”
-Page 189, Chapter 6, Halo: The Flood DE

Encountering Forerunner technology on Halo would not be the only catalyst for dormant geas. SPARTAN-II Blue Team’s Fred would encounter a similar familiarity with Forerunner symbols in the Forerunner tunnels under Mechanite Mountain on Reach.

“There was something too fascinating and nearly familiar about those symbols.”
-Page 174, Chapter 15, Halo: First Strike DE

Five years later in 2557, the Librarian would reveal to the Master Chief that she imprinted humanity with geas. Her plan was to create a key figure for humanity; the Master Chief. However, the reasoning behind why she would do this remains unclear, albeit important.

“You are the culmination of a thousand lifetimes of planning.”
“Planning for what?”
-Cutscene, Reclaimer, Halo 4

Quote from: Mr. Admirals on September 17, 2014, 11:21:02 PM

Quote from: Sandtrap on September 17, 2014, 11:14:14 PM

Quote from: Mr. Admirals on September 17, 2014, 11:12:28 PM

>MFW a demo from 2001 is more entertaining than Bungie's E3 2013 Demo.

Good to see you admirals.

MOON BABY

Yeah, some of your old threads would get bumped and I'd get sad because I remembered you were gone.

I made threads of any significance to be bumped?

Apparently.

Quote from: Mr. Admirals on September 17, 2014, 11:12:28 PM

>MFW a demo from 2001 is more entertaining than Bungie's E3 2013 Demo.

Good to see you admirals.

MOON BABY

Yeah, some of your old threads would get bumped and I'd get sad because I remembered you were gone.

ayy lmao

I'm here now. I think my username should be Lord of Admirals, but if not, it's who I am.