Precursors' History | Origins of the Flood (Halo Lore)

[@phurian_6560]

Forerunners: wipe out nearly every precursor in existence Precursors millions of years later: *mom said it's my turn to play the xbox*

[@NevadaGamingWedge]

YO! I WAS THE 343 MARK!

[@paynevess8822]

It's funny because Halo was xbox exclusive

[@machomanalexyt5736]

@@paynevess8822 *microsoft exclusive

[@paynevess8822]

@@machomanalexyt5736 shit you right

[@ghostsvoid5298]

Until PlayStation took all the worst versions of toxicity

[@summanus4437]

"God like beings" *Shows a Jellyfish*

[@nightvisiontv1847]

*WELLLLLLLLLLL* Jellyfish are immortal......

[@rajendrashetti2363]

The Primordial had a face akin to that of a sea scorpion

[@summanus4437]

@@rajendrashetti2363 And a Jellyfish has no face lol.

[@TheIridescentFisherMan]

Jelly fish to our knowlege have no Brains yet function...produce offspring...and have been around much much much longer than us.

[@genericbackgroundcharacter8431]

Jellyfish are so advanced beings, that to us they look stupid and no concept of conscience but in reality they are so advanced that we can't even fathom their consciences, to us they are animals to them they are gods.

[@flyingflamingflamingos3793]

I love the idea of the logic plague, a series of questions and philosophies that take years to deliver, and makes organics go insane and convince A.I.s that they're in the right

[@darkestcarving8735]

How do you know it's convincing the AIS rather than just proving that they're wrong in their adjustment I mean you could tell the computer the hardest truth but it does not have a gun to kill itself so it just has to deal with the problem that it's just been given but with organics there's susceptible to self-harm there are no regulations keeping them from doing so also morbid thought how do zenhielians kill themselves

[@flyingflamingflamingos3793]

@@darkestcarving8735 I'd assume if an AI wanted to kill itself it could in one way or another. I always assumed the logic plague is so complex and beyond human reasoning, like u can never teach a cat math because its physically impossible, u cant teach organics the logic plague because we arent physically able, something an AI might be able to comprehend but organics cant

[@jefferylittleton1005]

@@flyingflamingflamingos3793 AIs think millions of times faster than we do. Planting a seed of logic that is contrary to the goal of human preservation would develop quickly into what would seem like madness. We would think it had gone crazy, but in reality it has just worked on thought that has lead to the logical conclusion that the flood should be allowed to consume everything. There's a story in Halo:Evolutions of Cortana speaking to the Grave mind on High Charity.

[@justaman5726]

Welcome to the scp foundation

[@trampoline11x]

@@justaman5726 Welcome to Hanger 96

[@zalrohglekgolo6149]

Cortana was never cured by the domain, all the info we have implies her ejected rampancy spike became a full AI via the domain. The old Cortana is destroyed and we are looking at a twisted copy.

[@chrissonofpear1384]

That's definitely among the leading theories, at this point. I certainly agree she is not all there, now.

[@davidamajako961]

Yet i feel even the corrupted fragment of herself could change into good. Cortona is after all a fragment of the beloved scientist. The mother figure who got blamed for the kidnapping of children and used for the Spartan Program. And so it seems that even fragmenta can learn, grow and adapt.

[@Maples01]

IDK, she was humming like guilty spark did in the previous games, what if what we see as Cortana is the return of guilty spark

[@mkefayati473]

@@chrissonofpear1384 something else in control of her?

[@Vysair]

Well she is based on what I saw from the 2020 Halo

[@TheTyphoon365]

but can the precursors cook a hot pocket to perfection??

[@Zoeyplaytime]

Yes

[@ztunelover]

The final test of becoming the final tier of being.

[@AeronHale]

Nah that's impossible. Everyone knows that!

[@noble2311]

Better yet, a toaster strudel without it being burnt or still cold in the middle?

[@AeronHale]

Is it weird that I like my toaster strudels still cold in the middle?

[@deusexaethera]

Ancient Human #1: "Sir, we've found a strange white powder on the floor of the unknown alien starship." Ancient Human #2: "Intriguing. A white powder you say? We should investigate its biochemical properties." Ancient Human #1: "Should I quarantine a sample in a level-5 containment field and take it to the science lab for study?" Ancient Human #2: "Nah, just go get me a mirror, a razor blade, and a rolled-up dollar bill. And fetch my pet bunnyrabbit from my quarters, I have another idea too." Not much has changed.

[@andrefilipe9042]

I am laughing reading this.

[@deusexaethera]

@@andrefilipe9042: Good! That was the point. 😁

[@jamesmiller4515]

Typical humans, even if they are given advanced sentience they will find a way mess it up.

[@justice_crash2521]

Jesus smh... Its in our nature to be that stupid lmao

[@alexisbaz8746]

Probably they study everything and didn't find any dangerous, but then the Flood mutated in a way that goes against nature, is like the bacteria that helps us to digest turning into flesh eating bacteria for some reason xd

[@noahhastings6145]

"No known precursor artifacts still exist" Domain: *Exists* (even though it shouldnt)

[@NathanDraxter]

Noah Hastings good thing they saved everything in the cloud before being wiped

[@badjuju2721]

well, Halo 5 didn't do a lot of lore right

[@omgwaffles09]

Good thing the precursors had their backup 5 Yottabyte harddrive in the neighbouring galaxy

[@beelzeboss9631]

Could be the forerunner domain? Maybe they made their own?

[@BL-bg1fj]

Domain is forerunner isn’t it?

[@FGS-yk3vc]

Maybe the powder never corrupted, and is functioning as designed.

[@voidflamez1996]

Why Johnsons!!

[@demonsagex]

Mmm, I like this conspiracy theory... Maybe the flood was designed to be a test for whichever species attempted to claim the Mantle of Responsibility?

[@wayfarerzen]

@@demonsagex The Flood are how Precursors make more Precursors, and/or how they intended to come back from extinction. The thought of the ground-down biological dust of precursors becoming corrupted after such and such many hundreds of thousands of years is preposterous for a race transcending the boundaries of space and time. It's doing what it was supposed to.

[@FGS-yk3vc]

@@wayfarerzen If the precursors were shape shifters then who's to say that a grave mind isn't a precursors in one of it's infinite body shape possibilities?

[@skizzik121]

@@FGS-yk3vc why choose a giant dong plant?????

[@geodoesathing9600]

Forerunners: *kills almost every precursor Precursors like a million years later: *Imma do whats called a pro gamer move*

[@Cybernaut551]

Humans: Laughs that includes Master Chief and others.

[@masterninja255]

Been playing Halo about 10 years now, this is one of the best Halo lore about the precursors I've seen well done

[@SuperUndying]

I would actually like to know more about why the Precursor molecular dust never reconstituted, despite their supposed omnipotence.

[@redlantern6669]

It did reconstitute, just not the way it was supposed to

[@nyalan8385]

@@redlantern6669 or maybe it did reconstitute how it was supposed to

[@theslayer1197]

​@@redlantern6669 their are theory's that they made themselves into the flood to make all life one and therefore all life could exist in them and continue their idea of the mantle of responsibility

[@KripticHCS]

​​@@nyalan8385i really support this theory. Either they are so hell bent on vengeance, or it is all just part of the test for the mantle. As we know they don't really have a form. So it is hard to believe they could actually become corrupted. Even the gravemind said humanity will be tested

[@conscripthornet4430]

@@KripticHCS I believe it's both, the flood is the consequence for the forerunners and the true test of faith for the mantle. The flood when it could have never wiped out humanity, it was like it still held some sort of sentience to know humanity was not at fault for the forerunner's aggression to the precursors. The precursors losing in a war against the forerunners at all made no sense since the flood (which was supposed to be a inferior version of the precursors themselves) was actively rampaging through the forerunners and humanity at the same time and would have exterminated both with no difficulty using precursor technology. If the flood can beat the forerunners AND humans with precursor technology, why couldn't the precursors? The flood was created by the dust of the precursors, it's not very hard to believe that the Precursors used the flood as a force of nature to test humanity and punish the forerunners.

[@DoctorGrim456]

Forunners: kills the precursors Precursors: *laughs in forth dimension*

[@DoctorGrim456]

Light Morningstar, I don’t think it was specifically stated, only that it made them kill themselves

[@leanmeangreenbeanmachine3347]

4-11th dimension actually

[@megahunterkiller]

*fourth

[@leanmeangreenbeanmachine3347]

Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B precursors don’t occupy the 5th dimension either

[@kylecollinson6782]

You are blowing up man.. most down to earth, funny lore commentator out here, keep it up

[@SameToken]

Thank you so much!

[@xGoodOldSmurfehx]

im not even exaggerating, this has to be the best Halo lore narration on youtube, its smooth and focuses on relevance thats a big deal coming from me because i dont usually take time to compliment someone for quality unless its exquisite or if i have a huge interest in the video content, in this case the former mostly being the case so in any case its also very rare for me to say that a video had a smooth narration/content and/or had ONLY relevant information without straying away from the relevance or subject now i know where ill be getting my in-depth Halo lore info from

[@jacksonjacob7791]

I appreciate he doesnt talk a million miles an hour unlike other channels and allows the information to process.

[@Bluudclaat]

You are honest and rare. A very special person.

[@xGoodOldSmurfehx]

@@Bluudclaat sometimes people basically give me the middle finger for telling it like it is, they dont like it and i get that but i keep it raw and real credit where credit is due i say, honesty is the best weapon against bullshit

[@centurymemes1208]

no lol installation 00 is miles better

[@Ikcatcher]

I’ll never forget the time I tried explaining all this to my friend who just started getting into Halo with Reach MCC. The first thing he asked me after I had explained was “How does John Halo fit into this?”

[@_-ghostfps-_8651]

That's what's haunting about Halo

[@coops3600]

Guilty spark happens to know exactly how he fits into all of this ;)

[@codenametimelord]

FINIT

[@MartianBuddy]

_- GHOST FPS -_ the shift of focus took turn for the worse, I mean they could’ve told an interesting story but I feel it fell flat on its back and now 343 is panic mode. Poor halo

[@olbabybeard]

He's like the halo Jesus

[@ManuelJGR14]

I didn't know instalation 07 was so important in the ancient past. Now I can't wait for Halo Infinite

[@B1GDINO]

I understand the Flood to be the precursor super 'weapon' that resets a galaxy but first collects all knowledge into grave minds then allowing the PreCursors to start afresh with massive knowledge.

[@damenwhelan3236]

They are already omnipotent. Precursors I mean.

[@jamesblackburn6139]

I think the Flood and the precursors are one and the same

[@GeorgisTrying]

​@@jamesblackburn6139 why? It's established that precursors are their biological source, but they're corrupted and limited mutations of precursor DNA. The Forerunners treated them as different, ancient humanity treated them as different; they're not Precursors anymore.

[@whitecat1441]

i know i hear and read the lore so many times but i just never get bored hearing or reading it!

[@SameToken]

14:28 - 10,000 Subscribers, thank you so much!

[@BigBladeFan]

Say hello to 11.6k subs dude.

[@shmarvdogg69420]

U make good videos

[@SameBasicRiff]

Congrats man! You could make it to 100K! Just dont rush content and keep up the great work!

[@SameToken]

Highkey x If I remember, most of the footage is from in-game cutscenes - as such it’s Microsoft’s copyright. So, as long as it’s fair use you’re absolutely good to go!

[@seamon9732]

Seems like the release of the MCC on PC just gave your channel a boost... it's now at more than 15k.

[@Installation00]

Excellent work buddy. If ever you fancy a little collab between the two of us, be sure to give me a shout!

[@SameToken]

Thank you so much! That would be absolutely brilliant, will drop you a message soon!

[@maarten9272]

Give daddy a good succc

[@mauz791]

@@maarten9272 bruh

[@warcrimes390]

Forerunners: *kills precursor’s* Precursor’s: *laughs in transcended being*

[@musicman2668]

Lol

[@flawedpyro4650]

*laughs in flood*

[@scottm8292]

Laugh in revenge

[@mcelfreshiii]

10,000????? I never paid attention, but this is 2-5mil sub level content quality. Keep it up.

[@raytemprosa9445]

Me: Halo lore isnt *that* confusing Halo lore:

[@darkestcarving8735]

Yeah that's about right

[@nikobelic4251]

It’s probably some of the most complex lore out there tbh. You could have a college course on Halo Lore

[@tsarbombawithinternetconne875]

@@nikobelic4251 *big bad alien group want destroy human cus they think it bad for religion and their religion is from advanced race but advance race die because of super zombie god but big bad alien group die because big bad scrotum leader is lying so the other good alien teams up with human and destroy big bad scrotum leader and super zombie god leader*

[@nikobelic4251]

@@tsarbombawithinternetconne875 “He’s out of line but he’s right”

[@tsarbombawithinternetconne875]

@@nikobelic4251 halo wars 2 explained: *big human spaceship is lost for many years but they wake up after they are in a anicent origami thingy but big bad alien group member hate Evil big bad scrotum leader so he left big bad alien group and rebel and formed big bad rebel group. Big human ship fight big bad rebel group but big bad alien group base crashed on origami thingy and released super space zombie, but super space zombie try to form super hentai monster but big bad rebel group killed it. Human scientist find wae for big human ship to return home but human scientist trapped giant hula hoop.

[@dr.catherineelizabethhalse1820]

I like that you go with the idea of flood being corrupred regeration dust. Some say it was deliberate plan and revenge by Precursors. I personally understand it so that the vengeful motivation and philosophies the gravemind had came mostly from just that one precursor, Primordial.

[@jamesblackburn6139]

I view it completely differently, I view the flood and the precursors as the same thing, once they absorb so much organic matter they basically become Gods. The flood created life and when the time came they decided to pick a race that would take up the mantel and start the unification of all life. The Forerunner refused, so Humans got to start this process instead

[@ayaz5219]

This is by far the comprehensive explanation of the halo universe's history, I'm very impressed. Although I knew most the information you presented, I watched the whole thing because the delivery was perfect, and I also learned a few things!

[@mpinnock]

Check out Installation 00 It's even more in depth than this!

[@Zenniverse]

Halo is so much more philosophical than scientific in it’s lore. In this; the Halo story is timeless.

[@novablue2235]

being a halo lore fan and having read/listened to every book written on the subject multiple times (thank you audio books for keeping me sane while commuting)...This is an excellent recounting of precursor lore...well done...now a subscriber and look forward to watching/listening to more

[@infiniumdankstar4562]

Can we take a moment to realize just how fucking intelligent the precursors were to have set such a series of events in motion over the course of millions and millions of years? If the theories are right and the flood will test mankind for the mantle, these things are so far beyond genius.

[@chrissonofpear1384]

And the actual 'test' may not even come for ANOTHER million years, and may also lead to the end of the universe,. somehow (going by Primordium novel)

[@TheBanjoShowOfficial]

Well I mean if you think about it, they probably have read alot from the Bible because similar events occur. God creates humanity, he knows humanity will be inherently flawed due to their knowledge of good and evil, and as such he sets forth a lineage of man starting from Abraham onwards even to David. This lineage will inevitably give birth to the savior of man whom is also a manifestation of God himself (Jesus Christ if you didn't get it already). This was all written far, far in advance to his birth but then once he is on Earth, he is rejected, and as such the prophecy of the ultimate sacrifice is fulfilled so humanity can co-exist with God again. The precursors have their manifestation through the primordial, or the flood, whichever, of which the forerunners reject, and are ultimately destroyed by. A similar separation of wheat from chaff occurs in Christian theology. Although they are not equivalent since one is predicated upon birthright, that being the precursors notions of whom shall inherit the mantle being based upon species, while the other is predicated upon belief, as those who believe in Christ and his crucifixion are saved. Lots of similarities in my opinion

[@cameronharvey4746]

These are honestly some of the best and well made lore videos I've seen done. A lot of people end up repeating things they've said over and over again to extend a video or make random videos that aren't worth making (a lot of starwars lore videos) but these are so so good.

[@potatoesmashymash5836]

I'm really happy this and other videos from other channels were made explaining the precursors. There's a lot of Halo fans who don't know squat of The Precursors and they got to know who and what they were because the Precursors are such a crucial and important part of the story. Without them there wouldn't be much of the lore.

[@douglassopperman1201]

Without them there wouldn’t be any lore lmao no them no life

[@emanuelepetrino7482]

I’ve been on a Halo Lore binge the past few days and I have to say that halo has some of the greatest science fiction Lore I’ve ever encountered.

[@jmanj9379]

Thank you for this deep lore. I love the games. But haven't delved into all the back story. You help me appreciate the depth of this universe. Much love

[@alexanderfurman9197]

Dang this is pretty in depth. I've read SO MUCH Halo lore, but have never heard a lot of this about the Precursors. Just curious what your source material is?

[@SameToken]

The storyline aspects were primarily from the forerunner saga, with Halo Mythos and Warfleet adding a little more depth.

[@Wtfgladiator]

Not completely sure myself but I think the forerunner trilogy books talks about the Precursors and the rest was shared bits and pieces

[@chrissonofpear1384]

I have also been writing a fan fiction novel based on it, largely from Mendicant Bias' viewpoint, called 'Begging After Knowledge'.

[@lilcatfriend4575]

@@chrissonofpear1384 ohh when your done where would I find it?

[@blugaledoh2669]

@@chrissonofpear1384 yeah where

[@greggeverman5578]

This video deserves a million views! So much explained which even die hard Halo fans could scarcely have known!

[@saenes6295]

Much better quality video and lore video then most others who decide to do the same here on youtube, well done!

[@samuelecasamassima540]

Wow. This is no doubt the best precursor explanation on KZbin!

[@Harry94074]

Why did this Precursor want to kill humans though? They were the true inheritors of the mantel and never brought harm to the precursors?

[@TheSurgePhoenix]

Seemingly as a test to see if they truly should inherit the mantle

[@poopsanchez6449]

Because it's a different form of Humanity. UNSC and all that, are nothing like they were back then.

[@noahstevens3060]

My theory is the primordial was a deviant, malicious precursor who was imprisoned by them. So it's actions don't reflect the others beliefs or ideas.

[@Harry94074]

@@noahstevens3060 That sounds pretty legit to me

[@karsten3360]

@@noahstevens3060 thing is though that humanity found the primordial there and never out him there in the first place. True they did keep him there but because they had no idea what he was or what he could do and humanity was not the ones to try and destroy the precousers in the first place so why where they punished as well for something an entirely different species did

[@1Buttonmasher]

So my take on all this after reading into this: The way that the Precursors operated was the way of hubris, arrogance and self-appointed divine right. As they had reached such a level of technology and scientific understanding, they believed themselves to be untouchable gods, not only able but also duty-bound to create life forms and bend reality to their will. They never believed, in all the billions of years of their endeavour, that all of this arrogance in action would ever backfire. They were wrong. When the Forerunners, themselves a creation of the Precursors, turned against them, the Precursors did not understand how or why this turn of events was taking place. For untold eons they had shaped reality, created life, extinguished entire species all on a whim just to satisfy their philosophy of the “Mantle of Responsibility”, that life was theirs to create, cultivate, or destroy. Though the Precursors were once somewhat benevolent and pacifistic, the reason for this was not entirely virtuous. They were pacifists simply by virtue of being the ultimate power in the universe, untouchable (or so they thought) by any other life form that they created. When the Forerunners turned against them and began their campaign of genocide, it was not simply a matter of their children turning against them out of jealousy. It was a manifestation of their inner weakness, their own inner pettiness and lust for power, since the Forerunners were created by them in a completely inorganic way, engineered from the ground up. The Precursor reaction to this rebellion exposed and deepened this weakness, and showed their true colours; by transforming themselves into the Flood to destroy all life as they had originally created it, and cause endless, nightmarish suffering to all sapient life in the name of “unity” and vengeance against their creations that dared to rise against them. In this way, these self-appointed gods fell and became the monsters they always were inside, unleashing a horror without equal upon the universe. In reality, the Precursors always were imperialistic tyrants, so filled with their own ego that they could never dream of their unethical manipulation of life ever backfiring. In becoming the Flood, they only became worse, but they never truly cared for the autonomy, free will and desires of the species they created. All life was in service to them and in losing that power, which they were drunk from, they became vicious, vengeful, and hateful. For all their technology and power, they failed completely to advance in one key area: empathy. This failure had far-reaching consequences and is reflected in their creations.

[@gordo8354]

As they say: “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. The moment you stop looking over your shoulder, not in bravery, but in vain over-confidence, is the moment you doom yourself to hubris.

[@toamatanui401]

Deep, and makes the most sense.

[@subhransu7810]

Makes sense

[@JRG333]

Which is why they chose not to give the Mantle of Responsibility to the forerunners and instead it was going to go to the humans. The forerunners proved the point of the Precursors because it was all a test. The ultimate challenge was needed to forge a species strong, wise, intelligent, and transcendent enough to hold to the Mantle of Responsibility. The forerunners obviously failed, and the story continues with humanity, which is a possibility to why Bungie left after Halo 3. The story was to remain a mystery and the possibility for Humanity to hold the key to becoming transcendent enough/ worthy. Could have made for a hell of a story, and ending where we either repeated the flame of the older Gods, or created a new flame altogether, maybe one where we filled in what they missed.

[@seekingabsolution1907]

Pretty sure the precursors didn't think it was jealousy of them, they thought it was spite over their own inadequacy, and jealousy of humanity, and they might well have been. After all the forerunners thought the crime they committed was so great the exiled the warriors that did it and erased them from historical record. The precursors urge to create is immutable, they must create, but they never thought that the beings they created would rise up in strength against them. They weren't monsters or tyrants in their beginning, much less so than the forerunners were. Instead they were driven mad by grief, a madness they then inflicted on those that had brought it about. Mire over I think you're being too soft on the forerunner, who were tyrants who stole their authority from wiser and more advanced beings than themselves and dragged those beings down to their level out of hubris.

[@zachariousoftroy]

🎵 Where did ya come from, where did ya go, where did ya come from Precursor Joe 🎵

[@Barold]

I've been on a big halo lore binge recently and I haven't found any better videos then I do here. You make it feel like you're talking about something beautiful and important, which I guess you could argue you are. Great videos man :)

[@kronos444]

This was among the, if not the, best explanation for the Precursors I've watched. I knew already most of what what was said, yet it was fragmented. With this video's aid I was able to put it all together into a coherent stream of thought. Therefore, I would like to award you the highest honor I can bestow. *SUBSCRIBES*

[@SharinganEx]

Everything about this video is made perfectly

[@jordanr.4856]

Wonderfully well constructed content here. Your voice is good and your clarity is admirable. Editing is on point and the music/pacing is also well done. Get used to seeing that sub count rise at a rapid rate, friend. You’re doing great work.

[@SameToken]

Thank you!!

[@PonderThatGaming]

Youre doing an awesome job commentating and teaching about halo lore, keep up the good work!

[@AncientWisdom-TV]

I’m waiting for Chief to get blessed with some ancient power to become essentially a god, similar to doomguy which was revealed in Doom Eternal.

[@scheme8824]

This did already kind of happen. The Librarian gifted Chief immunity to The Composer

[@georgelucas9699]

@@scheme8824 Next step is "The Mantle" becomes a physical object, and Chief wears it as a cape.

[@Blockistium]

Lame IMO

[@bentaplayz9100]

Yknow what keeps chief a badass is that he does all the stuff being a normal human (bio-augmented) and if you make him a god then I don't think he'll be a badass

[@joshuabenedict3515]

@@bentaplayz9100 nah bc doom guy still is and he’s talked about basically as a god

[@peterheinzo515]

I only played Halo 2 for a few times a decade ago, but the lore and how you present it is just fascinating

[@folgur4334]

Great video, really well put together, not only just the Lore, but also presentation & tone. Very enjoyable to watch!

[@samjames5134]

Puny forrunners don't have anything on the Primodial

[@kevooo1250]

Who?

[@samjames5134]

Kev the primordial is a precursor gravemind hybrid

[@johnharrison7997]

Once again mate, an outstanding video. You made a quite complex subject easy to understand and filled in a lot of blanks in lore knowledge. Easily one of the best content makers. 👍😁

[@denizhartmann6796]

I've watches this video so many times already, it's such a good video, looking besides the insane amount of information (basically everything there is to know about the precursors) but mainly the way you told this more like a story, than a documentary. You have a way with words that really sets you apart from others and i think it's especially notable in this video. I remember back on halo follower when you made a video about the four horsemen in halo, still one of the best one you've made! Anyways, great content!

[@xxinfamyyyxx]

Got to say that was an absolutely excellent video. Brilliantly put together 👍

[@geoffreypixton1729]

Great video man. I had heard bits and pieces but never the full story.

[@deanchu1784]

I seriously learned a lot about Halo lore through this video! Great work

[@daniel_eizoku]

This is the best origin story for halo video out! Well done man. Keep up the good work 🙏

[@vuzereusazureus2245]

The Precursors knew, Mantle of Responsibility belong to all, the precursor, forerunner, human, covenant and etc is none worthy to hold it, no species are worthy except the sum of it all, The Mantle of Responsibility are meant to be shared. The Precursors knew this and suicide themselves like the scientist with the Oracle at 8:50, The Precursors created a neutral all consuming entity- The Flood. The Flood will wash and assimilate all living things to hold The Mantle of Responsibility, this is why Mendicant Bias, Cortana and most of the AI switched sides to the Precursors effort, to achieve a single unity of all, achieving the ultimate form - The real Mantle of Responsibility owner. Sign up now to assimilate with us and receive the ultimate form that we all intended to be, be reunited.

[@MrHav1k]

Been a fan of the games for almost two decades, yet I still didn't know all of this. Fascinating.

[@felixschindewolffs1995]

Same.

[@seekingabsolution1907]

Thats because all the interesting lore is squirrelled away in the novels, this information is mostly from the forerunner trilogy by Greg Bear.

[@jeremybair4373]

Keep making Halo vids and I’ll watch them all!

[@mridulmohan8408]

I literally subscribed first for the gratitude you have for viewers. And one can see it's genuine. And secondly for the awesome content! I began the Halo series on the original Xbox when i was 11 but couldn't play the after Halo 2 as we never bought the Xbox 360. It's amazing to live out the story through your videos. Thank you.

[@ilexcorp]

Wow Epic Quality and storytelling. It even has somthing phylosophical.

[@TheTyphoon365]

yes very epic

[@TheTyphoon365]

yes very epic

[@jamesmerrill613]

Great video! Learned a lot about the Precursors that I hadn’t picked up on before. 👍🏻

[@silverthehero1295]

The Domain sounds like the Cloud on a universal scale.

[@higrunt9844]

The primordial in the forerunner is incredibly cursed for no reason and I love it.

[@james199522]

Man, you're killing it with with these videos 🤙

[@SameToken]

So glad you're enjoying, thank you!

[@CasanovaFluff]

Phenomenal video bro. Bravo

[@LowieX]

shocking how mendicant bias & the precursors wasnt involved in any of infinites story, despite mendicant bias at least making little appearances in halo 2& 3 & being a quite significant figure lore wise infinites story was just shocking in general

[@Degenevesting]

Yeah facts dude

[@alexhartley390]

keep up the good work brotha,your my favorite Halo lore youtuber by far. i could listen to u explain Halos lore alllllllll day.

[@freddyfrog70]

I DON'T NEED SLEEP, I NEED ANSWERS

[@kurtsyy361]

I hope you get popular of this you put so much effort into your vids keep it up!

[@Hexsyn]

Didnt realize there was so much lore that I hadn't heard anything about!

[@kingabrahm8995]

These videos are so incredible. I think this one's my favorite of all

[@protonjones54]

I really like the backstory of the precursors and the forerunners, but a LOT of it doesn't make sense and I hope some of you can help me find the answers. How does a species of God-like beings who have an active presence throughout the universe, get destroyed by the forerunners who only exist in one galaxy? How were ancient humans and sanshyuum allies? How did humanity have enough "precursor powder" to use on their pets to last thousands of years? Only a few precursors were left after their extermination by the forerunners, where's all this powder coming from?? Why did the surviving precursors fail to properly reconstitute from the powder? Was it because they waited too long? Or was it because they were following the plan of revenge? The ancient humans discovered the asteroid that the primordial was hiding in, but why didn't he explain the mantle to the humans? Did the primordial even care about who the flood was supposed to target? How did the primordial survive the firing of a halo installation? Why didn't the gravemind retain the full knowledge of the primordial? I thought precursors were supposed to be experts on the whole "consciousness transfer" thing? Why did the flood attack modern humans? Did they forget what their original purpose was? How did the domain survive the firing of the rings?

[@protonjones54]

​@NCMinecraftBoy A lot of that doesn't quite make sense. Like the primordial, he was planning on seeking revenge on the forerunners, the flood was part of that plan, and the pets turning into the flood was part of the plan. Is it not?

[@infamouspotato2028]

1. Precursors were the ones who seeded galaxy with life and created humans and forerunners, I doubt forerunners managed to kill all precursors as they were intergalactic species, maybe they killed ones in milky way galaxy but we don't know if they had precursors who lived outside milky way as well 2. Forerunners had much larger empir than humans or sanshyuum, ancient humans had 10000-ish worlds but forerunners had 3 million planets in their empire, so they formed an alliance, this answer is not completely correct im missing some details 3. Humanity tested precursor powder on some pets named pheru which initially didn't cause any mutation but caused pheru to become more sociable towards humans and sanshyuum, but pheru slowly developed mutations and started cannibalizing each other so they probably spread infection through bites and scratches 4. The only thing we know is it was stated that powder became corrupted and through pheru caused the rise of flood as they likely infected humans as well, but in all honesty I dont think powder became corrupted, maybe its working as it should have and flood is just another means to test humans or precursors punishment to forerunners 4. Primordial was also imprisoned on charum hakkor which was former precursor homeworld(occupied by humans after forerunners killed off precursors) if im correct he was interrogated and humans believed his words like he was some prophet, some of his lies even caused humans to commit suicide so we can conclude he was out for revenge if he told such lies to humans which caused many to commit suicide 5. Primordial died before halos were fired, following end of human-forerunner war when forerunners found primordial held as captive on charum hakkor, master builder ordered contender class ancilla mendicant bias to interrogate primordial, primordial after 40 or so years of argument managed to win over mendicant bias (a forerunner AI) who defected from forerunners to flood and was main cause of fall of forerunners as mendicant bias controlled over 90% of forerunner military fleets, flood became quite overpowered at end of forerunner flood war, but after didact had reclaimed installation on which primordial was, he interrogated primordial, after having long talk with primordial, didact was angered and used timelock to age primordial's physical body to dust, but primordial transferred over his memories to compound gravemind 6. Gravemind in halo 3 refers to himself as timeless chorus and primordial was also known as timeless one, so maybe there is still connection between them

[@xnucleartater]

1) Forerunners had the ability to travel between galaxies using a network of crystals (referencing the novel First Strike, here) that basically increased FTL travel hundredfold. They had a very advanced understanding of FTL travel, albeit not as advanced as the Precursors. This ability allowed them to chase down the Precursors no matter where they ran. 2) I don't know, honestly, it was probably just one of those diplomatic things that happened. We know why they ended up not being allies later on during the Human-Covenant War, which was all started on a lie by the Prophets trying to hide that humans were the Reclaimers instead of the Covenant. Given this wasn't an issue to ancient humans and Sanshyuum, they had no reason to fight. 3) They used it for centuries, not a millennium, and we know that the Flood has certain reproductive properties as far as cell growth and spread. It isn't too far fetched to assume this powder had much the same qualities before it eventually mutated into what we now know as the Flood. 4) I think the powder either worked as it was intended, or because this was an avenue of life the Precursors had never dipped their toes into (going into powder form, and reconstructing over time into a live form of their former selves is daring technology, even for a Tier-0 civilization), they messed it up somehow and the process got eff'd up. 5) It says in the video that much of what the Primordial told ancient humans was jarbled and they couldn't make sense of it, as I'm sure spending eons in isolation and captivity didn't exactly due wonders for the Precursors mental health or sanity. The one thing they could make sense of was when they asked the Primordial of the Flood, which I'm assuming the Primordial told them that they were, again, eff'd and that the Flood's true purpose was assimilation of all life. 6) The primordial did not survive the firing of the Halo rings at the end of Forerunner-Flood War. 7) I genuinely don't have a good answer for this one, as the Flood is known to assimilate ALL thoughts and memories of a sentient being into their collective conscious, so I can't explain this one. We also know that every Gravemind as well as Key Mind retains the knowledge of all previous Grave and Key Minds, so this is a mystery. 8) The Flood attacked modern Humans as the Flood only care about assimilation of all sentient life. If you've read Halo: Silentium, this is abundantly clear. "Our urge to create is immutable; we must create. But the beings we create shall never again reach out in strength against us. All that is created will suffer. All will be born in suffering, endless grayness shall be their lot. All creation will tailor to failure and pain, that never again shall the offspring of the eternal Fount rise up against their creators. Listen to the silence. Ten million years of deep silence. And now, whimpers and cries; not of birth. That is what we bring: a great crushing weight to press down youth and hope. No more will. No more freedom. Nothing new but agonizing death and never good shall come of it. We are the last of those who gave you breath and form, millions of years ago. We are the last of those your kind defied and ruthlessly destroyed. We are the last Precursors. And now we are legion." - The Gravemind "Halo: Silentium" 9) The Domain did NOT survive the firing of the Halo rings at the end of the Forerunner-Flood War. The Domain is a product of neural physics, thus it was annihilated by the Halo Array. Hope this was sufficient! Good day

[@infamouspotato2028]

@@xnucleartater couldn't they only chase precursors to great magellanic cloud? If im correct they also said using slipspace puts some kind of debt on slipspace drives?

[@SamerAN1985]

@@infamouspotato2028 humanity didn't have just 1 thousand world and at the time the forerunner's dominion didn't stretch on 3 million worlds (that was only after thry defeated humanity) the truth is that the humand-sanschyuum empire and the forerunners were more or less on equal footing and if the humans weren't fighting with the flood at the same time they would have defeated the forerunners the didact even admitted this aswell as the fact that the sieged of charum hakkor lasted 50 years and humanity made the forerunners pay dearly for every inch of ground they took, although i don't see why humanity didn't just negotiate when they could do so, i feel it was illogical.

[@zionsky3342]

Best one yet 👌 done a brilliant job, iv been into halo lore for a good while now and only just learnt that the flood evolved from the remenents of the precursors... Really interesting, thanks for the good work bro can't wait to watch more 👌

[@itzame2127]

Daaamn, this is such a well crafted and in- analysis as well as knowledge of the lore it's amazing. *also worth noting* I've seen comments from 2d ago saying that you were at 10k subscribers and now you're sitting at 12800k you're growing fast man, keep up the good work and you will blow up, specially with a new Halo coming up next year

[@greggeverman5578]

Whoa............ Didn't know that part about the Flood using star roads instead of slipspace. This video is very well done and understandable!

[@nicoj84]

After reading the Forerunner trilogy, I was left with the distinct feeling The Precursor had planned it all and the Domain doesn't forget things, it was being deceptive. Like the powder, taking generation to work rather than immediately, there was a constant intelligence to the actions of the Flood. The Precursor allowed themselves to be (what the Forerunners thought) wiped out but I reckon they simply became ethereal and lived in the Domain. This is just my own opinion, but I think the Flood is a way of creating sufficient biomass to create new Precursor, that's how they breed and gain knowledge from yet another perspective. Then they move on again to another galaxy, tweak the life that is there and harvest it after millions of years. If you were told that by a Precursor and you knew there was no chance in stopping it, it would leave you contemplating ending it, like the people on Charum Hakor.

[@alexisbaz8746]

I'think the same, that makes a Precursor a colective entity with the intigence, wisdom and soul of every being in a galaxy

[@DaBrainFarts]

Dude, these are great videos. They are well put together. Good editing, great script and information. And damn dude, you know how to present. I love the Halo universe and you are helping me learn more about it. Making me love it more. I really want to learn about it more. Thanks for the wide array of videos.

[@yavizsalim]

The Primordial itself was a construct derived from an evolved hive mind. it seems the precursors were themselves evolved hiveminds, thus their various forms explained. I believe there was no corruption of the essence of the precursors, it exactly served its intended purpose.

[@lpg12338]

Outstanding video, subscribed! 👍

[@encognitusmaximus7598]

Also makes me wonder about the AI seed that was shot into slipspace. It sent back crazy things to have it be abandoned. Maybe it was things, the domain, etc that no one understood at the time and now all mixed together with Cortana has made/evolved into something else.

[@KaiRJ]

this is some top tier narration

[@Kitto0]

One of the best lore videos I’ve seen so far Right at the perfect time before Halo re-release on PC

[@joshuas1834]

This video made sense of Cortana's actions in Halo 5 which I had previously found to be contrived and incongruent with her character. Thanks.

[@MisterMolby]

Imagine if Precursors were real and they have created life on universe, and we are just waiting for events of Halo to happen :O But I guess Precursors were inspired by concepts in the real world.

[@bubsnicket]

Or maybe the genetically manipulated seeds of life planted on this planet that led to humanity have knowledge of the precursors built in which is only now coming out because we are reaching a new level of evolution.

[@bentaplayz9100]

@@bubsnicket and maybe we could get kidnapped by ONI any moment to do army training and some genetical fuckery

[@mrnohax5436]

Benta Playz LMAO ONI is a shady business and not even the unsc like them

[@bentaplayz9100]

@@mrnohax5436 coming back to my comment I should have typed Halsey instead of Oni ,my bad

[@sirfishe9949]

they really should have dug into this more in halo 5. This is fascinating

[@Kai-vo5zq]

I got a question. Why didn’t the ancient humans just warn the forerunners of the Flood?

[@Infinite8blue]

Because the forerunners had superiority complex grudge against ancient humans. The forerunners annihilated the precursors you really thing they would trust the words of ancient humans. Forerunners are very petty

[@Kai-vo5zq]

Alistair Kaname the Flood was a very clear threat. Even if the Forerunners didn’t believe the Humans, they can’t just ignore it once the Flood presented themselves towards the Forerunners. “Cleansing” Forerunner worlds only exacerbates the problem.

[@Kai-vo5zq]

Gabriel The Obsessive i was under the impression that the Forerunners had no clue the Flood even existed until a while later. There was a terminal video with The Librarian and the Didact, the librarian was explaining the real reason why the humans were being so aggressive and it was from a parasite.

[@halo4176]

They probably wouldn't listen to them. Remember they already hated humans due to their history. So they really just wanted a reason to go to war while being in line with the mantel and the sanitation of a forerunner planet was just that.

[@antoinelafrance1483]

@@gabrieltheobsessive Makes sense in the Halo 4 terminals the librarian stated that she found it odd that the Ancient humans are attacking so aggressively. The Lord of Admirals wanted to tell the Forerunners but the flood was spreading to fast. In turn the Lord of Admirals wiped out flood infected Forerunner infected populations. The Forerunners did learn of the flood but I guess they didn't see them as a just action for the humans to attack. Overall Forerunners at the time were probably cocky besides our nice lady the Librarian and her faction.

[@StevenSellers-j6w]

Hey token, my gf and I love your videos! We are playing the whole halo series rn and your videos have been an amazing resource. Thanks for what you do!

[@johanneshaukanes4531]

Its so detailed! Its like Gods ghost came to hunt you.

[@DavePianist]

This is a very well written and edited video. I enjoyed every single second of it. Thank you for such well pieced together information. I've subscribed to your channel.

[@ogkrisp3862]

Song is "How did we" by Toby Tanter

[@bigtex2478]

It's so crazy how a group of people went this far into their story and explaining things just so stupid people like me who ask questions understand how everything started and why it happened

[@drugenforcementadministrat2716]

Humans: Find Mysterious Powder “Let’s snort this!”

[@Spartan135]

Forerunners:How can a race be THAT STUPID?

[@seekingabsolution1907]

@@Spartan135 humans: I dont know, how can a race be stupid enough to genocide all their gods? Forerunners: what? Humans: *starts muttering unintelligibly in dead languages*

[@marshalsoult3860]

@@seekingabsolution1907 humans: a stupid race whos still living Ha! forerunners: fck...

[@Keiru21]

This video's brilliant and it's the 1st of yours I've watched. You have very nice voice. This might sound like a weird comment but A lot of down-to-earth stable care and love comes to your voice. Thanks for the great video

[@jesseheath8387]

Great video and stellar content as always! I've been a huge fan of the series but really had no idea of the existence of the precursors. Keep it up!

[@SameToken]

Glad you enjoyed, thank you!!

[@rwwars6948]

What if, just if the mantle of responsibility is the key to defeating the flood, and cortana found this out while she was being held by the hive mind. And this is why she’s head strong about getting control of the domain

[@TheBigExclusive]

Precursors: The perfect example of a quiet kid pushed too far. Precursors just wanted to chill and create life and stuff. Then the Forerunners murdered them all. So the Precursors snapped and devoured almost the entire galaxy.

[@WarGrowlmon18]

They're not extinct, not really. Thanks to the Librarian, 343 Guilty Spark and Rion Forge the race has a chance at rebirth now.

[@gabrielganzaga365]

The best “from the grave” kill of all time

[@seekingabsolution1907]

Kill from the grave (mind)

[@numbahclaud7180]

Ancient humans: finds weird space dust and dosen't really know what it does. Humans pets:Mom found the poop sock

[@insertnamehere2746]

Poop sock? I dont get it

[@MP-hq7my]

Awesome video! I enjoyed watch it. Thank you so much for creating it.

[@tristenjames7462]

Oh shit dude, Halo 5's ending finally makes sense after learning about the Domain being a cosmic neural-link. I really don't like how Halo is transitioning into Fantasy SciFi but you're great at making it make sense.

[@iCore7Gaming]

Lol it's turning into destiny I swear

[@RatAvenue]

Everything turns into fantasy sci-fi eventually; Mass effect, Dead Space, and Doom just to name a few.

[@lrballistics]

@Sean S No they're not lol

[@TheFamine123]

the Ancient History of Halo was always space fantasy, but in the sense of any technologically advanced thing being indistinguishable from magic way.

[@chrissonofpear1384]

Yes, this is a somewhat more mysterious take on it. And does that mean the bit in the Halo 3 Terminals when Spark asks that 'the Archive is intact?' may refer to the Domain...

[@jackdipompeo7732]

This is why I miss M rated halo. We just won't get stuff like this anymore.