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Ur-Didact: Difference between revisions
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{{Quote|Humans are naturally purists. They resent having to live with other species. In fact, they're among the most contentious, bigoted, self-centered... I never understood how my wife tolerated them.|The Didact}} | {{Quote|Humans are naturally purists. They resent having to live with other species. In fact, they're among the most contentious, bigoted, self-centered... I never understood how my wife tolerated them.|The Didact}} | ||
The Didact was considered in his time to be the supreme enemy of humans, viewing mankind as a grave threat and considering them to be extremely contentious, bigoted and self-centered.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 112''</ref> However, in his own mind this animosity was not driven by hatred or malice; rather, it was a largely rational reaction to humanity's actions.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 328''</ref> His actions toward the end of the Forerunner-Flood War - specifically the use of the Composer to convert humans into digital intelligences - were born of desperation and thus less rational; the Librarian regarded these acts as horrific. | The Didact was considered in his time to be the supreme enemy of humans, viewing mankind as a grave threat and considering them to be extremely contentious, bigoted and self-centered.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 112''</ref> However, in his own mind this animosity was not driven by hatred or malice; rather, it was a largely rational reaction to humanity's actions.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 328''</ref> His actions toward the end of the Forerunner-Flood War - specifically the use of the Composer to convert humans into digital intelligences - were born of desperation and thus less rational; the Librarian regarded these acts as horrific. Additionally, it has been noted that the Ur-Didact was "severely distorted" by his experiences following his capture by the Master Builder, explaining the apparent shift in his personality.<ref name="true Didact"/> | ||
While dismissive of the potential for humans to take on the Mantle, he also respected humans as warriors and regarded them as honorable, unlike their San 'Shyuum allies who had surrendered earlier in the war.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 134''</ref> This was demonstrated when he met with his main opponent, [[Forthencho|Forthencho, the Lord of Admirals]], in person after the humans' defeat, speaking to him as a fellow warrior and reassuring him about the future despite humanity's grim predicament.<ref name="speech"/> He also understood humanity's motives for aggressive expansion after studying their records of their struggle with the Flood. Nonetheless, he felt it necessary to eradicate the contemporary human civilization entirely to ensure they would not rise to challenge Forerunner dominance again. | While dismissive of the potential for humans to take on the Mantle, he also respected humans as warriors and regarded them as honorable, unlike their San 'Shyuum allies who had surrendered earlier in the war.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 134''</ref> This was demonstrated when he met with his main opponent, [[Forthencho|Forthencho, the Lord of Admirals]], in person after the humans' defeat, speaking to him as a fellow warrior and reassuring him about the future despite humanity's grim predicament.<ref name="speech"/> He also understood humanity's motives for aggressive expansion after studying their records of their struggle with the Flood. Nonetheless, he felt it necessary to eradicate the contemporary human civilization entirely to ensure they would not rise to challenge Forerunner dominance again. | ||
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The Didact's antipathy toward humans was at least partially curtailed by the Librarian, who was, in contrast, regarded as humanity's greatest protector.<ref name="cryp77">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 77''</ref> Despite his love for her, the Didact was incapable of understanding his wife's protectiveness toward humanity, and resented her efforts to keep humanity safe from his justice and retribution. | The Didact's antipathy toward humans was at least partially curtailed by the Librarian, who was, in contrast, regarded as humanity's greatest protector.<ref name="cryp77">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 77''</ref> Despite his love for her, the Didact was incapable of understanding his wife's protectiveness toward humanity, and resented her efforts to keep humanity safe from his justice and retribution. | ||
The Ur-Didact appeared to regard Chakas and Riser, the two humans who accompanied Bornstellar, with relative indifference, viewing them as mere annoyances, although he tolerated them because they were part of his wife's plan. | |||
=== Abilities === | === Abilities === | ||
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A full-rate Promethean, the Didact is a physically imposing figure, easily towering over a fully-armored SPARTAN-II. In comparison to other Forerunners, he stood nearly twice a [[Manipular]]'s height and weighed four or five times as much.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 65''</ref> He has massive, heavily muscled limbs and hands with six fingers, two of them being opposable thumbs; Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting believed that he could easily have crushed a human with his bare hands.<ref name="cryp77"/> | A full-rate Promethean, the Didact is a physically imposing figure, easily towering over a fully-armored SPARTAN-II. In comparison to other Forerunners, he stood nearly twice a [[Manipular]]'s height and weighed four or five times as much.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 65''</ref> He has massive, heavily muscled limbs and hands with six fingers, two of them being opposable thumbs; Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting believed that he could easily have crushed a human with his bare hands.<ref name="cryp77"/> | ||
In his original form, his skin was grayish pink in color<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 76''</ref> and he had patches of bluish white fur on the top of his head and shoulders, as was common with Warrior-Servants.<ref name="p179"/> He had strong, serious facial features and deep-set, gray eyes.<ref name="p79">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 79, 150''</ref | In his original form, his skin was grayish pink in color<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 76''</ref> and he had patches of bluish white fur on the top of his head and shoulders, as was common with Warrior-Servants.<ref name="p179"/> He had strong, serious facial features and deep-set, gray eyes.<ref name="p79">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 79, 150''</ref> | ||
The new form assumed by the Didact near the end of the Forerunner-Flood war, caused by a failed attempt to decipher Flood immunity,<ref name="h4terminals"/> was even larger than his original one and had a more grotesque, bestial appearance, with more pronounced facial features, much less prominent lips and the addition of large fangs. His eyes also became more deep-set and red as opposed to the original grayish blue, and his fur changed from pale blue to dark brown.<ref name="h4"/> | The new form assumed by the Didact near the end of the Forerunner-Flood war, caused by a failed attempt to decipher Flood immunity,<ref name="h4terminals"/> was even larger than his original one and had a more grotesque, bestial appearance, with more pronounced facial features, much less prominent lips and the addition of large fangs. His eyes also became more deep-set and red as opposed to the original grayish blue, and his fur changed from pale blue to dark brown.<ref name="h4"/> | ||
The Didact's [[Forerunner personal armor|personal armor]] worn after his most recent mutation has an uncharacteristically ornate appearance, in contrast to the more humble designs historically worn by Warrior-Servants. The suit is comprised of a number of silver armor sections with complex patterns of orange light. The bodysuit beneath the armor sections is colored black and dark red, resulting in an appearance similar to exposed musculature. The helmet of this armor suit appears to be modeled after a skull, with orange "eyes" rather than a visor like before, and a small breathing port on the nose.<ref name="h4"/> The original armor worn by the Didact was in line with traditional Warrior-Servant armor in both design and coloration; bearing the mottled gray and blue colors of a Warrior-Servant,<ref name="pri339"/> the suit was, despite his lofty status, considered austere in contrast to more lavishly decorated armor worn by the Builders.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 81-82''</ref> | The Didact's [[Forerunner personal armor|personal armor]] worn after his most recent mutation has an uncharacteristically ornate appearance, in contrast to the more humble designs historically worn by Warrior-Servants. The suit is comprised of a number of silver armor sections with complex patterns of orange light. The bodysuit beneath the armor sections is colored black and dark red, resulting in an appearance similar to exposed musculature. The helmet of this armor suit appears to be modeled after a skull, with orange "eyes" rather than a visor like before, and a small breathing port on the nose.<ref name="h4"/> The original armor worn by the Didact was in line with traditional Warrior-Servant armor in both design and coloration; bearing the mottled gray and blue colors of a Warrior-Servant,<ref name="pri339">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 339''</ref> the suit was, despite his lofty status, considered austere in contrast to more lavishly decorated armor worn by the Builders.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 81-82''</ref> | ||
== Trivia == | == Trivia == | ||