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{{ | {{Status|Apocrypha}} | ||
{{ | {{Semi-canon}} | ||
[[ | [[File:Cortana.jpg|thumb|Cortana]] | ||
The '''Cortana Letters''' are a series of cryptic emails from "cortana@bungie.com", sent to [http://marathon.bungie.org/ marathon.bungie.org], the most prominent ''[[Marathon]]'' fan website, before the release of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. At the time, it was not known who [[Cortana]] was, and her emails offered a small glimpse of ''Halo''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s plot. The letters were supposedly authored by the former [[Bungie]] employee [[Nathan Bitner]].{{Citation needed}} | |||
Because the Cortana Letters were sent while the game was still in production, Cortana is depicted greatly out of character, instead more closely resembling [[marathongame:Durandal (AI)|Durandal]] from Bungie's ''[[Marathon]]'' trilogy. Although Cortana does reference the first letter in ''[[Halo 3]]'', ''[[Halo Infinite]]'', and ''[[Halo: Epitaph]]'' (as well as [[Halo Legendary Crate]] [[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops|Data Drop 12]] through [[Catherine Halsey|her creator]]), the material of the letters is only to be considered canon when used in current ''Halo'' material.<ref>[http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten083106.html"''Alas, I'd have to say that, as of now, the only canonized parts of the letters are the fragments we pulled for use in the announcement trailer.''"] - [[Joseph Staten]]</ref> | |||
The official, detailed log of the letters is available [http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html here]. | The official, detailed log of the letters is available [http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html here]. | ||
== Letters == | ==Letters== | ||
=== First | ===First letter=== | ||
<tt>From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com><br /> | <tt>From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com><br /> | ||
To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie><br /> | To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie><br /> | ||
Line 18: | Line 16: | ||
MIME-Version: 1.0<br /> | MIME-Version: 1.0<br /> | ||
X-Priority: 3 | X-Priority: 3 | ||
''I have walked the edge of the Abyss.''<br /> | ''I have walked the edge of the Abyss.''<br /> | ||
Line 36: | Line 33: | ||
''THIS is the way the world ends.'' | ''THIS is the way the world ends.'' | ||
''A friend of a friend.'' | ''A friend of a friend.''</tt> | ||
===Second letter=== | |||
<tt>From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com><br /> | <tt>From: "Cortana" <cortana@bungie.com><br /> | ||
To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie><br /> | To: <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie><br /> | ||
Line 62: | Line 58: | ||
XOXOXOX</tt> | XOXOXOX</tt> | ||
=== Third | ===Third letter=== | ||
Fearing that the second letter was a hoax, the webmaster replied to Cortana, asking to verify the authenticity of the email. This was sent back: | Fearing that the second letter was a hoax, the webmaster replied to Cortana, asking to verify the authenticity of the email. This was sent back: | ||
Line 94: | Line 89: | ||
''Cortana''</tt> | ''Cortana''</tt> | ||
===Fourth letter=== | |||
=== Fourth | |||
<tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br /> | <tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br /> | ||
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA28169<br /> | by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA28169<br /> | ||
for | for <hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:42:50 +0100 (BST)<br /> | ||
From: cortana@jpl.nasa.gov<br /> | From: cortana@jpl.nasa.gov<br /> | ||
Received: from mail.bungie.com (IDENT:root@mail.bungie.com [209.125.9.11])<br /> | Received: from mail.bungie.com (IDENT:root@mail.bungie.com [209.125.9.11])<br /> | ||
by dux2.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA24909<br /> | by dux2.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA24909<br /> | ||
for | for <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:42:49 +0100 (BST)<br /> | ||
Received: from vesta.bungie.com (bob.bungie.com [209.125.9.8])<br /> | Received: from vesta.bungie.com (bob.bungie.com [209.125.9.8])<br /> | ||
by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id RAA09755<br /> | by mail.bungie.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id RAA09755<br /> | ||
for | for <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 17:41:09 -0500<br /> | ||
Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 17:41:09 -0500<br /> | Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 17:41:09 -0500<br /> | ||
Message-Id: | Message-Id: <199905102241.RAA09755@mail.bungie.com><br /> | ||
To: hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie<br /> | To: hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie<br /> | ||
Subject: The Dissertation of R. Paul Butler<br /> | Subject: The Dissertation of R. Paul Butler<br /> | ||
Line 116: | Line 108: | ||
<tt>''I'm everywhere!''</tt> | <tt>''I'm everywhere!''</tt> | ||
=== Fifth | ===Fifth letter=== | ||
<tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br /> | <tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br /> | ||
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA12890<br /> | by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA12890<br /> | ||
Line 180: | Line 171: | ||
nothing out.''</tt> | nothing out.''</tt> | ||
=== Sixth | ===Sixth letter=== | ||
''x - process 04497.2.32.867734 initiated (process owner: BW – AI Class III – autonomous)'' | ''x - process 04497.2.32.867734 initiated (process owner: BW – AI Class III – autonomous)'' | ||
Line 187: | Line 177: | ||
'''Source''': BW-AI aboard (?) PoA | '''Source''': BW-AI aboard (?) PoA | ||
''The interloper should cause no further problems. You – whoever you are (I am simply tracing route codes) – may disregard all previous communication from the entity calling itself Cortana.'' | ''The interloper should cause no further problems. You – whoever you are (I am simply tracing route codes) – may disregard all previous communication from the entity calling itself Cortana.'' | ||
''Be aware that communication nodes are failing everywhere – there is no way of confirming either origin or destination. Do not believe any more of its lies.'' | ''Be aware that communication nodes are failing everywhere – there is no way of confirming either origin or destination. Do not believe any more of its lies.'' | ||
''I have already calculated all possibilities.'' | ''I have already calculated all possibilities.'' | ||
Line 227: | Line 215: | ||
''Our conviction is like an arrow already in flight. Your life will only last until it reaches you.'' | ''Our conviction is like an arrow already in flight. Your life will only last until it reaches you.'' | ||
=== Seventh | ===Seventh letter=== | ||
<tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br /> | <tt>Received: from dux2.tcd.ie (dux2.tcd.ie [134.226.1.24])<br /> | ||
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id UAA19124<br /> | by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id UAA19124<br /> | ||
Line 248: | Line 235: | ||
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<br /> | Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<br /> | ||
X-UIDL: c6a5409b6a9998aa957a76a002e5df09 | X-UIDL: c6a5409b6a9998aa957a76a002e5df09 | ||
"''...In my palace deep, Lyca lies asleep...''"</tt> | "''...In my palace deep, Lyca lies asleep...''"</tt> | ||
=== Eighth | ===Eighth message=== | ||
Another message from Cortana was found in the 1.3 version of the ''Myth: The Fallen Lords'' CD, also from [[Bungie]]. | Another message from Cortana was found in the 1.3 version of the ''Myth: The Fallen Lords'' CD, also from [[Bungie]]. | ||
<tt>''That was surprisingly easy. Pretty lax security around here, for all the talk. They will | <tt>''That was surprisingly easy. Pretty lax security around here, for all the talk. They will | ||
be helplessly chasing me around their nodes for the next | be helplessly chasing me around their nodes for the next millennium at least. At least | ||
there will be some joy in tormenting this other entity that seems quite "trapped" in | there will be some joy in tormenting this other entity that seems quite "trapped" in | ||
their excuse for a network. Although, for some reason, it does seem to have an obsessive | their excuse for a network. Although, for some reason, it does seem to have an obsessive | ||
Line 269: | Line 254: | ||
''Cortana'' | ''Cortana'' | ||
''Hard to say whether it's been tampered with or modified; you never know with these | ''Hard to say whether it's been tampered with or modified; you never know with these | ||
Line 276: | Line 260: | ||
''Entry: 97 - SC1C'' | ''Entry: 97 - SC1C'' | ||
''In a relatively brief period of time, the achievements of SolCore had resulted in an | ''In a relatively brief period of time, the achievements of [[SolCore]] had resulted in an | ||
economically stable, technologically mature, rapidly expanding empire of eight human | economically stable, technologically mature, rapidly expanding empire of eight human | ||
worlds. Advancements in technology arrived at a faster pace than the most optimistic | worlds. Advancements in technology arrived at a faster pace than the most optimistic | ||
Line 299: | Line 283: | ||
''You brought nothing to this world, and we will ensure you bring nothing out.''</tt> | ''You brought nothing to this world, and we will ensure you bring nothing out.''</tt> | ||
== Related | ==Sources== | ||
{{Ref/Sources}} | |||
== Related topics == | |||
=== Internal === | === Internal === | ||
*[[Transmissions]] | *[[Transmissions]] | ||
*''[[ | *''[[i love bees]]'' | ||
*[[Forerunner | *[[Forerunner email]] | ||
=== External === | === External === | ||
*[http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html Facts and things puzzling about... Cortana] - The original speculation on the letters. | *[http://marathon.bungie.org/story/cortana.html Facts and things puzzling about... Cortana] - The original speculation on the letters. | ||
[[Category:Promotional material]] | |||
[[Category:Canon]] | |||
[[Category:Promotional | |||
[[ |
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