Cortana Letters: Difference between revisions

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{{Ratings}}
{{Status|Apocrypha}}
{{realworld}}
{{Semi-canon}}
[[Image:Cortana.jpg|thumb|Cortana.]]
[[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}}


The '''Cortana Letters''' are a series of cryptic emails from "cortana@bungie.com", sent to a very prominent ''[[Marathon]]'' [http://marathon.bungie.org/ site] 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 the ''[[Halo]]'' plot. The letters were supposedly authored by  the former [[Bungie]] employee Nathan Bitner.
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>
 
It should be noted that the Cortana Letters were sent while the game was still in production, and Cortana is greatly out of character. As such, these letters may currently offer little insight into the plot. Although Cortana does reference the first letter in ''[[Halo 3]]'', Bungie has said the material of the letters is only to be considered canon when used in current ''Halo'' material.<ref> Another thing to point out is that the '''Cortana Letters'''  are the least well known of Halo promotional material.[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.''"]</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 Letter ===
===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 ===


===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 Letter ===
===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>


Note: This message was not sent from Cortana@bungie.com. If you'll notice, it was sent from "Nathan" (nathan@bungie.com)
===Fourth letter===
 
=== Fourth 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 XAA28169<br />
by dux4.tcd.ie (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id XAA28169<br />
for <hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:42:50 +0100 (BST)<br />
for &lt;hsinclir@dux4.tcd.ie&gt;; 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 <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 23:42:49 +0100 (BST)<br />
for &lt;hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie&gt;; 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 <hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie>; Mon, 10 May 1999 17:41:09 -0500<br />
for &lt;hamish.sinclair@tcd.ie&gt;; 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: <199905102241.RAA09755@mail.bungie.com><br />
Message-Id: &lt;199905102241.RAA09755@mail.bungie.com&gt;<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 Letter ===
===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 Letter ===
===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 Letter ===
===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 Cortana Message ===
===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 millenium at least. At least
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 Links ==
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
== Related topics ==
=== Internal ===
=== Internal ===
*[[Transmissions]]
*[[Transmissions]]
*''[[I Love Bees]]''
*''[[i love bees]]''
*[[Forerunner Email]]
*[[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.


== Sources ==
[[Category:Promotional material]]
<references/>
[[Category:Canon]]
 
 
[[Category:Promotional Material]]
 
[[ja:Cortana Letters]]
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