| Latest revision |
Your text |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|Forerunner}} |
| '''Ancilla''' was a [[Forerunner]] term for an [[artificial intelligence|AI construct]] developed over many generations.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/the-new-halo-encyclopedia-is-out-today|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=The New Halo Encyclopedia is Out Today|D=11|M=03|Y=2023}} They came in several varieties, each designed for different purposes and possessing differing capabilities. Although the term was often used to refer to all Forerunner AI, ancillas and [[monitor]]s were sometimes referenced as distinct categories, monitors being defined by their floating robotic shells whereas ancillas, in general, were disembodied.<ref name="s177">'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 177''</ref> | | '''Ancilla''' was a [[Forerunner]] term for an [[artificial intelligence|AI construct]]. They came in several varieties, each designed for different purposes and possessing differing capabilities. |
|
| |
|
| ==Background== | | ==Background== |
| Ancillas were ubiquitous in Forerunner society, and were housed within personal shells like those of the [[monitor]]s, as well as [[Forerunner personal armor|personal armor]], ships, buildings, and various forms of machinery. Ancillas possessed varying personalities, often approximating that of a Forerunner. They were categorized into various types, including a system of classes; third-class ancillas were known to be issued to the [[plasma jockey]]s, a class of Forerunner stellar engineers.<ref name="c221">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 221''</ref> [[Monitor]]s were a common type of robotic ancilla employed in many roles. The most powerful ancillas, next to the [[Contender-class artificial intelligence|Contender-class]], were the [[Metarch|metarch and sub-metarch]] varieties. Some ancillas designed to interface with Forerunners typically represented themselves via [[avatar]]s similar to those used by human AIs.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 242''</ref> Not all ancillas assumed visible form, such as those that operated within a [[metarchy]]; a vast network of ancillas coordinated by a metarch.{{Ref/Site|Id=CryptumGlossary|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/text/cryptum-glossary/62e29c59-a3f9-4b63-af76-def71fda5459|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Cryptum Glossary|D=14|M=03|Y=2014|LocalArchive=Halo: Cryptum/Glossary}} | | Ancillas were ubiquitous in Forerunner society, and were housed within personal shells like those of the [[Monitor]]s, as well as [[Forerunner personal armor|personal armor]], ships, buildings, and various forms of machinery. The most powerful ancillas, next to the [[Contender-class artificial intelligence|Contender-class]], were the [[Metarch|Metarch-class]] ancillas. Ancillas possessed varying personalities, often approximating that of a Forerunner. Some ancillas designed to interface with Forerunners typically represented themselves via [[avatar]]s similar to those used by human AIs.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 242''</ref> Not all ancillas assumed visible form, such as those that operated within a [[metarchy]]; a vast network of ancillas coordinated by a Metarch. |
|
| |
|
| Ancillas were also stored within a Forerunner's [[Forerunner personal armor|personal armor]] and could be accessed by the user at will for information via a form of neural link. Most of these personal ancillas assumed the form of a blue female Forerunner, manifesting itself in the "back of the wearer's thoughts". An ancilla's appearance would be modeled according to the species of the individual wearing the armor; for example, when [[Chakas]] and [[Riser]] received suits of Forerunner armor, their ancillas appeared as a female [[Human|ha''manune'']] and [[Florian|cha''manune'']], respectively.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 108''</ref> Personal ancillas were typically not named and were addressed only as "ancilla".<ref>'''[[Halo: Fractures]]''', "[[Defender of the Storm]]"</ref> | | Ancillas were also stored within a Forerunner's [[Forerunner personal armor|personal armor]] and could be accessed by the user at will for information via a form of neural link. Most personal ancillas assumed the form of a blue female Forerunner, manifesting itself in the "back of the wearer's thoughts". An ancilla's appearance would be modeled according to the species of the individual wearing the armor; for example, when [[Chakas]] and [[Riser]] received suits of Forerunner armor, their ancillas appeared as a female [[chamanune|cha''manune'']] and [[hamanune|ha''manune'']], respectively.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 108''</ref> |
|
| |
|
| For a [[Manipular]], a personal ancilla made itself easily visible and readily accessible to provide guidance and education. Once Forerunners [[Forerunner mutation|mutated]] to [[Form|first-form]], accessing the armor's ancilla appeared to require more effort, as it was expected that a mature Forerunner did not require as much attention as a Manipular; this also allowed the ancilla to divert more of its processing power to other tasks.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 159-160''</ref> Ancillas also helped Forerunners access the [[Domain]] after mutation.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 201''</ref> | | For a [[Manipular]], a personal ancilla made itself easily visible and readily accessible to provide guidance and education. Once Forerunners [[Forerunner mutation|mutated]] to [[Form|first-form]], accessing the armor's ancilla appeared to require more effort, as it was expected that a mature Forerunner did not require as much attention as a Manipular; this also allowed the ancilla to divert more of its processing power to other tasks.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 159-160''</ref> It is also apparent that ancillas helped Forerunners access the [[Domain]] after mutation.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 201''</ref> |
|
| |
|
| The Forerunners viewed ancillas as little more than tools and programmed them to not only obediently perform their designated tasks,<ref name="c18">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 18''</ref> but, at least in some cases, also enjoy their servitude.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 308''</ref> The notion of an ancilla rebelling against its masters was virtually unprecedented,{{Ref/Reuse|c18}} although this changed with the emergence of the [[Flood]]'s [[logic plague]] which could effectively infect and convert Forerunner AIs.{{Ref/Reuse|s177}} Like their organic Forerunner masters, ancillas would recite a mantra or prayer before imminent termination.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 275''</ref> | | The Forerunners used software known as [[Artificial intelligence suppressor|AI suppressors]] to disable ancillas.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 194''</ref> |
| | |
| For military purposes, Forerunners used software known as [[Artificial intelligence suppressor|AI suppressors]] to disable ancillas used by hostile forces.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 194''</ref>
| |
|
| |
|
| ==Varieties== | | ==Varieties== |
| *[[Archeon-class ancilla|Archeon]]: A class of disembodied ancilla.
| | *[[Monitor]] |
| *[[Caradon-class ancilla|Caradon]]: A class of ancilla which is able to process.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HDWC15|DW|Chapter=15}}
| | *[[Metarch]] |
| *[[Facilitator-class ancilla|Facilitator]]: An ancilla created for the facilitation of [[Halo Array|Array]] requirements.{{Ref/Reuse|HDWC15}}
| | *[[Contender-class artificial intelligence]] |
| *[[Monitor]]: A type of ancilla housed in a floating robotic shell. | |
| *[[Metarch-class ancilla|Metarch]]: A sophisticated class of ancilla serving the [[Ecumene Council]]. | |
| **[[Contender-class artificial intelligence]]: The most powerful type of ancilla created by the Forerunners.
| |
|
| |
|
| ==Trivia== | | ==Trivia== |
| *[[IsoDidact|Bornstellar]]'s relationship with the [[Librarian]]'s ancilla in ''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' is similar to that of [[John-117]] and [[Cortana]]. Like Cortana, Bornstellar describes his ancilla as a "blue female figure in the back of his mind" who can be stored within his body armor, and relies upon her for guidance and help in many situations. | | *Bornstellar's relationship with the Librarian's ancilla is similar to that of [[John-117]] and [[Cortana]]. Like Cortana, Bornstellar describes his ancilla as a "blue female figure in the back of his mind" who can be stored within his body armor, and relies upon her for guidance and help in many situations. |
| *Ancilla's modern definition is "an aid to achieving or mastering something difficult", or put simply, an accessory or auxiliary. The original [[Latin]] meaning of "ancilla" is 'female servant/slave' or 'maid'. | | *"Ancilla" is Latin for 'female slave', 'female servant' or 'maid'. |
|
| |
|
| ==List of appearances== | | ==List of appearances== |
| {{Col-begin}}
| |
| {{Col-2}}
| |
| *''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{1st}} | | *''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{1st}} |
| *''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' (2010) {{C|First identified as ancilla}}
| |
| *''[[Halo 2]]'' | | *''[[Halo 2]]'' |
| *''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' | | *''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' |
| Line 36: |
Line 28: |
| *''[[Halo Wars]]'' | | *''[[Halo Wars]]'' |
| *''[[Halo: Helljumper]]'' | | *''[[Halo: Helljumper]]'' |
| | *''[[Halo: Blood Line]]'' |
| *''[[Halo Legends]]'' | | *''[[Halo Legends]]'' |
| **''[[Origins]]'' | | **''[[Origins]]'' |
| *''[[Halo: Blood Line]]'' | | *''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' (2010) {{C|First identified as ancilla}} |
| *''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' | | *''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' |
| *''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
| |
| **''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo: Primordium]]'' | | *''[[Halo: Primordium]]'' |
| *''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Mo}} | | *''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Mo}} |
| *''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
| |
| *''[[Rebirth]]''
| |
| {{Col-2}}
| |
| *''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
| |
| **''[[Lessons Learned]]'' {{Mo}}
| |
| **''[[Promises to Keep]]''
| |
| **''[[Defender of the Storm]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo: Point of Light]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo Infinite]]''
| |
| *''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''
| |
| {{Col-end}}
| |
|
| |
|
| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
| | <references/> |
|
| |
|
| {{Forerunner|technology}} | | {{Forerunner}} |
| [[Category:Forerunner A.I.| ]] | | [[Category:Forerunner A.I.| ]] |
