Atropos
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| Atropos | |
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Moon(s): |
Double ring system (Fate and Destiny)[1] |
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Atropos is a planet located in deep space on the outer periphery of both human and Covenant space.[1] The world was visited by both civilisations at various points in its history though never permanently inhabited until the 26th century, by which time a group of human outlaws, the Eridanus Twelve, were marooned on the planet.[2] The Covenant maintained an observation station in orbit of the world, seemingly oblivious to the human presence on the surface.[1]
The planet is most notable for its twin planetary rings, the shattered remnants of an orbital megastructure. In 2560 the Governors of Contrition set loose an outbreak of the Flood on the world, though the lack of slipspace-capable spacecraft means that all on the planet are currently stranded there.[1]
Overview[edit]
Orbital characteristics[edit]
Atropos' orbit is dominated by a double ring system. The inner ring was given the name "Fate" while the outer ring was known as "Destiny". The rings were composed of an unknown metal believed to be from the remains of orbital filaments designed to take radiation from a nearby pulsar star.[1]
Environmental features[edit]
The surface of the planet featured blackened rocks and blackened sands.[1]
History[edit]
Human settlement[edit]
At some point following 2495, a band of thieves known as the Eridanus Twelve would be captured following the theft of several art pieces from Earth during transit to Eridanus II and marooned on the "furthest uncharted world" that could be found.[2] They would name the planet Atropos, a reference to one of the three ancient Greek goddesses of fate.[1]
Covenant settlement[edit]
At an unknown point in time, the Covenant came upon the planet and had a space station constructed in orbit, the Ninth Watchtower of August Attendance. However, it was abandoned over time with the world going unnamed in Covenant records. Following the Battle of Installation 04, members of the Governors of Contrition were scattered to the fringes of Covenant space, with Kanto'Boreft and his cohort being assigned to the Ninth Watchtower - ironically ensuring that they were not present at High Charity when the city fell to the Flood.[1]
Postwar[edit]
In October 2556, a Flood-hijacked Condor emerged from slipspace over Atropos, having narrowly escaped from a large outbreak at Site 22, and proceeded to crash land on the planet. This arrival was observed by the Governors of Contrition aboard the watchtower station in orbit, who followed to the ship to the ground and reconstructed their once-orbital station as a Citadel on the ground, built atop the crash site. There, members of the Governors would sacrifice themselves to the Flood. At the same time, cordial relations were established with the humans on the world.[1]
Following the the sacrifice of Atun 'Etaree, the Flood hidden away by the Governors would begin an outbreak, spreading Flood spores and pod infectors onto the rest of the planet's surface.[1]
Production notes[edit]
Atropos is named after the painting Atropos, one of Francisco Goya's Black Paintings. It is a reinterpretation of the Moirai of Greek mythology, the three goddesses of fate and destiny. Atropos was the goddess of death, the one who cuts the thread of life with her shears. This is also reflected in the names of the planet's two ring systems, Fate and Destiny.[3]
List of appearances[edit]
- Halo: Ascension on Atropos (First appearance)
- Halo: The Eridanus Twelve (Indirect mention)
Sources[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Halo: Ascension on Atropos
- ^ a b Halo: The Eridanus Twelve
- ^ X.com, Alex Wakeford (@Haruspis): "Of course, we always knew we wanted to do a sequel to Saturn and that it would retain the Black Paintings motif which has been such a source of inspiration—among them, Atropos has always been one of my favourites as an art study. There's some of Eliot's Hollow Men in there too." (Retrieved on Oct 9, 2025) [archive]
