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|death=[[2557#July|July 26, 2557]] | |death=[[2557#July|July 26, 2557]] | ||
|causeofdeath=[[Composer|Composed]] by [[John-117]] and [[859 Static Carillon]]{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}}{{Ref/Reuse|Epi5}} | |causeofdeath=[[Composer|Composed]] by [[John-117]] and [[859 Static Carillon]]{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}}{{Ref/Reuse|Epi5}} | ||
|parents= | |parents= | ||
|siblings= | |siblings= | ||
|spouses= | |spouses= | ||
|children= | |children= | ||
|species=[[Forerunner]] | |species=[[Forerunner]] | ||
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|affiliation=*[[Ecumene]] | |affiliation=*[[Ecumene]] | ||
*[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] {{C|formerly}} | *[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant]] {{C|formerly}} | ||
|rank=[[Protector of the ecumene]] ([[Rate|R]]: [[Warrior-Servant]]) | |rank=[[Protector of the ecumene]] ([[Rate|R]]: [[Warrior-Servant]]) | ||
|sn= | |sn= | ||
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}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|The Mantle of Responsibility for all things belongs to Forerunners alone.{{Ref/Level|H4|Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|Epilogue}}}} | {{Quote|The Mantle of Responsibility for all things belongs to Forerunners alone.{{Ref/Level|H4|Epilogue (Halo 4 level)|Epilogue}}}} | ||
The '''Didact''', true name unknown,{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} renamed '''Shadow-of-Sundered-Star'''{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}} at a young age,{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} | The '''Didact''', true name unknown,{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} renamed '''Shadow-of-Sundered-Star'''{{Ref/Reuse|H4EVG}} at a young age,{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} is a [[Forerunner]] [[Promethean]] who held an extremely high status in the [[Ecumene|Forerunner society]] as [[protector of the ecumene]],<ref name="protector">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 233''</ref> head of the [[Warrior-Servant]] [[rate]] and supreme commander of the entire Forerunner military.{{Ref/Game|Id=h3terminals|H3|Terminal (Halo 3)|Terminals}} He wholeheartedly believed in the [[Mantle]] the Forerunners held to protect life, and fervently opposed the [[Halo Array]] as a sin beyond measure. He was also the lover and husband of the [[Librarian]]. | ||
Originally thought to have been killed by the [[Master Builder]], [[Faber]],<ref name="c339">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 339''</ref> the Didact effectively existed as two individuals during the final days of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]]; his original self, as well as his implanted consciousness within a young Forerunner known as Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting. To differentiate these two incarnations, the original Didact was referred to as the '''Ur-Didact''', while his other incarnation was known as the [[IsoDidact]].<ref name="amazon">[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0765323982/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=heaprcom05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creativeASIN=0765323982 '''Amazon.com''': ''Halo: Silentium official description'']</ref> The Ur-Didact was eventually exiled on [[Requiem]], not to be awakened until [[2557]];<ref name="true Didact">[http://www.gregbear.com/blog/display.cfm?id=6897 '''Gregbear.com:''' ''HALO 4 DIDACT'']</ref> meanwhile, the IsoDidact served until the final days of the Flood conflict and was responsible for activating the Halo Array | Originally thought to have been killed by the [[Master Builder]], [[Faber]],<ref name="c339">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 339''</ref> the Didact effectively existed as two individuals during the final days of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]]; his original self, as well as his implanted consciousness within a young Forerunner known as Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting. To differentiate these two incarnations, the original Didact was referred to as the '''Ur-Didact''', while his other incarnation was known as the [[IsoDidact]].<ref name="amazon">[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0765323982/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=heaprcom05-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creativeASIN=0765323982 '''Amazon.com''': ''Halo: Silentium official description'']</ref> The Ur-Didact was eventually exiled on [[Requiem]], not to be awakened until [[2557]];<ref name="true Didact">[http://www.gregbear.com/blog/display.cfm?id=6897 '''Gregbear.com:''' ''HALO 4 DIDACT'']</ref> meanwhile, the IsoDidact served until the final days of the Flood conflict and was responsible for activating the Halo Array.{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Chapter=String 38}} | ||
After being released from his [[Cryptum]] many millennia later, the Didact resumed his war against humanity. [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] and [[Cortana]] fought him on [[Mantle's Approach|his ship]], and sent him falling into [[Slipstream space|slipspace]], seemingly defeating him. After surviving slipspace, John-117 faced him again, this time with the rest of [[Blue Team]]. After a long and perilous battle, the Didact's biological form was destroyed under the combined power of several [[Composer]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}} which was too much for even the resistance that the Didact's mutations gave him to their power.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi5}} | After being released from his [[Cryptum]] many millennia later, the Ur-Didact resumed his war against humanity. [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] and [[Cortana]] fought him on [[Mantle's Approach|his ship]], and sent him falling into [[Slipstream space|slipspace]], seemingly defeating him. After surviving slipspace, John-117 faced him again, this time with the rest of [[Blue Team]]. After a long and perilous battle, the Ur-Didact's biological form was destroyed under the combined power of several [[Composer]]s{{Ref/Reuse|HE10}} which was too much for even the resistance that the Didact's mutations gave him to their power.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi5}} | ||
Subsequently, the Didact's digitized consciousness was uploaded to the outer boundaries of the [[Domain]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi5|Epi|5}} Freed of the Gravemind's corruption by the Composer's power,{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi20|Epi|20}} the Didact regained his sanity and set out to free the Domain from [[Cortana]]'s influence, ultimately destroying the [[Warden Eternal]],{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi25|Epi|25}} welcoming millions of Forerunner and human essences into the repository, evicting the [[Created]], and sealing it off from the physical world so that none could ever misuse the Domain again as Cortana had. At last at peace, the Didact reunited with his wife in the Domain to spend eternity together.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi26|Epi|26}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi27|Epi|27}} | Subsequently, the Didact's digitized consciousness was uploaded to the outer boundaries of the [[Domain]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi5|Epi|5}} Freed of the Gravemind's corruption by the Composer's power,{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi20|Epi|20}} the Didact regained his sanity and set out to free the Domain from [[Cortana]]'s influence, ultimately destroying the [[Warden Eternal]],{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi25|Epi|25}} welcoming millions of Forerunner and human essences into the repository, evicting the [[Created]], and sealing it off from the physical world so that none could ever misuse the Domain again as Cortana had. At last at peace, the Didact reunited with his wife in the Domain to spend eternity together.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi26|Epi|26}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi27|Epi|27}} | ||
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The Forerunner that would become known as the Didact was born to [[Didact's father|a father]] who was a [[Warrior-Servant]] by rate, but was also a descendant of the lost and forgotten [[Interpreter]] rate, while [[Didact's mother|his mother]] was one of the greatest Warrior-Servants in existence, from a family with a long lineage of greatness and strength. Interpreters had been assimilated by the [[Builder]]s in their rise to power, but they had been experts in the study and interpretation of the [[Mantle]], acting in conjunction with the [[Juridical]]s in cases of crimes against the Mantle with Interpreters' judgments often taking precedence.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi11|Epi|11}} | The Forerunner that would become known as the Didact was born to [[Didact's father|a father]] who was a [[Warrior-Servant]] by rate, but was also a descendant of the lost and forgotten [[Interpreter]] rate, while [[Didact's mother|his mother]] was one of the greatest Warrior-Servants in existence, from a family with a long lineage of greatness and strength. Interpreters had been assimilated by the [[Builder]]s in their rise to power, but they had been experts in the study and interpretation of the [[Mantle]], acting in conjunction with the [[Juridical]]s in cases of crimes against the Mantle with Interpreters' judgments often taking precedence.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi11|Epi|11}} | ||
The Didact's father, as a descendant of the Interpreters, had the need to uphold the Mantle and bring to light the misuse and misinterpretation and corruption of its laws imprinted on his very essence. The Didact's father became outspoken and passionate about his lost history, his innate ability to stir a crowd on par with the [[Speaker]]s of old and the best silver-tongued Builders of the Capital. His eloquence appealed to the true heart of the Forerunners, namely their desire for glory, their joy in the diversity of rates and the tremendous loss felt to Forerunner culture when identities and rituals were forgotten. The Didact's father evoked the [[Twelve Laws of Making and Moving]], its Upper and Lower Tenets of Authority, and the Rules of Virtue. As a result, millions of Forerunners began to believe that reparation was in order, calling for the restoration of the lost rates and bringing back the immense knowledge and rituals that had been confiscated and hidden away by the Builders. The Builders saw | The Didact's father, as a descendant of the Interpreters, had the need to uphold the Mantle and bring to light the misuse and misinterpretation and corruption of its laws imprinted on his very essence. The Didact's father became outspoken and passionate about his lost history, his innate ability to stir a crowd on par with the [[Speaker]]s of old and the best silver-tongued Builders of the Capital. His eloquence appealed to the true heart of the Forerunners, namely their desire for glory, their joy in the diversity of rates and the tremendous loss felt to Forerunner culture when identities and rituals were forgotten. The Didact's father evoked the [[Twelve Laws of Making and Moving]], its Upper and Lower Tenets of Authority, and the Rules of Virtue. As a result, millions of Forerunners began to believe that reparation was in order, calling for the restoration of the lost rates and bringing back the immense knowledge and rituals that had been confiscated and hidden away by the Builders. The Builders saw this movement as a threat, but couldn't silence him thanks to the Didact's mother and together, they united half of the occupied worlds to their cause, leading to the [[Kradal conflicts]] when the Didact was just a Manipular. However, the Didact's parents lost the conflict and were executed with a special variant of the [[Z-130 Suppressor|Suppressor]] which left nothing behind of them, not even an essence for the [[Domain]].{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} | ||
As part of the punishment, the Didact, who was just a few domestic years beyond a decade at the time, had his memories of his early life erased and he was renamed Shadow-of-Sundered-Star, his true name and history left forgotten. The Didact would only know about this because the tale had been revealed to him in his later life by those seeking to cause the Didact pain and humiliation. However, the Didact had never wanted to believe that it was true. He was subsequently raised by [[Silence-in-the End]] who honed the Didact's skills while [[Bitterness-of-the-Vanquished]] oversaw his training, both of whom were present and prevented the young Didact from interfering in his parents' execution.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}} | |||
As part of the punishment, the Didact, who was just a few domestic years beyond a decade at the time, had his memories of his early life erased and he was renamed Shadow-of-Sundered-Star, his true name and history left forgotten. | |||
===Early career=== | ===Early career=== | ||
[[File:HTMCC-H4 Terminals DidactArmor.png|thumb|250px|The Didact's form for the majority of his career.]] | [[File:HTMCC-H4 Terminals DidactArmor.png|thumb|250px|The Didact's form for the majority of his career.]] | ||
Later in life, | Later in life, the Didact became a [[Promethean]], a member of the highest and most powerful class of [[Warrior-Servant]]s. He was trained by [[Bitterness-of-the-Vanquished]], a legendary Promethean far older than the Didact himself.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 246''</ref> Early in his career, the [[Confirmer]] provided Shadow a [[Forerunner mutation|brevet mutation]] to a new [[form]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 178''</ref> He gained the name "Didact" while teaching at the [[College of Strategic Defense of the Mantle]]; his students gave him the name because they found him to be a strict and demanding teacher.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 227-228''</ref> As a cadet, he apprenticed on ''[[Deep Reverence]]''.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 145''</ref> | ||
The Didact was elevated to the rank of [[protector of the ecumene]] around 2,000 years before the war with the humans.{{Ref/Reuse|protector}} He had a romantic relationship with another Promethean commander, known as [[Endurance-of-Will]], and would most likely have married her had he not met the [[Librarian]], a [[Lifeworker]]. Despite the unconventional practice of marrying outside one's own rate, the Didact ultimately married the Librarian. | The Didact was elevated to the rank of [[protector of the ecumene]] around 2,000 years before the war with the humans.{{Ref/Reuse|protector}} He had a romantic relationship with another Promethean commander, known as [[Endurance-of-Will]], and would most likely have married her had he not met the [[Librarian]], a [[Lifeworker]]. Despite the unconventional practice of marrying outside one's own rate, the Didact ultimately married the Librarian.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 284, 290-291''</ref> They lived on [[Nomdagro]], a world populated mainly by Warrior-Servants, in a mansion designed by the Didact himself in a grandiose style traditional of Warrior-Servants.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''pages 49-50''</ref> They had several children, all of whom followed in their father's footsteps and became Warrior-Servants.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 219''</ref> | ||
===War against humanity=== | ===War against humanity=== | ||
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===The Domain=== | ===The Domain=== | ||
{{Expand-section}} | {{Expand-section}} | ||
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The Didact was considered in his time to be the supreme enemy of humans, viewing mankind as a grave threat to Forerunner peace 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> After his encounter with the Gravemind, his attitudes became much more extreme and he opted to wipe out humanity entirely as a potential threat to the Forerunners' supremacy. This new stance, combined with his desperation to stop the Flood, was behind his heinous actions toward the end of the Forerunner-Flood war. | The Didact was considered in his time to be the supreme enemy of humans, viewing mankind as a grave threat to Forerunner peace 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> After his encounter with the Gravemind, his attitudes became much more extreme and he opted to wipe out humanity entirely as a potential threat to the Forerunners' supremacy. This new stance, combined with his desperation to stop the Flood, was behind his heinous actions toward the end of the Forerunner-Flood war. | ||
Prior to his transformation, while dismissive of the potential for humans to take on the Mantle, the Didact 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> In fact, he regarded them as the second greatest military power in the galaxy at the time. His respect for the humans 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/Reuse|speech}} Furthermore, prior to being imprisoned after his fall from grace in the Ecumene Council, he stated that had the humans repented for their crimes, they would've been a civilization worthy of joining their own.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 54''</ref> Though disgusted to see [[Chakas]] as he looked too much like the humans who had nearly destroyed his fleets and murdered his children, the Didact was pleased to see [[Riser]], a [[Florian]]. The Didact commented that he had specifically requested that the [[Librarian]] save the Florians because he saw them as peaceful yet full of cleverness. However, the Didact made it clear that this just made them worthy pets to him.<ref name="c82">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 82''</ref> | Prior to his transformation, while dismissive of the potential for humans to take on the Mantle, the Didact 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> In fact, he regarded them as the second greatest military power in the galaxy at the time. His respect for the humans 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/Reuse|speech}} Furthermore, prior to being imprisoned after his fall from grace in the Ecumene Council, he stated that had the humans repented for their crimes, they would've been a civilization worthy of joining their own.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 54''</ref> Though disgusted to see [[Chakas]] as he looked too much like the humans who had nearly destroyed his fleets and murdered his children, the Didact was pleased to see [[Riser]], a [[Florian]]. The Didact commented that he had specifically requested that the [[Librarian]] save the Florians because he saw them as peaceful yet full of cleverness. However, the Didact made it clear that this just made them worthy pets to him.<ref name="c82">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 82''</ref> The Didact also regarded [[John-117]] with some grudging respect for his determination and persistence in fighting him against impossible odds.{{Ref/Reuse|h4}} | ||
The Didact regarded [[John-117]] with some grudging respect for his determination and persistence in fighting him against impossible odds.{{Ref/Reuse|h4 | |||
While he understood humanity's motives for aggressive expansion after studying their records of their struggle with the Flood, the Didact agreed with the Old Council's decision to eradicate the contemporary human civilization and banish the remnants of the species to their homeworld, as he felt that the humans had wrongly taken the Mantle upon themselves in their attempts to contain the Flood. The Didact also held that the Forerunners were more deserving of the Mantle than humans because of the latter's propensity for finding objects of worship in nature and in Precursor artifacts, whereas the Forerunners had always derived their beliefs solely from the Mantle.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 228''</ref> | While he understood humanity's motives for aggressive expansion after studying their records of their struggle with the Flood, the Didact agreed with the Old Council's decision to eradicate the contemporary human civilization and banish the remnants of the species to their homeworld, as he felt that the humans had wrongly taken the Mantle upon themselves in their attempts to contain the Flood. The Didact also held that the Forerunners were more deserving of the Mantle than humans because of the latter's propensity for finding objects of worship in nature and in Precursor artifacts, whereas the Forerunners had always derived their beliefs solely from the Mantle.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 228''</ref> | ||
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The Ur-Didact appeared to regard Chakas and Riser, the two humans who accompanied Bornstellar, with relative indifference, viewing them as mere annoyances, though he tolerated them because they were part of his wife's plan and because he likely recognized the value of their [[mind transfer|personality imprints]]. When [[IsoDidact|Bornstellar]] became annoyed with the Didact's way of referring to the two as Bornstellar's humans, the Didact grudgingly adjusted his method of address for them. However, he was less than pleased initially at Chakas' form as it reminded him too much of the [[Ancestors|ancient humans]] who had cost the Didact so much and stated that Chakas' presence provoked him as a result.{{Ref/Reuse|c82}} A hundred thousand years later, the Didact fondly recalled the time that the unlikely crew of Chakas, Riser and Bornstellar were thrust upon him out of circumstance and desperation.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi27}} | The Ur-Didact appeared to regard Chakas and Riser, the two humans who accompanied Bornstellar, with relative indifference, viewing them as mere annoyances, though he tolerated them because they were part of his wife's plan and because he likely recognized the value of their [[mind transfer|personality imprints]]. When [[IsoDidact|Bornstellar]] became annoyed with the Didact's way of referring to the two as Bornstellar's humans, the Didact grudgingly adjusted his method of address for them. However, he was less than pleased initially at Chakas' form as it reminded him too much of the [[Ancestors|ancient humans]] who had cost the Didact so much and stated that Chakas' presence provoked him as a result.{{Ref/Reuse|c82}} A hundred thousand years later, the Didact fondly recalled the time that the unlikely crew of Chakas, Riser and Bornstellar were thrust upon him out of circumstance and desperation.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi27}} | ||
After reuniting with Forthencho in the Domain, the two ancient enemies worked together to defeat the [[Warden Eternal]] and the Didact welcomed Forthencho and the Composed humans to join the Forerunner essences in the Domain.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi25}} The two ancient enemies solemnly acknowledged that mistakes and atrocities had been made on both sides, done out of arrogance and a conviction that they were doing what they thought to be best at the time | After reuniting with Forthencho in the Domain, the two ancient enemies worked together to defeat the [[Warden Eternal]] and the Didact welcomed Forthencho and the Composed humans to join the Forerunner essences in the Domain.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi25}} The two ancient enemies solemnly acknowledged that mistakes and atrocities had been made on both sides, done out of arrogance and a conviction that they were doing what they thought to be best at the time.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi22|Epi|22}} Now at peace with each other, the Didact and Forthencho planned to engage in some friendly competition with each other while hunting down rogue [[Created]] AIs who had managed to escape being evicted from the ancient repository.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi27}} | ||
=== Abilities === | === Abilities === | ||
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File:HTMCC-H4 DidactFace.png|Close-up of the Ur-Didact's face. | File:HTMCC-H4 DidactFace.png|Close-up of the Ur-Didact's face. | ||
File:HTMCC-H4 Sundered.png|The Ur-Didact's face mask. | File:HTMCC-H4 Sundered.png|The Ur-Didact's face mask. | ||
File: | File:H4 Didact Composer beam.jpg|The Ur-Didact at the Composer aboard the ''Mantle's Approach''. | ||
File:HTMCC-H4 DidactForceGrab.png|The Ur-Didact in the final fight aboard the ''Mantle's Approach''. | File:HTMCC-H4 DidactForceGrab.png|The Ur-Didact in the final fight aboard the ''Mantle's Approach''. | ||
File:BrutalDidact.png|The Ur-Didact moments after slaying Black Team. | File:BrutalDidact.png|The Ur-Didact moments after slaying Black Team. | ||
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*''[[Halo: Sunrise on Sanghelios]]'' {{Mo}} | *''[[Halo: Sunrise on Sanghelios]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]'' | *''[[Halo: Epitaph]]'' | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== |