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{{Era|Forerunner}}
{{Status|Canon}}
'''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. 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]] 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>


==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.
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 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>
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>


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> Ancillas also 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 name="c18"/> although this changed with the emergence of the [[Flood]]'s [[logic plague]] which could effectively infect and convert Forerunner AIs.<ref name="s177"/> Like their organic Forerunner masters, ancillas would recite a mantra or prayer before imminent termination.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 275''</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>


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>
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==
*[[Monitor]]
*[[Archeon-class ancilla|Archeon]]: A class of disembodied ancilla.
*[[Metarch]]
*[[Caradon-class ancilla|Caradon]]: A class of ancilla which is able to process.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HDWC15|DW|Chapter=15}}
*[[Contender-class artificial intelligence]]
*[[Facilitator-class ancilla|Facilitator]]: An ancilla created for the facilitation of [[Halo Array|Array]] requirements.{{Ref/Reuse|HDWC15}}
*[[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.
*[[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.
*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'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'.
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*''[[Halo Legends]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminals]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 4]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Halo: Rebirth]]''
*''[[Rebirth]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''
*''[[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}}
{{Col-end}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{Forerunner|technology}}
{{Forerunner|technology}}
[[Category:Forerunner A.I.| ]]
[[Category:Forerunner A.I.| ]]

Latest revision as of 00:34, February 27, 2024

Ancilla was a Forerunner term for an AI construct developed over many generations.[1] 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 monitors were sometimes referenced as distinct categories, monitors being defined by their floating robotic shells whereas ancillas, in general, were disembodied.[2]

Background[edit]

Ancillas were ubiquitous in Forerunner society, and were housed within personal shells like those of the monitors, as well as 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 jockeys, a class of Forerunner stellar engineers.[3] Monitors were a common type of robotic ancilla employed in many roles. The most powerful ancillas, next to the Contender-class, were the metarch and sub-metarch varieties. Some ancillas designed to interface with Forerunners typically represented themselves via avatars similar to those used by human AIs.[4] Not all ancillas assumed visible form, such as those that operated within a metarchy; a vast network of ancillas coordinated by a metarch.[5]

Ancillas were also stored within a Forerunner's 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 hamanune and chamanune, respectively.[6] Personal ancillas were typically not named and were addressed only as "ancilla".[7]

For a Manipular, a personal ancilla made itself easily visible and readily accessible to provide guidance and education. Once Forerunners mutated to 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.[8] Ancillas also helped Forerunners access the Domain after mutation.[9]

The Forerunners viewed ancillas as little more than tools and programmed them to not only obediently perform their designated tasks,[10] but, at least in some cases, also enjoy their servitude.[11] The notion of an ancilla rebelling against its masters was virtually unprecedented,[10] although this changed with the emergence of the Flood's logic plague which could effectively infect and convert Forerunner AIs.[2] Like their organic Forerunner masters, ancillas would recite a mantra or prayer before imminent termination.[12]

For military purposes, Forerunners used software known as AI suppressors to disable ancillas used by hostile forces.[13]

Varieties[edit]

Trivia[edit]

  • 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.
  • 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'.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo Waypoint, The New Halo Encyclopedia is Out Today (Retrieved on Mar 11, 2023) [archive]
  2. ^ a b Halo: Silentium, page 177
  3. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 221
  4. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 242
  5. ^ Halo Waypoint, Cryptum Glossary (Retrieved on Mar 14, 2014) [local archive] [external archive]
  6. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 108
  7. ^ Halo: Fractures, "Defender of the Storm"
  8. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 159-160
  9. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 201
  10. ^ a b Halo: Cryptum, page 18
  11. ^ Halo: Silentium, page 308
  12. ^ Halo: Silentium, page 275
  13. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 194
  14. ^ a b Halo: Divine Wind, chapter 15

v • d • e
 
The Forerunners

v • d • e
 
Technology
AI suppressor • Ancilla • Anti-gravity gondola • Assembler vats • Astroengineering • Baffler • Combat skin ((War sphinx • Seeker)) • Confinement bubble • Confinement field • Constraint field • Console • Coordinate key • Dazzler • Design seed ((Upgrade seed)) • Durance ((Didact's Gift)) • Encephalon • Energy core • Engineering unit • Entanglement dish • Flarecore • Gas canister • Guardian • Hard light (Light bridge) • Grappler • Huragok • Interdiction web • Lifeworker beacon • Mind transfer • Modular Dispersal Technology • Observation pane • Personal armor • Power core • Relic core • Sharquoi • Slipspace bubble • Slipspace core (Flake) • Slipspace field pod • Slipspace translocation ((Personal slipspace unit • Teleporter • Teleportation grid • Slipspace portal)) • Smartmatter • State-shifter • Stasis field • Verivorr • Weapon rack • Z-9930 Terminal
For a complete list, check out our Forerunner category.
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