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{{Era|Forerunner}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Ratings}}
[[File:Forerunner forms.png|thumb|300px|Forerunners of different rates and [[form]]s. From left to right: a [[Promethean]], a [[Lifeworker]], the [[Librarian]], the [[Ur-Didact]]'s previous form, the Ur-Didact's final form, a [[Miner]], a [[Builder]], a [[Warrior-Servant]], and [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]].]]
{{New Content}}
'''Rates''' were a set of formally defined caste-like social strata in [[Forerunner]] society, further determined by [[Forerunner mutation|physical alteration]] carried out on individuals to suit their societal role. Each rate specialized in a particular field of work, and had varying societal function and cultural importance. Rates were divided into several tiers, including [[form]]s, [[guild]]s and [[Maniple]]s.<ref name="Cryptum">'''Halo: Cryptum'''</ref>{{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}}
The '''Forerunner caste system''' was a system used to rank [[Forerunner]]s in society. Castes were divided into several tiers, including '''forms''', '''rates''', and '''Maniples'''.<ref name="Cryptum">'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'''</ref>


==Practices==
==Practices==
Adolescent Forerunners, known as [[Manipular]]s, were not associated with any particular caste. However, upon maturing, each individual Forerunner would be assigned to a caste, mostly in accordance with the caste of their parents. For example, [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]] was expected to become a Builder like his father.
Adolescent Forerunners, known as [[Manipular]]s, were not associated with any particular rate. However, upon maturing, each individual Forerunner would be assigned to a rate, mostly in accordance with the rate of their parents. For example, [[IsoDidact|Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]] was expected to become a Builder like [[Wise-Hands-to-Forge|his father]].


Each caste had their own ceremonial headgear, worn only on special occasions. However, on a certain day in the [[Grand Star Season]], every Forerunner wore the same style.<ref name="Cryptum"/>
The rates were arranged in a certain hierarchy. This order changed to some extent over the millions of years the Forerunner were in power; for example, the [[Warrior-Servant|Warriors]] stood at the top in the early days of Forerunner civilization, ten million years before the firing of the [[Halo Array]].<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 14''</ref>


==Known castes==
Each rate had their own ceremonial headgear, worn only on special occasions. However, on a certain day in the [[Grand Star Season]], every Forerunner wore the same style.{{Ref/Reuse|Cryptum}}
 
==List of rates==
===Builders===
===Builders===
{{Main|Builder}}
{{Main|Builder}}
The Builders were responsible for the construction of a majority of Forerunner architecture. As such, they were most likely responsible for creating the [[Halo Array]] and [[Onyx]]. The father of Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting was a Builder.
The Builders were responsible for the design and construction of most Forerunner technology and architecture, including their weapons, ships and megastructures, most notably the [[Halo Array]]. The Builders stood highest in the Forerunner social hierarchy and held immense wealth and political power, with their position consolidating even further after [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]] and his allies gained control of the [[Ecumene Council]] for over a thousand years.


===Miners===
===Miners===
{{Main|Miner}}
{{Main|Miner}}
The Miners were the lowest class in Forerunner society. They were responsible for obtaining the materials required for the work of the Builders.
The Miners were a rate responsible for obtaining the materials required for the work of the Builders, as well as stellar and planetary engineering. Miner stellar engineers were colloquially known as [[plasma jockey]]s.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 221''</ref>


===Lifeworkers===
===Lifeworkers===
{{Main|Lifeworker}}
{{Main|Lifeworker}}
The Lifeworkers were the highest class in Forerunner society. They specialized in biology and medicine, especially with the experimentation of various forms of life. It was not uncommon for Lifeworkers to receive their own planets for experimentation. The [[Librarian]] was a Lifeworker.
The Lifeworkers were a rate specializing in biology and medicine, and the experimentation of various forms of life. The head of the Lifeworker rate was known as the [[Lifeshaper]]; the [[Librarian]] was the most well-known Forerunner to hold this title.


===Warriors===
===Juridicals===
{{Main|Warrior}}
{{Main|Juridical}}
The Warriors were the second-highest class in Forerunner society. They were most likely responsible for piloting space vessels as well as fight on the ground. The [[Didact]] was most likely a Warrior.
The Juridicals were the rate charged with judicial matters, including the investigation of crimes and the judgment of criminals within Forerunner society. The Juridical rate was home to [[Catalog]], a collective of evidence-gathering agents.<ref>[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 description'']</ref> The head of the Juridical rate was known as the Master Juridical.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 191''</ref>


===Warrior-Servants===
===Warrior-Servants===
{{Main|Warrior-Servant}}
{{Main|Warrior-Servant}}
Warrior-Servants were another caste, separate from the Warriors. They were responsible for, among other things, piloting [[War Sphinx]]es during the [[Forerunner-Human War]]. The use of the word "servant" in their name likely implies that they were of lower social status than Warriors. The [[Prometheans]] were an elite group of Warrior-Servants.
The Warrior-Servants were the second-lowest rate and primary military caste in Forerunner society. They were responsible for, among other things, the Forerunner victory over [[Ancient humanity|ancient humans]] during the [[human-Forerunner wars]]. The [[Promethean]]s were an elite group of Warrior-Servants led by the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]].
 
===Engineers===
{{Main|Engineer (rate)}}
Engineers were a rate presumably focusing on the maintenance of structures and machinery.<ref name="f83">'''[[Halo: Fractures]]''', "[[Promises to Keep]]", ''page 83'' (Google Play edition)</ref> They were the only rate not represented in the [[Capital Court]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 298''</ref>
 
===Theoreticals===
The Theoreticals were a rate that existed over one million years before the Didact was sealed in his [[Cryptum]]. After one Theoretical named [[Boundless]] persisted in studying a certain star in the [[Tarantula Nebula|Spider nebula]] of [[Path Kethona]] despite Warrior orders, she was eventually punished by the Juridicals and sealed within a faulty Cryptum that caused her death. The entire Theoretical rate was then forcibly merged with the Builder rate.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia (2022 Edition)''', ''page 321''</ref>
 
===Historians===
One of the rates assimilated by the [[Builder]]s in their rise to power.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epi11|Epi|11}}
 
===Weavers===
{{Main|Weaver}}
The storytellers and keepers of folklore, the Weavers were another rate assimilated by the Builders in their rise to power. Weavers told tales as soon as they had the ability to form simple sentences.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}}
 
===Speakers===
A rate that had the innate ability to stir a crowd with their passion and eloquence.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}}
 
===Interpreters===
{{Main|Interpreter}}
The Interpreters were experts in the study and interpretation of the [[Mantle]], acting in conjunction with the [[Juridical]]s in cases of crimes against the Mantle with the Interpreters judgments often taking precedence. The Interpreters were another rate assimilated by the Builders in their rise to power.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}}
 
The [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]'s [[Didact's father|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.{{Ref/Reuse|Epi11}}


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]'' {{mo}}
*''[[Halo 4]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[Promises to Keep]]''
**''[[Defender of the Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]''
*''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Mo}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
[[Category:The Forerunner]]
 
[[Category:Forerunner rates| ]]

Latest revision as of 18:16, September 3, 2024

Artwork of different Forerunner rates.
Forerunners of different rates and forms. From left to right: a Promethean, a Lifeworker, the Librarian, the Ur-Didact's previous form, the Ur-Didact's final form, a Miner, a Builder, a Warrior-Servant, and Master Builder Faber.

Rates were a set of formally defined caste-like social strata in Forerunner society, further determined by physical alteration carried out on individuals to suit their societal role. Each rate specialized in a particular field of work, and had varying societal function and cultural importance. Rates were divided into several tiers, including forms, guilds and Maniples.[1][2]

Practices[edit]

Adolescent Forerunners, known as Manipulars, were not associated with any particular rate. However, upon maturing, each individual Forerunner would be assigned to a rate, mostly in accordance with the rate of their parents. For example, Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting was expected to become a Builder like his father.

The rates were arranged in a certain hierarchy. This order changed to some extent over the millions of years the Forerunner were in power; for example, the Warriors stood at the top in the early days of Forerunner civilization, ten million years before the firing of the Halo Array.[3]

Each rate had their own ceremonial headgear, worn only on special occasions. However, on a certain day in the Grand Star Season, every Forerunner wore the same style.[1]

List of rates[edit]

Builders[edit]

Main article: Builder

The Builders were responsible for the design and construction of most Forerunner technology and architecture, including their weapons, ships and megastructures, most notably the Halo Array. The Builders stood highest in the Forerunner social hierarchy and held immense wealth and political power, with their position consolidating even further after Master Builder Faber and his allies gained control of the Ecumene Council for over a thousand years.

Miners[edit]

Main article: Miner

The Miners were a rate responsible for obtaining the materials required for the work of the Builders, as well as stellar and planetary engineering. Miner stellar engineers were colloquially known as plasma jockeys.[4]

Lifeworkers[edit]

Main article: Lifeworker

The Lifeworkers were a rate specializing in biology and medicine, and the experimentation of various forms of life. The head of the Lifeworker rate was known as the Lifeshaper; the Librarian was the most well-known Forerunner to hold this title.

Juridicals[edit]

Main article: Juridical

The Juridicals were the rate charged with judicial matters, including the investigation of crimes and the judgment of criminals within Forerunner society. The Juridical rate was home to Catalog, a collective of evidence-gathering agents.[5] The head of the Juridical rate was known as the Master Juridical.[6]

Warrior-Servants[edit]

Main article: Warrior-Servant

The Warrior-Servants were the second-lowest rate and primary military caste in Forerunner society. They were responsible for, among other things, the Forerunner victory over ancient humans during the human-Forerunner wars. The Prometheans were an elite group of Warrior-Servants led by the Didact.

Engineers[edit]

Main article: Engineer (rate)

Engineers were a rate presumably focusing on the maintenance of structures and machinery.[7] They were the only rate not represented in the Capital Court.[8]

Theoreticals[edit]

The Theoreticals were a rate that existed over one million years before the Didact was sealed in his Cryptum. After one Theoretical named Boundless persisted in studying a certain star in the Spider nebula of Path Kethona despite Warrior orders, she was eventually punished by the Juridicals and sealed within a faulty Cryptum that caused her death. The entire Theoretical rate was then forcibly merged with the Builder rate.[9]

Historians[edit]

One of the rates assimilated by the Builders in their rise to power.[10]

Weavers[edit]

Main article: Weaver

The storytellers and keepers of folklore, the Weavers were another rate assimilated by the Builders in their rise to power. Weavers told tales as soon as they had the ability to form simple sentences.[10]

Speakers[edit]

A rate that had the innate ability to stir a crowd with their passion and eloquence.[10]

Interpreters[edit]

Main article: Interpreter

The Interpreters were experts in the study and interpretation of the Mantle, acting in conjunction with the Juridicals in cases of crimes against the Mantle with the Interpreters judgments often taking precedence. The Interpreters were another rate assimilated by the Builders in their rise to power.[10]

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 Speakers 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 Suppressor which left nothing behind of them, not even an essence for the Domain.[10]

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.[10]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b Halo: Cryptum
  2. ^ Halo Waypoint, Cryptum Glossary (Retrieved on Mar 14, 2014) [local archive] [external archive]
  3. ^ Halo: Silentium, page 14
  4. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 221
  5. ^ Amazon.com:: Halo: Silentium description
  6. ^ Halo: Silentium, page 191
  7. ^ Halo: Fractures, "Promises to Keep", page 83 (Google Play edition)
  8. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 298
  9. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 Edition), page 321
  10. ^ a b c d e f Halo: Epitaph, chapter 11
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