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{{Era|Forerunner}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Ratings}}
{{quote|[[Installation 04|This ring]] contains significant dangers, and even with [[human|your]] [[Reclaimer|assumed legacy]], I must verify the presence and pitch of your geas before allowing full access.|[[343 Guilty Spark]] in a transmission to the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}{{Ref/Game|CEA|[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminal 1]]}}}}
{{New Content}}
'''Geas''' was an archaic [[Forerunner]] term that referred to a generations-long genetic command imposed on an organism or species. Under the influence of a geas, an organism could be given a set of subconscious orders that would be passed on to their children, in some cases lasting several generations. Only highly skilled Forerunner [[Lifeworker]]s were capable of creating a geas.


In approximately [[100,000 BCE|100,000 B.C.E.]], [[Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]] speculated that the [[The Librarian|Librarian]] had imposed a geas on the [[human]] race. Forerunner students of the [[Mantle]] also hypothesized that the [[Precursor]]s may have imposed a geas on the Forerunners themselves.<ref>'''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''', "chapter 2"</ref>
'''''Geas''''' (pronounced ''geSH''), also called '''genesong''',{{Ref/Reuse|reclaimer}} was a [[Forerunner]] term that referred to a genetic command imposed on an organism or species. Under the influence of a ''geas'', an organism could be given a set of subconscious orders that would either be specific to that organism, or passed on to their children, in some cases lasting several generations.{{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}} Only highly skilled Forerunner [[Lifeworker]]s, such as the [[Librarian]], were capable of creating a ''geas''. Forerunner students of the [[Mantle]] also hypothesized that the [[Precursor]]s may have imposed a ''geas'' on the Forerunners themselves.{{Ref/Novel|Cry|Page=49}}
 
==Overview==
===Erde-Tyrene===
During her stewardship of [[Earth]] and the [[Erde-Tyrene civilization|remains of humanity]], the [[Librarian]] imposed a ''geas'' upon various humans at birth; they later recalled the experience as her physically visiting them, but in reality she used an automated imprinting system of [[Lifeworker beacon]]s to broadcast the geas remotely.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=374}} Humans who were part of the Librarian's "special population" on Earth were used as living archives,{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=45}} with their ''geas'' containing [[mind transfer|extracted personalities]] and memories of their ancestors who had fought in the [[Human-Forerunner wars]]. These memories required specific triggers in order to awaken within the carrier individual; for example, the ancestral memories of [[Chakas]] and [[Riser]] surfaced after they traveled to [[Charum Hakkor]], once the heart of the [[Ancestors|ancient human empire]].{{Ref/Novel|Cry|Page=121}}{{Ref/Novel|Cry|Page=341}} Though initially both accessed the memories of multiple ancient warriors, one archived personality emerged dominant over the others.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=52}} The other personalities subsequently appeared to go dormant as Chakas could no longer feel them.{{Ref/Novel|Id=p185|Pri|Page=185}} Once active, an archived personality — or "essence" — could effectively exist as a fully aware consciousness alongside the carrier's own mind, even temporarily take control of their physical body.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=226}} The memories of the archived individual often manifested themselves in the carrier's dreams,{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=128-129}} and encompassed specific knowledge the archived individual may have had on subjects such as physics, engineering and mathematics.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=44}} Chakas proved able to access the archived memories once the ''geas'' had been activated inside of himself in order to learn the ancient language used by the [[Tudejsa]]. Once Chakas extracted the knowledge he needed, he could understand fluently what the Tudejsa were saying around him, although it took him a little bit to be able to speak the language fluently as his tongue was not used to forming the ancient words.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=21-23}}
 
The ''geas'' she imposed on various humans played a crucial part in the Librarian's elaborate plan to reunite with her husband, the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]]. Riser's ancestors were imprinted with a drive to pass the defenses surrounding the Didact's [[Cryptum]] in the [[Djamonkin Crater]] and create a safe path through the various traps that surrounded it. Riser himself was instructed by his ''geas'' to seek out young [[Human|ha''manush'']] and find them work; this resulted in him meeting and befriending a ha''manune'' known as [[Chakas]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=Cry2|Cry|2}} Both also began to have dreams of a young Forerunner visiting them in search of treasure,{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=31-32}} which soon became a reality as a [[Manipular]] called [[Bornstellar-Makes-Eternal-Lasting]], who had been manipulated by [[Bornstellar's ancilla|an]] [[ancilla]] secretly assigned to him by the Librarian, came to enlist the humans' guidance in finding [[Precursor]] relics.{{Ref/Novel|Cry|1}} Chakas and Riser led the Manipular to the Djamonkin Crater, where the sight of the Didact's Cryptum triggered preprogrammed songs which served as verbal codes to activate the Cryptum. Bornstellar noted that the humans had explored the island at Djamonkin Crater, built walls, laid down trails and kept defying the [[dazzler]] and then, as if giving up, departed before suddenly returning in more recent times as if something had changed, following their ''geas'', having obviously been tuned by the Librarian for a particular, very difficult task.{{Ref/Reuse|Cry2}} Given the circumstances, the Librarian most likely used her beacons' ability to alter the ''geas'' of those that it was used upon{{Ref/Reuse|pri184}} to prepare Chakas and Riser for Bornstellar's arrival as part of the culmination of her plan to awaken the Didact.
 
In [[2557]], the former [[Monitor]] [[343 Guilty Spark]], who was once Chakas, sought to bring back his friends Riser and [[Vinnevra]] by accessing the [[Domain]] and having the Librarian use ''geas'' to bring them back in the body of modern humans. During [[Mission to Mount Kilimanjaro|his encounter]] with a personality imprint of the Librarian herself beneath [[Mount Kilimanjaro]], Spark was reminded of his own experiences with the imprint of [[Forthencho]] and how hard it was upon him. The Librarian refused to apologize for her actions as she felt that they were necessary for the greater good. The Librarian told Spark that his friends were at peace and their gene song quiet. She instead helped him to see the friends that Spark had found amongst the ''[[Ace of Spades]]'' crew. Spark later admitted his plan to [[Rion Forge]] to access the Domain and use it to bring back his friends as ''geas'' or to join them before he had changed his mind.{{Ref/Novel|Ren}}
 
===Tudejsa===
On [[Installation 07]], the [[Tudejsa|transplanted human populations]] were given a ''geas'' through a similar imprinting system. For example, in the event of encountering a strange visitor, humans were programmed to bring such curiosities to Lifeworker outposts for evaluation.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=183}} New or altered orders could also be triggered remotely via the beacons that transmitted the signal across the installation. Such an event occurred after the [[Primordial]] and [[Mendicant Bias]] seized full control of operations on the Halo; all humans born on the installation were given instructions to seek out research stations, known to the humans themselves as "[[Palace of Pain|Palaces of Pain]]".{{Ref/Novel|Id=pri184|Pri|Page=184}} Such a need to travel would manifest itself in many ways, including a seemingly innate knowledge of where to go in the event of trouble,{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=74}} pleasing mental images of the destination, such as safety, home, food, water, or shelter, as well as a voice in one's head telling them where to go.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=244, 276}} Ignoring the influence of a ''geas'' took remarkable willpower, to the point that resisting it was nearly impossible even with the conscious knowledge that following it may be harmful, as demonstrated by [[Vinnevra]]'s struggle to avoid her ''geas''-induced urge to travel to a "Palace of Pain".{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=284}}
 
When Vinnerva was sent to Earth as part of the [[Reintroduction]], she was allowed to live out her life in peace with her ''geas'' silent.{{Ref/Novel|Ren|48}}
 
===Reclaimers===
The Librarian also imposed a broader ''geas'' on the entire human race, which has affected them a great deal throughout their history following the activation of the [[Halo Array]]. The ''geas'' includes, among other things, a familiarity with Forerunner technology and control interfaces,{{Ref/Novel|TF|Page=84, 146, 170}}{{Ref/Novel|FS|Page=142}} as well as subconscious instructions on how to gradually achieve more sophisticated technology, including [[smart AI]]s and [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR armor]].{{Ref/Level|Id=reclaimer|H4|[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]}} In addition, as a result of the Librarian's influence on humans, the basic image of what humans view as an ideal female is based upon the Librarian.{{Ref/Novel|Pri|Page=375}} Some of the features of the ''geas'' are carefully hidden and will only be activated by the right triggers, such as a latent immunity to the effects of the [[Composer]]. On [[Requiem]], a [[mind transfer|personality imprint]] of the Librarian activated [[John-117]]'s Composer immunity in order to allow him to defeat the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]], who planned to enslave all of humanity with the Composer. It was indicated she did more than this, saying she was going to advance his evolution by activating his ''geas'', telling him she had left humanity many gifts, of which the Composer immunity was only one. The Librarian also said that the Master Chief's evolution through this ''geas'' was the result of a "thousand lifetimes of planning," but never got to tell him exactly what she was planning for.{{Ref/Reuse|reclaimer}}
 
During [[Mission to Mount Kilimanjaro|her encounter]] with another personality imprint of the Librarian beneath [[Mount Kilimanjaro]], [[Rion Forge]] felt love and loyalty towards the Forerunner but recognized them for what they were: a genetic disposition built into human DNA giving the Librarian a way to be heard, a way to inspire loyalty and a way to nudge her children to fulfil their potential. The Librarian was able to use this to briefly communicate with Rion and possibly the rest of the crew of the ''[[Ace of Spades]]'' and warned Rion of the trials ahead, the battles to come, the safe place and the things that needed healing and tending as well as a message to take care of [[343 Guilty Spark]] who the Librarian stated was more fragile and important that Rion could ever know.{{Ref/Novel|Ren|Page=329}}
 
After Rion used the Librarian's [[coordinate key]] on [[Installation 07]],{{Ref/Novel|Id=PoL16|PoL|16}} she began experiencing dreams in which the Librarian showed Rion the truth about what she had found in [[Path Kethona]] and her plans for the rebirth of the [[Precursor]] race.{{Ref/Novel|PoL}} Rion suspected that this was a story stored in all of humanity that had just needed an activation to come to light which didn't make Rion special, it just meant that she was in the right place at the right time.{{Ref/Novel|PoL|38}} When the [[Precept]] tested Rion before giving her access to Bastion, he scanned her ''geas'' and read the results that it gave him.{{Ref/Novel|PoL|35}}
 
===Precursors===
Millions of years ago, the Precursors placed ''geas'' on the Librarian's ancestors. These ''geas'' led the Librarian to discover seeds of Precursors during the ''[[Audacity]]'' 's expedition to [[Path Kethona]] to uncover the origin of the Flood. The Librarian brought these Precursor seeds to [[Bastion]] to begin working on a rebirth of the Precursor race.{{Ref/Novel|PoL|44}}
 
==Trivia==
*In ''Halo: Cryptum'' and ''Halo: Primordium'', it is noted that most terms and phrases are translated to "localized" analogues in order to be intelligible to the reader. The word [[Wiktionary:Geas|"geas"]] comes from a Scottish Welsh corruption of the Old Irish word [[Wiktionary:Geis#Irish|"geis"]], which can mean "curse", "spell", or "command", which closely reflects the ''Halo'' universe definition of the term, but was most likely not the original term used by the Forerunners.
*In ''[[Rebirth]]'', the audio epilog to ''[[Halo: Silentium|Silentium]]'', Greg Bear pronounces the word as "''gé-ash''", whereas it is pronounced ''"gesh"'' in its native Gaelic. This mispronunciation was carried forward by [[343 Guilty Spark]] in [[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)#tabsection-0-0|Terminal One]] of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
*The ''[[Halo 2 Anniversary Original Soundtrack]]'' features a track named ''[[Genesong]]'', which is a remake of ''[[Reclaimer (music)|Reclaimer]]'' and is named after ''geas''.


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Rebirth]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:The Forerunner]]
[[Category:Forerunner technology]]

Latest revision as of 15:45, February 13, 2024

"This ring contains significant dangers, and even with your assumed legacy, I must verify the presence and pitch of your geas before allowing full access."
— 343 Guilty Spark in a transmission to the UNSC Pillar of Autumn[1]

Geas (pronounced geSH), also called genesong,[2] was a Forerunner term that referred to a genetic command imposed on an organism or species. Under the influence of a geas, an organism could be given a set of subconscious orders that would either be specific to that organism, or passed on to their children, in some cases lasting several generations.[3] Only highly skilled Forerunner Lifeworkers, such as the Librarian, were capable of creating a geas. Forerunner students of the Mantle also hypothesized that the Precursors may have imposed a geas on the Forerunners themselves.[4]

Overview[edit]

Erde-Tyrene[edit]

During her stewardship of Earth and the remains of humanity, the Librarian imposed a geas upon various humans at birth; they later recalled the experience as her physically visiting them, but in reality she used an automated imprinting system of Lifeworker beacons to broadcast the geas remotely.[5] Humans who were part of the Librarian's "special population" on Earth were used as living archives,[6] with their geas containing extracted personalities and memories of their ancestors who had fought in the Human-Forerunner wars. These memories required specific triggers in order to awaken within the carrier individual; for example, the ancestral memories of Chakas and Riser surfaced after they traveled to Charum Hakkor, once the heart of the ancient human empire.[7][8] Though initially both accessed the memories of multiple ancient warriors, one archived personality emerged dominant over the others.[9] The other personalities subsequently appeared to go dormant as Chakas could no longer feel them.[10] Once active, an archived personality — or "essence" — could effectively exist as a fully aware consciousness alongside the carrier's own mind, even temporarily take control of their physical body.[11] The memories of the archived individual often manifested themselves in the carrier's dreams,[12] and encompassed specific knowledge the archived individual may have had on subjects such as physics, engineering and mathematics.[13] Chakas proved able to access the archived memories once the geas had been activated inside of himself in order to learn the ancient language used by the Tudejsa. Once Chakas extracted the knowledge he needed, he could understand fluently what the Tudejsa were saying around him, although it took him a little bit to be able to speak the language fluently as his tongue was not used to forming the ancient words.[14]

The geas she imposed on various humans played a crucial part in the Librarian's elaborate plan to reunite with her husband, the Didact. Riser's ancestors were imprinted with a drive to pass the defenses surrounding the Didact's Cryptum in the Djamonkin Crater and create a safe path through the various traps that surrounded it. Riser himself was instructed by his geas to seek out young hamanush and find them work; this resulted in him meeting and befriending a hamanune known as Chakas.[15] Both also began to have dreams of a young Forerunner visiting them in search of treasure,[16] which soon became a reality as a Manipular called Bornstellar-Makes-Eternal-Lasting, who had been manipulated by an ancilla secretly assigned to him by the Librarian, came to enlist the humans' guidance in finding Precursor relics.[17] Chakas and Riser led the Manipular to the Djamonkin Crater, where the sight of the Didact's Cryptum triggered preprogrammed songs which served as verbal codes to activate the Cryptum. Bornstellar noted that the humans had explored the island at Djamonkin Crater, built walls, laid down trails and kept defying the dazzler and then, as if giving up, departed before suddenly returning in more recent times as if something had changed, following their geas, having obviously been tuned by the Librarian for a particular, very difficult task.[15] Given the circumstances, the Librarian most likely used her beacons' ability to alter the geas of those that it was used upon[18] to prepare Chakas and Riser for Bornstellar's arrival as part of the culmination of her plan to awaken the Didact.

In 2557, the former Monitor 343 Guilty Spark, who was once Chakas, sought to bring back his friends Riser and Vinnevra by accessing the Domain and having the Librarian use geas to bring them back in the body of modern humans. During his encounter with a personality imprint of the Librarian herself beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, Spark was reminded of his own experiences with the imprint of Forthencho and how hard it was upon him. The Librarian refused to apologize for her actions as she felt that they were necessary for the greater good. The Librarian told Spark that his friends were at peace and their gene song quiet. She instead helped him to see the friends that Spark had found amongst the Ace of Spades crew. Spark later admitted his plan to Rion Forge to access the Domain and use it to bring back his friends as geas or to join them before he had changed his mind.[19]

Tudejsa[edit]

On Installation 07, the transplanted human populations were given a geas through a similar imprinting system. For example, in the event of encountering a strange visitor, humans were programmed to bring such curiosities to Lifeworker outposts for evaluation.[20] New or altered orders could also be triggered remotely via the beacons that transmitted the signal across the installation. Such an event occurred after the Primordial and Mendicant Bias seized full control of operations on the Halo; all humans born on the installation were given instructions to seek out research stations, known to the humans themselves as "Palaces of Pain".[18] Such a need to travel would manifest itself in many ways, including a seemingly innate knowledge of where to go in the event of trouble,[21] pleasing mental images of the destination, such as safety, home, food, water, or shelter, as well as a voice in one's head telling them where to go.[22] Ignoring the influence of a geas took remarkable willpower, to the point that resisting it was nearly impossible even with the conscious knowledge that following it may be harmful, as demonstrated by Vinnevra's struggle to avoid her geas-induced urge to travel to a "Palace of Pain".[23]

When Vinnerva was sent to Earth as part of the Reintroduction, she was allowed to live out her life in peace with her geas silent.[24]

Reclaimers[edit]

The Librarian also imposed a broader geas on the entire human race, which has affected them a great deal throughout their history following the activation of the Halo Array. The geas includes, among other things, a familiarity with Forerunner technology and control interfaces,[25][26] as well as subconscious instructions on how to gradually achieve more sophisticated technology, including smart AIs and MJOLNIR armor.[2] In addition, as a result of the Librarian's influence on humans, the basic image of what humans view as an ideal female is based upon the Librarian.[27] Some of the features of the geas are carefully hidden and will only be activated by the right triggers, such as a latent immunity to the effects of the Composer. On Requiem, a personality imprint of the Librarian activated John-117's Composer immunity in order to allow him to defeat the Didact, who planned to enslave all of humanity with the Composer. It was indicated she did more than this, saying she was going to advance his evolution by activating his geas, telling him she had left humanity many gifts, of which the Composer immunity was only one. The Librarian also said that the Master Chief's evolution through this geas was the result of a "thousand lifetimes of planning," but never got to tell him exactly what she was planning for.[2]

During her encounter with another personality imprint of the Librarian beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, Rion Forge felt love and loyalty towards the Forerunner but recognized them for what they were: a genetic disposition built into human DNA giving the Librarian a way to be heard, a way to inspire loyalty and a way to nudge her children to fulfil their potential. The Librarian was able to use this to briefly communicate with Rion and possibly the rest of the crew of the Ace of Spades and warned Rion of the trials ahead, the battles to come, the safe place and the things that needed healing and tending as well as a message to take care of 343 Guilty Spark who the Librarian stated was more fragile and important that Rion could ever know.[28]

After Rion used the Librarian's coordinate key on Installation 07,[29] she began experiencing dreams in which the Librarian showed Rion the truth about what she had found in Path Kethona and her plans for the rebirth of the Precursor race.[30] Rion suspected that this was a story stored in all of humanity that had just needed an activation to come to light which didn't make Rion special, it just meant that she was in the right place at the right time.[31] When the Precept tested Rion before giving her access to Bastion, he scanned her geas and read the results that it gave him.[32]

Precursors[edit]

Millions of years ago, the Precursors placed geas on the Librarian's ancestors. These geas led the Librarian to discover seeds of Precursors during the Audacity 's expedition to Path Kethona to uncover the origin of the Flood. The Librarian brought these Precursor seeds to Bastion to begin working on a rebirth of the Precursor race.[33]

Trivia[edit]

  • In Halo: Cryptum and Halo: Primordium, it is noted that most terms and phrases are translated to "localized" analogues in order to be intelligible to the reader. The word "geas" comes from a Scottish Welsh corruption of the Old Irish word "geis", which can mean "curse", "spell", or "command", which closely reflects the Halo universe definition of the term, but was most likely not the original term used by the Forerunners.
  • In Rebirth, the audio epilog to Silentium, Greg Bear pronounces the word as "gé-ash", whereas it is pronounced "gesh" in its native Gaelic. This mispronunciation was carried forward by 343 Guilty Spark in Terminal One of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
  • The Halo 2 Anniversary Original Soundtrack features a track named Genesong, which is a remake of Reclaimer and is named after geas.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Terminal 1
  2. ^ a b c Halo 4, campaign level Reclaimer
  3. ^ Halo Waypoint, Cryptum Glossary (Retrieved on Mar 14, 2014) [local archive] [external archive]
  4. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 49
  5. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 374
  6. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 45
  7. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 121
  8. ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 341
  9. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 52
  10. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 185
  11. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 226
  12. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 128-129
  13. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 44
  14. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 21-23
  15. ^ a b Halo: Cryptum, chapter 2
  16. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 31-32
  17. ^ Halo: Cryptum, chapter 1
  18. ^ a b Halo: Primordium, page 184
  19. ^ Halo: Renegades
  20. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 183
  21. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 74
  22. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 244, 276
  23. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 284
  24. ^ Halo: Renegades, chapter 48
  25. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 84, 146, 170
  26. ^ Halo: First Strike, page 142
  27. ^ Halo: Primordium, page 375
  28. ^ Halo: Renegades, page 329
  29. ^ Halo: Point of Light, chapter 16
  30. ^ Halo: Point of Light
  31. ^ Halo: Point of Light, chapter 38
  32. ^ Halo: Point of Light, chapter 35
  33. ^ Halo: Point of Light, chapter 44
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