Geas: Difference between revisions

{{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>'''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''' - ''Terminal 1''</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>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 49''</ref>

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>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 374''</ref> Humans who were part of the Librarian's "special population" on Earth were used as living archives,<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 45''</ref> 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 [[ancient humanity|ancient human empire]].<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 121''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 341''</ref> Though initially both accessed the memories of multiple ancient warriors, one archived personality emerged dominant over the others.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 52''</ref> The other personalities subsequently appeared to go dormant as Chakas could no longer feel them.<ref name="p185">'''Halo: Primordium''', ''Page 185''</ref> 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>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 226''</ref> The memories of the archived individual often manifested themselves in the carrier's dreams,<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 128-129''</ref> and encompassed specific knowledge the archived individual may have had on subjects such as physics, engineering and mathematics.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 44''</ref> 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, though 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>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 21-23''</ref>

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 name="Halo: Cryptum, page 55">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 55''</ref> Both also began to have dreams of a young Forerunner visiting them in search of treasure,<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 31-32''</ref> 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. 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.{{Ref/Reuse|Halo: Cryptum, page 55}}

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>'''[[Halo: Renegades]]'''</ref>

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>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 183''</ref> 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>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 184''</ref> 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>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 74''</ref> 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>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 244, 276''</ref> 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>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 284''</ref>