Gravemind (Form)

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A Gravemind (Inferi Sententia, meaning "Thinking Dead") (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) is a major stage in the life cycle of The Flood. When it reaches a certain critical mass, it develops a centralized intelligence known as a Gravemind. It is the Flood personality, and carries with it the genetic memory garnered from millennia of feasting and slumber, making it virtually omniscient, or all-knowing. Since the intent of a Gravemind is to consume and absorb every sentient creature in the Galaxy, it is a collection of fallen Flood and other lifeforms. The Gravemind has complete control over other forms of Flood and can even speak through the Pure Forms and even some Combat Forms, using this ability to taunt his enemies. A Gravemind produces millions of flood spores.

Only one Gravemind has infested our galaxy before the Gravemind that appeared in Halo 2. The first was stopped by the first activation of the Halo rings, by the Forerunners. There are possibilities that there are more Graveminds on the other Installations, though this has not yet been confirmed.

Appearances

Halo: Combat Evolved

In Halo: Combat Evolved a Proto-Gravemind was shown and disclosed on the level Keyes and could have very well become a full grown Gravemind had it not been injured by the Master Chief and then later destroyed by the Covenant Special Ops stationed on the ring.

File:Gravemind.jpg

The Gravemind in Halo 2.

Halo 2

Due to the brevity of its mysterious appearances in Halo 2, only a small amount of data about it and the nature of the Flood parasite can be inferred, in short he appears something like a large Venus Fly Trap, as his 'mouth' looks like the head of the plant while its tentacles look like the roots. The Gravemind is made of countless bodies that were unsuitable for the work of Combat forms or Carrier forms. The Art of Halo states that Gravemind is “literally built from the bodies of its enemies and its own fallen warriors reassembled into a massive, tentacled, and intelligent entity." This can also be assumed, because when he speaks he refers to the place he inhabits as an empty grave. A grave being a burial ground, where the dead are "stored", but since he is 'alive' he simply implies that where there should be many graves; there is just the Gravemind. Even his name, "Gravemind" suggests this, as he is the "mind" of the "grave". Gravemind is the controlling intelligence behind the parasitic Flood hive. In this way, he appears similar to a puppet master. Gravemind is located far beneath the Library of Installation 05 and has tentacles that reach for miles. Gravemind also seems to harbor an intelligence approaching omniscience, since he appears to be capable of absorbing the knowledge of all Flood hosts.

The Gravemind we see in the game appears to be capable of utilizing Halo's teleportation grid to transport anything, and indeed himself (or at least a part of himself), anywhere on the ring and beyond to a limited distance. Being a Flood organism, how he uses the grid has been speculated on. The most common theory is that since he holds 2401 Penitent Tangent, Monitor of Delta Halo captive, he can probably use it to access the teleportation field on Delta Halo. However, 2401 Penitent Tangent is not an organic lifeform and so Gravemind must have assimilated someone who had knowledge of the grid and used it to manipulate the grid. Gravemind boards High Charity, the Covenant Holy City, by means of boarding In Amber Clad. Once Gravemind crashes In Amber Clad into a wall in High Charity he uses UNSC Pelicans that were aboard the ship to spread the infection throughout the city, as seen on the level "High Charity" during the opening cut scene. Still, there is a lot more about this enigmatic character that we do not know. It can be seen that he somewhat has two "mouths". An outer mouth like an Elite and an inner mouth like a human.

The Arbiter struggles in the Gravemind's grip.

Gravemind more than once speaks in rhyme, specifically in Trochaic Heptameter In the post-credits end cinematic of Halo 2, Gravemind recites this verse to Cortana:

Silence fills the empty grave now that I have gone,

But my mind is not at rest, for questions linger on.

I will ask and you will answer.

Strangely enough, in Gravemind, the level named after him, there is no contact at all with him, apart from the cutscene in which he is introduced, or his Flood minions. The name of the level is "Gravemind" possibly because Master Chief is following an assignment given by the Gravemind.

Halo 3

The Gravemind, is one of the two primary antagonists in Halo 3, the other deferentially being the Prophet of Truth. His presence can be felt earlier in the game, as he speaks through Cortana in periodic visions to John-117 (damaged visions of Cortana). The Gravemind, himself turns up later on in the game when first, a Covenant battle cruiser taken over by the Flood crash-lands on Earth and promptly begins to infect the city of Voi. After the Master Chief and the Arbiter clean up the mess, High Charity (along with the Gravemind) arrives at the Ark via Slipspace jump. The Master Chief takes a detour through High Charity to retrieve Cortana, destroying the city in the process, and the Gravemind is seemingly killed; however, it's discovered that he is attempting to rebuild himself on the replacement Halo built by the Ark. He is presumably destroyed once and for all when the Chief activates the replacement Halo, destroying the Halo, and the Flood.

It should be noted that the Gravemind never appears in-game in his physical form, as he did in Halo 2. The most that is ever seen of Gravemind are a number of tentacles in the control room of the Ark (aka, the Citadel). Despite it having a good amount of dialogue spoken directly to the Master Chief (and by extension, the gamer, through moments), Gravemind's head is never seen. It is possible that Gravemind had changed a great deal, since the first time he met the Arbiter and the Chief, since the tentacles seen are different from those he used in Halo 2, being a lot thicker in appearance. In the level Cortana, it was shown that he tried to stop the Arbiter and the Chief from escaping with Cortana in their possession, but failed when one of his tentacles were scorched by the escaping Pelican's engines. The game's instruction manual however, shows it to be the same form as it was seen in Halo 2.

Personality

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Gravemind tentacles.

The Gravemind has an obscure and complex personality, at first when it is seen by the Master Chief and the Arbiter, it is calm and collected, if not seemingly sad or mournful, and speaks with a sullen tone in his voice. He is also seen to be logical here, as he analyzes the Chief and the Arbiter, and tries to convince the Arbiter of what the Halo Rings actually are, to which the Arbiter retorts with stubborn pride. The Gravemind shows no irritation to this, or to the bickering of 2401 Penitent Tangent and the former Prophet of Regret.

Later in Halo 2, however, the Gravemind shows a more emotional side as he basks in his victory in High Charity, and displays a sinister air of anger when surrounding Cortana with his tentacles, demanding answers from her.

In Halo 3, his personality is expressed greatly, although ironically he is never seen, only a number of his tentacles, which gives him a sinister edge. He is shown to have a calm and collected personality, especially towards the beginning, however, as soon as the Prophet of Truth and his forces are destroyed, the Gravemind immediately bursts into a victorious, maniacal laugh, giving a short monologue in iambic heptameter, an analogy of his coming.

In the level "Cortana", a broader spectrum of his personality is asserted. He begins with his calm and collected voice, as well as a slightly confident tone. As the Chief finds his way deeper into High Charity, however, the Gravemind becomes more irritated by his progress, and begins to shout at him. Once Cortana is rescued, the Gravemind begins to emit a series of mangled, animal-like roars and speaks in an infuriated tone.

In the final level of Halo 3, Flood dispersal pods crash onto the newly built second Installation 04, and the Gravemind begins to speak again, this time in an angry, yet confident tone.

By the end of the game, the Gravemind gives a short monologue in a disheartened tone, cryptically admitting that he knows he can do nothing to stop the fate he believes was unjustly forced upon him.

The mostly collected and impassive tone that is frequently heard from it can be justified by his implied near omniscience; often knowing what is happening, and having a clear picture of what will occur later, gives it little reason to worry about matters, and it only becomes truly irritated or angry when something occurs that he has not foreseen, or is close to defeating him. Such examples are what Cortana keeps hidden from him, the knowledge of the Ark and of the Activation Index, and the Chief and Arbiter's mission to activate the Halo array.

He is also known to be quite manipulative: in Halo 2, Gravemind tricks the Chief into being a decoy to distract the High Prophets as he attempts to take over High Charity, and in Halo 3, he convinces the Master Chief and the Arbiter to help him kill the Prophet of Truth, but is hostile again immediately after the firing of the Halo array is stopped.

It is also notable that the original Gravemind was able to convince the Forerunner AI Mendicant Bias to join his cause and turn his fleet upon the Forerunners

Quotes

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Halo 2

• "This is not your grave, but you are welcome in it" -Closing sentence, said on Regret

• "I? I am a monument to all your sins." -Introducing itself, said on Gravemind

• "This one is machine and nerve, and has its mind concluded. [Low growl] This one is but flesh and faith, and is the more deluded." -Said about the Master Chief and the Arbiter, respectively, on Gravemind

• "There is much talk, and I have listened, through rock and metal and time. Now I shall talk, and you shall listen.." -said on Gravemind

• "This one's containment... (Gestures to 2401 Penitent Tangent and growls)...and this one's Great Journey...(gestures to Regret)...are the same. Your Prophets have promised you freedom from a doomed existence, but you will find no salvation on this ring. Those who built this place knew what they wrought. Do not mistake their intent, or all will perish as they did before..." -said on Gravemind

• "If you will not hear the truth, then I will show it to you. There is still time to stop the key from turning, but first it must be found. (gestures to the Arbiter) You will search one likely spot...(gestures to the Master Chief.) ...and you will search another. Fate had us meet as foes, but this Ring will make us brothers!" -said on Gravemind

• "Arrogant creature! Your deaths will be instantaneous while we shall suffer the progress of infinitude!" -said on High Charity

• "Silence fills the empty grave, now that I have gone. But my mind is not at rest, for questions linger on. I will ask, and you will answer." -To Cortana, after Halo 2's credits roll.

Halo 3

• "Do not be afraid. I am peace; I am salvation." -said on Floodgate

• "I am a timeless chorus. Join your voice with mine, and sing victory everlasting." -said on Floodgate

• "Do not shoot, but listen. Let us lead you safely to our foe. Only you can halt what he has set in motion." - Said through two Tank Forms on The Covenant (referring to the activation of the rings.)

• "Lies for the weak! Beacons for the deluded!" - Said through the infected Prophet of Truth on The Covenant

• "You will be food, nothing more..." - said on The Covenant through The Prophet of Truth

• "(Evil laughing) Now the gate has been unlatched, headstones pushed aside, corpses shift and offer room; a fate you must abide." -said on The Covenant

• "Child of my enemy, why have you come? I offer no forgiveness. A father's sins pass to his son." -said on Cortana

• "Of course, you came for Her. We exist together now, two corpses in one grave... "-said on Cortana

• "And yet perhaps a part of her, remains.(Evil laughing)" -said on Cortana

• "Time, has taught me patience. But basking in new freedom, I WILL KNOW ALL THAT I POSSESS!!!" -said on Cortana

• "Submit! End her torment and my own!!!" -said on Cortana

• "You will show me what she hides! Or I shall feast upon your bones!" -said on Cortana

• "(Flood Roar) Now, at last I see, her secret is revealed!!" -said on Cortana (referring to the Index that Cortana possesses)

• "Did you think me defeated!?!?" -said on Halo.

• "I have beaten fleets of thousands! Consumed a galaxy of flesh and mind and bone!" -said on Halo

• "Do I take life or give it? Who is victim, and who is foe?" -said on Halo

• "Resignation is my virtue, like water I ebb and flow. Defeat is merely the addition of time to a sentence I never deserved...but you imposed." -said on Halo

• "From end to end of this galaxy, most are blinded!" -speaking through a Combat Form on Halo.

Trivia

• In certain parts of the Gravemind's cutscene in Halo 2, a second voice that resembles that of a child can be heard behind the Gravemind's deeper voice.
• It is said that the Proto-Gravemind on the Truth and Reconciliation could have become a Gravemind if it weren't for Installation 04's destruction. It is unknown whether multiple Graveminds in existence would cause conflict within the Flood hivemind.
• It is speculated that the voice in the Reversed Message is Gravemind's.
• In several Forerunner data logs, the controlling intelligence of the Flood is referred to as a Compound mind.
• In both Halo 2 and Halo 3, he says "We exist together now. Two corpses in one grave." Both sentences are said in Flood-infested High Charity.
• The Gravemind resembles Audrey 2 from Little Shop of Horrors. He is a plant-like alien with tentacles who is fed (or in Gravemind's case absorbs) humans to grow and is bent on world (galactic with Gravemind) domination. This also draws parallel to Audrey 2 and his buds, which are similar to Infection Forms. Also, Audrey 2 uses his caretaker to get him "food" so he can grow, Gravemind uses Master Chief and the Arbiter on High Charity to distract the Covenant while he spreads his minions essentially getting more "food" to eat/absorb. The Gravemind is also parallel to the character of the monster, in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as he starts off calm and collected, (Halo 2) but starts to become more sinister throughout the game, just like the monster.
• The Gravemind can take priority control over important beings, this is shown when the Gravemind has the Prophet of Regret attached to one of it's tentacles. The purpose of this is unknown.
• Originally, the Gravemind was meant to have skulls as teeth, this was cut from Halo 2 and Halo 3 due to issues with speaking for the character.
• Bungie staff and fans jokingly call it the "Little Shop of Horrors Reject".
• Dee Baker, who also does the voice of General RAAM in Gears of War, voices the Gravemind.
• Whenever the Gravemind starts to speak during game play, the view will turn greenish brown and zoom in. The player will also slow down.
• It often spews out green gas when talking.
• It is possible to see part of the Gravemind's "roots" throughout the level of Cortana and High Charity
• In Halo 3 the Gravemind can speak through the Flood "Pure Forms and Combat Forms". Most notably during the level The Covenant.
• The Gravemind's head is similar to an elite's head, but with a lower closed jaw.
• Jason Jones of the Bungie staff initially didn't want the Gravemind to speak in rhyme but was persuaded by Joseph Staten.
• He was initially going to be a much bigger presence in Halo 2 and would have his big introduction in the level Forerunner Tank, but due to time constraints, Bungie removed the level and instead made a long cinematic for his introduction.
• It's said in the Halo 3 legendary edition DVD commentary that he loses tentacles all the time, saying he sheds them like hair.
• The Gravemind is never seen in person in Halo 3, unlike in Halo 2 where he appeared before the Arbiter and Master Chief, and was implied to have been seen by Cortana after the Halo 2 credits.
• It is unknown if this is true, but is implied that the Gravemind's intelligence is kept and passed onto the next Gravemind should one be destroyed, since Gravemind was destroyed in the Forerunner-Flood War, and the current Gravemind remembers events and items from back then.

Images

• Gavem1.jpg

  A Gravemind Moment.

Related Links

• The Flood
• Proto-Gravemind