Mantle: Difference between revisions

[[File:Main-Forerunner.png|thumb|The [[Eld]], an ancient symbol associated with the Mantle.<ref name="requiem">'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Requiem (level)|Requiem]]''</ref>]]

The Forerunners' culture and their [[Ecumene Council|central government]] was entirely dictated by the Mantle, as were the religious beliefs of individual Forerunners, though the interpretations of the philosophy often varied between [[rate]]s and individuals.<ref name="wp fr">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/forerunners '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Forerunners'']</ref> The Mantle was based around the concept of [[Living Time]]; "the joy of life's interaction with the Cosmos". This was also the origin of all of the complex rules involved in the Mantle.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 267''</ref>

==Interpretation and practices==

Despite its ultimate ideal to preserve all life, some Forerunners also used the Mantle as a justification for several questionable practices. Forerunner dogma posited that their evolution was more "complete" than that of other species, deriving the entitlement for their rule from this belief.{{Ref/Reuse|requiem}} They considered it heretical for any other species, namely [[Ancient humanity|ancient humans]], to claim to be true inheritors of the Mantle.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 112''</ref> Because of their perceived superiority, the Forerunners sequestered themselves from other species; allegedly, this was done to protect and preserve all species, including themselves.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 113''</ref> As the Forerunners viewed themselves to be above all other species, their [[Warrior-Servant]]s would not hesitate to wipe out those who stood against them, believing that to defy the Forerunners was to show contempt for the Mantle itself.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 50''</ref> In addition, constructs known as [[Guardian]]s were used to police subject species where all-out warfare was not deemed necessary.{{Ref/Reuse|waypoint guardian}} Rather than allowing every species to rise on their own merits, the Forerunners, following the Mantle, gave them no chance to do so, serving as protectors against any threats that might have forced technological or cultural progression. An unforeseen side-effect was that only the Forerunners were able to hold their own against the [[Flood]], while their charges were unable to defend themselves; the Forerunners had unintentionally left the galaxy vulnerable to Flood infection.<ref name="terminals">'''Halo 3''', ''Terminals''</ref>

The Mantle also dictated Forerunners' lives on a personal level. According to their view of the Mantle, "the eating of the flesh of unfortunates" was forbidden; hence, the Forerunners abstained from eating meat.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 88''</ref> The Mantle also included strict rules prohibiting suicide.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 99''</ref>

After learning about humanity, the powerful Forerunner [[archeon-class ancilla]] [[Intrepid Eye]] saw it as her duty to prepare humanity to accept the Mantle.{{Ref/Novel|LL}} Her efforts involved manipulating the various species of the galaxy, humanity in particular, and creating [[asteroidea merozoite|a deadly]] [[bioweapon]] intended to wipe out those that she thought were unworthy of the Mantle, although this plot was [[Operation: RETRIBUTION|foiled]] by [[Blue Team]] and the [[Ferret]]s.{{Ref/Novel|Ret}} After Cortana took over the galaxy under her own interpretation of the Mantle, Intrepid Eye decided to use the [[Halo Array]] to wipe the galaxy clean and then use [[Installation 00|the Ark's]] resources to reseed the galaxy and tailor humanity to be prepared to accept the Mantle over hundreds of thousands of years. However, she was finally destroyed by the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} before this plan could come to fruition.{{Ref/Novel|DW}}

==Symbol==

*''[[Halo Infinite]]''

*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}

== Sources ==