The Mantle is a Lie | Halo Epitaph 

Precursors went from life giving Bug men to the Brethren Moons with their markers real quick

I see why ancient humans who heard this killed themselves, their worldview and sense of importance was crushed in the wake of these horrifying revelations

For me, Halo Epitaph kinda saved Halo 5 Guardians for me, and actually gave context to Warden Eternal, that felt like a Didact pitch replacement following that... cursed comic. And the ending was so emotional such a great sendoff to Didact as a character, and how the whole Domain chapter got closed. Also, this has to be the most Lovecraftian book up to date.

So basically The Flood is just a good ol' farmer growing their food

What a mind f**k. The question of "how many times have we done this?" took me waaay back to The Matrix, and remembering that feeling of hopelessness when you discover that mankind has done that dance countless times before, and will do it countless times after.

“the flood will feast once more” My God that is terrifying. Because it begs the question, how many times have they done this? *Round and round we go forever, in this little game. No matter how long it takes, it always ends the same…* *Time may flow and crops will grow until the flesh is ripe. And in the end as always it is we who finish the fight…*

Halo: Point of Light say that the last precursor/gravemind was just a sadistic precursor and it was the only one that could revive itself in a gravemind. That the flood was dangerous to living time. This book confirms that the 'mantle' is a test. That the gravemind believes it is a test most species will fail, as other might have in other galaxies.

"Dear humanity, we regret being alien bastards, we regret creating you, and we most certainly regret that you managed to supersede our precursor level of existence" -sgt Johnsons decendent about to defeat the precursors in the year 25530000000

My personal theory has always been that the Logic Plague is simply this: 1) The Mantle is real. 2) You should hold it.

So basically the primordials are like the bretheren moons and markers from the dead space franchise they just cultivate intelligent life to absorb it once more

so a even more twisted version of Reapers from Mass Effect

“I am the darkness where all life dies, all life exists simply to sacrifice.” - Darth Nihilus I feel like this quote perfectly encompasses how I see the Flood/Precursors

Holy shit. To actually think the lore would advance to such a monumental length at this point is truly astonishing. And to think some people were asking for a reboot...

You said that 2589 may be the end of Halo because it looks like all the galaxy’s major problems will have been solved by then, except now we know that as humanity flourishes, the Flood will just return again to feed…

Offensive bias is hopefully going to be more active from now on

The Domain is a carnivorous Library. It’s books the digested memories of countless civilizations.

There are elements I agree with and elements I'm still struggling over. Contradicting the Mantle meaning that one bestest species is supposed to act as imperial ruler of the rest of the galaxy, benevolently so long as the others don't get uppity but violently if they do? Yeah, that seemed like a bad ideology all along. But can we trust the Gravemind / Primordial's side of the story fully? I'm not sure we can, to the extent of ignoring that the immaterial Netherop Precursors, or the two who voluntarily died to become the Bastion seeds, seem to have some fundamental philosophical differences from the Flood one. What seems more likely? That the others were just biding their time before everything is Floodified, or that Gravemind is weaving together some truths, some lies, and some "from a certain point of view" to traumatize those he means to drive mad? Wild-ass guess here, but I think maybe the lore is hinting at the Precursors' plan indeed being for "ripe" species to be resorbed into the living universe after a season at the apex of development - but that's supposed to happen by entering the domain in an act of ascension. The other Precursors are still long-gaming for that to happen, albeit with some nudges and manipulation rather than fully voluntarily. The Primordial isn't lying per se about the point being to resorb mature species, but bitterness and revenge for the forerunner rebellion is driving it to a corrupted means of getting to the same end, namely using the Flood as a bioweapon to eat life's essences, and gathering those essences to itself rather than to the domain in general.

The Gravemimd is reminding me more and more of Sovereign from Mass Effect.

I think the Endless are a big piece of the mystery of the Mantle. Harbinger constantly talks about how the Forerunners lied about something. I think it’s a Lie that Humanitys destiny was to Reclaim the Mantle. Harbinger has the Reclaimer Symbol on her Helmet and Back Armor. The New Halo Encyclopaedia revealed that the Harbinger was a member of the “Endless Ruling Class” so the fact that they represent themselves through the Reclaimer Symbol shows that the Forerunners didn’t invent that symbol and considering that Harbinger basically has magic (Neural Physics) while Humanity does not, it may be possible that Humanity did not ultimately amount to much in the eyes of the Precursors, but rather the Forerunners.

I always wanted a Greg Bear Ancient Humanity trilogy that mirrored his Forerunner trilogy and when we lost Greg I thought the ancient human and forerunner stories would become lost, but Kelly Gay has truly kept his work alive while creating her own very compelling continuations of the stories as well as connecting them to current events. Well done Kelly Gay! Greg would be proud!

That title is definitely something to watch this video for. Everything we knew is a lie? That is a huge rug pull on everything we ever thought we knew about the Mantle of Responsibility.

"I? I, am a (Monument), to all your sins": 1 A structure, such as a building or sculpture, erected as a memorial. 2 An inscribed marker placed at a grave; a tombstone. 3 Something venerated for its enduring historic significance or association with a notable past person or thing.

I can't help but notice the striking similarities between the flood and the domain. Both are living information/memory (or "sweetness") vacuums, expect one is voluntary and the other is not. My current head canon is that the Precursors have a lust for experiencing the "sweetness" of the universe and do so by creating life in each galaxy they visit. They then give their creations the domain to catalog their experiences so that the precursors can one day come back and retrieve it and experience all of the information and memories saved. It is already documented in Point of Light that some Precursors are kind and do not relish in suffering like the Gravemind, and even a few Precursors helped cure an "incurable" human disease and shelter Sangheili defenders in Outcasts, so the idea of the entire Precursor race always turning to the flood with unanimous approval doesn't quite sit with me. Another interesting tidbit is the domain not being completely destroyed by the firing of the halos suggests that the Precursors took great effort to ensure its survival, making it far more robust than all their other tech. Personally, I believe the flood is either a contingency measure that forcefully consumes all life in the event of an uprising that threatens their species and/or makes the domain method no longer viable, or is simply a preferred method of gathering their "sweetness" by some, but not all of the Precursors. If true, that would mean that the floods hunger is not to eat for survival as we do, but to insidiously catalog through consumption. Funny enough, it was the Graveminds message to the Librarian in Silentium about the domain being Precursor implying that it will be destroyed by the halos firing and thus the destruction of all Forerunner history that led to the domain getting repaired by the surviving Forerunners after the firing of the halos. Had the Gravemind not delivered this message, the Librarian wouldn’t have left a message and it never would have been repaired. I always interpreted this as the Gravemind wanting to get one last jab in at the Librarian, but it could also be that the Gravemind wanted the domain to be repaired and thus through the guise of a demoralizing jab, warned the Librarian in case the flood does actually fail so that the cataloging could continue. Either way, the Precursors will get their "sweetness" one way or another when they return.

Man that totally changes sooo much about original Halo lore but I dig it. It makes the fight against the flood feel even more hopeless despite the victories in the games. Makes me wonder if the humanity will actually be able to take on the flood or if its victory is just kinda inevitable

“Ah yes, ‘Reapers’”

In the end the mantle only serves one thing, the universe, and not the life that lives in it.

makes what the gravemind says in halo 3 make even more sense now

I’m actually really happy that your theory about the flood/precursors turned out to be true. It was my favorite Halo theory I had ever heard so it basically being true now is just so cool.

The more you think about the implications, the darker it gets.

I feel like the Gravemind can’t be trusted here. I mean it acts like this cycle is predictable when it can’t be fully when the Forerunner built the rings, how old is the cycle, and what happened to the species before the Forerunner? It’s just not adding up.

So spark just screwed the other galaxy with bastion and the sample of 'Uncorupted' precursor DNA, we 're fucked

Oh fuck. So Forerunners were right all along with their destruction of precursors.

So this basically confirms that the Precursors/flood would now wipe the floor with the Tyranids from 40k. It would consume them just as easily as all other life

That video from 3 years ago is absolutely my favorite of yours and completely changed my outlook on the Halo universe, I'm incredibly happy to see it confirmed.

I remember that video. I think that was about the time I subbed to you. It's a theory that makes sense. We have the ability to create and the ability to absolutely earse what we create. There's something in that book Selintum, spelt wrong, that made me think of this idea too. I'm glad you are bringing this up again. The domain and the mantle of responsibility are artificial constructs. Apparently, it's time for them to be destroyed. To finish their circle.

This is F**king Amazing!!!! Keep up the great work!!!! And i love how you used the Harbinger ost!!!!! This is the best one yet!!!!!

"You will be food, nothing more"-Gravemind. (Halo 3)

This theory aligns so much with mass effect reapers.. they wait until new life dominate the world and then come to kill everyone

oh cool. i just took your word for it after viewing the previous video on this topic. i wonder how many cycles the floodcursors have done this.

Mass Effect Reapers? great video, this brings about a new viewpoint on the precursors. I always assumed they were the life givers and the forerunners wanted to take their place with an iron fist. were the forerunners wrong? cold and unforgiving, yes. whether or not they knew this info about the precursors, can you blame their actions for brutality?

I always found the Mantle of Responsibility rather suss and extremely problematic

The reason I watch you is your entertaining voice obviously and your content. But even when you said that 3 years ago it was logical and easy to trust even just as a theory. Love you man glad to see you well 🔥

Back when I played halo 4 I remember it reminded me of the Mass Effect series. I thought of Shepard as a Reclaimer...and I forget the characters name but he was in one of the DLCs in mass effect, an ancient alien species with bionic powers that joined your team, I thought of that guy (alien) as a Forerunner. The similarities blew my mind, to the point where I thought chief was eventually going to get bionic powers like Commander Shepard! And when Bungie left Halo and made Destiny it seemed it was possibly on their minds and maybe 343 just fucked it up. After watching the first season of the new Halo tv show these theories resurfaced in my mind, with them using an artifact that chief was affected by. A lot wishful thinking here, but its fun to theorize. 😄

The primordial said the Mantle is a test? And that species always fail? Makes me wonder what the "pass" conditions are. Maybe something along the lines of evening out the great prosperity and growth the Mantle seems to encourage by following it up with a balance of destruction.

I haven’t read the book but my interpretation would be that while the flood are precursors the precursors are not the flood

Sheesh, I remember watching a video where you had brought up your theory and damn…this is honestly some heavy stuff. I’m looking forward to seeing how the series evolves once this information is discovered

Is it just me that kind of sees parallels with the reapers of the mass effect universe? I know the reapers came into being and power a completely different way from the precursors but they allow civilizations to grow and flourish, using technology the reapers leave behind so they advance along paths they want them too, and then at their peak the reapers return and harvest them to store their essences forever in reaper form.

Honestly, this theory kinda fucks with me a bit. If there is a creator/creators in the real world, how do we know they aren’t like the Precursors in that way?

I mean, I always figured it was part of the evolutionary cycle of the Precursors. Since it didn't really make sense otherwise for them to choose a successor species. In my mind, I saw it as similar to the situation with the Protoss and Zerg in StarCraft.

I also thought this. This has far greater horrifying possibilities. What is the true nature of the "living universe"? Where is all this information and biomass being sent?

dude. you didn’t have to put that spoiler in the thumbnail, I’m going to get the book in like two hours.

8:22 this is a thought that always lingered in the back of my mind. The concept of joined knowledge is good, but the execution and focus on power instead of unity is horrific.

The Precursors aren't the Flood, anymore than Builders all being Faber.

This brings a fascinating similarity to the Covenant and Forerunners... as the Covies misinterpreted the Great Journey and used it to assimilate cultures and wage war on humanity, so did the Forerunners and Cortana misunderstand the true purpose and gravity of the Mantle in their pursuit to subjugate life...

that is interesting, i had a theory that say, since the flood is corrupted precursors, but not all precursors become flood, so they do not agree

So basically the Reapers from Mass Effect and Brethren Moons from Dead Space. As a mecha individual, I even see comparisons with Majestic Prince.

I wasn’t going to read this but I think you’ve changed my mind. I like this twist.

Love the Channel!!

You're very likely not looking at the comments for this anymore, but I'm gonna make this observation anyway, because it just hit me like a ton of bricks. This entire reveal of the Precursors and what their true purpose for intelligent life in the galaxy is puts the Gravemind's line at the end of The Covenant in Halo 3 into context. When Truth says he will become a God, Gravemind says "You will be food. Nothing more." Honestly. HONESTLY, It's such a small, insignificant detail from that game, but with all the information we know now, it makes that line 10,000 times more bone-chilling, because it wasn't just a taunt to Truth. It was a message for the entire galaxy about what the Flood, and by extension, the Precursors, have planned for them. All sentient life... *You will be food. Nothing more.*

The Precursors = Flood takes on a whole different meaning when you read about the ones left in the satellite galaxy that did what Precursors tended to do- revert to more primitive forms. It makes it seem like The Flood are the harvesting form of the Precursors; one form of many.

Oof....that's a heavy revelation. Better get that MJOLNIR armor done before it's too late, Installation00. We're gonna need it for the fight yet to come.

Maybe just maybe the precursors are split in 2 one group builders and cultivates and the other (the flood) feasts, and they both live outside the milky now And the flood have forced the other group to create and build life/society too a certain "sweet" spot then flood reappear and wipe the galaxy clean

slight issue the domain is a precursor creation and several precursors did not join the flood or actively opposed it your theory also doesn't explain the precursors of Path Kethona

Ive said it once ill say it again. The Didact is the most interesting and one of the most compelling characters in Halo Lore and its a travesty that most people remember him as just "oh that underwelming antagonist from 4"

Fantastic Channel, brilliant content, well presented and so well researched.

Just finished the book then immediately watched this video. It's crazy how this book fills in so much between 5 and infinite.

Reminds me a lot of mass effect and the reapers

Plot twist: The Sangheili alongside Humanity and the Endless alongside the Forerunner remnants will be the wild card that helps make ensure that the Galaxy can resist the Precursors

I used to regular a message board where people questioned the wisdom of the Forerunners keeping Flood specimens around when they were eradicated. That ignored that the Flood were an extra-galactic threat. The same way we keep deadly viruses around for study in case an outbreak occurs.

Two takeaways. First, the Mantle and the Flood are sounding very similar. Collecting/assimilating the lived experiences of all sentient beings. Either they are mostly one and the same, or they are each other's foil. Second, the Precursors seeding life only to harvest it sounds like the Reapers from Mass Effect.

Maybe Im late to this, still, I would like to share my opinion on the matter: For starters, I will say that the idea you present on this video and on your previous theory is really interesting and terrifying, and from a certain point of view, everything lines up. However, I think that it is a very specific perspective, one that is not necessarily confirmed by Epitaph: While the words of the Gravemind could be interpreted as you present them, I wouldn’t say it is a confirmation, given that the words of the Gravemind could just reflect the original mindset of the Precursors regarding their authority to create and erase life at their will. I know there’s the line of “We are the Flood. There is no difference.” But that still works with the idea of the Flood being a corrupted version of the Precursors, specially with the words of the Gravemind himself in String 13 of Silentium: “Others became dust that could regenerate our past forms; time rendered this dust defective. It brought only disease and misery; but that was good, we saw the misery and found it good.” Implying that the Flood did not exist before the Precursor Purge. In the end, nice video! Just wanted to share my reasons why I disagree on certain things you said 👍🏻

This should’ve been a game

Can't believe it's been 3 years since you dropped that video.

Gravemind: we literally created you as food Me, a human: And I fucking took that personally

I've been away with work the past couple weeks and read Epitaph whilst away. I have to say, I find myself liking the Diadact as a character now!

Wow that was deep. Thats deck stacking at its finest.

It was a good book for sure.

This was the exact Halo lore i want to see explored.

So the Flood are biological version of Reapers from Mass Effect, or like the Brother Moons in Dead Space. Interesting.

I think the theory holds a lot of water when it comes to the question if the flood has been round a lot longer than we think. That they are the ultimate test. But im not completely sold on the precursors are “not corrupted” flood. Isnt there there recent lore that states that there are benevolent precursors and that a few escaped the galaxy and even some lived with forerunners in Pathgethona? Theres some holes there. But i definitely think that the milky way is probably surrounded by ancient flood invested galaxies

I remember reading the conversation between the gravemind and didact and thinking...was it lying? Telling a half truth or distorting the truth? I'm not sure I take it's word as gospel. Perhaps it knew how to twist words to instill a sense of hopelessness in it's enemies so that they would feel futile in continuing their fight. I just don't know it it can be trusted completely.... the deeper lore was always fascinating to me because of how enigmatic certain aspects were. Maybe I just don't want to know the full truth as much as I think I do. I'll leave this quote between the didact and haruspis to end my thoughts: “If you could know all that transpired before,” the Didact asked, “would you?” “I do not believe ‘knowing all’ is necessary. Knowing diminishes the mysticism and godlike nature of the archive. Knowing eliminates sentient beings’ search for meaning, and without that, they will never progress.”

Incredible, simply incredible

If the mantle is a lie, the mantle must be cake then according to glados 🤔

That’s crazy. This changes everything

I'm really hoping the precursors get JUST a little more lore without taking away their mystique. I love what has been done with the Forerunners. But the precursors don't need the same treatment.

That seems kinda similar to the Reapers from Mass Effect. Let life grow along certain set parameters but with enough flexibility to encourage diversity, then harvest them. Rinse, repeat.

so halo really out here doing a reverse mass effect. fuckin meat reapers.

Wait a minute, thats why the didact doesnt want humanity to ascend to the mantle, he wants to prevend the floods to return?

Makes the flood seem like better thought out reapers (mass effect). Perhaps this is even part of the precursor life cycle (and its a constant loop, precursor becomes flood assimilates the dominant species, becomes super graveminds, eventually turns back to precursor, starts the process all over again), similar to the brethren moons from dead space.

Please cover the veiled ones as they said to be the OG precursors

So the Flood are basically more leathal Reapers lol

Flood isn't the entirity of the Precursors. Those two on Path Katona were gentle. There was an actual live one saved a human's life by healing her from her incurable disease. Calling them all lovecraftian uncaring horrors is not the whole truth.

I read that in the book too and at first I couldn’t even comprehend it, I read it again and I asked is this true? I thought about it again and read it once more and I felt horror at the realization… that it was. It answered the question why would the Precursors make life anyway? This gave an answer, and from that answer we understand now the truth of the precursors, the flood, and the mantle. Those who cling to the mantle seem to dominate all life, making it subjects to those who claim it as an imperial piece that weakens the galaxy enough for the Flood to consume then start again. The Flood feed on more than flesh, they feed on knowledge, like the Domain stores knowledge the Precursors feed on that knowledge. Perhaps they went there simply for nourishment between harvests. To “pass” their test it seems one needs to reject the mantle and its promise of power but everyone fails because that promise of power is too enticing. I can see why now those humans killer themselves, it would be like believing God was benevolent and made humanity out of love only to hear the truth later that we’re all cattle and one day he’s gonna eat us. That is terrifying.

Can you please make a video covering the different Forerunner Castes, including those that were assimilated into the Builders? I would love to learn more

It's Dead Space Brethren Moons lifecycle happening all over again, it never ends.

Might want to retitle the video there

As I was aware, the Precursors who thought the way the Gravemind does were in the minority.

You have no IDEA how much I ADORE that that theory was correct. Ever since I heard it I thought it was one of the most peak pieces of potential halo lore I'd ever heard. Retroactively made the flood much more interesting and horrific as well as the precursors. I never had much interest in the forerunner trilogy lore cuz from how it was explained to me it always seemed kinda mid. HOWEVER! THIS! We eatin good. So are the precursors I guess...

Anyone reminded of the trailer with chief walking through the desert in the cloak?

If you played halo infinite going to the end where atriox releases whatever was locked up. If you pay attention to the small details those green lil spores look like flood spores n Cortana talks about something even more deadlier than the flood if not xanally or maybe a different form of precursors