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Master Chief (Machinima)

2009-11-27T01:16:32Z

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{{General CVG character
|name= Master Chief (Chief)
|image= [[File:Master_Chief_machinima.jpg|center|230px]]
|caption=Master Chief playing on the [[Xbox 360]].
|series2=[[Arby 'n The Chief]] (machinima)
|firstshow=Arby 'n The Chief: Season 1, Episode 1
|voiceactor=Microsoft Sam
}}

Master Chief (or Chief), is one of the main recurring characters in Arby 'n The Chief as the friend of [[Arbiter (Machinima) | Arbiter]],
who tends to behave like a swearing 8-year-old with grammar problems.

==Personality==
Chief is basically addicted to the Xbox 360 console, and likes to play [[Halo 3]] everyday. He also
behaves like a drunk partygoer at times, also childish. He gets most of the things he says wrong (which shows in the RE5 episode,
Chief says to Arby "GO BACK 2 FRANSE, HITLER!") Some think that Chief is retarded, others think he is just an idiot
who wants to have fun.

==Appearances==

===Arby 'n The Chief===
Chief appears in Arby 'n The Chief as one of the two recurring characters
who can't stop thinking about the Xbox 360, and plays it everyday.
Like Arbiter, he is also enemies with Scott by Endgame (the final season).

===Arby 'n The Chief in LA===
Chief reappears in [[Arby 'n The Chief]] as a recurring character,
and is still addicted to the Xbox 360. But in episode 2,
he doesn't play the Xbox 360.
[[Category:Fictional toys]]
[[Category:Halo characters]]

File:Master Chief machinima.jpg

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uploaded "[[File:Master Chief machinima.jpg]]"

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Arbiter (Machinima)

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	\|image= [[File:Arbiter_action-figure.jpg\|thumb\|center\|257px]]		\|image= [[File:Arbiter_action-figure.jpg\|thumb\|center\|257px]]
	\|caption=Arby, as seen in [[Arby 'n The Chief]].		\|caption=Arby, as seen in [[Arby 'n The Chief]].
-	\|series=[[Arby 'n The Chief]] (non-video game)	+	\|series2=[[Arby 'n The Chief]] (machinima)
-	\|firstgame=''N/A'' (Arby 'n The Chief)	+	\|firstshow=Arby 'n The Chief: Season 1, Episode 1
	\|voiceactor=Microsoft Mike		\|voiceactor=Microsoft Mike
	}}		}}
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	as the friend of [[Master Chief (Machinima) \| Chief]], who sometimes has to babysit him		as the friend of [[Master Chief (Machinima) \| Chief]], who sometimes has to babysit him
	when he goes crazy. He is sometimes annoyed by Chief's behavior, and sometimes		when he goes crazy. He is sometimes annoyed by Chief's behavior, and sometimes
-	gets into trouble by Chief.	+	gets into trouble by him.


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	==Personality==		==Personality==
	Arby is an intelligent, action figure who is based upon the Elites, and unlike Chief,		Arby is an intelligent, action figure who is based upon the Elites, and unlike Chief,
-	behaves mature, but does swear.	+	behaves mature, but does swear (so does Chief).

Template:General CVG character

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	{{!}} {{{series\|}}}		{{!}} {{{series\|}}}
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		+	}}
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		+	! Film series
		+	{{!}} {{{series2\|}}}
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	}}		}}
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	! First game		! First game
	{{!}} {{{firstgame\|}}}		{{!}} {{{firstgame\|}}}
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		+	}}
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		+	! First film
		+	{{!}} {{{firstshow\|}}}
	{{!}}-		{{!}}-
	}}		}}

Covenant

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	[[Category:Fictional cyborgs]]		[[Category:Fictional cyborgs]]
	[[Category:Fictional special forces]]		[[Category:Fictional special forces]]
		+	[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial life forms]]

Elite (unit)

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	[[Category:Halo factions]]		[[Category:Halo factions]]
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Elite (Halo)

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moved [[Elite (Halo)]] to [[Elite (unit)]]

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Arbiter

2009-11-26T19:39:21Z

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	*[http://halostory.bungie.org/story/arbiter.html Arbiter Story Page] at [[Halo.Bungie.Org]]		*[http://halostory.bungie.org/story/arbiter.html Arbiter Story Page] at [[Halo.Bungie.Org]]
	[[Category:Halo characters]]		[[Category:Halo characters]]
		+	[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial life forms]]

Category:Fictional extraterrestrial life forms

2009-11-26T19:38:55Z

Created page with 'Aliens in Xbox games. Category:Halo characters'

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Aliens in Xbox games.
[[Category:Halo characters]]

Gravemind

2009-11-26T19:38:18Z

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-	[[File:Gravemindcapture.jpg\|thumb\|306px]]	+	[[File:Gravemindcapture.jpg\|thumb\|306px\| The Gravemind holds Master Chief, Arbiter and Penitent Tangent captive in Halo 2]]

	'''Gravemind''' is a fictional parasitic intelligence in the fictional ''[[Halo (series)\|Halo]]'' universe. While only one Gravemind is ever seen in the games, the title is given to the final stage of [[Flood (Halo)\|Flood]] evolution. The Flood is a highly-infectious parasite which is released several times during ''Halo''{{'}}s story. The human supersoldier [[Master Chief (Halo)\|Master Chief]] and [[Covenant (Halo)\|Covenant]] warrior [[Arbiter (Halo)\|Arbiter]] happen upon Gravemind in the bowels of the ancient [[Forerunner (Halo)\|Forerunner]] ringworld [[Halo (megastructure)#Installation 05\|Installation 05]], where the Flood creature forges an alliance between the two foes in order to stop the activation of the ring—an event which would destroy all sentient life. The character is voiced by [[Dee Bradley Baker]].		'''Gravemind''' is a fictional parasitic intelligence in the fictional ''[[Halo (series)\|Halo]]'' universe. While only one Gravemind is ever seen in the games, the title is given to the final stage of [[Flood (Halo)\|Flood]] evolution. The Flood is a highly-infectious parasite which is released several times during ''Halo''{{'}}s story. The human supersoldier [[Master Chief (Halo)\|Master Chief]] and [[Covenant (Halo)\|Covenant]] warrior [[Arbiter (Halo)\|Arbiter]] happen upon Gravemind in the bowels of the ancient [[Forerunner (Halo)\|Forerunner]] ringworld [[Halo (megastructure)#Installation 05\|Installation 05]], where the Flood creature forges an alliance between the two foes in order to stop the activation of the ring—an event which would destroy all sentient life. The character is voiced by [[Dee Bradley Baker]].
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	==Design and attributes==		==Design and attributes==
-	[[Image:Gravemind mclees.jpg\|thumb\|right\|One of Robert McLees' early designs for the Gravemind]]	+	[[File:Gravemind_mclees.jpg\|thumb\|200px\| One of Robert McLees' early designs for the Gravemind.]]
	Early Concepts for the Gravemind were done by Bungie artist Robert McLees. McLees is known at Bungie as the "architect of the [[Flood (Halo)\|Flood]]",<ref>{{cite web \|author=[[Luke Smith (writer)\|Smith, Luke]]\|url= http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12753\|title= Halo Universe: Covenant Weapons\|accessdate=2007-11-09 \|format= [[HTML]]\|publisher= [[Bungie.net]]\|date=2007-09-06}}</ref> and had done the early concepts for the Flood forms in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. McLees' original drawings were then added to by Juan Ramirez.<ref name=aoh71>{{cite book\|last=Trautmann\|first=Eric\|title=The Art of Halo\|year=2004\|publisher=Del Ray Publishing\|location=New York\|isbn=0-345-47586-0\|page=71}}</ref> The Gravemind's form and design constantly changed during development. Early versions of the creature had a basic shape of a mass of tentacles, with a jagged tear in one large appendage forming a rudimentary mouth. Later on, the mouth was studded with the skulls of human and Covenant corpses for teeth.<ref>{{cite video \|people=[[Joseph Staten\|Staten, Joseph]] \|date2=2007-09-25 \|title=Halo 2 Developer's Commentary \|medium=[[Halo 3#Versions\|''Halo 3'' Legendary Edition]] \| time=54:00\| publisher=[[Bungie Studios]]}}—'''Staten:''' "...as originally designed, the Gravemind was this seething mass of corpses right, his teeth were skulls and he talked from the shadows. When we moved to the world where we wanted him to have lip sync and actually speak... maybe not the best decision in the world."</ref> This design was later revised due to practical considerations about lip syncing the character for speech. Despite these design changes, the Gravemind's size was always meant to be huge;<ref name=aoh72>{{cite book\|last=Trautmann\|first=Eric\|title=The Art of Halo\|year=2004\|publisher=Del Ray Publishing\|location=New York\|isbn=0-345-47586-0\|page=72}}</ref> early concepts showed the [[Master Chief (Halo)\|Master Chief]] dwarfed by the Flood intelligence.		Early Concepts for the Gravemind were done by Bungie artist Robert McLees. McLees is known at Bungie as the "architect of the [[Flood (Halo)\|Flood]]",<ref>{{cite web \|author=[[Luke Smith (writer)\|Smith, Luke]]\|url= http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12753\|title= Halo Universe: Covenant Weapons\|accessdate=2007-11-09 \|format= [[HTML]]\|publisher= [[Bungie.net]]\|date=2007-09-06}}</ref> and had done the early concepts for the Flood forms in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. McLees' original drawings were then added to by Juan Ramirez.<ref name=aoh71>{{cite book\|last=Trautmann\|first=Eric\|title=The Art of Halo\|year=2004\|publisher=Del Ray Publishing\|location=New York\|isbn=0-345-47586-0\|page=71}}</ref> The Gravemind's form and design constantly changed during development. Early versions of the creature had a basic shape of a mass of tentacles, with a jagged tear in one large appendage forming a rudimentary mouth. Later on, the mouth was studded with the skulls of human and Covenant corpses for teeth.<ref>{{cite video \|people=[[Joseph Staten\|Staten, Joseph]] \|date2=2007-09-25 \|title=Halo 2 Developer's Commentary \|medium=[[Halo 3#Versions\|''Halo 3'' Legendary Edition]] \| time=54:00\| publisher=[[Bungie Studios]]}}—'''Staten:''' "...as originally designed, the Gravemind was this seething mass of corpses right, his teeth were skulls and he talked from the shadows. When we moved to the world where we wanted him to have lip sync and actually speak... maybe not the best decision in the world."</ref> This design was later revised due to practical considerations about lip syncing the character for speech. Despite these design changes, the Gravemind's size was always meant to be huge;<ref name=aoh72>{{cite book\|last=Trautmann\|first=Eric\|title=The Art of Halo\|year=2004\|publisher=Del Ray Publishing\|location=New York\|isbn=0-345-47586-0\|page=72}}</ref> early concepts showed the [[Master Chief (Halo)\|Master Chief]] dwarfed by the Flood intelligence.

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	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist\|2}}		{{reflist\|2}}
		+	[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial life forms]]

File:Gravemind mclees.jpg

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uploaded "[[File:Gravemind mclees.jpg]]"

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Gravemind

2009-11-26T19:33:42Z

New page

[[File:Gravemindcapture.jpg|thumb|306px]]

'''Gravemind''' is a fictional parasitic intelligence in the fictional ''[[Halo (series)|Halo]]'' universe. While only one Gravemind is ever seen in the games, the title is given to the final stage of [[Flood (Halo)|Flood]] evolution. The Flood is a highly-infectious parasite which is released several times during ''Halo''{{'}}s story. The human supersoldier [[Master Chief (Halo)|Master Chief]] and [[Covenant (Halo)|Covenant]] warrior [[Arbiter (Halo)|Arbiter]] happen upon Gravemind in the bowels of the ancient [[Forerunner (Halo)|Forerunner]] ringworld [[Halo (megastructure)#Installation 05|Installation 05]], where the Flood creature forges an alliance between the two foes in order to stop the activation of the ring—an event which would destroy all sentient life. The character is voiced by [[Dee Bradley Baker]].

Making its first appearance in ''Halo 2'', the Gravemind was introduced to dispel the idea that the Flood is a mindless virus. The character was designed by a [[Bungie Studios]] team including artists Robert McLees and Juan Ramirez, and slowly developed into a massive creature with tentacles and a frightening level of intelligence. Driven by a desire to spread, Gravemind is cunning and manipulative; he forges alliances as often as he tries to consume his allies, tricking the Master Chief into aiding him while infecting the Chief's compatriots at the same time. The character was not well-received by many critics upon his appearance in ''Halo 2'', and reviewers including [[1UP.com]] found his role in ''Halo 3'' confusing and without clear motive. More positively critic Aaron Sagers used Gravemind as an example of a [[frenemy]]—the creature's appearance made the Master Chief's fight against the Flood more personal and more dramatic.

==Design and attributes==
[[Image:Gravemind mclees.jpg|thumb|right|One of Robert McLees' early designs for the Gravemind]]
Early Concepts for the Gravemind were done by Bungie artist Robert McLees. McLees is known at Bungie as the "architect of the [[Flood (Halo)|Flood]]",<ref>{{cite web |author=[[Luke Smith (writer)|Smith, Luke]]|url= http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12753|title= Halo Universe: Covenant Weapons|accessdate=2007-11-09 |format= [[HTML]]|publisher= [[Bungie.net]]|date=2007-09-06}}</ref> and had done the early concepts for the Flood forms in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. McLees' original drawings were then added to by Juan Ramirez.<ref name=aoh71>{{cite book|last=Trautmann|first=Eric|title=The Art of Halo|year=2004|publisher=Del Ray Publishing|location=New York|isbn=0-345-47586-0|page=71}}</ref> The Gravemind's form and design constantly changed during development. Early versions of the creature had a basic shape of a mass of tentacles, with a jagged tear in one large appendage forming a rudimentary mouth. Later on, the mouth was studded with the skulls of human and Covenant corpses for teeth.<ref>{{cite video |people=[[Joseph Staten|Staten, Joseph]] |date2=2007-09-25 |title=Halo 2 Developer's Commentary |medium=[[Halo 3#Versions|''Halo 3'' Legendary Edition]] | time=54:00| publisher=[[Bungie Studios]]}}—'''Staten:''' "...as originally designed, the Gravemind was this seething mass of corpses right, his teeth were skulls and he talked from the shadows. When we moved to the world where we wanted him to have lip sync and actually speak... maybe not the best decision in the world."</ref> This design was later revised due to practical considerations about lip syncing the character for speech. Despite these design changes, the Gravemind's size was always meant to be huge;<ref name=aoh72>{{cite book|last=Trautmann|first=Eric|title=The Art of Halo|year=2004|publisher=Del Ray Publishing|location=New York|isbn=0-345-47586-0|page=72}}</ref> early concepts showed the [[Master Chief (Halo)|Master Chief]] dwarfed by the Flood intelligence.

Unlike the mindless 'zombie' nature of most Flood,<ref>{{cite news|author=Godinez, Victor|date=2006-07-16|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/ptech/gamereviews2/071806ccdrPTECHhalobook.1d4d3a2.html|title=Review: The Halo Graphic Novel|work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> the Gravemind is depicted as intelligent and cunning,<ref name=primer>{{cite web|author=West, Steve|date=2007-09-09|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/CB-Games-Halo-3-Primer-Characters-6265.html|title=CB Games Halo 3 Primer: Characters|publisher=Cinema Blend|accessdate=2008-01-04}}</ref> and acts as a [[collective intelligence|collective mind]] driving the Flood. It lyrically speaks prose in a form of [[trochaic heptameter]].<ref name=every/><ref name=1upprimer>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3162602|title=The Halo Story: A Primer|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|accessdate=2008-01-30|date=2007-09-07|author=Parrish, Jeremy}}</ref> While capable of subterfuge, Gravemind is seen to use the brute strength and sheer numbers of the Flood to further its aims. When attacking planets, the Gravemind of the Forerunner's time used smaller craft as [[ablative armor]], sacrificing countless Flood so that larger ships can land and infest major population centers.<ref>'''MB''': 2 hours ago 12,423 small recreational vessels appeared inside [CE-10-2165-d's] orbital perimeter. Hidden within that vast swarm were seven massive freight carries. The smaller craft were employed as ablative armor, allowing the carriers to descend through the atmosphere; landing on top of major population centers. Despite the fact that the naval garrison was aware of the likelihood of just such an attack, their ability to effectively defend against it proved insufficient. This has always been the enemy's [modus operandi]: [flood] your opponent's ability to process information with so much noise that no meaningful resistance can be put into action. - {{cite video game |title=[[Halo 3]]| developer=Bungie |publisher=Microsoft |date=2007 |platform=Xbox 360 |level=(Terminal 1)}}</ref> In a more strategic move, Gravemind uses logic to sway the Forerunner's own [[artificial intelligence]], [[List of Halo characters#Mendicant Bias|Mendicant Bias]], to his side. While Mendicant Bias had been specifically created to defeat the Gravemind, the Flood leader convinces the AI that the Flood is a utopian ideal, and that its conquest of the galaxy is inevitable. While the Gravemind's motivations and goals are not made expressly clear in ''Halo 2'', ''Halo 3'' reveals Gravemind's ultimate goal is to consume all thinking beings in the galaxy.<ref name="h3 manual">{{cite book|author=Bungie|year=2007|title=Halo 3 Instruction Manual|publisher=Microsoft}} ([http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/halo3.aspx online version])</ref>

The Gravemind's physical form is depicted as composed of rotting corpses and biomatter, towering nearly eighty meters high as seen in ''Halo 2''.<ref name=scale>{{cite web|author=Loftus, Stephen|url=http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/sloftus_scalecomparison/?display=Forerunner|title=Determining the Real Sizes of Objects in Halo|year=2005|publisher=[[Halo.Bungie.Org]]|accessdate=2008-01-04}}</ref> Gravemind resembles a large [[Venus Flytrap]] with many tentacles, but is capable of movement and linguistic communication via its large mouth formed from overlapping fleshy 'leaves'. Though an animal, the Gravemind's somewhat plantlike appearance has drawn comparisons to Audrey II from the [[1986 film]] ''[[Little Shop of Horrors (film)|Little Shop of Horrors]]'' due to the "swarms of sinuous tentacles" about a central mouth.<ref name=every>{{cite web|url=http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1739023|title=Gravemind @ Everything2|publisher=Everything2.com|date=2005-07-28|accessdate=2008-01-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite video |people=[[Martin O'Donnell|O'Donnell, Marty]] |date2=2007-09-25|title=Halo 2 Developer's Commentary |medium=[[Halo 3#Versions|''Halo 3'' Legendary Edition]] | time=53:00| publisher=[[Bungie Studios]]}} - '''O'Donnell:''' "It's not a plant, it's not Audrey, although I don't know why I keep thinking about Audrey."</ref>

==Appearances==
===''Halo 2''===
{{seealso|Halo 2}}
The Gravemind makes his first appearance halfway through ''Halo 2''{{'}}s campaign. Using his tentacles to save the Master Chief and Arbiter from perishing, Gravemind brings them face to face in a chasm on [[Halo (megastructure)#Installation 05|Delta Halo]]. Gravemind reveals to the Arbiter that the ring's architects, the [[Forerunner (Halo)|Forerunners]], died when they activated the installation in order to stop the threat of the Flood; the Master Chief verifies what the creature says, having stopped the firing of another ring in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. Though the Arbiter does not accept the truth immediately, Gravemind sends the Master Chief to the Covenant city ''[[High Charity]]'' and the Arbiter to the Halo's control room in order to stop the deluded Covenant from killing all sentient life a second time. Though he promises an alliance, Gravemind has ulterior motives. His Flood infest the human ship ''In Amber Clad'' and makes a [[slipspace]] jump into ''High Charity'' itself, in an effort to use the station to escape the confines of Halo.<ref name="its a trap!">'''Cortana''': Flood-controlled dropships are touching down all over the city. That creature beneath the Library, that "Gravemind", used us. We were just a diversion; In Amber Clad was always its intended vector. There's a conduit connecting this tower to the ship- head back inside, I'll lead you to it. - {{cite video game| title = [[Halo 2]]| developer = Bungie Studios|publisher = Microsoft| date = 2004| platform =[[Xbox]]| version = | level = High Charity| isolang = | quote = }}</ref> Having taken over the city, Gravemind questions the A.I. [[Cortana]], who was left behind to destroy ''High Charity'' if Halo was activated. Gravemind says that he has questions that he will ask, and Cortana agrees to answer them.<ref>'''Gravemind''': Silence fills the empty grave, now that I have gone. But my mind is not at rest, for questions linger on. Now I will ask, and you will answer. / '''Cortana''': Alright, shoot. - {{cite video game |title=[[Halo 2]] |developer=Bungie Studios |publisher=Microsoft |date=2004 |platform=[[Xbox]] |version= |level=The Great Journey |language= |quote=}}</ref>

===''Halo 3''===
{{seealso|Halo 3}}
Gravemind is one of the primary antagonists of ''Halo 3''. While the Master Chief and Arbiter have returned to Earth in order to stop the [[List of Halo characters#High Prophets|Prophet of Truth]], the religious leader of the Covenant, from activating a Forerunner artifact buried in Africa, Gravemind turns ''High Charity'' into a Flood [[hive]] and sends an infected cruiser to Earth in an effort to infest the planet; this plan fails, and a message from Cortana informs the Master Chief and allies of the existence of the [[Halo (megastructure)#The Ark|Ark]], a special installation built by the Forerunners outside of the [[Milky Way galaxy]] where ''all'' the Halos can be fired remotely. Gravemind, the Arbiter, and the Master Chief all want to stop Truth from activating the rings, so the Flood once again ally with the Chief and Arbiter. As soon as Truth is killed, however, then Gravemind betrays both the Master Chief and the Arbiter,<ref>'''Gravemind''': Now the gate has been unlatched, headstones pushed aside, corpses shift and offer room, a fate you must abide! / '''Arbiter''': We trade one villain for another. - {{cite video game |title=[[Halo 3]]| developer=Bungie Studios |publisher=Microsoft |date=2007 |platform=[[Xbox 360]] |version= |level=The Covenant |language= |quote=}}</ref> The Chief escapes the Flood's clutches and rescues Cortana from ''High Charity''. Despite being tortured by Gravemind, Cortana has managed to keep a secret safe from the Flood; she has the activation index of [[Halo (megastructure)#Installation 04|Installation 04]], which she captured from [[343 Guilty Spark]] during ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.<ref>'''Cortana''': The activation index, from the first Halo ring. A little souvenir I hung onto, just in case. - {{cite video game |title=[[Halo 3]]| developer=Bungie Studios |publisher=Microsoft |date=2007 |platform=[[Xbox 360]] |version= |level=Cortana |language= |quote=}}</ref> Using the index, Cortana can activate the local ringworld, destroying Gravemind but sparing the galaxy's sentient life. Gravemind finally gains this knowledge, but too late; the Master Chief escapes with Cortana, destroying ''High Charity'' in the process. Gravemind survives the blast and attempts to rebuild himself on the new ring. Despite his best efforts, the Master Chief and company activate Halo, stopping the Flood once again. Gravemind, resigned to his defeat, nonetheless insists that it will only slow—not stop—the Flood.<ref>'''Gravemind''': Resignation is my virtue. Like water I ebb and flow. Defeat is simply the addition of time to a sentence I never deserved... but you imposed. - {{cite video game |title=[[Halo 3]]| developer=Bungie Studios |publisher=Microsoft |date=2007 |platform=[[Xbox 360]] |version= |level=Halo |language= |quote=}}</ref>

==Reception==
Critical reception of the leader of the Flood was generally poor. In a review of ''Halo 2'', Mike Leonard of the AllXbox community said that the introduction of the Gravemind character had him "rolling my eyes hard enough to get motion sickness from seeing the back of the inside of my skull";<ref name=allxbox>{{cite web|author=Leonard, Mike|url=http://www.allxbox.com/reviews/halo2.asp|title=A mega-look at the biggest Xbox game ever|publisher=AllXbox.com|accessdate=2008-01-03}}</ref> Leonard went on to say that the "''Little Shop of Horrors'' reject" ruined the "cool" of the ''Halo'' franchise.<ref name=allxbox/> Jeremy Parish of [[1UP.com]] bemoaned the fact that Gravemind was never explicitly stated to be the Flood leader in either ''Halo 2'' or ''Halo 3'' and was hardly seen in the third installment.<ref name="1up-gravemind">{{cite web|author=Parish, Jeremy |date=2007-12-31|title=6 of '07: Halo 3|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8551185&publicUserId=5379721|accessdate=2008-01-05}}</ref> Publications also took issue with the fact that the character's motivations were never fully explored; the ''[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]'' said that the "unique and compelling characters" of ''Halo 3'', such as Cortana and the Master Chief, were overwhelmed by Gravemind.<ref name="1up-gravemind"/><ref>{{cite news|author=Jones, Scott|date=2007-09-25|title=Out With A Bang|work=[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]|page=E4}}</ref>

More favorably, Aaron Sagers of the newspaper ''[[The Morning Call]]'' saw Gravemind as a perfect example of a trend in pop culture called a "[[frenemy]]". Frenemies, according to Sagers, is a friend or rival "with whom [the protagonist] feuds; an individual who reinvigorates the sense of self-worth and drives up one's visibility in the public's eye." Gravemind, operating as a frenemy, served to personify the Master Chief's otherwise nebulous fight against the Flood.<ref name="morningcall-frenemy">{{cite news|author=Sagers, Aaron|date=2007-10-03|title=Finding a frenemy to feel fine|work=[[Morning Call]]|page=M2}}</ref>

==Trivia==
*In several Forerunner data logs, the controlling intelligence of the Flood is referred to as a [[wikipedia:Social_insect|Compound Mind]].
*The Gravemind resembles Audrey 2 from ''Little Shop of Horrors'', a tentacled, plant-like alien who is fed humans to grow and who is bent on world domination. Parallels can also be drawn with [[Wikipedia:Zerg_Overmind#The_Overmind|The Overmind]] from the ''[[Wikipedia:StarCraft|StarCraft]]'' franchise, the [[w:c:deadspace:Hive Mind|Hive Mind]] creature from the survival-horror game ''[[w:c:deadspace:Main page|Dead Space]]'', and even Sauron from ''[[Wikipedia:Lord of the Rings|Lord of the Rings]]''. It also resembles the Blob, which in 1988 was depicted as a tentacled creature that tries to consume all life so that it may grow.
*Originally, the Gravemind was meant to have skulls as teeth; this was cut from ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3'' because it would have made it difficult for the parasite to speak.<ref>''[[The Art of Halo]]'', page 56-57</ref>
*The Gravemind seems to speak almost as if he is writing a morbid poem. He frequently speaks in [[Wikipedia:trochaic|trochaic]] [[Wikipedia:heptameter|heptameter]].
*[[Bungie]] employee [[Jason Jones]] initially didn't want the Gravemind to speak in an iambic rhyme, but he was persuaded by [[Joseph Staten]].{{fact}}
*Bungie staff and fans jokingly call it the "''Little Shop of Horrors'' Reject", after the story in which a man creates a blood drinking plant batch and ends up having the plants grow so large as to attempt to kill and eat him.{{fact}}
*He was initially going to have 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.
*According to a quote made by Bungie developer Jason Keith,<ref>[http://www.2old2play.com/Blog/Comments/352/17564 2old2play Blog]</ref><ref>[http://blog.ascendantjustice.com/halo-3/hindsight-halo-3/halo/ '''Hindisight Halo 3''' by Ascendant Justice]</ref>, it is implied that the Flood Hive of High Charity and the Gravemind were one and the same during ''Halo 3'', thus making the level [[Cortana (Level)|Cortana]] a boss fight, in a sense.
*Gravemind is the largest Flood form in the series.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

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Elite (Halo)

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-	'''Elites''' are a fictional [[extraterrestrial life\|alien]] race in the [[Halo (series)\|''Halo'' series]] by [[Bungie Studios]].Until a civil war in ''[[Halo 2]]'', they serve as one of the two primary commanding species in the [[caste system]] of the [[Covenant (Halo)\|Covenant]], an alliance of alien races. The species, called '''Sangheili''' in the Covenant language, is portrayed as physically strong and capable of brilliant military strategy; they serve as one of the player's most dangerous enemies in both ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' and ''[[Halo 2]]''. Learning that their leaders have betrayed them, the Elites ally with their one-time enemies, the humans, during ''[[Halo 3]]''. Elites are depicted as having a proud warrior culture; members are promoted for their kills on the battlefield, and wear armor denoting their rank.	+	'''Elites''' are a fictional [[extraterrestrial life\|alien]] race in the [[Halo (series)\|''Halo'' series]] by [[Bungie Studios]]. Until a civil war in ''[[Halo 2]]'', they serve as one of the two primary commanding species in the [[caste system]] of the [[Covenant (Halo)\|Covenant]], an alliance of alien races. The species, called '''Sangheili''' in the Covenant language, is portrayed as physically strong and capable of brilliant military strategy; they serve as one of the player's most dangerous enemies in both ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' and ''[[Halo 2]]''. Learning that their leaders have betrayed them, the Elites ally with their one-time enemies, the humans, during ''[[Halo 3]]''. Elites are depicted as having a proud warrior culture; members are promoted for their kills on the battlefield, and wear armor denoting their rank.

	Elites were one of the first enemies to appear during development of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', and players experience almost half of ''Halo 2''{{'}}s [[Halo 2#Campaign\|campaign]] through the eyes of an Elite known as the [[Arbiter (Halo)\|Arbiter]]. In ''Halo 3'', the third and fourth players in [[cooperative mode]] play as two new Elite characters, [[Characters in the Halo series#N'tho 'Sraom\|N'tho 'Sraom]] and [[Characters in the Halo series#Usze 'Taham\|Usze 'Taham]]. The creatures were originally more conventional-looking, with simple jaws and horns, before later concepts added personal energy shields and made the Elites less animalistic.		Elites were one of the first enemies to appear during development of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', and players experience almost half of ''Halo 2''{{'}}s [[Halo 2#Campaign\|campaign]] through the eyes of an Elite known as the [[Arbiter (Halo)\|Arbiter]]. In ''Halo 3'', the third and fourth players in [[cooperative mode]] play as two new Elite characters, [[Characters in the Halo series#N'tho 'Sraom\|N'tho 'Sraom]] and [[Characters in the Halo series#Usze 'Taham\|Usze 'Taham]]. The creatures were originally more conventional-looking, with simple jaws and horns, before later concepts added personal energy shields and made the Elites less animalistic.

Covenant

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[[File:Covenant_Group.jpg|thumb|320px]]

The '''Covenant''' is a fictional theocratic military alliance of alien races who serve as one of the main antagonists in the ''[[Halo (series)|Halo]]'' science fiction series. The Covenant are composed of a variety of diverse species, united under the religious worship of the enigmatic [[Forerunner (Halo)|Forerunners]] and their belief that Forerunner ringworlds known as [[Halo (megastructure)|Halos]] will provide a path to salvation. After the Covenant leadership—the [[Characters of Halo#The High Prophets|High Prophets]]—declare humanity an affront to their gods, the Covenant prosecute a lengthy genocidal campaign against the technologically inferior race.

The Covenant were first introduced in the 2001 video game ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' as enemies hunting the player character, a human supersoldier known as [[Master Chief (Halo)|Master Chief]]. Not realizing the Halos were meant as weapons of destruction rather than salvation, the Covenant attempt to activate the rings on three separate occasions throughout the series, inadvertently releasing a virulent parasite known as the [[Flood (Halo)|Flood]] in the process.

To develop a distinctive look for the various races of the Covenant, Bungie artists drew inspiration from reptilian, ursine, and avian characteristics. A Covenant design scheme of purples and reflective surfaces was made to separate the aliens from human architecture.

==Game development==
Like most of the other characters and species in the ''Halo'' universe, the Covenant were slowly developed during the initial concept phase and refined as ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' progressed. During the course of development of ''Halo'', the designers decided upon three "schools" of architecture, for each of the races represented — the humans, Covenant, and [[Forerunners (Halo)|Forerunners]]. For the Covenant, the team decided on "sleek and shiny", with reflective surfaces, organic shapes, and use of purples.<ref name=aoh86>[[#art of halo|Trautmann (2004)]], 86.</ref> According to art director Marcus Lehto, the principle designs for the race came from environmental artist Paul Russell.<ref name=aoh86 />

Like the character designs, Covenant technology, architecture, and design continually changed throughout development, occasionally for practical reasons as well as aesthetics.<ref>[[#art of halo|Trautmann (2004)]], 98.</ref> According to Eric Arroyo, the Covenant cruiser ''Truth and Reconciliation'', which plays a major role in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', was to be boarded by the player by a long ramp. However due to technical considerations of having a fully textured ship so close to the player, the designers came up with a "gravity lift", which allowed the ship to be farther away (thus not requiring as much processing power for detail) as well as adding a "visually interesting" component of Covenant technology.<ref>[[#art of halo|Trautmann]], 100.</ref>

The art team also spent a large amount of time on Covenant weaponry, in order to make them suitably alien yet still recognizable to players.<ref>[[#art of halo|Trautmann (2004)]], 125.</ref> At the same time, the designers wanted all aspects of Covenant technology, especially the vehicles, to act plausibly.<ref>[[#art of halo|Trautmann]], 143.</ref> Bungie ended up looking at films and other media for inspiration on almost every aspect of the race.<ref>[[#art of halo|Trautmann (2004)]], 48.</ref>


===Species===
To design the various species of the Covenant, [[Bungie]]'s artists looked at live animals and films for inspiration;<ref name=aoh51>[[#art of halo|Trautmann]], 51.</ref> as a result, the species within the Covenant bear [[simian]], [[Reptile|reptilian]], [[Bird|avian]], and [[Bear|ursine]] characteristics.<ref name=aoh51 /> The strongest and toughest foes of the game, Elites (called Sangheili in the fictitious Covenant language) stand at nearly 8'6(2.6 m) and feature recharging personal shields. The Elites initially had simple mouths, who developed into pairs of split mandibles substituting for the lower jaws. Bungie concept artist Shi Kai Wang noted that project lead [[Jason Jones (programmer)|Jason Jones]] had, at one point, been insistent on giving the Elites a tail.<ref>{{cite book |last= Trautmann|first=Eric|title=The Art of Halo|year= 2004|publisher= Del Ray Publishing|location=New York |isbn=0-345-47586-0 |page=37}}</ref> While Wang thought it made the aliens look too animalistic, the idea was eventually dropped due to practical considerations, including where the tail would go when the Elites were driving vehicles.<ref name=aoh38/> "At one point, we considered just having the Elites tuck their tails forward, between their legs," Wang noted, "But [we] abandoned that... for obvious reasons."<ref name=aoh38>{{cite book |last= Trautmann|first=Eric|title=The Art of Halo|year= 2004|publisher= Del Ray Publishing|location=New York |isbn=0-345-47586-0 |page=38}}</ref> According to Paul Russel, when Bungie was bought by Microsoft and ''Halo'' was turned into an Xbox launch title, Microsoft took issue with the design of the Elites, as they felt that the Elites had a resemblance to cats that might alienate [[Japan]]ese consumers.<ref name="podcast-russell">{{cite video |people=Jarrard, Brian; Smith, Luke, &c |date2=2008-08-21|title=Bungie Podcast: With Paul Russell and Jerome Simpson |url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/d/c/4dcc4b82-fee5-4570-b28f-b573a1ad1631/Bungie_Podcast_082108.mp3|format=MP3 |medium=Podcast |publisher=[[Bungie]] |location= Kirkland, Washington|accessdate=2008-08-27 |time= |quote= }}</ref>

Among the other races developed were Grunts or Unggoy, who are viewed in game's fiction as cannon fodder. Depicted as squat and cowardly fighters, Grunts panic and run if players kill their leaders.<ref name="ign-halo-review1">{{cite web|author=Boulding, Aaron|date=2001-11-09|url=http://xbox.ign.com/articles/165/165922p1.html|title=Halo: Combat Evolved Review|publisher=[[IGN]]|accessdate=2009-02-19}}</ref> Jackals or Kig-Yar carry energy shields or ranged weaponry. Armor color denotes the rank of each caste. In some cases, such as with the Jackals, the overall design was honed once the enemy's role was clearly defined.<ref>Trautmann, 28.</ref>

In addition to basic troops, there are Hunters or Mgalekgolo, who according to Bungie's mythology are actually collectives of alien worms singularly known as Lekgolo encased in tough armor.<ref name="halo2races">Bungie (2004), 4–5.</ref> Initial concepts were less humanoid-looking and softer than the final shape, with angular shields and razor-sharp spines.<ref>Trautmann, 33.</ref> These alien worms also control the Covenant Scarab-tanks as one being. Floating, serene aliens known as Engineers or Huragok were pulled from ''Combat Evolved'', but made later appearances in the ''Halo'' novels. They also appeared in ''Halo Wars'' and ''Halo 3: ODST''. Slow-moving, unarmored, and unarmed, they serve no actual combat role, although in ''Halo 3: ODST'', they can offer extra shielding to players or enemies within a certain radius.

With the release of ''Halo 2'', new races were designed and old ones refined as Covenant society was detailed further; the Jackals, for instance, lost their helmets and were detailed to make them scarier;<ref>Trautmann, 30.</ref> the Hunters were made larger and more imposing. The Prophets or San 'Shyuum serve as the supreme rulers of the Covenant, and were primarily designed by Shi Kai Wang and Eric Arroyo. Originally, the Prophets were built in a more unified way, with the gravity thrones they used for flotation and movement fused with the Prophet's organic structures.<ref name=aof55>Trautmann, 55.</ref> The characters were also designed to be feeble, yet sinister.<ref name=aof55/> The three Prophet Hierarchs were each individually designed.<ref>Trautmann, 56.</ref> Two new fighting forces were added to the Covenant. The first, dubbed Brutes or Jiralhanae, were made physically taller and stronger than the Elites, with their society organized around tribal chieftains. Inspired by the animators watching biker films, the Brutes incorporated simian and ursine elements while retaining an alien look.<ref>Trautmann, 37.</ref> Wang's final concept for the creature, replete with bandoliers and human skulls, was simplified for the game.<ref>Trautmann, 38.</ref> Brutes were meant to typify the abusive alien menace of the Covenant and in the words of design lead Jaime Griesemer, to serve as "barbarians in Rome".<ref name="et tu brute"/> Another addition to the fighting force were Drones or Yanme'e, insectoid Covenant; the animators found the creatures challenging, as they had to be animated to walk, run, crawl, or fly on multiple surfaces. Old concept art from ''Combat Evolved'' was repurposed in influencing the Drone's final shape, which took cues from cockroaches, grasshoppers, and wasps.<ref name="aof55"/>

For the final installment in the ''Halo'' trilogy, ''Halo 3'', designers had to refine the Covenant for the move to more powerful [[Xbox 360]] hardware. In ''Halo 2'', the Brutes functioned as "damage sponges", with the only available combat option for players to pump the Brutes with bullets until they fell. With the Elites leaving the Covenant in the game's story, the Brutes became the player's main enemy, necessitating radical changes in the character's behavior and design. For the new look of the Brutes, concept artists took inspiration from rhinoceros and gorillas. Instead of being largely uncovered with only a bandolier as clothing (reminiscent of the ''[[Star Wars]]'' character [[Chewbacca]]), the designers added armor with ancient buckles, gauntlets, and leather straps to differentiate enemy ranks and bring the Brutes more into the Covenant aesthetic fold.<ref name="et tu brute"/> The more seasoned the Brute, the more ornate clothing and helmets; the armor was designed to convey a culture and tradition to the species, and emphasize their mass and power. Designs for ''Halo 3'' took cues from ancient Greek Spartans.<ref>de Govia, 22–25.</ref> Character animators recorded intended actions for the new Brutes in a padded room at Bungie. A new addition to the Brute artificial intelligence was a pack mentality; leader Brutes direct large-scale actions simultaneously, such as throwing grenades towards a player.<ref name="et tu brute">{{cite video |people=|month2=December |year2=2006 |title=ViDoc: Et Tu, Brute?|url=http://www.bungie.net/News/Media.aspx?mid=13858&age_verify=1 |format= |medium= |publisher=[[Bungie]] |location= |accessdate=2009-02-15 }}</ref>

===Society===
Technologically, the Covenant are described in ''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' and ''[[Halo: First Strike|First Strike]]'' to be imitative rather than innovative—most of the Covenant's sophisticated weaponry and propulsion systems are based on Forerunner artifacts, rather than the Covenant's own research.<ref>[[#first strike|Nylund (2003)]], 101.</ref> Covenant weapons are generally based on Forerunner technology and utilize [[plasma]]. These weapons are built around a [[battery (electricity)|battery]] that generates plasma and discharges it at a target.<ref>Bungie (2004), 13.</ref> Frank O'Connor, Bungie's former public relations head, hinted that there may be something more to the Covenant's weaponry, saying "the actual technology is not plasma as we know it, but something far more dangerous, arcane, and destructive."<ref>{{cite web|author=O'Conner, Frank|date=2006-09-18|url=http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=743326|title=Frankie discusses the possibilities of the Covenant's weapons|publisher=[[Halo.Bungie.Org]]|accessdate=2007-02-22}}</ref> A few of the Covenant's weapons are not plasma-based, including the Needler, which fires razor-sharp pink needles capable of homing at organic foes. A weapons expert noted parallels between the Needler and ancient Greek Amazons painting their daggers pink as a psychological weapon in an issue of gaming magazine ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''.<ref name="egm-needler">{{cite journal|author=Samoon, Evan|year=2008|month=July|title=Gun Show: A real military expert takes aim at videogame weaponry to reveal the good, the bad, and the just plain silly|journal=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|volume=1|issue=230|pages=49}}</ref>

Bungie designed the majority of Covenant technology to mirror the aesthetic of the Elites; the exteriors are sleek and graceful, with a more angular and complex core underneath hinting at the fictional Forerunner origins of the technology.<ref>de Govia, 60.</ref> In contrast to the sleek Elite-based designs of the Covenant at large, the Brutes were given their own visual design distinct from the other Covenant. Weaponry was designed to reflect the Brute's "souls" distilled to its purest form—conveyed by dangerous shapes, harsh colors, and objects that looked "dangerous to be around".<ref>de Govia, 47.</ref> A UNSC weapon designed for ''Combat Evolved'' in 1999 that was eventually discarded was repurposed as the Brute's "Mauler" weapon.<ref>de Govia, 61.</ref>

Covenant society is a [[caste]] system composed of many races, some of which were forcibly incorporated. Each race is required to provide a specific number of battle-ready troops in order to remain within the Covenant.<ref name="Beastiarum">{{cite video | year=2007 |title=Halo 3 Essentials [Disc 2]| medium=DVD|publisher=Microsoft|date2=2007-09-25}}</ref> In the games, the races are identified by their common [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] designation;<ref name="halo2races"/> their Covenant names are supplied by the ''Halo 2'' Limited Edition manual and several novels.

==Appearances==
The majority of events in the story arc of the ''Halo'' series occur during the "Ninth Age of Reclamation." The Covenant's organization of time and dates is not elaborated on in detail in the game or during any of the novelizations; Bungie cinematic director [[Joseph Staten]], in an interview on [[Halo.Bungie.Org|halo.bungie.org]], stated that the Covenant's date system is split into seven [[wikt:epoch|epochs]], split into the following Ages: Abandonment, Conflict, Discovery, Reconciliation, Conversion, Doubt, and Reclamation.<ref>{{cite web|author=Staten, Joseph; Wu, Louis|date=2004-10-22|url=http://halosm.bungie.org/story/staten102204.html|title=Interview with Joe Staten|publisher=[[Halo.Bungie.Org]]|accessdate=February 20, 2007}}</ref>

Humanity and the Covenant first meet at the remote human colony Harvest, as described in the 2001 novel ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' and the 2007 book the ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''. The novel's account of first contact differ; in ''The Fall of Reach'', a lone Covenant ship bombards the colony's surface with plasma, turning the planet's crust into molten glass. The lone ship, broadcasts the Covenant edict, "Your destruction is the will of the Gods, and we are their instrument", and destroys several [[Factions of Halo#United Nations Space Command|United Nations Space Command]] (UNSC) ships sent to attack it.<ref>[[#fall of reach|Nylund (2001)]], 94.</ref> ''Contact Harvest'' describes a lengthy ground engagement between human militia and Covenant. Three Covenant [[#Prophets|Prophets]] learn from a relic left by their gods, the [[Factions of Halo#Forerunner|Forerunners]], that humans are the descendants of the Forerunners. Realizing such a revelation would splinter the Covenant, the newly-crowned Hierarchs decide to obliterate the humans instead, declaring that a new Age of the Covenant has begun.<ref>''[[#contact harvest|Contact Harvest]]'', 145-158.</ref>

The Covenant's superior technology allow them to annihilate the human Outer Colonies within four years; the Covenant begin to destroy the Inner Colonies in short order as well.<ref name="Nylund 2001 127">{{cite book |last= Nylund|first= Eric|title=[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]|year= 2001|publisher= Ballantine Books|location=New York |isbn=0-345-45132-5 |pages=127}}</ref> However their efforts are stymied by the [[Cole Protocol]], which stops UNSC ships from directly or indirectly traveling to inhabited human worlds (forcing them to make several random trips before actually returning to a human colony) and upon imminent risk of capture, the ship's [[Artificial Intelligence|AI]] is erased with the rest of the navigational database, and the ship self-destructs.<ref name=timeline>{{cite web|url=http://halosm.bungie.org/story/halostory.timeline.html|title=Halo Story Timeline|publisher=[[Halo.Bungie.Org]]|accessdate=2007-08-21}}</ref> In 2552, the Covenant assault the human colony [[Halo universe#Sigma Octanus IV|Sigma Octanus IV]] in an effort to recover an ancient artifact with [[Forerunner (Halo)|Forerunner]] glyphs on it,<ref>{{cite book |last= Nylund|first= Eric|title=[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]|year= 2001|publisher= Ballantine Books|location=New York |isbn=0-345-45132-5 |pages=94}}</ref> but are repelled by a UNSC battlegroup. Victorious, the ''[[Halo universe#Iroquois|Iroquois]]'' departs the system; unbeknownst to its crew or the UNSC, a Covenant transmitter attaches to the ''Iroquois'' and reveals the location of [[Halo universe#Reach|Reach]], Earth's best defended colony, to the Covenant.<ref name="Nylund 2001 127"/> A massive Covenant fleet arrives at Reach and lays waste to much of the planet.<ref>{{cite book |last= Nylund|first= Eric|title=[[Halo: First Strike]]|year= 2003|publisher= Ballantine Books|location=New York |isbn=0-345-46781-7 |pages=108}}</ref>

The Covenant's first appearance in the video games is in 2001's ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', which picks up towards the end of ''The Fall of Reach''. A sizable detachment of Covenant follow the human vessel ''Pillar of Autumn'' from Reach to [[Halo (megastructure)#Installation 04|Installation 04]], a relic of the Forerunner that the Covenant view as sacred. Wary of accidentally damaging the ring,<ref name=theflood>''[[#the flood|The Flood]]'', pg. 6.</ref> the Covenant are forced to fight the humans on foot. At some point, the Covenant accidentally release the [[Flood (Halo)|Flood]], a virulent parasite, from stasis; the Flood infect many human and Covenant, and even take control of Covenant vessels in attempts to escape the ring. The Covenant know of the Flood from their religious texts,<ref>"[[#hgn|Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]", pg. 35.</ref> and recognize the threat of the parasite. They send in a strike team to retake the damaged cruiser ''Truth and Reconciliation'' and divert their attention to stopping the Flood. Meanwhile, the [[Master Chief (Halo)|Master Chief]] detonates the ''Pillar of Autumn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s engines, destroying the ring and most of the Covenant armada, the Fleet of Particular Justice, led by the soon-to-be Arbiter. Most of what transpired in the game was written in the book ''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', in which certain details not in the game were also added, such as the ODSTs and what happened with the damaged Covenant Cruiser.

''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' describes the Battle of Reach from the Spartan team's perspective, and also of the immediate events following the destruction of the first Halo. Later, the Master Chief and his fellow [[SPARTAN Project|SPARTAN-II]]s, recovered from the remains of Reach, destroyed the ''Unyielding Heirophant'' and a Covenant Armada estimated at over 500 ships strong <ref>''[[Halo:First Strike]]'', pg. 207</ref> that was to attack Earth.

The Covenant return as both antagonists and allies in 2004's ''[[Halo 2]]''. At the start of the game, the Covenant High Prophet [[List of Halo characters#The High Prophets|Regret]] arrives at Earth with a small escort fleet. Not knowing Earth was the human homeworld, the Covenant are obliterated. With his fleet gone, Regret jumps to [[Halo (megastructure)#Installation 05|Delta Halo]], inadvertently carrying the human ship ''In Amber Clad''. The Master Chief, also known as "The Demon" by the Covenant, assassinates Regret.

At the same time, the Covenant is experiencing stress. The death of Regret leads to the remaining Prophets transferring the [[#Brutes|Brutes]] into the position of their Honor Guards, a job the [[#Elites|Elites]] had held since the founding of the Covenant,<ref>'''Arbiter''': (to Prophets) We have always been your protectors. - {{cite video game| title = [[Halo 2]]| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| year = 2004| platform =Xbox| version = | level = Sacred Icon}}</ref> claiming that Elites could no longer guarantee their safety.<ref name=truth>'''Truth''': Re-commissioning the guard was a radical step, but recent events have made it abundantly clear that the Elites can no longer guarantee our safety. - {{cite video game| title = [[Halo 2]]| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| year = 2004| platform =Xbox| version = | level = Sacred Icon}}</ref> The Elites are outraged and threaten to resign from the High Council; the Prophets give the Brutes ''carte blanche'' to murder the Elites, sparking a civil war. The Elites join their former enemies, humanity, in stopping the firing of Delta Halo; Truth, the last High Prophet left after Mercy is killed by a [[Flood (Halo)|Flood]] infection form, leaves ''High Charity'' for Earth.

In ''Halo 2'', the central component of the Covenant's beliefs is revealed to be the "Great Journey", a spiritual equivalent of the [[rapture]] and the ultimate goal of the Covenant. The Covenant believe that their [[wikt:forebear|forebears]], the [[Forerunner (Halo)|Forerunners]], used the [[Halo (megastructure)|Sacred Rings]] to cleanse the universe of all that was unworthy, and led them to salvation. The Covenant wish to wipe out humanity and the Flood, and follow the Forerunners to their mysterious destination. The Covenant's execution of the Great Journey consists of the activation of at least one Halo installation, the "divine wind" of which will sweep all those who are worthy on the path to the beyond.<ref name=wind>'''Mercy''': Halo. Its divine wind will rush through the stars, propelling all who are worthy along the path to salvation. - {{cite video game| title = [[Halo 2]]| developer = Bungie Studios| publisher = Microsoft| year = 2004| platform =[[Xbox]]| version = | level = Sacred Icon}}</ref>

By the events of ''Halo 3'', the Elites have split completely from the Covenant, though some of the Grunts and Hunters have folded back into the Covenant, driven by fear of the Brutes. ''High Charity'' is taken over by the Flood, while Truth and what little remains of the Covenant empire excavate the artifact believed to be the [[Halo (megastructure)#The Ark|Ark]] on Earth. Truth activates the artifact, creating a [[slipspace]] portal to the ''real'' Ark; the Elites' ships arrive on Earth in time to stop the Flood from infesting the planet. The Elites decide that their fight with Truth lies through the slipspace portal, and together with human marines the Elites engage the Prophet's ships and stop Truth from firing the Halo network. At the conclusion of the game, humanity's war with the Covenant ends; the Arbiter leads his Elites to their homeworld after paying respects to the dead.

==Cultural impact==
===Merchandise===
Microsoft has commissioned several sets of action figures and merchandise featuring Covenant characters for each video game. The ''Halo 3'' action figure sets have been made by [[McFarlane Toys]], and include Brutes and Jackals.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Staff|year=2008|month=April|title=McFarlane 'Halo' Figures|journal=[[Game Informer]]|volume=1|issue=180|pages=34}}</ref> The Covenant's weaponry has also been adapted into large-scale replicas.

===Reception===
The ability to experience the storyline of ''Halo 2'' from the Covenant perspective was described as a "brilliant stroke of game design". Allowing the player to assume the role of an Elite was described as providing an unexpected plot twist, and allowing the player to experience a "newfound complexity to the story".<ref>{{cite web|author=Kasavin, Greg|date=2004-11-07|url=http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/halo2/review.html?page=2|title=''Halo 2'' for Xbox Review|publisher=Gamespot|accessdate=2007-10-25}}</ref> In addition, some reviewers thought that this provided the series with a significant plot element—[[IGN]] referred to it as the "intriguing side story of the Arbiter and his Elites"—and its elimination in ''[[Halo 3]]'' was pointed to as responsible for reducing the role of the Arbiter within the series plot.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web| author=Goldstein, Hillary| url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/821/821911p1.html| title=''Halo 3'' Review|publisher=[[IGN]]| date=2007-09-23| accessdate=2007-10-25}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
{{refbegin|2}}
*<div id="art of halo 3">{{cite book|editor=Boroumand, Shaida|year=2008|title=The Art of Halo 3|publisher=Random House|isbn=978-07615-6072-2}}</div>
*<div id="h manual">{{cite book | year=2001 | author=[[Bungie]] | title=Halo: Combat Evolved Instruction Manual | publisher=Microsoft Game Studios}}</div>
*<div id="h2 manual">{{cite book | year=2004 | author=[[Bungie]] | title=Halo 2 Instruction Manual | publisher=Microsoft Game Studios}}</div>
*<div id="the flood">{{cite book |last= Dietz|first= William|authorlink=William C. Dietz|title=[[Halo: The Flood]]|year=2003 |publisher= Ballantine Books|location=New York |isbn=0-345-45921-0}}</div>
*<div id="fall of reach">{{cite book |last= Nylund|first= Eric|authorlink=Eric Nylund|title=[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]|year= 2001|publisher= Ballantine Books|location=New York |isbn=0-345-45132-5 |pages=}}</div>
*<div id="first strike">{{cite book |last= Nylund|first= Eric|authorlink=Eric Nylund|title=[[Halo: First Strike]]|year= 2003|publisher= Ballantine Books|location=New York |isbn=0-345-46781-7}}</div>
*<div id="ghosts of onyx">{{cite book |last= Nylund|first= Eric|authorlink=Eric Nylund|title=[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]|year= 2006|publisher=Tor Books|location=New York |isbn=0-7653-1568-8}}</div>
*<div id="contact harvest">{{cite book |last= Staten|first=Joseph|authorlink=Joseph Staten|title=[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]|year= 2007|publisher= Tor Books|location=New York |isbn=0-7653-1569-6 |pages=}}</div>
*<div id="art of halo">{{cite book |last= Trautmann|first=Eric|authorlink=|title=The Art of Halo|year= 2004|publisher= Del Ray Books|location=New York |isbn=0-345-47586-0}}</div>
*<div id="hgn">{{cite book |author=Multiple authors|title=[[Halo Graphic Novel]]|year=2006 |publisher= Marvel Comics|location=New York |isbn=0-785-12372-5}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{Halopedia|Covenant}}
[[Category:Fictional cyborgs]]
[[Category:Fictional special forces]]

Covenant

2009-11-26T19:22:58Z

deleted "[[Covenant]]"

New page

Covenant (Halo)

2009-11-26T19:22:11Z

moved [[Covenant (Halo)]] to [[Covenant]] over redirect

New page

Covenant

2009-11-26T19:21:55Z

moved [[Covenant]] to [[Covenant (Halo)]]

New page

Covenant (Halo)

2009-11-26T19:21:19Z

deleted "[[Covenant (Halo)]]"

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Arbiter (Machinima)

2009-11-26T19:14:42Z

Adding categories

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	he used to, ever since moving to LA in the first episode of the LA series.		he used to, ever since moving to LA in the first episode of the LA series.
	[[Category:Fictional toys]]		[[Category:Fictional toys]]
		+	[[Category:Halo characters]]

Category:Fictional toys

2009-11-26T19:14:30Z

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	Toys (or action figures) that appear in Xbox Machinimas.		Toys (or action figures) that appear in Xbox Machinimas.
-	[[Category:Fictional characters]]	+	[[Category:Characters]]

Arbiter

2009-11-26T19:12:21Z

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	==In other media==		==In other media==
		+	{{Main\|Arbiter (Machinima)}}
	The Arbiter appears as one of the two recurring action figures in a popular		The Arbiter appears as one of the two recurring action figures in a popular
	Machinima known as Arby 'n The Chief, acting as the intelligent friend of Master Chief,		Machinima known as Arby 'n The Chief, acting as the intelligent friend of Master Chief,

Category:Fictional characters

2009-11-26T19:10:08Z

deleted "[[Category:Fictional characters]]"

New page

Category:Fictional toys

2009-11-26T19:09:00Z

Created page with 'Toys (or action figures) that appear in Xbox Machinimas. Category:Fictional characters'

New page

Toys (or action figures) that appear in Xbox Machinimas.
[[Category:Fictional characters]]

Arbiter (Machinima)

2009-11-26T19:08:24Z

Adding categories

New page

{{General CVG character
|name= The Arbiter (Arby)
|image= [[File:Arbiter_action-figure.jpg|thumb|center|257px]]
|caption=Arby, as seen in [[Arby 'n The Chief]].
|series=[[Arby 'n The Chief]] (non-video game)
|firstgame=''N/A'' (Arby 'n The Chief)
|voiceactor=Microsoft Mike
}}

Arbiter (or Arby), is one of the main recurring characters in [[Arby 'n The Chief]]
as the friend of [[Master Chief (Machinima) | Chief]], who sometimes has to babysit him
when he goes crazy. He is sometimes annoyed by Chief's behavior, and sometimes
gets into trouble by Chief.

==Personality==
Arby is an intelligent, action figure who is based upon the Elites, and unlike Chief,
behaves mature, but does swear.

==Appearances==

===Arby 'n The Chief===
Arby appears in Arby 'n The Chief as the secondary protagonist, along with Chief,
who plays on the [[Xbox 360]] (but in one episode, played Super Smash Bros. Brawl with Chief),
and likes to be left alone at times. In the season finale of Arby 'n The Chief,
he falls in love with a woman named Claire, who also plays the Halo games.
His arch-enemy and the series' main antagonist is Scott, a hacker that does drugs and alcohol while hacking on Halo 3,
which not even Bungie can ban.

===Arby 'n The Chief in LA===
Arby reappears in the new series [[Arby 'n The Chief in LA]] again,
as the second main character who doesn't play as much of the Xbox 360 as
he used to, ever since moving to LA in the first episode of the LA series.
[[Category:Fictional toys]]

File:Arbiter action-figure.jpg

2009-11-26T18:54:36Z

uploaded "[[File:Arbiter action-figure.jpg]]"

New page

Arbiter

2009-11-26T18:49:58Z

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	The reception of the Arbiter's elimination as a main playable character in ''Halo 3'' was similarly mixed. Hilary Goldstein of IGN decided the change took away the "intriguing side-story of the Arbiter and his Elites", in the process reducing the character's role to that of "a dude with a weird mandible and a cool sword".<ref name="IGN">{{cite web\| author=Goldstein, Hillary\| url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/821/821911p1.html\| title=Halo 3 Review\| publisher=[[IGN]]\| date=2007-09-23\| accessdate=2007-10-20}}</ref> Likewise, Steve West of Cinemablend.com stated that the one important event in the game for the Arbiter would be lost on anyone for whom ''Halo 3'' was their first game in the series.<ref name=cinema>{{cite web\|author=West, Steve\|date=2007-09-27\|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Xbox-360-Halo-3-Campaign-Review-6543.html\|title=''Halo 3'' Campaign Review\|publisher=cinemablend.com\|accessdate=2007-10-10}}</ref> IGN's reviewer took issue with the poor artificial intelligence (AI) of allies in the game, and singled out the Arbiter in particular; "The Arbiter makes me question why the Elites were ever feared in the original ''Halo''," Hilary Goldstein said. describing the AI of the character, Goldstein said players could "enjoy watching your supposed equal getting shot in the face repeatedly and generally making himself utterly useless. What is the point of sticking you with an AI compatriot if all he's good at is respawning?"<ref>{{cite web\|author=Goldstein, Hilary\|date=2007-09-23\|page=2\|url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/821/821911p2.html\|title=Halo 3 Review (page 2)\|publisher=[[IGN]]\|accessdate=2009-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|author=Boesky, Keith\|date=2008-10-24\|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20673\|title=Opinion: Are Critics Gamers? I Think Not\|publisher=[[Gamasutra]]\|accessdate=2009-05-24}}</ref> On the opposite end of the spectrum were reviewers like [[G4tv.com\|G4tv]], who argued that the Arbiter was more likeable, not to mention more useful, as an AI sidekick instead of the main player.<ref name=g4>{{cite web\|url=http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1609/Halo_3.html\|title=G4 - Reviews - Halo 3\|author=Robinson, Scott\|date=2007-09-25\|publisher=[[G4tv.com\|G4tv]]\|accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref> In a list of the top alien characters in video games, [[MSNBC]] placed the Arbiter at the number two ranking.<ref>{{cite web\|author=Smith, Ken\|date=2008-08-05\|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26016023?pg=5#games_top5_080805_Aliens\|title=Top 5 best aliens in video games\|publisher=[[MSNBC]]\|accessdate=2008-08-07}}</ref>		The reception of the Arbiter's elimination as a main playable character in ''Halo 3'' was similarly mixed. Hilary Goldstein of IGN decided the change took away the "intriguing side-story of the Arbiter and his Elites", in the process reducing the character's role to that of "a dude with a weird mandible and a cool sword".<ref name="IGN">{{cite web\| author=Goldstein, Hillary\| url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/821/821911p1.html\| title=Halo 3 Review\| publisher=[[IGN]]\| date=2007-09-23\| accessdate=2007-10-20}}</ref> Likewise, Steve West of Cinemablend.com stated that the one important event in the game for the Arbiter would be lost on anyone for whom ''Halo 3'' was their first game in the series.<ref name=cinema>{{cite web\|author=West, Steve\|date=2007-09-27\|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Xbox-360-Halo-3-Campaign-Review-6543.html\|title=''Halo 3'' Campaign Review\|publisher=cinemablend.com\|accessdate=2007-10-10}}</ref> IGN's reviewer took issue with the poor artificial intelligence (AI) of allies in the game, and singled out the Arbiter in particular; "The Arbiter makes me question why the Elites were ever feared in the original ''Halo''," Hilary Goldstein said. describing the AI of the character, Goldstein said players could "enjoy watching your supposed equal getting shot in the face repeatedly and generally making himself utterly useless. What is the point of sticking you with an AI compatriot if all he's good at is respawning?"<ref>{{cite web\|author=Goldstein, Hilary\|date=2007-09-23\|page=2\|url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/821/821911p2.html\|title=Halo 3 Review (page 2)\|publisher=[[IGN]]\|accessdate=2009-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|author=Boesky, Keith\|date=2008-10-24\|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20673\|title=Opinion: Are Critics Gamers? I Think Not\|publisher=[[Gamasutra]]\|accessdate=2009-05-24}}</ref> On the opposite end of the spectrum were reviewers like [[G4tv.com\|G4tv]], who argued that the Arbiter was more likeable, not to mention more useful, as an AI sidekick instead of the main player.<ref name=g4>{{cite web\|url=http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1609/Halo_3.html\|title=G4 - Reviews - Halo 3\|author=Robinson, Scott\|date=2007-09-25\|publisher=[[G4tv.com\|G4tv]]\|accessdate=2007-11-12}}</ref> In a list of the top alien characters in video games, [[MSNBC]] placed the Arbiter at the number two ranking.<ref>{{cite web\|author=Smith, Ken\|date=2008-08-05\|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26016023?pg=5#games_top5_080805_Aliens\|title=Top 5 best aliens in video games\|publisher=[[MSNBC]]\|accessdate=2008-08-07}}</ref>
		+
		+
		+	==In other media==
		+	The Arbiter appears as one of the two recurring action figures in a popular
		+	Machinima known as Arby 'n The Chief, acting as the intelligent friend of Master Chief,
		+	and sometimes has to babysit Master Chief, who talks like a swearing 8-year-old with misspelled grammar.
		+

	==References==		==References==

Arbiter (Halo)

2009-11-26T18:46:31Z

moved [[Arbiter (Halo)]] to [[Arbiter]] No other meaning of Arbiter appear in this wiki.

New page

Raiden Fighters Aces

2009-11-24T15:15:17Z

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	{{Infobox VG		{{Infobox VG
	\|title = Raiden Fighters Aces		\|title = Raiden Fighters Aces
-	\|image = [[File:Raiden_Fighters_Aces_Coverart.png\|thumb\|200px]]	+	\|image = [[File:Raiden_Fighters_Aces_Coverart.png\|center\|200px]]
	\|caption= North American boxart for Raiden Fighters Aces.		\|caption= North American boxart for Raiden Fighters Aces.
	\|developer = [[Gulti]]		\|developer = [[Gulti]]
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	*[http://www.siliconera.com/2009/03/06/valcon-games-bringing-us-raiden-fighters-aces/ Valcon Games Bringing Us Raiden Fighters Aces]		*[http://www.siliconera.com/2009/03/06/valcon-games-bringing-us-raiden-fighters-aces/ Valcon Games Bringing Us Raiden Fighters Aces]
	[[Category:Xbox 360-only games]]		[[Category:Xbox 360-only games]]
		+	[[Category:Scrolling shooters]]

User:Javilus

2009-11-24T15:09:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:09, November 24, 2009
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	[[File:Bulborb 360.jpg\|thumb\|360px\|right\| My pet Bulborb enjoying the Xbox 360. He		[[File:Bulborb 360.jpg\|thumb\|360px\|right\| My pet Bulborb enjoying the Xbox 360. He
-	just beat me at Left 4 Dead!]]	+	just happened to beat me at Left 4 Dead!]]

	==Y'ello==		==Y'ello==