[quote][b]NOTE:[/b] [i]portions of this theory come from both my own [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=33340499]"The Precursor, The Flood, and the Acceleration of Evolution"[/url], and Wolverfrog's [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=36430414&postRepeater1-p=1]"Humanity are not Forerunners, but in fact Precursors?"[/url] (for which I was given permission to use by Wolverfrog). As much as I dislike making required reading for one of my theories, it is[/i] [b]imperative[/b] [i]that those who read this theory also read both of those listed above, and read them first. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did, and be assured that it is more than worth your time.[/i][/quote] [quote][/quote] [b][u]Disclaimers:[/b][/u] [b]WARNING![/b]- This theory is exceedingly large. If you don't like reading, I suggest discretion! In addition, if you are not planning on reading the theory in its entirety, please do not respond. It defeats the purpose of all of the information I took the time to write up here for your benefit. [b]"FAVORITISM" WARNING![/b]- This theory draws heavily on "The Precursor, The Flood, and the Acceleration of Evolution", one of my own theories. If that theory proves to be incorrect, at least one portion of this theory will also be incorrect. Not only is this theory based heavily upon the universe created by the Precursor's supposed creation of the Flood, they go hand-in-hand. I ask you to forgive me for expanding upon one of my previous threads in a separate thread, but I also ask you to take notice of the monstrous size and importance of this theory in and of itself, and realize that it did, indeed, warrant separation from the original, even if a few of the core concepts are shared. [b]FACTUAL INFORMATION FOOTNOTE[/b]- Due to the scant information about some of the times this theory discusses, portions of this theory are comprised of correlative assumption. All the facts that can be gathered, have; I've done the absolute best that I can to show evidence and make the theory fit snugly into the [i]Halo[/i] universe, but certain sections are still lacking. I invite you to look past the lack of factual information and view this theory as it should be viewed: a piece of writing designed to not only stimulate your own minds, but evolve with time and information to become closer and closer to the actual events. [quote][/quote] [b][u]Introduction to the Theory:[/b][/u] The Precursor. The race that could travel between galaxies, the race that could accelerate evolution, the race theorized to be the ones to create the Flood and the first Engineered Intelligence (EI), and the race theorized to really be the ancestors of Humanity. In short, beings of near-myth and legend that even the Forerunner realized were superior to them. The race also theorized to be either missing, or long-dead. There have been a few theories (over the past half-year in particular) about what happened to the Precursor. Some, like myself, originally suggested that they were wiped out in cataclysm. Some said that they fled long ago, or left, and have not come back since, but passed on to the Forerunner the Mantle. Still others, like Wolverfrog, suggested that they "became" another race, like Humanity. Now, however, I suggest something new: I propose that the Precursor could have had three very distinct "offspring". Throughout this theory we will take a look at the three proposed offspring of the Precursor, explain how they were formed, and discuss the [i]Halo[/i] storyline from all the way back in Precursor times to the events of [i]Halo 3[/i] in 2553, all the while expanding upon the view of the three "child races" and explaining why galactic events happened as they did. [quote][/quote] [b][u]The Children of the Precursor:[/b][/u] [b]The Precursor and the Flood:[/b] Looking at my own theory in particular, there is a great degree of speculation that the Precursor could have been the origin of the Flood parasite. As you have undoubtedly read my theory as was suggested at the beginning of this thread, there is no real need to elaborate further; you already understand the reasoning behind it, although further speculation suggesting that "The Precursor, The Flood, and the Acceleration of Evolution" is indeed accurate will be provided as this thread progresses. My first suggestion in this theory is that the Flood are the Precursor's first "child" - as I will call the three races I am suggesting stemmed from the Precursor - a species created [i]by[/i] the Precursor in two very distinct ways. The first is by their theorized genetic manipulation and acceleration that created the abilities seen in the xenoparasite, very likely creating the form of the Flood as well. The second is the much more symbolic sacrifice of their own flesh - my theory suggests that the Flood were meant to be used as a data storage system, and to that end the Flood would have needed to feed on dead Precursor at the least, and their biomass would have been used to replenish the Gravemind and construct additional infection forms. With the first "child", it appears to actually symbolically represents a baby: the parents "create" it with genetics, and the mother nourishes it with sustenance from her own body. The child serves as a way to become "immortal", carrying on the feelings, thought processes, and opinions of the parents, and eventually rebels and leaves the home of its family. But the surprising resemblance to a cohesive family unit end with the first "Child". - - - [b]The Precursor and the Forerunner:[/b] Going back to "The Precursor, The Flood, and the Acceleration of Evolution", I draw your attention this time away from the main theory and to the sub-theory entitled "Similarities between [i]Halo[/i] and [i]The Lord of the Rings[/i]", located in [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=33340499&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=1#33116290]this post[/url]. The sub-theory proposes, as the title suggests, that there are similarities between [i]Halo[/i] and [i]The Lord of the Rings[/i], when viewed in a certain context. While it is certainly interesting, it is not the important portion of the sub-theory; what is truly important is that it suggests that the Forerunner are, in fact, a remnant of the Precursor. While at first this might not seem monumental, and certainly does not seem to hold a great deal of weight, this will prove to be the truly revolutionary portion of this theory. As was suggested by the original sub-theory, the Forerunner would have either been exiled from the Precursor empire or would have left willingly, setting up a separate area of rule in the Milky Way. The Forerunner, additionally, are also the first "Child" of the original Precursor empire to not actually be "made" in a metaphorical way; they are more like a single-celled organism budding or dividing, a group separate from the original, but, at the same time, directly descended from the original and spawned thereof. The support for the Forerunner being the second "Child" of the Precursor will come later in this thread, but it is only critical to know, for now, that the Forerunner are considered to be the second "Child". - - - [b]The Precursor and Humanity:[/b] For the final "child" of the Precursor, we move onto Wolverfrog's theory. It alone provides some basic background of why this is possible and some overall reasoning for it, but there's a very large difference between his theory and my own: in Wolverfrog's theory, the Precursor originally existed in the Milky Way, and Earth was one of their worlds. From a high point where they were trans-sentient and one of the most advanced races known, they slowly decreased in power, mindset, and technology and became Humans, then were increased once again to a position of importance in the Human-Covenant war. In this theory, Humanity is the last vestige of the original Precursor empire. While the Flood were the children of the Precursor by creation and symbol, and the Forerunner were a bud of the Precursor that escaped the war with the Flood, I propose that Humanity is a portion of the Precursor empire, but not ones to leave during or immediately after the creation of the Flood. Rather, they are one of the (if not [i]the[/i]) last remnants of the Precursor who stayed behind with the Flood. At the end of the Precursor-Flood war, when the Flood decimated the Precursor beyond all recognition, the ancestors of Humanity survived. Perhaps because they were already in transit and escaped the attack, perhaps because they simply were able to escape the slaughter; the [i]how[/i] cannot be known, what is important is that they did. A few thousand, perhaps a hundred-thousand at most - regardless of number, they headed for the Milky Way (perhaps because they knew their cousins the Forerunner were there? Perhaps because they knew somehow that the Flood were going to come, and set out to warn their brethren?) and settled on Earth, slowly losing their evolutionary advantages, technology, and mindset as they become more and more separate from the Precursor empire they once belonged to. They change and change over the years, losing all of their advanced traits and becoming like a young race once again. A fitting fate for the final remnant of the arrogant Precursor. [Edited on 01.02.2010 1:04 PM PST]