When the Didact’s plan was passed over by the Forerunner government (then sent into his first exile) in favour of the Master Builder’s Halo array, Mendicant Bias was assigned strategic control of the original twelve rings. This was part of the Didact’s plan to combat the Flood when they inevitably returned to the galaxy after their mysterious retreat. Originally, the Didact had intended to connect Mendicant Bias to the Domain (the vast alien network found and used by the Forerunners), then cede control over the Shield Worlds and other defences to them. I’ve covered this particular theory of mine in another article: ‘Mendicant Bias… is ancient human.’ Much remains unknown about the origins of Mendicant Bias, however there is substantial evidence that suggests the many minds they are composed (heh!) of are, in fact, the Composed essences of ancient humans.
Considering the fact that they’re literally made up of multiple minds and the gender-ambiguous description we receive from Vinnevra in Halo: Primordium where she describes Mendicant’s voice as both male and female, this seems most appropriate. Unlike those we’re familiar with (Cortana, Serina, Isabel, and so on), Contender-class AIs are not made from a single mind, but many – not dissimilar from the Flood itself.įor this reason, I will be using they/them pronouns to refer to Mendicant. They were co-created by the Didact and the Master Builder after the war with ancient humanity, where the Forerunners first learned about the Flood.Ī Contender is no ordinary AI, however. Mendicant Bias is a Contender-class artificial intelligence who has been in the shadows of the lore since Halo 2. For those unaware, or perhaps need a quick refresher…
With Halo 3 now on PC, this is the perfect time to examine the full extent of Mendicant Bias’s involvement in the past, present, and what potential lies ahead for them in the future of Halo in their ongoing efforts to finish the fight. This quest for redemption has made them a pivotal character behind the scenes, to the point where their actions set into motion all the major events of the Halo story (because they couldn’t find the brakes). Where their (co-)creator, the Didact, sought vengeance for 100,000 years, Mendicant Bias has single-mindedly sought atonement. Some of the greatest, most enduring mysteries of the Halo universe are instantly called to mind and summed up by that strange name. Jason Anderson on So, I’ve been hired by 3… Trey, Wolf 0f Steel… on So, I’ve been hired by 3… Jude farthing on So, I’ve been hired by 3…
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