History Characters / HaloOther

** ParasiteZombie: Courtesy of the small squid-like Infection Forms and even smaller airborne spores. In fact, [[spoiler:the original form of the Flood was simply dust which slowly infected anything that came into contact with it.]]

** [[spoiler:'"Halo: Epitaph'' would finally confirm that the Gravemind is ''still'' the BigBad of the entire Halo series [[PutOnABus even after their benching]] at the end of Halo 3, as his prior corruptions of Mendicant Bias, Ur-Didact, and even Cortana fulfill his agendas anyway, showcasing the true power and evil of an EldritchAbomination with how [[UnwittingPawn unknowingly]] they fulfilled its XanatosGambit to eventually have the test against mankind the Precursors have always sought to put them through, when they are "fat and ripe" enough to initiate their final battle.]]

** Some of Cortana's cryptic whispers in ''VideoGame/HaloInfinite'' are spoken in rhyming trochaic heptameter, the same speech pattern the Gravemind uses, implying that Cortana's FaceHeelTurn in the previous game was due to corruption from the logic plague.

* EvilIsPetty: Goes through the trouble of sending the Librarian a message while she waits on earth (delivered by reconstructed representations of ancient humans whose fate she feels immense guilt for, no less) simply to reveal to her the nature of [[spoiler: the Domain]] as "the greatest thing in the universe", that firing the Halos will destroy it... and when she tries to send the [=IsoDidact=] a message, reveals the Halos have ''already fired''. All to drive home what a failure her entire species is, push her to the depths of guilt and despair, and ''laugh in her face'' within her final moments of life.

* NearVillainVictory: It ''almost'' wins in ''Halo 3'', after Truth is dealt with and the Ark's activation is halted. By simply moving High Charity to the Ark, the Gravemind had established a lair that was beyond the reach of the Halo array, effectively making the Flood unstoppable. It is only undone by the Ark constructing a new ring to replace Installation 04, (the one the Chief destroyed back in the original) the Chief's daring rescue of Cortana from the infested High Charity, (who retained the activation index that could be used to fire it off) and The Gravemind being so arrogant as to think it had already won, leading it to, in its hubris, concentrate almost its forces at the Ark, outside our own galaxy and therefore just about the only place the humans and elites wouldn't have much of a problem actually activating Halo.

* TheBusCameBack: [[spoiler:After being largely absent from the franchise's timeline since the end of ''Halo 3'', the Flood returned as the NonPlayerCharacter antagonists of a DLC campaign for ''VideoGame/HaloWars2''. The short story ''Sacrifice'' confirmed they were successfully scoured from High Charity's ruins.]] Although [[spoiler:the ending of the short story "Saturn Devouring His Son" implies the Flood successfully escaped a containment breach due to the hubris of one UNSC Captain not wanting to sacrifice valuable Forerunner resources over putting a cap on a clearly out of infestation on the asteroid, allowing their re-emergence as not a matter of if but ''[[NothingIsScarier when]]'' in the galaxy.]]

* LastOfHisKind: Subverted. The Timeless One reveals at the end of ''Literature/HaloCryptum'' that it is the last Precursor. But it turns out to ''also'' be a Flood Gravemind, which hints at the biochemistry of the original Precursors. However, ''Literature/HaloPrimordium'' and ''Silentium'' reveal that it is not the last of its kind and that there are more Precursors out there somewhere.
** [[spoiler:''Halo: Point of Light'' reveals this to be true as Precursor offspring survived and were found and brought to Bastion by the Librarian and ultimately sent to another galaxy on a ship named Eden to be reseeded millions of years into the future. It is unknown if the Gravemind knows of these survivors (assuming it would even care).]]

*** [[spoiler:''Halo: Point of Light'' reveals yet another form of theirs or at least an infantile form, described as green teardrop plants as large as melons that when exposed to light would unfurl wide leathery leaves that would fan gently with the grace of a bowing dancer, and expose a glowing starburst of delicate white blooms dangling from groups of lantern-like stems.]]

* GutturalGrowler: Speaks like this.

* VillainousBreakdown: In ''Halo 3'', [[spoiler: when it realizes that Master Chief can actually finish it off forever using the Halo since Gravemind concentrated all of the Flood's forces in one location. It ''immediately'' sends everything it has at them when they touch down on the rebuilt Installation 04, punctuated with a furious "'''DID YOU THINK ME DEFEATED?!'''"]]

* VillainousBreakdown: In ''Halo 3'', [[spoiler: when it realizes that Master Chief can actually finish it off forever using the Halo since Gravemind concentrated all of the Flood's forces in one location]].

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: [[spoiler:The 2022 ''Encylopedia'' reveals that she was part of the Endless's ruling class, and she has the power to match.]]

* CameBackWrong: Remember that weird powder humanity discovered that became the Flood? Turns out that was actually mummified Precursors, who were going to keep themselves preserved in that state until it was safe to return to physical forms. Unfortunately, the wait was so long that the powder eventually began deteriorating, and then started mutating whatever lifeforms it got put into... However, [[GoneHorriblyRight those that observed the horror their brethren brought to the galaxy found it satisfying]]; the Forerunners '''really''' pissed them off.
** Not all Precursors suffered this fate however as some remains produced offspring that remained uncorrupted by the decay of time.

* GodIsEvil: The Librarian outright says that the Primordial is as close to a God as the Forerunners can understand it. And after reading ''Silentium'', it's hard to argue that they aren't evil.

** [[spoiler: However not all Precursors desired this though. Sadly they appeared to have been the minority among their species.]]

*** ''Halo: Fractures'' short story ''Promises to Keep'' reveals another potential form of Precursors through the Precursor A.I. Abaddon who's appearance assumes the form of a giant bipedal being with insectoid-like traits with an androgynous Forerunner/human-like face and insect-like wings. Its image in the Halo Encyclopedia (2022) actually very closely resembles the Forerunner Guardian constructs from Halo 5 suggesting the Forerunners based their design on Abaddon's appearance.

* ThenLetMeBeEvil: After the Forerunner-Precursor war, they decided that if their creations are going to try and cause them pain and suffering, then they will cause their creations unparalleled pain and suffering in turn.
** Not all agreed with this however.
* ThereCanBeOnlyOne: They ([[UnreliableNarrator allegedly]]) tried to wipe out the Forerunners because they decided they weren't worthy of the Mantle and also chose humanity according to the Gravemind, also a dubious source of information. This caused tensions between the Forerunners and humanity for eons and according to the Forerunners, humanity later claimed the Mantle instead which is one of the reasons that ignited the Human-Forerunner war.

* AndIMustScream: [[spoiler:Its ultimate fate — clarified further in the Halo Encyclopedia — as its hubris to bring almost all of the Flood in the galaxy to the Ark to stop the Halos had inadvertently left itself [[DramaticIrony susceptible]] to actual complete obliteration by the very weapon it sought to stop without [[CuttingTheKnot damning the rest of the galaxy to extinction]]. But due to its CompleteImmortality by way of ResurrectiveImmortality, the Gravemind was able to survive its death at the unfortunate price of being once again a disembodied consciousness that is a shadow of its former self, and it may never ever truly reform to the great monstrosity it once was... ''especially'' with the galaxy [[BrokenMasquerade fully aware]] of its existence now]].

* TheBusCameBack: [[spoiler:After being largely absent from the franchise's timeline since the end of ''Halo 3'', the Flood returned as the NonPlayerCharacter antagonists of a DLC campaign for ''VideoGame/HaloWars2''. The short story ''Sacrifice'' confirmed they were successfully scoured from High Charity's ruins.]]

* HeroAntagonist: They're the main enemy for the first half of the Arbiter's campaign. They've split from the Covenant after learning the truth about the Halos, and are trying to get the message out to those still believing in the Covenant religion.

* GlassCannon: The Combat Forms pack a punch even without guns, but ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'' nerfs their durability to the point where just a solid punch can make them fly apart (unlike the previous games, where they were highly resistant to plasma and melee).

* TransformationHorror: Particularly in ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'', where the player gets to see any NPC who falls prey to an infection form being forcibly and painfully transformed before their very eyes.

[[folder: The Gravemind]]

->'''Debuted in: ''VideoGame/Halo2'''''
->'''Voiced by: Creator/DeeBradleyBaker'''

The controlling intelligence of the Flood, the Gravemind manifests as large biomasses of Flood organisms filled with the bodies of countless infected individuals. It attempts to lead the Flood in a consumption of the entire galaxy in ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'', just as it tried to do in the time of the Forerunners.

* GreaterScopeVillain: In ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}'', despite not being present, Gravemind's hand in the plot can still be felt. ''Literature/HaloSilentium'', which is a prequel, reveals that [[spoiler:it's directly responsible for the Ur-Didact's FaceHeelTurn via [[MindRape Mind Raping]] him to make his opinions on what to do with [[WorthyOpponent humanity]] no different from its own]].

[[folder: In General]]

[[folder: Sesa 'Refumee]]

->'''Homeworld: Feldokra'''
->'''Birthdate: July 11, 2499'''
->'''Debuted in: ''VideoGame/Halo2'''''
->'''Voiced by: Creator/MiguelFerrer (''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}''), Creator/{{John DiMaggio}} (''Halo 2: Anniversary'' terminals)'''

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: A far more dangerous warrior than his subordinates. In-game, his stats are comparable to any other Elite Major, but he has the advantages of dual plasma rifles, a jetpack, two hardlight hologram clones, and on higher difficulties he has multiple phases.

[[folder: In General]]

[[folder: Talitha Macer]]

->'''Homeworld: Sedra'''
->'''Birthdate: 2537'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Film/HaloNightfall'''''
->'''Portrayed by: Creator/ChristinaChong'''

[[folder: Samantha Wisner]]

->'''Homeworld: Sedra'''
->'''Birthdate: 2536'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Film/HaloNightfall'''''
->'''Portrayed by: Jennie Gruner'''

[[folder: Randall Aiken]]

[[folder: In General]]

[[folder: Robert Watts]]

->'''Homeworld: Mars'''
->'''Birthdate: August 16, 2455'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloTheFallOfReach'''''
->'''Voiced by: Ethan Sawyer'''

[[folder: Jacob Jiles]]

->'''Homeworld: Unknown'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloFirstStrike'''''

[[folder: Ignatio Delgado]]

->'''Homeworld: Madrigal (Nueva Lima)'''
->'''Birthdate: c. 2514'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloTheColeProtocol'''''

[[folder: Diego Esquival]]

->'''Homeworld: Madrigal'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloTheColeProtocol'''''

[[folder: Maria Esquival]]

->'''Homeworld: Madrigal (Nueva Lima)'''
->'''Birthdate: c. 2514'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloTheColeProtocol'''''

[[folder: Peter Bonifacio]]

->'''Homeworld: Unknown'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloTheColeProtocol'''''

[[folder: Juliana]]

->'''Creation date: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloTheColeProtocol'''''

[[folder: Lyrenne Castilla]]

->'''Homeworld: Unknown'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''[[Literature/HaloEvolutions The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]'''''

[[folder: Staffan Sentzke]]

->'''Homeworld: Sansar'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloTheThursdayWar'''''

[[folder: Ilsa Zane]]

->'''Homeworld: Unknown'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''ComicBook/HaloInitiation'''''
->'''Voiced by: Creator/TamaraTaylor'''

[[folder: Daniel Clayton]]

->'''Homeworld: Tribute'''
->'''Birthdate: c. 2526'''
->'''Debuted in: ''ComicBook/HaloEscalation'''''

-->'''Clayton:''' [[spoiler:Spartan, you will stand down! Don't you know who I am?!]]
-->'''Madsen:''' [[spoiler:Yeah, I know who you are. *Smacks Clayton unconscious with the butt of his rifle.* You're the '''traitor''' that got my friend Paul [=DeMarco=] killed.]]

[[folder: Mattius Drake]]

->'''Homeworld: Unknown'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''ComicBook/HaloInitiation'' (Mentioned only)'''

[[folder: Whitaker]]

->'''Homeworld: Alpha Corvi II'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''ComicBook/HaloCollateralDamage'''''

[[folder: Michael Crespo]]

[[folder: In General]]

[[folder: Ussa 'Xellus]]

->'''Homeworld: Sanghelios (Xellus keep, Xellus)'''
->'''Birthdate: 918 BCE'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloBrokenCircle'''''

[[folder: Sooln 'Xellus]]

->'''Homeworld: Sanghelios (Xellus keep, Xellus)'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloBrokenCircle'''''

[[folder: 'Crecka]]

->'''Homeworld: Sanghelios'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloBrokenCircle'''''

[[folder: Ernicka]]

->'''Homeworld: Sanghelios'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloBrokenCircle'''''

[[folder: Tersa 'Gunok]]

->'''Homeworld: Sanghelios'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloBrokenCircle'''''

[[folder: Lnur 'Mol]]

->'''Homeworld: Sanghelios'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloBrokenCircle'''''

[[folder: Salus 'Crolon]]

->'''Homeworld: Sanghelios'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloBrokenCircle'''''

[[folder: In General]]

[[folder: Forthencho]]

->'''Homeworld: Charum Hakkor'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloPrimordium'''''

[[folder: Yprin Yprikushma]]

->'''Homeworld: Unknown'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloPrimordium'''''

[[folder: Chakas]]

->'''Homeworld: Earth (Marontik)'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloCryptum'''''

[[folder: Morning Riser]]

->'''Homeworld: Earth (Marontik)'''
->'''Birthdate: c. 97,645 BCE'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloCryptum'''''

[[folder: Vinnevra]]

->'''Homeworld: Installation 07'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloPrimordium'''''

[[folder: Gamelpar]]

->'''Homeworld: Earth'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloPrimordium'''''

[[folder: Mara]]

->'''Homeworld: Earth'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''Literature/HaloPrimordium'''''

[[folder: In General]]

[[folder: In General '''*UNMARKED SPOILERS*''']]

--> '''Despondent Pyre:''' Time is not a construct we can control.
--> '''Grand Edict:''' And we cannot allow it to be ''theirs''.

[[folder: The Harbinger]]

->'''Homeworld: Unknown'''
->'''Birthdate: Unknown'''
->'''Debuted in: ''VideoGame/HaloInfinite'''''
->'''Voiced by: Creator/DebraWilson'''

[[folder: In General '''*UNMARKED SPOILERS*''']]

--->'''Didact''': The whole concept of will, good or ill, is irrelevant when speaking of such beings.

-->'''Gravemind''': All that is created will ''suffer''... All creation will tailor to failure and pain... Nothing new but agonizing death and never good shall come of it.

* StarfishAliens: The Timeless One is over ten meters tall, has brown-grey skin, a wide flat arthropodic head with compound eyes, multiple jaws and mandibles, with many jointed appendages and a stinger tail (the Precursors are said to be related to sea scorpions) ... and the real kicker? It's a Flood-like assimilation of bodies, as the Precursors became the Flood.

* ColdSniper: By Halo 3, Flood have started to make use of the Ranged Forms which snipe and pelt potential flood hosts from great ranges.

** There's no real way to properly convey how much hate and anger is infused in the above phrase in text. Even more unsettling is that it's '''not bluffing'''...

** There's no way to properly convey how much hate and anger is infused in the above phrase in text. Even more unsettling is that it's '''not bluffing'''...

** There's not a way to properly convey how much hate and anger is infused in that phrase in text. Even more amazing is that it's not bluffing...

* FireKeepsItDead: The Flood are particularly weak to the energy weapons of the Covenant. Even an energy shield can destroy an infection form on contact. In ''Halo 2'', an elite laments that their spec-ops force didn't think to bring weapons capable of burning bodies, to deprive the Flood of potential hosts.

* MeatMoss: Will inevitably form on ships, space stations, etc. that get overtaken by the Flood, typically serving to replace a conventional operations crew ([[HumanResources and often being made out of the original crew]]) as it assimilates with the local technology. High Charity, due to being a gigantic city with a glut of living bodies to repurpose, ends up so overtaken by Flood biomass that its interior becomes [[WombLevel utterly unrecognizable]] in the scant days between the end of ''Halo 2'' and the station's reappearance in ''Halo 3''.

** Pure Forms can do this, as noted above.

* ZergRush: Their typical strategy is to dash straight toward their opponents en masse with little regard for fancy tactics. It provides a stark contrast to the more complex flanking manoeuvres of Covenant infantry.

* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: [[spoiler:When he sells out the Ussans' location to the Covenant, his "reward" is to become a frontline guide for the troops invading the Refuge; he ends up being hacked to pieces by the vengeful Ussans shortly after making landfall, which the Covenant force's leaders were hoping for to being with.]]

* BodyHorror: Combat forms are created when a pod infector manages to burrow into someone's flesh and and [[PuppeteerParasite graft itself to their nervous system]]. Since the infector is the size of a housecat, this results in a grotesquely swollen, tumor-like appearance, with the infector's sensory feelers sticking out of the hole it created. Elite hosts have their long necks broken and dangling backwards over their shoulders, while brute hosts end up with the the infector [[OrificeInvasion lodged in their throats and distending their jaws]]. This is followed by physical mutations, such as a sickly green pallor and one arm mutated to sprout CombatTentacles or oversized talons.