Portal:Characters

This is a portal page for listing major characters in the Daybreak Continuum, as well as the status of characters from 343 Industries' Halo canon.

For a more exhaustive list of Spartan characters, see Portal:Spartans.

Overview
Most pre-2009 characters are brought into Daybreak as is. Some characters are also brought over from 343i canon, but are in many cases modified to match the different style, themes and events in the Daybreak Continuum. As such, most will not likely be 1:1 to their 343i canon counterpart, even if they make an appearance.

Characters are listed in a roughly descending order of story importance/in-universe fame. The list is mostly intended for characters of some importance to the overarching narrative, as well as for listing the staus of post-2009 canon characters, so some of Daybreak's original characters and many minor canon characters are left out. Most characters deceased before 2553 are not listed unless there is something relevant to note about them (or if it is pertinent to note they are dead as of the post-war era).

Contributors may flesh out or develop canon characters, but in the case of major characters in particular, additions should be discussed with the project heads.

Italics indicate characters whose status in Daybreak's canon is dubious or not definitely established at the moment, though their status may be reviewed in the future. Characters who conclusively do not make an appearance in Daybreak are not listed. Some characters (especially minor ones) who may still appear or exist in the Daybreak Continuum may also be missing from the list at the moment.

UNSC upper echelons

 * Terrence Hood — Fleet Admiral and de facto head of the UNSC in post-war years. Facilitated the formation of the Phoenix Initiative and begrudgingly entered an alliance with the Schismatics, first in the Treaty of Luna in March 2553, and solidified in later years by further treaties under the Phoenix Initiative. Possibly older than in 343i canon and possibly retired by the 2570s.
 * Joseph Harper — Status currently undefined. Possibly becomes new Deputy Chief of Naval Operations?
 * Nicolas Strauss — UNSC Army head and liaison to the UNSC Security Council.
 * Esai Nader — UNSC Marine Corps head and liaison to the UNSC Security Council.
 * Christel Boer — UNSC Aerospace Force head and liaison to the UNSC Security Council.
 * Michael Stanforth — Former head of ONI Section III, later commanded the Epsilon Eridani Fleet. Background and age tweaked to fix inconsistencies with the character. KIA during the Fall of Reach.
 * Rana Tipanis — Admiral; aligned with Hood (involved with HIGH TIDE?). Security Council member?
 * Iglena Gerov — Vice Admiral; possibly admiral post-war; HIGHCOM member?
 * There's some freedom for expansion here, especially post-war. Hood's inner circle and associates?

UNSC intelligence community

 * Margaret Parangosky — Longtime ONI Section III head, rose to CINCONI mid- to late-war. Suffered from psychotic breaks caused by stimulant overuse by the end of the war. Retired and hospitalized in 2553, passed away in a low-g hospital on Luna in 2555.
 * Armand Pascal — New ONI head since mid-to-late 2553. A smart but more agreeable figure than his predecessor, instated in the post-war "cleanup" of ONI's higher echelons.
 * Ned Rich — Possible Section 3 head after Parangosky. Status post-Parangosky?
 * James Ackerson — Aka Codename: SURGEON. Wounded during the Battle of Mars, but survived the war. Since the war, ran the SPARTAN-III Delta Company and sought to find Admiral Cole.
 * Codename: USUAL SUSPECTS — An associate or superior of Colonel Ackerson as of the end of the war.
 * Codename: COALMINER — An associate or subordinate of Colonel Ackerson. Exact identity TBD.
 * Rebecca Shapiro — Alias Codename: BRICKLAYER. Lieutenant, ONI analyst and investigator. An associate of Colonel Ackerson. Worked with Schismatics to obtain information on the Covenant, possibly involved with Project LEVIATHAN.
 * Codename: PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY — ONI Section I officer working on Project LEVIATHAN, the UNSC's post-war effort to gather intelligence on the Covenant Sphere. Associate of Codename: COALMINER.
 * Codename: BLACKSMITH — ONI Section Zero agent involved in the post-Parangosky "cleanup".
 * Eleanor Kibaki — Alias Codename: MINERVA. ONI Section Zero agent involved in the post-Parangosky cleanup.
 * Annabelle Richards — ONI special operations. Involved with the Kenyan Excession and the East African Exclusion Zone.
 * Catherine Halsey — Polymath and civilian consultant. A few years older than in 343i canon. Missing since 2552. Voluntarily stranded in Onyx Dyson sphere. No subsequent contact as of 2620.
 * William Iqbal — ONI civilian consultant & xenoarchaeology expert. Head researcher on the Kenyan Excession.
 * Michael Sullivan — ONI Section 2 communications and propaganda director in the post-war era. (Section 2 head?)
 * Jilan al-Cygni — Section III operative. Possibly rose to a higher status in Section III (eventually section head)?
 * Jameson Locke — ONI field agent in the late war and post-war eras. Authored target dossiers on Thel 'Vadam and various other Covenant commanders during the war. Led his field team on a counterterrorism mission in Fjord's Sedra City in the post-war era.
 * Vincent Lafayette II — A ridiculous, obscene caricature of a man who was hated and he knew it; became intimately familiar with Cascade's terminal velocity in the post-Parangosky cleanup.

UNSC personnel
For most Spartan characters, see Portal:Spartans
 * John-117 — Missing since 2552. No subsequent contact as of 2620.
 * Preston Cole — Missing since 2543. No subsequent contact as of 2580. Exact details of fate TBD.
 * Ysionris Jeromi — Survived the war along with the Hopeful. Relevant in post-war expansion and relief projects, specifics pending development.
 * Graselyn Tuwa — Vice Admiral, likely involved in a version of the Gao conflict
 * Franklin Mendez — A couple of decades older than in 343i canon. Returned from Dyson sphere post-war; possibly offered involvement with Delta Company (depends on timing), but refused and continued as deputy of whoever is responsible for the remaining Spartan-IIIs.
 * The Spirit of Fire crew — Missing since 2531. No subsequent contact as of 2620. Likely cruising through interstellar space very far from the Human Sphere at near-relativistic speeds.
 * Spartan-II washouts — Exceptionally bright individuals in their own right, many are still involved with ONI and/or the UNSC in general, often in specialist/expert roles. See Portal:Spartans.
 * Edward Buck & Alpha-Nine — continued to serve as ODSTs for some time. Will be explored in a story, exact status TBD.
 * Quick to Adjust/Vergil — serving with ONI, along with a handful of other Huragok captured on the Ascendant Justice.
 * Huragok from the Ascendant Justice — Assigned to Project SPHINX and various reverse-engineering/tech synergy programs (e.g. borers, wavespace relays, power transmission, etc.) May have created more of themselves later, though likely wouldn't under compulsion.
 * Gereon Wagner — Confirmed the attack on Reach to the Security Council, subsequently promoted to LCDR by Hood, captained the prowler Thief in the Night on its mission to the Ark. Returned with various pieces of intelligence from the Ark. Part of Hood's circle.
 * Richard Lash — Captained the Dusk and witnessed both the outbreak of the Great Schism and the unraveling of Onyx. Returned to Earth in December 2552, subsequently served in various operations, including the lead-up to FORTRESS SIEGE, further reconnaissance of Onyx, and/or the securing of the Soell system (exact details TBD).
 * Thomas Lasky — Exact status TBA, likely ends up in command of one of the s.
 * Nolan Byrne — Project ORION subject, UNSC Marine and Avery Johnson's longtime associate. Status post-Harvest currently open.
 * April Orenski — Status currently open. May have led a career as a Marine Corps officer, possibly KIA or WIA in the Human-Covenant War.
 * Ignatio Delgado — Enlisted in the Navy in 2535, possibly as prowler crew, status currently open. Involvement in post-war recon ops?
 * Samuel Gwozdz — UNSC Marine and post-war mercenary.
 * Horatio Wolfram — Longtime Navy Special Forces, later instructor and senior NCO
 * Stanislav K. Simonov — Warrant Officer, hero of Siberia Prime, defender of Johannesburg. Formerly of the Siberia Prime Civil Defense Force, now serving in the UNSC Army.

Human civilians / miscellaneous

 * Raoul Yue — UEG Secretary-General around 2551-2556. Mostly goes along with whatever Hood is proposing. Later gets replaced by a more forceful head of government, but by then the Phoenix Initiative is already a thing.
 * Agnesa Tesarova — Raoul Yue's successor in the UEG.
 * Yves Gaudin — First Phoenix Initiative head. From Luyten; relatively Inner Colony-minded but accepted by most of the negotiators as a compromise.
 * Rion Forge — Exact status TBA, but she and the Ace of Spades crew are included in Daybreak and will pop up when they become relevant. The Forerunner upgrades never happen, though.
 * Veta Lopis — She and the other characters from Gao exist more or less as is, and she may become story-relevant, though the specifics of the Gao conflict and the subsequent events will vary. Status pending further development of Blue Team's story.
 * Ald Olivares — Celebrity author, poet and sociologist in the post-war era, famed for both his optimism about the future and his skepticism over the continued viability of Pan-Humanism.
 * Elias Carver — Controversial computational sociologist famed for the so-called "Carver Findings", though he would often lament that the UNSC hyper-fixated on a single paragraph of his theory of the impossibility of cohesion in large spacefaring polities, later known as Carver's Maxim.
 * Melody Azikiwe — UEG/Phoenix Initiative diplomatic envoy. Involved in a version of the Carrow conflict.
 * Benjamin Giraud — Former ONI Section II civilian consultant. Survived the Battle of Mombasa. Post-war status TBD.
 * Petra Janecek — Civilian reporter. Possible investigation into the Ark and the Forerunners? Details TBD.
 * Dasc Gevadim — Cult leader missing since his purported ascension. Likely died in the wilderness of Tribute [sic], either of starvation or Brute patrols. He would most certainly publicly reveal himself again given he was willing to likely doom himself to die rather than be rescued.
 * Lyrenne Castilla — Status currently pending further development of Cole's story. Possibly survived on Sagittarius-side colonies.
 * Sadie Endesha — Likely enlisted in the UNSC in the weeks after Mombasa. Consider potential continued association with Mike? Exact status TBD.
 * Andra Svenson — Project Director, JOTUN Heavy Industries.
 * Gustavros Denel — Director of Supply Chain Management, Misriah Armory

Human AIs

 * Cortana — Third-generation "smart" AI created for Covenant software intrusion by Dr. Halsey. Missing since 2552. No subsequent contact as of 2620.
 * Voltaire — Codename: PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY's AI. Mostly handles clerical duties like compiling data for maps.
 * Selene — 's main shipboard AI.
 * Lancelot — "Dumb" AI assigned to the UNSC Fourth Horseman.
 * Zeke — A ground coordination AI attached to Battle Group Endymion.

Concord core

 * Thel 'Vadam — Largely responsible for the Concord of Reconciliation and the Schism Councils. Has massive symbolic importance to both the Sangheili and all Covenant. Variously known as the Schism Arbiter, the Renouncer, the Atoner, the Truth-Slayer, and numerous less flattering epithets by his enemies. Only history may reveal by what honorific name future generations will remember him by.
 * Rtas 'Vadum — The Arbiter's closest confidante, and as an associate or herald of the High Council, he has more preexisting political pull than Thel himself. A key figure in convincing Schismatics to side with humanity, especially in the precarious early days.
 * Saba 'Andoban — Councilor who fought alongside the Arbiter at Delta Halo's control room. Still trusts Rtas more than Thel but warmed up to the latter.
 * N'tho 'Sraom — Young Sangheili warrior who fought on Earth and the Ark. Human-sympathetic, noted Elenchist and later member of the Furious Absolution order.
 * Usze 'Taham — Sangheili warrior from a prominent merchant clan. Though his unorthodox behavior earned him many enemies, his martial prowess was also such that he was approached by the Ascetics to be one of their envoys to the fledgling Concord of Reconciliation. While 'Taham accepted, he would remain firmly involved with the Arbiter's inner circle as a senior member of the Sworn Vanguard. Initially hesitant to accept a Conciliator role offered by the Arbiter, he eventually became one in later decades.
 * Pree 'Venkata — Fleetmaster of the Fleet of Prosperous Concert. Human-sympathetic; involved with post-war negotiations & the Treaty of Arusha. Remained to safeguard the Human Sphere.
 * Nerit 'Mulaparthan — Fleetmaster, assumed command of the Schismatic Fleet of Defiance at High Charity. Fought the Truth loyalists across the Covenant's spinward side for much of the Schism.
 * Itkha 'Tarim — Sangheili commander and associate of Thel 'Vadam. Appointed fleet/theater commander for the Pleiades Corridor and Perseus-side theater and Joint Occupation Zone starting in 2553.
 * Tsas 'Vadam — Nephew (i.e. possible son) of Thel 'Vadam and key figure of the Sworn Vanguard. Better administrator and diplomat than a fighter.

Important Schismatics / Concord

 * Nahal 'Rhandam — Current Fleet of Deliverance fleetmaster; based in the Covenant sphere. Sworn Vanguard member, Conciliator.
 * Arik 'Kram — Loremaster. Involved with the Arbiter's inner circle. Details TBD.
 * Torg 'Gransam — Surviving Sangheili Councilor (Broken Circle). Specifics may vary. Status currently open though rank makes him influential. Pending further development.
 * Shupa 'Juundam — Surviving Councilor who interacted with the UNSC while the Fleet of Retribution was at the Ark (late Dec 2552-Jan/Feb 2553). Skeptical about the alliance with humanity.
 * Sossak 'Usoi — Former Councilor-elect of the Siakar Expanse. Later established and led the Chikri-Merkaa Conflux. Important ally for the Arbiter near the Human Sphere.
 * Khola 'Rhaaton — Swords/Crimson League representative. Details TBD.
 * Neru 'Gelem — Crimson League representative. Details TBD.
 * Sarun 'Kassan — Neryne Culmina representative. Details TBD.
 * Kois 'Unsovu — Yuchurn representative. Details TBD.
 * Roha 'Sugaan — Tiar-Sii leader/rep. Details TBD.
 * Quoll 'Gihan — Ascetic, Concord affiliate.

Antagonists

 * Jul 'Mdama — While the basic concept of his character arc is kept intact, in terms of details and specific events, virtually everything about the character is different from the 343i version. (e.g. he never gets imprisoned on Onyx because Onyx isn't held by ONI at this point, his conflict with ONI occurs in the Joint-Occupation Zones rather than Covenant space, and he doesn't become a major player until the 2570s-2580s). Jul came to blows with ONI in the post-war years, lost everything, and subsequently rebuilt his power base for one goal: to take possession of the Kenyan Excession and access the Ark.
 * Gervul Jar 'Shaol — Imperial Admiral; initially an ally to the Arbiter and Rtas 'Vadum, later grows estranged from them over religious and political differences. Leader of a trailing-side Concord splinter (details pending).
 * Xytan Jar 'Wattinree — Participated in the early to mid Human-Covenant War; later ended human resistance at Reach. Converted into a rapidly-expanding cloud of molecules by NOVA bomb. Further background TBD.
 * A'vor 'Gujwanatcio — Formerly 'Gujwanaxee. A minor fleetmaster with eleven ships to his name, his political leanings are a puzzle even to his peers. Certainly he has underhanded dealings in the post-War Human Sphere, and the Qwuis-109* Parhelia has been caught up in several of his conspiracies. In the past, his lineage has occasionally been a counterweight to the mercantile power of the Umtalla clan.

Others

 * Oular 'Kandonom — Fought on the first Sacred Ring, commanded a legion and later inducted as a Zealot. Authored memoirs on the Great Schism afterward.
 * Sev 'Ikavowattinrzoee — Former lieutenant of Xytan 'Jar Wattinree, he later became a Honor Guardsmen and chief of security for the High Prophet of Regret. Currently leads the largest fragment of Xytan's empire.
 * P'thon 'Umtalla — Scion of Clan 'Umtalla. Survived the Great Schism, part of the crew of the Parhelia.
 * Taka 'Chakom — Elenchist fresh out of the warrior creche, involved with the Concord post-war.
 * Vul 'Soran — Blademaster, Rtas 'Vadum's second in command and confidante on the Shadow of Intent. Specifics may vary, pending further development.
 * Tul 'Juran — A Sangheili "shieldmaiden" serving on the Shadow of Intent. Specifics may vary, pending further development.
 * Tosma 'Rahan — Fleetmaster of the Fleet of Righteous Vigilance (The Return). Wildcard; fought Brutes, doesn't fully trust humans.
 * Lak 'Vadam — One of the Vadam elders and Thel's friend and mentor. Consider shifts in keep politics after Thel's branding and subsequent events.
 * Umul 'Vadam — Took over as kaidon of Vadam after Thel's trial. Subsequent events/politics TBD.
 * [Thel's spouse(s) & children/household?]
 * Raxs 'Gatakurr — A former Silent Shadow operative who had significant business interests. After the formation of the Concord, he established the largest Sangheili-owned corporation that operates in the Human Sphere.
 * Bora 'Norsam — Former relic security; post-war artifact hunter and consultant. May be involved with excavations at e.g. Alpha or Delta.
 * Sabar 'Yrjorni — Led the Djyrn Ultimatum faction. Status TBD.

San'Shyuum

 * Hierarchs — the Prophets of Truth, Mercy and Regret are mostly relevant insofar as the Schism Councils and the post-Covenant in general seek to ascertain their motivations and the guilt of each individual Prophet in breaking the Covenant.
 * Minister of the Common Weal — Led the evacuation of High Charity, and established a colony of survivors at the Strewn Shore.
 * Ela Huwae — Prophet-Archimandrite and key religious leader of the True Communion.
 * Nor Khebka — Traveling scholar. Currently based in the Chikri-Merkaa Conflux.


 * Boru'a'Neem / Minister of Preparation — Truth-aligned Minister who led a small Covenant remnant faction in the early years of the Schism. Defeated by Rtas 'Vadum and the crew of the Shadow of Intent; specifics may vary.
 * Tem'Bhetek — San'Shyuum Prelate. Specifics of the story and the Prelates specifically may vary, currently pending further development.
 * Zo Resken / Prophet of Clarity — Sangheili-sympathetic San'Shyuum politician. Status currently open, pending further development.

Kig-Yar

 * Tennbau Quatch — Civilian commercial spacer, ex-military. Survived the Great Schism, later Shipmaster of the Parhelia.
 * Samisha Taol — Civilian commercial spacer. Quatch's associate and fellow veteran.
 * Chur'R-Sul — Generalissimo and mercenary commander during the Human-Covenant War. Post-war status TBA.
 * Rish Jin — Shipmistress; leader of the Guardians of the Consecrated Chalice.
 * Yan Sech — A trader-baron involved with the Ecumenic Mercatoria.
 * Jheg Vrul — Corsair for the Concord and later commercial magnate of the Ecumenic Mercatoria.

Unggoy

 * Ilyil — Unggoy deacon and post-war religious figure. Later became the partly-unwitting symbol of an Unggoy resistance movement.
 * Huhnub the Blessed — Former Archdeacon, later self-titled Prophet and leader of the Empyrean Dominion.
 * Div'qup — Unggoy matron and leader of the Jjaibii Shroud Nexus, later member of the Ecumenic Mercatoria.
 * Leleb — Unggoy scribe. Escaped High Charity during the Great Schism.
 * Stolt — A monstrous outlier of a Grunt. Member of the Shadow of Intent crew, though some details are fluid (i.e. he's less of a meme character).

Major leaders

 * Tartarus — The Covenant's first and last Chieftain of the Jiralhanae. Colluded with the Prophet of Truth, co-facilitating the rapid elevation and integration of the Jiralhanae into the Covenant. Slain by the Arbiter in 2552. Exalted by many militant Jiralhanae factions, though many others quietly despise him for either his personal qualities or forcing Doisac's ways (or more specifically the ways of his own clan and master-pack) on the wider Jiralhanae diaspora.
 * Anotatus — Commanded Jiralhanae forces during the onset of the Great Schism on High Charity. Later status TBA.
 * Cronus — Jiralhanae Chieftain, fleetmaster of the Fleet of Boundless Wrath and Warmaster of the Human Sphere theatre. Major leader of the Torchbearers. Killed around the time that Harvest & the Tempest Crossing terminus are recaptured.
 * Belgarum — Jiralhanae Chieftain and a major leader of the Torchbearers. Brutal but cunning.
 * Vargax — Jiralhanae Chieftain and major leader of the Torchbearers. Stayed with Truth not out of ambition but genuine religious devotion.
 * Maractus — Jiralhanae Chieftain and a major leader of the Torchbearers. On the younger side, vain and ambitious; showy.
 * Lydus — First major Chieftain of the Torchbearers to agree to cease hostilities with the Concord (c. 2559)
 * Vanthor — Jiralhanae Chieftain, signed treaties with Concord in the 2560s. A philosophical type, or as much of one as a Brute can be.
 * Gorgothus — Jiralhanae Chieftain, signed treaties with Concord in the early 2560s. Cared more for his vassals than Truth in the end.
 * Castor — Jiralhanae Chieftain and dokab of the Keepers of the One Freedom. Formerly of the Torchbearers. Very pious, but loyal to the Journey first and Truth second.
 * Varangus — Jiralhanae Chieftain and dokab of the Keepers of the One Freedom. Formerly of the Torchbearers, rose to Chieftain in the Keepers.
 * Alamolgum — Frontier Chieftain who killed his more hawkish, Doisac-born predecessor to pursue peace and trade relations with the Concord c. late 2550s.

Others

 * Alcyonius — Captain-Major. Fled the Flood from High Charity during the Great Schism.
 * Marsangtus — Chieftain; killed in High Charity during the outbreak of the Schism.
 * Orsun — Castor's lieutenant and long-time compatriot.

Yanme'e

 * Kup'Hq-Xirk — Hive-Queen of Kiin Djetjom. Aligned with the Chikri-Merkaa Conflux.

Forerunner
The Forerunners are generally relevant to us only as near-mythic figures from the deep past; other than their constructs, they have no presence in the modern-day narrative.


 * Didact — Fired the Halo Array circa 97,445 BCE. Spoke of embarking on a "Great Journey" and a "false transcendence". Like the other Forerunners, he will likely never be seen again, and as of 2620, where he went can only be guessed at. Deified by the Covenant and specifically worshiped by many traditions.
 * Librarian — Indexed galactic life in the Conservation Measure. Died on Earth circa 97,445 BCE. Deified by the Covenant and specifically worshiped by many traditions.
 * Master Builder — Main architect of the Halo Array. Likely perished in the last years of the Diluvial War. Deified by the Covenant and specifically worshiped by many traditions.
 * 343 Guilty Spark — Monitor created to maintain Installation 04. Destroyed on Installation 08 by Spartan Laser, fragments of casing and crystal substrate atomized by the firing of the incomplete ring.
 * Mendicant Bias — Treacherous Forerunner AI. Revered by the Covenant though also used as a cautionary example. Communicated with John-117 on the Ark, may have contacted others. Status unknown, assumed destroyed.
 * Offensive Bias — Forerunner AI created for the express purpose of stopping the rampant Mendicant Bias. Subsequent status unknown.

Limbo characters
This section is for characters for whom there are currently no plans; this includes mostly 343i-era characters but can also include minor pre-2009 ones. Should contributors want to develop these characters' Daybreak versions they may do so, though it's a good idea to give the team a heads-up.


 * Human
 * Sarah Palmer — In limbo. Can be assumed to have led a moderately successful career as an ODST fireteam leader.
 * Olympia Vale — A cultural xenologist by that name served in the Navy as a cultural adviser for forces operating with the Concord, and despite a martial arts hobby, was never a combatant.
 * Holly Tanaka — Can be assumed she exists and her backstory unfolded the same way, though since the S-IVs are never a thing, she also didn't become one.


 * Sangheili
 * Luro 'Taralumee — Participated Xytan Jar 'Wattinree's summit at Joyous Exultation. Reduced to constituent molecules by NOVA bomb.
 * Sali 'Nyon — Participated Xytan Jar 'Wattinree's summit at Joyous Exultation. Experienced rapid and irreversible phase transition into vapor upon detonation of NOVA bomb.
 * Merg Vol — Participated Xytan Jar 'Wattinree's summit at Joyous Exultation. Deleted from existence by NOVA bomb.


 * Jiralhanae
 * Atriox — Likely not a factor in Daybreak, though a Jiralhanae by that name may have staged a rebellion against the Covenant and formed a splinter group. If a Banished-inspired faction makes it into our canon in some form, they would only become a factor perhaps a century or more after the war and would bear little resemblance to 343i's Banished.


 * Forerunner
 * Intrepid Eye — Forerunner military AI. No solid plans at the moment, though a version of her may be incorporated at some point, possibly related to the Gao conflict.
 * Various other characters from The Forerunner Saga and the terminal narrative did exist in the backstory and may pop up, though details thereof will in many cases differ. Since the ancient human backstory is completely reimagined, ancient human characters (pre- or-post devolution) do not appear as such. One can imagine counterparts to Chakas, Riser, et al. may have existed, and could even have interacted with Forerunners (mostly the Librarian) for a short period of time, though they would not have possessed any meaningful level of organized civilization, with the peak of terrestrial human advancement at the time of the Array being tribal hunter-gatherer communities such as that of N'chala (or very primitive agriculture at best, assuming this knowledge was forgotten when the rings fired; but certainly nothing that would leave lasting evidence we could dig up).