Deep lore theories think its a strong possibility that the composed Didact is making a return. During development of Halo Wars 2, Atriox was given the title “Didact Hunter”. It’s believed the recording of “his legacy” may be referring to the Didact instead of Atriox.

Fans are all ready starting to refer to the Didact as “the first banished”, a reference when the forerunner government banished the Didact after he lost a great debate over which to construct as the primary method to combat the flood (halo rings or shield worlds).

I don't really view the Banished that way. They're "free soldiers" because that's what their leader Atriox tells them they are. Without their leader, their icon, they're probably about as malleable as just about any rudderless group. As long as you can give them something to rally against, and someone else charismatic and larger than life enough to convince them that he embodies in some way the same spirit of rebellion as Atriox, and their goals can align in some way, they could well be manipulated. 

Respectfully disagree. The banished value power above all else, no matter where it comes from. They don’t destroy Forerunner tech if they can make use of it. So long as the Didact doesn’t treat them like subordinates and contempt I can see the motive to gain much on the Banished side of things. If true the story would have to explain how it’s a mutually beneficial alliance and not one working for the other. The Didact is supposedly in a weakened state with no power of his own with Cortana controlling the domain. So he doesn’t have the bargain power he used to. 

If true, the legacy comment could merely be a callback to him defying the powers that be back in forerunner times. Which he did. Or a callback to Didact wanting to wipe out the “falsel holders of the mantle (humanity). I have faith 343 can respect cannon when piecing this all together. It’s certainly possible to make it work . 

Power but without a corrupt leadership like the Prophets who ordered them to their deaths. Agreed on the forerunner artifact aspect. They have no religious significance only it’s power if any. 

Agreed with Banished philosophy, would you agree it could work if they are allies and not one working for the other? The Banished are lacking in a Forerunner assets and connections to their networks/domain. The Didact is lacking his army that Cortana now controls. Win win with nobody ruling over the other. And if they each get more power, they can easily declare a truce. 

Is that possibility not a deal breaker?

Didact is my favourite villain too, but I think we agree on this. It would have to be some kind of temporary unholy alliance lol. Enemy of my enemy is my friend and what not. And when each gets what they want (Atriox gets forerunner tech and Didact gets his promeatheans back) one will betray the other. Plausible?

Ya I’d definitely be interested in seeing each one trying to be civil to the other when it goes against their impulses followed by the eventual betrayal. That’s why evil alliances are far more interesting then good alliances narratively.

What the Didact can do that humans can’t is access the domain like Cortana did. The promise of the promeatheans working for the Banished (false promise to be sure) or at the very least free forerunner tech is incentive to work with him. If the UNSC is giving the Banished fleets trouble including Guardians...The Banished need a edge to fight back themselves. I mean if one ship in Halo Wars 2 gives them trouble then imagine Infinity ;)

For the Didact the Banished is his army until he gets his own back. He will do whatever he can until Cortana is dethrone, even if it means somewhat suppressing his xenophobia.

The only loose end is figuring out how the Banished can trust or have assurances that the Didact won’t turn his promeatheans on them if he so chooses. Ah it’s been a while since Halo fans have been speculating lore, so fun :)

It’s actually 100 000, just before the Halos fires. And he was corrupted by the grave mind before hand so he literally dwelled in his own insanity the entire time. He is not the same person who at his peak defeated the ancient human armies. “Corrupted” as in the Halo novel Silentium, describes it as more or less a logic plague for organics without infecting the host.

He thinks he’s doing the right thing in Halo 4 and thinks it’s his own choice. But the theory is that he’s an agent of the flood: weakening their biggest threat (humanity) 

Not gonna lie, I'm pretty fucking jealous that media members got to play like 4-5 hours of Cyberpunk. Fuck all those guys.

Oh boy, got another deep lore theory that’s been going around since Halo 5. Remember the secret ending to Halo 2? ;)

Other extended universe material expanded and all but confirmed Cortana was logic plagued too when she spoke to the Gravemind. Same premise as the Didact: they think it’s their choice but their goals ultimately help the Floods return. In Cortana case it softens up the galaxy’s defences with Guardians EMPing everything. 

The domain was created by the Precursors (modern day Flood) and was repurposed by the Forerunners. The idea is that like the Librarian which can plant “seeds” that grow to a eventuality (Chief), the Gravemind planted a logic plagued seed that activated once Cortana hit the domain. Hence Cortanas different personality. 

Gravemind is next level genius. Plans upon plans even when the flood aren’t an active threat. So many factors at play!

CDPR doing bad things to me moving Cyberpunk into the expected Xbox/Halo launch window. Gonna need to petition somebody for more hours in the day.