The Traveler

The Traveler floating above the Earth.

“

They call it the Traveler. We watch as it hangs above. The mysterious sphere, silently protecting us.

”

The Traveler is a mysterious sphere floating above Earth. Massive in scale, it is unknown whether the huge celestial object is simply a derelict spacecraft or a sentient being in and of itself. Hanging motionless in the skies above the last human city, it protects the humans from the continuous onslaught of various alien races bent on humanity's eradication by projecting a shield around the Last City, and gifts the Guardians with ancient and mysterious powers.

History

The Traveler was first encountered by humanity on Mars. It helped humanity expand across the solar system, teaching humans new technologies, helping them terraform planets and leading humanity into a Golden Age. Some time later, the Traveler's main enemy, the Darkness, battled with the Traveler, leading to the destruction of almost all human civilization in an event known as the Collapse. At the end of the wars that terminated the Golden Age, the Traveler, in its sacrificial last gift to humanity, came to rest over a small area of the now wasted human planet. As humanity struggled to rebuild itself from these events, the crippled object gifted its protection and powers to the recovering humans. Although the times after the war were difficult, humanity persevered and with the help of this celestial guardian, the humans eventually began to re-explore their terrestrial and solar domain.

The remnants of humanity built a city beneath the resting place of the Traveler, where they were safe from the continuous onslaught of various alien races such as the Cabal and the Fallen . This city rests in the shade of the great sphere, built under its protective aura as a last bastion of humanity. The Guardians are destined to protect this city and its inhabitants, and as such are gifted with some of the magnificent powers of the Traveler. It is not known if the Traveler is a sentient being in and of itself, or simply a derelict ship, but its importance to the survival of humanity cannot be understated.

With the Darkness returning, humanity fears they will not be able to survive it this time. As a last ditch effort, the player is given the ultimate task of attempting to wake the Traveler before the Darkness arrives, in order to drive it back.

Contributions

• The Traveler brought rain to Mars, as well as terraformed other worlds, allowing humanity to inhabit them.
• The Traveler taught mankind many things, enabling them to build new spaceships to colonize the system and live three times as long.
• The Traveler prevented the Darkness from obliterating mankind by sacrificing itself.
• The Traveler granted some of its power to the Guardians, who would carry on its work of protecting humanity.
• The Traveler created the Ghosts, sent to seek out the Guardians and raise them from the ancient dead.
• The Traveler continues to protect mankind with its aura of protection around the City.

Trivia

The Traveler first appeared in another Bungie game, Halo 3: ODST, where a hidden poster made it appear innocuously like the Moon.

Gallery

• 

  The city below the Traveler.

• 

  A reference to the Traveler in Halo 3: ODST.

• 

  The Last City below the Traveler.

• 

  Early designs for the Traveler's sphere.

• 

  The Traveler hovering in place over the Last City.

List of appearances

• Law of the Jungle (First appearance)
• Destiny