How similar are the Xeno and the Flood(Halo series)

[sparda4]

Here's a basic rundoown of what the Flood is like:


The Flood (Latin Inferi redivivus, meaning "the dead reincarnated") or the Parasite, as they are known to the Covenant, are a species of highly virulent parasitic organisms that can reproduce and grow by consuming sentient life forms of sufficient biomass and cognitive capability.

Flood Biology


The Flood, a virulent species of parasite, is an anomaly to all known biology, and an anomaly to regular life. This may be explained by the fact that it is an extragalactic species, originating from a different galaxy. It is extremely adaptive, and mutates hosts through different stages of accelerated "evolution," where the body of biomatter accelerates its own evolution to the point of a massive biological breakdown, whereby the infection can first take place. The species can reproduce without host bodies, though this is described as a last-ditch effort, and only performed by pure Flood forms.

The only known pathway for Flood reproduction and survival is by the infestation and assimilation of other species. They do this through a form of cellular reproduction known as lysogenic replication, where the viral cells infect host cells with their own genetic code, mutating the host cells into viral forms.

As the Flood spread and replicate, they will alter the environment to better suit their needs. This takes the form of biomass growing on any available surface, and the air being filled with spores. This appears to be part of the Flood life cycle and is done automatically, and leads to the development of a Gravemind as well as a Flood Hive.

So the question is how similar are the xeno to the flood or does the flood look more like the narvidians ? Or neither ?

(Didn't know where to put this thread if a more appropriate place exists move it there please)

[resistor]

Flood and Xenos have a lot of differences.

1) While flood can be extremely intelligent when controlled by a large gravemind, Xenos are always dumb as rocks. Xenos are feral bioweapons who are simply following genetic programming.

2) Xenos do not reproduce by infecting other life forms with parasites. There are male and female Xenos, and, if I recall details of Templar Assault correctly, they lay eggs.

3) Flood are not similar to Narvs either. Narvidians are not biological life forms, but are basically evil robots.

[fallen]

Good answers resistor.

It is arguable whether males and females actually exist, or if there are more xenoforms that breed (brood mothers) and those that don't (goliaths). This varies from xeno race to xeno race. Terrox being the example race as they are the most common.

[sparda4]

So then there could be xeno that are similar to the flood. Good to know. And the flood are bioweapons just like the xeno because the Precursors became the flood in a last dich effort to kill the Forerunners.

[fallen]

Not sure - parasiting is not something xeno are much into. Human xeno cults have tried to make them do it, or modify their genetics to merge with humans. Always with bad results. I don't think you see any of the rapid evolution you stated in your first post, but I haven't played Halo except the very first one so my knowledge is limited to compare.

[sparda4]

Well there is a rapid hp gain so that's something

But the flood is basically what i copied from the wiki (the important bits atleast the rest is a LOT of lore). And about what resistor said about the narvidians aren't they well inteligent ? But then again they are "robots". So a better question would be who or what created them ? The xeno aren't that big of a mistery but the narvs are.

[resistor]

Nov 4, 2017 19:06:45 GMT -5 sparda4 said:

Well there is a rapid hp gain so that's something

But the flood is basically what i copied from the wiki (the important bits atleast the rest is a LOT of lore). And about what resistor said about the narvidians aren't they well inteligent ? But then again they are "robots". So a better question would be who or what created them ? The xeno aren't that big of a mistery but the narvs are.

Narvidians are very intelligent and have enigmatic motivations. Humans generally believe the Narvidians were created by mankind to assist in the construction of the hive ships for the Exodus, but they are actually far, far more ancient.

Before Shalun challenged the Planetary Guild, the Narvidians controlled humanity by manipulation of the Guild leadership. After the Guild War and before the Exodus was launched, the Narvidians may have fallen into a civil war.

[sparda4]

Nov 4, 2017 19:23:02 GMT -5 resistor said:

Nov 4, 2017 19:06:45 GMT -5 sparda4 said:

Well there is a rapid hp gain so that's something

But the flood is basically what i copied from the wiki (the important bits atleast the rest is a LOT of lore). And about what resistor said about the narvidians aren't they well inteligent ? But then again they are "robots". So a better question would be who or what created them ? The xeno aren't that big of a mistery but the narvs are.

Narvidians are very intelligent and have enigmatic motivations. Humans generally believe the Narvidians were created by mankind to assist in the construction of the hive ships for the Exodus, but they are actually far, far more ancient.

Before Shalun challenged the Planetary Guild, the Narvidians controlled humanity by manipulation of the Guild leadership. After the Guild War and before the Exodus was launched, the Narvidians may have fallen into a civil war.

Hm. So the narvidans where created and then they turned on humanity on a moments notice but where older then they seemed. Hm. Looks similar to what the forerunners did but the narvs haven't taken out humanity yet so that's a plus.

And one more question it's a hypothetical one. IF and only IF humanity in their new home would stay alive and get stronger could they battle either the Xeno or the Narvidians on equal footing and possibly win a war or two ?

[resistor]

Nov 4, 2017 19:39:21 GMT -5 sparda4 said:

Nov 4, 2017 19:23:02 GMT -5 resistor said:

Narvidians are very intelligent and have enigmatic motivations. Humans generally believe the Narvidians were created by mankind to assist in the construction of the hive ships for the Exodus, but they are actually far, far more ancient.

Before Shalun challenged the Planetary Guild, the Narvidians controlled humanity by manipulation of the Guild leadership. After the Guild War and before the Exodus was launched, the Narvidians may have fallen into a civil war.

Hm. So the narvidans where created and then they turned on humanity on a moments notice but where older then they seemed. Hm. Looks similar to what the forerunners did but the narvs haven't taken out humanity yet so that's a plus.

And one more question it's a hypothetical one. IF and only IF humanity in their new home would stay alive and get stronger could they battle either the Xeno or the Narvidians on equal footing and possibly win a war or two ?

Narvidians primarily dwell in space, and do not seem to settle in planets. A war with the Narvs would necessarily be a defensive war for the humans, since Narvidians do not seem to settle planets, or have any large settlements or bases the humans could attack. In other words, a war with the Narvs would essentially be an effort by the humans to repel a Narvidian invasion of their quadrant.

As for wars against Xenos, you can see those for yourself in ST4X. Different Xeno species do not intentionally help each or share information with each other, but they do not attack each other either.

[sparda4]

So a war with the Narvidians would never be an offensive one. Got it. Thanks for the info guys it really fed my lore hunger for today. Might bring up more questions (and likely treads) in the future if i find something interesting or out of place.

[dayan]

The way I envisioned the Narvidians' attacks was that they would cannibalize all available matter when they reach a ship or world to maintain and increase themselves. Like the Replicators from Stargate SG1 or an artificial version of the Tyranid's from Warhammer 40K. Ships represent already highly refined and constructed resources. Biological matter can be refined into anything from carbon nanotubes to ball bearing grease to fuel.

[ntsheep]

dayan sighted! Fire the torps!