What is Halo Infinite's The Harbinger?

Yesterday, Microsoft re-revealed the Halo Infinite campaign with a new video that gave us our first proper look at what to expect from that portion of the game in over a year.

With all eyes trained on the visuals – and Craig’s new beard – the announcement of a few brand new enemies for the Halo universe flew under the radar. Check out the action in the video below:

Halo Infinite – Campaign Overview Watch on YouTube

Developer 343 mentioned three new enemies who make their debut in Halo Infinite: the agile Skimmers, a sadistic Spartan killer called Jega ‘Rdomnai, and a mysterious new character called The Harbinger of the Truth, who declares “the Forerunners’ lies are at an end” as she blasts Master Chief through a tree.

It’s The Harbinger of the Truth, or, more simply, The Harbinger, who has caught the attention of Halo lore fans. Why? Because no-one’s sure exactly what she is.

I’ve noticed a few theories that have emerged online since the video went live about The Harbinger’s true nature, but it’s perhaps best to start with what the community believes she is before suggesting what she may be.

One early suggestion is The Harbinger is a Prelate. You’d be forgiven for not knowing what a Prelate is, since they have yet to appear in any Halo game (they were mentioned in a Halo 2 map pack manual, bizarrely).