Editing Deacon

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Unit infobox|variant=Cov
|name=Deacon
|image=[[File:HW deacon.jpg|300px]]
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]<ref name="ch3">''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', Chapter 3</ref>
|authority=[[Ministry of Tranquility]]{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}}
|branch=
|mission=Ministry representative{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}}
|role=*Religious services{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}}
*Spiritual leaders{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}}
|size=
|armament=
|equipment=
|notable=*[[Dadab]]{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}}
*[[Pipap]]<ref name="h5">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', "[[Warzone]]"</ref>
*[[Pipit]]<ref name="tcp29">''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]'', Chapter 29</ref>
*[[Yapyap]]<ref name="HoG">[[Halo Waypoint]]: [https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/haze-of-glory ''Haze of Glory'']</ref>
|othernames=
}}
{{Quote|I am here to serve, and in so doing honor the will of the Prophets.|Dadab{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}}}}

A '''Deacon''' was a low-level office of the [[Covenant]] [[Covenant religion|religion]] and the lowest rank within the empire's ministries, though the only office obtainable by the [[Unggoy]]. Organized under the [[Ministry of Tranquility]], Deacons typically served as the ministry's representative on expeditionary ships, ensuring all crew members followed the Covenant's writs and laws.{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}}

[[Yayep the Archdeacon of Indolence|Yayep]], an Unggoy renowned for his strategic acumen, held the title of "Archdeacon of Indolence". [[Yapyap]] was allegedly a "sub-sub-sub Deacon" in the [[Ministry of Sanitation]].{{Ref/Reuse|HoG}}

==Responsibilities==
{{Quote|I do not question. I serve. That is our fate.|Pipit{{Ref/Reuse|tcp29}}}}
The office of Deacon was the lowest rank within the [[Covenant]]'s ministries, but it was the only position open to [[Unggoy]] and one of the few occupations an Unggoy could obtain that did not involve hard manual labor or [[Covenant military|military]] service. Deacons were expected to understand the Covenant's [[Holy Writs]] and help explain these laws to other members of the Covenant.{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}} A Deacon was expected to be familiar with every sin, and to have full knowledge of the punishment for every transgression.<ref name="ch12>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', Chapter 12</ref> Deacons also familiarized themselves with the "luminations" depicted by [[Luminary|luminaries]], as well as their meanings.<ref name="ch14">''Halo: Contact Harvest'', Chapter 14</ref>

A Deacon was attached to most expeditionary elements of the [[Ministry of Tranquility]],{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}} often to ensure [[Kig-Yar]] crew remained in line,<ref>''Halo: The Cole Protocol'', Chapter 22</ref> and it was the responsibility of the Deacon to ensure that all Covenant members followed the applicable Writs as they carried out their orders,{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}} as well as provide sermons for the crew.<ref name="ch6">''Halo: Contact Harvest'', Chapter 6</ref> However, as the Unggoy garnered little respect within the empire, most Covenant members displayed insolence towards Deacons and ignored their authority. In fact, many Unggoy that held this office had met with "unfortunate accidents" for opposing irreverent members of the Covenant. When a Ministry of Tranquility vessel discovered an unidentified installation or ship, it was the Deacon's duty to supervise the search, or offer a blessing at the very least, for potential [[Forerunner]] artifacts.{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}} These Unggoy dressed in orange tunics, emblazoned with a yellow, circular symbol.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', Chapter 22</ref>

Deacons also served as spiritual leaders for Unggoy, though this was considered a lofty goal and difficult to obtain.{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}} Deacons were able to sponsor pilgrimages to High Charity.<ref name="ch18">''Halo: Contact Harvest'', Chapter 18</ref> Deacons would occasionally serve as translators and intermediaries for [[Huragok]] as well,{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}}<ref name="pl floats">''[[Halo Wars 2]]'', [[Phoenix Log]] –  "Floats Low But Steady"</ref> as the role of translator was considered beneath [[Sangheili]] for the training took away time from their training and time on the battlefield.{{Ref/Reuse|pl floats}}

==Selection and training==
Most Unggoy were not considered qualified for Deaconship, and those that were selected for the office were only chosen due to their intelligence and ability to understand the [[Covenant]]'s [[Holy Writs]]. Those Unggoy selected for Deaconship went through an educational course and training voyages at the [[Ministry of Tranquility]]'s seminary.{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}} Deacons in training were educated by [[San'Shyuum]] priests at these seminaries.{{Ref/Reuse|ch14}} Candidates for Deaconship shared a dormitory, a crowded warren of low-lit cells deep in the base of the ministry's tower in [[High Charity]].{{Ref/Reuse|ch18}}

A Deacon's first posting was often the rather undesirable duty of religious representation on [[missionary ship]]s, though excellent performance sometimes guaranteed a good promotion later.{{Ref/Reuse|ch3}}

==Production notes==
[[File:HW Deacon upgrade icon.jpg|thumb|250px|Deacon upgrade image from ''Halo Wars'']]
In Christian churches, a [[Wikipedia:Deacon|deacon]] is a member of the diaconate, an office that is often associated with religious services of some kind. In some churches, a deacon is a member of the clergy, while in others the deacon is a mere layman.

===Gameplay===
In ''[[Halo Wars]]'', Deacons are available as the final upgrade for an Unggoy. They further bolster and strengthen the abilities of the Unggoy squads. Interestingly, they wear elongated helmets reminiscent of their Sangheili counterparts. They "inspire" the other Unggoy, resulting in the lance inflicting higher damage. However, because there is one per lance, which contradicts the prior rarity of Unggoy becoming Deacons, it is more than likely that this is just to enhance gameplay and is regarded as non-canon (similar to the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-IIs]] depicted in the game possessing [[energy shielding|energy shields]], despite the fact that [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|Mark IV MJOLNIR armor]] does not have energy shields).<ref>''[[Halo Wars]]''</ref>

Deacon [[Pipap]] serves as a boss in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''' [[Warzone]] gamemode, appearing on the maps "[[Attack on Sanctum]]" and "[[Raid on Apex 7]]". As a "[[Unggoy jockey|jockey]]", Pipap pilots a [[Goblin]].{{Ref/Reuse|h5}}

==Gallery==
<GALLERY>
File:HWgruntdeaconfullsquad.jpg|A Deacon in a full squad
File:HW deacon.jpg
File:HWdeaconcloseup.jpg
</GALLERY>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Unggoy Ranks}}

[[Category:Unggoy culture]]