Jiralhanae Chieftain
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- "Commanding troops requires both strength and audacity."
- — Jiralhanae Chieftain's mantra[10]
The Jiralhanae Chieftain, also known as Alpha,[11] is a position within the Jiralhanae race. It is one of the highest positions in the Jiralhanae hierarchy both in social aspects and in military rank within the Covenant and its splinter factions, including the Banished.[2][1][4]
Overview[edit]
Roles and responsibilities[edit]
In the Covenant, Chieftains primarily served as military commanders. They are leaders of groups of the half-a-dozen or more Jiralhanae as well as several lower caste species within a "pack." In Jiralhanae society, Chieftains are subordinate only to War Chieftains and the Chieftain of the Jiralhanae himself. Apart from a pack leadership position, the Jiralhanae Chieftains are also spiritual leaders, giving sermons to their packs.[8][9] Maccabeus, while War Chieftain of the Rapid Conversion, would lead his pack in religious sermons, like the Progression of the Ages and blessing pack meals.[12]
History[edit]
The Chieftain of the Jiralhanae, Tartarus was killed by Thel 'Vadam, his Sangheili allies, and Sergeant Major Avery Johnson on Installation 05. He wielded a powerful ancient and unique gravity hammer, the Fist of Rukt.[13] Preceding him was his uncle Maccabeus, the previous wielder of the Fist of Rukt. Maccabeus's death was at his young nephew's hands, as is the tradition within the Jiralhanae culture: a fight to the death over the Chieftain position within the pack. The same can likely be said for most Jiralhanae Chieftains unless the previous Chieftain fell in battle; however contestants may have had to fight to the death for the position if this was the case. This was known to have happened on at least one occasion during the Jiralhanae occupation of the colony Beta Gabriel.[14]
Due to animosity stoked by the Great Schism, the Jiralhanae and Sangheili typically did not work together after the war, at least not as equals.[15] For reasons unknown, a few Jiralhanae Chieftains would eventually join Merg Vol's Covenant as lesser infantry after the end of the Human-Covenant War. These few Jiralhanae would fight on behalf of the group during the Battle of Draetheus V in 2554.[5] Very few Chieftains were depicted serving Jul 'Mdama's Covenant in a UNSC Tactical Simulator set during the Battle of Installation 03 in 2557.[6]
Many Chieftains served in the Banished, leading standard packs. Certain Banished Chieftains with massive packs formed them into legions and were titled Legionmasters.[16] Other Chieftains with high authority were titled Warlords to keep other packs in line.[16] The supreme leading Chieftains of the Banished consisted of War Chiefs, including both Decimus and Escharum,[16] and the Warmaster Atriox.[17]
Equipment[edit]
Armor[edit]
- Main article: Chieftain power armor
Jiralhanae Chieftains are typically clad in resilient ornate crimson and black/silver armor and are instantly recognizable by their matching large horned headdress, a design which pays homage to the Degaeorth of Doisac.[18] However, there's varying types of armor favored by Chieftains,[1][19][4] including one design of armor that is thicker with its left arm to deliver bone-crushing melee attacks should they need to perform one without their gravity hammers.[1] Another chassis also have dual wrist-mounted blades extending over their hands for extra melee capabilities.[4] While it cannot take as much damage as the bronze, gold-colored armor worn by War Chieftains, it allows greater speed and mobility.[1][19] They are also equipped with renegerating personal energy shields.[19] Their power armor cannot be stuck by plasma grenades, spike grenades, or needler projectiles.[1] However, their armor can be stuck by firebombs and unarmored parts like the Chieftains' weapons, hands, and feet can be stuck by spike and plasma grenades.[1] Unlike the power armor worn by Jiralhanae of lesser ranks, a Chieftain's armor does not fall apart once the shields are disabled.[1] Additionally, their