H5G:Swords of Sanghelios

This article is about the campaign level. For the post-war Covenant splinter faction, see Swords of Sanghelios.

Prev:	Reunion
Next:	Alliance
Swords of Sanghelios
Game:	Halo 5: Guardians
File name (?):	Cutscene: cin_120 Level: w2_grotto
Player:	Jameson Locke (Fireteam Osiris)
Date:	October 27, 2558
Location:	Sanghelios
Objective(s):	Reach the Elder Council Chamber and rescue the Arbiter.
Par Time:	00:23:00
	Halopedia has a walkthrough guide for this level; see H5G:Swords of Sanghelios/Walkthrough.

“

When evidence reveals the Master Chief is in danger, Fireteam Osiris' mission changes from retrieval to rescue.

”

Swords of Sanghelios is the eighth campaign level of Halo 5: Guardians. Completing the level on any difficulty unlocks the 'Swords' achievement, worth 10 gamerscore points. Destroying ten walls or floors on the level unlocks the 'No knock raid' achievement, worth 10 gamerscore points.

Transcript

{Cutscene}

Open on the UNSC Infinity floating in space. Cut to its hangar interior. A Pelican passes over Sarah Palmer and Dr. Halsey, who are bringing luggage aboard another Pelican with the help of Marines. Locke and Vale approach them.

• Locke: "You're loading up, Commander?"

• Palmer: "We're going to see if Halsey can learn to speak Guardian."

• Halsey: "I'll have a briefing for you by the time we reach Sanghelios."

• Locke: "See you planetside."

Palmer nods, then Locke and Vale walk away.

• Vale: "So, you wrote a target dossier on the Arbiter when you were with ONI."

• Locke: "That was six years ago. What's your point?"

• Vale: "You recommended assassinating him."

• Locke: "After he killed millions of our people."

• Vale: "So why didn't you?"

• Locke: "Things changed."

The two Spartans stop to face Captain Lasky, escorting an allied Sangheili Storm. Unlike those of the Covenant, he wears sleeved red armor.

• Sangheili: "The Arbiter is engaged in combat. We will escort you to him."

Vale follows the Sangheili, while Locke steps aside to speak with Lasky.

• Lasky: "Locke. The planet's deep in a civil war. If this all goes sideways-"

• Locke: "I understand, sir. It's not my first mission that doesn't exist."

Lasky nods.

• Lasky: "Good luck Spartan."

Locke nods back and walks past, Lasky watching him with a worried expression. Cut to the hangar's edge, where the Spartans and Sangheili step into a red-armored Lich. With them aboard, the Lich flies off the Infinity, carrying a Phantom docked underneath it.

{Cutscene}

Open on the Urs system. The Lich flies past two moons, still carrying its docked Phantom. The Phantom separates from the Lich's gravity lift and flies toward Sangheilios.

Cut to the surface of the planet. In the distance, the Phantom flies over a desert region.

SANGHELIOS 27 OCTOBER, 2558
HOMEWORLD OF THE ELITES

Cut to a valley. The Phantom comes to a stop and hovers over a creek. It activates its turret and its gravity lift. Fade to white and then black.

SWORDS OF SANGHELIOS

Mahkee 'Chava's Phantom dropping Fireteam Osiris.

{Gameplay}

Fireteam Osiris descends from the Phantom, dropping into the creek below. There are cliffs and statue ruins all around them. Their Phantom flies away.

• Mahkee 'Chava (COM): "Arbiter has united the keeps and formed a new alliance — the Swords of Sanghelios. With Arbiter's victories and the death of Jul 'Mdama, the Covenant remnants grow desperate. They have began an assault on 'Vadam lands, targeting Arbiter specifically."

• Locke: "And Arbiter's location?"

• Mahkee (COM): "You will find Arbiter at the Elder Council Chambers. Victory to clan and kin, Spartans. Mahkee out."

• Vale: "I'm impressed. Arbiter has females in his ranks. War has traditionally been a male's job on Sanghelios."

If the player stalls.

• Buck: "The Elites used to call Chief "the Demon". But Arbiter worked with him. Helped Chief win the war even."

• Locke: "War has a habit of making strange allies."

• Buck: "So Vale, you think Arbiter can win his war?"

• Vale: "Easily. Maintaining peace afterwards will be the hard part. Arbiter built the Swords of Sanghelios from a coalition of bickering clans. It will be a heck of a magic trick if he can keep them from turning on one another once they don't have the Covenant to fight."

The Spartans follow the creek. There is an ocean on their left, where distant buildings can be seen.

• Holly Tanaka: "What are those buildings over there?"

• Vale: "Sunaion. That's where the Guardian is located."

• Tanaka: "Gonna need serious backup to get anywhere near it."

• Locke: "We need the Swords of Sanghelios. And that means we need Arbiter."

If the player stalls again.

• Buck: "All quiet here. Best get moving."

If the Spartans approach a statue on a cliff overlooking the ocean, they get a clearer look at Sunaion.

• Tanaka: "If that's Sunaion, where's the Guardian?"

• Vale: "Partially underwater. Sangheili built the city around the emerged part of it."

The Spartans continue down the stream, now flanked by tall cliffs. As they approach a valley, they hear hostile Sangheili broadcasting on a loudspeaker.

• Any member of Osiris: "Covenant forces ahead."

• Covenant Sangheili: "Secure the area! Kill every Sword of Sanghelios you see! We will not let the false Arbiter escape this time! For the Covenant!"

• Unggoy: "For Sanghelios! For Balaho!"

• Kig-Yar: "For profit!"

The infantry spot Osiris approaching.

• Unggoy 1: "Who is over there?"

• Unggoy 2: "They're humans!"

• Unggoy 3: "Humans on Sanghelios!"

A Spirit arrives carrying more troops.

• Vale or Locke: "Spirit inbound."

• Buck: "Nice of 'em to send a welcome wagon."

• Locke: "Let the guns talk, Osiris!"

Any random first Sangheili will personally engage the Spartans.

• Covenant Sangheili: "Humans! HERE?! BLASPHEMY!!"

The Spartans battle the numerous Rangers. As they cross the valley, they encounter a Shade turret defending a cave.

• Locke: "Watch the turret!"

• Tanaka: "Could try to flank it."

• Sangheili Commander: "Do not let them reach the Arbiter!"

The Spartans defeat the last of the infantry.

• Any member of Osiris: "All clear."

Osiris forges ahead.

• Locke: "There's a path carved into the cliff here."

If a Spartan finds a curveblade.

• Buck: "Look at this sword. It must have been here for centuries. There's a Sangheili inscription on it."

They move into the cave. Inside, they find numerous dead Sangheili bodies, those of the Arbiter's faction.

• Locke: "Bodies ahead. Swords of Sanghelios. Covenant must've caught 'em by surprise."

or

• Buck: "Dead Elites ahead. Looks like they're with the Swords of Sanghelios."

or

• Vale: "Casualties here. They're wearing Swords of Sanghelios armor."

• Vale: "(speaking Sangheili)"

• Locke: "What's that, Vale?"

• Vale: "Sangheili burial prayer. 'A warrior at birth, a warrior in death'."

Locke can optionally inspect the dead Swords closer.

• Locke: "Looks like they were ambushed. Not seeing any Covenant casualties."

They pass the bodies and go further into the cave.

• Buck: "Arbiter's an ally, so these dead here are our brothers as far as I'm concerned."

• Tanaka: "Agreed. Time for payback."

Locke moves up, and the narrow cave path leads to an enormous cavern, with ruins leading to the top. Several Kig-Yar Snipers defend it from on high.

• Locke: "The cavern opens up here. Keep your eyes up."

• Buck or Tanaka: "Snipers on that ridge ahead."

• Buck: "Stick to cover 'til we get 'em in range."

• Unggoy 1: "The false Arbiter is friends with these humans?"

• Unggoy 2: "The Arbiter is dead! The war is over!"

Osiris eliminates the snipers and several other infantry below. They drop into the cavern, but Covenant drop pods land inside.

• Buck or Vale: "Whoa!"

or

• Tanaka: "HOLY-!"

The Spartans fight through several Rangers, Grunts, and Jackals.

• Locke: "Push forward, Osiris. Ramp on the right."

Reaching the other side, they start to climb up the sloped ruins.

• Buck: "We've got a Phantom."

The dropship floats into the cavern and deploys several Jackal Rangers. Many Grunts and Elites defend the ruins with turrets.

If the player heads for a cracked wall

• Locke: "Split up, Osiris!"

If the player stalls.

• Vale: "These are pre-Covenant Sangheili ruins. They were already ancient history before humanity built the pyramids."

As the Spartans near the top, more drop pods land.

• Buck or Vale: "More pods!"

Locke reaches the top of the hill, seeing Covenant heading out a door toward them.

• Locke: "I'm at the top of ridge! There's an exit up here!"

• Mahkee (COM): "Spartans, yes, that is the path you seek."

The Spartans kill the last of the Covenant there.

• Tanaka: "All clear."

or

• Buck: "Hostiles cleared."

They head through the doorway, which leads into an old hall. There are crates with Covenant weapons inside.

• Tanaka: "The Covenant are talking like they've already got the Arbiter beat."

• Locke: "If we lose the Arbiter, reaching the Guardian at Sunaion gets complicated."

If the player