Prophet of Truth
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
 |
This article is no longer up to date and needs to be updated with new information from Halo: Broken Circle and Halo Waypoint's Universe articles. You can help by updating this article. |
|
This article does not have enough inline citations and/or does not adhere to the proper citation format. You can help Halopedia by adding citations. |
| High Prophet of Truth | |
|---|---|
| |
| Biographical information | |
|
Homeworld: |
|
|
Born: |
|
|
Died: |
December 11, 2552[2] (aged 156) |
|
Cause of death: |
Fatally stabbed by Thel 'Vadam |
| Personal details | |
|
Species: |
|
|
Gender: |
Male |
|
Height: |
220.9 centimeters (7 ft 3.0 in)[1] (in gravity throne) |
|
Weight: |
91.2 kilograms (201.1 lb)[1] (in gravity throne) |
|
Hair color: |
Light Brown |
|
Eye color: |
Yellow-brown |
| Political and military information | |
|
Affiliation: |
|
|
Rank: |
|
|
Notable info: |
De facto head of state of the Covenant |
- "Whosoever is gripped by fear, take heed. I am the Prophet of Truth... And I am not afraid."
- — The High Prophet of Truth inspiring the Covenant while High Charity falls to the Flood.[3]
The High Prophet of Truth, born Ord Casto[1] and formerly serving as the Minister of Fortitude, was the most prominent of the three San'Shyuum Hierarchs who ruled the Covenant High Council during the Ninth Age of Reclamation. Cunning and ruthless, Truth oversaw the Covenant's genocidal campaign against humanity for twenty-seven years in a massive war. Truth also orchestrated the sudden expulsion and genocide of the Sangheili during the final year of the war. This betrayal would ultimately lead to his death in December 2552.
Biography[edit]
Early career[edit]
Ord Casto was born on High Charity on March 15, 2396.[1] He began his political career as a junior staffer serving in the Ministry of Concert. During his time in the Ministry, a complaint was received from an Unggoy distillers' union that claimed faulty atmospheric controls on Kig-Yar naval vessels were tainting the Unggoy's batches of infusion—recreational narcotics often enjoyed by Unggoy. Ord Casto was tasked with the dispute due to its seemingly trivial nature. However, he unearthed a conspiracy by several radical Kig-Yar shipmasters to poison infusion resources. The Kig-Yar planned to render the Unggoy infertile, as petty revenge for the displacement of Kig-Yar nests which had led to an increase in Kig-Yar infant mortality—caused by a recent boom in Unggoy population. Although Casto recommended stiff penalties, the Minister of Concert decided to simply fine the Kig-Yar involved. Casto lodged a formal complaint, but was rebuffed by his superiors who did not wish to anger the Kig-Yar. However, the "Infusion Incident" quickly escalated into a bloody civil war known as the Unggoy Rebellion in 2462, bringing about the 39th Age of Conflict. After the Unggoy were pacified and brought back into the Covenant, the 23rd Age of Doubt began, and Casto was promoted to Minister of Fortitude shortly after.[4]
As the Minister of Fortitude, Ord Casto served as an exceptional politician for decades.[5] Throughout his service in this position, Fortitude worked hard to see that Forerunner technology was evenly distributed among the member races to prevent another Age of Conflict. Fortitude was on the Roll of Celibates, a list of San'Shyuum not allowed to breed due to their weak genes. This did not, however, particularly bother him. He had several mistresses available to him when he desired contraceptive sexual intercourse. As the Minister of Fortitude, he was fond of smoking, yet he rarely used the hookah tobaccos favored by his senior staff.[6]
Rise to Hierarch[edit]
On January 18, 2525, Fortitude met with the Vice Minister of Tranquility, Lod Mron. The Vice Minister informed him of the massive trove of "Forerunner artifacts" that had been discovered on a planet outside of Covenant space by Minor Transgression. Tranquility planned to use these artifacts to spring himself into a position of high power, as a Hierarch of the Covenant, and offered the same for Fortitude. Additionally, the Vice Minister had a Jiralhanae vessel awaiting for orders near the planet. Intrigued, Fortitude had the Vice Minister order the ship under his command to confirm the artifacts' discovery. Rather than upset the fine balance of power by allowing the Sangheili to gain the treasures, Fortitude ensured that the Jiralhanae were the ones leading the search.[4]
In order to push the three current Hierarchs—Tolerance, Obligation, and Restraint—from their positions, Fortitude utilized blackmail against the Prophet of Restraint. The Vice Minister of Tranquility had shown himself as a sympathizer for those blacklisted from reproducing due to inbred genes, after being urged to do so by Fortitude who was aware that Restraint had illegitimately fathered two children. The Prophet of Restraint offered Tranquility a high position if he would adopt the children, but the scheming Prophets instead used this to their advantage, blackmailing him and forcing the Prophet to step down or have his scandalous affair made public.[6]
