Editing Sangheili Honor Guardsman

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Disambig header|Sangheili members of the [[Covenant Honor Guard]]|other uses|Honor Guard}}
{{Unit infobox|variant=Cov
|name=Sangheili Honor Guardsman
|image=[[File:HonourGuardTransparent.png|300px]]
|species=Sangheili
|affiliation= *[[Covenant]] <br>
*[[Covenant separatists]]
*[[Banished]]
|branch=
|mission=Guarding important sites and individuals, usually the Prophets 
|armament=[[Energy stave]]
<br>[[Type-1 energy sword]]
<br>[[Type-25 plasma rifle]]
<br>[[Type-51 carbine]]
|equipment=[[Sangheili personal energy shield]]
|notable=[[Orda Val 'Saham]]
}}
{{Quote|We have always been your protectors!|[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee talking to the [[Prophet of Truth]]<ref name="sacred">''Halo 2'', campaign level, [[Sacred Icon]]</ref>}}

'''Honor Guardsman''' is a [[Covenant]] [[Sangheili]] position formerly in the [[Covenant Honor Guard]] and later in select [[Covenant remnants|splinter factions]] of the hegemony. Within the Covenant, the Honor Guardsmen served as elite protectors to the [[San'Shyuum|Prophets]], particularly the [[Hierarchs]].{{Ref/Reuse|sacred}}<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 381</ref><ref name="EVG">''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p. 95</ref>

==Overview==
{{Quote|The Sangheili honor guard was always vigilant and almost inert when at peace. One never had to worry about what a Sangheili might do any more than one worried if the stars would come out at night.|The [[Minister of Discovery]] remarking on the stoic nature of the honor guard<ref>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', "[[Wages of Sin]]", p. 297</ref>}}

===Roles and responsibilities===
Honor Guardsmen were among the most skilled of all Sangheili warriors and were hand-picked for the duty of protecting the High Prophets and other high-ranking officials in the Covenant [[High Council]].

Honor Guardsmen were expected to immediately kill anyone who drew a weapon in the presence of a Hierarch,<ref>''Halo: The Cole Protocol'', p. 341</ref> though they might stand down should an [[Arbiter]] do so.<ref>''Halo Wars'', campaign level, [[Scarab (level)|Scarab]]</ref> In addition, they kept order during important meetings within the High Council. Although the position was a great honor, it was seen by some Sangheili as a merely ceremonial duty and a way to silence those who were aware of the Hierarchs' duplicity.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack ''Bungie.net'': The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3]</ref>
<ref>[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]- Citadel Units</ref> Because one was expected to encounter little to no combat in the posting, select Sangheili were known to have even declined a place in the Honor Guard.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

===Organisation===
The Sangheili Honor Guardsmen were likely instated soon after the signing of the [[Writ of Union]], which led to the establishment of the Covenant. For thousands of years, the Sangheili protected the Hierarchs and the other Prophets according to the Writ's strictures.{{Ref/Reuse|sacred}} The [[Light of Sanghelios|Lights of Sanghelios]] were a revered elite unit among the Sangheili Honor Guard.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 153</ref> It is unknown how many Sangheili Honor Guardsmen were in service, though the [[Sanctum of the Hierarchs]] on ''[[High Charity]]'' could accommodate as many as three hundred.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', p. 339</ref>

===History===
After the death of the [[Prophet of Regret]] during the [[Ages of Reclamation|Ninth Age of Reclamation]] in [[2552#November|November 2552]], the [[Prophet of Truth|Prophets of Truth]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]] replaced the Sangheili Honor Guard with the [[Jiralhanae]]. This "[[Changing of the Guard]]" was a major step in a carefully planned coup that soon devolved into the [[Great Schism]].<ref name="sacred"/> Some of the Honor Guardsmen killed themselves after learning of the Prophets' treachery.<ref>''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe'', The Return</ref> Others assisted [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee]] in stopping [[Tartarus]], the [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]], from activating [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 05]] and therefore killing all sentient life in the galaxy.<ref>''Halo 2'', campaign level, [[The Great Journey]]</ref>

Following the defeat of the Covenant, many of the former Sangheili Honor Guardsmen found themselves isolated and purposeless. A few Honor Guardsmen unwilling to ally with most of the [[Covenant remnants|remnant groups]] of the former Covenant pledged allegiance to the [[Banished]], specifically Shipmaster [[Let 'Volir]] who served [[Atriox]] in an unconventional arrangement, seeing opportunity in the service of the powerful mercenary organization. Evoking the traditions and accomplishments of their predecessors and using re-purposed ceremonial equipment of the old Covenant Honor Guard, these Honor Guardsmen are skilled swordsmen who match the Covenant's Honor Guard in fighting prowess.<ref>[http://www.haloarchive.com/forum/topic/9-canon-fodder-and-random-lore-chat/?do=findComment&comment=217240 ''Youtuber:'' Blitz Cards]</ref><ref name="HW2">''[[Halo Wars 2]]''</ref>
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gameplay=yes}}

==Equipment==
Honor Guardsmen in service to the [[Honor Guard of the Covenant]] wore highly ornate [[Sangheili harness|armor]], colored in a combination of glowing red and orange.  It featured jutting spikes and pauldrons, though they sometimes wore non-ceremonial armor for the sake of practicality.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}<ref>''Halo Wars'', campaign levels [[Scarab (level)|Scarab]], [[Shield World (level)|Shield World]], and [[Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|Beachhead]]</ref><ref>''Halo Legends'', The Babysitter</ref>

==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Silver Timeline===
{{Main|Silver Timeline}}
Sangheili Honor Guardsmen are used to protect the Hierarchs in High Charity.{{Ref/Film|Id=Contact|TV|Episode=Contact}}
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HonorGuard render.png|A Sangheili Honor Guardsman in ''[[Halo 2]]''.
File:H2_HighCharity_HonorGuard.jpg|A Sangheili Honor Guardsman with an energy sword in ''Halo 2''
File:H2 Elite Honor Guard.png|A Honor Guard in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2 HonorGuard with sword.jpg|A Honor Guard in ''Halo 2''.
File:Brutesarbiter.jpg|A procession of Sangheili Honor Guardsmen.
File:halo2xbox024yv.jpg|Sangheili Honor Guardsmen during the judgment of Thel 'Vadamee.
File:HW3.jpg|Honor Guardsmen in non-ceremonial armor protecting the High Prophet of Regret in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:Convenant elite honor guard.gif|A render of a Sangheili Honor Guardsman in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:HW honor guard close.jpg|In-game closeup of Honor Guardsman in ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:HW Elite honor guard.jpg|Honor Guardsman idle animation
File:HW honorgaurdgroup.jpg||A group of Guardsman
File:Halo- Legends- The Babysitter Honor Guard.jpg|Concept art of the the Sangheili Honor Guards in ''[[The Babysitter]]''.
File:ReturnScreencap18.png|Honor Guardsmen aboard the [[Fleet of Righteous Vigilance]]'s flagship in ''[[The Return]]''.
File:H2A - Sangheili Guard model.jpg|A model of a Sangheili Honor Guardsman in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
File:H2A-SangheiliHonorGuard1.png|An Honor Guardsman aboard ''[[High Charity]]''.
File:H2A - HonorGuard.jpg|John-117 engaging a Sangheili Honor Guardsman.
File:H2A - HonorGuard2.jpg|Two Sangheili Honor Guardsmen.
File:H2A-SangheiliHonorGuard.png|An Honor Guard on High Charity.
File:H2A-SangheiliHonorGuard2.png|An Honor Guard with an energy sword.
File:H2A-SangheiliHonorGuard3.png|An Honor Guard with a carbine.
File:H2A-HighCouncilSession.jpg|Honor Guardsmen stand guard in the [[High Council Chamber]] before the Prophets. 
File:H2A - Hierarch Sanctum.jpg|Honor Guardsmen line the entrance to the [[Sanctum of the Hierarchs]]. 
File:H2A-LOS1.png|An Honor Guardsman
File:RegretTerminal2.jpg|A pair of Honor Guardsmen at Regret's side aboard the ''[[Solemn Penance]]''. 
File:ValSaham.jpg|Concept art of a Banished Honor Guard for ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:Halo Wars 2 Blitz Card Honr Guard.png|[[Blitz]] card of a Banished Honor Guardsmen in ''Halo Wars 2''.
File:HW2-HonorGuardflip.png|A Banished Honor Guard kills two [[Sangheili Ranger]]s.
File:HTV-Contact-HonorGuards.jpg|2 Sangheili Honor Guards with the [[Prophet of Mercy/Silver|Prophet of Mercy]] in ''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
**''[[Wages of Sin]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
**''[[Contact]]''
**''[[Transcendence]]''

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

{{Sangheili Ranks}}

[[Category:Sangheili ranks and titles|Honor Guardsman]]