User:WarGrowlmon18/Banished conflict

Previous:	Blooding Years Sangheili-Jiralhanae war
Concurrent:	Blooding Years Sangheili-Jiralhanae war Created uprising
WarGrowlmon18/Banished conflict
Conflict:	Post-Covenant War conflicts
Date:	2549 - Present
Location:	Orion Arm of the Milky Way galaxy Intergalactic space
Outcome:	Ongoing
Details Belligerents Banished Covenant UEG UNSC Swords of Sanghelios Commanders Warmaster Atriox War Chief Escharum† War Chief Severan Hierarchs ADM Jilan al-Cygni Arbiter Thel 'Vadam Strength Dozens of ships 1+ supercarrier Karves Dreadnoughts Cruisers Heavy destroyers Destroyers Intrusion corvettes Drekars Other Jiralhanae forces Covenant military UNSC Navy Casualties Heavy Heavy UNSC Ozymandias UNSC Infinity (presumably) Heavy UNSC casualties on Installation 07

The Banished conflict was a large-scale conflict between various forces across the galaxy and the Banished.

The conflict first began as a rebellion around 2549 during the Algolis Invasion in the late years of the Human-Covenant War by Atriox, Decimus, En'Geddon and several other disgruntled Jiralhanae who rebelled against their Sangheili masters, after being used by the Covenant as cannon fodder repeatedly. In the post-war years, as the Banished grew in power, the conflict greatly expanded.

Conflict

Early years

Atriox and his Banished conduct attacks and raids against the Covenant.

Early years

"Atriox and his Banished raided Covenant resources, cutting a swath across the galaxy... Growing in strength with each attack... Gathering killers and mercenaries to his side. The Covenant had two targets in those years. Humanity and Atriox. They almost got us. But Atriox? They never came close. The whole damn Covenant couldn't contain him at the height of their power."

— Isabel tells the origin of the Banished.

The Banished were formed around 2549, during the Algolis Invasion in the late years of the Human-Covenant War by Atriox, Decimus, En'Geddon and several other disgruntled Jiralhanae who rebelled against their Sangheili masters, after being used by the Covenant as cannon fodder repeatedly. After establishing their group, the Banished started as little more than raiders and pirates, conducting surgical raids against the Covenant and other targets while scavenging for resources and gathering mercenaries to their cause. Evading Covenant enforcers led to Atriox prioritizing stealth in his forces. One such attack was on a Covenant training camp in 2550, where Atriox and the Banished killed the Sangheili guards and stole everything they could including vehicles and weapons. By this point the Banished had attacked at least five other Covenant bases.

Unimpeded by the Covenant's devastating Great Schism, the Banished managed to salvage many of the empire's former assets after its fall, growing into a formidable power in their own right after a decade. While Atriox had already recruited many allies during the Covenant War, the Banished gained many new members in the war's aftermath from former Covenant who wished to continue living as warriors, and additionally renegade humans.

Expansion

"Vengeance is petty. Vengeance has no reward."

— Atriox attempting to recruit Resa 'Azavayl, pointing out the futility in feuds between species.

Silent Shadow Elites killing Banished Brutes out of hatred for their species.

Decimus advised Atriox that the Banished should travel to the planet Otraak to recruit an old friend of his, a Kig-Yar T'vaoan scientist named Sig Raan. Decimus was sent to investigate first, where Sig Raan initially welcomed him and his squad showing off her latest invention: a device that could control the Yanme'e by simulating their queen's pheromones. Sig Raan then attacked Decimus with her Yanme'e swarm. Atriox showed up along with more of his Banished forces and attacked Sig Raan in return. Decimus killed her, putting an end to the skirmish.

Following the Great Schism, some Sangheili continued their genocidal campaign against the Jiralhanae out of hatred. One such group was Resa 'Azavayl's Elite squad of the Silent Shadow. After slaughtering various Jiralhanae packs across various solar systems, the Silent Shadow boarded Atriox's Ceudar-pattern heavy corvette Elegy's Lament. The Silent Shadow slaughtered several of the Jiralhanae crewmen aboard, until they encountered Atriox who talked them down. Atriox stated that he and the Banished were different from the Jiralhanae led by Tartarus and the High Prophet of Truth, who had betrayed and massacred the Sangheili. Upon hearing this distinction, 'Azavayl's squad began to see the Banished as "other". Atriox then told them that they should rejoice that the traitorous Covenant was no more and invited them to join the Banished, to which 'Azavayl's squad expressed they were open to. 'Azavayl himself continued to harbor hatred toward Atriox for being a Jiralhanae, to which Atriox dismissed that vengeance was petty. 'Azavayl attacked Atriox but was killed by his Silent Shadow brethren who wanted to join the Banished. Atriox happily recruited them.

Atriox and his Banished being knelt to by Let 'Volir and his crew.

After having successfully persuaded among the most vengeful of the Sangheili, 'Azavayl's Silent Shadow squad, Atriox confidently sought out the powerful CAS-class assault carrier Enduring Conviction and its Sangheili crew. He devised a plan to meet with its Sangheili Shipmaster, Let 'Volir. Atriox and his Banished attacked a Sangheili-led base on Kostroda, resulting in 'Volir and his forces deploying to the base to defend it. This left Enduring Conviction vulnerable for a separate Banished strike force to raid and capture the mostly vacant ship. Back on the ground, Atriox surrendered himself to 'Volir after seemingly losing the skirmish at the base, and was brought back up to the bridge of Enduring Conviction as a prisoner. On the bridge Atriox had his second team of Banished revealed themselves, ambushing 'Volir and turning the tables. Now as a prisoner of Atriox, 'Volir was offered a chance to join the Banished and allow his crew to live a new life as mercenaries and be provided with resources, rather than be used as cannon fodder for the Sangheili-Jiralhanae conflict. After being persuaded, 'Volir had Enduring Conviction abandon their Sangheili-led fleet. 'Volir and his crew would later pledge their allegiance to the Banished, albeit reluctantly, in return the Banished supplied their ship with fuel. The Banished would later use similar methods to hire Thav 'Sebarim's clan and Inka 'Saham's crew as mercenaries as well.

Atriox's Chieftains led divisions of Banished into Jiralhanae colonies and human criminal enterprises to build connections and spread their influence.

Atriox intimidating the Spartans of the UNSC Spirit of Fire, after meeting them for the first time.

Occupation of the Ark

"In the shadows of the Ark lurked a banished legacy of the shattered Covenant: a new opponent fueled not by religious fervor, but by raw lust for power."

— Curator's update on the Banished.

Main articles: Attack on Installation 00, Second Ark Conflict

Atriox and the Banished took a fleet led by their flagship Enduring Conviction to the extra-galactic Forerunner structure known as the Ark, with a force comprised of Jiralhanae, Sangheili, humans, Unggoy, Mgalekgolo, and Huragok. They attacked a UNSC research facility on its surface, leaving no survivors but Isabel, a smart AI. The Banished would occupy the Ark, unaware that a large military force would soon encounter them.

In March 2559, 28 years after the UNSC Spirit of Fire lost contact with the rest of the United Nations Space Command, the vessel arrived at the Ark to find Isabel in the raided outpost. After the crew's Spartan-IIs encountered Atriox in the facility and were chased away by him, the Spirit of Fire engaged the Banished in combat. Very quickly the UNSC discovered evidence of, and accessed an Ark Cartographer. There, the UNSC managed to determine that the Banished were using the Ark's vast portal network to rapidly transport troops across the installation. The UNSC would destroy the Banished's hold on the portals and killed Decimus in the process. The Enduring Conviction went on the offensive against the Spirit of Fire, but after a couple of operations, Isabel and Jerome-092 managed to cause the Ark's sentinels to destroy the ship.

Shipmaster Let 'Volir survived his ship's destruction, and was order by Atriox to take his surviving men to secure the new Halo ring rising from the Ark's Foundry. Atriox contacted Capt. Cutter and offered him a deal: the Banished would allow the Spirit of Fire to leave the area unharmed if the UNSC surrendered the Halo ring to him. He was refused, with Cutter reminding him that he did not make the same offer to the scientists at the Henry Lamb Research Outpost. The Spirit intended to disarm the ring before sending it to the Soell system in the Milky Way to contact the rest of the UNSC. The Banished launched a last-ditch assault to stop Anders from disabling the ring's firing systems and planting a distress beacon. The Halo ring then entered Slipspace after all of the UNSC troops were evacuated. However, Professor Anders was stuck on the ring. Cutter resolved to continue fighting the Banished on the Ark until Anders returned. Meanwhile, although Atriox's forces had been devastated by the combined losses of Decimus, the Enduring Conviction, and the Halo ring, the warlord still commanded an impressive army with which to fight the UNSC.

One month later, Colony, a pair of Mgalekgolo who command all Lekgolo forces in the Banished, attempted and failed to launch a Forerunner Despair-class fighter to destroy the Spirit of Fire. As well during the battle, an Unggoy named Yapyap the Destroyer rebelled against the Banished with his subordinates. Many Sangheili and Mgalekgolo also defected and joined the rebellion. The Throne of Woe was established as their new headquarters. Following Yapyap's lead, they intended to locate the fabled Golden Methane Hydrate Mines of Sabator.

After months of battle with the Spirit of Fire, the Banished were still searching for victory against the UNSC crew. Pavium and Voridus were sent to scavenge old Covenant ships. Despite being told to not investigate the rubble of High Charity, Voridus breached the containment field around the wreckage anyway. This unintentionally released the Flood onto the Ark, some of which had survived the destruction of High Charity and the faulty firing of the unfinished Installation 08 at the end of the Human-Covenant War. The pair and their forces quickly reactivated the Sentinel Defense Network that was previously disabled to allow them to get the wreckage.

Voridus inadvertently releases the Flood.

Atriox was furious at Pavium and Voridus, as he would now have to give up a lot of ground they had earned in the conflict with the Spirit of Fire to assist them in suppressing the Flood. The pair soon discovered that a Proto-Gravemind had formed and was commanding the Flood. With much effort they managed to kill it. Atriox commanded Voridus and Pavium to secure the breach and clean up their mess while thousands of Sentinels began cleansing the surrounding area of the Flood.

Following the incident, Pavium and Voridus' clan, the Long Shields, had lost reputation. Of the Banished's many humans, fifteen were under their command. A few defected to the UNSC shortly after the Flood outbreak, leading Pavium to preemptively kick out the rest in his clan and killing some in the process. Atriox was upset with Pavium's decision as he saw all Banished humans as valuable assets. Atriox also learned on the Ark about the Harbinger during his time on the Ark and sought to free her species, the Xalanyn, to aid him.

A Banished force allied with the Jiralhanae legions Keepers of the One Freedom, the Legion of the Corpse-Moon, and the Ravaged Tusks, were deployed to the glassed surface of Reach to search for a slipspace portal which would allow Atriox to return to the Milky Way from the Ark, under the orders of War Chief Escharum. They successfully located the portal and activated with the help of the Ferrets who were undercover in the Keepers of the One Freedom, allowing Atriox to return to the Milky Way in a Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich. However, Castor of the Keepers of the One Freedom betrayed the rest of the Banished by going rogue and taking his forces to the Ark, to activate the Halo Array himself.

Although Atriox's stated intention was to return to the Ark with reinforcements, he departed with Escharum and his other forces in an intrusion corvette to attend to a greater purpose, leaving thousands of Banished troops behind to hold the Ark. With the slipspace portal bound to catch the attention of Cortana, Atriox and Escharum left Castor to escape Reach before a Guardian Custode arrived to investigate.

Utilizing the opportunity presented by the opening of the slipspace portal, Castor led the Keepers of the One Freedom to the Ark to fire the Halo Array where both the UNSC and Banished forces under the command of Pavium and Voridus sought to foil them, indirectly aiding the Ferrets in eliminating the majority of the surviving Keepers. However, in the process, the Banished inadvertently got in the way of the UNSC's plan to finally destroy Intrepid Eye. The Banished suffered heavy losses in the effort, but both Pavium and Voridus survived while the UNSC Spirit of Fire destroyed the installation that the Keepers intended to use to fire the Halo Array and Intrepid Eye along with it. The brothers intended to report to Let 'Volir that their efforts had delayed the Keepers long enough for the humans to launch their strike.

Making plans and the Divine Hand

Main article: Battle of Netherop (2559)

While scavenging, Banished War Chief Severan of the Vanguard of Zaladon, and the last surviving son of Tartarus, had learned of UNSC plans to attack Zeta Halo. He would inform Atriox and several other high ranking Banished members. Before departing the meeting, Atriox placed Severan in charge of the remaining Banished forces who did not accompany Atriox to Zeta Halo consisting of two hundred clans and more than thirteen hundred warships.

This section is a stub. You can help Halopedia by expanding it.

Razing of Oth Sonin

The Banished had united many Jiralhanae clans across Doisac and its moons, though not all clans. Many clans, including those on Warial, continued to resist the Banished. While Jiralhanae infighting persisted, the Banished staged a defensive against the Created. Upon the warmaster's return, the rogue AI leader Cortana ordered him and the Banished to surrender, and destroyed Doisac in response to his refusal by firing beams at it with several Guardians.

Following the loss of their home planet, the Banished represented the largest surviving Jiralhanae military force under a single banner. Atriox and his Banished force comprised of Jiralhanae, humans, Sangheili, Unggoy, Mgalekgolo, and Kig-Yar traveled to Halo Installation 07 where the Xalanyn species were secretly hidden and where the rogue Cortana presided. Other Banished forces occupied the former human colony of Camber and took possession of several UNSC assets that had been left behind. They began to refit and repurpose the ruins into tools to serve their needs.

Before his departure, Escharum ordered Severan to destroy Earth in retaliation for the Razing of Oth Sonin. Secretly, however, Severan was working for High Lord Dovo Nesto, a San'Shyuum of the Order of Restoration who sought to restore the Covenant empire.

Double attack

"This Ring is different. It has secrets within... that I will have!"

— Atriox seeking to free the Xalanyn.

Main articles: Battle over Installation 07, Battle of Earth (2559)

On December 2559, Atriox's forces, who had arrived at Installation 07, ambushed the UNSC Infinity and its escort fleet. The ship was boarded by Atriox and other Banished forces during the attack to retrieve CTN 0453-0 in order to defeat Cortana and her Created empire. He also dueled Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 and emerged victorious after tossing the Spartan-II into space. A few surviving UNSC forces of the devastated fleet managed to escape to the surface of the ring and would continue to engage the Banished in guerrilla warfare. The Banished would come to occupy the ring and establish themselves on it.

After Atriox arrived at the surface of Installation 07, he confronted Cortana who had been locked down by CTN 0453-0, a UNSC infiltration AI. Now a prisoner of Atriox and unwilling to give him the secrets of the ring, Cortana detonated part of the ring to prevent him from controlling it, seemingly killing the Banished warmaster in the process. Atriox was thought to be dead, leaving War Chief Escharum in charge of the Banished who were stranded on the ring once it suddenly moved its location.

Also on the 12th, the Banished attacked Earth with 1,328 ships, far more than the Covenant had used in the Battle for Earth with Earth defending with its Home Fleet and orbital defense platforms. The battle drew two Guardian Custodes with a third Guardian joining soon afterwards. The Guardians attacked with their attenuation pulse emitters, disabling a vast section of both sides of the conflict, leaving the remaining ships on both sides quickly scrambling to get away from the Guardians. However, the Guardians were suddenly deactivated following the destruction of Cortana on Zeta Halo which Severan took to be the work of Atriox. Elated, Severan ordered all of his forces to pull back rather than taking advantage of the opportunity to destroy Earth, intending to secure the Lithos on Boundary and return once the Banished were victorious.

Search for the Lithos

Main article: Battle of Boundary

At Boundary, the Banished fleet established a defensive shell around the planet and were engaged by the UNSC Victory of Samothrace and the three remaining ships of Battle Group Omega, destroying two karves and a skeid in the first pass, but losing the UNSC Easy Does It in the process. During this pass, the UNSC Hazard Pay scanned the planet and discovered more Banished vehicles and personnel on-station in Tyrrhen than most of the UNSC had seen since the Fall of Reach. When Victory and Omega returned with the Shadow of Intent and Akkadian, the Banished sent several dozen vessels to intercept them. Through superior tactics, the UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios ships destroyed several Banished vessels. The Victory received word that the UNSC was sending reinforcements in the form of the Fourth, Sixth, Ninth and Thirteenth expeditionary fleets to enable the Victory and Omega to finish their job which was to interface the key with the Lithos or destroy it in order to keep the Banished, Nesto and anyone else from accessing the Lithos. The tau spike from the arrival of the UNSC fleets -- nearly two hundred ships in total -- spooked the Banished into breaking up their defensive shell into smaller fleets to counter it.

On the surface, Banished forces led by Severan, Ectorius, Dreka 'Xulsam and Gathgor excavated the location of the Lithos. However, the other Banished leaders began to grow suspicious of Severan's knowledge of the Lithos and his actions in withdrawing from the attack on Earth. However, Dovo Nesto learned that UNSC ground forces, the Swords of Sanghelios were on their way and even with Cortana's destruction, the Lithos still required a key and that the Domain had been built by a predecessor race to the Forerunners. Nesto revealed that he had eyes everywhere and learned that a human girl was the key to accessing the Lithos and the Domain. Fighting through the sewers, Spartan Michael-120 was severely injured by a Banished spike, but insisted upon continuing to fight. While investigating human activity in a nearby barn, Severan's forces were attacked by Cyclopses from the local militia, killing two Jiralhanae before the Cyclopses were taken down. Banished forces led by Arxus were able to find and capture Chloe Hall, suffering great casualties in the process, but also leaving James Solomon severely injured.

However, a fleet from Sali 'Nyon's Covenant arrived as well and helped to push the UNSC forces back. The Covenant forces were let through the defensive shell because they had Severan's own fleet's clearance codes. The number of Covenant ships was great enough and they were everywhere once they got through the defensive shell that the Banished were unable to stop Sali 'Nyon from sending out detachments to claim the key to the Lithos for himself. The collusion between Nesto and 'Nyon caused Severan to realize that Nesto had promised the Sangheili what he had already promised Severan. 'Nyon himself made his way to the Banished encampment where Nesto revealed himself, surprising the members of the Eight who were on the ground as they were unaware of Severan working with a San'Shyuum and leading to a standoff that 'Nyon tried to defuse. Covenant dropships unloaded several waves of soldiers which converged on the group of leaders, creating a tense situation where the Banished now appeared to be outnumbered. The UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios team attempted to assassinate Nesto and 'Nyon, but they were betrayed by Blademaster Vul 'Soran and Spartan Merrick who injured Jai-006 and Adriana-111 and killed Spartan Stefan Vídalín.

With this development and with the Banished only minutes away from reaching the Lithos, Victory was ordered to destroy the Lithos from orbit with a MAC strike in order to deny it to both the Banished and the Covenant. Captain Abigail Cole had the Shadow of Intent attempt to warn the surface team of the incoming strike while ordering the remaining UNSC ships to provide Victory with cover to make the shot against the combined Banished and Covenant forces.

The Banished and Covenant leaders were able to reach an uneasy peace, but Severan realized that he had been lied to and manipulated by Nesto due to not only his alliance with 'Nyon, but Nesto's utter disregard for Severan's ability to accomplish their shared goals despite all he'd pledged and was willing to jeopardize the War Chief's standing with Atriox to undermine it. Nesto's reaction to Severan's lack of respect confirmed that he saw the War Chief only as a pawn and Severan deduced that Nesto had promised 'Nyon the same thing that he had promised Severan: a position of authority in the resurrected Covenant, and a place at the head of the Covenant's military which 'Nyon's surprised reaction confirmed. When Severan refused to bow before the San'Shyuum's right to divinity despite the Banished forces being completely surrounded, Nesto attacked him with 'Nyon's energy sword, but the War Chief cut Nesto's arm off with one of his arm blades, causing battle to break out between the Banished and the Covenant, both on the planet's surface and in orbit.

As the battle raged, James managed to catch up with Arxus and kill him, rescuing Chloe at the cost of suffering life-threatening injuries. James encountered Adrianna, but refused to give up Chloe to her, not wanting the UNSC to sacrifice the girl to take control of the Domain. After confirming that James had a way off of the planet, Adrianna agreed to tell ONI that James and Chloe had been torched by a Banished ravager with barely enough left to ID them. James took Chloe to his Winter-class prowler Cataphract, but was tracked by Gravemakers under the command of Banished surdkars. James sent Chloe ahead while he stayed behind to hold the Banished off. Although one Gravemaker chased after Chloe, it was attacked by five panthedrons who were unable to catch the girl either. As the Banished hunting party closed in on him, James activated his armor's fail-safe detonation system, killing James and the Banished warriors and destroying the Gravemakers.

On the last of the escalating platforms of the Lithos, Nesto, 'Nyon and Severan took cover behind a series of vertical barriers, firing unrelentingly into each other's position. Phantoms from each side moved in and extracted the leaders, leaving the Banished and Covenant ground troops fighting each other without any sort of coordination or cohesion. The UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios team received contact from Rtas 'Vadum ordering them to evacuate before the site was destroyed by the Victory.

In orbit, the Victory was nearly able to get into position to fire before the Banished flagship Heart of Malice joined the fight, ramming the Victory off target and damaging the drive control system, rending Victory unable to maneuver in any way. However, Victory's speed and trajectory still put it in position to fire upon the Lithos. The remaining ships of Omega held off the Banished flagship long enough for Victory to get into position to fire. Victory's MAC successfully fired into the Lithos just before the UNSC flagship was rammed by the Heart of Malice again. Thousands of Banished and Covenant were killed in the strike while the Lithos burst into a pillar of light that tore into the sky. Several dozen ships were vaporized by the Lithos' destruction while others were severely damaged, either cast adrift or sent on a collision course with the planet's surface. The attack sent Victory plummeting to the planet's surface, but the ship's drive actuators unexpectedly came back online, allowing the bridge crew to level the ship out as much as possible before Victory crash landed on Boundary. Between the naval battle and the crash landing, Victory lost about twenty-seven percent of her crew to the Banished, four hundred and eighty-two people.

The shockwave from the strike caused both Severan's Phantom and 'Nyon's to crash. With the Lithos destroyed, Severan contacted the Heart of Malice and ordered the retreat of all of the remaining Banished ships. Taking an overturned Covenant Ghost, Severan chased down 'Nyon and Nesto as they escaped in a Abatyar-pattern Revenant to a parked Phantom. Severan caught up with the two at the Phantom, killing the Revenant's driver and two guards. Severan dueled 'Nyon, ultimately decapitating and killing the Covenant leader. Before Severan could kill Nesto, he was stabbed through the back by 'Soran who left Severan to die as 'Soran and Nesto escaped in the dropship. However, Severan was rescued by Kaevus in a Trespasser.

By January 1, 2560, Atriox and Escharum had disappeared along with Zeta Halo and all of the forces that they took with them. Severan was now kept alive by life-sustaining armor and worried that with their top two leaders gone, the Banished would be thrown into chaos, becoming a faction of squabbling warlords vying to secure and expand their own fiefdoms, reenacting the clan wars of old. Severan intended to give the Banished purpose, direction and hope and rally them together in the absence of their leaders. Severan would dedicate the Banished to hunting down Nesto and the countless undiscovered treasures in the galaxy, from the remains of the Covenant war machine, to the secrets of the Forerunners and the many mysteries that lay even beyond them.

Occupation of Zeta Halo

Main article: Battle for Zeta Halo

War Chief Escharum fighting John-117 in the House of Reckoning.

Despite the fact that Atriox valued Banished humans and made statements denouncing genocide as "barbarism" with "no reward" which allowed the Banished to incorporate feuding species in the first place, Escharum decided to go against Atriox's core beliefs that tied the Banished together and allowed his Jiralhanae to kill off many humans in the faction not responsible for the Razing of Oth Sonin. While Escharum declared the destruction of humanity, he still allowed for some Banished humans to remain, notably those who had earned enough respect. Radically altered, the Banished under Escharum's leadership would expend valuable resources on revenge and his desire for a glorious battle, opposed to pragmatism, a decision which would ultimately lead his forces stationed around the shattered islands to ruin with many high value leaders dead in the ensuing conflict.

Seeking to fulfill part of Atriox's will, Escharum established the ring as the Banished's new home and also sought to free a Xalanyn known as the Harbinger. A Spartan-IV team led by Hudson Griffin attempted to assassinate Escharum, but were ambushed and killed with only Griffin being taken prisoner. Escharum concurrently sent Tremonius to lead an assault on the crashed Mulsanne-class light frigate UNSC Mortal Reverie acting as the humans' base, both as a means of retaliation and to uncover Harbinger resting beneath its crash site. The Banished forces quickly overwhelmed the frigate killing and scattering the UNSC forces stationed around it, and began to excavate the Harbinger's cylix.

Using a human prisoner named Lucas Browning, Escharum awakened the Harbinger, and forged a begrudging alliance with her for the reformation of Installation 07. The Banished were complimented with the Harbinger's Gasgira troops known as Skimmers, who were initially hostile upon release.

During May 2560, the Banished ship Ghost of Gbraakon was destroyed by John-117, who had survived in space and been rescued by Echo 216. Escharum was invigorated by his survival and welcomed him to a battle on his ring world. The Banished bases Outpost Tremonius, Tower, Annex Ridge, Armory of Reckoning, Forge of Teash, Horn of Abolition, Ransom Keep, Redoubt of Sundering and Riven Gate all fell to John-117 and the Marines he freed during the conflict. All high value members situated around the floating islands, many of which served as Bloodstars, were assassinated by the Spartan-II, along with the Hand of Atriox who were sent to kill him.

Seeking a legendary battle or a glorious death with his illness progressing, Escharum sent Blademaster Jega 'Rdomnai to kidnap Echo 216 to lure out the Spartan. Taking the bait, John-117 arrived for the final showdown at the House of Reckoning. Waves of Banished fought against John-117, only to be struck down. Jega 'Rdomnai fought him as well and was defeated with his body mysteriously cloaking away. Escharum revealed himself to the Spartan in the room where Echo 216 was being held and a duel took place. Escharum and John-117 took shots at each other until the War Chief resorted to using the room to power a dome-shaped shield to protect himself. The Spartan deactivated the shield and continued to attack, resulting in Escharum pulling out his gravity axe for an even closer battle. After sustaining enough damage Escharum collapsed and told the Spartan that his death would inspire others before dying in his enemy's arms.

The Harbinger would continue leading the remnants of Escharum's local forces, some Banished Jiralhanae saw his death as martyrdom and proclaimed to fight in his name. In a last ditched effort to protect the Harbinger in the Silent Auditorium's central chamber, they attempted to defend her against John-117 where they were all killed along with her. After the Harbinger's defeat, other Banished forces remained in control of different parts of the ring.

Unbeknownst to both the Banished and the UNSC, Atriox had survived his apparent destruction by Cortana, and had discovered the location of the cylixes in which the Forerunners had imprisoned the Xalanyn. Atriox reestablished contact with the Banished, resulting in a newfound resolve and confidence amongst the Banished with his reemergence.

List of appearances

• Know Your Enemy (First appearance)
• Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo (Indirect mention)
• Halo: Tales from Slipspace
  • Hunting Party
• Halo: Smoke and Shadow (Indirect mention)
• Halo Wars 2
• Halo: Envoy (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Retribution (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Rise of Atriox
• Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual
• Halo: Shadows of Reach
  • Sacrifice
• Halo: Divine Wind
• Halo Infinite
• Halo: The Rubicon Protocol
• Halo: Outcasts
• Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon
• Halo: Trial of Reckoning
• Halo: Hippocratica (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Fireside
• Halo: Epitaph
• Halo: The Third Life
• Halo: Anvil Accord (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Venezian Sonata (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Flashpoint
• Halo: Whispers from the Pyre
• Halo: Empty Throne
• Halo: Edge of Dawn