Jega 'Rdomnai

Jega 'Rdomnai is a Sangheili blademaster and Spartan Killer serving the Banished.

Early life
Jega 'Rdomnai was born on the Sangheili homeworld of Sanghelios on February 19, 2490, eventually enlisting in the Covenant military as is the custom for all male Sangheili.

Covenant and the Silent Shadow
During his service within the Covenant, Jega 'Rdomnai became a blademaster and a member of the Silent Shadow, a unit within the Covenant's Special Operations branch. During one of his missions, he lost his left arm and left mandibles in an explosion caused by a pair of Spartan-IIIs. 'Rdomnai had the two replaced with prostheses, despite robotic replacements being antithetical to Covenant tradition and principles. The Sangheili's favored bloodblade underwent a similar transformation. After it sustained damage during the explosion, 'Rdomnai brought the sword's hilt to the artisan-armorers at Cherras Keep, who reforged the blade as Ghostpierce. His injuries also gave 'Rdomnai a lust for battle and vengeance, both of which completely outweighed his own pride in his own Sangheili culture. The exact circumstances that resulted in his injuries became shrouded in rumors, with very few aware of the true history. Following his injuries, 'Rdomnai became obsessed within hunting down and exacting revenge on any Spartans he could. Eventually, he became shunned by those within the Covenant.

Banished service
At some point before the Installation 07 conflict in 2560, 'Rdomnai joined the Banished as the first recruit for the Hand of Atriox. 'Rdomnai became the Jiralhanae Escharum's most respected soldier, having worked together for the longest and even becoming his closest friend, which was very rare between their species. Within the Banished, there were many rumors about 'Rdomnai and his injuries. Some said he was an experiment, which became an affront to his fellow Sangheili. Others made mention of a clandestine ambush gone wrong.

'Rdomnai was among the many Banished soldiers on Installation 07 following the ambush on. Alongside Gorian, he took part in the torture of ONI operative Kate Stalling for months for information on Zeta Halo. In late April 2560, he killed Spartan Bonita Stone when she was exploring the subterranean Forerunner structures under Outpost Tremonius. On May 14, 'Rdomnai took part in the Battle of the Beacon Tower where UNSC survivors worked to broadcast the Ring's location to UNSC space. Then, on May 15, when Spartans Theodore Sorel and Vedrana Makovich infiltrated the Banished excavation site at the Conservatory, 'Rdomnai ambushed the two and wounded Sorel. Makovich urged Sorel to run ahead to locate the monitor of the ring, while she fended off 'Rdomnai. Makovich died in the subsequent duel against the 'Rdomnai, while Sorel made a last stand deeper inside the facility before ultimately being killed by the Jiralhanae brothers Tovarus and Hyperius.

Two weeks later, 'Rdomnai attended a meeting between Escharum and Tremonius, where they learned that Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 was still alive and had just destroyed the Ghost of Gbraakon. When Tremonius questioned Escharum's leadership, and disrespected Atriox, 'Rdomnai forcibly restrained and threatened the Jiralhanae. After Tremonius left, Escharum ordered 'Rdomnai to follow the Master Chief from a distance, as Escharum wanted to know everything about the Spartan. Later, after the Master Chief killed Hyperius and Tovarus, Escharum ordered 'Rdomnai to bring John-117 to him alive while 'Rdomnai noted with concern his friend's worsening terminal illness.

Shortly after the Master Chief and the Weapon shut down the Reformation Spires, 'Rdomnai hijacked Echo 216 and kidnapped Fernando Esparza in order to bait the Master Chief into storming the House of Reckoning. Upon returning to the House of Reckoning, 'Rdomnai witnessed Escharum smash his holotable in a fit of rage. The Blademaster asked Escharum if there was a problem and the War Chief stated that he was losing patience with the Harbinger. When he demanded that 'Rdomnai tell him that his mission was a success,'Rdomnai simply stated that the Master Chief would come to them and revealed that he had captured Fernando Esparza, much to Escharum's delight. Escharum ordered 'Rdomnai to keep Esparza alive, but to have his fun as 'Rdomnai deserved it. Escharum laughed as he watched 'Rdomnai drag Esparza away.

When the Master Chief finally arrived at the House of Reckoning, 'Rdomnai confronted him in a transport docked in the arena on the third level, using Esparza's holorecorder to lure the Master Chief in and trap him. Despite using his active camouflage extensively, 'Rdomnai was ultimately defeated by the Master Chief, although the Spartan was unable to confirm the kill as the Sangheili's body disappeared without a trace. After his friend's supposed death, Escharum informed the Master Chief that 'Rdomnai had wanted to kill Esparza, but Escharum had promised him a sweeter prize or a warrior's death instead.

Equipment
During his time in the Covenant he wore the Silent Shadow variant of the Infiltration harness. At some point he switched to a black combat harness, which he customised with red markings, red claw-like ornaments and the Banished's symbol at the center of the chest armor. Jega carries a Bloodblade as a personal energy sword, as well as a custom variant of bloodblade on his mechanical arm called Ghostpierce.

Personality and traits
Jega 'Rdomnai is a relentless killer who revels in not only hunting and slaughtering his enemies, but torturing them as well. His bloodlust and viciousness is extreme, even by Sangheili standards, and his need to kill outweighs any sort of warrior's honor. After being severely wounded in battle, he clung to life and rebuilt his body using forbidden cybernetics. That the rest of Sangheili society has shunned him for this sacrilege is of little concern to him. Ironically, after leaving the Covenant and joining the Banished, 'Rdomnai became close friends with Escharum, despite the animosity between their two peoples.

In the Sangheili language, the suffix "-ai" at the end of 'Rdomnai's name indicates his prestige as a blademaster. This alteration upon his name is an indicator of the dedication offered by Jega to the art of swordsmanship.

Gameplay
Jega 'Rdomnai deploys active camo during the entirety of his fight, only revealing himself when lunging at the player. After reaching a certain threshold of damage taken, 'Rdomnai will initiate a "hard cloak", fleeing and disappearing entirely from the room, although staggering attacks such as fusion coils can prevent this temporarily. During this phase he will not be shown on threat sensors. Jega will eventually reappear in camouflage and attack the player once more. This continues until he is defeated.

Production notes
343 Industries writer Jeff Easterling cited Jega 'Rdomnai's robotic prostheses as an example for what the Covenant would have been like without its "dogmatic restraint". Easterling also contrasted 'Rdomnai to Arbiter Thel 'Vadam, with 'Rdomnai being representative of 'Vadam's "psycho elements".

Trivia

 * Jega 'Rdomnai is one of the only main antagonists with no achievement tied to his defeat.
 * Jega's body cloaks upon his apparent death, a behavior not seen with any other active camouflage user in the game.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Evolutions
 * Headhunters
 * Halo Infinite
 * Halo: The Rubicon Protocol