Ascetics

The Ascetics are a group within the Sangheili culture. The Ascetics use a unique, ancient design of combat harness which incorporates a fully enclosed helmet and a traditional bladed mandible guard.

History
Prior to the formation of the Covenant, the Ascetics were a sect of religiously devout Sangheili who controlled and enforced ideological purity within their faith, which was achieved through the Ascetic guard. They also had other functions, mostly involving religious matters; for example, the study, explanation and interpretation of religious and historical texts. When the Sangheili first joined with the San'Shyuum to form the Covenant, one of the terms of the Writ of Union was the dissolution of the Ascetic guard, though they were reconstituted as an organization under the authority of the San'Shyuum-controlled Ministry of Abnegation. The Ascetics continued to recruit worthy Sangheili warriors into their order with the intentions of keeping the ideals of their ancient beliefs and practices alive within the Covenant.

With the return of the Sangheili's sovereignty in the Great Schism came the revival of the Ascetics as an independent group. With the aid of Usze 'Taham and other like-minded Sangheili, the Ascetic guard was quickly resurrected and aided the newly formed Swords of Sanghelios in combating the Jiralhanae and the San'Shyuum. By 2555, 'Taham continued to assist the Ascetics by serving as a liaison for several Sangheili factions, keeps, and the UNSC.

Trivia

 * The Ascetic combat harness is available as an armor permutation in Halo 3.
 * The Ascetics wanted Usze ‘Taham to be their emissary to the Covenant fleet at the time of the Great Schism.

List of appearances

 * Halo 3
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo: Hunters in the Dark