Sangheili

"On the blood of our fathers... on the blood of our sons, we swore to uphold the Covenant!"

- Rtas 'Vadumee citing the Writ of Union .

The Sangheili (Macto cognatus) are a species of fierce, proud, and intelligent warriors native to Sanghelios that comprise part of the Covenant. They play important roles in the games Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3 and Halo Wars. Originally occupying a high status in the Covenant, the Sangheili eventually became leaders of the Covenant Separatists. Called "Elites" by humans the Sangheili formed the military backbone of the Covenant for nearly the whole of its entire existence. Initially posing an enormous threat against humanity, the Sangheili became disillusioned with the Prophets and discovered that the basis of their religion was a lie. A religious schism and civil war ensued, and the heretic Sangheili led a coalition of disaffected Grunts and Hunters that joined forces with the UNSC against the Covenant Loyalists and Flood. After the obliteration of both enemies, human and heretic forces were on friendly terms.

Species
The Sangheili are native to the planet Sanghelios, the fourth planet in a Triple Star System of Urs, Fied, and Joori. There are some 8.135 billion of the species on the homeworld. The planet has two Moons called Qikost and Suban. The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen, oxygen and argon, with temperatures varying between -5C and 96C. Gravity on Sanghelios is approximately 1.375G. Many Forerunner artifacts exist on the planet and are objects of religious worship as well as the cause of historical wars between the Sangheili and the San 'Shyuum before the formation of the Covenant.

Sangheili stand at an average height of 260 cm (8.5 feet), have a lizardlike appearance, and are notable for their impressive strength and intelligence. They have thick torsos and long, muscular limbs, with digitigrade legs that allow them to run very quickly and jump large distances. A double set of pectoral muscles provides immense upper body strength and their hands have four fingers: two middle fingers and two opposing thumbs. Their leathery skin can be spotted and varies in color from black and brown to gray. Elites have black, brown, blue, or green eyes with slit-shaped pupils, a large iris, horizontal eyelids, and lateral positioning. Sanghili faces have distinctive split lips with four mandibles lined with sharp teeth. This unique trait led their human enemies to call them "split-mouth," "split-chin," "split-lip" and "squid head". It is unknown, given this structure, how Elites speak, though it may be possible that they possess shaping vols or a tongue. Clicking the mandibles is the Elite equivalent of a shrug.

Elites have two hearts. They have purple blood and have similar atmospheric breathing requirements to Humans. Apart from this, details of Sangheili internal anatomy including neural, digestive, and reproductive systems, are not known.

History
Sanghelios was once visited by the Forerunner, who left many artifacts behind. The Sangheili revered what these "Gods" had left behind, and considered tampering with them the worst form of blasphemy. Later they encountered the Prophets, a race who felt the Forerunner artifacts should be used to gain salvation and intergalactic dominance. This sparked a Civil War between the two factions on how to treat the relics. The Prophets had already suffered terrible losses from a Civil War based on the same argument they had with the Elites, and if it were not for the incredible power of the Forerunner Dreadnought, they would have perished. The Elites suffered extreme casualties from the Prophets' hit and run tactics using their Key Ship and it was not long before even the most devout Sangheili had to admit their survival depended on the reconstitution of their Forerunner technology. Both sides came to an agreement that ended with the decommissioning of the Forerunner Dreadnought and a shaky alliance that eventually expanded into the Covenant.

The Prophets converted the Elites to belief in the Great Journey, which would transform believers into godlike beings by finding Holy Rings scattered throughout the galaxy. This would save them from their doomed existence fighting Flood. The Writ of Union was codified the Covenant, establishing the Elites a the bodyguards of the Prophets, who would search the galaxy for the Halos.

When the Covenant began its attack on humanity, the Sangheili demonstrated early on that their loyalty was by no means mindless. Despite the Prophet's insistence that humans were perversions that must be expunged, the Elites questioned the refusal of the Prophets to accept Humans into the Covenant. They saw humans as "tenacious", with "limited but useful" technology and "impressive" battle tactics and strategies. This tension grew when the political climate shifted as the Prophet of Truth and the Brute Chieftain Tartarus began supplanting the Sangheili with Brutes. This insulting violation of what the Elites considered their sacred duty led gradually to the Great Schism and the Covenant Civil War.

During the Battle of Installation 05, the Arbiter and Rtas 'Vadum discovered the truth of the Halo rings from 343 Guilty Spark and persuaded most, if not their entire race to secede from the Covenant and fight once again for the Elites. Their goals included the destruction of the treacherous Brutes and Prophets and stopping Flood at all costs. The Arbiter persuaded them to seek out and ally with the humans. After the Second Battle of Earth, the Elites and Humans managed to stop and kill Truth, effectively ending the Covenant, before dealing with the more massive threat of the Flood. The Arbiter and the Master Chief ended the Flood threat by activating Replacement Installation 04. After the war, the Sangheili returned to their home planet.

Culture
Sangheili culture is focused on loyalty, honor, and personal responsibility, with honest intellectual engagement vital to providing truly excellent service. Mindless obedience has no place in their culture. While superior breeding is valued, the culture is ultimately a meritocracy where honor is earned through personal action and no family or political ties can be used to escape just punishment for failures. It is not unusual for the Elites to have an admiration for worthy adversaries. Like humans, they are intensely loyal to relatives and personal friends, and seek revenge against those who do their loved ones harm. Their emphasis on rewarding superior behavior can even extend beyond their own species. During the Grunt Rebellion the most tenacious of the Grunts who survived the conflict were admitted for the first time into previously all-Sangheili forces, much to the Prophets' discontent.

Families
Elites value family history and lineage. Eacheach family has a unique "Battle Poem" detailing the deeds and actions of its members during war times. These "war poems" of the Sangheili may have influenced the Mgalekgolo into reciting war poetry as well, due to the hunters' deep respect for Elites. Family relationships are not restricted by blood lines alone, as they refer to their comrades as brothers, and are intensely loyal to them. Intense greiving is observed for the deaths of family members, friends, and comrades-in-arms.

The Sangheili are unwaveringly loyal once a bond of alliance is made. After forming an alliance with humans after the Battle of Installation 04 Elites offer praise to human comrades ("a mighty blow!" for example) on killing a Brute enemy. During battles featured in Halo 3, Elites will sometimes crouch next to a dead Marine and mutter a prayer, thus extending the last rites of Sangheili religion to their human allies.

Marriage is observed among the Sangheili, but with allowances and restrictions placed for military and eugenic purposes. Aristocrats may wield the Energy Sword but are forbidden from marriage. However, they may mate with any female, married or not, to pass his superior genes to the next generation.

Naming
Elites place great value on names, which are a privilege for only those proved worthy. Sangheili names are compounds of several words. The first name is given at birth and used until adulthood. On coming of age a three part "badge name" is awarded. The first is a descriptor such as "fast" or "deadly." Next is a family name, and to this the suffix -ee is attached to indicate military service. After the Great Schism heretic Sangheili removed this suffix from their names. Additional titles may be given to those of very high rank.

Being nameless is a mark of punishment, shame, and dishonor. The Mark of Shame, which the Arbiter endured, is as serious in consequence as the [|Damnatio Memoriae]. The Sangheili consider humans to be nameless, indicating their lack of respect for the race.

Martial Emphasis
"Although Elites are naturally very intelligent, their culture's long dependence on a military-industrial schema has led to an emphasis on might over science. In some regards, the advent of the Covenant made this position easier-allowing the Elites to concentrate even more singularly on military endeavours, while Prophets took care of science and technology."

- 343 Guilty Spark in the Bestiarum

Prior to becoming part of the Covenant, the Elites were masters with weapons such as spears, but after joining the Covenant became most skilled with the Energy Sword. They were the most refined, intelligent, and dependable warriors the Covenant had. This combined with their sense of honor and duty (as well as their relative scarcity of numbers) led the Prophets to appoint the Elites to the High Council and to lead military operations, which the Sangheili took as a religious duty.

Sangheili begin combat training at a very young age. All Elites traditionally wore a Forerunner symbol and are skilled in hand-to-hand combat. They can easily defeat an ordinary human and only SPARTAN II soldiers can put up adequate resistance. Promotion in the Covenant military is by merit, often counted by kills. Rank is indicated by armor coloration and ceremonial attire.

Gameplay
Elites are extremely intelligent and are formidable in combat. Elites are normally on the move when fighting, running, ducking, and dodging when firing at the enemy. They can evade assaults, board and disable vehicles, and take cover in self-defense. Excellent tacticians, Elites charge their enemies with reckless aggression, lure their enemies into traps, and can often succeed against significantly larger forces.

Sangheili warriors augment their formidable natural abilities with plated armor energy shields, Plasma Rifles, Carbines, Needlers and Energy swords. Eight different helmet styles are known, and rank is indicated by armor coloration. Elites can utilize any weapon in the field of battle, Human or Covenant, though most Elites would rather die than use a Human or Jiralhanae-oriented weapon. Lieutenant Junior Grade Fred-104 theorized that the Elites follow an edict of the Prophets that states that they should not use human weapons, based on his own sightings of Elites happily dying rather than pick up a fully loaded MA5B Assault Rifle at their feet. Elites will use a Human or a Brute weapon if it is given to them by the Arbiter (character)|Arbiter]], but they receive it with derogatory remarks such as "Bah! Even as trophies, these weapons are worthless!" or even "Worthless piece of crap!"

Sangheili employ coffin-like Orbital Insertion Pods and Phantom and Spirit drop ships for military transit purposes and rapid-response operations.

Popular References

 * There is a restaurant in Dublin, Ireland, dubbed "The Sangheili Restaurant".

Voice Talents

 * Keith David - Arbiter
 * Robert Davi - Rtas' Vadum
 * David Scully - Elites
 * Miguel Ferrer - Heretic Leader
 * Normal Woodle - Elites
 * Ronald Hippe - Elites