Escharum

Escharum
Biographical information
Homeworld:	Doisac
Born:	July 1, 2471
Died:	May 30, 2560 (aged 88)
Cause of death:	Mortally wounded in battle by John-117
Personal details
Species:	Jiralhanae
Gender:	Male
Height:	289.6 centimeters (9.50 ft)
Weight:	722.1 kilograms (1,592 lb)
Hair color:	Gray
Eye color:	Red (right eye blinded)
Political and military information
Affiliation:	Covenant (formerly) Banished
Title:	War Chief

"I want you to know my name too. To know my legend. How else will you beg me for mercy? I am Escharum. War Chief of the Banished. This is my world now. And you have little time remaining in it."

— Escharum revealing his name to John-117.

Escharum was a prominent Jiralhanae War Chief within the Banished, inheriting the position of second-in-command following the death of Decimus. Escharum rose to power within the Banished and would lead the faction in Atriox's absence, after the warmaster's victory on Zeta Halo against the UNSC in late 2559. Escharum was eventually killed in battle by the Master Chief on May 30, 2560.

Biography

Mentor to Atriox

During the Human-Covenant War Escharum served as Atriox's daskalo, or mentor. Escharum described Atriox as his finest "recruit". While they were both in the Covenant, Escharum advised Atriox to rebel when he sought counsel.

After meeting Blademaster Jega 'Rdomnai, Escharum suffered a wound to his face that left him triple scars that covered Escharum's right eye, part of his nose and the corner of his mouth. The wounds were inflicted by a beast, and the encounter marked the beginning of Escharum and 'Rdomnai's mutual respect and ultimately their unusual friendship.

Leading the Banished

Around April 2558, Atriox and Decimus departed for the Ark aboard the Enduring Conviction, leaving Escharum in charge of all the Banished forces that remained in the galaxy. Shortly after Atriox left, Escharum assigned Blademaster Inslaan 'Gadogai to Castor as an advisor so that the dokab could thrive amongst the other Jiralhanae legionmasters; Castor's faction, the Keepers of the One Freedom, had joined the Banished just before the warmaster left for his mission to the Ark. The Sangheili consultant would also serve two other purposes: to act as a representative for Escharum and to punish Castor if he ever attempted to betray him.

Some time after the Guardian Custode on Laika III was activated on October 28, 2558, the Banished sent forces to the planet to investigate the crater left in the Guardian's wake. Escharum personally visited Laika III when Banished scientists began to inspect the ancient structure the Guardian rose from. Initially, Escharum was not pleased to find that Ilsa Zane—the sole survivor of the first phase of the SPARTAN-IV program and now an insurrectionist leader within the New Colonial Alliance—was alive. However, she offered the War Chief a chance to absorb the entirety of the NCA's resources into the Banished. Escharum accepted the offer; Zane later killed NCA's founder and leader Mattius Drake in front of Escharum, taking control of NCA and pledging its allegiance to the Banished. Escharum put the NCA to use almost immediately, sending Zane and his other newfound warriors on a mission to test them.

Following the death of War Chief Decimus, Atriox's original second-in-command, War Chief Escharum had become the next second-in-command of the Banished.