7,301
edits
Great Schism: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
Covenant PhD (talk | contribs) |
Covenant PhD (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
| Line 71: | Line 71: | ||
{{Quote|no=two|1=Thel 'Vadamee|q1=We are strong, Kig-Yar. That is why we sit at the right hand of the Prophets.|2=Reth|q2=One day that shall pass.|3=Conversation between [[Reth]] and [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee in [[2535]]<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 229''</ref>}} | {{Quote|no=two|1=Thel 'Vadamee|q1=We are strong, Kig-Yar. That is why we sit at the right hand of the Prophets.|2=Reth|q2=One day that shall pass.|3=Conversation between [[Reth]] and [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee in [[2535]]<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 229''</ref>}} | ||
[[File:H2A Terminals - Sangheili surrender.png|250px|thumb|left|The Sangheili threatened San'Shyuum power, while the Jiralhanae threatened Sangheili power.]] | [[File:H2A Terminals - Sangheili surrender.png|250px|thumb|left|The Sangheili threatened San'Shyuum power, while the Jiralhanae threatened Sangheili power.]] | ||
For centuries over the course of the [[history of the Covenant]], various high ranking [[Sangheili]] with great influence would use their power to ask questions, eventually coming close to discovering the truth about the [[Forerunner]]s. Discovering such a truth would falsify the [[Covenant religion]] and shatter the empire along with its power structure. As such, the [[San'Shyuum]] [[High Prophet]]s perceived these influential Sangheili as a threat to their authority, and would send them on suicidal missions decorated under the honorary guise of [[Arbiter]]s to discretely remove their threatening presence.<ref>[[Halo 2: Anniversary]] - [[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal 11]] - "In some cases, that influence was already being used to question the decisions of your Hierarchs. In fact, that very questioning often gave rise to the charges of heresy that so neatly removed the challenger from the Hierarchs' concern."</ref> | For centuries over the course of the [[history of the Covenant]], various high ranking [[Sangheili]] with great influence would use their power to ask questions, eventually coming close to discovering the truth about the [[Forerunner]]s.<ref name="challenger"/> Discovering such a truth would falsify the [[Covenant religion]] and shatter the empire along with its power structure. As such, the [[San'Shyuum]] [[High Prophet]]s perceived these influential Sangheili as a threat to their authority, and would send them on suicidal missions decorated under the honorary guise of [[Arbiter]]s to discretely remove their threatening presence.<ref name="challenger">[[Halo 2: Anniversary]] - [[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal 11]] - "In some cases, that influence was already being used to question the decisions of your Hierarchs. In fact, that very questioning often gave rise to the charges of heresy that so neatly removed the challenger from the Hierarchs' concern."</ref> | ||
With this history of influential Sangheili well documented among the High Prophets, the threat the Sangheili posed was made even more apparent in [[2552]], when [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction]] spread information about the [[Covenant religion#Great Journey|Great Journey]] being false.<ref>[[Halo 2]] - [[The Arbiter]] - "Our Prophets are false! Open your eyes, my brothers! They would use the faith of our forefathers to bring ruin to us all! The Great Journey is a-"</ref> Intending to prevent the Covenant from falling apart and losing power, the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] made plans to eject the entire Sangheili species from the hegemony, viewing them as untrustworthy and doubting their reliability and loyalty. [[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]], another powerful and influential Sangheili, failing to prevent the [[John-117|Demon]] from [[Battle of Installation 04|destroying]] a holy [[Installation 04|"Sacred Ring"]] further perpetuated distrust toward the Sangheili. | With this history of influential Sangheili well documented among the High Prophets, the threat the Sangheili posed was made even more apparent in [[2552]], when [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction]] spread information about the [[Covenant religion#Great Journey|Great Journey]] being false.<ref>[[Halo 2]] - [[The Arbiter]] - "Our Prophets are false! Open your eyes, my brothers! They would use the faith of our forefathers to bring ruin to us all! The Great Journey is a-"</ref> Intending to prevent the Covenant from falling apart and losing power, the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] made plans to eject the entire Sangheili species from the hegemony, viewing them as untrustworthy and doubting their reliability and loyalty. [[Supreme Commander]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]], another powerful and influential Sangheili, failing to prevent the [[John-117|Demon]] from [[Battle of Installation 04|destroying]] a holy [[Installation 04|"Sacred Ring"]] further perpetuated distrust toward the Sangheili. | ||
The High Prophet of Truth plotted to eventually replace the Sangheili with the [[Jiralhanae]], as he saw the latter as more willing and unquestioning pawns. Ever since the Jiralhanae's integration in [[2492]], their dominating physicality and aggressive behavior was perceived as a threat by the Sangheili to their superior status in the Covenant hierarchy. In turn, the Sangheili treated the Jiralhanae poorly and oppressed them, to keep them in line. Competition for dominance in the Covenant military and hatred festered between the two species, though the Sangheili maintained their authority and power a founding race. Feeding off of their societal rivalry, Truth knew that the Jiralhanae would be more than happy to replace the Sangheili as the Covenant's military leaders. He had appointed [[Tartarus]], a loyal Jiralhanae, to the position of [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]] who would help him execute his plan. Truth kept these schemes to himself and waited until the time was right to implement them. | The High Prophet of Truth plotted to eventually replace the Sangheili with the [[Jiralhanae]], as he saw the latter as more willing and unquestioning pawns. Ever since the Jiralhanae's integration in [[2492]], their dominating physicality and aggressive behavior was perceived as a threat by the Sangheili to their superior status in the Covenant hierarchy.<ref name="Conversations">[[Conversations from the Universe]]: [[Conversations from the Universe#Grunt Conversation|Grunt Conversation]] "And you have ears, you've heard the disrespect the Jiralhanae show the Sangheili. They hate each other. The Sangheili have lived too long under the shelter of the Covenant as the strongest of us. The Jiralhanae come stomping along and suddenly it's not so simple as it was."</ref> In turn, the Sangheili treated the Jiralhanae poorly and oppressed them, to keep them in line.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-wars-2-new-character-images-and-details-revea/1100-6442098/?ftag=GSS-05-10aaa0b '''Gamestop''': ''Halo Wars 2: New Character Images and Details Revealed''] - "Decimus still harbors some resentment against the Elites under Atriox's banner due to how Elites treated the Brutes during the time of the Covenant"</ref> Competition for dominance in the Covenant military and hatred festered between the two species,<ref name="Conversations"/> though the Sangheili maintained their authority and power a founding race.<ref>[[Bestiarum]] "The Sangheili are, simply put, technological and societal equals of the Prophets yet, for a significant period, found themselves as the dominant military muscle for the entire Covenant structure"</ref> Feeding off of their societal rivalry, Truth knew that the Jiralhanae would be more than happy to replace the Sangheili as the Covenant's military leaders. He had appointed [[Tartarus]], a loyal Jiralhanae, to the position of [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]] who would help him execute his plan. Truth kept these schemes to himself and waited until the time was right to implement them. | ||
===Secret preparations=== | ===Secret preparations=== | ||
| Line 99: | Line 99: | ||
The High Prophet of Truth predicted that the High Council would elect a new Hierarch to replace Regret, and so he made his move to eliminate the [[Sangheili Councilor|Sangheili High Councilors]] to prevent another moderate Prophet, like Regret was, from being elected.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/high-council '''Halo Waypoint''': ''High Council'']</ref> Once enough Jiralhanae were in place, Truth instigated a pogrom by ordering the assassination of all Sangheili Councilors.<ref name="uprising">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Uprising]]''</ref> Many Sangheili High Councilors and former Honor Guards were ordered to meet in the [[Control Room (Installation 05)|Control Room]] of [[Installation 05]] to begin preparing for the [[Covenant religion#Great Journey|Great Journey]]. However, [[Jiralhanae Captain]] [[Melchus]] arrived at the Control Room, with a large heavily armed contingent of Jiralhanae, and proceeded to massacre the Councilors and former guardsmen.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 219-222'' (Google Play edition)</ref> All Sangheili in the room were killed, many smashed into bloody pieces by [[Gravity Hammer]]s. Concurrently, [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]] [[Tartarus]] and his Jiralhanae attempted to kill [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]], knocking him into the pit of [[Library]] and seizing the [[Index]] from him, as ordered by Truth. This would spark the start of the Great Schism. | The High Prophet of Truth predicted that the High Council would elect a new Hierarch to replace Regret, and so he made his move to eliminate the [[Sangheili Councilor|Sangheili High Councilors]] to prevent another moderate Prophet, like Regret was, from being elected.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/high-council '''Halo Waypoint''': ''High Council'']</ref> Once enough Jiralhanae were in place, Truth instigated a pogrom by ordering the assassination of all Sangheili Councilors.<ref name="uprising">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Uprising]]''</ref> Many Sangheili High Councilors and former Honor Guards were ordered to meet in the [[Control Room (Installation 05)|Control Room]] of [[Installation 05]] to begin preparing for the [[Covenant religion#Great Journey|Great Journey]]. However, [[Jiralhanae Captain]] [[Melchus]] arrived at the Control Room, with a large heavily armed contingent of Jiralhanae, and proceeded to massacre the Councilors and former guardsmen.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 219-222'' (Google Play edition)</ref> All Sangheili in the room were killed, many smashed into bloody pieces by [[Gravity Hammer]]s. Concurrently, [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]] [[Tartarus]] and his Jiralhanae attempted to kill [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]], knocking him into the pit of [[Library]] and seizing the [[Index]] from him, as ordered by Truth. This would spark the start of the Great Schism. | ||
Word of the massacre of the Sangheili Councilors immediately spread, and was perceived as an insurrection against the Covenant to the Sangheili. The Jiralhanae and other loyalists were led to believe it was a Sangheili revolt, rejecting their newly elevated status, and were ordered to kill all Sangheili on sight. After the slaughter of the Councilors, war and violence broke out on ''High Charity'', with the two sides polarizing quickly. Video messages of the various massacres were sent to all Sangheili forces,<ref>[[Halo: Evolutions]] [[The Return]] (Motion Comic) - "We were scouting for humans when the message came in. I could not comprehend what I was seeing. Our betrayal by the Prophets. The Slaughter of our leaders."</ref> resulting in the entire species learning that they had been forced out of the Covenant.<ref name="Elites">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/jiralhanae Canon Fodder] - "The resulting conflict would be called the Great Schism, and it would divide the Covenant into two, ultimately forcing the Sangheili out."</ref> | Word of the massacre of the Sangheili Councilors immediately spread, and was perceived as an insurrection against the Covenant to the Sangheili. The Jiralhanae and other loyalists were led to believe it was a Sangheili revolt, rejecting their newly elevated status, and were ordered to kill all Sangheili on sight. After the slaughter of the Councilors, war and violence broke out on ''High Charity'', with the two sides polarizing quickly. Video messages of the various massacres were sent to all Sangheili forces,<ref>[[Halo: Evolutions]] [[The Return]] (Motion Comic) - "We were scouting for humans when the message came in. I could not comprehend what I was seeing. Our betrayal by the Prophets. The Slaughter of our leaders."</ref> resulting in the entire species learning that they had been forced out of the Covenant.<ref name="Elites">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/species/jiralhanae Canon Fodder] - "The resulting conflict would be called the Great Schism, and it would divide the Covenant into two, ultimately forcing the Sangheili out."</ref> | ||
[[File:H2A-Brutes vs Elites.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Former Sangheili Honor Guards fight with the Jiralhanae on ''High Charity''.]] | [[File:H2A-Brutes vs Elites.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Former Sangheili Honor Guards fight with the Jiralhanae on ''High Charity''.]] | ||
| Line 106: | Line 106: | ||
The [[Prophet of Exquisite Devotion]] discovered that the [[Zo Resken|Prophet of Clarity]] was attempting to aid the Sangheili, and attempted to have him executed for treason. However, a group of Sangheili led by [[G'torik 'Klemmee]] arrived and rescued the Prophet of Clarity—killing Exquisite Devotion in the process.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 242''</ref> After the Sangheili-led and Jiralhanae-led forces fought each other in High Charity for several hours, [[Flood]] infected [[Pelican]]s eventually crashed into the holy city spreading the parasite. Around this time, the High Prophet of Truth left the [[High Prophet of Mercy]] to die at the hands of the Flood, solidifying his place as the autocrat of the Covenant.<ref name="gravemind">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref>. The chaos was further intensified when Truth abanoned High Charity in the [[Forerunner dreadnought]], disconnecting it from the grid, leaving the entire city in the dark without power amongst the Flood. Clarity, 'Klemmee, and the rest of their small group would later escape ''High Charity'' aboard a stolen supply ship, ''[[Journey's Sustenance]]''.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 250''</ref> High Charity fell to the flood, leaving the Covenant without a capital and the dying San'Shyuum without a homeworld. Sangheili ships attempted to quarantine the region of space around High Charity, preventing any possibly infected ships from leaving, while also shooting down enemy Jiralhanae ships. | The [[Prophet of Exquisite Devotion]] discovered that the [[Zo Resken|Prophet of Clarity]] was attempting to aid the Sangheili, and attempted to have him executed for treason. However, a group of Sangheili led by [[G'torik 'Klemmee]] arrived and rescued the Prophet of Clarity—killing Exquisite Devotion in the process.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 242''</ref> After the Sangheili-led and Jiralhanae-led forces fought each other in High Charity for several hours, [[Flood]] infected [[Pelican]]s eventually crashed into the holy city spreading the parasite. Around this time, the High Prophet of Truth left the [[High Prophet of Mercy]] to die at the hands of the Flood, solidifying his place as the autocrat of the Covenant.<ref name="gravemind">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref>. The chaos was further intensified when Truth abanoned High Charity in the [[Forerunner dreadnought]], disconnecting it from the grid, leaving the entire city in the dark without power amongst the Flood. Clarity, 'Klemmee, and the rest of their small group would later escape ''High Charity'' aboard a stolen supply ship, ''[[Journey's Sustenance]]''.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 250''</ref> High Charity fell to the flood, leaving the Covenant without a capital and the dying San'Shyuum without a homeworld. Sangheili ships attempted to quarantine the region of space around High Charity, preventing any possibly infected ships from leaving, while also shooting down enemy Jiralhanae ships. | ||
[[Chol Von]], a [[T'vaoan]] [[Shipmaster|shipmistress]], | Conflicted occurred all across Covenant space, including from within ships themselves. Notably, one [[Unidentified Shipmaster (Righteous Vigilance)|Sangheili Shipmaster]] grabbed the [[Prophet of Conviction|Prophet]] aboard his ship, having barged into his cabin, and executed him before the rest of the crew. [[Chol Von]], a [[T'vaoan]] [[Shipmaster|shipmistress]], captured a [[Phantom]], killing two [[Sangheili]] in the process.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 73''</ref> She renamed her [[missionary ship]] ''[[Paragon|Joyous Discovery]]'' as ''Paragon''.<ref name="md141">'''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''', ''page 141''</ref> | ||
The civil war was at first a conflict over orthodoxy and leadership, as [[Imperial Admiral]] [[Xytan 'Jar Wattinree]] summoned many Sangheili to [[Joyous Exultation]] in a plot to wipe out the Jiralhanae. However a revelation among the Sangheili occurred when Thel 'Vadam's [[Fleet of Retribution|contingent]] discovered the truth about the Halos and the Great Journey from both the [[Gravemind]] and [[343 Guilty Spark]]. Their disillusionment changed their goal from reforming the purity of the Covenant to actively standing against the [[Covenant religion]] the following day. | The civil war was at first a conflict over orthodoxy and leadership, as [[Imperial Admiral]] [[Xytan 'Jar Wattinree]] summoned many Sangheili to [[Joyous Exultation]] in a plot to wipe out the Jiralhanae. However a revelation among the Sangheili occurred when Thel 'Vadam's [[Fleet of Retribution|contingent]] discovered the truth about the Halos and the Great Journey from both the [[Gravemind]] and [[343 Guilty Spark]]. Their disillusionment changed their goal from reforming the purity of the Covenant to actively standing against the [[Covenant religion]] the following day. | ||