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==Summary==
{{Status|Canon}}
The Writ of Union is an oath of service to the [[Covenant]], written by the [[Prophets]] and [[Elites]] who created the Covenant. In the current Covenant tradition, when an Elite becomes a warrior, they recite the oath with a Prophet.


==The Oath==
The '''Writ of Union''' is the founding charter of, and an oath of service to, the [[Covenant]].{{Ref/Generic|[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack]]|Volume One}} It was drafted as a peace treaty between the [[Reformist]] [[San'Shyuum]] and the [[Sangheili]] at the end of [[War of Beginnings|dogmatic conflict]] between the two species ([[938 BCE]] to [[852 BCE]]). The document was ratified by the [[High Council of Concordance]], ushering in the [[Ages of Reconciliation|First Age of Reconciliation]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Encyclopedia|Enc09|Page=30}}
In an extended cinematic found in the [[Halo 2]]: Limited Collector's Edition DVD, the [[Arbiter]] recites the first canto with the [[High Prophet of Truth]]:


'''Arbiter:''' "So full of hate were our eyes that none of us could see. Our war would yield countless dead but never victory."
==Overview==
===Terms===
The union codified the division of labor of the two species in the new alliance: the Sangheili would control the security matters of the Covenant and protect the San'Shyuum{{Ref/Reuse|contact}} while the San'Shyuum would be the religious and bureaucratic authority as the Prophets of the Forerunners.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=188}}


'''Prophet of Truth:''' "So let us cast arms aside, like discard our wrath. Thou in faith will keep us safe, whilst we find the path."
One term stipulated the decommissioning of the ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'' and setting it on its anointed altar in ''[[High Charity]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|bcchapt1}} Another term was the dissolution and reconstitution of the [[Ascetic]] guard into the newly made [[Ministry of Abnegation]].{{Ref/Book|Id=HEVG56|HEVG|Section=Elite Ascetic|Page=56}}


This is also found in the inside cover of the Halo 2 soundtrack.
[[Sanghelios]] would be guaranteed by the Writ of Union massive imports of food and manufactured goods, in exchange for military service.{{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=228}}


In [[The Arbiter (Level)|The Arbiter]], SpecOps Elites recite this:
===Text===
The beginning of the Writ of Union is as follows:{{Ref/Novel|Id=contact|HCH|Chapter=9}}


'''[[Half-Jaw|SpecOps Commander]]:''' "When we joined the Covenant, we took an oath."
{{Article quote|So full of hate were our eyes
:That none of us could see
Our war would yield countless dead
:But never victory
So let us cast arms aside
:And like discard our wrath
Thou, in faith, will keep us safe
:Whilst we find the path}}


'''SpecOps Elites:''' "According to our station! All without exception!"
==History==
===Post-War of Beginnings===
{{Quote|The Writ of Union is written—it cannot be unwritten.|Early Covenant declaration{{Ref/Novel|Id=bcchapt1|BC|Chapter=1}}}}
{{Main|Rending}}
{{Expand-section}}


'''SpecOps Commander:''' "On the blood of our fathers, on the blood of our sons, we swore to uphold the Covenant."
==Production notes==
The beginning text of the Writ of Union was originally to appear in ''Halo 2''.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=makingH2|URL=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4l0sJqnIU8&feature=youtu.be&t=4m36s|Channel=Bungie|VideoName=Cutting Room Floor Cinematics|TimeStamp=4:36}} An unused stanza of the Writ of Union was present in an [[Early Halo 2 script|early script]] for ''Halo 2''. It is unclear whether this part of the Writ is canon.


'''SpecOps Elites:''' "Even to our dying breath!"
{{Article quote|On and on shall old war go,<br />Without respite my blood will flow<br />
O’er your eyes ‘til they cannot see<br />The impossibility of victory.}}


In an [[Early Halo 2 Script|early draft of the Halo 2 script]], the following quote appeared before the [[The Heretic (Level)|first cinematic]]:
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[The Return]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
**''[[Sacrifice]]'' {{Mo}}


''On and on shall old war go'',<br>
==Sources==
''Without respite my blood will flow''
{{Ref/Sources}}


''O’er your eyes ‘til they cannot see''<br>
[[Category:The Covenant]]
''The impossibility of victory.''
[[Category:Ideology]]
 
''--Excerpt from the Writ of Union''<br>
''Unknown Covenant Author''
 
 
[[Category:The Covenant]][[Category:Ideaology]]
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