Sangheili Honor Guardsman: Difference between revisions

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'''Honor Guardsman''' is a [[Covenant]] [[Sangheili]] position formerly in the [[Covenant Honor Guard]] and later in select [[Covenant remnants|splinter factions]] of the hegemony. Within the Covenant, the Honor Guardsmen served as elite protectors to the [[San'Shyuum|Prophets]], particularly the [[Hierarchs]].{{Ref/Reuse|sacred}}<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 381</ref><ref name="EVG">''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p. 95</ref>
'''Honor Guardsman''' is a [[Covenant]] [[Sangheili]] position formerly in the [[Covenant Honor Guard]] and later in select [[Covenant remnants|splinter factions]] of the hegemony. Within the Covenant, the Honor Guardsmen served as elite protectors to the [[San'Shyuum|Prophets]], particularly the [[Hierarchs]].{{Ref/Reuse|sacred}}<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 381</ref><ref name="EVG">''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p. 95</ref>


==Background==
==Overview==
{{Quote|The Sangheili honor guard was always vigilant and almost inert when at peace. One never had to worry about what a Sangheili might do any more than one worried if the stars would come out at night.|The [[Minister of Discovery]] remarking on the stoic nature of the honor guard<ref>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', "[[Wages of Sin]]", p. 297</ref>}}
{{Quote|The Sangheili honor guard was always vigilant and almost inert when at peace. One never had to worry about what a Sangheili might do any more than one worried if the stars would come out at night.|The [[Minister of Discovery]] remarking on the stoic nature of the honor guard<ref>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', "[[Wages of Sin]]", p. 297</ref>}}
Honor Guardsmen were among the most skilled of all Sangheili warriors and were hand-picked for the duty of protecting the High Prophets and other high-ranking officials in the Covenant [[High Council]]. The [[Light of Sanghelios|Lights of Sanghelios]] were a revered elite unit among the Sangheili Honor Guard.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 153</ref>


Honor Guardsmen in service to the [[Honor Guard of the Covenant]] wore highly ornate [[Sangheili harness|armor]], colored in a combination of glowing red and orange. It featured jutting spikes and pauldrons, though they sometimes wore non-ceremonial armor for the sake of practicality.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}<ref>''Halo Wars'', campaign levels [[Scarab (level)|Scarab]], [[Shield World (level)|Shield World]], and [[Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|Beachhead]]</ref><ref>''Halo Legends'', The Babysitter</ref> It is unknown how many Sangheili Honor Guardsmen were in service, though the [[Sanctum of the Hierarchs]] on ''[[High Charity]]'' could accommodate as many as three hundred.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', p. 339</ref>
===Roles and responsibilities===
Honor Guardsmen were among the most skilled of all Sangheili warriors and were hand-picked for the duty of protecting the High Prophets and other high-ranking officials in the Covenant [[High Council]].


Honor Guardsmen were expected to immediately kill anyone who drew a weapon in the presence of a Hierarch,<ref>''Halo: The Cole Protocol'', p. 341</ref> though they might stand down should an [[Arbiter]] do so.<ref>''Halo Wars'', campaign level, [[Scarab (level)|Scarab]]</ref> In addition, they kept order during important meetings within the High Council. Although the position was a great honor, it was seen by some Sangheili as a merely ceremonial duty and a way to silence those who were aware of the Hierarchs' duplicity.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack ''Bungie.net'': The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3]</ref>
Honor Guardsmen were expected to immediately kill anyone who drew a weapon in the presence of a Hierarch,<ref>''Halo: The Cole Protocol'', p. 341</ref> though they might stand down should an [[Arbiter]] do so.<ref>''Halo Wars'', campaign level, [[Scarab (level)|Scarab]]</ref> In addition, they kept order during important meetings within the High Council. Although the position was a great honor, it was seen by some Sangheili as a merely ceremonial duty and a way to silence those who were aware of the Hierarchs' duplicity.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack ''Bungie.net'': The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3]</ref>
<ref> [[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]- Citadel Units</ref> Because one was expected to encounter little to no combat in the posting, select Sangheili were known to have even declined a place in the Honor Guard.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
<ref> [[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]- Citadel Units</ref> Because one was expected to encounter little to no combat in the posting, select Sangheili were known to have even declined a place in the Honor Guard.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}


The Sangheili Honor Guardsmen were likely instated soon after the signing of the [[Writ of Union]], which led to the establishment of the Covenant. For thousands of years, the Sangheili protected the Hierarchs and the other Prophets according to the Writ's strictures.{{Ref/Reuse|sacred}}
===Organisation===
The Sangheili Honor Guardsmen were likely instated soon after the signing of the [[Writ of Union]], which led to the establishment of the Covenant. For thousands of years, the Sangheili protected the Hierarchs and the other Prophets according to the Writ's strictures.{{Ref/Reuse|sacred}} The [[Light of Sanghelios|Lights of Sanghelios]] were a revered elite unit among the Sangheili Honor Guard.<ref>''Halo: Contact Harvest'', p. 153</ref> It is unknown how many Sangheili Honor Guardsmen were in service, though the [[Sanctum of the Hierarchs]] on ''[[High Charity]]'' could accommodate as many as three hundred.<ref>''Halo: First Strike'', p. 339</ref>


===Great Schism===
===History===
After the death of the [[Prophet of Regret]] during the [[Ages of Reclamation|Ninth Age of Reclamation]] in [[2552#November|November 2552]], the [[Prophet of Truth|Prophets of Truth]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]] replaced the Sangheili Honor Guard with the [[Jiralhanae]]. This "[[Changing of the Guard]]" was a major step in a carefully planned coup that soon devolved into the [[Great Schism]].<ref>''Halo 2'', campaign level, [[Sacred Icon]]</ref> Some of the Honor Guardsmen killed themselves after learning of the Prophets' treachery.<ref>''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe'', The Return</ref> Others assisted [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee]] in stopping [[Tartarus]], the [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]], from activating [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 05]] and therefore killing all sentient life in the galaxy.<ref>''Halo 2'', campaign level, [[The Great Journey]]</ref>
After the death of the [[Prophet of Regret]] during the [[Ages of Reclamation|Ninth Age of Reclamation]] in [[2552#November|November 2552]], the [[Prophet of Truth|Prophets of Truth]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]] replaced the Sangheili Honor Guard with the [[Jiralhanae]]. This "[[Changing of the Guard]]" was a major step in a carefully planned coup that soon devolved into the [[Great Schism]].<ref>''Halo 2'', campaign level, [[Sacred Icon]]</ref> Some of the Honor Guardsmen killed themselves after learning of the Prophets' treachery.<ref>''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe'', The Return</ref> Others assisted [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee]] in stopping [[Tartarus]], the [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]], from activating [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 05]] and therefore killing all sentient life in the galaxy.<ref>''Halo 2'', campaign level, [[The Great Journey]]</ref>


Following the defeat of the Covenant, many of the former Sangheili Honor Guardsmen found themselves isolated and purposeless. A few Honor Guardsmen unwilling to ally with most of the [[Covenant remnants|remnant groups]] of the former Covenant pledged allegiance to the [[Banished]], specifically Shipmaster [[Let 'Volir]] who served [[Atriox]] in an unconventional arrangement, seeing opportunity in the service of the powerful mercenary organization. Evoking the traditions and accomplishments of their predecessors and using re-purposed ceremonial equipment of the old Covenant Honor Guard, these Honor Guardsmen are skilled swordsmen who match the Covenant's Honor Guard in fighting prowess.<ref>[http://www.haloarchive.com/forum/topic/9-canon-fodder-and-random-lore-chat/?do=findComment&comment=217240 ''Youtuber:'' Blitz Cards]</ref><ref name="HW2">''[[Halo Wars 2]]''</ref>
Following the defeat of the Covenant, many of the former Sangheili Honor Guardsmen found themselves isolated and purposeless. A few Honor Guardsmen unwilling to ally with most of the [[Covenant remnants|remnant groups]] of the former Covenant pledged allegiance to the [[Banished]], specifically Shipmaster [[Let 'Volir]] who served [[Atriox]] in an unconventional arrangement, seeing opportunity in the service of the powerful mercenary organization. Evoking the traditions and accomplishments of their predecessors and using re-purposed ceremonial equipment of the old Covenant Honor Guard, these Honor Guardsmen are skilled swordsmen who match the Covenant's Honor Guard in fighting prowess.<ref>[http://www.haloarchive.com/forum/topic/9-canon-fodder-and-random-lore-chat/?do=findComment&comment=217240 ''Youtuber:'' Blitz Cards]</ref><ref name="HW2">''[[Halo Wars 2]]''</ref>
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gameplay=yes}}
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gameplay=yes}}
==Equipment==
Honor Guardsmen in service to the [[Honor Guard of the Covenant]] wore highly ornate [[Sangheili harness|armor]], colored in a combination of glowing red and orange.  It featured jutting spikes and pauldrons, though they sometimes wore non-ceremonial armor for the sake of practicality.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}<ref>''Halo Wars'', campaign levels [[Scarab (level)|Scarab]], [[Shield World (level)|Shield World]], and [[Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|Beachhead]]</ref><ref>''Halo Legends'', The Babysitter</ref>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==