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{{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]]", ''page 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]]", ''page 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''', ''page 153''</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''', ''page 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 name="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''', ''page 339''</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 name="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''', ''page 339''</ref>


Honor Guardsmen were expected to immediately kill anyone who drew a weapon in the presence of a Hierarch,<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 341''</ref> though they might stand down should an [[Arbiter]] do so.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign 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://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack '''Bungie.net''': ''The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3'']</ref>{{Verify source}} 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 name="EVG"/>
Honor Guardsmen were expected to immediately kill anyone who drew a weapon in the presence of a Hierarch,<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 341''</ref> though they might stand down should an [[Arbiter]] do so.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign 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>{{Verify source}} 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 name="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 name="sacred"/>
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 name="sacred"/>


===Great Schism===
===Great Schism===
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>