War of Beginnings: Difference between revisions

|date=[[938 BC]]–[[852 BC]] ([[Ages of Conflict|First Age of Conflict]])<ref name="Encyclopedia">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 30''</ref>

The '''War of Beginnings''',<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/sanghelios '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Sanghelios'']</ref> also known as the '''San'Shyuum-Sangheili War'''<ref>'''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''', ''page 1''</ref> and the '''First Age of Conflict''', was an interstellar war set between the [[Sangheili]] species and the [[Reformist]] [[San'Shyuum]], over religious and technological differences. At the conclusion of the war, the [[Writ of Union]] was penned and initiated, and the [[Covenant]] was kindled.<ref name="Harvest">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 147''</ref>

After [[War of Wills|fleeing]] their homeworld of [[Janjur Qom]] in [[2100 BC]],{{Ref/Reuse|Encyclopedia}} the [[San'Shyuum]] [[Reformists]] discovered ancient [[Forerunner]] [[Space station|installations]] in orbit over [[Salosur Qom]], a world neighboring their own. Here, they found the [[Huragok]] and a powerful [[cartographer]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P190|Enc22|Page=190}} The cartographer would feed its information into the [[Anodyne Spirit|Dreadnought]]'s [[Luminary]], a system that could guide the San'Shyuum to more star systems with Forerunner relics. And so, they took the Dreadnought into [[slipspace]], leaving the [[Qom Yaekesh system]] and travelling the stars. For hundreds of years, the San'Shyuum explored abandoned worlds and derelict installations, employing the Huragok to unfold their masters' secrets.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

In [[938 BC]], the San'Shyuum stumbled upon [[Ulgethon]], a hardscrabble world that they believed to be uninhabited. After making landfall in the Dreanought, a pioneer detachment was sent to investigate a nearby repository of Forerunner relics. Arriving at the site, the San'Shyuum discovered the [[Sangheili]]—a sapient species they have never encountered previously—living among the Forerunner structures. Their initial meeting was amenable if tense, but the Sangheili would soon discover the San'Shyuum's true intentions.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} While the Sangheili worshipped the Forerunners much like the Reformists, their stance on the manipulation of their gods' artifacts closely resembled that of the San'Shyuum [[Stoics]], considering it blasphemy to disturb them.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 350''</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

The war eventually led to a skirmish on [[Anvarl]] in [[860 BC]]. The planet's location made it of strategic importance to the Sangheili, however the San'Shyuum desired to take control of the world for the numerous Forerunner artifacts located on and underneath the planet's surface.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 1-3''</ref> The San'Shyuum forces were led by [[Mken 'Scre'ah'ben|Mken 'Scre'ah'ben, High Lord of Sacred Relics]], while the Sangheili forces were led by [[Ussa 'Xellus]]. Although the San'Shyuum were vastly outnumbered,<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 6-7''</ref> they used [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s to weaken Sangheili forces while scientists uncovered and examined the Forerunner structures. Eventually, the San'Shyuum's command stations were breached by Sangheili assassins—forcing all San'Shyuum on the planet to retreat to orbit. High Lord Mken had ordered the Forerunner Dreadnought to fire upon the Sangheili forces, but under Ussa's command, most of them had escaped into a Forerunner structure, which the San'Shyuum were unwilling to damage.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 9-13''</ref> The Sangheili on the planet were eventually forced to flee the system.<ref name="bcpreview">'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''Chapter 1''</ref>

By [[855 BC]], while the Dreadnought was still immobilized on Suban, Breaking Shadow had led a coup d'etat against Pervading Stone. With his death and a newfound solidarity among the San'Shyuum aboard the Dreadnought, Breaking Shadow prepared to at last broach the possibility of peace to the Sangheili.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

The San'Shyuum had realized that they would not be victorious in this war with only one ship, especially one that was not nearly as invincible as they had originally thought.{{Ref/Reuse|bc57}} In [[852 BC]], the San'Shyuum sent an unarmed delegation to the Sangheili, who recounted all that had transpired in recent years. After this meeting, Breaking Shadow and Pelahsar the Strident forged a tenuous truce, forgiving the other's species for their crimes and working toward peace.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} In time, the Sangheili learned of the San'Shyuum's belief in the [[Great Journey]], where the Forerunners used the [[Halo Array]] to ascend to a god-like state, and wished to repeat this process on themselves. Coupled with this belief and the fact that the cause of war was obsolete, the Sangheili agreed to unite with the San'Shyuum into an alliance to avoid mutual extinction. By the end of [[852 BC]], the two species formalized this newfound peace in a treaty known as the [[Writ of Union]]. This would form the [[Covenant]], which defined the two races' positions: the San'Shyuum would act as the religious leaders, studying the Forerunners' technology and seeking out the Halos, while the Sangheili would serve as their [[Covenant Honor Guard|protectors]], using weapons and technology developed by the San'Shyuum.{{Ref/Novel|CH|Page=151}}

While most Sangheili willingly—or begrudgingly—joined the new Covenant, there were those who resented what they viewed as submission to the San'Shyuum. The Covenant sought to make an example of these dissenters, silencing those who rejected the new union with overwhelming force. An incarnation of the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] formed at this time to bring the holdouts to the Writ of Union to heel.