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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]]

Latest revision as of 14:05, December 31, 2023

The Writ of Union is the founding charter of, and an oath of service to, the Covenant.[1] It was drafted as a peace treaty between the Reformist San'Shyuum and the Sangheili at the end of dogmatic conflict between the two species (938 BCE to 852 BCE). The document was ratified by the High Council of Concordance, ushering in the First Age of Reconciliation.[2]

Overview[edit]

Terms[edit]

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[3] while the San'Shyuum would be the religious and bureaucratic authority as the Prophets of the Forerunners.[4]

One term stipulated the decommissioning of the Anodyne Spirit and setting it on its anointed altar in High Charity.[5] Another term was the dissolution and reconstitution of the Ascetic guard into the newly made Ministry of Abnegation.[6]

Sanghelios would be guaranteed by the Writ of Union massive imports of food and manufactured goods, in exchange for military service.[7]

Text[edit]

The beginning of the Writ of Union is as follows:[3]

“ 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
 ”

History[edit]

Post-War of Beginnings[edit]

"The Writ of Union is written—it cannot be unwritten."
— Early Covenant declaration[5]
Main article: Rending
Help.png This section needs expansion. You can help Halopedia by expanding it.

Production notes[edit]

The beginning text of the Writ of Union was originally to appear in Halo 2.[8] An unused stanza of the Writ of Union was present in an early script for Halo 2. It is unclear whether this part of the Writ is canon.

“ On and on shall old war go,
Without respite my blood will flow

O’er your eyes ‘til they cannot see
The impossibility of victory.

”

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo 2: Original Soundtrack, Volume One
  2. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 30
  3. ^ a b Halo: Contact Harvest, chapter 9
  4. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 188
  5. ^ a b Halo: Broken Circle, chapter 1
  6. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide - Elite Ascetic, page 56
  7. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 228
  8. ^ YouTube - Bungie, Cutting Room Floor Cinematics
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