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{{era|Covenant|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}


The '''Writ of Union''' is an oath of service to the [[Covenant]], written by the [[San 'Shyuum]] and [[Sangheili]] who created the [[Covenant]], apparently the Covenant [[High Council]] of [[Council of Concordance|Concordance]] at the end of [[Sangheili-San 'Shyuum War|their war]]. In the old [[Covenant]] tradition, when an [[Elite]] became a warrior, he recited the oath. This writ was apparently authored and first documented in the first [[Age of Reconciliation]] ([[852 B.C.E.]]).
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}}


==Overview==
==Overview==
Part of the defining union between the San 'Shyuum and the Sangheili was the division of labor it created: the San 'Shyuum would serve as the religious leaders and scientists, studying Forerunner technology and seeking how to use the [[Halo Array]] to initiate the [[Great Journey]], which would propel the faithful to join the [[Forerunner]]s in a god-like state of transcendence. In return for sharing this knowledge, the Sangheili would serve as the San 'Shyuum's protectors and warriors, using weapons and technology developed by the San 'Shyuum, and having total control over all security matters. As the Covenant expanded and incorporated other races, they were added to Writ of Union, serving as soldiers under the Sangheili.
===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}}


==The Oath==
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}}
The full content is unknown, but here are some excerpts:


====Beginning====
[[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}}
The beginning of the Writ of Union is as follows:<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 148''</ref>
{{Clear}}
''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''


====The Arbiter (Level)====
===Text===
The beginning of the Writ of Union is as follows:{{Ref/Novel|Id=contact|HCH|Chapter=9}}


On the ''[[Halo 2]]'' level, [[The Arbiter]], in the opening cut scene, SpecOps [[Elites]] recite this before they land :
{{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}}


Rtas 'Vadumee: "When we join the Covenant, we took an Oath!"
==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 Elites]]:''' "According to our station! All without exception!"
==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.


'''[[Rtas 'Vadumee]]:''' "On the blood of our fathers... on the blood of our sons, we swore to uphold the Covenant!"
{{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.}}


'''[[SpecOps Elites]]:''' "Even to our dying breath!"
==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}}


'''[[Rtas 'Vadumee]]:''' "Those who would break this oath are Heretics... Worthy of neither pity, nor mercy! Even now, They use our Lord's creations to broadcast their lies!"
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}


'''[[SpecOps Elites]]:''' "We shall grind them into dust!" {''The subtitles add to this line with "...scrape them as excrement from our boots." - see trivia.''}
'''[[Rtas 'Vadumee]]:''' "And continue our march to glorious salvation!"
====Early Halo 2 script====
''On and on shall old war go'',<br />
''Without respite my blood will flow''
''O’er your eyes ‘til they cannot see''<br />
''The impossibility of victory.''<ref>[[Early Halo 2 Script]]</ref>
== Trivia ==
*High-ranked Covenant [[Unggoy]] [[Deacon]]s, such as [[Dadab]], were required to memorize the entire Writ of Union, word for word.
*During gameplay, the extra line "scrape them as excrement from our boots" in the subtitles is added to the oath by the Special Operations [[Elites]] after "We shall grind them into dust," however, it remains unspoken.<ref>[[The Arbiter (level)]]</ref>
*The Writ of Union is written on the inside of the [[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack]] Volume One.
== Sources ==
<references />
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:Ideology]]
[[Category:Ideology]]

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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