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Writ of Union: Difference between revisions

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(The Writ isn't recited in Halo 2. Rtas is just giving a pep talk.)
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The '''Writ of Union''' is the founding charter of, and an oath of service to, the [[Covenant]].<ref>''[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack]], Volume One''</ref> It was drafted as a peace treaty between the [[San 'Shyuum]] and the [[Sangheili]] at the end of [[Sangheili-San 'Shyuum War|dogmatic conflict]] between the two species ([[938 BCE]] to [[852 BCE]]). The document was ratified by the [[Council of Concordance]], ushering in the [[Ages of Reconciliation|First Age of Reconciliation]].<ref name="Encyclopedia">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 30''</ref>
The '''Writ of Union''' is an oath of service to the [[Covenant]],<ref name="volume one">'''[[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack]]''', ''Volume 1''</ref> written by the [[San 'Shyuum]] and [[Sangheili]] who formed 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 a Sangheili 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.]]).


==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.
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 Covenant's religious leaders and scientists, studying Forerunner technology and seeking how to use the [[Halo Array]] to initiate the [[Covenant religion#Great Journey|Great Journey]], which would propel the faithful to join the [[Forerunner]]s in a state of divine 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 made soldiers under the Sangheili.


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.
==The oath==
 
The beginning of the Writ of Union is as follows:<ref name="contact">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 148''</ref>
== The Oath ==
Listed are the known excerpts of the oath:
=== Beginning ===
The beginning of the Writ of Union is as follows:<ref name="contact">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 148''</ref>


{{Article Quote|So full of hate were our eyes
{{Article Quote|So full of hate were our eyes
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:Whilst we find the path}}
:Whilst we find the path}}


=== The Arbiter (Level) ===
==Behind the scenes==
On the ''[[Halo 2]]'' level, [[The Arbiter]], in the opening cut scene, SpecOps [[Elites]] recite this before they land :
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]]: "When we join the Covenant, we took an Oath!"
 
'''SpecOps Elites:''' "According to our station! All without exception!"
 
'''Rtas 'Vadumee:''' "On the blood of our fathers... on the blood of our sons, we swore to uphold the Covenant!"
 
'''SpecOps Elites:''' "Even to our dying breath!"
 
'''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!"
 
'''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 ===


{{Article Quote|On and on shall old war go,<br />Without respite my blood will flow<br />
{{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.<ref>''[[Early Halo 2 Script]]''</ref>}}
O’er your eyes ‘til they cannot see<br />The impossibility of victory.}}


== Trivia ==
==List of appearances==
*High-ranked Covenant [[Unggoy]] [[Deacon]]s, such as [[Dadab]], were required to memorize the entire Writ of Union, word for word.{{fact}}
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*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.
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''


== Sources ==
==Sources==
<references/>
<references/>


[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:Ideology]]
[[Category:Ideology]]

Revision as of 12:50, June 23, 2014

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 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 Council of Concordance, ushering in the First Age of Reconciliation.[2]

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 Covenant's 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 Forerunners in a state of divine 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 made soldiers under the Sangheili.

The oath

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

Template:Article Quote

Behind the scenes

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.

Template:Article Quote

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ Halo 2: Original Soundtrack, Volume One
  2. ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 30
  3. ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 148
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