Sangheili
The Sangheili are an alien race that features in Halo.
Contents |
History
The Sangheili (Elite) were an alien race that came from the planet Sanghelios. Long ago, they were one of the races that arose in the galaxy that was ruled by the Forerunners. However, during the conflict with the Flood, the Forerunners activated the Halos to scourge life from the galaxy in order to eliminate the parasite. In the aftermath, the Sangheili were one of the races that were re-planted by the Forerunners efforts. Their civilization was reborn on their homeworld and continued on its path to development with it having created sites to their beliefs before mankind had built the pyramids. Centuries ago, a tyrannical Arbiter judge-king came to power who ruled the continent of Qivro until a sword brother of Kaideons arose to form the Swords of Sangelios who overthrew him in a time before their race became a spacefaring species. Several hundred years ago, their kind developed slipspace technology and established a dozen independent colonies whilst Sanghelios remained central to government as well as culture. The early interstellar period of the Sangheili was noted for being volatile. It was during this time that they encountered the San'Shyuum with the two engaging in a long and bloody war. In time, a truce was formed between the two species that together formed a union that became a galactic empire known as the Covenant. Within the Covenant, the two races were united in the worship of the long dead Forerunners and were dedicated in achieving transcendence through the Great Journey. As part of the Covenant, the San'Shyuum slowly began to insinuate themselves into Sangheili culture where they began to replace the scientific and industrial capabilities of their race. At the same time, they began supporting the Sangheili's warlord ambitions with the race beginning to focus purely on martial matters. As the Covenant grew with new races, menial labor and tasks were taken over by the other species whilst the entirety of Sangheili culture was dedicated to conducting holy warfare whilst acquiring sacred Forerunner relics for the San'Shyuum Prophets.
Following the collapse of the Covenant, the San'Shyuum led Ministries that managed the various races needs were destroyed leading to Sangheili society falling apart. As a result, their colonies began to slide into violent internecine conflict over resources, politics and influence. Furthermore, the Elites were struggling over their Forerunner beliefs in relation to their war against humanity leading to further splintering into a number of factions. No single leader had emerged that could unite their kind but the various factions varied in power among one another.
An Elite by the name of Jul 'Mdama came to form one faction that he formed into a new Covenant.
The Arbiter came to unite the keeps on Sanghelios and formed a faction known as the Swords of Sanghelios.
Overview
In appearance, the Sangheili (Latin: Macto Cognatus) were a bipedal race of large saurian that had tall muscular bodies and elongated heads that bore four mandibles. These mandibles were laced with rows of sharp teeth with adults possessing mandibles of varying shapes, sizes, range, and dexterity with it being as distinctive as a fingerprint. Elites had long arms that ended in zygodactyly hands that had impressively dexterous fingers.
They was divided into clans that were composed of tightly-knit families. These in terms formed the basis of their society that historically operated as a type of feudal manorialism. This saw multiple clans that were led by a kaidon who controlled a fortified keep along with its surrounding territory. Such a system evolved and survived into the modern age with major keeps developing into city-states that were led by alliances of lesser kaidons. On smaller colonies, a handful of keeps were responsible for controlling the entirety of resources. In contrast, more developed worlds such as Sangheilios there were hundreds of keeps each of whom vied for power and influence through the use of either political or military force.
One ancient order among their people were the Ascetics that were religiously minded Sangheili with ties to ancient beliefs preading the Covenant. They had been dissolved following the formation of the Covenant but Ascetic priests secretly initiated worthy Sangheili warriors into their ranks. Thus, they managed to keep the ideals of their martial order alive over the ages.
Traditionally, war was seen as an occupation for males though in latter years females were accepted into the ranks of warriors.
A Sangheili burial prayer spoken for the dead was, A warrior at birth, a warrior in death.
Technologically, they were rated as a Tier 2 ranked civilization.
Members
- Thel ‘Vadam :
- Rho 'Barutamee :
- Gek ‘Lhar :
- N’tho ‘Sraom : a male Elite who was a warrior in the Special Operations Sangheili of the Fleet of Retribution's Special Warfare Group until the Great Schism where he sided with his people against the Covenant.
- Sesa ‘Refumee :
- Usze ‘Taham : a male Elite who was a warrior in the Fleet of Retribution's Special Warfare Group where he served as a deadly commando until the Great Schism at which point he sided with his people against the Covenant.
- Jul ‘Mdama :
- Let 'Volir : a male Elite Shipmaster of the CAS-class assault carrier Enduring Conviction until the collapse of the Covenant whereupon he became a mercenary that hired his along with his ships services to the Banished.
Notes
- The Elites were created as antagonists by Bungie Studios for the Halo games.
- Concept artist Shi Kai Wang noted that project lead Jason Jones had, at one point, been insistent on giving the Elites a tail. While Wang thought it made the aliens look too animalistic, the idea was eventually dropped due to practical considerations, including where the tail would go when the Elites were driving vehicles. "At one point, we considered just having the Elites tuck their tails forward, between their legs," Wang noted, "But [we] abandoned that... for obvious reasons."[9] According to Paul Russel, when Bungie was bought by Microsoft and Halo was turned into an Xbox launch title, Microsoft took issue with the design of the Elites, as they felt that the Elites had a resemblance to cats that might alienate Japanese consumers.
Appearances
- Halo: Combat Evolved:
- Halo 2:
- Halo 3:
- Halo Wars:
- Halo: Reach:
- Halo 4:
- Halo 5: Guardians:
- Halo Wars 2:
External Links
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