Arbiter: Difference between revisions
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The title of Arbiter dates back long before the Covenant, and long before the Sangheili took to the stars. Part king, part judge, these warrior rulers continued to serve their species even after they colonized other worlds. It was an Arbiter who led the Sangheili during the decades of the [[San'Shyuum-Sangheili War]]. The Arbiter started the war by decapitating a delegation of [[San'Shyuum]] and leaving it for others to find.<ref name="h2aterm>'''Halo 2 Anniversary''' - ''Terminals''</ref> | The title of Arbiter dates back long before the Covenant, and long before the Sangheili took to the stars. Part king, part judge, these warrior rulers continued to serve their species even after they colonized other worlds. It was an Arbiter who led the Sangheili during the decades of the [[San'Shyuum-Sangheili War]]. The Arbiter started the war by decapitating a delegation of [[San'Shyuum]] and leaving it for others to find.<ref name="h2aterm>'''Halo 2 Anniversary''' - ''Terminals''</ref> | ||
After the formation of the Covenant the title of Arbiter was given to the commander of the [[Sangheili]] military, and was considered a great privilege among the Sangheili. Arbiter was a noble title given to a Sangheili that was considered worthy of bringing justice and peace to the [[Covenant]]. The Arbiter's authority would not be questioned by any other individual in the Covenant.<ref name="wos295">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo: Evolutions Volume II - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[Wages of Sin]]", ''pages 294-295''</ref> However, | After the formation of the Covenant the title of Arbiter was given to the commander of the [[Sangheili]] military, and was considered a great privilege among the Sangheili. Arbiter was a noble title given to a Sangheili that was considered worthy of bringing justice and peace to the [[Covenant]]. The Arbiter's authority would not be questioned by any other individual in the Covenant.<ref name="wos295">'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo: Evolutions Volume II - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[Wages of Sin]]", ''pages 294-295''</ref> However, around 400 years prior to the destruction of [[Installation 04]], the contemporary Arbiter, [[Fal 'Chavamee]], refused to accept the [[Covenant religion]] and was branded a heretic by the Prophets. The resulting chain of events, which led to the deaths of both 'Chavamee and a high-ranking kinsman named [[Haka]], led to the Prophets changing the role of the Arbiter significantly. The title was thereafter given to disgraced Sangheili in order for them to regain their honor by way of suicidal missions of great importance to the Covenant as a whole.<ref name="Duel">'''[[Halo Legends]]''', ''[[The Duel]]''</ref> In part, the change was also made by the [[Hierarchs]] to advance ends that were not fully factored.<ref name="wos295"/> | ||
To most members of the Covenant, especially the [[Unggoy]], the Arbiter is seen as a savior in times of dire need; their Sangheili peers consider them the living embodiment of the "Will of the Prophets" and refer to them as the "Blades of the Prophets". Every Arbiter is chosen during a time of great conflict, and inevitably dies in the course of their gravely important, though suicidal tasks. Their corpses - or presumably memorials in some cases <ref name="Escape"/><ref name="ENC"> '''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 139''</ref> - are housed in identical caskets in the [[Mausoleum of the Arbiter]]. In the center of this room is a floating pod that contains the [[Arbiter body armor|armor of the Arbiter]] when one is not currently appointed. This armor, while highly decorative, is fully functional as battle armor. | To most members of the Covenant, especially the [[Unggoy]], the Arbiter is seen as a savior in times of dire need; their Sangheili peers consider them the living embodiment of the "Will of the Prophets" and refer to them as the "Blades of the Prophets". Every Arbiter is chosen during a time of great conflict, and inevitably dies in the course of their gravely important, though suicidal tasks. Their corpses - or presumably memorials in some cases <ref name="Escape"/><ref name="ENC"> '''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 139''</ref> - are housed in identical caskets in the [[Mausoleum of the Arbiter]]. In the center of this room is a floating pod that contains the [[Arbiter body armor|armor of the Arbiter]] when one is not currently appointed. This armor, while highly decorative, is fully functional as battle armor. | ||