Ascetics: Difference between revisions

{{Era|Covenant|HCW|Post}}

{{Unit infobox|variant=Cov

|authority=[[Ministry of Abnegation]]<ref name="vis"/> {{C|formerly}}

|branch=[[Sangheili]]

|branch-title=Species

|mission=Ideological control/enforcement, exegetics, applied hermeneutics, philology<ref name="vis"/>

The '''Ascetics''' are an order of warriors within the [[Sangheili]] culture with deep ties to ancient beliefs.<ref name="vis">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 56''</ref><ref name="Tru7h">[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack '''Bungie.net''': ''The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3'']</ref><ref name="canon fodder">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-fighting-words '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Fighting Words'']</ref> The Ascetics use [[Ascetic harness|a unique, ancient design]] of [[Sangheili harness|harness]] which incorporates a fully enclosed helmet and a traditional bladed mandible guard.

Prior to the formation of the [[Covenant]], the Ascetics were an order of religiously devout [[Sangheili]]<ref name="canon fodder"/> who controlled and enforced ideological purity within their faith, which was achieved through the Ascetic guard. They also had other functions, mostly involving religious matters; for example, the study, explanation and interpretation of religious and historical texts. When the Sangheili first joined with the [[San'Shyuum]] to form the Covenant Empire, one of the terms of the [[Writ of Union]] was the dissolution of the Ascetic guard, though they were reconstituted as an organization under the authority of the San'Shyuum-controlled [[Ministry of Abnegation]].<ref name="vis"/> The Ascetics continued to recruit worthy Sangheili warriors into their order with the intentions of keeping the ideals of their ancient beliefs and practices alive within the Covenant.<ref name="canon fodder"/><ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/usze-taham '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Usze 'Taham'']</ref>

With the return of the Sangheili's sovereignty in the [[Great Schism]] came the revival of the Ascetics as an independent group.<ref name="vis"/> With the aid of [[Usze 'Taham]] and other like-minded Sangheili, the Ascetic guard was quickly resurrected and aided the [[Fleet of Retribution]] in combating the [[Jiralhanae]] and the San'Shyuum. By [[2555]], 'Taham continued to assist the Ascetics by serving as a liaison for several Sangheili factions, [[keep]]s, and the [[UNSC]].<ref name="universe"/> At least one member of the Ascetics was present with the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] during their peace talks with [[Lydus' clan]] in [[2558]], though the efforts were soiled when the delegates were [[Battle of Ealen IV|attacked]] and the Ascetic warrior was killed.<ref name="HEI2">'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', [[Halo: Escalation Issue 2|Issue #2]]</ref>

*The Ascetic harness is available as an [[Armor permutations (Halo 3)|armor permutation]] in ''[[Halo 3]]''.

File:AsceticArmor.png|The armor worn by an Ascetic warrior.

File:UszeArk.png|thumb|Usze 'Taham wearing what appears to be the Ascetic helmet

==Source==

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{{Elite Ranks}}