Editing Atriox

{{Status|Canon}}

{{Quote|I am not ''[[Tartarus]]'' or some fanatic. I am ''not'' [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]]. I am ''not'' [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]]. I am their remedy.|Atriox to a group of [[Silent Shadow|would-be assassins]].{{Ref/Reuse|HP}}}}

'''Atriox''' is the powerful [[Jiralhanae]] warmaster who leads the [[Banished]], a violent [[Covenant remnants|ex-Covenant]] faction of mercenaries and criminals.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} He originally fought on behalf of the [[Covenant]], but was banished after thwarting his own execution.<ref name="ANE">'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[A New Enemy]]''</ref> A deadly warrior and brilliant military leader, Atriox inspired many others to join him in exile.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} He has led his followers for over a decade, during which time he amassed an large amount of ordnance and materiel, especially following the collapse of the Covenant Empire in [[2552]].{{Ref/Reuse|RoA4}} By [[2558]], he had become a symbol for even [[Jiralhanae]] not serving with the Banished to rally around.<ref name="RoA6">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]] — Rise of Atriox VI''</ref>

 

Atriox serves as the namesake for several positions in his Banished such as [[Atriox's Chosen]] and the [[Hand of Atriox]], a rank of enforcers and a special operations unit respectively.{{Ref/Site|Id=CF108|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/despite-distance|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Despite Distance}}

[[File:HRoa 1 Atriox.png|x250px|thumb|left|Atriox leads Jiralhanae of his clan into senseless battle.]]

Atriox was born into the Covenant on May 28, [[2510]].{{Ref/Reuse|TwitterAtrioxbirthday}} When he was old enough, he became part of [[Covenant military|its military]] and was taught by his ''[[daskalo]]'' [[Escharum]].{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} During the Covenant Empire's [[Human-Covenant War|war]] against [[human]]ity, Atriox served as a [[Jiralhanae Stalker]]. For part of the war he served alongside his war-brothers, [[Castor]] and [[Orsun]], as Stalkers of the [[Bloodstars]]. In this role he was commanded by a [[First Blade]] of the [[Silent Shadow]] and charged with hunting down [[Spartan|demons]]. At one point, these four captured a squad of [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|imp]]s during a raid and interrogated them for three days. From these captured ODSTs they learned of the rumor that the [[SPARTAN-II program]] had abducted children as its subjects.<ref name="R">'''[[Halo: Retribution]]''', ''page 265''</ref> Through experience in combat, Atriox honed his tenacity and shrewd strategic planning.<ref name="Atriox log">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]] —  Atriox''</ref>

Late in the war, the [[Covenant]] began to use Atriox's [[pack]] for frontline troops, throwing them against the [[United Nations Space Command]] as cannon fodder. Groups of forty Jiralhanae would be sent to storm enemy positions, clearing the way for follow-up attacks, but typically all of the attackers would die in the process.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} Sometimes repeated waves would be ordered against entrenched humans even when it was clear the battle had already been won, making it seem as if the leaders simply wanted blood, regardless of which side it was spilled from.{{Ref/Reuse|RoA1c}} Atriox was the first to return as the sole survivor of one such suicide mission — a feat which he repeated multiple times after that. During one engagement, Atriox and thirty-nine others of his pack brothers assaulted the last bit of [[UNSC]] resistance on a planet, led by [[First Sergeant]] [[Jessica Kress]]. By this point he had already distinguished himself enough to warrant a leadership role during the assault. He led warriors through a breach in the western section of the humans' base. Atriox charged headlong into the enemy's position, slaughtering [[UNSC Marine Corps|marines]] mercilessly.{{Ref/Reuse|RoA1c}} Before long, instead of only Atriox remaining among the Brutes as usual, there were only two human survivors: Sergeant Kress and another marine. These two attempted a daring escape through a packed crowd of many Jiralhanae in an [[M12 Warthog]] but Atriox fired upon the vehicle with a {{Pattern|Pez'tk|fuel rod gun}}, killing its gunner and throwing Kress from the chassis as it flipped over. He casually approached the last living human on the planet and waited, allowing her to stand and assume a fighting posture with a [[combat knife]]. The marine bravely lunged forward at Atriox but he caught her in the gut with the haft of his [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]]. As she collapsed, he raised it overhead and brought the head down on her exposed form, smashing her into bloody pieces.<ref name="RoA1c">''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]'', ''Issue 1''</ref>

{{Quote|no=two|q1=Atriox. you have murdered one of your own. Stolen the life of your brother. Stolen him from the holiness of the Great Journey. We observed the battle to study the strength of our enemy. Instead, we found a heretic. Your ''blasphemy'' corrupts the Covenant.|[[Itho 'Hesiikee|The Executioner]]|q2=He was a slave. A puppet sent to kill me. I relieved him of the burden of that shame.|Atriox|Atriox faces his executioner with defiance.}}

[[File:AlgolisAtriox.png|thumb|300px|Atriox in a bloody battle frenzy on Algolis.]]

As Atriox continued to lose pack-mates over the course of many battles, his resentment toward the Covenant, and the [[Hierarch|Prophets]] in particular,<ref name="TB log">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]] —  The Blinded''</ref> grew.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} Tales of his improbable survival made him legendary in the eyes of many. However, Atriox did not believe in the [[Great Journey]] and viewed the genocide of the humans as wanton.{{Ref/Reuse|ForWhat}}<ref name=AngryAtriox/> In [[2549]], during the [[Algolis Invasion|occupation]] of the [[human colony]] of [[Algolis]], Atriox returned once more to base as the only living veteran of a recent battle.{{Ref/Reuse|RoA2c}} [[Itho 'Hesiikee|The Sangheili]] in authority over the group of Jiralhanae to which he belonged was troubled by the cult of personality surrounding Atriox. Speaking to the [[High Prophet of Truth]] via remote communication, he noted that Atriox was never supposed to have survived this long. His unprecedented success and celebrated reputation could pose a threat should the Jiralhanae begin to question their role in the [[Great Journey]], especially given rumors that his faith was already wavering. Truth believed Atriox could still be a valuable tool of warfare, and stated that he would only sanction his elimination if it was confirmed that he had lapsed in his loyalty. Atriox was seated alone, still covered in the blood of humans, when the Sangheili approached him. His commander offered praise of his prowess, but Atriox rebuffed it by saying it was simply the duty he had been assigned. Further congratulations drew his ire and he told the Sangheili that he doubted his brothers were defending the Great Journey as opposed to dying pointlessly. He also rebuked the underestimation of the humans' abilities that ostensibly caused so many of his pack to continually be killed and said that perhaps absolute loyalty was not the path to righteousness as the Covenant taught. It was reported to Truth that Atriox was even more dangerous than they had feared. The decision was made to have him murdered, but it was agreed that it must be done so delicately in order to avoid martyrdom.{{Ref/Reuse|RoA2c}}

[[File:HW2-Order66.png|thumb|left|350px|Atriox kneels before [[Itho 'Hesiikee|his executioner]].]]

Returning once more to the base alone, he was met by a group of [[Sangheili]] led by their commander, [[Itho 'Hesiikee]]. The murder of his brother on the outskirts of the battlefield was used as a pretext for this sentence. Atriox begrudgingly surrendered his [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]] and dropped to his knees, seemingly accepting his fate.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} He did not fail, however, to boldly and unapologetically defend his reasons for killing the one who would have done the same to him.{{Ref/Reuse|RoA2c}} When a [[energy sword|bloodblade]] was thrust toward his face, however, he caught the blade with his right hand and asked that those present watch what happened next. Rising to his feet, he stabbed 'Hesiikee, his would-be executioner, with his own sword.<ref name="RoA5">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]] — Rise of Atriox V''</ref> The other Sangheili drew their swords and prepared to attack him together, but at that moment other Jiralhanae who had been watching, including a particularly fearsome Brute known as [[Decimus]], leapt into action.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} Decimus, [[En'Geddon]], and all the other Jiralhanae in the area, slaughtered the Sangheili as they were inspired by Atriox's defiance. Decimus knelt before Atriox as others howled in affirmation of their decision to follow him, and from this moment, the group that would come to be called [[Banished]] was born.<ref name="IGN">[http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/10/19/halo-wars-2-campaign-and-blitz-hands-on-preview '''IGN''' - ''Halo Wars 2 Campaign and Blitz Hands-On Preview'']</ref><ref name="bts trailer">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4axn4oo_KE '''YouTube''': ''Halo Wars 2 E3 Trailer BTS'']</ref><ref name="gamespot">[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-wars-2-new-story-details-and-images-revealed/1100-6440811/ '''GameSpot''': ''Halo Wars 2 New Story Details and Images Revealed'']</ref> Atriox gloated over the dead by saying "How the righteous fall".<ref name="RoA2c">''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]'', ''Issue 2''</ref>{{clear}}

[[File:PL Atriox.png|thumb|300px|Atriox inside the Carter Guard Armory, as seen through the footage of an ODST's helmet camera.]]

At some point prior to the end of the Human-Covenant War, Atriox was aboard a {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} in preparation for leaving a location that had been looted. When Atriox gave the order to engage its engines, however, a series of hull breaches on multiple decks throughout the ship suddenly caused rapid decompression. One of these breaches, torn through the hull by unexpected detonations, was on the bridge where Atriox was. Thinking quickly, Atriox grabbed a Jirahanae in a [[vacuum suit]] and hurled him at the hole. The armor sufficiently stopped any further loss of air. Indignant at what had occurred, Atriox ordered Decimus to delegate the task of investigating what went wrong to a new chief engineer his right hand had recruited. Decimus pointed out that the Brute plugging the bridge's hull breach at that very moment was in fact that chief engineer. Filled with suspicion, Atriox questioned the individual regarding the fact that he was the only one wearing a vac suit when the explosions went off. He claimed he had only just returned from making repairs on the outer hull, but Atriox refused to give deference to his excuse. He reasoned that he was either lying, and therefore a saboteur, or he was incompetent. Either way, the engineer deserved to die. Atriox strangled him where he lay against the interior hull, leaving his corpse to continue sealing them from the vacuum outside. As he left the bridge, he charged Decimus with finding a new chief engineer for the vessel—one who could be trusted.<ref name="RoA3c">''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]'', ''Issue 3''</ref>{{clear}}

[[File:Atrioxdrones.png|thumb|300px|Atriox in battle with Sig Raan's Yanme'e.]]

At some point following the [[Great Schism]], a [[Sangheili]] squad of the [[Special Operations]] division, the [[Silent Shadow]], began to mercilessly hunt down and slaughter groups of [[Jiralhanae]] and any others found associating with them.{{Ref/Reuse|HP}} Atriox was leading from one of his vessels, along with a contingent of his forces at that point, a captured {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}, ''[[Elegy's Lament]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|HP}} The Silent Shadow, led by [[Resa 'Azavayl]], managed to infiltrate the vessel and catch several Jiralhanae off-guard thanks to the use of [[active camouflage]].{{Ref/Reuse|HP}} An alarm was soon sounded, tipping Atriox off to the assassins' presence on his ship. When the Sangheili finally approached Atriox on the bridge, he was ready. He invited the would-be assassins to show themselves and proceeded to question their motives. Resa had been unaware that his target was Atriox, whom he called "the betrayer". Atriox conceded that he would gladly fight the Silent Shadow if necessary, but he made it clear that it would be in the interests of all involved to join forces. He had mentioned to them that he was not involved in the [[Great Schism|betrayal and massacre]] of the Sangheili,<ref name="ReferenceA">'''Halo: Tales from Slipspace''', '''Hunting Party'''</ref> and the squad began to view him as "other".{{Ref/Reuse|ReferenceA}} Atriox mocked Resa's short-sightedness and stubborn adherence to old hatreds. Resa was not swayed from his task upon hearing Atriox's words, but the others responded quite differently, driving their [[energy sword]]s into their leader's back and allowing themselves to be welcomed into the Banished.<ref name="HP">'''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''', '''[[Hunting Party]]'''</ref> Following this, Atriox was able to recruit more Sangheili mercenaries into the Banished.  

[[File:HW2-Letbows.png|thumb|300px|Let 'Volir swears fealty to Atriox.]]

The most powerful asset he gained was the {{Class|CAS|assault carrier}} ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', along with her experienced [[Sangheili]] crew and warriors. By [[2553#May|May 6, 2553]], ONI learned of a recent engagement during which the carrier had broken from its fleet decidedly. Atriox had sent forces to raid an air base on a planet belonging to the [[Covenant separatists]] but when the carrier's shipmaster, [[Let 'Volir]], found him within its armory, Atriox dropped [[Chainbreaker]] and voluntarily gave himself up for capture.<ref name="RoA4c">''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]'', ''Issue 4''</ref> A {{Pattern|Ru'swum|Phantom}} took he and a number of his forces to the ''Conviction''. The shipmaster was hailed and asked to confirm that he had captured Atriox, but the Brute instructed him to give no answer. 'Volir was surprised by his boldness and only grew more confused when he was told that Atriox had tried to spare as many of his crew on the ground as he could, because they would need them. Only once 'Volir had been given a small measure of the warmaster's intentions was he then told to give the confirmation to the asker. In his proposal, Atriox appealed to Let's wavering faith in [[Arkad Nar 'Kulul]]'s Sangheili-led fleet and his devotion to his ship and crew, offering to provision and fuel both, respectively. Twelve hours later, ''Enduring Conviction'' broke formation and severed contact with the rest of the fleet. The ''Conviction'' was hailed, warned, and then fired upon when her crew ignored orders. The ''Conviction'' performed evasive maneuvers, returned fire and escaped by performing a pinpoint slipslape jump with a maximally ionized hull.{{Ref/Reuse|RoA4c}} The resulting shockwave devastated many small craft caught in the wake of the ''Conviction''{{'}}s first jump point. The ONI operatives later examining the matter concluded that the manner in which the ''Conviction'' escaped her fellow Covenant separatist ships matched a previous encounter the UNSC had with the ship during the war and that this was indicative that Atriox had not taken it over by force.{{Ref/Reuse|RoA3}} Instead, it seemed to them that his capture was either a ruse from the start on behalf of both parties or, as had happened, that Atriox simply allowed himself to be taken so that he could make a proposal to 'Volir. Soon after escaping, they made their way to [[Ansket IV]], where a Covenant [[hydro-processing center]] had come under control of the UNSC.{{Ref/Reuse|RoA4c}} The humans on the world were attacked so the facility could be use to fuel the Banished's new ship and at some point soon afterward, 'Volir and his crew reluctantly swore fealty to the Banished on neutral territory—an orbital installation.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} In exchange for their unquestioning loyalty, the [[Banished]] would supply the crew and fuel the ''Enduring Conviction'' indefinitely. The ONI operatives analyzing the ship's shift of allegiance surmised that Atriox would lay low for a while after securing such a prize, as he would have painted a metaphorical target on himself in doing so.<ref name="RoA3">'''Halo Wars 2''', ''[[Phoenix Logs]] — Rise of Atriox III''</ref>

[[File:ROAMenacingAtriox.png|300px|thumb|Atriox reveals himself to Jovus menacingly.]]

Atriox heard of a Jiralhanae Chieftain named [[Jovus]] who had become a warlord after the Covenant's fall. He sought to recruit him. Jovus arrived on the planet [[Karava]] to meet with the Banished. He ultimately fell when he tried to attack Atriox.

Following the [[subjugation of Earth]] by the [[Created]] in October 2558, the [[Portal at Voi|portal]] linking [[Installation 00]] to [[Earth]] shut down without any warning for those stationed on the installation.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} A month later, on November 25,<ref>'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs'' – "The Graveyard"</ref> Atriox and Decimus arrived with a Banished force of [[Jiralhanae]], [[humans]], [[Sangheili]], [[Mgalekgolo]], [[Unggoy]], and [[Huragok]] aboard the ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'' and its fleet.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} Atriox charged [[War Chief]] Decimus with leading the [[Attack on Installation 00|massacre]] of the UNSC researchers on its surface.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}} In little time, the researchers had all been killed and the Ark belonged to the Banished.{{Ref/Reuse|gamespot}} Atriox had led them there in order to construct a [[Halo Array|Halo ring]],{{Ref/Reuse|Lootcrate description}} but the ability to do so apparently eluded him. Over the next four months the Banished established mining and resource extracting operations on the Ark and mastered its [[Teleportation grid|portal network]] for quick [[Slipspace translocation|translocation]] across it.{{Ref/Reuse|ANE}}

[[File:HW2-Conviction-02.jpg|thumb|300px|Let 'Volir and Atriox survey the ''Conviction's'' wreckage.]]

After two months of conflict with the ''Spirit of Fire'', Atriox was apparently no closer to defeating the humans on the Ark. In order to try and turn the tide he sent [[Pavium]] and [[Voridus]] to [[High Charity]]'s wreckage to salvage anything they could get, but warned them not to go inside. This proved to be a fateful decision, as Voridus chose to ignore Atriox's warning and entered the remains of High Charity. This resulted in the Banished coming into contact with the [[Flood]], which had built itself up from [[Flood spore|spores]] that had survived the detonation of High Charity's backup reactor and the firing of [[Installation 08]] in [[2552]] at the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]].<ref name="WN">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/introducing-halo-wars-2-awakening-the-nightmare '''Halo Waypoint''' ''- Introducing Halo Wars 2: Awakening the Nightmare'']</ref> Because of the ensuing conflict with the Flood, Atriox had to abandon his plans to fortify positions around the Ark to battle the humans and focusing on containing the Flood, due to it posing a greater threat.

Atriox kept in regular contact with Pavium and Voridus, making it very clear that he was most displeased with the situation. Following the death of the Proto-Gravemind, Atriox arrived on the scene with a retinue of Jiralhanae bodyguards. Although the Flood had been dealt a devastating blow, with the elimination of its collective consciousness the threat was still very much active, and by this point, over forty percent of the Banished troops under Pavium and Voridus' command had perished in the confrontation. As he strolled across the gore-splattered field Atriox verbally reprimanded Voridus, reminding the younger Brute that he ordered them not to go inside High Charity. At that moment, a Flood infection form leapt at Atriox, who caught it in mid-air and crushed it beneath his gauntlet. Hurling the body at the Jiralhanae lieutenant, he yelled "For good reason!" Turning to Pavium, he ordered the Warlord to take his troops and secure the breach in the High Charity defenses to prevent any more Flood from escaping, thus further jeopardizing his plans. Standing menacingly over Voridus, Atriox told the lieutenant to fix his mistake and then declared that he would personally deal with Voridus once they were done. As the two Jiralhanae brothers left to carry out their orders, Atriox surveyed the scene one last time. He stayed just long enough to notice swarms of Sentinels zooming across the Ark's skies, in order to neutralize the Flood before departing the scene.

In [[2559#October|October 2559]], the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] activated a [[Slipspace portal]] on [[Reach]] while Atriox used the remnants of the [[Menachite Forerunner crystal]] to link the portals, allowing him to return to the Milky Way on a [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich]]. While Castor and his Keepers forces, including an undercover [[Veta Lopis]] and her [[Ferret]]s, traveled through the same portal aiming to activate the Halos and begin the Great Journey, Atriox intended to attend to a greater purpose. This greater purpose was seeking out the Endless, also known as the [[Xalanyn]].{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22p423|Enc22|Page=423}} Rather than return to the Ark with reinforcements, Atriox was extracted by [[Escharum]] in an [[Intrusion corvette]]. He left behind thousands of Banished troops to hold the Forerunner installation in his absence. [[Fred-104]] and Lopis had sent ONI a message stating that Atriox's return was expected.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Chapter 21|HSoR|Chapter=21}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=Epilogue|HSoR|Chapter=Epilogue}}

 

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{{Quote|no=two|q1=If you knew how you were going to die, how would you live your life differently?|Cortana|q2=I would change nothing.|Atriox|Atriox's last words to Cortana before she attempts to right her wrongdoings.}}

Atriox pursued [[Cortana]] in efforts to gain control of Zeta Halo and its [[Xalanyn]] hidden within the ring, learning of them during his time on the Ark.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22p25|Enc22|Page=25}} In [[2559#December|December 2559]], Atriox led a Banished fleet to ambush the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} sparking the [[Battle over Installation 07]]. During the battle, he personally boarded the ship in search for [[The Weapon]],{{Ref/Quest|HI|Reformation|The Sequence|Quote=Atriox came for you. He attacked the Infinity. We fought. He won.|Quotee=John-117}}{{Ref/Site|Id=CFNY|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-new-year-new-lore|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - New Year, New Lore|D=23|M=01|Y=2023|Quote=The Banished, however, simultaneously initiated boarding action to compromise the ship’s hangar bays, led by Atriox himself who had come to claim the Weapon—though she had already been deployed to the ring.}} and threw [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]] into the vacuum of space after defeating him in a one-on-one melee.{{Ref/Quest|Id=wg|HI|Ringfall|Warship Gbraakon}}

After emerging victorious in the space battle, Atriox approached the now locked down Cortana on the surface of Zeta Halo to negotiate her terms of surrender.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22p423}} He openly mocked Cortana, stating her attack on the Banished is what led to the Master Chief's apparent death and that she must understand the consequences of her actions.{{Ref/Quest|Id=saatriox|HI|Endless|Silent Auditorium|Quote=Look around, Cortana. Your Empire. Over! Your great plan? Ended at the hands of those who made you.|Quotee=Atriox}} Cortana destroyed a portion of the ring around the [[Silent Auditorium]] to stop him from having accessing its secret, the Xalanyn.{{Ref/Reuse|enc22p25}}{{Ref/Quest|Id=sa|HI|Endless|Silent Auditorium|Quote=It was her. She destroyed the Ring. Stopped my deletion.|Quotee=The Weapon}} Atriox was thought to have died in the explosion.{{Ref/Reuse|wg}}

 

With Atriox presumed dead, [[Escharum]] became the self-proclaimed leader of the Banished forces and claimed to honor the will of Atriox, while ultimately taking the Banished in a less pragmatic direction in practice. [[Battle for Zeta Halo|Six months later]], static holograms of Atriox were present on the [[Banished dreadnought]] ''[[Ghost of Gbraakon]]'' and the [[House of Reckoning (location)|House of Reckoning]] honoring him.{{Ref/Reuse|wg}}{{Ref/Quest|Id=hor|HI|Reckoning|House of Reckoning}} Following Escharum's defeat along with many other high value Banished members under his leadership, a scarred and disfigured Atriox reappeared in a Forerunner facility, having secretly survived Cortana's sacrifice. In this facility, Atriox held an unknown device in his hand and had finally discovered the [[cylix]]es used to imprison the Xalanyn.{{Ref/Reuse|stinger}} [[Human]] mercenaries would continue to work for Atriox and the Banished in [[New Mombasa]] on [[Earth]], capitalizing on the city's proximity to [[Forerunner]] secrets.{{Ref/Site|Id=Legendary|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-legendary-endings|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder: Legendary Ending|D=28|M=5|Y=2023}}

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Harboring a hatred of the Covenant and its [[Covenant remnants|remnants]],<ref name="finals countdown">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/community-update-the-finals-countdown '''Halo Waypoint''': ''The Finals Countdown'']</ref> Atriox followed a philosophy of utter, amoral pragmatism, focusing solely on gathering power for himself and the Banished as a whole and ignoring whatever he cannot leverage as a useful asset. He was apathetic to the brutality and suffering that prevail in the Banished's ranks as long as he gains results,<ref>'''Halo Wars 2''', ''Phoenix Logs — Scarab''</ref> and has no attachment to faith, actively lauding it as outdated and needless. Likewise, Atriox had no animosity towards [[humans]],<ref name=AngryAtriox>[https://www.previewsworld.com/Article/195788-Angry-Atriox-Brings-Hell-To-Halo Angry Atriox Brings Hell To Halo] ''"He would tell the soldiers that they, too, are nothing but expendable. They are nothing more than cannon fodder to be thrown at their enemies. He would tell them that he doesn’t blame them for what they are. He bears them no malice. But he would also tell them that he offers no mercy. They have a role to play, just as he does, and that means that he must kill them all."''</ref>{{Ref/Reuse|ForWhat}} nor did he care for the [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war|Sangheili-Jiralhanae feud]].{{Ref/Reuse|htfs vengeance}} Atriox viewed both humans and [[Sangheili]] as warriors with potential usefulness to him;<ref name="H:OSFM1">[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]], page 161 - "In theory, all who can aid Atriox's ambition and will bend the knee are welcome, from human to hunter, but their violence and conditions of service limit recruitment opportunities."</ref><ref>'''Halo: Tales from Slipspace''', '''Hunting Party''' - "I see you for what you are and what you could be. We can do great things together. Not as master and slaves, but as the warriors you truly are."</ref> though other leaders would struggle to hold control over bitter rivals on the battlefield, Atriox's charisma and the fervor it inspired in his followers made it possible. His open minded philosophy was also demonstrated by his interactions with the [[UNSC]] crew of the ''[[Spirit of Fire]]''. During the fight at the [[Henry Lamb Research Outpost]], Atriox intentionally let [[Red Team]] escape with his forces in pursuit, both as a show of power and to discover where the Spartans came from. Later, on [[Installation 09]], he offered [[Captain Cutter]] and the UNSC crew of the ''Spirit of Fire'' another chance to walk away peacefully, and was impressed by Cutter's refusal to do so. During the conversation, Atriox compared the ferocity of the ''Spirit of Fire'' crew to himself and [[Atriox's Chosen|his brothers]] and admitted to having respect for his UNSC enemy and the fact that they were survivors like him.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Halo]]''</ref> Atriox saw Banished humans as valuable assets and was upset to hear that the [[Long Shields]] had killed some off.{{Ref/Novel|Halo: Divine Wind|Chapter=6|Page=102|Quote=Atriox and his retinue had been rather unhappy with that decision, considering humans as valuable assets to the Banished as a whole,}} Adhering to his mindset that "vengeance has no reward" even in the face of [[Sangheili-Jiralhanae war#Massacres Against the Jiralhanae|genocide]], Atriox continued to employ Banished humans throughout the [[Orion Arm]] even after [[Doisac]]'s [[Razing of Oth Sonin|destruction]], including forces on [[New Mombasa]],{{Ref/Reuse|Id=Legendary}} in the [[Order of Harmony]],{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p449|Enc22|Page=449}} and [[Unidentified Banished human inspector|forces]] on [[Zeta Halo]] as well.{{Ref/Novel|Id=TRP20|TRP|Chapter=20}}

Atriox wears unique black and white combat armor, which is partially of [[United Nations Space Command]] origin.<ref name="trailer">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjN1eWhzPeA '''YouTube''': ''Halo Wars 2 Official E3 Trailer'']</ref> It is made from various pieces, including an [[ODST armor|ODST chestplate]]. He also dons an augmented [[power armor|power gauntlet]] which artificially enhances his strength to a significant degree. In battle, he wields a customized energy mace called [[Chainbreaker]], which he created from parts of a [[Gravity hammer (fiction)|gravity hammer]].<ref>[[:File:HW2 Atriox Concept Sheet.jpg]] Atriox concept sheet for ''Halo Wars 2''</ref>

Atriox serves as the primary antagonist of ''[[Halo Wars 2]]'', with [[Dan Ayoub]] of [[343 Industries]] desiring to tell a deep story with the character in the game's cinematics.{{Ref/Reuse|bts trailer}} First being introduced in the [[Halo Wars 2: Announce Teaser|announcement teaser]] for ''Halo Wars 2'' as an unidentified [[Jiralhanae]] leader,<ref name="teaser">'''[[Halo Wars 2: Announce Teaser]]'''</ref> Atriox's name and nature were expanded upon at the [[2016]] [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]], where it was also revealed that Atriox would serve as one of the game's six playable leader characters at launch.

[[File:HINF PatheticConcept.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Concept art of Atriox fighting John-117 for ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.]]

In ''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' Atriox is voiced by actor [[John DiMaggio]],<ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2 credits]]'''</ref> who previously voiced the generic [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Brute chieftains]] in ''[[Halo 3]]'' and ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' while his motion capture is done by [[Damion Poitier]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/DamionPoitier/status/832646669812457472 Twitter - Damion Poitier]</ref>

 

A life-size Atriox animatronic puppet was created for the comedic ''[[Halo Wars 2#War of Wits|War of Wits]]'' live-action trailers ''[[War of Wits: The Sale|The Sale]]'' and ''[[War of Wits: The Armrest|The Armrest]]''. As part of the campaign, Atriox was given a fake bio on the website of the real-life car dealership Camacho Auto Sales. According to his profile, ''Though new to sales, Atriox has over a decade of management experience as leader of The Banished. Like his favorite weapon, an energy mace known as "Chainbreaker," Atriox is fond to claim his deals are "off the chain."''<ref name="camacho">[http://www.camachoauto.com/bios.php?te_class=employee_bio&te_mode=view&te_key=14 '''Camacho Auto Sales''' - ''General Atriox Bio'']</ref> The bio, as well as the live-action shorts, identify the character as "General Atriox", although this has been confirmed not to be his canonical title.<ref>[https://twitter.com/GrimBrotherOne/status/838068709377748992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw '''Twitter''' - ''GrimBrotherOne'']</ref>

 

After Atriox and the Banished's debut in ''Halo Wars 2'' was well received by fans in  in [[2017]], [[343 Industries]] later decided to make them the main antagonists for ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' midway through development.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.inverse.com/gaming/halo-infinite-villain-escharum-atriox-banished|Site=Inverse|Page=The Banished: Everything you Need to Know About Halo Infinite's Villains|Quote=Why did they add the Banished? Crocker says it's because 'Because they’re super cool and everyone likes them,' Fair enough.}}{{Ref/YouTube|VidName=343 On What You Need To Know About Halo Infinite's Campaign|Code=lVP9u2aJxBs|Time=3:42|Channel=Game Informer|Quote=How to take the Brute aesthetic that we did develop and extend to the Banished in Halo Wars 2 for an RTS game. How to bring both that faction and their art style and their visual distinctiveness to an FPS game.}} In ''[[Halo Infinite]]'' Atriox is voiced by actor [[Wikipedia:Ike Amadi|Ike Amadi]],<ref>'''[[Halo Infinite credits]]'''</ref> who had previously also replaced [[Wikipedia:Mike Colter|Mike Colter]] in the role of ''[[Jameson Locke]]'' in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', while his motion capture is done by [[Bruce Thomas]].{{Ref/Site|Id=DanChosich|URL=http://danchosich.com/haloinfinite|Site=DanChosich.com|Page=Halo Infinite|M=12|Y=2021}}

 

Atriox was originally going to appear in ''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'', but 343 Industries requested for [[Troy Denning]] to fill Atriox's role in the novel by [[Orsun]] in the second or third review.<ref>[https://www.gamecrate.com/interview-halo-silent-storm-first-novel-about-master-chief-15-years/20744 '''GameCrate''': ''Interview - "Halo: Silent Storm" is the first novel about Master Chief in 15 years'']</ref>

 

File:PL_Keyminds.jpg|Concept art of Atriox fighting the Flood for ''Halo Wars 2''

File:HW2-AtrioxHC.png|Atriox and a holographic display of High Charity's wreckage.

File:HINF AtrioxVsMasterChief.png|Atriox smashing John-117 with ''Chainbreaker''.

File:HINF-MynameisAtriox.png|Atriox before throwing John-117 into space.

File:HINF Atriox.png|A hologram of Atriox aboard the ''Ghost of Gbraakon''.