Editing Battle of the House of Reckoning

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*[[Battle for Zeta Halo]]

|commanders2    = *[[War Chief]] [[Escharum]]†

*[[Riuctda Workshop Ghost]]s

*[[Eklon'Dal Workshop Wraith]]s

**[[Jega 'Rdomnai]] {{C|presumed}}

The '''Battle of the House of Reckoning''' is an engagement in the [[Battle for Zeta Halo]] involving the [[John-117|Master Chief]] storming the [[Banished]] stronghold known as the [[House of Reckoning (location)|House of Reckoning]] to rescue [[Fernando Esparza]]. It resulted in the death of [[War Chief]] [[Escharum]] who was the leader of the Banished at the time.

Following the revelation of the [[John-117|Master Chief]]'s survival, the [[Banished]] [[War Chief]] [[Escharum]] was invigorated and he ordered [[Blademaster]] [[Jega 'Rdomnai]] to follow the legendary [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]].{{Ref/Level|Id=Foundation|Hi|[[Foundation (Halo Infinite)|Foundation]]}} After the Master Chief destroyed three [[Kywasky Workshop Gorespike cannon|Banished anti-aircraft cannons]], the terminally ill Escharum ordered 'Rdomnai to bring the Spartan to him.{{Ref/Level|Id=Pelican Down|Hi|[[Pelican Down (Halo Infinite level)|Pelican Down]]}}

Taking an [[M808 Scorpion]] tank parked at the outpost and aided by the rescued Marines, the Master Chief fought his way down the road towards the House of Reckoning through heavy Banished resistance including [[Sangheili]], [[Kig-Yar]], [[Unggoy]], [[Jiralhanae]], a [[Mgalekgolo]] pair, [[Riuctda Workshop Ghost|Ghosts]] and [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Wraith|Wraiths]]. Blocked by a gate, the Master Chief climbed over it, killed a [[Sangheili Warlord]], opened the gate and continued on. Finally, the Spartan arrived at the House of Reckoning where he encountered no resistance outside. Instead, the gate opened for him on its own and after the Master Chief extended and crossed the bridge, he found the door to the Banished stronghold unlocked.{{Ref/Level|Id=The Road|Hi|[[The Road (level)|The Road]]}}

On the third level, the Master Chief was drawn by voices into the single structure in the middle of the arena. Upon the Master Chief's discovery that it was Esparza's [[holorecorder]], he was trapped by security barriers and attacked by a cloaked [[Jega 'Rdomnai]]. Aided by [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan]] [[Hudson Griffin]]'s [[Threat Sensor]], the Master Chief managed to defeat the sadistic [[Blademaster]] and continue on. As he headed for the fourth and final level of the House of Reckoning, Escharum warned that the Banished came prepared for [[Battle for Zeta Halo|war]] and a thousand legions controlled Zeta Halo and that no matter the outcome of their battle, the Master Chief's interference would be just a fleeting irritation.{{Ref/Level|Id=House of Reckoning|Hi|[[House of Reckoning]]}}

Shortly after the battle began, Escharum surrounded himself with an energy shield that the Spartan was unable to penetrate, causing Esparza pain instead. The Weapon warned the Spartan that the shield was connected to the torture machine and that any damage that he inflicted upon Escharum would be transferred to Esparza. Discovering that the power was transmitted by a series of relays around the room, the Weapon managed to expose one, allowing the Master Chief to destroy it. Escharum's shield dropped, giving the Spartan the chance to attack, but the other relays quickly restored the shield. With the help of the Weapon, the Master Chief managed to destroy all of the relays and Escharum's shield while preventing Esparza from taking any more damage from their battle. Enraged, Escharum discarded his [[Grenflekt Workshop Scrap Cannon]] in favor of his [[gravity axe]] ''[[Diminisher of Hope]]'' and attacked the Master Chief head on. Using the weapons available in the room, the Master Chief finally managed to defeat Escharum.