Editing Escharum

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|image=[[File:HINF NewEscharum.png|300px]]

|homeworld=[[Doisac]]{{Ref/Reuse|Hi}}

|birth=c. [[2474]]{{Ref/Note|In chapter 17 of ''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]'', Castor estimates Escharum to be eighty or ninety years old. If one takes eighty-five as an average age and the date of Castor's observation in 2559, this results in an approximate birth year of 2474, give or take roughly five years.}}

|death=c. [[2560#May|May 28, 2560]]{{Ref/Reuse|Hi}}

|causeofdeath=Mortally wounded in battle by [[John-117]]{{Ref/Reuse|Hi}}

|species=[[Jiralhanae]]{{Ref/Generic|Id=HIDemo|[[Halo Infinite Campaign Gameplay Premiere]]}}

|height=

|mass=

|affiliation=*[[Covenant]] {{C|formerly}}

{{Quote|I want [[John-117|you]] to know my name too. To know my legend. How else will you beg me for mercy? I am Escharum. [[War Chief]] of the [[Banished]]. [[Installation 07|This]] is my world now. And you have [[Installation 07 conflict|little time]] remaining in it.|Escharum revealing his name to [[John-117]].{{Ref/Reuse|Hi}}}}

'''Escharum''' was a prominent [[Jiralhanae]] [[War Chief]] within the [[Banished]], inheriting the position of second-in-command following the death of [[Decimus]].{{Ref/Book|Id=H:OSFM|OSFM|Page=159}}{{Ref/Reuse|SOR17}} In the absence of the faction's founder and leader [[Atriox]], Escharum rose to power within the Banished and would lead the faction to victory against the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] in late [[2559]], managing to seize control of [[Installation 07|Zeta Halo]].{{Ref/Site|https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/campaign-evolved|Halo Waypoint|Section=News|Campaign Evolved|Id=CampaignEvolved|D=25|M=4|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Game|Hi|trailer|Detail=[[Halo Infinite Campaign Gameplay Premiere|Campaign Gameplay Premiere]]}} He was eventually killed in battle by the [[John-117|Master Chief]] in [[2560#May|May 2560]].{{Ref/Reuse|House of Reckoning}}

During the [[Human-Covenant War]] Escharum served as [[Atriox]]'s ''daskalo'', or mentor.{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOR3|HSoR|Chapter=3}}{{Ref/Reuse|Id=DW6B}} Escharum described Atriox as his finest "recruit". While they were both in the Covenant, Escharum advised Atriox to rebel when he sought counsel.{{Ref/Level|Hi|Warship Gbraakon}}

Around [[2558#April|April 2558]], Atriox and [[Decimus]] departed for the [[Installation 00|Ark]] aboard the ''[[Enduring Conviction]]'', leaving Escharum in charge of all the Banished forces that remained in the [[Milky Way|galaxy]]. Shortly after Atriox left, Escharum assigned [[Blademaster]] [[Inslaan 'Gadogai]] to [[Castor]] as an advisor so that the [[dokab]] could thrive amongst the other Jiralhanae [[Legionmaster]]s; Castor's faction, the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]], had joined the Banished just before the [[warmaster]] left for his [[Attack on Installation 00|mission]] to the Ark. The [[Sangheili]] consultant would also serve two other purposes: to act as a representative for Escharum and to punish Castor if he ever attempted to betray him.{{Ref/Reuse|SOR3}}

In the summer of [[2559]], Escharum received a transmission from Atriox informing the War Chief of his [[Raid on Anodyne Spirit|posession]] of [[Menachite Forerunner crystal|a]] [[Forerunner]] [[slipspace]] [[slipspace flake|flake]] and his intention of using it to return to the galaxy via a [[slipspace portal]] [[Menachite portal complex|facility]] hidden on [[Reach]]. He instructed Escharum to find and activate this portal as soon as possible. Escharum sent the Keepers to Reach, along with the [[Legion of the Corpse-Moon]] and the [[Ravaged Tusks]]—two Jiralhanae [[clan]]s that had been absorbed into the Banished and reorganized into [[legion#Banished|legion]]s under the direction of Legionmasters [[Deukalion]] and [[Ballas]], respectively. Their mission was locate the portal facility and report its location back to Escharum before activating it so that they all might be there together to witness the return of Atriox.{{Ref/Reuse|SOR3}}

On [[2559#October|October 12, 2559]], Escharum arrived at Reach aboard his personal [[intrusion corvette]] to visit Castor and scold him in person for his inability to locate the portal. It had been roughly three months since the Keepers and the other legions had been assigned to the task, and none of them had anything to show for it other than some [[human]] towns and hardware that they had managed to capture. While Escharum approved of the dokab's plan to follow the recently-arrived [[Blue Team|team]] of [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartans]] to the hidden portal, he was dissatisfied with the lack of results. Landing at [[Figyelő Point]], he confronted Castor and 'Gadogai, expressing his frustrations about both the still-missing portal and the fact that the UNSC was starting to gain a hold on Reach once again, putting pressure on their mission. However, the blademaster presented a plan—acting as if it had been the dokab's all along—that would buy them more time. If the Spartans did not lead them to the portal soon, they would use the human prisoners they had captured from the [[Viery Militia]] as hostages and force the rest off-world. This plan satiated the war chief's concerns until they were no longer relevant just moments later. The Keepers had detected a squadron of UNSC [[F-41 Broadsword|craft]] escorting a [[Pelican|dropship]] into the [[Highland Mountains]]. Inspecting their path, Castor deduced that their destination was the [[Menachite Mountain|"Missing Mountain"]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOR17|SoR|Chapter=17}}

Aboard his corvette, Escharum accompanied the Keepers as they converged on the basin that was once the mountain that sat atop [[CASTLE Base]] before it forcibly removed by the [[Covenant]] during their [[Fall of Reach|invasion]] of the planet.{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOR19|SoR|Chapter=19}} This base was the Spartan team's actual destination. Ironically, CASTLE Base was built on top of the Forerunner portal facility that the Banished sought. After excavating the entrance to the facility, Escharum gathered there with 'Gadogai, Castor, the Keepers, and other Banished forces to witness Atriox's return. The dokab had [[Aubert|one]] of his human acolytes activate the portal and soon a [[Banished Lich|Lich]] descended out of the stormy sky.{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW7|DW|Chapter=7|Page=135}} Atriox and some of his most loyal warriors disembarked the vessel and greeted Escharum. As they prepared to be evacuated by the war chief's corvette before one of the [[Cortana|Apparition]]'s [[Guardian Custode|Guardians]] noticed the portal and arrived to investigate, Castor made his move. He had his men board the Lich while he announced to Atriox and Escharum his plan to travel to the Ark and begin the [[Covenant religion|Great Journey]]. Realizing that they couldn't waste time and lives in a firefight, Atriox had Escharum direct his soldiers out of the facility instead of having them deal with the betrayers. Atriox did, however, order 'Gadogai to kill Castor and bring him his head. Escharum warned the dokab that even if he survived, he would personally slaughter him if they were to ever meet again. Leaving the blademaster to his task, Atriox, Escharum, and the loyal Banished forces boarded the corvette and fled the planet. Ultimately, however, 'Gadogai would instead join the Keepers and they all travelled to the Ark aboard the Lich knowing that they would encounter more Banished when they reached the installation.{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOR21|SoR|Chapter=21}}

Despite the fact that [[Atriox]] valued the [[humans]] in the Banished{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW6B|Halo: Divine Wind|Chapter=6|Page=102}} and that his denouncement of genocide as "barbarism" with "no reward" allowed the Banished to incorporate [[Jiralhanae|feuding]] [[Sangheili|species]] in the first place,{{Ref/Comic|Id=ROA4|RoA|Detail=''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox Issue 4|Issue 4]]''}}{{Ref/Comic|Id=HuntingParty1|Hunting Party}}{{Ref/Comic|Id=ROA2|RoA|Detail=''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox Issue 2|Issue 2]]''}} Escharum decided to go against Atriox's core principles that tied the Banished together and declared humanity's destruction for reasons unknown.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=RiseOfBanished|hXrMkGXtk0c|Halo|Halo Infinite The Banished Rise|Quote=Escharum, leader of the Banished, declares humanity's destruction to be imminent, starting with its heroes.}}

In [[2559#December|December 2559]], Atriox and Escharum led the Banished to victory against the UNSC in an [[Battle over Installation 07|opening battle]] at [[Installation 07]]. The conflict resulted in heavy UNSC casualties, especially among personnel attached to the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}. Escharum maintained control over the installation in the months that followed as Atriox was believed to have perished when a part of the Halo installation was destroyed by [[Cortana]], leading the Banished in the [[Installation 07 conflict|large-scale conflict]] while [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]] returned after six months being stranded in space vacuum. Escharum sends the Master Chief several transmissions during the course of his journey, taunting him and introducing himself.{{Ref/Reuse|Hi}}

As the Master Chief destroyed a [[Gorespike cannon|Banished AA gun]], Escharum sent a hologram transmission to the legendary [[Spartan-II|Spartan]] to challenge him to a battle, describing it as "a true test of legends." As the Master Chief took down the second of three AA guns, Escharum sent [[Tovarus]] and [[Hyperius]] after the Master Chief, informing the Spartan of the two's role in the [[Hand of Atriox]], but they also fell to the Master Chief. Following the fight, Escharum briefly argued with [[the Harbinger]] and directed more Banished forces to protect the [[Command Spire]] controlling the ring's repairs. Once the Harbinger was gone, Escharum, who was revealed to be dying of a worsening terminal illness, ordered [[Blademaster]] [[Jega 'Rdomnai]] to bring him the Master Chief alive. Although concerned for Escharum's worsening condition, 'Rdomnai complied with his wishes.{{Ref/Level|Id=Pelican Down|Hi|[[Pelican Down (Halo Infinite level)|Pelican Down]]}}

After the Master Chief and [[the Weapon]] succeeded in shutting down the Command Spire and stopping the Reformation,{{Ref/Level|Hi|[[The Command Spire]]}} Escharum angrily contacted the Harbinger and accused her of failing. The Harbinger revealed that the [[Silent Auditorium (location)|Silent Auditorium]] had been partially rebuilt, although she admitted that she didn't know if it was enough. Escharum ordered the Harbinger to find out and he smashed the holotable in a fit of rage. 'Rdomnai asked Escharum if there was a problem and he stated that he was losing patience with the Harbinger and demanded that 'Rdomnai tell him that his mission was a success. 'Rdomnai simply stated that the Master Chief would come to them and revealed that he had captured [[Fernando Esparza]], much to Escharum's delight. Escharum ordered 'Rdomnai to keep Esparza alive, but to have his fun as 'Rdomnai deserved it. Escharum laughed as he watched 'Rdomnai drag Esparza away.{{Ref/Level|Id=Repository|Hi|[[Repository (Halo Infinite level)|Repository]]}}

When the Master Chief arrived at the [[House of Reckoning (location)|House of Reckoning]], Escharum sent him a holographic transmission, taunting the Master Chief over the number of humans that had entered and died in his arena. Once the Master Chief entered the arena, Escharum encouraged him to scavenge weapons which he called a remnant of the dead soldiers' sacrifice and a testament to the Banished's strength. Escharum began sending in waves of Banished troops to attack the Master Chief, but they all fell and he was able to continue on. Escharum appeared in another transmission, stating that [[Cortana]] and the [[Created]] had destroyed [[Doisac|his world]], but she was unable to kill the fire that burned in the heart of the Banished, the loss of Doisac having only made them stronger and asked if the Master Chief could say the same. The Weapon wondered why Escharum was telling the Master Chief all of this, who explained that death changed people, forcing them to look at themselves and make a choice. Escharum chose to fight, the same as the Master Chief would have done. On the next level, Escharum contacted the Master Chief again, recalling the [[Siege of Palghanar]] where a settlement had held out against Escharum's forces for nineteen days before falling. Escharum claimed that while they fought well and to the end, they were doomed from the start. The Master Chief entered the next arena where Escharum again taunted him before sending more Banished forces after the Spartan, this time including a [[Mgalekgolo|Hunter]] pair, but once again, they all fell to the Spartan. As the Master Chief carried on, Escharum contacted him again via hologram and mused about the symbolism of Halo's looping structure. On the third level, Escharum taunted him about how quickly and easily the Banished had defeated the ''Infinity'' and sent 'Rdomnai after him. However, the Master Chief managed to kill the Blademaster as well and Escharum told him that 'Rdomnai had wanted to kill Esparza, but Escharum had promised him a sweeter kill or a warrior's death instead. In a final hologram transmission, Escharum warned the Master Chief that no matter the outcome of their final battle, the Banished still controlled Halo, having come ready for war with a thousand legions occupying it. Escharum promised that the Silent Auditorium would give up its secrets and that the Master Chief's interference would just be a fleeting irritation.{{Ref/Reuse|House of Reckoning}}

[[File:HINF Chadscharum.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Escharum confronting the Master Chief with the ''Diminisher of Hope''.]]

Finally reaching Esparza, the Master Chief and the Weapon set to work on releasing him from Escharum's torture device. Escharum reminded the Master Chief that he had promised not to kill Esparza and revealed to the Weapon and Esparza that this had never been a trap, but rather a test of mettle and that their battle would there. Escharum dropped down in full armor and announced that their story would become a legend told by those who survived them. Armed with a [[Scrap Cannon]] as well as ''[[Diminisher of Hope]]'', Escharum attacked the Master Chief, eventually surrounding himself with an energy shield that was connected to the machine holding Esparza, causing any damage that was inflicted upon Escharum to be transferred to Esparza. Directed by the Weapon, the Master Chief destroyed the relays powering Escharum's shield in between bouts of fighting with the old War Chief. Once his shield was permanently disabled, Escharum switched from his cannon to his [[gravity axe]], but the Master Chief finally emerged victorious, bringing Escharum down with his weapons fire and mortally wounding him.{{Ref/Reuse|House of Reckoning}}

As the Master Chief and the Weapon freed Esparza from the torture machine, the mortally wounded Escharum staggered over to the two men, demanding that they continue their fight, but the Master Chief informed Escharum that it was over. Collapsing into his foe's arms, Escharum stated that nothing ends and that his death would inspire a thousand others and he asked the Master Chief to tell them that he died well. The Master Chief held Escharum as he died, surprising Esparza with the respect that the Spartan had shown the old [[Jiralhanae]] given the latter's reputation as a monster. The Master Chief told Esparza that at the end, Escharum was just a soldier, hoping that he'd done the right thing and questioning his choices. Although Esparza thought that it was over since the Banished's leader was dead, the Master Chief warned him that there would be consequences and that there always were.{{Ref/Level|Id=House of Reckoning|Hi|[[House of Reckoning]]}}

Although Atriox welcomes [[human]]s to join and serve in the Banished due to the utility they offer,{{Ref/Reuse|Id=DW6B}} Escharum maintained a fierce dislike of them for reasons unknown and considered them to be vermin.{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW6|HDW|Chapter=6}} As such, many of Escharum's forces, such as the Leigon of the Corpse-Moon and the Clan of the Ravaged Tusks, similarly never permitted humans to serve in their ranks - a fact that caused considerable friction with the Keepers of the One Freedom when they were a part of the Banished.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=SOR3}} Despite the [[Sangheili]] having abused Escharum and his kind in the Covenant and genocidally killed Banished Jiralhanae following the [[Great Schism]],{{Ref/Site|Id=GSInterview|URL=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-wars-2-new-character-images-and-details-revea/1100-6442098/?ftag=GSS-05-10aaa0b|Site=Gamespot- Halo Wars 2: New Character Images and Details Revealed}}{{Ref/Comic|Id=HuntingParty2|Hunting Party}} Escharum oddly did not appear to hate the Sangheili as he did humans.{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOR3B|HSOR|Chapter=3}} He considered [[Jega 'Rdomnai]] to be his most respected soldier and developed a comradery with him,{{Ref/Site|Id=ign|URL=https://www.ign.com/articles/halo-infinite-campaign-get-to-know-jega-spartan-killer-ign-first?utm_source=twitter|Site=IGN|Page=Halo Infinite Campaign: Get to Know Jega, a ‘Spartan Killer’ – IGN First|D=9|M=11|Y=2021}} which was very rare between their species.{{Ref/Book|Id=Conversations|Book=Conversations from the Universe|Section=[[Conversations from the Universe#Grunt Conversation|Grunt Conversation]]}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=Envoy|HE|Chapter=3}} Escharum also hated the [[San'Shyuum]] for their lies and deception.{{Ref/Game|Id=SignalDetected|HI|trailer|Detail=[[Signal Detected. Tag Designation: Foe]]|Quote=No more Prophets, no more lies!}}

Escharum reveled in combat and enjoyed the challenge certain [[Spartan]]s could offer him; he encouraged the Master Chief to "fight hard" and "die well". Without battle, he somberly described himself to be lost and alone.{{Ref/Reuse|HIDemo}} Despite his hatred towards humanity, Escharum displayed a respect for the Master Chief as a fellow warrior and was invigorated by the revelation of his survival. He cared deeply about having a legacy to be remembered by and told the Master Chief to spread his legend in his dying breath. Despite being enemies, the Master Chief respected Escharum as well, telling [[Fernando Esparza]] that while Escharum was a monster, he was also a soldier.{{Ref/Game|Id=Hi|Hi}} Part of Escharum's joy at having a final battle against such a legend may have come from his being terminally ill, fueling his desire for a worthy last opponent.{{Ref/Reuse|Pelican Down}}

Escharum wears a distinctive V-plated chest plate and wields his personal [[gravity axe]] ''[[Diminisher of Hope]]'',{{Ref/Reuse|SOR17}} as well as a [[Scrap Cannon]].{{Ref/Generic|Id=HICLT|[[Halo Infinite Campaign Launch Trailer]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|House of Reckoning}}

{{Expand-section}}

*The name "Escharum" may derive from the [[Latin]] word ''Eschara'' meaning "scar, scab". This would be fitting as early concept art shows Escharum with prominent facial disfigurement, and his present model shows scars across his blinded eye and on the right side of his lip.

*In ''[[Pelican Down (Halo Infinite level)|Pelican Down]]'', it's revealed that Escharum is suffering from an unidentified terminal illness, one that [[Jega 'Rdomnai]] can smell is getting worse.

===Development images===

File:HI Concept Escharum.jpg|Concept art of Escharum for ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.

File:HINF GI AltCoverClear.jpg|Escharum on the cover of Game Informer.

File:HINF-E&J.jpg|Escharum orders Jega to observe John-117 from a distance.

File:HINF HopeDiminished.jpg|Escharum swinging the ''Diminisher of Hope''.