Editing Meduz 'Ra'ashai

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Character infobox
|variant=Cov
|name=Meduz 'Ra'ashai
|image=
|homeworld=
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|species=[[Sangheili]]
|gender=Male
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|affiliation=*[[Covenant]] 
**[[Silent Shadow]] {{C|formerly}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC10|Out|Chapter=10}}
*[[Defenders of the Sanctum]] {{C|formerly}}{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}}
*[[Swords of Sanghelios]]{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC14|Out|Chapter=14}}
|rank= [[Blademaster]] {{C|formerly}}{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}}
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}}
'''Meduz 'Ra'ashai''' is a [[Sangheili]] warrior who is currently alligned with the [[Swords of Sanghelios]]. He served as a [[Blademaster]] in the [[Silent Shadow]] early in the [[Human-Covenant War]] and was a part of the [[Fleet of Swift Justice]]. Following the events of the [[Battle of Netherop (2526)|First Battle of Netherop]], 'Ra'ashai was left on the planet and eventually allied with the [[Defenders of the Sanctum|other Sangheili castaways]] under [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]] and [[Tam 'Lakosee]].{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}} He would defect from this group and join forces with [[Thel 'Vadam]] during the [[Battle of Netherop (2559)|Second Battle of Netherop]].{{Ref/Reuse|OutC14}}

==Biography==
===First Battle of Netherop and aftermath===
In [[2526#June|June of 2526]], 'Ra'ashai was deployed to Netherop with the Fleet of Swift Justice with orders to hunt down the [[Flotilla of Unsung Piety]], a squadron of [[Covenant]] [[Intrusion corvette]]s that were commandeered by 'Kvarosee. After the resulting Battle of Netherop, 'Kvarosee and his remaining forces were stripped of their armor by the Silent Shadow and marooned on the planet.{{Ref/Novel|Id=Obl|Oblv}} 'Ra'ashai was also left on the planet, possibly to ensure that the castaways did not find a way off world. Whatever the reason, the harsh conditions on Netherop ultimately forced the Blademaster to join forces with 'Kvarosee to in order to survive.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}} He was therefore brought into the conflict between the Sangheili and the human castaways led by [[Amalea Petrov]] that would last for decades.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC9|Out|Chapter=9}}

At some point, the Sangheili discovered and gained access to an ancient [[Precursor]] facility they dubbed the [[Sanctum of the Ancients]] that was situated underneath a [[Wikipedia:Tell (archaeology)|tel]]. Inside, they discovered a wealth of powerful artifacts, including the [[Sanctum's Hide]] that provided airtight armor and [[active camouflage]] and a hydroponics chamber that could grow food to sustain them indefinitely. Most important of these artifacts was the [[Divine Hand]], a Precursor superweapon capable of destroying ships in orbit and would produce superheated waves in the ground immidiately surrounding the tel when fired. It could be controlled by 'Kvarosee from within the [[Inner Sanctum]]. The Sangheili settled in this facility and began calling themselves the [[Defenders of the Sanctum]].{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}}

Over the years, the Defenders grew less disciplined and fit in the ever more accommodating facility, with 'Ra'ashai growing particularly heavyset.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}} They also continued to do battle with the human castaways outside, as the humans built on their numbers by reproducing and attempted to lure the Sangheili outside of the Sanctum. About a year after entering the Sanctum, the Defenders used the Divine Hand to destroy the {{UNSCShip|Alpina}}, a [[UNSC corvette|corvette]] that was attempting to rescue the humans on the planet. Approximately ten years after this, as the humans were attempting to dig into the Sanctum, another human rescue mission was attempted on Netherop and was again destroyed by the Divine Hand.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC9}} This time, however, three human castaways attempted to gain entry to the facility and jumped directly into the weapon. This caused their bodies [[Lurker|to begin floating inside the walls]] of the Sanctum for two years, always following the Defenders. Their constant presence and surveillance took a considerable mental toll on the Sangheili, causing four of them to flee into the desert to their deaths and leaving the rest in a shaken state.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}} This deteriorated 'Kvarosee's control over the Defenders, with 'Ra'ashai particularly growing resentful of his increasingly fanatical leader. Only 'Kvarosee's control over the Divine Hand stopped 'Ra'ashai from staging a mutiny.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}}

===Second Battle of Netherop===
In [[2559#November|November of 2559]], the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]], the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], and the [[Banished]] all became aware of the Divine Hand's existence and converged on Netherop to try to recover the weapon in order to gain an advantage over [[Cortana]]'s [[Guardian Custode]]s.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC2|Out|Chapter=2}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC3|Out|Chapter=3}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC6|Out|Chapter=6}} The Sangheili arrived first, and their insertion force of three [[Phantom]]s was permitted to land by the Defenders due to the assumption that they were Covenant forces.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC7|Out|Chapter=7}} Believing themselves to be rescued, a group of four unidentified Defenders took the group's last [[Mountain runner|Dust Runner]] to try to make contact with this force. Given 'Ra'ashai's strong inclination to return home that drove his actions later in the conflict, it is very likely that he was a part of this group.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}} However, as they approached the landing zone, a human force of forty [[Pelican]] dropships and a [[D102 Owl]] stealth craft began approaching the planet's surface.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC8|Out|Chapter=8}} 'Kvarosee decided to fire on them with the Divine Hand, and the group was barely able to get back to the safety of the Sanctum in time, leaving the Dust Runner in the process.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}} The firing destroyed the Pelicans, but the Owl survived and deployed [[SPARTAN-IV program|Spartan]] [[Olympia Vale]] and the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] of [[Tango Team]] onto the top of the tel.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC8}} The Defenders began making their way towards the landing zone and planning an ambush, with 'Ra'ashai suggesting that they focus on capturing [[Keely Iyuska]] and [[Rosa Fuertes]], who were the only unarmored humans and were assumed to be the most important. They were able to open a sinkhole underneath the pair but were engaged by Vale, [[Corporal]] [[P. Barnes|Golly Barnes]], and [[Lance Corporal]] [[S. Legowski|Legowski]]. All seven Defenders escaped this firefight and retreated into the Sanctum, capturing Fuertes and dropping Legowski into a sinkhole.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}}

Due to their poor fitness, the Defenders were not able to retreat quickly and needed to pause often to rest. During one of these stoppages, a Swords of Sanghelios force that had arrived at the tel was able to catch up with them. Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and [[Oath Warden]] [[Crei 'Ayomuu]] attempted to deescalate the situation and convince the castaways to surrender, with 'Ra'ashai forcing 'Kvarosee and 'Lakosee to hear them out. This attempt failed, and the Defenders continued retreating deeper into the Sanctum with the Swords in pursuit.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC12|Out|Chapter=12}} 'Kvarosee eventually confronted 'Vadam again, and after a brief exchange between the two a firefight broke out between the two groups in which 'Ayomuu employed a poison gas canister and killed a Defender in hand-to-hand combat. Enraged by the use of a dishonorable weapon, 'Ra'ashai directly engaged 'Vadam but was quickly outmatched in both [[Energy sword (fiction)|energy sword]] combat and grappling. The Blademaster was only saved by his Sanctum's Hide and the explosive shockwave originating from a [[C-12 shaped charge]] detonation that the human forces used to breach deeper towards the Inner Sanctum. This blast threw 'Vadam off of Ra'ashai, and afterwards the Blademaster offered to help the Swords of Sangheilios reach the Inner Sanctum and secure the Divine Hand from 'Kvarosee in exchange for returning to Sangheili space. The Arbiter agreed, but at this point the seals on his and a number of his warriors suits failed due to 'Kvarosee's interference, exposing them to 'Ayomuu's poison gas.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC14|Out|Chapter=14}} 'Ra'ashai, protected by his Sanctum's Hide, was able to drag 'Vadam and 'Ayomuu to safety but was unable to save [[Kaidon]] [[Ghe 'Talot]] and his warriors. They regrouped with [[High kaidon]] [[Olabisi Varo'dai]] and her [[Sangheili Ranger|ranger]]s, and once the two Sangheili regained consciousness they began moving towards the Inner Sanctum. {{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC18|Out|Chapter=18}}

Upon reaching the Inner Sanctum, the Sangheili were fired upon by the human forces who had reached the location first, as they saw their drawn energy swords and believed they were Defenders reinforcements. Varo'dai and 'Ayomuu believed it was a betrayal, but Ra'ashai was able to convince them it was a mistake. They then regrouped with Vale and her force, finding that she had killed three Defenders and that her and Barnes had gravely wounded 'Kvarosee and 'Lakosee. 'Ra'ashai quickly located the two, with 'Lakosee attempting to drag 'Kvarosee to safety, and threatened the latter in order to get 'Lakosee to help them access the Inner Sanctum. 'Ra'ashai remained with 'Kvarosee while 'Vadam, Vale, and 'Lakosee entered the chamber.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC20|Out|Chapter=20}} The Arbiter targeted and destroyed the Banished craft in orbit, but the arrival of a [[Created]] [[Harrier-class vessel]] and its subsequent destruction caused 'Lakosee to destroy all other ships in orbit in a pious rage, save for a handful of human [[D81-LRT Condor]]s.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC20|Out|Chapter=20}} Keely Iyuska also recovered a [[vacuum energy condenser]] that served as the power source for the Divine Hand, rendering the weapon on Netherop inoperable. After they left the Inner Sanctum, it was decided to leave 'Kvarosee and 'Lakosee alive in the Sanctum as the UNSC and Swords of Sangheilios attempted to evacuate ahead of the Banished and Created forces converging on the planet. 'Ra'ashai honored this, but he still dropped them into the dormant Inner Sanctum "for their protection".{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC21|Out|Chapter=21}} 

The group made their way to the surface, where they found that a Banished force led by [[Atriox]] had landed in [[Gydrozka Workshop Breaching Pod|drop pods]] and a handful of [[Eklon'Dal Workshop Lich|Liches]] and had encircled the ring of the tel. In the event of an attack, 'Ra'ashai planned to open sinkholes underneath advancing Banished forces, stalling a potential ground attack. However, it was decided to hand the energy condenser over to the Banished in order to get everyone off world ahead of the arrival of Created forces. 'Vadam, Vale, and Iyuska met with Atriox, [[Studymaster]] [[Eto 'Saljhoo]], and the [[Hand of Atriox|Spartan Killer]] [[Tovarus]] to negotiate with them. They then had Fuertes and 'Ayomuu appear to break rank in order to turn over the dust that produces the Sanctum's Hide and the energy condenser, with 'Ra'ashai firing on the Oath Warden as he "escaped". Atriox saw through this ruse, but nonetheless let them live and left the planet with the Precursor technology and 'Ayomuu in tow.{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC24|Out|Chapter=24}} After this, 'Ra'ashai was evacuated from Netherop alongside the rest of the surviving human and Sangheili forces via the Owl dropship to the surviving Condors, which took them into [[Slipstream space|slipspace]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=OutC26|Out|Chapter=26}}

==Personality and traits==
By the events of the Second Battle of Netherop, years in the Sanctum of the Ancients had left 'Ra'ashai particularly overweight, being described as possessing a large midsection, bulging thighs, and fleshy mandibles.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}}{{Ref/Reuse|OutC12}}{{Ref/Reuse|OutC14}} Like the rest of the Sanctum's defenders, he was coated in the translucent armor of the Sanctum's Hide.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC20}}

Like most members of the Silent Shadow, 'Ra'ashai was a cunning warrior who was gifted in strategy and hand-to-hand combat, though these skills were blunted by years of neglect.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}}{{Ref/Reuse|OutC14}} He also did not believe in the Forerunner's divinity, causing him to but heads with 'Kvarosee and 'Lakosee.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC10}} The Blademaster longed to return home during his time on Netherop, which was a driving factor in his decision to side with the Arbiter during the conflict.{{Ref/Reuse|OutC14}}

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{1st}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Sangheili characters]]
[[Category:Covenant members]]