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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|Covenant}} |
| {{Affiliation infobox | | {{Affiliation infobox |
| |name=Reformists | | |section1-title= Organization overview |
| | |anthem= |
| |image=[[File:H2A Terminals - Prophets.png|300px]] | | |image=[[File:H2A Terminals - Prophets.png|300px]] |
| |type=Religious faction | | |body-title=Type |
| |founder= | | |body=Religious faction |
| |documents= | | |bodyfigure-title=Head of State |
| |head=*[[Hierarchs]] | | |bodyfigure=[[Hierarchs]] |
| **[[Qurlom]]
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| **[[J'nellin]]
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| *[[Keepers of the Dawn]]
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| **[[Breaking Shadow]]
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| **[[Pervading Stone]]
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| **[[Ushering Dusk]]
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| |executive=
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| |legislative=
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| |judicial=
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| |branch= | | |branch= |
| |main=[[Forerunner]] [[Anodyne Spirit|Dreadnought]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P190}} | | |main=[[Forerunner Dreadnought]] |
| |anthem=
| | |language=[[Covenant languages#San'Shyuum|San'Shyuum language]] |
| |language=[[San'Shyuum language]] | |
| |script= | | |script= |
| |religion=Worship of the [[Forerunner]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P190}} | | |religion=Worship of the [[Forerunner]]s |
| |techlevel=
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| |notable= | | |notable= |
| |formed=Prior to [[2200 BCE]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P190}} | | |formed-title=Formation |
| |dissolved-title=Amalgamated
| | |formed=[[2200 BCE]] |
| |dissolved=[[852 BCE]] | | |dissolved=[[852 BCE]] |
| |affiliation= | | |affiliation= |
| }} | | }} |
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| The '''Reformists''', also known as the '''Reformers''',<ref name="cp262">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 262''</ref> were a faction of [[San'Shyuum]] who opposed the [[Stoics]], wishing to infiltrate and study the [[Forerunner]] [[Anodyne Spirit|Dreadnought]] in order to advance their species and better understand their gods.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 114''</ref> These differences ultimately culminated in the [[War of Wills]], which saw the Reformists flee [[Janjur Qom]] aboard the Dreadnought.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P190|Enc22|Page=190}} | | The '''Reformists''' were a faction of [[San'Shyuum]], and fought with the [[Stoics]] during the [[San'Shyuum Schism]]. They wished to use the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] to advance San'Shyuum technology.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 114''</ref> |
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| ==History==
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| ===Origin===
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| The [[San'Shyuum]] homeworld of [[Janjur Qom]] was populated with many powerful [[Forerunner]] relics, leading the native population to form a religion around the makers of these artifacts. The San'Shyuum believed that the Forerunners had achieved divinity via the activation of [[Halo Array|Halo]], which they called the Sacred Rings. However, these beliefs were based on fundamental mistranslations of artifacts, skewing the San'Shyuum's decisions for millennia to come. By far the most influential of all the Forerunner relics on Janjur Qom was the ''[[Anodyne Spirit]]'', a [[keyship]] which had crash-landed in the [[Great Apothtea]] sea.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P190}}
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| Referred to as the "Dreadnought" by the San'Shyuum, this majestic vessel would become the driving factor in the species' fragmentation. Some San'Shyuum—the Reformists—thought that they should enter the keyship and explore its interior to better understand their gods, believing that their artifacts had be left behind specifically for them to activate, explore, and even dismantle, if necessary. Yet, many San'Shyuum—called the [[Stoics]]—believed that Forerunner artifacts should only be deferentially observed, and that entering the Dreadnought would be tantamount to the desecration of a holy site.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P190}}<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 310'' (2011 edition)</ref> While the debate started out entirely political and philosophical, it devolved into violence as more and more San'Shyuum left the Stoics to join the Reformists, leading the Stoic leaders to suppress their opposition via imprisonment and execution.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P190}}
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| ===War of Wills===
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| {{Main|War of Wills}}
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| The violence came to a head in [[2200 BCE]] and ignited a long, bloody conflict known as the [[War of Wills]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P190}}{{Ref/Reuse|cp262}} During the civil war, the Reformists established a stronghold in the fortress of [[Granduin]] in the [[Zelfiss]] region. However, the fortress was undermined by Stoic forces, causing it to fall into the nearby Great Apothtea sea.<ref>'''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''', ''page 86''</ref> During the climax of the San'Shyuum civil war, around one thousand Reformists stormed the Dreadnought and began to occupy it, while preparing to use the vessel to leave [[Janjur Qom]]. The Reformists occasionally raided Stoic territory to collect and stock the ship with plants, wood, seeds, and other goods from the planet.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 57''</ref>
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| [[File:HM WarOfWills.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The Reformists and Stoics fighting over the Dreadnought.]] | |
| At the end of the century-long conflict, one thousand heavily-armed Reformists infiltrated the Dreadnought, barricading themselves inside. The Stoics' unwillingness to damage the holy artifact resulted in a protracted standoff. To the Stoics' immense surprise, the Reformists eventually managed to ignite the Dreadnought's engines and escape Janjur Qom,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P190}} blasting a huge chunk out of the planet in the process. Refusing to fire on the vessel, the Stoics grudgingly allowed the Reformists to leave. While Reformists ultimately won the conflict, it came with a heavy price; they were left with only around one thousand individuals, and were forced to selectively mate to prevent inbreeding.{{Ref/Reuse|cp262}}<ref name="enc120">'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 120'' (2011 edition)</ref> The [[Roll of Celibates]] was established in an effort to maintain genetic diversity between the San'Shyuum and to eliminate unwanted genes.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 264''</ref>
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| Soon after fleeing Janjur Qom, the Reformists used the Dreadnought to investigate [[Space station|orbital installations]] around [[Salosur Qom]], a neighboring world in their home system of [[Qom Yaekesh system|Qom Yaekesh]]. Within these facilities, the Reformists discovered provisions, intriguing artificial creatures known as [[Huragok]], and a powerful [[Cartographer]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P190}} When this machine fed information into the Dreadnought's own systems, it activated a device called a [[Luminary]], a system that could guide the Reformists to other worlds stocked with Forerunner relics. Gathering many of the Huragok onto the Dreadnought, the Reformists then followed the Luminary's signal away from their star system and into the vast galaxy.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P191|Enc22|Page=191}}
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| For hundreds of years, the Reformists wandered across the stars aboard their Dreadnought, discovering vast Forerunner reliquaries on abandoned worlds and in derelict installations. As time went on, the Huragok helped the San'Shyuum unlock many secrets pertaining to the Forerunners, further crystalizing their belief in them as gods.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P191}}
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| ===War of Beginnings===
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| {{Main|War of Beginnings}}
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| [[File:H2A Terminals - Ancient Arbiter 4.jpg|thumb|300px|The Reformists land on Ulgethon.]]
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| In [[938 BCE]], the Reformists came across [[Ulgethon]], a world that they thought was entirely uninhabited. However, as they investigated repository of Forerunner relics, they discovered an intelligent species living among the artifacts. Known as the [[Sangheili]], this species similarly worshipped the Forerunners, but they believed that any direct manipulation of their gods' technology was tantamount to blasphemy and punishable by death.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P191}}<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 7''</ref> When the Sangheili discovered the Reformists' plan to excavate Ulgethon's artifacts,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P191}} [[Arbiter]] [[Vema 'Togad]] slaughtered and decapitated a San'Shyuum delegation, sending their remains back to the Dreadnought as a warning. Horrified and outraged, the Reformists fled into space,<ref>'''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''', ''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal 6]]''</ref> where their Dreadnought was confronted by a Sangheili blockade.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P191}} The ensuing ground and space [[Desecration of Ulgethon|battle]] resulted in the razing of Ulgethon and its population,{{Ref/Book|Id=Mythos39|[[Halo Mythos]]|Page=39}} and served as the first engagement of the decades-long conflict that would come to be known as the [[War of Beginnings]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P191}}
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| [[File:File:HM WarOfBeginnings.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The Desecration of Ulgethon.]]
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| The war would spread across many [[Sangheili colonies]] as the San'Shyuum sought to obliterate the Sangheili at the behest of their leader, [[Pervading Stone]],{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P191}} who was also the head of the [[Keepers of the Dawn]]. His father had fallen to the Sangheili during the battle at Ulgethon, driving Stone's need for revenge.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P258|Enc22|Page=258}} Even though the Reformists' Dreadnought seemed unbeatable, the Sangheili fought back, and even managed to [[Raid at Codisfold|ambush and board]] the vessel at their colony of [[Codisfold]], killing thousands of San'Shyuum in the process. While the boarders were eliminated, this event began to shift the hearts of many Reformists as they realized that they were not as untouchable as they previously believed.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P191}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P258}} Some members of the Keepers of the Dawn—[[Breaking Shadow]] and [[Ushering Dusk]]—even spoke out against Pervading Stone, who responded by secretly having Ushering Dusk assassinated.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P258}} Still, this did not remove the seeds of the doubt that were sown in the minds of the Reformists, and many would begin to consider the possibility of peace with the Sangheili after they were forced to amend the very beliefs that had sparked the war and use their own Forerunner weapons against the San'Shyuum in an act of desperation. Despite this, Stone continued his campaign against the Sangheili, eventually bringing the Dreadnought to their homeworld of [[Sanghelios]] in a fateful final [[Battle of Sanghelios|battle]]. For a time, Sanghelios and its two [[Natural satellite|moon]]s were embroiled in conflict, ravaging their surfaces.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P191}} This continued until the Sangheili unleased the ''[[Reckless Pursuit]]'',{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P270|Enc22|Page=270}} a {{Pattern|R'sikosh|man o' war}} fitted with powerful Forerunner-derived weaponry, and shot down the Dreadnought on [[Suban]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P191}}
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| Before the Reformists could recover and flee, the Dreadnought was held in place with [[gravity anchor]]s, trapping them. While the Sangheili discussed what their next move would be, tensions amidst the San'Shyuum came to a head. By [[855 BCE]], Breaking Shadow led a coup against Pervading Stone, killing him and effectively becoming the new leader of the Reformists.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P191}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P258}}
| | ==History== |
| | The Reformists wished to enter the [[Forerunner]] [[Forerunner Dreadnought|Dreadnought]] and use its technological secrets, but the [[Stoics]] declared such actions to be blasphemous and heretical. The Reformists became technologically obsessed and desired to investigate the [[keyship]] to learn more about the universe.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 310'' (2011 edition)</ref> The difference in opinion between the two factions eventually culminated to the [[San'Shyuum Schism]].<ref name="cp262">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 262''</ref> During the civil war, the Reformists established a stronghold in the fortress of [[Granduin]] in the [[Zelfiss]] region. However, the fortress was undermined by Stoic forces and the fortress fell into the nearby sea—the [[Great Apothtea]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''', ''page 86''</ref> During the climax of the San'Shyuum civil war, around one thousand Reformists stormed the Dreadnought and began to occupy it, while preparing to use the vessel to leave [[Janjur Qom]]. The Reformists occasionally raided Stoic territory to collect and stock the ship with plants, wood, seeds, and other goods from the planet.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 57''</ref> |
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| ===Formation of the Covenant===
| | [[File:H2A Terminals - Ancient Arbiter 4.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The Reformists discover the Sangheili.]] |
| [[File:H2A Terminals - Sangheili surrender.png|thumb|250px|The Sangheili pledge loyalty to the San'Shyuum.]] | | Eventually, the Reformists commandeered the Forerunner Dreadnought and managed to escape Janjur Qom, blasting a huge chunk out of the planet in the process. The Stoics were unwilling to fire upon the object of their reverence, and grudgingly allowed the Reformists to leave. The Reformists ultimately won the San'Shyuum Schism, but it came with a heavy price. The Reformists were left with around one thousand individuals, and were forced to selectively breed to prevent inbreeding.<ref name="cp262"/><ref name="enc120">'''Halo Encyclopedia''', ''page 120'' (2011 edition)</ref> The [[Roll of Celibates]] was established in an effort to maintain genetic diversity between the San'Shyuum and to eliminate unwanted genes.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 264''</ref> With the help of the Forerunner technology from the Dreadnought, the Reformists were able to survive and travel the galaxy.<ref name="enc120"/> |
| In [[852 BCE]], while the Reformists were still trapped on Suban, Breaking Shadow and an unarmed delegation met with the Sangheili, represented by [[First Kaidon]] [[Pelahsar the Strident]]. During this meeting they forged a tenuous truce, forgiving each other for their past crimes and working toward peace as they had come to realize that extinction was a possible outcome of continued conflict.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P191}}<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 147''</ref> Soon after this, the truce was ratified with the [[Writ of Union]], a document of covenant between the two species and official recognition of their sole focus of worshipping the Forerunner through the discovery and exploration of their artifacts. This would mark the birth of the [[Covenant]], an empire founded on the belief that the San'Shyuum and Sangheili could work together to pursue transcendence via the activation of the Sacred Rings.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P191}}
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| ==Gallery==
| | The Reformists would later go on to encounter the ancient [[Sangheili]] in [[938 BCE]]. Landing on the Sangheili frontier colony world of [[Ulgethon]], the Reformists sent a large delegation to explain that they worshipped the Forerunners. However, the Sangheili, like the Stoics, deemed the use of Forerunner technology as heretical.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 7''</ref> An [[Arbiter]] met with the delegation and decapitated all of the San'Shyuum. Outraged, the Reformists left the world and the [[San'Shyuum-Sangheili War]] began.<ref>'''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 2 Anniversary|Terminal 6]]''</ref> The Reformists were outnumbered by the Sangheili, but the Sangheili possessed inferior technology. This situation led to a stalemate between the two species. Eventually, realizing that both species' extinction was a possible outcome, the Writ of Union was signed between the San'Shyuum Reformists and the Sangheili and a religious empire known as the [[Covenant]] was established.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 147''</ref> |
| <gallery> | |
| File:H2A-Terminals SanShyuum Concept 1.jpg|Concept art of Reformists for ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''{{'}}s [[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|terminals]].
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| File:H2A Terminals Reformists.png|Reformists awaiting the return of their delegation on Ulgethon.
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| File:H2A Terminals - Executed san'shyuum.jpg|The severed heads of the Reformist delegation.
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| File:Enc22-Pervading.png|Pervading Stone, former leader of the Reformists and the Keepers of the Dawn.
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| File:Enc22-Breaking Shadow.png|Breaking Shadow, who led the Reformists into peace with the Sangheili.
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| </gallery> | |
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| ==List of appearances== | | ==List of appearances== |
| *''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'' {{Fm}} | | *''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'' {{Fm}} |
| *''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{1st}} | | *''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{1st}} |
| *''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' | | *''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]'' |
| **''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]'' | | **''[[Terminal/Halo 2 Anniversary|Terminals]]'' |
| *''[[Halo Mythos]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
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| **''[[Sacrifice]]'' {{Im}}
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| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
| | <references/> |
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| {{Organizations}} | | {{Organizations}} |
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| [[Category:San'Shyuum culture]] | | [[Category:San'Shyuum]] |
