Editing Sangheili Honor Guardsman

{{Era|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW}}
{{Disambig header|Sangheili members of the [[Covenant Honor Guard]]|other uses|Honor Guard}}
{{Unit infobox|variant=Cov
|name=Sangheili Honor Guardsman
|image=[[File:Sangheili HG 01.png|300px]]
|species=Sangheili
|affiliation=[[Covenant]]
|branch=
|mission=Guarding important sites and individuals, usually the Prophets 
|armament=[[Energy stave]]
<br>[[Type-1 energy sword]]
<br>[[Type-25 plasma rifle]]
<br>[[Type-51 carbine]]
|equipment=[[Sangheili personal energy shield]]
|notable=
}}
{{Quote|We have always been your protectors!|[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee talking to the [[Prophet of Truth]]<ref name="sacred">'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Sacred Icon]]''</ref>}}

'''Honor Guardsman''' was a [[Covenant]] [[Sangheili]] position, serving as elite protectors to the [[San 'Shyuum|Prophets]], particularly the [[Hierarchs]], in the [[Covenant Honor Guard]].<ref name="sacred"/><ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 381''</ref><ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 95''</ref>

==Background==
{{Quote|The Sangheili honor guard was always vigilant and almost inert when at peace. One never had to worry about what a Sangheili might do any more than one worried if the stars would come out at night.|The [[Minister of Discovery]] remarking on the stoic nature of the honor guard<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[Wages of Sin]]", ''page 297''</ref>}}
 
Honor guardsmen were among the most skilled of all Sangheili warriors and were hand-picked for the duty of protecting the High Prophets and other high ranking officials in the Covenant [[High Council]]. The [[Light of Sanghelios|Lights of Sanghelios]] were a revered elite unit among the Sangheili honor guards.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 153''</ref>

Honor guardsmen in service to the Honor Guard of the Covenant wore highly ornate armor, colored in a combination of glowing red and orange. It featured jutting spikes and pauldrons, though they sometimes wore non-ceremonial armor for the sake of practicality.<ref name="EVG"/><ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign levels [[Scarab (level)|''Scarab'']], [[Shield World (level)|''Shield World'']], and [[Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|''Beachhead'']]</ref><ref>'''Halo Legends''', ''The Babysitter''</ref> It is unknown how many Sangheili honor guardsmen were in service, though the [[Sanctum of the Hierarchs]] on ''[[High Charity]]'' could accommodate as many as three hundred.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 339''</ref>

Honor guardsmen were expected to immediately kill anyone who drew a weapon in the presence of a Hierarch,<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 341''</ref> though they might stand down should an [[Arbiter]] do so.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''Scarab''</ref> In addition, they kept order during important meetings within the High Council. Although the position was a great honor, it was seen by some Sangheili as a merely ceremonial duty and a way to silence those who were aware of the Hierarchs' duplicity.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=thesoundofsack '''Bungie.net''': ''The Tru7h About Co-Op in Halo 3'']</ref>{{Verify source}} Because one was expected to encounter little to no combat in the posting, select Sangheili were known to have even declined a place in the Honor Guard.<ref name="EVG"/>

The Sangheili honor guardsmen were likely instated soon after the signing of the [[Writ of Union]], which led to the establishment of the Covenant. For thousands of years, the Sangheili protected the Hierarchs and the other Prophets according to the Writ's strictures.<ref name="sacred"/> After the death of the [[Prophet of Regret]] during the [[Ages of Reclamation|Ninth Age of Reclamation]] in [[2552#November|November 2552]], the [[Prophet of Truth|Prophets of Truth]] and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]] replaced the Sangheili honor guards with the [[Jiralhanae]]. This "[[Changing of the Guard]]" was a major step in a carefully planned coup that soon devolved into the [[Great Schism]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Sacred Icon]]''</ref> Some of the honor guardsmen killed themselves after learning of the Prophets' treachery.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''The Return''</ref> Others assisted [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee]] in stopping [[Tartarus]], the [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae]], from activating [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 05]] and therefore killing all sentient life in the galaxy.<ref> '''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Great Journey]]''</ref>

==''Halo Wars'' gameplay==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gameplay=yes}}
In ''Halo Wars'', Sangheili honor guardsmen are the leader-specific unit of the Prophet of Regret. They wield energy swords and deal tremendous damage to infantry. They are trained directly from the [[Covenant citadel|Citadel]]. They initially lack [[Energy shielding#Covenant|energy shields]], though they can be upgraded with them. They can also be outfitted with [[active camouflage]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HonorGuard render.png|A Sangheili honor guardsman.
File:Brutesarbiter.jpg|A procession of Sangheili honor guardsmen.
File:halo2xbox024yv.jpg|Sangheili honor guardsmen during the judgment of Thel 'Vadamee.
File:H2A - HonorGuard.jpg|John-117 engaging a Sangheili honor guardsman.
File:H2A - HonorGuard2.jpg|Two Sangheili honor guardsmen.
File:HW3.jpg|Honor guardsmen in non-ceremonial armor protecting the High Prophet of Regret.
File:Convenant elite honor guard.gif|A render of a Sangheili honor guard in ''Halo Wars''.
File:ReturnScreencap18.png|Honor guardsmen aboard the [[Fleet of Righteous Vigilance]]'s flagship.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
**''[[Wages of Sin]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
*''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo 2 Anniversary|Terminals]]''

==Sources==
<references/>

{{Sangheili Ranks}}

[[Category:Sangheili ranks and title|Honor Guardsman]]