Editing Sangheili Honor Guardsman

{{Era|Covenant|HCW}}
{{seealso|Honor Guard}}
{{Covenant Rank Infobox
|name=Sangheili Honor Guardsman
|image=[[File:Sangheili HG 01.png|300px]]
|species=Sangheili
|weapons=*Energy stave
*Plasma rifle
*Energy sword
*Carbine
|equipment=[[Sangheili personal energy shield]]
|vehicles=
|missions=*Escort and guard important individuals
|role=*Guarding important sites and individuals, usually the Prophets 
|notable=
|affiliation=Covenant, later Covenant separatists
}}
{{Quote|We have always been your protectors!|[[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee talking to the [[Prophet of Truth]]}}
The '''honor guardsman''' was a [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] [[Sangheili]] position, serving as elite protectors to the [[San 'Shyuum|Prophets]], particularly the [[Hierarchs]].

==Overview==
Honor guardsmen were among the most skilled of all Sangheili warriors and are hand-picked for the duty of protecting the High Prophets and other high ranking officials in the Covenant [[High Council]]; they were commanded by the revered [[Honor Guard Ultra|Lights of Sanghelios]]. Honor guardsmen in service to the [[Honor Guard of the Covenant]] wore highly ornate armor that is colored a combination of glowing red and orange that featured jutting spikes and pauldrons, though this was not always so.<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 ???''</ref> In addition, they kept order during important meetings within the High Council. Although 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.{{Citation needed}}

The Sangheili honor guardsmen were likely instated immediately 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. 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 [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee 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>

==Personal honor guards==
In addition to the formal Honor Guard of the Covenant, some Sangheili warlords maintain honor guards drawn from their personal forces.<ref name="Genesis">'''Halo Wars: Genesis'''</ref><ref name="Wars">'''Halo Wars''', campaign levels [[Scarab (level)|''Scarab'']], [[Shield World (level)|''Shield World'']], and [[Beachhead (Halo Wars level)|''Beachhead'']]</ref> [[Ripa 'Moramee]], a "warlord thrall", used his personal guard in an attempt to overthrow his [[kaidon]] on [[Decided Heart]]; this coup failed and 'Moramee was sentenced to a life of imprisonment. After the Prophet of Regret pardoned 'Moramee and granted him the rank of Arbiter, the latter's personal guard protected the two as they scoured a [[Forerunner]] [[Flood-controlled Shield World|Shield World]] in an attempt to gain control of several [[Unidentified Forerunner starship|powerful dreadnoughts]] stationed at [[the Apex]]. When [[human]] forces from the {{UNSCship|Spirit of Fire}} entered the Shield World, 'Moramee had some of his guards escort the Hierarch to ''High Charity''.<ref name="Wars"/> Unlike formal honor guardsmen, who would kill anyone who drew a weapon in the presence of a Hierarch, 'Moramee's guard refrained from doing so.<ref>'''Halo Wars''', campaign level ''Scarab''</ref>

==''Halo Wars'' gameplay==
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 [[Citadel (Covenant)|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|
File:Brutesarbiter.jpg|A procession of Sangheili honor guardsmen.
File:halo2xbox024yv.jpg|Sangheili honor guardsmen during the judgment of Thel 'Vadamee.
File:HW3.jpg|Members of 'Moramee's personal guard protecting the High Prophet of Regret.
File:Convenant elite honor guard.gif|A render of an Elite honor guard in ''Halo Wars''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''

==Sources==
<references/>

{{Elite Ranks}}
[[Category:Elites]]
[[Category:Covenant ranks]]