Editing Stoics

{{Era|Covenant}}
{{Affiliation infobox
|name=Stoics
|image=
|type=Religious faction
|founder=
|documents=
|head=
|executive=
|legislative=
|judicial=
|branch=
|main=[[Janjur Qom]]
|anthem=
|language=Archaic [[San'Shyuum language]]
|script=
|religion=Worship of the [[Forerunners]]
|techlevel=Tier 5
|notable=
|formed=[[2200 BCE]]
|dissolved=[[648 BCE]] {{C|allegedly}}
|affiliation=
}}

The '''Stoics''' were a faction of [[San'Shyuum]] first established during the [[San'Shyuum Schism]]. They followed ancient San'Shyuum tradition.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 114''</ref>

==History== 
The Stoics worshipped the [[Forerunner]]s and their technology, but they strongly believed that tampering with or directly studying Forerunner artifacts was blasphemous and heretical. Because of these beliefs, they refused to enter the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] that they had discovered upon their homeworld, viewing such actions as desecrating the legacy of the gods. However, another faction known as the [[Reformists]] wanted to enter the Dreadnought for possible technological gains and religious enlightenment, a difference in opinion which eventually led to a civil war.<ref name="cp262">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 262''</ref> At some point in the war, the Reformists formed a stronghold in the fortress of [[Granduin]] in the [[Zelfiss]] region. However, it was undermined by the Stoics and the fortress fell into a nearby sea known as the [[Great Apothtea]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''', ''page 86''</ref>

Eventually, the Stoics lost the war when the Reformists commandeered the Dreadnought and used it to escape their homeworld. Not wishing to destroy the vessel they considered so sacred, the Stoics allowed the Reformists to escape.<ref name="enc310">'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 310'' (2011 edition)</ref> After the Reformists took flight in [[2100 BCE]], the Stoics sent out communication messages threatening that they would be damned for their transgressions to the gods.{{Ref/Reuse|cp262}} The Stoics eventually retreated to relatively small areas of Janjur Qom —- likely due to the many large, predatory animals native to the planet —- and much of the planet resultingly became overrun by wilderness.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 103''</ref> The Reformists continued to monitor their homeworld after the civil war, occasionally sending [[Eye]] surveillance drones to the planet to keep them informed on Stoic technology. On one occasion, an Eye was discovered and pursued by a Stoic aircraft.<ref name="bc97">'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 97-98''</ref>

Shortly after the [[Writ of Union]] between the Reformists and the [[Sangheili]] was signed and the [[Covenant]] was established, the [[Mken 'Scre'ah'ben|Prophet of Inner Conviction]] [[Mission to Janjur Qom|led a team to Janjur Qom]] to retrieve a group of willing, fertile females to restock the breeding population on ''[[High Charity]]'' and to steal a [[Luminary]] in the [[grotto of the Great Transition]]. When the group landed on the planet's surface, they made their way to the grotto and eventually discovered the Luminary and the [[Purifying Vision of the Holy Path]]. However, Stoic warriors discovered their location and waited for them outside of the grotto. [[Vervum L'kosur]] and [[Loquen 'Nvong]] betrayed the Prophet of Inner Conviction and the rest of the team, and tried to execute them in order to steal the relics.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 106-114''</ref> In the resulting skirmish, Vervum was killed and Loquen was captured while the rest of the team remained hidden from the Stoics in a concealed room.

After the Stoics left, the team headed to the village of [[Crellum]] to retrieve the females.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 117-123''</ref> Once they had done so, they attempted to return to their nearby [[dropship]], but they were intercepted by Stoic warriors and their [[folasteed]] mounts. A firefight ensured, which ultimately left all the Stoic forces dead; [[Burenn]]'s tamed [[ilpdor]] named [[Erb]] killed most of them.<ref name="bc137">'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 137-142''</ref> The team eventually returned to their [[Covenant corvette|corvette]], ''[[Vengeful Vitality‎]]'', orbiting the planet. The Stoics attempted to shoot them down with missiles, but only one missile hit and ''Vengeful Vitality‎'' was able to escape.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''pages 146-154''</ref>

Most, if not all, of the Stoics allegedly perished when their star collapsed in on itself in [[648 BCE]].{{Ref/Reuse|enc310}} However, the only source for news about Janjur Qom's destruction was the San'Shyuum of the Covenant. Although most individuals did not believe that the world was truly destroyed, little was done to dispute it, as only the most powerful San'Shyuum knew where Janjur Qom was located.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/janjur-qom '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Janjur Qom'']</ref>

==Culture and technology==
{{Quote|The plants have been redesigned to work for the Stoics!|[[Sangheili Ranger]] [[Vil 'Kthamee]]}}
The Stoics were formed by San'Shyuum that opposed the study or manipulation of [[Forerunner]] artifacts on [[Janjur Qom]]. They believed that the Forerunners were gods and the relics were gifts from them meant to be worshipped.<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''page 125''</ref> The [[grotto of the Great Transition]] was associated with visual images of [[Librarian|a legendary goddess]] that was associated with [[Conservation Measure|rebirth]].<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 98''</ref> The language of the Stoics was similar to the [[San'Shyuum language]] used by the [[Reformists]]. It was very old-fashioned compared to the Reformist language, but it posed no language barrier between the two factions.<ref name="bc89">'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 89''</ref> The significantly lower gravity of ''[[High Charity]]'' and lack of genetic diversity led to the Reformists evolving to be weaker and less muscular than the Stoics, giving the Stoics a physical advantage.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 95''</ref>

The Stoics had largely resisted technological progress, likely because they believed that development of new technologies may bring upon the wrath of their gods. The Stoics possessed attack vehicles that were capable of flight, which used air compression and gas-ignited fuel to operate Stoic vehicles and to fire their weaponry. The Stoics were also noted to have simple satellites and other structures compatible with a [[Technological Achievement Tiers|Tier 5]] society.{{Ref/Reuse|bc89}} They had some form of reflector scanning technology that could detect vehicles entering Janjur Qom's atmosphere,{{Ref/Reuse|bc97}} as well as long-range missiles capable of hitting a ship in orbit.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 149''</ref> However, they were specifically skilled in biotechnology and genetics, as they were unwilling to use hardware technology like the Reformists.

The Stoics domesticated the [[garfren]] for milk, cheese, and meat.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 129''</ref> Resources from smaller villages on the planet were often taken by the Stoics that lived in the capital city.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 138''</ref> Young male San'Shyuum were often conscripted into the Stoic military.<ref>'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 130''</ref> Stoic warriors used [[folasteed]] mounts in battle. These mounts were essentially the forest itself creating riding mounts from itself for the soldiers, as if the riders were sliding along the forest's vegetation. Additionally, the vines of the forests had been genetically modified to manipulate objects or even tear apart a living being. The plants were controlled by the riders, but had the ability to feel threatened and could attack if they deemed it necessary.{{Ref/Reuse|bc137}} 

==Anatomy and physiology==
The Stoic San'Shyuum were far more muscular and athletic than the Reformist San'Shyuum due to being used to the higher gravity of [[Janjur Qom]].<ref name="StoicAreBuff">'''Halo: Broken Circle''', ''page 107''</ref> The larger gene pool the Stoics had present on their homeworld also benefited them opposed to the limited gene pool the Reformists had when they left in the comparatively smaller [[Forerunner Dreadnaught|Forerunner Dreadnought]].{{Ref/Reuse|StoicAreBuff}}

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'' {{Fm}}
*''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
**''[[Sacrifice]]'' {{Im}}

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

{{Organizations}}

[[Category:San'Shyuum culture]]