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{{Era|H2}}{{High Charity Locations}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Quote|Here rests the vanguard of the [[Great Journey]]. Every [[Arbiter]], from first to last. Each one created and consumed in times of extraordinary crisis.|[[Prophet of Truth]]}}
{{disambig header|the room in High Charity|other articles including "Arbiter"|Arbiter (disambiguation)}}
The '''Mausoleum of the [[Arbiter]]''' is a massive room within [[High Charity]] which houses the remains of the previous Arbiters.
[[File:H2A Terminals - Mausoleum of the Arbiter.jpg|thumb|300px|The interior of the Mausoleum of the Arbiter.]]
{{Quote|Here rests the vanguard of the [[Great Journey]]. Every [[Arbiter]], from first to last. Each one created and consumed in times of extraordinary crisis.|[[Prophet of Truth]]<ref name="h2arbiter">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Arbiter]]''</ref>}}


A large suspended sarcophagus holds the special Arbiter armor until it is needed again.
The '''Mausoleum of the Arbiter''' was a massive chamber within the [[Covenant]] holy city of ''[[High Charity]]'' which housed the remains of the previous [[Arbiter]]s.


The Mausoleum of the Arbiter also contains the (recoverable) remains of every Elite that has ever been designated the Arbiter. A total of 192 caskets are present spreading far up into the ceiling. Arbiters are only appointed in times of dire need, such as the [[Taming of the Hunters]] and the [[Grunt Rebellion]].
==Description==
The Mausoleum of the Arbiter contained the recoverable remains of every [[Sangheili]] that has ever been designated as the Arbiter. A total of one hundred eighty-two caskets are present, spreading far up into the ceiling. In the center of the chamber is a large suspended sarcophagus that held the [[Arbiter body armor|armor of the Arbiter]].{{Ref/Reuse|h2arbiter}}


== Appearances ==
==History==
===Human-Covenant War===
After Thel 'Vadam was branded with the [[Mark of Shame]], he was taken to the mausoleum by Tartarus and his two [[Jiralhanae]] ushers. The [[Prophet of Truth]] and the [[Prophet of Mercy]] ordered Tartarus to release 'Vadamee and leave. After this, they started to converse with him about [[Sesa 'Refumee|a heretic leader]] and the past Arbiters, ultimately appointing him the new Arbiter and giving him the ornate armor of the Arbiter there.{{Ref/Reuse|h2arbiter}}


The Mausoleum of the Arbiter first appears in the cutscene before [[The Arbiter (Level)|The Arbiter]]. The future Arbiter is taken there by [[Tartarus]] and two [[Brute|Brutes]]. [[High Prophet of Truth|Truth]] and [[High Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]] order Tartarus to leave the future Arbiter and leave. They converse with him about the [[Heretic Leader]] and the past Arbiters and give him the armor of the Arbiter there.
With the outbreak of the [[Great Schism]], and open conflict within ''High Charity'', the mausoleum was used as a final defensive position by the Sangheili, who were under attack by the Jiralhanae-led Covenant. Bolstering their forces with several [[Mgalekgolo]], the Sangheili furiously fought against their attackers. Ultimately all Covenant forces were wiped out when [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN]] [[John-117]] attacked during his rampage through the city with the goal of retrieving [[Installation 05|Installation 05's]] [[activation index]] from the Prophet of Truth.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref> Too late to stop Truth, [[Tartarus]] and their prisoners [[Miranda Keyes]] and [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] from leaving the city, the Chief was forced to once again pass through the Mausoleum tower ahead of the newly-arrived [[Flood]] to reach a [[High Charity conduit|conduit]] leading to the city's [[Forerunner Dreadnought]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[High Charity (level)|High Charity]]''</ref>


It is next seen some time later, near the end of [[Gravemind (Level)|Gravemind]], where the [[Master Chief]] must engage in a large-scale battle in order to go further into [[High Charity]] and find the platform with the [[Phantom|Phantoms]] that are to be used to transport Truth, Mercy, Tartarus, [[Commander Miranda Keyes|Miranda Keyes]] and [[Sergeant Johnson]] to their respective locations.
After ''High Charity'' was infested by the Flood and crashed into [[Installation 00]] during the [[Battle of Installation 00]], the mausoleum was severely damaged. By the time of John-117's [[Raid on High Charity|raid on ''High Charity'']], the tower was in a tilted angle, with energy cascades across the surface leaning dangerously over to the side and cables hanging from the shattered [[bridge (structure)|bridges]] around the tower. It can be assumed that the Mausoleum and the Vanguards of the Great Journey entombed within were destroyed when ''High Charity's'' reactor went critical, as spurred by Spartan-117 in the previous raid, and destroyed the Flood-infected city.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]''</ref>


It is in here that ''Breaking Benjamin''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s "Blow Me Away" is played, during the fight. It sounds like an instrumental but is actually the real song. If you listen closely, you will notice that the music volume has been increased.
==Trivia==
In an early version of the level ''[[Cortana (level)|Cortana]]'', John-117 would have passed through the Mausoleum, encountering a large number of Flood-infected Arbiters.{{Ref/Site|Id=GDC1|URL=https://www.bungie.net/en/aboutus#page=publications&publication=12662|Site=Bungie Publications|Page=Halo 3 Flood Alien Level Autopsy|D=10|M=10|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Site|Id=GDC2|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/images/Inside/publications/presentations/Bungie_EnvDesign_GDC.pptx|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo 3 Flood Alien Level Autopsy|Detail=Original presentation download link|D=18|M=1|Y=2021}}


==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:MausoleumConcept.jpg|Early ''[[Halo 3]]'' concept art of the Mausoleum and [[John-117]].
File:H2A Render - Mausoleum.jpg|A render of the Mausoleum for ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
File:Homeofarbiter.jpg|Exterior view of the Mausoleum.
File:Mausoleum Interior.jpg|An interior shot as seen in ''Halo 2''.
File:H3 Cortana Mausoleum of the Arbiter.jpg|The Mausoleum of the Arbiter in ruins as seen in ''Halo 3''.
File:H2A MausoleumConcept.jpg|Concept art of the Mausoleum in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'''s [[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|terminals]].
File:H2A Terminals - Dead Arbiter.jpg|Sangheili adding a dead Arbiter to the crypt.
File:H2A - Mausoleum of the Arbiter.jpg|An exterior view of the Mausoleum as it is seen in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
</gallery>


== In Game Combat ==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''


During the first hours of the Covenant Civil War, the Separatists were forced to give much ground, due to the Loyalists' superior numbers and strength. Finally, the [[Elites]] made one last stand. Fittingly, this took place in a place of the heritage of their greatest warriors: the Mausoleum of their Arbiter.
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}


In the rooms leading to the Mausoleum, the Seperatists sent [[Hunters]], [[SpecOps]] Elites and [[Grunts]] to defend the Mausoleum, while the Loyalists sent Brutes, [[Jackals]] and [[Drones]] to the assault. On the Bridge leading to the Mausoleum itself, a squad of Elites, led by a [[Major]], fought against a squad of Brutes, a Jackal [[Sniper]], and Drones, using turrets against them. Later, the Separatists sent a unit of SpecOps troopers, a single Fuel Rod Cannon wielding Gunner Grunt, and a pair of Hunters to reinforce this squad.
{{High Charity Locations}}
 
Unexpectedly, a third group emerged in this battle: The Master Chief, "inside man", valiantly led a fire team of rescued [[Marines]] against both of these other forces, slaying all of them in the heated combat.
 
The biggest, and last, battle, then took place within the mausoleum itself. From the right side, the Covenant Separatists. From the left, the Covenant loyalists. This Separatist force consisted of the mighty [[Ultra]] [[Elite]]s, armed with [[Fuel Rod Cannon]]s, [[Carbines]], and [[Energy Swords]]. From the Loyalist side, Brutes and Drones repulsed the attack. From the Bridge came the Master Chief and his Fire Team.
 
The Brutes were easily killed, taking fire from not only the [[Humans]] and the Elites but from the four Hunters that came to reinforce the already superior Ultras. These Hunters were killed next, attacked by the fresh Brute unit and the Fuel Rod Cannon one of the Humans was using.
 
These Brutes killed many of the Ultras, but succumbed to both the final Ultra and the Human Forces. This Ultra, in turn, was able to kill two Humans and wound a third before the Chief killed him by slashing him with an Energy Sword.
 
As the remaining Human forces prepared to leave, they were assailed by the last Seperatists: one of the last Elite Councillors still living armed himself with an Energy Sword and led two Stealth Elites to combat any enemy still alive. This was, unfortunately, the Humans.
 
The Councillor and his troops were able to slay all of the Humans, apart from the Master Chief, who was able to corner the Stealth Elites and center them for a kill with dual [[Plasma Rifles]], then engaged in sword to sword combat with the Councillor- a fight in which he won.
 
In the end, the only being still alive after this gargantuan melee was Spartan 117. His Fire Team's death was a hard blow, as he felt it was his responsibilty. He bears a heavy weight on his mind.
 
== Related Links ==
 
*[[High Charity]]
*[[Arbiter]]

Latest revision as of 14:18, March 18, 2022

This article is about the room in High Charity. For other articles including "Arbiter", see Arbiter (disambiguation).
The interior of the Mausoleum of the Arbiter.

"Here rests the vanguard of the Great Journey. Every Arbiter, from first to last. Each one created and consumed in times of extraordinary crisis."
— Prophet of Truth[1]

The Mausoleum of the Arbiter was a massive chamber within the Covenant holy city of High Charity which housed the remains of the previous Arbiters.

Description[edit]

The Mausoleum of the Arbiter contained the recoverable remains of every Sangheili that has ever been designated as the Arbiter. A total of one hundred eighty-two caskets are present, spreading far up into the ceiling. In the center of the chamber is a large suspended sarcophagus that held the armor of the Arbiter.[1]

History[edit]

Human-Covenant War[edit]

After Thel 'Vadam was branded with the Mark of Shame, he was taken to the mausoleum by Tartarus and his two Jiralhanae ushers. The Prophet of Truth and the Prophet of Mercy ordered Tartarus to release 'Vadamee and leave. After this, they started to converse with him about a heretic leader and the past Arbiters, ultimately appointing him the new Arbiter and giving him the ornate armor of the Arbiter there.[1]

With the outbreak of the Great Schism, and open conflict within High Charity, the mausoleum was used as a final defensive position by the Sangheili, who were under attack by the Jiralhanae-led Covenant. Bolstering their forces with several Mgalekgolo, the Sangheili furiously fought against their attackers. Ultimately all Covenant forces were wiped out when SPARTAN John-117 attacked during his rampage through the city with the goal of retrieving Installation 05's activation index from the Prophet of Truth.[2] Too late to stop Truth, Tartarus and their prisoners Miranda Keyes and Sergeant Johnson from leaving the city, the Chief was forced to once again pass through the Mausoleum tower ahead of the newly-arrived Flood to reach a conduit leading to the city's Forerunner Dreadnought.[3]

After High Charity was infested by the Flood and crashed into Installation 00 during the Battle of Installation 00, the mausoleum was severely damaged. By the time of John-117's raid on High Charity, the tower was in a tilted angle, with energy cascades across the surface leaning dangerously over to the side and cables hanging from the shattered bridges around the tower. It can be assumed that the Mausoleum and the Vanguards of the Great Journey entombed within were destroyed when High Charity's reactor went critical, as spurred by Spartan-117 in the previous raid, and destroyed the Flood-infected city.[4]

Trivia[edit]

In an early version of the level Cortana, John-117 would have passed through the Mausoleum, encountering a large number of Flood-infected Arbiters.[5][6]

Gallery[edit]

  • Early Halo 3 concept art of the Mausoleum and John-117.

    Early Halo 3 concept art of the Mausoleum and John-117.

  • A render of the Mausoleum for Halo 2: Anniversary.

    A render of the Mausoleum for Halo 2: Anniversary.

  • Exterior view of the Mausoleum.

    Exterior view of the Mausoleum.

  • An interior shot as seen in Halo 2.

    An interior shot as seen in Halo 2.

  • The Mausoleum of the Arbiter in ruins as seen in Halo 3.

    The Mausoleum of the Arbiter in ruins as seen in Halo 3.

  • Concept art of the Mausoleum in Halo 2: Anniversary's terminals.

    Concept art of the Mausoleum in Halo 2: Anniversary's terminals.

  • Sangheili adding a dead Arbiter to the crypt.

    Sangheili adding a dead Arbiter to the crypt.

  • An exterior view of the Mausoleum as it is seen in Halo 2: Anniversary.

    An exterior view of the Mausoleum as it is seen in Halo 2: Anniversary.

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Halo 2, campaign level, The Arbiter
  2. ^ Halo 2, campaign level, Gravemind
  3. ^ Halo 2, campaign level, High Charity
  4. ^ Halo 3, campaign level, Cortana
  5. ^ Bungie Publications, Halo 3 Flood Alien Level Autopsy (Retrieved on Oct 10, 2021) [archive]
  6. ^ Bungie.net, Halo 3 Flood Alien Level Autopsy: Original presentation download link (Retrieved on Jan 18, 2021) [archive]

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Locations in High Charity
Structural
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