Minister of Relative Reconciliation
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- "The Great Journey is not merely a matter of being ready militarily, though that is of importance. But truly, those who seek the light of the seven Rings must be purified within, utterly convinced of the truth of the Prophets, to the last vestige of their being, and willing to die for the cause without hesitation."
- — Qurlom, on devotion to the Great Journey[1]
Qurlom was a San'Shyuum politician who served as a Hierarch of the Covenant during the San'Shyuum-Sangheili War, and later served as the Minister of Relative Reconciliation.[2]
Biography
At some point during the San'Shyuum-Sangheili War, Qurlom served as a Hierarch of the Covenant in the First Age of Conflict—likely alongside J'nellin. During his time in office, Qurlom began to notice that some of the Hierarchs cared more about their own ambition than following the Path to the Great Journey. Qurlom would later step down from his position due to this, although he publicly cited that his reason for stepping down was due to his own health.[3]
In 851 BCE, Qurlom convened with the Prophet of Inner Conviction and the Minister of Kindly Subjection to discuss Ussa 'Xellus' rebellion on Sanghelios. Qurlom had received documentation of Ussa's heretical speech against the Covenant from Xellus Sangheili that did not agree with Ussa's claims. The three San'Shyuum decided to have the Sangheili deal with the insurgency, and the convocation called for the Sangheili peace commission to join them.[2] Commissioners Loro 'Onkiyo and Viyo 'Griot arrived and confirmed that a fleet of ships carrying a contingent of Covenant military personnel was en route to Sanghelios to quell the rebels and assassinate Ussa. Qurlom had the Commissioners assure him that the soldiers under their command were truly devote followers of the Covenant religion and willing to die for the Great Journey. Although the Sangheili commanders insisted that Ussa's death would end the rebellion, the Prophet of Inner Conviction openly believed that 'Xellus would only serve as a martyr.[1]
After the death of Covenant assassin Vertikus, the group reconvened in 850 BCE. Sangheili among Ussa's followers that decided to remain behind while Ussa and the rest escaped revealed that they had fled to an unknown world. Qurlom insisted that for the Covenant to continue to search for Ussa to prevent the rebellion from spreading. The Commissioners, offended that Ussa had called them cowards for "surrendering" to the San'Shyuum, assured him that they would hunt hum down.[4] Eventually, Qurlom grew fatigued and the others became occupied with other matters, and so the conference was put to an end.[5] Following the meeting, he returned to his residence in the Compartments of Comfort with the Prophet of Inner Conviction. Qurlom informed him that the Hierarchs of the Covenant established a new Ministry—the Ministry of Anticipatory Security—and its Minister was R'Noh Custo, an old political rival of Inner Conviction. Qurlom warned Inner Conviction to be wary of the new Ministry's function and told him the true reason of why he stepped down from the position of Hierarch.[3]
Later that year, the Prophet of Inner Conviction was on trial before the Hierarchs for his failure to safe-guard a Luminary during his expedition to Janjur Qom. Qurlom interrupted the proceedings, claiming that Inner Conviction was innocent. The High Prophet of Excellent Redolence claimed that Qurlom had no right to interject his opinions in the trial, but Qurlom pointed out that the Book of Hierarchs stated that retired Hierarchs were allowed to voice their own opinions to the Hierarchs when they choose to do so. Qurlom insisted that the trial was a waste of time and that Inner Conviction had been blessed by the "gods". He claimed that the Forerunners had decreed that the Covenant was not yet worthy of the Great Journey, but instead allowed them to continue on the Path to the Great Journey that will one day lead to the Halo Array. The Hierarchs decided to rule Inner Conviction not guilty and disband the Ministry of Anticipatory Security at Qurlom's suggestion. Qurlom then reported to the Hierarchs that he had received intelligence on Ussa's location, Shield World 0673. In response, the Covenant sent a fleet led by the Prophet of Inner Conviction.[6] After Ussan Salus 'Crolon defected to the Covenant and claimed he was a Covenant agent working undercover to avoid punishment, Qurlom searched the records but they only proved that 'Crolon was lying.[7]
Personality and traits
Qurlom was pragmatic and noted to be a true believer in the Great Journey. He was very serious with the religion and never wasted the time or the effort on rituals—specifically those of the social sort—that were not religious in nature.[2] Qurlom believed that those who were devoted to the Great Journey must be wholly convinced in the San'Shyuum's teachings and willing to die to protect the Path.[1] Qurlom was ill-tempered and rather quick to anger, growing annoyed when others questioned him and his sources or contradicted him.[2] Qurlom was a friend of Mken 'Scre'ah'ben; he personally warned him of the formation of the Ministry of Anticipatory Security, and later intervened during his trial before the Hierarchs to prevent him from being wrongly accused. Qurlom enjoyed a pungent tea and had to extensively use traditional medicines, in his later years.[8] By 850 BCE, Qurlom suffered from arthritis in his fingers.[6]
As the Minister of Relative Reconciliation, Qurlom donned a white robe that was simple in design. Seven circles interlinked in a circular chain on his robe to represent the seven installations of the Halo Array. His anti-gravity chair had five spiked ridges made of platinum protruding from the chair's mantle.[2]
List of appearances
- Halo: Broken Circle (First appearance)
