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Banished

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The Banished
Banished Logo.png
The insignia of the Banished; the Mark of Atriox

HW2-Banished.png
Members of the Banished chanting battle cries

Government overview

Type:

Founder(s):

Head of state:

Warmaster

Societal overview

Official religion(s):

None[7]

Notable event(s):

Technology level:

Adopted Tier 2

Historical overview

Formation:

Circa 2549[8] (Pre-Great Schism)

Affiliation:

 

"I've gathered this crew and they're loyal, because I am loyal... and because we share a vision. One where the blood we spill and the treasures we plunder are in the name of our own free will and nothing more."
— Atriox explains the Banished's mission statement to the Silent Shadow.[11]

The Banished are a mercenary organization that broke off from the Covenant Empire to rebel against it and rose to power after the conclusion of the Human-Covenant War. They were formed and led by the Jiralhanae warmaster Atriox. The Banished are primarily composed of Jiralhanae and have incorporated Sangheili,[12] humans,[13][14] Mgalekgolo, Unggoy, Huragok, and Kig-Yar, as Atriox saw feuds segregating species to be a senseless restriction in the way of gaining rewards and treasures.[15] The organization's goals have been described as attaining power in their raids across the Orion Arm,[16] while their killers and mercenaries plunder treasure in the name of their own free will.[11]

History

Early years

"Atriox and his Banished raided Covenant resources, cutting a swath across the galaxy... Growing in strength with each attack... Gathering killers and mercenaries to his side. The Covenant had two targets in those years. Humanity and Atriox. They almost got us. But Atriox? They never came close. The whole damn Covenant couldn't contain him at the height of their power."
— Isabel tells the origin of the Banished.[17]
 
Atriox and his Banished conduct attacks and raids against the Covenant.

The Banished were formed around 2549, during the Algolis Invasion in the late years of the Human-Covenant War by Atriox, Decimus, En'Geddon and several other disgruntled Jiralhanae who rebelled against their Sangheili masters, after being used by the Covenant as cannon fodder repeatedly.[18] After establishing their group, the Banished started off as little more than raiders and pirates,[19] conducting surgical raids against the Covenant and other targets while scavenging for resources and gathering mercenaries to their cause.[8][18] Evading Covenant enforcers led to Atriox prioritizing stealth in his forces.[20] One such attack was on a Covenant training camp in 2550, Atriox and the Banished killed the Sangheili guards and stole everything they could including vehicles and weapons. By this point the Banished had attacked at least five other Covenant bases.TEMPLATE ERROR: Template using invalid/disallowed fields: "section"[21]

Unimpeded by the Covenant's devastating Great Schism, the Banished managed to salvage many of the empire's former assets after its fall,[12] growing into a formidable power in their own right after a decade.[19][8] While Atriox had already recruited many allies during the Covenant War, the Banished gained many new members in the war's aftermath from former Covenant who wished to continue living as warriors,[22] and additionally renegade humans.[10][23][13]

Expansion

"Vengeance is petty. Vengeance has no reward."
— Atriox attempting to recruit Resa 'Azavayl, pointing out the futility in feuds between species.[15]

Decimus advised Atriox that the Banished should travel to the planet Otraak to recruit an old friend of his, a Kig-Yar T'vaoan scientist named Sig Raan. Decimus was sent to investigate first, where Sig Raan initially welcomed him and his squad showing off her latest invention: a device that could control the Yanme'e by simulating their queen's pheromones. Sig Raan then attacked Decimus with her Yanme'e swarm. Atriox showed up along with more of his Banished forces and attacked in Sig Raan in return. Decimus killed her, putting an end to the skirmish.[24]

 
Silent Shadow Elites killing Banished Brutes out of hatred for their species.

Following the Great Schism, some Sangheili continued their genocidal campaign against the Jiralhanae out of hatred. One such group was Resa 'Azavayl's Elite squad of the Silent Shadow. After slaughtering various Jiralhanae packs across various solar systems, the Silent Shadow boarded Atriox's SDV-class heavy corvette Elegy's Lament. The Silent Shadow slaughtered several of the Jiralhanae crewmen aboard, until they encountered Atriox who talked them down. Atriox stated that he and the Banished were different from the Jiralhanae led by Tartarus and the High Prophet of Truth, who had betrayed and massacred the Sangheili. Upon hearing this distinction, 'Azavayl's squad began to see the Banished as "other". Atriox then told them that they should rejoice that the traitorous Covenant was no more and invited them to join the Banished, to which 'Azavayl's squad expressed they were open to. 'Azavayl himself continued to harbor hatred toward Atriox for being a Jiralhanae, to which Atriox dismissed that vengeance was petty. 'Azavayl attacked Atriox but was killed by his Silent Shadow brethren who wanted to join the Banished. Atriox happily recruited them.[25]

 
Atriox and his Banished being knelt to by Let 'Volir and his crew.

After having successfully persuaded among the most vengeful of the Sangheili, 'Azavayl's Silent Shadow squad, Atriox confidently sought out the powerful CAS-class assault carrier Enduring Conviction and its Sangheili crew. He devised a plan to meet with its Sangheili Shipmaster, Let 'Volir. Atriox and his Banished attacked a Sangheili-led base resulting in 'Volir and his forces deploying to the base to defend it. This left Enduring Conviction vulnerable for a separate Banished strike force to raid and capture the mostly vacant ship. Back on the ground, Atriox surrendered himself to 'Volir after seemingly losing the skirmish at the base, and was brought back up to the bridge of Enduring Conviction as a prisoner. On the bridge Atriox had his second team of Banished revealed themselves, ambushing 'Volir and turning the tables. Now as prisoner of Atriox, 'Volir was offered a chance to join the Banished and allow his crew to live a new life as mercenaries and be provided with resources, rather than be used as cannon fodder for the Sangheili-Jiralhanae conflict. After being persuaded, 'Volir had Enduring Conviction abandon their Sangheili-led fleet. 'Volir and his crew would later pledge their allegiance to the Banished, albeit reluctantly,[26] in return the Banished supplied their ship with fuel.[27] The Banished would later use similar methods to hire Thav 'Sebarim's clan and Inka 'Saham's crew as mercenaries as well.[6]

Atriox's Chieftains led divisions of Banished into Jiralhanae colonies and human criminal enterprises to build connections and spread their influence.[10] Atriox was open to recruiting capable assets of any species and several humans had joined the Banished.[23][13] As the city of New Mombasa began reconstruction on Earth, Banished human mercenary groups would flock to the city for opportunity.[28]

A veteran Jiralhanae Chieftain known as Jovus had made a name for himself as a warlord after the Covenant's fall, which drew Atriox's attention. The Banished sought to recruit him along with his pack, thus Shipmaster Let 'Volir invited him via video transmission to meet Atriox. Like many Jiralhanae, Jovus was confounded that Sangheili and Jiralhanae would overlook their feud and band together but he accepted the offer to meet Atriox regardless. After a tense meeting, Jovus was killed when he tried to attack Atriox.[29]

In 2558, a Jiralhanae in Hekabe's clan suggested hiring the Banished after gaining control of the Sharquoi, to move their new weapons as they needed slipspace-capable vessels and their own had been destroyed. However, Hekabe refused the suggestion, unwilling to share power with Atriox and the Banished when he wanted it all for himself. A dispute led to Hekabe killing a Banished Chieftain known as Odanostos.[30]

Occupation of the Ark

Main article: Second Ark Conflict

"In the shadows of the Ark lurked a banished legacy of the shattered Covenant: a new opponent fueled not by religious fervor, but by raw lust for power."
— Curator's update on the Banished.[31]

Atriox and the Banished took a fleet led by their flagship Enduring Conviction to the extra-galactic Forerunner structure known as the Ark, with a force comrpised of Jiralhanae, Sangheili, humans, Unggoy, Mgalekgolo, and Huragok. They attacked a UNSC research facility on its surface, leaving no survivors but Isabel, a smart AI. In March 2559, 28 years after the UNSC Spirit of Fire lost contact with the rest of the United Nations Space Command, the vessel arrived at the Ark to find Isabel in the raided outpost. After the crew's Spartan-IIs encountered Atriox in the facility and were chased away by him, the Spirit of Fire engaged the Banished in combat.[32]

Opening engagements
 
Atriox intimidating the Spartans of the UNSC Spirit of Fire, after meeting them for the first time.

Captain James Cutter and Isabel decided to strike at the Banished by attacking a salvage operation, in which a group of Banished led by War Chieftain Decimus, Atriox's right-hand man, searched for supplies among the wreckage left from the battle nearly seven years earlier. The UNSC forces managed to destroy the operation despite orbital support from the CAS-class assault carrier Enduring Conviction, the Banished flagship, although Decimus escaped.[18]

From the wreckage of the fight, the UNSC discovered evidence of a Cartographer, a repository of data about the Ark's systems. As the Spirit of Fire sent Marines led by Spartan Jerome-092 to secure an elevator leading to the Cartographer, the Banished troops in the area were attacked by Sentinels. The survivors were unable to stop the UNSC forces from gaining access to the Cartographer.

Meanwhile, the Banished fell victim to a series of hit-and-run operations conducted by Spartan Alice-130, who was trapped behind enemy lines at the start of the battle, and liberated many captured UNSC troops.

The UNSC managed to capture the Cartographer and Professor Ellen Anders determined that the Banished were using the Ark's vast portal network to rapidly transport troops across the installation. The Banished forces at the network's control hub, led by Decimus, failed to prevent UNSC troops led by Jerome and Douglas-042 from destroying the hub, crippling the network. Decimus himself attempted to avenge the loss of the portals, but was killed by the UNSC forces.

The Banished then went on the offensive, launching an all-out ground assault on Alice's forces and sending several waves of Banshees from the Enduring Conviction at the Spirit of Fire. Alice managed to survive, but the Spirit of Fire was seriously threatened, as several of its deck turrets had been destroyed. Several Banished troops were diverted from the carrier's gravity lift in an attempt to stop UNSC forces led by Douglas from using a Forerunner particle cannon to disable the carrier's energy shields. The UNSC was ultimately successful, however, and Jerome and Isabel approached the ship's grav lift, intending to board the vessel and destroy it from the inside out. Their dropship was shot down by Banished anti-aircraft turrets as it approached, but they survived and Alice managed to use Kodiak artillery vehicles to destroy the Banished defenses to clear a path for them to board. On the ship, Isabel managed to fire the carrier's energy projector at the Ark's surface. The resulting damage caused swarms of Sentinels to crash themselves into the carrier, bisecting it. Jerome and Isabel were able to land safely on the Ark.

A new Halo ring
 
Banished and UNSC Spirit of Fire forces clashing at the wreckage of Enduring Conviction.

Atriox met with Shipmaster Let 'Volir, who survived his ship's destruction, on the Ark's surface, to assess the situation. They observed a new Halo ring rising from the Ark's Foundry, which the UNSC intended to disarm before sending it to the Soell system in the Milky Way in order to contact the rest of the UNSC. Atriox ordered 'Volir to send his surviving men onto the ring to capture it in a chance for redemption. However, Alice and Douglas led Marines in capturing a portal at the Foundry which the Banished were using to send troops to the ring. The Spartans went through the portal and it was destroyed afterwards to limit the Banished presence on the ring.

Atriox contacted Capt. Cutter and offered him a deal: the Banished would allow the Spirit of Fire to leave the area unharmed if the UNSC surrendered the Halo ring to him. He was refused, with Cutter reminding him that he did not make the same offer to the scientists at the Henry Lamb Research Outpost. The Banished troops on the ring were unable to stop Professor Anders hijacking a Retriever Sentinel in order to destroy a shield which the Banished had erected around the installation's Control Room.

 
The Banished fighting the crew of the Spirit of Fire on Halo Installation 09.

The Banished launched a last-ditch assault to stop Anders from disabling the ring's firing systems and planting a distress beacon. However, a stiff UNSC defense did not break, allowing Anders to finish her work. Once this was done, Anders accessed the ring's gravity anchors and ejected a portion of the landmass, which was occupied by the Banished, into space. The Halo ring then entered Slipspace after all of the UNSC troops were evacuated. However, Professor Anders was stuck on the ring. Cutter resolved to continue fighting the Banished on the Ark until Anders returned. Meanwhile, although Atriox's forces had been devastated by the combined losses of Decimus, the Enduring Conviction, and the Halo ring, the warlord still commanded an impressive army with which to fight the UNSC.

Operation: SPEARBREAKER

One month later, Colony, a pair of Mgalekgolo who command all Lekgolo forces in the Banished, attempted to launch a Forerunner Despair-class fighter to destroy the Spirit of Fire. This plan was thwarted by Sunray 1-1, a team of UNSC Orbital Drop Shock Troopers from Boomerang Company.

Yapyap's rebellion

During the battle, an Unggoy named Yapyap the Destroyer rebelled against the Banished with his subordinates. Many Sangheili and Mgalekgolo also defected and joined the rebellion. The Throne of Woe was established as their new headquarters. Following Yapyap's lead, they intended to locate the fabled Golden Methane Hydrate Mines of Sabator.[33]

Awakening the nightmare

After months of battle with the Spirit of Fire, the Banished were still searching for victory against the UNSC crew. They unintentionally released the Flood, few of which had survived the destruction of High Charity and the faulty firing of the unfinished Installation 08 at the end of the Human-Covenant War.[34] Pavium and Voridus were sent to scavenge old Covenant ships. Despite being told to not investigate the rubble of High Charity, Voridus breached the containment field around the wreckage anyway. This unintentionally released the Flood onto the Ark. Despite nearly being overwhelmed, Voridus and some of his forces survived and reunited with Pavium. The two began thinking of a way to fight the Flood. Knowing they were underground, they decided to use the drills to ignite explosive materials in the ground to buy them time.[35]

 
Voridus inadvertently releases the Flood.

After successfully fighting off the Flood and activating the drills, many of the Flood were destroyed by the resulting explosions. With the Flood temporarily weakened, Voridus and Pavium decided the next step was to reactivate the Sentinel Defense Network Voridus had shut down to get to High Charity in the first place. Voridus was chosen to go underground and reactivate the systems, while Pavium stayed up top with the majority of the forces to hold the line. Voridus was accompanied by a small group of soldiers to assist him, consisting of Sangheili Rangers and Jiralhanae Jumpers. They soon found out the Jumpers were crucial to traversing the Forerunner pathways. Despite their small numbers, Voridus' infusion gel helped slow the tide of Flood from overwhelming them in several encounters. Occasionally, Pavium was able to send small groups of troops down to help Voridus through scattered teleporters, but he could not spare many due to his defense against the Flood. Despite the long odds, Voridus and his surviving troops made it to the sentinel activation terminal, but found it covered in Flood biomass. Both Brutes took note of how the Flood seemed to know the defense system was dangerous to them. Pavium decided to send down Voridus' own special grenadiers powered by infusion gel and offered any amount of soldiers Voridus needed to clear out and reactivate the system. Despite stiff Flood resistance, Voridus cleared the biomass, and protected the nodes from being clogged up again. After reaching full power, he re-aligned the system, reactivating the sentinel network.[35]

Voridus used the teleporters to reach the surface and reunited with Pavium. The two decided it would be wise to inform Atriox of what was going on. Atriox was furious at them, as he would now have to give up a lot of ground they had earned in the conflict with the Spirit of Fire to assist them in suppressing the Flood. He ordered the two to have the problem fixed by the time he arrived or he would kill them himself.[35]

With the survival of the Banished and their own lives at stake Pavium and Voridus led all of their forces deep into Flood territory. Noticing the Flood's increase in tactical ability and intelligence, Pavium realized that a Proto-Gravemind must have formed and was commanding the Flood. He also realized that if they did not kill it soon it would become a Gravemind, at which point the Flood would be nearly unstoppable. They threw everything they had at the Flood and the Proto-Gravemind, which had emerged in the Flood badlands. The Proto-Gravemind used its tentacles to block the Banished forces from reaching it, but Pavium's Mega Turret was able to blast the tentacle away. Finally in range of the Proto-Gravemind, the Banished forces attacked its hard shell, exposing small bulbs. When they were destroyed, the Proto-Gravemind slightly retreated, but exposed its mouth to damage. The Banished fired everything they had, but the beast closed its mouth. Unable to damage it further, Pavium set up another Mega Turret nearby, which opened fire on the beast. The damage was enough to force the Proto-Gravemind out of its defensive state. They attacked the monster again, while holding off ever-increasing Flood forces. This process was repeated several times, adding more Mega Turrets to the barrage every time the Proto-Gravemind went into its defensive position. All the while, it was slowly reaching Gravemind status, but with the constant attacks it could not add enough biomass to reach that state. Pavium and Voridus noticed it was not taking significant damage despite their ever increasing firepower. Pavium decided to call upon a Retriever Sentinel by activating a nearby node specifically meant to control one. With its help, plus the Mega Turrets and Banished forces, the Proto-Gravemind finally succumbed to the damage and was obliterated.[35]

Pavium and Voridus reveled in their victory, roaring to the sky, but the celebration was cut short when Atriox landed nearby. Despite Voridus' inability to follow orders, Atriox allowed them to live because they had shown their worth by fending off the Flood with limited resources. During his inspection of their work, a Pod infector attacked him, but Atriox grabbed it midair with his gauntleted hand, crushing it a second later. However, this didn't stop Atriox from reprimanding the brothers for letting the Flood out of High Charity. He then commanded Voridus and Pavium to secure the breach and clean up their mess while standing menacingly over the former, as thousands of Sentinels began cleansing the surrounding area of the Flood.[35]

Following the incident, Pavium and Voridus' clan, the Long Shields, had lost reputation. Of the Banished's many humans, fifteen were under their command.[14] A few defected to the UNSC shortly after the Flood outbreak,[13] leading Pavium to preemptively kick out the rest in his clan and killing some in the process. Atriox was upset with Pavium's decision as he saw all Banished humans as valuable assets.[36]

The Search for the Portal

Main article: Operation: WOLFE

A Banished force allied with the Jiralhanae legions Keepers of the One Freedom, the Legion of the Corpse-Moon, and the Ravaged Tusks, were deployed to the glassed surface of Reach to search for a slipspace portal which would allow Atriox to return to the Milky Way from the Ark, under the orders of War Chief Escharum.[37] They successfully located the portal and activated with the help of the Ferrets who were undercover in the Keepers of the One Freedom, allowing Atriox to return to the Milky Way in a Banished Lich. However, Castor of the Keepers of the One Freedom betrayed the rest of the Banished by going rogue and taking his forces to the Ark, with the aim of activating the Halo Array himself.

Although Atriox's stated intention was to return to the Ark with reinforcements, he departed with Escharum and his other forces in an intrusion corvette to attend to a greater purpose, leaving thousands of Banished troops behind to hold the Ark. With the slipspace portal bound to catch the attention of Cortana, Atriox and Escharum left Castor to escape Reach before a Guardian Custode arrived to investigate.[38]

Stopping the Keepers of the One Freedom

Utilizing the opportunity presented by the opening of the slipspace portal, Castor led the Keepers of the One Freedom to the Ark to fire the Halo Array where both the UNSC and Banished forces under the command of Pavium and Voridus sought to foil them, indirectly aiding the Ferrets in eliminating the majority of the surviving Keepers. However, in the process, the Banished inadvertently got in the way of the UNSC's plan to finally destroy Intrepid Eye. The Banished suffered heavy losses in the effort, but both Pavium and Voridus survived while the UNSC Spirit of Fire destroyed the installation that the Keepers intended to use to fire the Halo Array and Intrepid Eye along with it. The brothers intended to report to Let 'Volir that their efforts had delayed the Keepers long enough for the humans to launch their strike.[39]

Occupation of Installation 07

Main articles: Battle for Installation 07, Installation 07 conflict

Despite the fact that Atriox valued Banished humans[36] and made statements denouncing genocide as "barbarism" with "no reward" which allowed the Banished to incorporate feuding species in the first place,[40][15][41] Escharum decided to go against Atriox's core beliefs that tied the Banished together and declared humanity's destruction for reasons unknown.[42]

Between 2559 and May 2560, the Banished, led by War Chief Escharum, would come to occupy Installation 07, and defeat UNSC forces from the UNSC Infinity. The Banished would then establish themselves on the ring itself and began fighting John-117.[43] Atriox was believed to have been killed by Cortana and Escharum was left in charge as the Banished sought to fire the ring and worked alongside the Harbinger. The escalating conflict would eventually leave Escharum, several of his top lieutenants, many of the most dangerous members of the Banished, and the Harbinger dead. However, the Banished remained in control of the ring.

Unbeknownst to everyone else, Atriox had actually survived his apparent destruction by Cortana, and had discovered the location of the cylixes in which the Forerunners had imprisoned the Endless.[44]

Governance and society

"In theory, all who can aid Atriox's ambition and will bend the knee are welcome, from human to hunter, but their violence and conditions of service limit recruitment opportunities."
— A description of the Banished's society, from the Spartan Field Manual.

As a mercenary organization, the Banished are essentially a military hierarchy led by Atriox. Their prevailing philosophy appeared to be one of ruthless pragmatism, with their operations focusing solely on accruing useful resources for their war machine. Their overall goals ostensibly center around increasing their power through raiding and conquest,[8] with Atriox having laid plans for dominance across the Orion Arm.[16] During the Covenant's reign, the Banished mostly laid low and kept on the move, never claiming territory; Atriox only attacked targets he had something to gain from, largely in the form of supplies and materiel. However, the Covenant did not seem to have been Atriox's ultimate target, instead only being leveraged as a source of supplies to raid. ONI operative 'D' speculated that Atriox was planning to stabilize the Jiralhanae on their homeworld Doisac under his leadership, though his colleague 'S' disagreed and suspected that Atriox was recruiting and his long-term goals were even more ambitious.[22]

Though the bulk of them are Jiralhanae veterans of the Human-Covenant War,[45] the Banished reject the Covenant's species-based caste system, any species in the Banished can rise through the ranks if they prove their merit and even Unggoy such as Briglard can make a name for themselves.TEMPLATE ERROR: Template using invalid/disallowed fields: "section"[46] Their chain of command, predominantly composed of Jiralhanae, is a "twisted meritocracy" in which Atriox's subordinates constantly compete for influence and favor in their warmaster's eyes, in hopes of increasing their own status.[47] Atriox has spies across his command hierarchy to snuff out signs of disloyalty,[48] and his inner circle of loyal chieftains, known as Atriox's Chosen, are used to enforce compliance among the higher ranks.[49] The Banished are thoroughly irreligious, and lack taboos regarding the treatment of Forerunner technology, for example;[7] despite this, some individuals (namely Decimus) secretly harbor a reverence for the Forerunners.[50] Societal conditions within the Banished reflect their harsh values, and most of the organization's members are mercenaries and killers.[18] In addition to the core group of the Banished led by Atriox and Decimus which includes the Clan of the Long Shields among other clans, affiliated clans have also been absorbed into the Banished and reformed as military legions, such as the Legion of the Corpse-Moon and the Clan of the Ravaged Tusks. While Atriox and Decimus' mercenaries were all outfitted with red/gray Banished armor and vehicles,[51] affiliated mercenary clans during the Zeta Halo conflict typically reused standard former Covenant armor that had been salvaged and the usage of official Banished armor was limited to higher ranks.[6]

 
Banished Elites and Brutes fighting.

Atriox did not care for the greater Sangheili-Jiralhanae feud,[40] viewing it as petty.[15] As such, he has welcomed some Sangheili to join the Banished as mercenaries.[52] Because Atriox and the Jiralhanae in the Banished claim to not have been involved in the betrayal and massacre of the Sangheili,[53] some Sangheili have willingly accepted the offer, and joined viewing the Banished as "other".[54] Three Special Operations Sangheili from the Silent Shadow, a former Covenant Special Operations unit, were successfully convinced by Atriox to join the ranks of the Banished.[11] Additionally, the Sangheili crew of the CAS-class assault carrier Enduring Conviction joined the Banished since its shipmaster, Let 'Volir, reluctantly aligned himself with Atriox.[55] Atriox's charismatic leadership allows for both Jiralhanae and Sangheili to be deployed simultaneously, whereas other leaders would struggle to get such bitter rivals to coopererate.[56] Despite this coexistence, hatred between the two species still manifests. The Sangheili under Decimus' command were treated with resentment and often sadistically sent on suicide missions.[57] This is due to some Jiralhanae (including Decimus and Teranus) still holding a grudge against the Sangheili for treating the Jiralhanae as inferiors during the time of the Covenant.[58] Concurrently, Let 'Volir's Sangheili crew feel a strong hatred toward Atriox's Chosen Jiralhanae.[59]

Atriox had no animosity towards humanity,[60][41] and has recruited humans into the Banished.[13] While some humans have joined, the Banished's violent culture and conditions of service make them unattractive to many.[23] As Banished chieftains have spread their power beyond Jiralhanae colonies and into human territory, human criminal enterprises across the Orion Arm have been influenced. [10] The Banished have also looked through the black markets on the colony of Venezia to trade with humans and sought Forerunner technology, which their shield generators utilized, as well as purchase nuclear weapons.[61][62] While battling with the UNSC Spirit of Fire during the Second Ark Conflict, Atriox had humans in his forces and also admitted respect for his UNSC enemies' tenacity for the fact that they were both survivors to the point of offering them a chance to leave, in return they would not be hunted down. However, Captain James Cutter refused the offer.[63] Despite Escharum's personal hatred for humanity, he showed respect for John-117 as a warrior due to his legendary reputation, to which the Chief would return by listening to and holding him in his dying moments.[44] After the rebuilding of New Mombasa on Earth, several Banished affiliated human mercenary groups continued to operate in the crime-ridden streets, seeking to capitalize on the city's proximity to Forerunner secrets for the Banished.[28]

The Banished have numerous Unggoy in their service. They are generally regarded as mere cannon fodder and are often abused for sport by their Jiralhanae superiors.[64] A number of "thrall colonies" exist where Unggoy are bred, only to be indoctrinated into the service of the Banished; the most violent individuals are set apart and formed into suicide squads.[65] The Banished have amassed a small complement of Huragok; those serving on the Ark are imprisoned in harnesses equipped with control yokes keeping them in constant agony to keep them compliant, lest they be distracted by their innate need to repair damaged Forerunner technology.[66] The Banished also field Mgalekgolo troops, many of whom are unusually violent for their kind, and may have been forced into service as well,[67] while Banished Scarabs use unstable plasma generators that quickly kill the Lekgolo comprising their control systems.[68] During the early months of their campaign on the Ark, the Banished did not typically employ Kig-Yar mercenaries.[69] However, Chieftain Minas led a strike force that included Kig-Yar on a mission to the abandoned Forerunner Dreadnought in the summer of 2559.[70] The group has also hired Kig-Yar pirates dubbed "Freebooters" and Skirmishers during the Installation 07 conflict.[71]

Notable members

 
Atriox stands before the Banished.

Jiralhanae

Lekgolo

Sangheili

Kig-Yar

  • Barroth: A Kig-Yar sniper who is notorious for his flawless accuracy and the death of 271 UNSC members. Killed by John-117.
  • Itka: A Kig-Yar splicer that aided in the Raid on Anodyne Spirit.[70]
  • Writh Kul: A T'voan who was recruited by Tartarus as a leader in naval combat before she joined the Banished. Killed by John-117.

Unggoy

Huragok

Other

  • The Harbinger: A member of the Endless that is aiding Atriox and Escharum on Installation 07. Killed by John-117.
  • Skimmer Alpha: An individual leading all the Skimmers, although it's under the command of the Harbinger. Killed by John-117.

Ranks and roles

 
Various Banished infantry classes and vehicles.

The Banished make use of several mercenaries, criminals and affiliates.[10][9] These fill the ranks and roles of the Banished.

Jiralhanae

Ranks
  • Warmaster: First-in-command of the Banished, as the supreme leader and founder, this rank is held by Atriox.[87]
  • War Chief: Leader of the various legions in the Banished and second-in-command of the Banished.[88] The authority of second-in-command was held by Decimus until his death,[89] afterward Escharum became the next second-in-command.[90]
  • Legionmaster: Chieftains in charged of differing Banished legions with considerable degrees of autonomy, below the authority of the War Chief.[91]
  • Warlord: Jiralhanae Chieftains loyal only to Atriox and Decimus,[92] tasked to intercede on the Banished leaders' behalf to subdue uncooperative packs and direct critical operations within the organization.
  • Chieftain: Clan leaders.
  • Captain: A class of field leaders.
  • Warrior: Warriors are among the lower Jiralhanae ranks in the Banished.[93]
Roles

Lekgolo

Ranks
  • Captain: Mgalekgolo officers directly linked to "Colony".
Roles

Sangheili

Ranks
  • Shipmaster: Captain of a starship, the shipmaster of the Banished's flagship Enduring Conviction was Let ‘Volir.
  • Ultra: A Sangheili mercenary in the Banished of high rank.[95]
  • Mercenary: The standard low ranking Sangheili mercenaries among the Banished.[96]
Roles
  • Hand of Atriox: Special forces that specialize in killing Spartans which Jega 'Rdomnai is a member of.
  • Honor Guard: Skilled mercenary swordsmasters who evoke the traditions of the old Covenant Honor Guard in the service of shipmaster Let ‘Volir, and who by extension serve Atriox.
  • Enforcer: Mercenary units specialized in structure destruction.
  • Ranger: Mercenary units specialized in scouting and marksmanship.

Human

Ranks
  • Mercenary: Several standard human forces exist in some clans of the Banished.[13][14]
Roles
  • Criminals: Atriox's Chieftains have spread the Banished's power and influence through both Jiralhanae colonies as well as human criminal enterprises.[10]

Unggoy

Ranks
Roles
  • Suicide Unggoy: Drawn from the Banished's thrall colonies, Unggoy in this role are selected for their aggressive and violent tendencies and indoctrinated by the Banished to serve in dedicated suicide squads.
  • Assault: Banished Unggoy of unknown role.[97]
  • Mule: Heavily armored infantry that carry weapons and gear on their backs.[98]

Huragok

Roles
  • Engineers: Support units that can repair units with reconstruction beams and drop overshield bubbles.[99]
  • Infused Engineers: Described as Aberrant Huragok, these Huragok channel large pools of infusion gel and are exclusive to the command of Voridus who has a fascination with such gel.[100]

Kig-yar

Roles


Classes Jiralhanae Lekgolo Sangheili Human Unggoy Huragok Kig-Yar
Ranks and type classes
Standard ranks Warrior[93] Mgalekgolo Mercenary[96] Mercenary[13][14] Cannon Fodder
Conscript[93] 		Engineers Freebooter[101]
Raiders
Specialized troops Suicide
Berserker
Jumper
Unstable Jumper
Grenadier
Scarred Grenadier
Bloodfuel 		Goliath Enforcer
Ranger
Blademaster
Honor Guard 		Suicide
Mob
Bloodfuel
Assault[97]
Mule[98] 		Infused Engineers Snipers
Skirmisher
Leaders Captain
Atriox's Chosen 		Captain Ultra Thrall-taskmaster
Titles
Affiliates Dokab[104] Kaidon Acolyte[105][9]
Criminal[10]
Ratings Chieftain
Warlord
Legionmaster
War Chieftain
Warmaster 		Bond Brother
 Warlord/General
Shipmaster

Equipment

 
Enduring Conviction, a CAS-class assault carrier under Banished control.

Having salvaged and repurposed a great deal of Covenant matériel as well as equipment from other sources,[12] the Banished are well equipped with a wide range of military technology. Covenant technology plundered by the Banished is modified to match the aesthetic tastes of its new masters, including an overt preference for layered armor plating, spikes, and sharp angles contrasted with the smooth curves and surfaces favored by the Covenant.[45] The Banished additionally have the capabilities to manufacture their own weaponry, utilising gravitic-catapults in their Spike weapons. How the Banished have managed to make such improvements in as short a time as they have continues to baffle UNSC technicians.[106] Banished also known use their own variant of UAV to repair their outposts during the Second Ark Conflict.

Armor

Most of the infantry personnel of the Banished are equipped with crimson armor, including Jiralhanae power armor, Sangheili combat harnesses and Unggoy combat harnesses.[107] Additionally, the Banished employ specialist Jiralhanae soldiers known as Jump-pack Jiralhanae, who are equipped with jump pack propulsion systems. Many of the Sangheili and Jiralhanae in the Banished's ranks lack energy shielding.[108]

Weaponry

Weapons used by the organization include the Type-1 energy sword, Type-2 gravity hammer, Plasma gloves, Mangler, Type-25 Spiker, Bloodfuel rifle, Skewer, Ravager, Shock rifle, Stalker rifle, Scrap Cannon, Type-51 Carbine, Type-25 Brute shot, Type-25 Brute plasma rifle, Type-25 plasma pistol, Type-25 plasma rifle, Type-33 fuel rod gun,[108] Disruptor, Type-1 plasma grenade, Type-2 spike grenade, Dynamo grenade, and a custom forged gravity mace called Chainbreaker used by Atriox.[109]

Vehicles

The vehicles at their disposal include the Blisterback mobile missile battery, Shroud aerial stealth vehicle, Marauder tank, and Reaver anti-aircraft walker. The spike turret is used for static defense. They also field the Goblin, Methane Wagon, Skitterer, Chopper, Spirit, Banshee, Wraith, Locust, Ghost, Scarab, Phantom and Lich, all of which depart from typical Covenant aesthetics.[108] The Banished also make use of Type-52 Prowlers.[110]

Ships

They have at least one CAS-class assault carrier, the Enduring Conviction as the flagship and once the largest Banished capital ship per ONI, at least five CCS-class battlecruisers,[111] and at one point captured the SDV-class heavy corvette Elegy's Lament.[11]

The Banished during their operations on the Ark also used salvaged wreckage from Truth's fleet that was left on the Ark. However, the loss of the Enduring Conviction left them unable to perform the kind of orbital bombardment that the UNSC Spirit of Fire was capable of with her MAC gun.[112]

By October 2559, after absorbing three other Jiralhanae legions, the Banished in the Milky Way have a formidable fleet including at least one former massive Covenant supercarrier, at least one intrusion corvette, several destroyers,[113] and even numerous of their own designed dreadnought-class warships, including Ghost of Gbraakon, by the time of the Battle for Installation 07 in December 2559.[114]

Symbol

The emblem of the Banished, known as the Mark of Atriox,[115] is modeled after the appearance of Atriox's gravity mace, Chainbreaker, when viewed from a top-down perspective.[116]

Gameplay

The Banished are one of the two playable factions in Halo Wars 2. Atriox, Decimus, Let 'Volir, Colony, Yapyap, Ripa 'Moramee, Pavium, and Voridus are their playable Leaders.

Production notes

Trivia

  • The design and artstyle of Banished has striking similarities to the design and artstyle of Red Legion from Destiny universe.[119]

Gallery

  • An earlier iteration of the Banished emblem.

  • A mood board of the Banished's aesthetic style.

  • Concept art of Banished Jiralhanae.

  • Concept art of Banished Jiralhanae.

  • Concept art of Banished Jiralhanae.

  • Artwork of Banished forces attacking a UNSC base.

  • A Jiralhanae Warlord battling UNSC Marines.

  • Atriox, the chief of the Banished.

  • Atriox and the Banished onboard the Elegy's Lament in Hunting Party.

  • Concept art of the Banished for Halo Wars 2.

  • Concept art of Atriox and the Banished fighting UNSC forces.

  • Concept art of Sangheili in the Banished's ranks.

  • Concept art of the Banished and Created fighting.

  • Concept art of the Banished and Flood fighting.

  • The Banished face off against the crew of the UNSC Spirit of Fire on the cover of Halo Wars 2.

  • Promotional image of Atriox with the symbol of the Banished in the background.

  • Banished vehicles and infantry.

  • The Banished and the UNSC fighting for a Domination Point on Ricochet in the Halo Wars 2 Open Beta.

  • Jiralhanae within the Banished on Installation 00.

  • A Banished Sangheili commands Ghosts.

  • The leaders of the Banished.

  • Banished forces on Installation 09.

  • Voridus and a group of Jiralhanae outside High Charity.

  • Banished Jiralhanae fight the Flood near High Charity.

  • Pavium and Voridus roar in victory after killing the Proto-Gravemind.

  • Pavium fighting Flood.

  • A render of a Sangheili in service of the Banished.

  • Another view of the Banished Sangheili.

  • Concept art of a Banished stronghold on Installation 07 in Halo Infinite.

  • Concept art of the inside of a Banished installation on Zeta Halo.

  • Render of a Jiralhanae Berserker.

  • A closeup render of a Banished Jiralhanae's face.

  • Renders of two Banished Kig-Yar.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ Halo Wars 2 Phoenix Logs Foundry: "The Banished were raiders and reavers for years."
  2. ^ Halo Waypoint: Halo Wars 2 "Atriox, the leader of a violent, mercenary force known as The Banished."
  3. ^ Gamestop: Halo Wars 2: New Character Images and Details Revealed
  4. ^ Halo Wars 2 - A New Enemy
  5. ^ Halo: Rise of Atriox - Halo: Rise of Atriox Issue 2
  6. ^ a b c d Halo Infinite
  7. ^ a b Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Shield Generator
  8. ^ a b c d Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Outpost - "The Banished have perfected their strip—mining and rapid assault and extraction efforts over a decade of raiding Covenant and other targets."
  9. ^ a b c Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 3: "The Keepers of the one Freedom had joined the Banished a year and a half earlier, six months before the Apparition began to transmit her demands for fealty across the stars,"
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 156: "Atriox is reported to have led a fleet of Banished to an unknown destination, but the chieftains he has organized and controlled continue to spread their influence and power throughout Brute colonies and even into human criminal enterprises."
  11. ^ a b c d Halo: Tales from Slipspace, Hunting Party
  12. ^ a b c Halo Wars 2 New Story Details and Images Revealed
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Halo: Divine Wind, chapter 5, page 87: "'Some of the Banished humans defected to the UNSC,' Arcas said."
  14. ^ a b c d Halo: Divine Wind, chapter 7, page 117: "Castor noted carefully. 'The Banished have brought humans here, and they have been present for over twenty cycles. The UNSC has been here almost as long, and they are nothing but humans.'"
  15. ^ a b c d Hunting Party: "So, you've simply traded one leash for another. Vengeance is petty. Vengeance has no reward."
  16. ^ a b Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Harvester
  17. ^ Halo Wars 2 A New Enemy
  18. ^ a b c d Halo Wars 2, campaign level A New Enemy
  19. ^ a b Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Foundry
  20. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Cloak Generator
  21. ^ Halo Wars 2
  22. ^ a b Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Rise of Atriox IV
  23. ^ a b c Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 161: "In theory, all who can aid Atriox's ambition and will bend the knee are welcome, from human to hunter, but their violence and conditions of service limit recruitment opportunities."
  24. ^ Halo: Rise of Atriox Issue 3
  25. ^ Halo: Tales from Slipspace Hunting Party
  26. ^ Gamestop: Halo Wars 2: New Character Images and Details Revealed - "This arrangement was deeply unpleasant for the Shipmaster, especially since Elites were used to lording over the Brutes during the time of the Covenant..."
  27. ^ Halo: Rise of Atriox Issue 4
  28. ^ a b Canon Fodder: Legendary Ending: "The rebuilding of New Mombasa and proximity to so many Forerunner secrets is enticing to many opportunists, including insurrectionist factions, renegade Covenant splinter groups, and even Banished-allied human mercenary groups."
  29. ^ Halo: Rise of Atriox Issue 5
  30. ^ Halo: Envoy
  31. ^ Halo Mythos, page 200
  32. ^ Halo Waypoint: The Finals Countdown
  33. ^ Halo Waypoint - Haze of Glory
  34. ^ Twitter - Jeff Easterling: "Guns that are blowing up while firing might not be quite as effective..."
  35. ^ a b c d e Halo Wars 2, Awakening the Nightmare
  36. ^ a b Halo: Divine Wind, chapter 6, page 102: "Atriox and his retinue had been rather unhappy with that decision, considering humans as valuable assets to the Banished as a whole,"
  37. ^ a b Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 3
  38. ^ a b Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 21
  39. ^ a b Halo: Divine Wind
  40. ^ a b Rise of Atriox Issue 4: "...its descent into blood feuds and barbarism."
  41. ^ a b Rise of Atriox Issue 2: "My brothers fall in the war against your kind. And for what?"
  42. ^ YouTube - Halo, Halo Infinite The Banished Rise: "Escharum, leader of the Banished, declares humanity's destruction to be imminent, starting with its heroes."
  43. ^ Halo Infinite, trailer: Campaign Gameplay Premiere
  44. ^ a b Halo Infinite
  45. ^ a b Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Surface Features
  46. ^ Halo Infinite
  47. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - War Council
  48. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Sensor Tower
  49. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Atriox's Chosen
  50. ^ a b Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Decimus
  51. ^ Halo Wars 2
  52. ^ Halo: Tales from Slipspace, Hunting Party "I see you for what you are and what you could be. We can do great things together. Not as master and slaves, but as the warriors you truly are."
  53. ^ Halo: Tales from Slipspace, Hunting Party "I am not Tartarus or some fanatic. I am not Truth. I am not Regret. I am their remedy."
  54. ^ Halo: Tales from Slipspace, Hunting Party - "Agreed. Atriox is of a kind with our enemies, but he is OTHER, and an ally worth considering."
  55. ^ a b GameSpot: Halo Wars 2: New Character Images and Details Revealed
  56. ^ Halo Wars 2 Phoenix Logs Atriox
  57. ^ GameSpot - Halo Wars 2: New Character Images and Details Revealed "...and as one of Atriox’s generals Decimus now takes a sadistic joy in ordering those Elites on the most dangerous, even suicidal, missions."
  58. ^ GameSpot - Halo Wars 2: New Character Images and Details Revealed "Decimus still harbors some resentment against the Elites under Atriox's banner due to how Elites treated the Brutes during the time of the Covenant..."
  59. ^ Halo Wars 2: Phoenix Logs -Atriox's Chosen
  60. ^ Angry Atriox Brings Hell To Halo - "He would tell the soldiers that they, too, are nothing but expendable. They are nothing more than cannon fodder to be thrown at their enemies. He would tell them that he doesn’t blame them for what they are. He bears them no malice. But he would also tell them that he offers no mercy. They have a role to play, just as he does, and that means that he must kill them all." Cullen Bunn
  61. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Shield Generator "The Banished reject the idea of taboo and have been busy combing the black markets of Venezia and other outlaw rimworlds looking for further secrets of the ancients that can be exploited in the modern era."
  62. ^ Halo: Retribution
  63. ^ Halo Wars 2, campaign level The Halo
  64. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Raid Camp
  65. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Suicide Grunts
  66. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Engineers
  67. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Hunters
  68. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Scarab
  69. ^ a b Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder Issue 96 - THE ART OF WAR(S)
  70. ^ a b c d e Halo: Shadows of Reach: Adjunct - Sacrifice
  71. ^ Mega Construx: Halo - Warthog Rally | Mega Construx
  72. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Atriox
  73. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - A Warning
  74. ^ Halo Wars 2, campaign level Lights Out
  75. ^ Halo Waypoint: Campaign Evolved
  76. ^ Halo: Envoy, page 146 (Google Play edition)
  77. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Warped Reflections
  78. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Fort Jordan
  79. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - A Small Sacrifice
  80. ^ Halo Waypoint Canon Fodder - Leggo my Lekgolo
  81. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Sentry
  82. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - The Blinded
  83. ^ Halo Wars 2, campaign level The Foundry
  84. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Tread Carefully
  85. ^ a b Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Floats Low But Steady
  86. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs - Brothers in Arms I
  87. ^ Halo Wars 2, Phoenix Logs — Atriox
  88. ^ Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 159: "He serves as one of Atriox's most trusted field commanders, and has served as the Banished second-in-command for years."
  89. ^ Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 159: "Decimus: Banished War Chieftain"
  90. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 17: "He watched as the vessel swung toward a relatively flat area between the rim of the cliff and valley behind it. Once he was sure that was where the pilots intended to land, he summoned his warriors and went to receive the Banished's second-in-command."
  91. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach
  92. ^ Halo Waypoint - Canon Fodder: The Art of War(s)
  93. ^ a b c d Mega Construx: Halo - Skiff Intercept™ | Mega Construx
  94. ^ Mega Construx: Halo - Pelican Inbound™ | Mega Construx
  95. ^ Mega Construx: Halo - Elite Ultra | Mega Construx
  96. ^ a b c Mega Construx: Halo - Recon Getaway™ | Mega Construx
  97. ^ a b Mega Construx: Halo - Defense Point Showdown™ | Mega Construx
  98. ^ a b Mega Construx: "Grunt Mule"
  99. ^ Halo Wars 2 Phoenix Logs/Banished Units/Engineers
  100. ^ Halo Wars 2 Phoenix Logs/Banished Units/Infused Engineer
  101. ^ a b Mega Construx: Halo - Warthog Rally | Mega Construx
  102. ^ Jazware: World of Halo Series 3
  103. ^ Jazware: World of Halo Series 1
  104. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 17: "'And of your lack of results,' Escharum said. 'It may be time to give up waiting and return to more conventional methods, Dokab Castor.'"
  105. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach, chapter 17: "A moment later, four of the Keeper's human acolytes emerged and looked in his direction."
  106. ^ Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual - p.45
  107. ^ YouTube: Halo Wars 2 Official E3 Trailer
  108. ^ a b c Halo Wars 2
  109. ^ Halo Waypoint: Preview of Autumn
  110. ^ Twitter - Halo: The Brute Prowler is a Jiralhanae-designed infantry fighting vehicle that was deployed in the final months of the Covenant War and still sees service within Banished forces. #FictionFriday
  111. ^ Halo Wars 2 campaign level A New Enemy
  112. ^ Halo: Divine Wind, chapter 17
  113. ^ Halo: Shadows of Reach
  114. ^ Halo Infinite
  115. ^ Halo Waypoint News: Burn Baby Burn
  116. ^ Twitter - Jeremy Cook
  117. ^ YouTube - Game Informer, 343 On What You Need To Know About Halo Infinite's Campaign: "How to take the Brute aesthetic that we did develop and extend to the Banished in Halo Wars 2 for an RTS game. How to bring both that faction and their art style and their visual distinctiveness to an FPS game."
  118. ^ Inverse, The Banished: Everything you Need to Know About Halo Infinite's Villains: "Why did they add the Banished? Crocker says it's because 'Because they’re super cool and everyone likes them,' Fair enough."
  119. ^ https://www.gamerant.com/halo-infinite-vs-destiny-2/amp/
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