The Key of Osanalan was a simple skeleton key, fashioned from what appears to be tin-foil, that Ruwan and James Ackerson used in make-believe games when they were young. [1]
Background
During their childhood, James and Ruwan Ackerson made up a skeleton key called the Key of Osanalan which was created to rescue the "Princess" as part of their make-believe games.[2]
When James Ackerson was held captive and interrogated by the Jiralhanae, he said that the Halos will not properly activate without the Key, causing the Covenant to go on a misleading search for the "Key". Ruwan, after realizing the importance of the Covenant's belief in the key, contacted the Covenant, saying that he would give them the Key when they met. Once they arrived, Ruwan then informed them that he was in fact the key. Confused, the Covenant brought Ruwan to their ship. In actuality, Ruwan was implanted with an organic tracker. Moments before Nassau Station used its MAC cannon to destroy the ship, Ruwan told the Minister of Inquisition to "kiss my ass".[3]
After the events on the Harbinger of Piety, James Ackerson openly mocked the Covenant about the key's non-existence, which ended in his death. [3]
Trivia
- Ironically, like all Reclaimers, if given the opportunity Ruwan could indeed activate the Halo rings, acting as a "Key" for the Installations.
- If the comic page is read from top to bottom, when the Prophet asks, "Tell us, creature...what do you open?" Ruwan appears to say that he can open Halo. However, the panels span across the two pages and are not meant to be read in that order. Ruwan was in fact answering the Minister's question of "Tell us what you know of the Halo?".