Ascension (ceremony)

This article is about the ceremony. For the multiplayer map, see Ascension (level).

An Ascension is a grand ceremony in which three San'Shyuum are promoted to the rank of Hierarch of the Covenant and announce their names as the Prophets to the Covenant spectators. A monumental ceremony, the Ascension draws out tens of thousands of spectators, due to its rare occurrence. It takes place in High Charity, specifically on the Forerunner Dreadnought.

Background

Once the High Council has formally declared the beginning of a new Age, the three new Hierarchs leave the High Council Chamber to travel to the Dreadnought. Once they arrive, each San'Shyuum ascends one of the three legs of the ship until they reach the place where Mendicant Bias has been chained in order to receive the blessing from their "Oracle". They then address the crowd waiting below and declare their new names, after which holographic representations of the Halo Array appear around the Dreadnought, with the Forerunner glyph representing the new age appearing in the rings.

During the Ascension of the High Prophets of Truth, Mercy, and Regret, attendants of the ceremony included San'Shyuum and Sangheili High Councilors, wealthy Unggoy traders, Kig-Yar shipmasters, and a Yanme'e Hive Queen.

List of appearances

• Halo: Contact Harvest (First appearance)
• Halo: The Cole Protocol (Mentioned only)
• Halo: Broken Circle (Mentioned only)