🡀 ONI • FACTIONS • JUL’S COVENANT 🡂
Important Events
Evo-014's Summary
LEADERS: Prophets of Regret, Mercy, Truth
HOMEWORLD: High Charity
PERIOD: 852 BCE - Dec 11, 2552
The Covenant, a formidable and expansive hegemony, emerged in the year 852 BCE as a result of a momentous alliance between the revered San'Shyuum and the formidable Sangheili. This landmark union marked the end of a protracted and grueling ninety-year war that had plagued these two species. United by their reverence for the enigmatic Forerunners—a long-extinct race of advanced extraterrestrials—the Covenant's primary focus revolved around unraveling the mysteries of their vanished predecessors and comprehending the enigmatic secrets they left behind.
Over the course of millennia, the Covenant steadily grew in power and influence, steadily incorporating new species into its ever-expanding collective. By embracing the technologies bestowed upon them by the Forerunners, the Covenant established an awe-inspiring presence throughout the vast expanse of the Milky Way galaxy. Their devotion to the Forerunners' legacy was unyielding, as they sought to unlock the secrets behind their enigmatic disappearance and unravel the cosmic riddles surrounding their ultimate fate.
Spanning over three thousand years, the Covenant's dominion continued to expand, absorbing countless species into its diverse fold. This amalgamation of different races brought forth a tapestry of cultures, technologies, and beliefs, forming a complex mosaic within the Covenant's formidable structure. However, this imposing empire's zenith would ultimately pave the way for its catastrophic collapse.
In the fateful year 2552, the Covenant met its precipitous demise, signifying the culmination of its harrowing and protracted conflict with humanity. Twenty-eight years earlier, hostilities had ignited during the seminal First Battle of Harvest, sparking an all-encompassing war that ravaged entire civilizations and plunged the galaxy into an era of turmoil and devastation. The Covenant's formidable war machine, bolstered by its unwavering devotion to the Forerunners, had posed an unprecedented threat to humanity's survival.
Despite the Covenant's eventual demise, the echoes of its legacy persist, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of galactic history. The rise and fall of this once-mighty hegemony serve as a testament to the potent forces of ideology, exploration, and interstellar conflict that shaped the destiny of the Milky Way.
Ancient History
The Covenant, a formidable religious hegemony, was deeply rooted in the veneration of the enigmatic Forerunner race and the profound artifacts they left behind in the wake of the Great Purification. This influential alliance encompassed no fewer than eight distinct species, hailing from diverse regions of the vast Milky Way galaxy. Organized into a hierarchical tier system, the Covenant exhibited a rigid structure that favored its earliest members and the more formidable species within its ranks.
While the weaker or less intellectually endowed species, such as the devoted Unggoy, remained fervent followers of the Covenant's religious doctrines, they were often relegated to menial labor or, regrettably, deployed as cannon fodder on the battlefield. The inherent tensions between the various member species were inevitable, given the complex dynamics of the Covenant. Notably, the alliance experienced significant internal conflicts on at least two notable occasions: the Unggoy Rebellion in 2462 and the momentous Great Schism of 2552, which ultimately spelled the Covenant's downfall.
The genesis of the Covenant can be traced back to the year 852 BCE, a pivotal juncture that marked the conclusion of the War of Beginnings between the San'Shyuum Reformists and the Sangheili. Departing their homeworld of Janjur Qom in 2100 BCE, effectively ending the War of Wills, the Reformists carried with them not only the esteemed Forerunner Keyship known as the Anodyne Spirit but also an ideology emphasizing the study and utilization of the remnants of Forerunner technology. This ideological divergence clashed with the beliefs upheld by the Stoic faction of the San'Shyuum, who remained on Janjur Qom, as well as the Sangheili, who advocated for the study of Forerunner artifacts without exploiting them. The ensuing conflict of beliefs precipitated over eighty years of strife, ultimately culminating in the signing of the historic Writ of Union and the formation of an influential alliance known as the Covenant. Under the terms of this alliance, the San'Shyuum would assume most, if not all, of the political positions within the organization, while the Sangheili would wield military authority both in space and on the ground.
Members
The Covenant boasted a diverse array of members, encompassing a vast spectrum of sizes, species, and motivations. However, what bound them all together was their shared conviction in the divine status of the Forerunners and their sacred mission to embark on the Great Journey. This unwavering loyalty to their cause served as the unifying force within the Covenant, yet paradoxically, it also sowed the seeds of discord among its member species, ultimately contributing to its eventual downfall.
Recent History
Over the course of the following three millennia, the Covenant experienced gradual expansion, assimilating numerous species into their religious coalition and fervently delving into the exploration of Forerunner artifacts. As their influence grew, so did their power, but this ascent was accompanied by escalating instability caused by conflicts among the member species. The cycle of growth punctuated by internal discord persisted until the momentous discovery of humanity.
Humanity, recognized as the Reclaimers of the Mantle of Responsibility by the Forerunners themselves, was designated as such by the Covenant's Oracles responsible for studying Forerunner technology. Fearing that the Covenant members would discover their beloved Forerunners had chosen another species above the San'Shyuum, thereby jeopardizing the fragile unity of their alliance, humanity was falsely labeled as heretics and marked for annihilation.
Thus commenced the Human-Covenant War, an unrelenting conflict spanning nearly three decades, characterized by ceaseless warfare and the tragic loss of billions of human lives, as well as incalculable casualties among the Covenant ranks.
Worlds
While the precise count remains elusive, the Covenant boasted a significant number of colony worlds scattered across the galaxy. This vast dominion was made possible by the amalgamation of numerous spacefaring species into its ranks, forming a formidable force that extended its influence far and wide.
Human-Covenant War
When the Covenant launched their attack on Harvest in 2525, the survival of the human race hung in the balance. However, despite their desperate efforts, the humans were unable to mount a sustained defense, gradually succumbing to the overwhelming might of the Covenant fleets. Colony after colony fell to their vastly superior forces, and by 2552, the Covenant had penetrated into the heart of human-occupied space, the Inner Colonies. In August of that year, the Covenant ruthlessly assaulted and obliterated Reach, the largest colony world. Merely two months later, they located humanity's homeworld, Earth, swiftly initiating a relentless siege on their final military stronghold.
Coinciding with these pivotal events, the power dynamics within the Covenant underwent a significant upheaval. The Prophet of Truth, one of the San'Shyuum Hierarchs, orchestrated a consolidation of power, shifting authority away from the Sangheili military commanders and towards the Jiralhanae, who exhibited greater loyalty to the Prophets. This momentous disruption in the Covenant's power structure, known as the Great Schism, combined with the loss of the Covenant's holy city, High Charity, to the Flood during the same period, inflicted severe damage upon the Covenant, ultimately leading to its collapse and concluding the war against humanity.
Warships
Covenant warships, crafted utilizing the advanced technology derived from Forerunner artifacts, surpassed anything the UNSC could construct, endowing them with formidable strength. These vessels not only exceeded the technological capabilities of the Covenant themselves, but were also upheld and serviced by the Huragok, a species specifically engineered by the Forerunners for the purpose of maintaining and repairing technology.
