Hegemony of Sangheili

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Played by Gunblader in CYOE2
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History

Of all the stories of the Scatterring, the tale of the Sangheili is an old one. They are native to this sector of space. An ancient race, they evolved from the native reptiles on Sanhelios. Milleniums ago, they began to walk upright and form clans. They progressed very quickly. In only a few centuries, they had language and a basic calender. By the end of the next millenium, the had built great stone monuments and developed currency. In two more milleniums, they had reached the feudal era. It is here that two factions had formed, the lights of Sanhelios and the Central power of Sanhelios. A bitter rivalry formed and during a border dispute, a bloody war started that lasted for nearly a millenium. As time went on, technolgy progressed, until finally battles were fought not only on Land, sea and air, but space as well. Orbital strikes, thermal nuclear warheads, Plasma Launchers scarred the once beautiful face of Sanhelios. The final blow came when military strategists found out that the core of Sanhelios had stopped spinning. The two factions met for the first time in nearly a millenium and decided that living in peace was better that becoming extinct. So reseachers began to design a massive ship that would hold the population of the entire planet. So using what remained of both side's fleets, that began to cut the moon, Sanhelias, in half. 3 months later, With the top half of the moon in tow, the began to construct High Charity. Using an experimental exponential growth power generator, the powered this massive ship and than began to move their population to it. Now, 15 years later, the Sangheili are united in their Empire. But a new threat has appeared. Jump nodes have opened and strangers are appearing.


Physiology

Sangheili are at least 2.24 meters tall including helmet and armor, have two fingers and two thumbs on each hand which are much larger than human fingers and thumbs, which make the Sangheili look ungainly when wielding small human weapons such as the pistol. They look vaguely like lizards or theropods, except for their jaws. When wearing armor, they take on a shark-like look because of the "fins" on the sides of their helmets. Their jaws are made up of four separate mandibles attached to their face, a more insect-like trait. The Sangheili are attributed for great strength and intelligence, and are praised for their bravery and honor. Sangheili warriors augment these natural abilities further through use of Energy Shields integrated into their armor. Depending upon rank and mission objective, they are commonly seen in battle with Plasma Rifles, Plasma Carbines, and sometimes, if they are higher ranked, Plasma swords. Sangheili employ coffin-like Orbital Insertion Pods for atmospheric missions.

Sangheili are muscular and at least a foot taller than a human. Their jaws are quadruple-hinged, with an upper jaw and four mandible-like lips. With few exceptions, these mandibles are consistently shown with six teeth each. Anywhere from 8-10 broader teeth have been observed mounted on the central jaw structure.Sangheili smell with the use of two nostrils, each a little in front and below the eye socket. Given their predatory nature, a Sangheili's sense of smell is very developed. Their hands are tetradactyl, having four digits; two middle fingers, and two opposing thumbs on the outside for grasping. Their legs are digitigrade, with short upper and lower legs, and elongated tarsals, using the distal and intermediate phalanges to support their weight when walking. Their superior is be attributed to their homeworld's higher gravity; the additional strength required to move normally in a high-gravity environment will cause them to be more powerful in lower gravity situations. They also have a double set of pectoral muscles, which contribute to their incredible strength.

Sangheili have at least two hearts , which circulate indigo-colored blood through their veins; the coloration is caused by Iron-Cobalt hemoglobin, whereas the crimson-blooded Humans possess monometallic iron-based hemoglobin. Though there are many theories on the subject, the chemical formula(e) of Sangheili hemoglobin is still unknown. They breathe oxygen.


Intelligence

The Sangheili are extremely intelligent and always demonstrate this in combat. Sangheili are normally on the move when fighting, constantly running and ducking, strafing and dodging when firing at the enemy. When presented with an obstacle, such as a vehicle trying to ram them, they will leap out of the way, and if a vehicle stops, they will attempt to board it or disable it. They are also smart enough to utilize cover, ducking behind crates or other obstacles when their shields are drained until they recharge. It should be noted that not all Sangheili make use of cover because of their superior strength. The Sangheili seem to employ complex strategy only if it either improves success in battle, or it allows them to inflict more casualties on their enemies. In ship-to-ship combat, despite having the advantage of long range weapons such as plasma torpedoes, the Sangheili prefer to maneuver in close in an attempt to board their opponent's vessel. These Sangheili charge their enemies with reckless aggression, regardless of any damage they sustain; only very seldom do they admit temporary defeat. They are quite capable of luring their enemies into traps by falling back into cover; as the enemy approaches, a Sangheili will spring from its position and land a massive melee hit on the unsuspecting opponent, and is especially even more dangerous if the hiding Sangheili is carrying an energy sword due to the weapon's lethal melee power.

The Sangheili are excellent tacticians, renowned for their ferocity and decisive thinking. This is shown to be very true in space during ship-to-ship combat, even when horribly outnumbered; they can win the fight with only few losses. The strong grasp of strategy and tactics most Sangheili have has often been contrasted with their rigid adherence to their code of honor. Sangheili for the most part have shown a preference for close combat with their foes, and the majority of their weaponry is suited for short-ranged fighting. The Energy Sword, the most prized weapon of the Sangheili, is the strongest example of this. Swords are often carried and used as primary weapons on the battlefield by Sangheili, and although devastating in hand-to-hand combat, are useless at range and make for highly visible targets.


Culture

The Sangheili practices of commanders leading from the front and distinguishing leaders through colored armor has resulted in a very high attrition rate for Sangheili commanders. In many battles, commanders have been killed early in the fighting leaving their forces leaderless and uncoordinated. The Sangheili tradition of promotion through feats of arms on the battlefield has sometimes placed individuals of questionable tactical and strategic skill, purely because of their ability to kill their enemies personally.

What the Sangheili consider to be dishonorable has also limited their flexibility in battle. Being wounded is considered a dishonor by the Sangheili, and it has been seen that most Sangheili go berserk upon having their blood spilled and charge straight at their enemies for revenge, usually resulting in their death. Others, have chosen to kill themselves after being seriously wounded in battle. The preference of most Sangheili to die rather than live wounded has resulted in unnecessary casualties. Retreat is viewed as an even greater dishonor, and many Sangheili have doomed themselves to be killed rather than retreat, even to take cover.

The Sangheili consider most other species to be inferior to them, both culturally and in fighting skill. Although Sangheili are naturally very intelligent, their culture's long dependence on a military-industrial scheme has led to an emphasis on might over science. Military science is always being researched, but medical, social, and economical is neglected. Despite this, their adeptness at using and creating technology is evident as they designed the planet ship High Charity themselves.

Promotion in the Covenant military is by merit; a Covenant soldier must succeed to advance among the ranks. Success is often measured in scalps.

Raised from childhood to be warriors, other societal roles are treated as secondary endeavors or even hobbies, and are not honored at all. Elites are very skilled in most weapons such as plasma rifle and carbine, and hand-to-hand combat. One interesting example of this martial focus is that only aristocrats are allowed to wield swords and that sword-wielders are then no longer eligible for marriage; however, they may breed with any female they choose, married or otherwise, to ensure successful transmission of "swordsman" genes.

In many ways, the Sangheili are much like Humans. They communicate, are loyal to their superiors and comrades, become protective of their troops and become angry and vengeful if other Sangheili are killed. They fear very little, taking great pride in an ancient, honor-laden code. Even when mortally wounded, the Sangheili still charge towards the enemy in a doomed last minute attack. Sangheili honor also dictates that they always be the first ones into a battle, and to never allow themselves to be captured alive. The more honorable captured Sangheili typically commit suicide while in prison to retain some measure of honor; often times when they are freed those who have not are executed anyway.

The Sangheili display respect and admiration for honorable fighters, whether they are allies of the Sangheili or not. It is not unusual for the Sangheili to have such an admiration for their adversaries. Sangheili respect and revere veterans and often follow their lead. Their history is ripe with victorious combatants welcoming the defeated enemies' remaining forces into their own arm, provided of course that they fought with honor.


Superstitions

Despite their martial nature, the Sangheili have reservations to the spilling of one's own blood. This is an extension of the belief that the blood of a warrior is his essence (honor); thus, to spill one's blood is to lose one's honor. As a result, doctors in Sangheili culture are seen by some as the lowest in society because they "make their living slicing and causing another Sangheili to bleed without honor." This meant that the only 'honorable' way for a Sangheili to be injured or bled out is from combat with the enemy. This belief also makes visiting a doctor very shameful for some Sangheili.

It is a belief among the Sangheili that a weapon is only drawn if it is to be used, because a drawn weapon "demands blood."


Goverment

Sangheili government is a feudal meritocracy and is democratic in case of some elders different clans ruling different areas. The ruler of these areas, a Kaidon, is elected by a group of council elders that reside in that area. If a council elder believes that his vote was "ill advised" or "had second thoughts", it was considered a tradition for council elders to initiate some form of attack such as sending assassins against the Kaidon in order "to test the true merit of a ruler's martial abilities. The belief was that "a Kaidon who could not defend himself was not a true leader." Should the attack fail, the responsible elder will be executed immediately, and his family killed. However, punishment for this form of heresy was usually flexible. As such, if the elder did something honorable such as attack the Kaidon himself, or attempt to make a final stand against the Kaidon, then he would probably have managed to save his family from certain death, although they would still be banished.


Family

Family history and lineage are greatly valued, with each family having their own unique "Battle Poem" detailing the deeds and actions of its members during war times. Sexual dimorphism exists in the Sangheili asmostly Sangheili males are sent into service as warriors and soldiers, as few female Sangheili have been seen to have served in the military. The warriors form very close knitted relationships, referring to their comrades as "brothers" and remaining intensely loyal to them. This loyalty is shown in the custom of grieving after the death of a fallen comrade, a ritual which includes prayer for the dead warrior.

Children

In all clans, Sangheili children are raised in "common rooms" to ensure that all start on an equal footing and progress in rank by merit of their abilities. Members of some Sangheili clans rarely know their true fathers, and are usually raised by a maternal uncle instead. This may be a method of preventing status from being inherited in order to force children to make their own way in the world so they actively work for and earn advancement. Though, as some children's fathers were Swordsmen who were granted the right to reproduce with any number of female Sangheili they desire, the use of a maternal uncle as a father-like figure may have also been to allow children to be raised equally. Sangheili believe that copulation without regard for the bloodline is uncultured. A popular pastime for Sangheili children is to hunt small rat-like creatures that also live on their home world.


CYOE 2
Empires The ForgottenAquarian UnityHoly Empire of AthaniaChurch of CreationDiscontinuation of Theoretical HostilitiesDominion of PariiaCapellan AuthorityGlaciatus SyndicateHegemony of Sangheili