Light of Helios



The are one of the most elite Military Orders in the Sangheili civilization, being personally drafted by the Fell Emperor 'Morev 700 years prior to contact with the Prophets. The order was a elite fighting force, drafted from his best warriors and made to be unassuming and highly loyal. When the Emperor's palace was stormed by rebels, aiming to liberate the planet and bring forth a meritocratic democracy, the guards, in their pearl white armour, stood guard at his palace gates, the thirteen of them holding the palace doors for almost three hours against tides of warriors before falling, with a few of them being captured in the process. The Emperor was defeated and the first Council was born. The rebellion leader, now High Councillor, 'Jarek, gave the surviving guards a choice. End their own lives honourably with ritual suicide, or become his body guards, protecting the future of a democratic and free Sangheilos. One guard committed suicide, while the other two pledged themselves to 'Jarek. Later that year, when 'Jarek's Keep was attacked by a hundred assassins sent by a rival Kaidon, the guards stood firm, slewing all of them with 'Jarek. Later, at the council meeting, 'Jarek decreed they to by the light of all Sanghelios and put forth a council order to have them forged into a official Military Order. The Light of Helios order was formed shortly thereafter.

Doctrine
Unlike other orders, who accept volunteers, or hand pick distinguished or pious individuals, the Light of Helios approach a individual they see fit to be protected. Such people may be prominent politicians, such as the High Councillor, or Councillors who have been subjected to numerous assassination attempts, or high officers, such as Marshals or officers who have distinguished themselves in the field of battle. When approached, the subject is given a limited quota of guards and is expected to personally recruit them from noted warriors in their Kaidon or gifted warriors they have served with. Quotas vary on the risk and notoriety of the subject. For example, Imperator Thel 'Vadam has a retinue of almost 30 warriors while the Councillor Vugi 'Bragi, a retired Marshall, has a guard of six. For every three selected warriors, one veteran knight is assigned from the pool of warriors housed at the monastery. The warriors selected undergo rigorous training at the Monastery of Undying Light high in the Black Peaks which lasts for seven months.

Once they pass their training, a warrior is issued his armour, which is a heavily reinforced and well armoured Combat Harness, fully sealed against the elements and with high power integrated combat systems, such as night vision and high power communication gear. While the armour is unique, it isn't particularly flashy, unlike Honour Guards, allowing Knights to blend more easily, and be less visible to foes who dare to pray on their charge. They are all trained with Type-7 Energy Weapon/Spear, but at any one time only a quarter of the guard detail will carry the weapon, and keep it folded and hidden, while the rest are armed with a choice of conventional weapons, energy swords or other energy weapons and shield. Sometimes large Guard details have carried heavy weapons, when the chances of encountering assassins with armour or air power are high.

Guards are expected to remain with their charge until he dismisses them, the threat has passed (in both cases the guard is usually diminished to a smaller detail), the Guard reaches mandatory retirement or their charge dies, while under their care. In that case, the surviving guards from the security detail are expected to either commit ritual suicide in dishonour, or avenge their fallen master in a crusade. If the charge has died from natural causes, or the crusade is completed, perhaps before it even began or when they are retired from the guard detail, they guardsman has a choice. He may return to normal military service, or return to the Monastery, to await a new mission and train newer recruits.

Guardsmen are expected to be masters of all forms of combat and die before allowing their charge to come to harm. They are also expected to act as the personal assassins of their guard, though their code forbids them to do this if they are attached to a Politician or their military charge is requesting they remove a political opponent.