Gods' Word

"The god's have graced me with this bounded token. I take care of it, so it can take care of me"

- Sev Ikawattinr

God's Word is a customised plasma rifle that was originally given to Sev before the Invasion of Harvest and the beginning of the Human-Covenant War. After Sev's first superior, an Ultra by the name of Thel 'Ontomee, allowed him to hang onto the weapon after Sev replaced its power core, and a lack of other weapons meant a replacement couldn't be salvaged. Somehow surviving all the end of the Great War and beyond, Sev considered it a blessing and vowed to take great care of what was originally a standarised weapon.

Description
It was almost impossible not to recognise the customised plasma rifle. While the basis is almost identical to that of the manufactured model, it features a number of differences and improvements that would otherwise prevent mass-production. Its most striking difference is its casing made of pure gold, with red streaks (later blue) and glowing glyphs dotting the surface. Though eye-catching and beautiful, it was practical as it could resist the heat generated by the plasma, allowing it to have a much, much longer lifespan than the original casing. A holographic emitter, built just before the fins, displays basic information in a simple format. of bars. Between the two parts are weird bumps which are actually either the extension of the power generator, or the hatches used to replace the batteries. Lastly, a wide heat-shield is installed forward of the grip.

It should be noted that the larger power generator actually ran out faster than a typical plasma rifle, staying functional for only about 3 days rather than the normal lifespan of about a week.

Modifications
Despite the obvious changes which makes any being (particularly humans and Kig-Yar) know it is something special even for the increasingly rare Plasma Rifle, a number of 'under-the-hood' upgrades were fitted to the rifle, a testament of the design's adaptability and even Sangheili ingenuity:
 * Particle Emitter - This component has been changed from an open-air emitter to a long, crude barrel which slightly increases range, but mostly also sheds additional heat away from the grip
 * Component Hatches - Linked primarily to the power generator and the plasma canisters, these are added so Sev could, at least after combat, replace the expendable parts to help extend the service life of the weapon
 * Enhanced Cooling Vents - A later upgrade, this upgrade was fitted by a hostile keep to design the basis of the future Storm Rifle. This vents much more heat at once, but may burn the operator.
 * Dual Energy Garrotes - One of the less-visible exterior upgrades, these use a much-more compacted version of the blades found on Elite's forearm armor. However, these cannot be active as long as the standard version, though long enough to cause extreme pain from melee punches
 * Plasma Energiser - Similar to the emitter, the energiser shapes and stabilises the plasma before firing. It is enhanced so it can shape a larger amount of plasma even quicker than the normal model.
 * Cooling meter - Sharing the same pattern as the rest of the class, the cooling meter is actually less accurate and advanced, and 'merely' only uses a liquid, rather than the cumbersome digital displays.

Operational History
This weapon was built by a Sangheili weaponsmith guild based on Quikost in 2519, as part of a contract from the Wattinr State Military to supply every new elite company trained there. It was the fourteenth-last weapon created before being transferred over to the new company. Unknown to any of the guild's employees, this weapon was destined to have a far longer service life than its makers could even conceived.

It was taken entirely at random on the company's Spirit by Sev 'Ikawattinree, who was desparate to get into the fight. Sev didn't consider the fact of keeping a single weapon, an expendable weapon at that, for many decades. However, when Sev blasted two crude holes so he could replace the plasma canisters, and the horrific experiences of his first battles, he had a strange yet unique relationship with the inanimate object. Because of this, Sev started to take the weapon with him wherever he went, including sneaking it into his much-later job as a High Councilor. He also began a habit of frantically cleaning and repairing it.

After Sev was transferred into the Prophet of Mercy's Honor Guards, Sev met with a weaponsmith on High Charity. After learning a few skills from him, as well as being inspired by the weaponsmith's designs, Sev seriously considered modifying his plasma rifle. After a while, he did, giving it its distinctive gold plating and design. After some pushing, Mercy's Honor Guard Commander authorised Sev's request to use it as his personal weapon.

After the Great Schism kicked off and Sev was nearly assassinated by Mercy's brutes, Sev almost killed himself with the God's Words, but was knocked out before he could complete the action. Once he awoke, the only way he could suppress the building depression was to work on the very weapon he almost killed himself with. Using his personal tools, he replaced the firing mechanism with the same one used by the brutes. Following a hunch, he also somehow increased power to the Particle Energiser, creating more powerful plasma blasts.

Soon after the Battle of Vadam, Sev was ambushed by a rival state. After the Kaidon realised the plasma rifle was incredibly unique, the weapon was reversed-engineered by the weaponsmiths. Through tinkering with the rifle, the God's Words components would serve as the basis of the future Storm Rifle. Here, it received its last upgrade; an overhauled cooling vent. Sev later stolen the weapon back when it was on its way back to the rival keep.

After several decades of service in the hands of Sev, the unique rifle served its master one final time during the Fall of Chal's Sacrifice. There, when Sev duelled the shipmaster, a stray blow destroyed the magnetic grip which held the weapon and it fell onto the planet below. It was never found again.