Blades

The Governors of Contrition are an ancient and enigmatic order within the Covenant that hold unusual practices and beliefs, most notably in that they regard the Flood as the perfect lifeform. While unpopular, the order was tolerated by the rest of the Covenant as long as they brought no harm or heresy to others.

After the Human-Covenant war, the Governors of Contrition were radicalized into militant extremists who sought to bring about the Flood's return to the galaxy, under the belief that the parasite was their god. During this period, the Governors were led by Bvan 'Ulkun, who in turn was commanded by the Tranquil Master.

Radicalization
In November of 2552, the Governors of Contrition were all but eradicated when the vast majority of its members perished aboard –either killed in the opening clashes of the or consumed when the  overtook the holy city. A scarce few were spared from this fate however, as a chapter of the sect existed on the far edges of Covenant space. Led by the charismatic Bvan 'Ulkun, this particular band of Governors were displaced from the heart of the empire by the Hierarchs may years prior for their perceived over-commitment to the teachings spread by the Governors.

In spite of their borderline heretical views, these last Governors were largely dismissed as nothing more than a group of wandering eccentrics and beggars by those who encountered them in the wake of the Covenant's dissolution–this would change in 2555 however, with the discovery of the Tranquil Master. A crippled Forerunner ancilla afflicted with the logic plague, the Governors were lured to the then-uncharted world where it was trapped and were quickly subverted. Its knowledge of the Precursors, their connection to the Flood, and the Forerunners was enough to convince Bvan and his followers that it was the parasite that should be fully worshiped, not the Forerunners. Bvan 'Ulkun would spread this truth across the destabilized territories of Covenant space, gaining many enemies in the process, but his congregation would steadily grow nonetheless–both in size and fanticism.