Sangheili Battle Priests and other "Clergy"

[Deleted]

I was thinking of making a low tiered, well obviously battle priest of some sort.  The idea of shouting religious sermons will cutting Human's to pieces sounds awful cool to me...  I was wondering other's thoughts about this.  Specifically, I was wondering how we might consider Battle Priests earn this title...would they go for some kind of schooling in the Covenant religion after having joined the Military?  Would it be, like the Zealot's, a title given by prophets or other religious members?  At what rank(s) do you think one might be able obtain this title?  

[SuperCommando]

I'm in a rather Covenant-ly mood right now, so the concept of a battle priest strikes me as indeed very cool. Not to mention rather creative too. There was that Deacon Grunt from one of the books (Contact Harvest?), but otherwise no other character that really focuses on Covenant religious culture, as opposed to the usual warrior/soldier types.

As I suggest to anyone with a fun and unique idea, you should totally write a story about it. That's really the best way to get concepts like this fleshed out.

[Llau]

Sounds cool, and it reminds me of the Kantus in Gears of War.

[Spartan 999]

First: Huka would love this idea.

On to my thoughts...

So, to become a Battle Priest, one must enter into a college or school of sorts after attending war college. They would go through numerous tests of their faith and knowledge before being accepted. After attending for a few years, they are permitted to go out and join the military. The Battle Priest is a title like Zealot, not a rank, and they'd start out as Major Domo leading a lance. They'd also have glyphs, markings, armor pieces, etc., that's only permitted to be used by the Priests, to denote their status. As a bonus, Priests are much more likely to becomes Zealots than non-Priests, statistically speaking, due to their extensive knowledge of the Covenant religion and unwavering faith.

Just what I came up with, and I don't mind if it's modified. xD

[Huka]

Confirmation: Huka certainly does love this idea 

I like Spartan's idea of it. The Battle priests' schooling would be overseen by a San'Shyuum cleric or a senior priest in temples or religious ships. Take a year or two to graduate into be acolyte, serving for a full-fledged priest until he proved himself worthy of the title. If sent to the frontline in his tutelage with his mentor, he would wear a Minor combat harness with the Glyph of Learning Recognition and the coloring abit of a lighter blue, helping by serving in sermons or serving his mentor similar to a squire.

 When fully trained and proven, the priest would be given the military rank of a Major with the Glyphs of Learned Revelation and given a ceremonial, and still usable, blade. In this rank, he would inspire his unit's morale with sermons and personal combat while leading his own lance and delivering messages from the religious powers on occasion. 

 Over time, if they wish, they'll elevate along the rank as normal while also viewed upon based their bonded unit's successes, their accuracy of chronicles and troops' faith. Most priests would be visible on the field while others remain in secret under guises as regular soldiers until they are forced to reveal themselves. When becoming Zealots, they would be more likely in the artifact recovery teams. 

 Probably, similar to Til in the old days, they'll wear some kind of clery robes under their armor and when out of frontline duty.

Something I thought up at the quick moment (would be more detailed over time), if anything, it's good reading hahah

[Deleted]

Yes, my thoughts were along the lines of what you said 999. And huka, good addition to what he said. As for the ceremonial blade, perhaps a selection of several different weapons would be allowable? Or do you think something as simple as a curveblade, or maybe even an Energy Stave? As well, what Ministry would they be a part of? Tranquility, Conversion, and Fervent Intercession would be my thoughts. The Ministry of Conversion would probably be my own personal choice.

[BetaWülf]

Would they have lifestyle restrictions like other "Specialist" Sangheili?

[Spartan 999]

Possibly.

As for the different weapon thing, I think they might be able to get their own kind of weapon that only Battle Priests are allowed to utilize in addition to being granted an energy sword. Not an energy stave, but maybe some sort of polearm-like weapon, because I visualize them with some sort of power stick or something.

[Dufflepud]

They would have to be a class of Zealot.

[AlphaWolf]

Gonna add to this, even though I don't usually add to Covenant proposals. This is all extrapolation.

If the Grunt in that book (not Contact Harvest, but I forget which one. Fall of Reach, perhaps?) is a Deacon, then the priests would have their own ranks. Here's a list, from highest to lowest, based upon that Grunt being called a Deacon:

Some title such as High Priest of the Covenant, as Pope is not applicable.
Major Archbishop
Cardinal
Archbishop
Bishop
Pastor
Reverend (not so sure about this one.)
Deacon (this is the lowest field rank, most likely.)
Acolyte (learning position)

[Deleted]

Aug 13, 2013 17:09:33 GMT -6 Dufflepud said:

They would have to be a class of Zealot.

How so?  I wouldn't necessarily think a Battle Priest needs to be a Zealot, unless you meant about the weapons.  I do think a single special weapon used by this order, or whatever, would be viable and add an interesting factor for them,  much like the specialized weapons and armor of the Honor Guard, or Ascetics.  I don't know what weapon could be used, but a polearm sounds fitting.  I would imagine they would sort of fit into a higher tier, though.  Even at the lower ranks it could be a tier 3 or 4.  If you don't think it's a good idea, though, let me know please. 

EDIT: a Scythe or Pole-axe would be cool.

RE-EDIT:  As far as the ranking, I think cleric would be cooler than deacon, and minister than pastor, but I do like the ranking itself and with those adjustments that would be cool.  I think such ranking wouldn't be based on martial skill, however, although certain ranks would generally coincide with certain military ranks.  Anyways I think the ranking would be based on zeal above all else, and knowledge of the Covenant religion as well as the Covenant Oaths and probably well educated in the history of the Covenant.  Understanding of these principles may affect rank alongisde zeal too.

[Dufflepud]

I don't really like the Catholic hierarchy TBH.

The reason why I say they would have to be zealots, is that in the current main mission in which Tin was NPCing one, they are zealot class. It also makes way more sense that such a prestigious title would be bestowed upon a Zealot.

Edit: In fact, the idea of battle priests was originally Tin's, so you should credit him.

[AlphaWolf]

Deacon is a canon rank, Prez. There was an Unggoy Deacon in one of the books.

[Jakob]

Twas Contact Harvest.

[Deleted]

I thought I had mentioned that this wasn't originally my idea...apologies. It's NOT, I was simply trying to expand upon it as it caught my eye in the main mission and I was just tossing the thought around in my head. Kind of takes the fun out of this idea, though...what about other possible types of...these characters? I imagine the Sangheili have something similiar to the Deacons to ensure heresy is weeded out in the ranks. A thousand or so soldiers for one Zealot to monitor personally is...not doable efficiently, I feel. Even a hidden Zealot Battle Priest isn't going to be able to watch ALL of those soldiers, I imagine some form of lower, more numerous, caste exists to exude any form of Heresy within the ranks.