Banished as an ally

How likely do you think the Banished are to become our ally in Infinite?
I think Atriox’s plot and character make it likely he will become our ally against Cortana. Let me explain why. Firstly, Atriox breaks the mold of the brutes as being dumb savages that were blindingly devoted to the Covenant and the Great Journey. Secondly, I think he is too proud to submit to Cortana. Thirdly, Atriox is not anti-humanity. He has worked with criminal human organizations, and the Spartan Field Guide implies that human mercenaries would be welcome in the ranks of The Banished. So in short, I think his combination of being a prideful and capable leader that isn’t anti-humanity will lead to him allying with the UNSC against Cortana. What are your thoughts?

Assuming the Banished are in Infinite along Cortana, I imagine that they would be separate enemy factions rather than Chief allying with either one. Of course though it would still be awesome if that happened. A Banished alliance would be especially cool if they bring back the smart AI system, even though I know that some people weren’t a huge fan of it.

As I said in a previous topic on the matter, with Cortana holding a gun to the head of the galaxy after Halo 5: Guardians, there is a chance we could see a “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” situation. Atriox isn’t stupid, he is a survivor, and he respects Captain Cutter.

If the Banished are featured in Infinite in any meaningful way, I hope that there would be a temporary truce at some point so both the Banished and UNSC can just focus on the Created.

Though, I would want this to only happen at a very serious moment in the campaign, similar to how there was a temporary truce with the Flood in Halo 3 to stop the rings from firing. Other than that though, I would like it if they fought us as well as the Created.

I would find that very intriguing. The Banished definitely would not side with Cortana. They left the Covenant because they did not want to be controlled by puppet masters anymore.

I feel it would be more likely the Banished would be a secondary enemy. Then you’d be fighting Prometheans (and the organic forces of the Created) and the Banished, who would also be fighting each other. That would bring some classic 3-way fights like we had in CE.

I feel like it is more likely that the Banished serve as a separate enemy faction but I think it would still be pretty awesome if we saw Chief team up with the Banished, especially if they brought back the smart AI system for a larger group of allies.

i honestly can’t see the banished teaming up with the UNSC at all even with Cortana holding a shotgun to both of them. but i would be interesting to see i cannot deny that. we shall see what happens soon enough.

After Halo CE, did you guys ever think it’d be possible to team up with Arbiter and the Elites? I bet not. Atriox has no reason to go to war with the UNSC and vice-versa. He’s not stupid and won’t wage war for no reason. That said I don’t think that means all brutes will be allies. Just like the elites, I expect there to be an allied and a hostile faction.

> 2535459624472094;8:
> After Halo CE, did you guys ever think it’d be possible to team up with Arbiter and the Elites? I bet not. Atriox has no reason to go to war with the UNSC and vice-versa. He’s not stupid and won’t wage war for no reason. That said I don’t think that means all brutes will be allies. Just like the elites, I expect there to be an allied and a hostile faction.

I think you are correct that Atriox would not provoke an all-out war with humanity, but he would certainly continue his usual hit-and-run raiding tactics on human settlements. He holds no ties to the Covenant, so he would likely raid them too. He’s an equal opportunity pirate. If there is a benefit for the Banished, he’s going to exploit that benefit. It’s what makes him such an interesting character in Halo. He’s a Brute with the shrewdness of a human and the honor of a Sangheili (honor in the sense that he is loyal to his cause).

343 may have made some big and some small mistakes with their handling of Halo, but they really hit one out of the park with a complex character like Atriox.

As for teaming up with Arby and the SOS, that’s already a thing. The question is whether that alliance will remain stable. Cortana is a human AI who has turned many human AI into an occupying force within the galaxy. It’s gonna be interesting to see how Arby reacts to the fact that humans created the problem the Sangheili are now facing.

> 2535435902217648;9:
> > 2535459624472094;8:
> > After Halo CE, did you guys ever think it’d be possible to team up with Arbiter and the Elites? I bet not. Atriox has no reason to go to war with the UNSC and vice-versa. He’s not stupid and won’t wage war for no reason. That said I don’t think that means all brutes will be allies. Just like the elites, I expect there to be an allied and a hostile faction.
>
> I think you are correct that Atriox would not provoke an all-out war with humanity, but he would certainly continue his usual hit-and-run raiding tactics on human settlements. He holds no ties to the Covenant, so he would likely raid them too. He’s an equal opportunity pirate. If there is a benefit for the Banished, he’s going to exploit that benefit. It’s what makes him such an interesting character in Halo. He’s a Brute with the shrewdness of a human and the honor of a Sangheili (honor in the sense that he is loyal to his cause).
>
> 343 may have made some big and some small mistakes with their handling of Halo, but they really hit one out of the park with a complex character like Atriox.
>
> As for teaming up with Arby and the SOS, that’s already a thing. The question is whether that alliance will remain stable. Cortana is a human AI who has turned many human AI into an occupying force within the galaxy. It’s gonna be interesting to see how Arby reacts to the fact that humans created the problem the Sangheili are now facing.

I agree that 343 did a great job with Atriox.

As for Arby and the SOS, in the novel that takes place after Halo 5 (I’m forgetting the name), Arby tells Chief that he is on his side against the Created. Something along the lines of how together they defeated the Covenant and he is confident that together they can successfully fight the Created. So he’s allied with Chief/humanity. Though you’re certainly right that he may be unhappy about it he seems to genuinely regard Chief as a dear friend the way that novel characterized their interaction. So I’m betting on it being a stable alliance

> 2535435902217648;9:
> > 2535459624472094;8:
> > After Halo CE, did you guys ever think it’d be possible to team up with Arbiter and the Elites? I bet not. Atriox has no reason to go to war with the UNSC and vice-versa. He’s not stupid and won’t wage war for no reason. That said I don’t think that means all brutes will be allies. Just like the elites, I expect there to be an allied and a hostile faction.
>
> 343 may have made some big and some small mistakes with their handling of Halo, but they really hit one out of the park with a complex character like Atriox.

Yes he is a brilliant character that has gotten a grand total of about ten minutes of screen time despite being the primary villain of a full game and a DLC. Truly 343i has taken full advantage of him beyond just marketing and cinematic teases.

That being said, don’t see it happening. The Banished, at best, would work as a secondary enemy faction that would be unpredictable in their actions. Maybe one level you fight them, maybe another they just leave you alone so long as you leave them alone, etc and so forth.

I mainly don’t think we’ll see them at all if Infinite isn’t a Live Service game like Destiny. It being a Live Service game is the only way I see them making an appearance as the scavenger faction ala The Fallen from Destiny. I highly doubt that we’ll see anything involving Halo Wars in Infinite otherwise.

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> > 2535435902217648;9:
> > > 2535459624472094;8:
> > > After Halo CE, did you guys ever think it’d be possible to team up with Arbiter and the Elites? I bet not. Atriox has no reason to go to war with the UNSC and vice-versa. He’s not stupid and won’t wage war for no reason. That said I don’t think that means all brutes will be allies. Just like the elites, I expect there to be an allied and a hostile faction.
> >
> > 343 may have made some big and some small mistakes with their handling of Halo, but they really hit one out of the park with a complex character like Atriox.
>
> That being said, don’t see it happening. The Banished, at best, would work as a secondary enemy faction that would be unpredictable in their actions. Maybe one level you fight them, maybe another they just leave you alone so long as you leave them alone, etc and so forth.

I would be happy to see the Banished become a secondary enemy faction. It fits well with the established lore surrounding them. They don’t fight for any particular side. They fight for themselves. I mentioned in another thread on here that I could see them being a secondary enemy that serves to create the classic three-front battles we got in CE and H2. If nothing else, that would be really fun.

Considering the Banished are like the next known big covenant themed threat (not counting whatever’s left of Jul’s Covenant that likely follow Sali Nyon now), I don’t see them allying themselves with anyone unless it’s for personal gain. Plus, we don’t entirely know Atriox’s full goals. We just have hints, speculations and parts of it.