So obviously the Elites are the main loyalists to the Covenant, being the top soldiers and whatnot. Grunts(Unggoy) are just slaves who are forced to fight for the Covenant, and Jackals(Kig-Yar) are just mercenaries hired to aid in battle, and the Hunters(Lekgolo) joined to save themselves from extinction. With all this, Elites seem to be the only ones who believe in the war, and want to fight. But where do Brutes(Jiralhanae) show up in this equation? I understand they betray the Covenant eventually, but why’d they fight for the Covenant? Is there an explanation why they fought for the Covenant like there is for everyone else?
I’ve done research on this topic and have came up empty handed. I’ve even replayed the campaigns to see if there was any clues, hints, or even straight out facts to why they fight. I read the Halo Evolutions books, and from the story “Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss”, I came up with a theory that the Brutes joined for the fun of war, just to be able to kill. Well looking back and realizing that’s probably not the reason why, it feels a little stupid. I mean it might make some sense, but still.
Does anyone know why the Brutes fought for the Covenant? I’d really like to know in full detail if possible.
The Banished presence kind of distorts your impression of the Brutes. I am not sure how representative they are meant to be.
In Halo 2 the Brutes firmly believe in the Great Journey, the religion of the Covenant which they were introduced to. They don’t see that as inconsistent with their warrior culture and they believe they are better than the Elites. So by being loyal to their Faith and the Prophets they can get what they want. They’re having their cake and eating it.
“The Great Journey has begun and the Brutes, not the Elites, shall be the Prophets escort.”
I don’t think Tartarus is being cynical about that and I’d say they are probably more representative of normal brutes. There’s no suggestion the Banished ever took the homeworld or held territory so most didn’t buy what Atriox was selling. Most Brutes were loyal to the Covenant. The Prophets wouldn’t have disposed of the Elites if they had reason to doubt this.
However since the Covenant is gone there’s no regime to be loyal to. Plus even key Banished like Decimus are implied to still have some lingering beliefs which is borne out with people calling Chief Demon, the Holy Rings etc etc. If the second in command of the Banished hasn’t been fully indoctrinated into Atrioxs cult then it’s not really getting through to people.
If anything I’d say the Brutes were more loyal to the Covenant than they are truly loyal to the Banished. That organisation is explicitly a pact of the strong and purely about self interest. Join us and you’ll be strong; you won’t be anyones slave. The Brutes wouldn’t be loyal to Atriox if he wasn’t strong. You see this with Esharum being challenged by Tremonius. Would a Brute ever dare do that to Prophet? I don’t think so.
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That makes a lot of sense. After some research I saw that they do believe in the Great Journey, and you helped sum a lot of it up. Thank you
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Decimus, who was the first subordinate of Atriox, also saw the forerunner as a god.
The mighty technology may be a difficult part to understand from their civilization.
Atriox is a special existence.
Tartarus seemed pretty determined