Shipmaster Let Volir - Why hes evil

Games Halo Wars Series
1

If you read his bio, it explains that Let Volir joined Atriox out of necessity despite his contempt for Brutes; he needed the supplies for his ship and soldiers.

That might seem at face value quite a nice trait. But, it ignores a few big problems.

He is described as not believing in the Covenant religion so he didn’t want to side with Jul M Dama (fair enough). So I was thinking, “wait, why doesn’t he just join the Arbiter?”. Well, yeah, he apparently hates humans so much that the Arbiters policy of not killing them on site is offensive to him.

Few things:

Firstly, the Arbiter is awesome and hes a fool for not joining him. :smiley:

Secondly, you’re deliberately putting your own men at risk so you can continue this war with humanity? Which defeats the object of saving them. That just puts them in danger by slaving them to the whims of an ambitious warlord.

Thirdly, why do you hate humans if you don’t buy into the Prophets religion. The only reason Covenant races want to kill humans is because of the Prophets decree that they should be killed and this was the will of the gods. Its basically counter intuitive.

Which leaves the only remaining answer that he hates humanity, not for any sincere if misplaced ideological reason, but because he really is just a alien fascist out to increase his own races power at humanities expense; thus profiting from the suffering of others. He is a mercenary, hes a turncoat and he has no honor. I mean at least the old Covenant elites were sincere and honest in their beliefs; warped by the Prophets. This guys just a creature, hes got no principals or morals.

What do you think? Don’t get me wrong, I think all of the Banished Commanders are cool. But this guy is clearly a bit of a monster when you scrape away the pretense of looking out for his crew like some pirate lord. I am fascinated by how the Banished are much more rooted in power and self interest than the Covenant which was an army of Crusaders. I mean I hope this doesn’t mean we’re never going to have the Crusader army again (who I suspect will end up joining Cortana).

I do think that Let Volir is a lot closer to how I imagined the post Great Schism Elites would go after Halo 3 if they became antagonists. No longer rooted in religion but driven by the pursuit of power and self interest.

2

> 2533274803587475;1:
> If you read his bio, it explains that Let Volir joined Atriox out of necessity despite his contempt for Brutes; he needed the supplies for his ship and soldiers.
>
> That might seem at face value quite a nice trait. But, it ignores a few big problems.
>
> He is described as not believing in the Covenant religion so he didn’t want to side with Jul M Dama (fair enough). So I was thinking, “wait, why doesn’t he just join the Arbiter?”. Well, yeah, he apparently hates humans so much that the Arbiters policy of not killing them on site is offensive to him.
>
> Few things:
>
> Firstly, the Arbiter is awesome and hes a fool for not joining him. :smiley:
>
> Secondly, you’re deliberately putting your own men at risk so you can continue this war with humanity? Which defeats the object of saving them. That just puts them in danger by slaving them to the whims of an ambitious warlord.
>
> Thirdly, why do you hate humans if you don’t buy into the Prophets religion. The only reason Covenant races want to kill humans is because of the Prophets decree that they should be killed and this was the will of the gods. Its basically counter intuitive.
>
> Which leaves the only remaining answer that he hates humanity, not for any sincere if misplaced ideological reason, but because he really is just a alien fascist out to increase his own races power at humanities expense; thus profiting from the suffering of others. He is a mercenary, hes a turncoat and he has no honor. I mean at least the old Covenant elites were sincere and honest in their beliefs; warped by the Prophets. This guys just a creature, hes got no principals or morals.
>
> What do you think? Don’t get me wrong, I think all of the Banished Commanders are cool. But this guy is clearly a bit of a monster when you scrape away the pretense of looking out for his crew like some pirate lord. I am fascinated by how the Banished are much more rooted in power and self interest than the Covenant which was an army of Crusaders. I mean I hope this doesn’t mean we’re never going to have the Crusader army again (who I suspect will end up joining Cortana).
>
> I do think that Let Volir is a lot closer to how I imagined the post Great Schism Elites would go after Halo 3 if they became antagonists. No longer rooted in religion but driven by the pursuit of power and self interest.

I thought I read something that he didn’t agree to the peace treaty so soon after the end of the war not necessarily hate humans. I don’t think he’s “evil” per say but I reckon he’s quite intelligent.
It’s understandable to not trust anyone you’ve been at war with for over 30 years, and he would be right to think so after all the dodgyness ONI got up to they practically made Jul M’dama. I would say he does have some morals he cares about his crew and there well being just as captain cutter does his. I think this would be pretty cool to have them both interact with each other they seem to have a lot in common, both care strongly for the survival of their crew. More say the survival or their people/race.

3

Shipmaster is love, Shipmaster is life.

Well I just like his bio and let’s say the truth - who dont want a badass shipmaster?

4

I remember some 343i article on him where they said that they consciously wanted an Elite who broke with the expectation of an honorable righteous warrior. Even if they fell on the Covenant side they were usually driven by their ideals. Even Ripa Moramee does take to the office of Arbiter but in his own ruthless and fanatical manner.

My point is that this isn’t exactly a sympathetic portrayal of an elite. I don’t think any of the Banished for that matter strike me as being anything but antagonistic to humanity. I have seen the first two cutscenes, particularly a much clearer look at Atriox and he really is a bit of a sadist.

I know some people are pegging the Banished as potential allies but I seriously have my doubts given how they have been portrayed this far. I honestly felt sorry for those elites the brutes kill in the flashback and it really stresses how much devastation they cause on the human civilians on the Ark. Essentially its a massacre.

We already have the Arbiter and the Swords. I would be very surprised to see another pro human branch of the Covenant pop up.

5

If they bring back the flood my gawd we’ll have a 4 way battle royal, flood vs humans/arbiter vs banished vs the created/forunners. That’s the only way banished could team up and maybe even the created.

6

> 2533274813946507;5:
> If they bring back the flood my gawd we’ll have a 4 way battle royal, flood vs humans/arbiter vs banished vs the created/forunners. That’s the only way banished could team up and maybe even the created.

Halo 6 is going to be amazing if they pull that off… Wow would that be cool!

7

Who else hopes he joins the Spirit of Fire?

8

> 2533274813946507;5:
> If they bring back the flood my gawd we’ll have a 4 way battle royal, flood vs humans/arbiter vs banished vs the created/forunners. That’s the only way banished could team up and maybe even the created.

That and there could be also ONI evil Spartans cause we got info in Halo 4 and 5 that ONI wants to replace Chief and that they will order Locke to kill Halsey.Also im hoping for return of Didact

9

Thats would be so epic. I hope it too. Maybe Atriox betrayed him or he sees that the humans have more honnor then the brutes.

10

Isabelle vs Cortana in a fist fight!! Fight to the DEATH!

11

> 2533274809687497;10:
> Isabelle vs Cortana in a fist fight!! Fight to the DEATH!

If Isabel is just a normal smart AI then this is like an ant fighting against Godzilla.

Maybe if Cortana is like an AI giant squid, Isabel can cut one of the tentacles off and gain a local advantage. But she can’t kill or equal the beast itself. She’d be putting all of herself into fighting a fraction of Cortana.

Also, I dunno, I am starting to get weird vibes from Isabel. I might be wrong but I think she was lying when she said the portal to Earth closed without warning. Plus the trailers where she shouts “it’ll all be over soon!”.

12

> 2535428828618420;7:
> Who else hopes he joins the Spirit of Fire?

Got some strange feeling, that your hope there might become reality. It’s not like Volir praises Atriox… He’s only there for the benefits, so he can keep the ship, fleet and crew running.

I could imagine our beloved Red team is gonna go all serious on Atriox, he dies or goes M.I.A… Volir realizes he chose the wrong side. Joins humanity and -Yoink!- in the war against Cortana and her guardians.

13

> 2533274824095836;12:
> > 2535428828618420;7:
> > Who else hopes he joins the Spirit of Fire?
>
> Got some strange feeling, that your hope there might become reality. It’s not like Volir praises Atriox… He’s only there for the benefits, so he can keep the ship, fleet and crew running.
>
> I could imagine our beloved Red team is gonna go all serious on Atriox, he dies or goes M.I.A… Volir realizes he chose the wrong side. Joins humanity and -Yoink!- in the war against Cortana and her guardians.

He might not for that exact reason he already doesn’t agree with the peace treaty between humans and elites and once he finds out humanity is responsible for cortanas creation he might see Atriox as the only way to beat her.

14

Atriox might survive. But I reckon both his sub commanders aren’t long for this world. Atriox is a good villain but I do want to finish the game and feel I achieved something.

Plus, from the trailers and promo stuff, it looks like his Assault Carrier gets blown up by Jerome giving the Covenant back their bomb. :smiley:

15

> 2533274813946507;13:
> > 2533274824095836;12:
> > > 2535428828618420;7:
> > > Who else hopes he joins the Spirit of Fire?
> >
> > Got some strange feeling, that your hope there might become reality. It’s not like Volir praises Atriox… He’s only there for the benefits, so he can keep the ship, fleet and crew running.
> >
> > I could imagine our beloved Red team is gonna go all serious on Atriox, he dies or goes M.I.A… Volir realizes he chose the wrong side. Joins humanity and -Yoink!- in the war against Cortana and her guardians.
>
> He might not for that exact reason he already doesn’t agree with the peace treaty between humans and elites and once he finds out humanity is responsible for cortanas creation he might see Atriox as the only way to beat her.

Perhaps but wouldn’t it also seem like a logical thing, to ally with humanity against Cortana? I totally get what you mean and it seems like it also could be possible.

My dollar just runs on the possibility of Volir realizing, that the AIs created by humanity, can only be outsmarted by humanity if that makes sense? Humans do have access to forerunner tech, where as the covenant species don’t. Humanity has an edge by being able to control forerunner technology but at this point, anything is possible.

Let’s not forget Thel used to hate humanity as well… Even the alliance during Halo 3 was shakey… Well heck, it still is in Halo 5 but they’re at peace atleast.

16

> 2533274824095836;15:
> > 2533274813946507;13:
> > > 2533274824095836;12:
> > > > 2535428828618420;7:
> > > > Who else hopes he joins the Spirit of Fire?
> > >
> > > Got some strange feeling, that your hope there might become reality. It’s not like Volir praises Atriox… He’s only there for the benefits, so he can keep the ship, fleet and crew running.
> > >
> > > I could imagine our beloved Red team is gonna go all serious on Atriox, he dies or goes M.I.A… Volir realizes he chose the wrong side. Joins humanity and -Yoink!- in the war against Cortana and her guardians.
> >
> > He might not for that exact reason he already doesn’t agree with the peace treaty between humans and elites and once he finds out humanity is responsible for cortanas creation he might see Atriox as the only way to beat her.
>
> Perhaps but wouldn’t it also seem like a logical thing, to ally with humanity against Cortana? I totally get what you mean and it seems like it also could be possible.
>
> My dollar just runs on the possibility of Volir realizing, that the AIs created by humanity, can only be outsmarted by humanity if that makes sense? Humans do have access to forerunner tech, where as the covenant species don’t. Humanity has an edge by being able to control forerunner technology but at this point, anything is possible.
>
> Let’s not forget Thel used to hate humanity as well… Even the alliance during Halo 3 was shakey… Well heck, it still is in Halo 5 but they’re at peace atleast.

Well to quote Cutter in one mission. “The enemy of my enemy won’t always be my friend.”

You’re assuming the Banished are being rational. They could believe that humanity are weak. They could share a hatred and contempt of the humans. They could have plans which are as much danger to humanity as Cortana. Cutting a deal with humanity would mean he can’t expand his powerbase onto their worlds. This could make him look weak to his followers.

I think humans don’t have that advantage since a human AI like Cortana is technically also human so can use and access Forerunner systems. We’ve seen Cortana do this many times in the series. Also, we’re definitely not smarter than them. The only thing humanity has going for it is we have a Chief. Atriox can simply take humans captive to gain this advantage.

Yeah but Thel was at his core a true noble and honorable warrior who at least could respect his opponents. He simply believed in the Prophets divine will and did not question it until it was too late. Let Volir is not.

17

In two week we know it ;D

18

> 2533274803587475;4:
> I remember some 343i article on him where they said that they consciously wanted an Elite who broke with the expectation of an honorable righteous warrior. Even if they fell on the Covenant side they were usually driven by their ideals. Even Ripa Moramee does take to the office of Arbiter but in his own ruthless and fanatical manner.
>
> My point is that this isn’t exactly a sympathetic portrayal of an elite. I don’t think any of the Banished for that matter strike me as being anything but antagonistic to humanity. I have seen the first two cutscenes, particularly a much clearer look at Atriox and he really is a bit of a sadist.
>
> I know some people are pegging the Banished as potential allies but I seriously have my doubts given how they have been portrayed this far. I honestly felt sorry for those elites the brutes kill in the flashback and it really stresses how much devastation they cause on the human civilians on the Ark. Essentially its a massacre.
>
> We already have the Arbiter and the Swords. I would be very surprised to see another pro human branch of the Covenant pop up.

The vibe I get from him and the Banished in general is that they’re basically free agents. Atriox inspires loyalty to an extent, but when it comes down to it, they’re all out to line their pockets. They’ll kill humans and whoever else if it’s advantageous for them to do so, and won’t if it isn’t. The concept of “honor” that’s been instilled in them is something that ultimately turned out to be a lie, and their reaction was to discard it completely. They have no pretensions of rightness or nobility of any kind. I don’t think him or they will really be anyone’s friends, but they won’t be genocidal either.

19

I personally hope the Banished do not join. However, Jul 'Mdama’s forces are still out there. Sail 'Nyon could lead them and be on his own side. Therefore it’s Humans/Swords of Sanghelios vs The Storm faction vs The Banished vs The Created. Add the Flood and it’s a Battle Royale! A war even bigger than the Human-Covenant War because enemies are everywhere for everyone.

-Ryan

20

There’s no way Atriox would ever join us. However, there is a small chance that Let 'Volir may. Though it would be more interesting for Decimus to join us instead. We could use a Jiralhanae on our side for once. And it would be interesting to see tensions between him and Thel 'Vadam as they fight together.

Though if Decimus does join us, he’ll be joining us alone, as the other Jiralhanae would still stay loyal to Atriox.

-Ryan