TheHalofranchise has been host to numerous, varied antagonists, both human and alien, each with their own unique goals, origins, and storied history. From the conniving Covenant Prophets of Truth, Mercy, and Regret to the rogue human artificial intelligence Cortana, the heroic soldiers of the UNSC and warriors of the Swords of Sanghelios have faced and triumphed over most galactic threats. However, an antagonist still persists in sowing chaos among UNSC and SoS worlds, one that has proven to resist all matter of obstacles that even the Covenant or the Forerunner Didact could not withstand. ThisHaloantagonist is the Banished Jiralhanae founder and warmaster Atriox.
The Rise and Origins of Atriox’s Banished Faction
Born in 2510 on the Jiralhanae homeworld of Doisac, just 18 years after the Jiralhanae were inducted as the final species to join the Covenant hegemony, Atriox’s childhood was one of hardship typical of young brutes. While his family history is currently unknown, he was trained by his daskalo or mentor, Escharum, a Brute who had long seen the Jiralhanae’s self-destructive nature during the species' planet-wide civil war, The First Immolation, prior to encountering the Covenant.Escharum taught Atriox to be a tough, proud, and wise warrior, leading Atriox to become a Special Operations Brute Stalker within the elite Jiralhanae, Sangheili, and Kig-Yar unit known as the Bloodstars. Despite his skills and intellectual prowess, Atriox was still treated as a lesser being by his Sangheili and San’Shyuum superiors.
For most of the Human-Covenant War, Atriox and his clan were used as cannon fodder against the UNSC as a way to weaken the humans’ frontlines. Forty at a time, Atriox and his clan members were deployed in battle but only Atriox survived the excursions. Over the decades, Atriox began to despise the Covenant’s usage of his people and lost faith in the Great Journey, as the hegemony had powerful technology to often break human defenses without the need for his clan’s bloodshed. By 2549, Atriox’s achievements in battle and repeated survival began to inspire his fellow Jiralhanae but worried hisSangheili and San’Shyuum superiorsas they saw him as a threat to the Covenant stability.
Atriox’s Revolt and Formation of the Banished
After returning from battle as the lone survivor once more of the human colony of Algolis, Truth ordered the Sangheili Itho ‘Hesiikee to kill Atriox for being heretical. Just as ‘Hesiikee was about to execute Atriox with his red energy sword bloodblade, the Brute caught the blade and struck ‘Hesiikee down with his own sword. Nearby Elites attempted to attack Atriox, but they were slaughtered by Decimus, En’Geddon, and other Jiralhanae, who were inspired by Atriox’s defiance. Together, Atriox and this small band ofJiralhanae formed the Banished, with Atriox using ‘Hesiikee’s bloodblade and a gravity hammer to create his gravity mace, Chainbreaker, whose impact became the seal and symbol of the Banished faction.
Atriox’s Impact on the Milky Way Galaxy and Beyond
For the next 11 years, the Banished would grow in numbers, recruiting any and all species who swore loyalty to Atriox, including humans and Sangheili. Atriox’s brilliant strategic mind and persuasive skills led many within the Covenant to abandon the hegemony and join the Banished, becoming the only Covenant splinter group to successfully stand up to the nearly 3,000-year-old empire. By the end of the Human-Covenant War in 2552, Atriox and the Banished had become the second most powerful united entity in the galaxy, second only to the UNSC. While numerous Covenant remnant leaders attempted to rebuild the empire in their own image,Atriox led the Banishedto be a force of absolute freedom, though this often led to Banished-aligned pirates and mercenaries to conduct pillaging raids.
In the wake of the Jiralhanae being chosen to replace the Sangheili as the Covenant’s main military force in The Great Schism, many Brutes were left unorganized and leaderless as many Sangheili and UNSC continued to wipe out Brute forces in retaliation. This led many Jiralhanae clans on Doisac and Brute colony worlds to begin fighting amongst each other for control over the species. Many Brute leaders attempted to fill this power vacuum in the wake ofChieftain of the Jiralhanae Tartarus’ death, including Dokab of the Keepers Castor, Children of Oth Sonin leader Lydus, and Champion of Maarooth Hekabe. However, only Atriox was able to unify the Brutes as warmaster of the Banished thanks to his wisdom and support of individual freedoms, not just raw, brutal strength.
The Influence of Atriox on the Battlefield
Atriox may be the sole warmaster of the Banished, but he still often leads his forces directly on the ground in combat, unlike most alien leaders in theHalouniverse. This can be seen in Atriox’s battle against the Kig-Yar scientist Sig Raan, the Jiralhanae Chieftain Jovus, Spartan-II Red Team on the Ark, andMaster Chief aboard the UNSCInfinity. Atriox’s persistent presence on the battlefield continues to inspire his followers, stoke fear among his enemies, and earn some level of respect among distinguished warriors throughout the galaxy. While Atriox is a relatively new character, he has quickly become one of the most well-regarded characters ever made in theHalofranchise and will continue growing as a character as he continues his war against humanity and the UNSC.
Atriox has only appeared in twoHalogames so far,Halo Wars 2andHalo Infinite, but he has shown up in numerous pieces of expanded media, such as the comicHalo: Rise of Atrioxand the first season of Paramount+’sHaloshow.
