High Prophets (Halo)

The High Prophets are fictional characters in the video game Halo 2.

Three High Prophets serve as the Hierarchs, the highest leaders of the theocratic Covenant. Hierarchs are thin, hunched creatures with large craniums that rely on levitating chairs for mobility. The chairs are usually decorated with golden backs, equipped with energy shielding, and armed with Fuel Rod Guns; they wear crowns adorned with small holographic projections of Halo. According to "Halo: The Flood," the Prophets evolved on a planet that was once dominated by the Forerunners. As a sidenote, in each one's name there is a small amount of irony.

High Prophets

High Prophet of Mercy

The Prophet of Mercy seems to be considerably older than the other High Prophets, mainly because his skin is a ghostly white and his voice is raspier, but no less influential.

The Prophet of Mercy agrees with the Prophet of Truth to offer the role of Arbiter to the disgraced Elite commander. Mercy was also involved in creating plans to continue the attack of Earth after the failed invasion by Regret.

Like Truth and Regret, Mercy believes firmly in the Covenant's religious teachings and the "Great Journey." When the Flood begin to infest High Charity, Mercy is infected and unable to continue. Seeing this, the High Prophet of Truth remarks, "The Great Journey waits for no one brother. Not even you." The Prophet of Mercy is content with his fate, and tells the Master Chief where Truth is going.

The irony of this prophet is that he was shown no mercy by the prophet of truth.

High Prophet of Regret

The High Prophet of Regret led the initial, botched attack on Earth without consensus from the Prophets of Truth and Mercy. Although the attack destroyed a number of the MAC Cannon defense stations orbitting Earth, Regret had insufficient power to effectively win the battle. Covenant forces landed in New Mombasa, but the invasion was foiled due in part to the actions of the Master Chief. Regret transmits his apologies to Truth and Mercy, and flees with his flagship to Halo Installation 05. The Master Chief pursues and eventually assassinates him there.

Regret does not enjoy a peaceful death, and is reanimated by Gravemind, the apparent Flood leader.

The irony of this one is that he dies regretting the failed assault on Earth.

High Prophet of Truth

The High Prophet of Truth plays a central role in determining the events of Halo 2. Truth assigned the disgraced commander of Halo Installation 04 to become the Arbiter and ordered him to defeat the Heretics, a rebel movement that regard Covenant teachings as false. After the rebels were defeated, Truth used the Arbiter to retrieve Installation 05's Sacred Icon.

Truth and Mercy use the recent assassination of Regret and destruction of Alpha Halo as a pretext to reorganize Covenant society. The Elites are replaced by Brutes as the honor guard for the prophets and removed from command positions throughout the military. These changes along with a great purge of Elites, Grunts, and Hunters led to a civil war within the Covenant.

When the Flood infiltrate High Charity and infect the Prophet of Mercy, the Prophet of Truth abandons his fellow prophet and escapes in a Forerunner ship at the centre of High Charity. Truth uses the ship to return to Earth where he plans to use the Forerunner Ark to complete the "Great Journey" by activating all the Halos and exterminating all life in the galaxy.

The Prophet of Truth is the only remaining High Prophet following the events detailed in Halo 2.

The Prophet of Truth's irony is perhaps more subtle, and is the only one that does not involve his death(as far as we know). His irony is that he is unable to see the fact that the Halos were created to destroy, and are not holy objects. He also blatantly lies to the population of High Charity: after witnessing Mercy's infection, and abandoning him, Truth announces later "Noble Mercy is at my side, his wise council ever in my ear."

Lesser Prophets

There are also a number of lesser prophets, such as Pity, Disdain, Wisdom, Fear, Sorrow, Supposition, and Grief, that form the prophetic branch of the Council, along with the Elites. These prophets vote and make decisions, but ultimate power is held by the three High Prophets.

See also

• Halo 2
• Halo characters