Jiralhanae

The jiralhanae (commonly known as Brutes) are a carnivorous sapient species of pseudo-ursine mammals native to the planet Doisac. The jiralhanae were the final addition to the Covenant hegemony before the Great Schism. Many jiralhanae have a profound hatred of the sangheili, unmatched by any other feud within the Covenant. This rivalry was fueled by the jiralhanae's naturally aggressive demeanor and the sangheili's societal sense of superiority over them at the time of the Covenant.
== History ==
=== The Ark and reseeding ===
The jiralhanae were one of the many species of predators that originated on Doisac, evolving from temperamental, tree-dwelling mammals due to Doisac's challenging and diversifying environment. The jiralhanae were one of many sentient species indexed by the Librarian for preservation aboard Installation 00. After the Halo Array was fired, the jiralhanae were returned to Doisac to begin rebuilding their culture.
=== The First Immolation ===
While commonly regarded as a savage species, the jiralhanae proved intelligent enough to achieve Tier 4 status. However, their warlike nature inevitably led them into conflict, and eventually the various jiralhanae master-packs fell into a massive war known as the First Immolation. This mechanized war of attrition lasted a decade and eventually led to the use of nuclear weapons that devastated Doisac. The First Immolation and the nuclear holocaust that followed nearly led to species self-extinction and caused the collapse of their society; by the time they first encountered the Covenant, the species had just rediscovered radio and rocketry.
=== The Covenant ===
When the Covenant encountered the jiralhanae during the 5th Age of Conversion (c. 2250 CE), they fought resulting in several battles. Although some jiralhanae, such as those led by Chieftain Ruul'koah, were quick to join the Covenant, others put up resistance against the invading alien hegemony. In their primitive state they were quickly defeated and absorbed into the Covenant. The jiralhanae's search for theological meaning led to the species' swift incorporation into the Covenant as they adopted the empire's religion and began worshiping the Forerunners.
The jiralhanae and sangheili were often at odds with one another, due to the jiralhanae's aggression and inherent bloodlust standing in stark opposition to the sangheili's strict discipline and sense of honor, however there were also a small number of individuals among both races who held a degree of mutual respect for eachother.