Zil 'Kanayee/sandbox

Zil 'Kanayee was a Sangheili native of the colony world, Honored Duty, and a member of House Kanay. He would serve in the Covenant military during the hegemony's 4th Age of Reconciliation, an era which teemed with various civil conflicts and rebellions. He would participate in the hegemony’s campaigns against these factions.
Biography
= Early Life =
" Tell me Nelt, where is the honor in letting our brothers die to those things? If you truly think that, you do not deserve the name Kanay."
―Zil 'Kanay to his cousin, Nelt 'Kanay
Zil 'Kanay was born in 490 BCE to the House of Kanay, rulers of the state of Kanay on the colony world, Honored Duty. The son of Keepward Tarn 'Kanyai, and Head Matron Yun 'Kanay, the young Zil would often spend his free time alongside his cousin Nelt. The two would explore the coastal shorelines that Kanay controlled, hoping to find lost relics in various caves. Like most Sangheili boys, most of his days were spent training with the other children of the keep under his uncle, Pathkeeper Jor 'Kanayee. Under Jor’s tutelage, Zil would learn proper hand-to-hand combat techniques and the basic skills needed to wield the noble curveblade and burnblade.
Aside from combat training, the old Zealot would also educate them via tales of their family's storied history through the clan’s saga archives. These would help to kindle in the young Sangheili a loyalty not just to the Covenant, but to his clan and kinsmen.
His mother too, would partake in her son's education. As Head Matron, she was in charge of keep defense, and her lessons would reflect as such. From the Grand Defense against the San'Shyuum planetary siege in the War of Beginnings, to her own actions against their rival keep, Horno. She would show that offensive tactics were not always the best, and could lead to excessive zeal in combat to where one could be blinded by bloodlust, and die a fool.
== Trials of Valor: The Kele'norik Hunt ==
Weeks after his fifteenth birthday, Zil, Nelt, and several other younglings would be chosen by Jor to begin their Trials of Valor. These tests over the course of the next few months were seen as evaluating the combat worth of the youth. The first of these tests involved obtaining the carapace of the native insectoid creatures called Kele'norik. The smooth, resilient armor crafted from their carapaces were seen as a popular alternative among lesser keeps in the area to contemporary combat harnesses. Divided into two teams, one led by Zil, the other by Nelt, they would venture into the nearby jungles to slay the beasts and retrieve pieces of the carapace as proof of their prowess in felling such a mighty foe.
During their first night of encampment near a lake, Zil's group would be attacked by a pack of Delchin beasts. While the group suffered no deaths, one, Gilik 'Qivroee, was too wounded to continue the trial, while two others, Jek and Varvo, had suffered a broken arm and a concussion, respectively. Seeing himself as dishonored due to his wounds, Gilik would request an honorable death at Zil's blade. Seeing such a practice as foolishness, this would be denied him as Zil instead praised the younger sangheili for his actions in slaying four of the creatures, claiming he had earned the name of Kanay.
Escorted by the team's medic Eurn and Jek, Gilik would be returned to the keep for recovery. The delay this would cause as the others waited for the pair's return would be spent attempting to forage for new supplies. Several days later, they find their prize, in the unexpected form of an entire nest composed of hundreds of the creatures. With its discovery, several among their group would voice the idea of quitting the test, to inform the keep of the abnormally large nest before them. Plans would change however when it was revealed Nelt's group was also in the vicinity. Using reflected light to silently communicate between each other, a final decision was made by Zil that an attempt would be made to lure away a single knight, which both teams could take down together. Before this could be enacted , a pair of guards would become aware of the Sangheili presence, and alert the nest. In the chaos that followed, Zil and Nelt would be separated from their teams, with a knight pursuing them. Finding temporary shelter in a small cave, Zil would propose a way to finish off the Kele'norik. On leaving their haven, he would draw the creature's attention, while Nelt took the opportunity to climb up a nearby cliff and hack through a dead tree holding a massive boulder in place.
Freed from its resting place, the rock would kill the knight, granting them their prize. When reminded by his cousin that their brethren still needed rescue, Nelt would brush off the concern, sadly commenting on how their kinsmen were likely already dead. When pressed further by Zil, Nelt concluded that not all Sangheili were worthy enough to serve the Covenant. Shocked at what he saw as cowardly betrayal, Zil would coldly berate Nelt, before leaving to find the missing Sangheili on his own.
On his return to the nest site, Zil would find various clues that eventually led him to the remaining survivors. Trapped on a cliff surrounded by several Kele'Norik, the remaining ragged youths would greet him with joy, thinking themselves abandoned. Giving them his remaining rations, he would debate with them on how to escape. Things would prove more difficult however, as it was revealed the Kele'norik were creating a ramp to access the ledge their camp sat on.
Limited on options and time, Zil would Inform his kin of the tactic he used earlier. Loosening a series of large rocks, the resulting rock slide would kill the apparent leader, causing the others to flee. The next day, the Sangheili would harvest what they could from the slain beast, fashioning the largest carapaces into sleds for those who could not walk. On nearing the nest site, Zil and a few others would scout it out for safe passage, only to discover the area was now nothing more than a burnt and cratered ruin.
Met by Jor and various members of the Custodian Watch, the keep's militia, their uncle revealed Nelt had indeed returned to the keep, informing him of the abnormally large nest. While giving them praise for a successful trial, Jor would send them back to the keep for recovery, where they enjoyed a stent of popularity among their fellow children.
== Second Trial: Kelga's Bow ==
Weeks after their recovery, Zil would participate in the next trial, the retrieval of the mythical Bow of Kelga. A replica of this weapon rested within a pre-Covenant temple within the mountain chain that divided the lands of Kanay from that of their rivals, Horno. Arriving at the base of the mountain, Zil was given basic winter attire, alongside the weapons needed to survive the trek. As an addition, a small locator was also provided, something that would reveal his location for retrieval, if he gave up. With the addition of a few rations, Zil would begin his ascent up the mountain, with the harsh frigid weather, quickly proving to test him.
In these first days, the only respite that arrived was the slaying of a Heilos Rock-Hopper, which provided him additional fur and sustenance, both which became critical when a blizzard would begin to move into the area. Managing to take shelter in a cave, Zil would be horrified to come across the remains of a long dead Sangheili near the back of the cave. The disturbing discovery planted a seed of doubt of his own survival over the next three days as the storm raged on.
When the weather did finally clear, Zil would manage to free himself from the cave before moving on. By the fifth day, he had acquired enough supplies to make a proper camp, though he would come under assault by another Sangheili. Caught in a shower of primitive arrows, one would manage to lodge itself in his leg before he was able to find cover. An exchange of shots would follow between the pair, before Zil would manage to disarm his opponent with his own bow. Confronting the other Sangheili, he would recognize the glyph on their little armor as belonging to that of the Horno clan. Following a series of questions directed towards the other Sangheili, Zil would find that the entire trial was a competition between the two clans. Knocking them out and activating their own locator, Zil would attempt to make haste towards the temple. A week after starting his trek, he would finally arrive at the Steps of Transcendence, a long winding staircase that led to the temple itself. At the temple site itself, he would discover a handful of other Sangheili already there, one of his own clan, Gilik, and three from Harno. As combat was forbidden on the sacred ground, an uneasy peace settled over the group as they made their way inside. Within they were directed by ancient signs to travel through a series of maze-like tunnels, with only one path properly leading to the sacred bow. While Zil would manage to make his way to the center, he was not the first, as that honor was given to Gilik instead. Activating their locators, they would prepare to return to the temple grounds, before suddenly being attacked by the newly arrived Horno Sangheili. Defending themselves, the pair would make for the surface, attempting to avoid any damage done to the bow. Eventually losing their pursuers and making it to the surface, they would await a dropship to extract them. On arriving back to the keep, Gilik would be praised for the completion of his task. For his own part, Zil himself was commended for protecting his kinsmen.
== Raid on Kanay Keep ==
Three years after the end of the Trials, Zil would enroll in the Custodian Watch. While hesitant at first, due service at times being a dead end for shamed warriors such as his cousin, it was mandatory for any Sangheili seeking future military service. Over the next few months his duties within the Custodians would vary. From simple security at the port, to patrols along the border between their own lands, and that of Horno. It would be in the Watch as well, that Zil would begin training with the more common burnblade used throughout the Covenant. During one of his patrols near the outskirts of the keep, a VRO-clipper vessel would appear off the coast, releasing several dropships. Thought to be at first dropping off cargo, the group would be surprised when the transports began attacking the dock, revealing their nature as raiders.
As a battle for the docking yard began, Zil and his fellow squad mates were ordered to retrieve weapons from a nearby armory to help in the defense. While en-route, the group would be ambushed by a larger force of enemy soldiers. Forced into cover, they would attempt to hold their position, before rescue arrived in the form of Nelt. Attacking the distracted raiders on his own, he would manage to take down several foes, before the remaining ones turned to focus on the new arrival. In a brief moment of calm, Nelt would demand for his kin to continue on, while he dealt with the enemy. Heeding his words, the lance would manage to re-arm at the armory, and take positions near the dock entrance, working to cover the retreat of surviving dock workers, as they ran to escape the encroaching battle. Despite taking down several enemy soldiers himself, Zil and other nearby forces would be forced back as some of the enemy transports moved in to begin strafing their positions.
Managing to find cover, he would attempt to continue battling the approaching enemy force, though relief wouldn't truly arrive until multiple talons of haunt strike craft would sweep into the area. Engaging the dropships and the clipper, they were able destroy the transports, and force the vessel into retreat through sheer numbers. With their means of escape gone, the remaining raiders would attempt to disengage, and flee into the forests. Most of the Custodians would pursue the enemy, and manage to capture enough of them to be taken in as prisoners for questioning. With the battle concluded, Zil would be among those helping the wounded, a task that would stretch throughout the day,and into the night. During this time, he would come across his cousin's corpse, surrounded by several dead raiders. Saddened to see the fate of his kin, he would honor his cousin's sacrifice, requesting from the local priest that Nelt receive the Prayer of Anointment, a way to help his soul further in the Fields of Gihbalb. Days later, under further investigation of the remaining prisoners, it would be claimed that their attack had originated from members of the Horno clan, possibly even from the Keep Elders, as a way to test their defenses. Such a brazen attack and disregard of both clans’ mutual laws, was decried by Kanay. While denying any involvement, the Kaidon of Horno would go so far as to execute the Elders suspected of being responsible for the attack. Despite this attempt of appeasement, those like Zil developed a deep sense of loathing for such oath-breaker Sangheili.
== Life at the War College ==
"He holds promise, Jor, he will make an excellent soldier for the Covenant. You trained my son well, brother."
―Keepward  Tarn 'Kanayai to Jor 'Kanayee after the former's duel with Zil
By 470 BCE, Zil was accepted by the respected Urs' Blade academy. In the days leading up to his departure for the college, he and his other kinsmen who had made it this far would be honored by Jor his mother, who held a baptism ceremony for the new warriors of the Covenant. After this ceremony, Zil would be approached by one of the Kaidon's Keepwards, seeking to challenge the youth to a duel. Surprised at this, Zil questioned his uncle on the request, to which the elder agreed, though he would oversee it. 
While he would ultimately lose to the guard, his refusal to give up until he managed to draw blood from his opponent impressed the older opponent. At its conclusion, the Keepward would praise his skill, complimenting him as a true adult. Days later, on arriving at the campus, he would be assigned to the T'vlk warrior creche alongside the other new students. Among his classmates, the Battle Masters would set him into a training contubernium alongside three other students, Yorn 'Nekam, Soru 'Galnan, and Kusa 'Norna. While the two former proved amiable enough, seeing Zil as the group's unofficial leader. Kusa however, coming from a family of Zealots and Aristocrats, saw himself as their superior. This would bring great tension on their team cohesion, as orders were misunderstood, or straight up ignored. A tipping point would eventually be reached when, after the failure of a test to guard an outpost, Zil would challenge Kusa to a duel for leadership, to which the others happily agreed.
Meeting at one of the college's combat arenas with Soru and Yorn watching on, the two would begin their fight. Proving quite skilled with a blade, Kusa was able to keep him on the defensive for some time, with only the latter's speed and stamina helping to give him an edge. As the duel progressed though, Zil would begin to recognize his opponents fighting style as one Jor himself has used during their practice duels. Managing to now properly counter him, Zil would slowly turn the match in his favor.
The end would finally come when Kusa's blade was caught within Zil's own, allowing the latter to cast it aside. Shocked at the result, Kusa would gain a new respect for Zil, acknowledging the younger Sangheili's skill. Finally relenting to Zil as the group leader, Kusa gave a vow of loyalty, as was tradition in his own bloodline. For the group, this would change how they trained, finally working as a more coherent unit. Further, the duel between Kusa and Zil would form into a friendly rivalry, in which each would attempt to one-up the other in various competitions. Ranging from mere target practice, to races high above the campus in haunt craft, such self-made lessons would help them when Mahk 'Rakomee, Provost of the esteemed war academy on Saepon'kal, would visit Urs' Blade while traveling through the local sector. Hoping to curry prestige, the Battle Masters would have their students participate in a variety of mock battles, with the Provost judging the creche's worth.
The T'vlk creche would participate in various mock missions against fellow members, and against those of other creches during this time. One such mission involved Zil's contubernium being able to capture a mock relic from a fortified enemy base. With Kusa in command, they would use a pair of eidolon scout vehicles and a haunt sky-craft piloted by Soru. Attacking the enemy base, the vehicles would provide cover as Zil acted as vanguard for those moving within. Here they would be ambushed by a group of cloaked opponents, with Zil himself being taken down in the surprise attack.
While Yorn would attempt to carry him out, Kusa would struggle to move the large relic on his own. Knowing time was short, Zil told them to leave him behind, and focus on the mission. With enemy reinforcements slowly trickling in, the pair would reluctantly depart. Stuck waiting in the base, his only sign of victory for the team would be revealed when a Huragok arrived to adjust and repair his suit before that of his foes. The next day would bring a new task, as they were to escort a Vurn-pattern siege engine to a pre-designated target.
By the end of the week, the Provost was satisfied with what he witnessed, decreeing the college was up to the Covenant standards before departing. As a reward for the students who had gotten the highest scores, among them Yorn, were given new fthat emitted a golden glow. In celebration of their friend's accomplishment, the group would go out and acquire a Naknuet carcass from a local meat merchant, cooking it over a spit over the night as they discussed their hopes for the future. In between Zil's classes, he would attempt to keep his family up to date with his deeds.
== Covenant Military Service ==
==== The Battle of Ta'Telco ====
"We had always been taught we were the inheritors of the Great Ones, chosen children of the Forerunner themselves. But as I saw the machines of our Lords sweep aside my brothers and our Lekgolo allies on their way to the citadel, I confess, doubt entered my mind."
―Zil's personal journal
In 466 BCE, Zil, alongside the remaining T'vlk creche members, would graduate from the college as full-fledged Tiros of the Covenant military. Assigned to the fleet Hopeful Salvation. the creche would serve on one of the fleet’s five cruisers, Blessed Absolution.  Over the next year they would comb various star systems for holy relics. Yet, the glorified guard duty of  watching over San'Shyuum discovery-priests and their Huragok-savants Zil often found himself on, proved lackluster. This would change when a  courier vessel met with the fleet at a way-station between missions. According to his fellow crew mates, the small vessel had brought news from the Minister of Relic Procurement and Protection himself. A Forerunner luminary, a rare archive of divine technology, had been found on a far-flung world called "Ta'Telco".
Such a find had not been seen in over a century and all present were honored at being among those blessed enough to claim this new gift for the Covenant. When the fleet arrived at the world, the ships' luminaries would point to a small area in the northern regions of a vast forerunner city. Orbital scans proved inefficient to pinpoint the exact location, and so relic-hunting parties were sent ground-side to search for the relic.
As part of this venture, Zil would find himself over the next few weeks, escorting and protecting San’Shyuum scribes and their Huragok assistants, as they attempted to decipher records in order to pinpoint the luminary’s exact location. When the relic was finally discovered by covenant forces, the preists would be joined by a few Diphollekgolo forms, as they attempted to unlock the temple that held the luminary within. While this holy task was continued, a cathedral base would be constructed close to the area, acting as a barracks for the soldiers.
During this time, Zil would, when not patrolling the site or guarding the scribes, participate against Yorn and Soru in a strategy game called Harrier, or explore sanctioned structures while Kusa, far more knowledgeable in theology, would explain how they worked.. The wait however, would finally come to an end after a week, as the security measures were finally cracked by the Huragok and the temple opened. A team of Zealots, baptized by the cleric beforehand, would venture down into the complex to retrieve the forerunner device, while the gathered soldiers looked on. Returning with relic in tow, cheers would erupt from the gathered throng, but the celebration would be quickly come to an end as multiple sentinels, holy warriors of the rings, suddenly appeared among them. To meet such a sacred machine brought Zil to his knees, alongside the many others before the floating guardians as they approached the cleric and lead Zealot. Confronting the Covenant on the device's removal, the machines would demand it returned, and for the intruders to leave the world.
The cleric appealed to the sentinels, reciting to them the Psalm of Reclamation, as a sign of the Covenant's identity as the rightful heirs to the Forerunners' legacy. To Zil's shock and horror, the lead sentinel declared the response incorrect, and with the other drones, attacked the gathered throng. Forced to defend himself, the young Tiro would take down several of the machines himself, even as dozens began to arrive from the temple entrance. While an attempt was made to hold the area, it wouldn't take long before the covenant soldiers would be forced to retreat as casualties mounted, among them the cleric. This would allow the sentinels to return the relic back into the temple, though they would continue to pursue the Covenant.
Meeting up with those regrouping at the citadel, Zil would be informed by an Obedientiary that they had been ordered to protect the landing zone for the arrival of additional reinforcements from the fleet. While they attempted to prepare, building up various turrets and defenses, the sentinels would arrive shortly thereafter, engaging the unit and managing to kill the Officer.
Forced to take up command himself, Zil would have his fellow Tiros deploy targe-shield pods, using the short-lived devices as temporary cover to allow them to move various crates and barriers into proper overlapping barriers as more machines appeared. The group would manage to hold off the machines for almost an hour in this manner, though the Sangheili would finally be forced to fall back as a larger sentinel variant appeared, seemingly immune to their small arms fire. Prepared to order a retreat, Zil would activate their final pod, before a large insertion pod landed nearby, releasing a Mgalekgolo pair.
Quickly engaging the forerunner construct, the Lekgolo forms used their suban-shard casters against the machine. The heavy weapons were enough to force the construct into retreat. More insertion pods would arrive after, alongside a few drop ships, bringing relief to the group of Tiros. The machines quickly took notice however, materializing three AA guns around the citadel to deny further reinforcements. The Field Commander ordered these emplacements destroyed. Zil and those of his lance would join in hitting the nearest cannon with heavy tanks and light attack vehicles.
Although the sentinels attempted to defend the guns, sheer firepower would force them back, and bring about the destruction of the platforms, allowing drop ships from the fleet to again properly land. With their forces refreshed, the army would attempt to move back into the city, a tactic that proved costly. Covenant forces were out-maneuvered by the constructs via teleportation nodes and infantry slipspace portals. Worse, transmissions from the fleet revealed new forerunner constructs had now engaged the warships themselves. Knowing time was short, a desperate plan was made.
The area around the temple site came under fire from fighter craft, clearing the worst of the enemy before five Zealot strike teams, each consisting of four Sangheili, were dropped in, moving swiftly into the temple to reclaim their prize. The rest of the covenant forces meanwhile, would begin to withdraw to the city's edge, where apparition drop ships awaited. Before Zil's own lance could depart, news on the battle net announced the Zealots had obtained the luminary, and were making their way to the evacuation zone.
Choosing to wait for them, Zil and his lance would hold the area from sentinel fire, while fighter craft overhead held back the more dangerous of the god-machines. Soon enough, a beetle transport would arrive, carrying a pair of wounded Sangheili, and the ancient relic cradled between them. Ordering his group to provide the two cover fire, Zil himself would suffer an injury, as he took an enemy beam met for one of the Zealots themselves. With the luminary safely aboard, the group would depart to the fleet, even as the warships themselves were making haste to jump to the nearest orbital repair yards. Sent to the recovery suite alongside the rest of the wounded, Zil would eventually  be visited by Kusa. His friend revealed that Soru's haunt had been shot down by enemy fire, while Yorn was in surgery for a vaporized limb. Both however, were still alive.
Grateful for this news, Zil's mind was still troubled however by the idea of forerunner machines attacking their chosen inheritors. Kusa informed him of tales where his own ancestors in times past had fought holy constructs who, as well, appeared to deny entrance to relic sites. It was seen as a common test of faith by the god-machines for the Covenant, one that would endlessly repeat until the faithful were proven worthy of the Great Journey.
This brought some ease to his mind, and cemented in him a desire to learn more of the Covenant faith. Happy to oblige, Kusa would assist him in this task for the remaining time of his recovery. Once out, he would join them in attending the Transcendence ceremony held by the vessel's head priest for those lost during the battle, as the fleet was repaired at a way-station.
=== Campaign of Bountiful Providence ===
"It was a group of heretical Sangheili who attacked my clan, and slew my bloodkin, Yorn. If these ones seek penance and atonement, I am duty bound to grant them such. If they seek to refuse our mercy however, it will also be my duty to grant them none."
―Zil, discussing the upcoming conflict with Yorn.
==== Battle of United Remembrance ====
"Hold warriors! Remember, we serve the Will of the Ancients themselves! The heretics can not prevail against us!"
―Zil, rallying militia soldiers under his command
Four months after the events of Ta'Telco, Zil would catch word that the fleet had been contacted to join with several others in the siege of a mineral-rich world by the name Bountiful Providence, a planet that had seceded from the Covenant a decade earlier. Since then, the planet had been consumed in civil war, even as the Covenant had attempted  originally to send several diplomats in attempts at a peaceful reintegration. These individuals had either been imprisoned or killed. Thus, the High Council decided to bring the wayward colonists, and their resources back into the fold, by force.
Arriving at the coordinates of the planet alongside the fleets of Gathering Praise and Sacred Blessings, the combined covenant armada would begin deploying reinforcements to various loyalist zones across the colony. Zil, alongside other members of the T’vlk creche, would find themselves among those reinforcing the city of United Remembrance. With the city currently under siege by a separatist army, a trireme troop landing craft was used to bring the soldiers safely ground-side. Zil and his allies would hook up with militia forces defending the area. 
Taking command of a lance of them himself, Zil would have them set up defensive turrets on the  border of the plaza acting as the landing zone. The position would quickly come under assault, with separatist sangheili and even some Mgalekgolo forms attempting to halt any covenant advance. Not expecting an attack so fast, Zil would lose his turrets, and three of his men, before ordering the pathway they guarded collapsed. This would buy them a short reprieve, during which some runners were sent back for heavy weapons, while the rest took up various defensive positions around the area. 
Not long after, the enemy would manage to clear a path through and gain ground due to the Mgalekgolo keeping Zil and the militia down. With the separatists closing however, the militiamen would return with new weapons, taking out the Lekgolo forms with shard casters. The rest of the loyalist forces would rally, holding the enemy until a covenant tank arrived, eliminating any heretics who dared to continue fighting. Over the next few days, the rest of the city would be brought under covenant control, with the various enemy forces driven out.
===== Battle of the Crystal Gorge =====
Weeks would pass as the battle for the planet carried on. On his latest mission, Zil would be paired alongside Soru, as they took part in a battle to capture a suban crystal assembly forge. Having been a large source of arms for nearby strongholds, it was considered a high value target by the fleet's Grand Marshal. While an army detachment engaged the defenders of the facility itself, Zil and Soru would be part of a haunt strike craft rear guard, charged with preventing enemy reinforcements from reaching the facility. Using their craft to great effect, the flight talon would manage to take out multiple convoys of enemy forces, before their foes brought forth several wand-launchers. While archaic, the weapons were still powerful enough to force the talon apart, with one of the missiles managing to strike Soru's aircraft. Witnessing this, Zil would attempt to rescue his friend, against his Commander's orders. Putting his own safety at risk, he would strafe the enemy troops alone, before landing his craft near the crash site.
To his dismay he would find Soru had not survived, and in a moment of rage at the loss of his friend, begin attacking the gathering throng of enemy soldiers. Using Soru's own craft as cover, he would manage to take down several, before the realization of the situation finally set in. Now cut off from his own craft, Zil would decide to secure his friend's identification wafer, and attempt to go down fighting. Before he could though, the covenant talon would return, cutting through the enemy lines, and allowing him safe passage to his own craft.
Departing with the others, he would update them on what transpired. The talon leader would berate Zil for his reckless actions, though any punishment would be put on hold when a transmission for additional aid would be sent by the Field Commander, to which their wing would obey. In the following battle, the covenant skycraft would focus on the heavier enemy units, with Zil personally eliminating two of the enemy aircraft, alongside an enemy tank. The opposing force would eventually weaken enough to allow the covenant ground army to move in, securing the facility. On their return to the base, and an official battle report, the Field Commander would honor the pilots, including Soru, for their duty with the gift of a medallion, engraved with the glyph of the Grand Shield. However, Zil would still face punishment for his earlier disobedience, and would suffer multiple lashings by his superior. Later, on seeing Kusa and Yorn again, the trio would hold a small service for their departed brother.
===== Siege of the Silver City =====
Four months into the campaign for the world, covenant forces had begun laying siege to a small Forerunner city, dubbed the "Eternal Path of the Way," or merely the Silver City. The city, held by a  Having been taken by a unified army of various rebel groups as a rallying point, covenant Commanders had at first attempted to take the city via mere force. The enemy however having greatly dug in, used Forerunner temples and fortresses as bastions of defense to repel any ground or air attack. With an unwillingness on covenant leadership to use orbital bombardment, covenant forces would surround the city in battle lines, each entrenched with covenant forces in an attempt to starve their foe out.
As part of this tactic, Zil was placed in command of a levy of loyalist militia warriors, charged with protecting their local battle line. In the month-long siege that followed, both covenant and rebel forces would constantly skirmish with each other, transforming the land between  the battle lines and city limits into a barren land of burnt glass and the ruined husks of vehicles. Zil's own levy would be attacked multiple times by rebel parties attempting to force their way into the city with fresh supplies. During one of these skirmishes, Zil would aquire a data reel taken from one of the fallen rebels. Within the crystal-like device were  firing coordinates matching multiple covenant battle lines. Quickly delivering them to the local Field Commander, these lines would be withdrawn, just mere hours before they came under heavy artillery barrages. For his actions in saving his fellow warriors, Zil would gain a promotion, granted the honor of becoming an Obedientiary. The newly minted Officer 
==== Study of the Silent Reliquary ====
Zil would be among those selected for a special mission from the High Council. 
==== Skirmish above the Dark Maw ====
"They were traitors Zil, they forfeited their place on the Path when they attacked us. I am truthfully surprised you would wish to grant them mercy.
"In honesty Kusa, before Providence, I would have agreed with you, and slain them myself. But seeing the honest hope for atonement in their eyes. Perhaps it is time to let go of old hatreds."
―Kusa and Zil discussing the battle
In 465 BCE, while patrolling the edge of Covenant space, the Fleet of Hopeful Salvation would pass through a star system containing a dark maw, the gravitational singularity slowly consuming its partner star. Passing by the stellar bodies, a faint signal, resembling older covenant script, would be caught on sensors originating near the maw. Further investigation via eye probes revealed the source as a pair of damaged ORS-cruisers and trio of blockade runners, records matching them to a fleet under the Ministry of Preservation, considered lost long before. While the ancient Sangheili vessels had nothing to offer themselves, the shrine-cores the cruisers held within, fell under the fleet's standing orders to retrieve holy relics.
Approaching the ghost ships, the fleet came under fire from a flotilla of corvettes alongside a single carrier, hidden and silent among the debris until now. Wary of firing on the enemy fleet, for fear of hitting the aged vessels, the Blessed Absolution was ordered to deploy boarding parties to capture the enemy carrier. While ready for combat, Zil and the other boarders would be forced to wait, until confirmation from the ranger lances sent ahead to breach the hanger's cowling. Once news was received the Rangers' mission was a success, the transports would move out, and while some losses were incurred, the remaining transports managed to within the hangar bay of the vessel and unload their troops.
Fighting in the hangar proved fierce, even with the assistance of the remaining Rangers. Zil, alongside his Tiros and a single Ranger, were able to eventually break through, moving to secure the enemy armory. Fighting down multiple hallways, and an ambush by cloaked enemy Sangheili, the lance would manage to either kill or wound these would be assailants, and capture the armory itself. However on hearing of reinforcements on their way through the battle net, and lacking the codes to access the weapons, Zil would turn towards the three remaining enemy wounded. One of the pirates, perhaps no older than Zil himself begged for clemency, claiming his allies would slay him and his comrades for their failure.
Considering the request and seeing what appeared as honesty in the pirate's eyes, he would grant such terms, if the lockers were opened for the covenant soldiers. Agreeing with the request, the enemy trio were restrained and brought into the armory alongside the lance's own wounded, as the rest prepared for battle. Armed with heavier weapons, the covenant Sangheili would manage to hold back multiple waves of enemy soldiers as the pirates attempted retake the armory. Eventually however, a request for parley was eventually declared by the Pathkeeper of the vessel, with the fighting finally coming to an end.
Leading the new prisoners to the hanger, Zil would come to find the carrier was now alone, the smaller vessels having seemingly fled. Handing the surrendered pirates over to the Field Commander for information, the young Officer would spend his remaining time on the vessel guarding Huragok, as the creatures checked through the ship's system for any additional information. When all was done, the remaining crew of the vessel were gathered in the hanger, along with their Pathkeeper, to meet with the recently arrived Chartermaster and his guards for terms on their parley, while most of the covenant forces were sent back to the Blessed Absolution.
Waiting back on Blessed Absolution, Zil would wait for the additional dropships to be called forth and bring the pirates in, that they could begin the Rites of Penance for their crimes. Instead, he would be stunned as the carrier began a course towards the dark maw itself, with only a single drop ship leaving the vessel. At first thinking it an insane attempt on the Chartermaster's life, he would come to learn the deed had been done by the Commander of the fleet himself. It was declared as his own judgement for the pirate's deeds in desecration of a Forerunner relic. With the enemy eliminated, the covenant forces would return to their original task of harvesting the remaining shrine core, and prepare to deliver it to High Charity itself.
==== High Charity Visit ====
"This past week has been beyond mere words uncle, the sacred city is just like your stories from my youth. The grand Vistas, the Arbiters' Mausoleum, and the holy Chariot of the Forerunners themselves. Truly we walk the Path"
― Zil, in a letter to Jor 'Kanayee on his visit to High Charity
==== Battle of Chi'run ====
"A bounty of knowledge and relics. Decades of gathering what little we can from our Lords' gifts. We are close to our goal, no surrender."
―Pirate-Lord Tarvo to his peers on seeing the fleet of Hopeful Salvation arriving in-system
In Eventually, enough information was gleaned to point to the origin of the pirate raiders. Belonging to a group calling themselves the Wardens, these raiders had been pillaging settlements and Forerunner paradise worlds for several decades under the leadership of an ex-Zealot by the name of Tarvo 'Zeka.
With Local defense flotillas having failed to halt Tarvo, the High Council now decreed that a proper military fleet would be sanctioned to put a stop to him. Unfortunately, only four vessels of the fleet had finished repairs by this point. The carrier Dutiful Devotion, and the cruisers Psalm of Unity, Mendicant's Path, and Blessed Absolution were deemed as adequate force for such a task, and so the meager task force was sent to the last known system under attack, the colony of Chi'run, the fleet came across an active battle over the world between the local flotilla and the wardens. A message broadcast from the San'Shyuum governor reported that she, along with the citizenry, were being held as ransom.was being held prisoner within her own building as a ransom.
En-route towards the planet’s lone city, the covenant drop ships would come under heavy fire from Wyvern anti-air spear towers. The apparition carrying Zil's team was damaged by multiple crystal spears, saved from destruction only by the skillful pilot, who managed to bring the craft down in a controlled but survivable crash-landing. Making their way to the designated landing zone, the young Officer and the other rest of the covenant forces saw that the city was surrounded by an energy shield, preventing any form of attack. While attempts were made by the Field Commander to overload the shields via sustained volleys of tank fire, they proved impenetrable.
Worse, news over the battle net revealed that the defense flotilla had now joined with the pirates in their attack on the covenant fleet, revealing the entire campaign as a trap. Out of options and limited on supplies, a new plan was devised. Multiple Mgalekgolo colonies were charged with creating tunnels for teams of Sangheili to pass through under the city wall. As part of this mission, Zil would lead one such team, slowly following one of the Lekgolo colonies under the defenses and into the city. By the time their group breached the surface, night had already fallen, allowing easier travel towards their target.
Navigating the streets and alleyways, the group would stumble across another strike team. Led by a fellow Obedientiary named Clek, he informed Zil that they had found the building holding the reactor powering the city shields. Unfortunately, due to the size of the facility, the exact location of the main fusion reactor was left unknown. Forced to infiltrate the facility, they would manage to make it to a cartographer room, using it to find the reactor's location. Discovering the main chamber was too heavily guarded, the Sangheili did find that a pair of limiter stations on each side of the facility controlled its delicate output. Clek would suggest Zil and his lance attack one station while his own made for the other. Zil agreed, leading his warriors down several passageways. Making their way into the chamber, they would kill the few guards posted and attack the core itself.
The tactic would work successfully, with both teams managing to damage the stations enough to bring about the destabilization of the main reactor. With its power now wildly fluctuating, the reactor would begin to tear the building itself apart. Meeting back up, both covenant teams would flee the facility, fighting against various bands of enemy forces who attempted to get in their way. Sadly, Clek himself would perish while he and Zil would hold a rear guard for their Tiros to make it out of the building.
Taking shelter in a structure a few blocks away, they were mostly spared when the core finally failed. The resulting detonation vaporized the facility, while the concussive blast collapsed the surrounding structures, including that of the covenant soldiers. While some were killed by the debris, Zil and a few others were merely knocked unconscious, later to be found by militia search teams. Brought to a penance hall for holding, they would languish for days, alongside other captured covenant, and those native Sangheili who had refused the Warden's rule.
While some of the other inmates would take their own lives to avoid family dishonor, he would endure, holding faith that the Forerunners would provide salvation. As the days passed, word began to filter down of the battle swinging in the Covenant's favor. Perhaps due to either this and hoping to seek clemency, one of the guards would eventually open the cells and release the prisoners. The rest of the defenders, a mere skeleton crew, were quickly overwhelmed by their charges, either killed or thrown into the holding chambers themselves.
With the aid of a surrendering guard, Zil was able to locate the armory, helping to arm the others with what few weapons were still within, before making for the surface. By the time the covenant soldiers and the civilians reached the main lobby, an enemy force of warden soldiers and militia conscripts awaited them. An all out brawl would ensue as both sides began an attack.
Shepherding some of the injured civilians into a room for shelter, Zil would provide sniper fire, attempting to preen the enemy numbers. As the battle progressed, a pair of warden-loyal Mgalekgolo would join in the fray. Guarding the main exit, they would decimate the covenant and loyalist forces who lacked any heavy weapons to deal with the massive war forms. Giving an order to fall back into the halls, Zil would unintentionally save those under him when an artillery shell impacted outside the building, causing the entrance to collapse on the enemy force. Wary of a new assault, the besieged forces were instead met by fresh reinforcements.
Meeting with one of the newly arrived Officers, Zil found that most of the city was now under covenant control, though Tarvo and the traitorous governess had seemingly vanished. Even so, it was considered a victory by the Covenant, as they gathered what Forerunner relics remained from a treasure trove found under the governess's administration building.
==== War with Harno Keep ====
"I took an oath to serve the Covenant, and the Forerunners, my liege. However, my family has invoked the Oath of Blood, calling me to their defense. I beseech you, your grace, to allow me to heed their call."
―Zil, requesting Blessed Absolution's Path Keeper to allow him to return home.
Some time after the end of Chi'run, the Path Keeper of the Blessed Absolution would request an audience with Zil. On the young Officer's arrival, his superior would present him with a message from his uncle, Jor. In it, the elder revealed that Horno had recently begun multiple border skirmishes with Kanay and their allies. With the prospect of a full war breaking out, Jor had called an Oath of Blood, a tradition for a Sangheili to help defend his homeland. Seeking to fulfill this, Zil was granted a request of dismissal, and prepared to head back on the next transport. Kusa and Yorn would both bid him farewell, hoping to see him again someday, or on the Journey. Arriving at Honored Duty a week later his transport would bring to the keep of clan Welnik, an ally of Kanay. The Kaidon would greet him on landing, updating him on recent events. Finding that Kanay and Horno had indeed broken into full war, he was forced to make his way by land to Kanay keep. On nearing his home, he would be ambushed by a group of Sangheili Rangers. Their leader would demand Zil to identify himself. Recognizing their emblems as that of Kanay, he revealed himself as one of their kinsmen. Amazed, the leader likewise identified himself as Gilik ‘Qivroee, now lead Centurion of the Custodian Watch. Happy to see his old friend, Zil would seek to find what had become of their home. It would be revealed that the old Kaidon of Horno had died, whether by old age or assassin blade was unclear. Only that his successor sought to gain more land and glory for his clan, and thus had led a strike against Kanay.
=== Personality and Traits ===
Loyalty to one's family was instilled in Zil at a young age, This, along with an attack on his keep by raiders in his teen years, caused him to hold such Sangheili who partook in that lifestyle, in disdain. However, after the bloody campaign on the world Bountiful Providence, his attitude on such matters would begin to soften.