#iale

Iale ‘Sylod is a creature who lives in Sylod Keep and is the protector of it and the Kaidon who leads it. Her name and actual appearance are only known to those in the house of Sylod. Outside of there she’s only known as “The Monster of Sylod Keep.”

Iale not only protects the Keep from outside threats but also looks after the members of the Kaidon’s family, which she’s done for many generations now. Shes an extremely valued member of the house despite not being of the same species.

Early Life (known info)

Iale was discovered by Osan ‘Sylod, Xuva ‘Sylod’s ancestor, when he was just a youngling. He found her within an old forerunner facility that’d fallen into disrepair after a nasty Earthquake. She was weak, exhausted, and had no recollection of who or what she was or even where she was after emerging from the stasis chamber she’d been kept in for who knows how long.

Osan went and got adult Sangheili of his family and brought them to her. They assisted and brought her back to the Keep in a phantom. She was nursed back to health surprisingly fast though her memories are still completely lost to her.

This didn’t seem to really bother Iale as she grew accustomed to living alongside the Sangheili in the Keep, seeming to know their culture quite well and even being able to speak their native language fluently.

Osan’s Father along with the other Elders of the House of Sylod decided to permit her to stay among them and keep her a secret from all outside the House. Any data that may have been on her was lost due to the Earthquake’s damage.

Seeing as she had no name to call her own, Osan began to refer to her as Iale. Where he got such a name is unknown but he felt it just fit for her. She eventually earned the name Iale ‘Sylod.

The Monster of Sylod Keep

Time passed and Sylod Keep was threatened by Sangheili from the outside, as was to be expected on the planet. As time went on though, no outside hostile force could get close to the House of Sylod. Stories were spread of a giant creature that was controlled by the Kaidon and protected all those of Sylod Keep.

A flying beast that could strike phantoms down with ease and catch even the fastest banshee. It’s eyes and body glowed like the pits of hell and breathed fire. It’s roar could paralyze even the most fierce Sangheili

The Monster of Sylod Keep.

Iale found the rumors and her title amusing, as she did strike down many ships and scare off many intruders, her actual body count was low. She didn’t take any pleasure in killing anyone and left that option as a last resort.

The Machine Within

During one attack Iale was actually wounded rather severely. She’s gotten a little too careless while attacking a Phantom and caught a stray plasma launcher sticky to one of her smaller wings. The damage done wasn’t severe but she did crash to the ground. At least she’d taken down the Phantom.

It was when Iale was having her injury tended to in the Keep that she discovered she wasn’t 100% flesh and blood. The doctor found circuitry built into her wing, weaved in with the muscle and bone.

After getting a more full physical examination the Doctors and scientists determined that her entire body was a mixture of both biology and technology.

Technology belonging to that of the Forerunners.

Iale took this in stride, surprisingly enough, but deep down something really bothered her about all this...and the Forerunners.

Anti-Covenant

Fast forward maybe three centuries to the reign of Kaidon Khit ‘Sylod. Iale hasn’t aged in the least, though watching as so many of her Sangheili have left to join the Covenant never to return has affected her attitude towards the Covenant and especially the Forerunners. Iale has expressed openly her distain in front of the Kaidon and his youngest son Xuva, who looks up to them both.

At first Khit would verbally reprimand her for speaking so disrespectfully of the Great Journey and the Great Forerunners, but her words did make him think. One sentence she spoke especially stuck with him and his son.

”Beings that created something like me are NOT ones to be worshipped, they are to be FEARED.”

Raza ‘Sylod

When Xuva became the Kaidon of Sylod Keep his first act was to bar any within the Keep from joining the Covenant. He held Iale’s words and advice above any others as he shared the same views towards everything that she did. This wasn’t an easy feat but Sylod Keep was very small compared to the other keeps and was hidden well in the geography of the area.They were easily forgotten by the Prophets and the Covenant.

Xuva eventually found a mate, a traveling merchant’s daughter known as Sosa ‘Rarum. Sosa feared Iale when they first met in person but soon began admire the wise being who seemed to delight in teasing her husband at every opportunity.

They spent a lot of time together and Sosa grew to love the creature she once viewed as a vicious demon as a sort of sister. Their time became even better when Sosa became pregnant with her and Xuva’s first child. Iale has plenty of experience with Sangheili children and birth and was elated to see the next generation for the family to begin.

Unfortunately life does have its complications.

Something went wrong while Sosa was giving birth to the egg. The Doctors did all they could but it wasn’t enough and Xuva lost his wife, Iale lost a friend, and the child lost its mother.

Iale quickly took to looking after the egg while it sat in its incubation pod, becoming extremely protective of it and threatening any who approached with vicious snarls and growls.

When Little Raza hatched Iale was the first one she saw and quickly became attached to.

Xuva made a decision and asked Iale if she could be little Raza’s Mentor and caregiver. Iale of course accepted without hesitation and in becoming Raza’s mentor she also become like Raza’s Mother.

As Raza grew Iale taught her things that weren’t typical for female Sangheili. Raza sparred with Iale multiple times a day, training and building her strength and skills as a warrior. She wished to be like Iale in every way possible. She even attempted to fly once by jumping from a balcony. Luckily Iale was never far away from her and caught her before she could hit the ground.

Current

Raza is grown up and the Scion of the family. Thanks to Iale’s training she’s an extremely skilled fighter and bests her own Father in sparring pretty often. She still trains with her Mother, who makes it clear to the young Sangheili that she has much to learn still.

Xuva has a new mate and two more children, Xila and Rteva, who both are being Mentored by Iale as well. Their mother, known as Nuhe, isn’t as close to Iale as Sosa was but she still respects the elder female.

Iale herself still protects Sylod Keep and the House of Sylod like always, though things seem to have quieted down since the end of the Covenant. She’s even heard from Xuva that some Sangheili is uniting the keeps and calling this alliance “the Swords of Sanghelios.”