Immunity Challenge #8 Submission

Name: Shade (Skr’ah)
Picture: http://tinyurl.com/cgay9yw

Skr’ah is a mysterious being who Master Chief would soon confront on the red planet that he and Cortana are shown drifting towards during the ending sequence of the Halo 3 campaign. Skr’ah’s planet is occupied by an alien race not unlike the Elites, as a result of similar evolution. Skr’ah is not one of them, however, but rather is the last known being of the great race known as the Forerunners. He is a very secretive creature, perpetually cloaked and venturing out rarely, thus causing the local alien race to give him his name, which translates to “Shade”. The palm of his left hand bears a symbol denoting the true name given to him by his people many millennia ago. He speaks very little, but when he does his deep, powerful voice reveals the authority that this great race once possessed. Shade’s private lifestyle is a result of his attempt to conceal his true power and immortality.

As with all Forerunners, Shade lives a life according to the Mantle. The Mantle denotes that it is the responsibility of the Forerunners to act as protectors of the peace and never to harm a living being. Even from within the shadows, Shade has managed to manipulate the alien race on his planet to live their lives peacefully, but he also has an ulterior motive. A Lifeworker in Forerunner society before the Forerunner-Flood war, Shade has become slowly, yet increasingly devious over time. As it has been over 100,000 years since the disappearance of the rest of his race, Shade has secretly been developing a plan to rediscover the rest of his brethren and to once again control the galaxy. He has waited patiently all these years for the arrival of the chosen one, John-117, known to many as Master Chief. In Shade’s eyes, a takeover by the Forerunners would ensure peace across the universe, and he believes the remainder of his race will be revealed once his conquest has neared completion. As Master Chief hurdles towards Shade’s planet, locked in cryogenic sleep, Shade knows the time is drawing near. His great power has allowed for the manipulation of the local alien population to serve as his personal intergalactic army, and Chief will lead them into battle. Shade’s plan, millennia in the making, will soon become a reality. Chief’s deep respect for, and special link to, the Forerunners, will allow Shade to control Chief’s intentions despite Cortana’s warnings. Chief had thought the fighting was over after his triumph on the Ark, but he fails to realize the events that will arise upon his arrival on the red planet and the meeting with the one they call Skr’ah.