Editing Avu Med 'Telcam

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Character infobox
|variant=Cov
|name=Avu Med 'Telcam
|image=[[File:Enc22-Avu Med.jpg|300px]]
|homeworld=[[Saepon'kal]]<ref name=EN>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]'', p. 256</ref>
|birth=[[2485#May|May 29, 2485]]{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|death=[[2558#January|January 21, 2558]]<ref name="ktb">'''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''', ''[[Knight Takes Bishop]]''</ref>
|causeofdeath=
|parents=
|siblings=
|spouses=
|children=
|species=[[Sangheili]]
|gender=Male
|height={{Convert|238.8|cm|ft|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|mass={{Convert|150.5|kg|lb|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|hair=
|eyes=Orange{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|affiliation=*[[Covenant]] {{C|formerly}}
*[[Covenant separatists]] {{C|formerly}}
*[[Servants of the Abiding Truth]]
|rank=[[Field Master]] {{C|formerly}}{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
|sn=
|notable=
}}
{{Quote|A god who creates tools is still a god. It is not for us to impose qualifications upon the divine or presume to guess its intentions.|Avu Med 'Telcam concerning modern views on the [[Forerunner]]s<ref>'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''page 17''</ref>}}

'''Avu Med 'Telcam''', commonly known as "'''The Bishop'''," was a [[Sangheili]] fundamentalist and the leader of the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] (''[[Sangheili (language)|Neru Pe 'Odosima]]'').<ref name="gl19">'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 19''</ref>

==Biography==
===Early career===
'Telcam was a [[Sangheili]] who once served in the [[Covenant military]] as an interpreter of several human languages for his former [[shipmaster]]; he was promoted to the rank of [[Field Master]] before his resignation. When the [[Great Schism]] began, 'Telcam was against the [[High Prophets]] as they had betrayed his entire species.<ref name="SangheiliVsProphets">'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''' "We have been in thrall to mongrel races long enough. We have let the false prophets of the San’Shyuum corrupt our pure connection to the divine.", Avu Med 'Telcam</ref>

===Post-war===
Following the successful defeat of the Covenant and the end of the war, Avu Med 'Telcam found himself in turmoil among his fellow Sangheili as differing beliefs emerged. He viewed the [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] and his followers as "infidels"—[[Treason|traitors]] to their faith. From his perspective, the Arbiter and his followers deemed the gods as decievers.<ref name="Traitor Thel">'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''' "The traitor Thel ‘Vadam and his ilk now say the gods are deceivers, and so they shall die", Avu Med 'Telcam</ref>

'Telcam and his order attempted to begin an insurrection against 'Vadam's forces.<ref name="Glasslands excerpt">'''Official Xbox Magazine: Halo - The 10th Anniversary —''' ''Glasslands excerpt''</ref> In [[2553|January 2553]], the [[United Nations Space Command]]'s [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] organized a meeting between 'Telcam and Captain [[Serin Osman]], along with Professor [[Evan Phillips]] on the glassed [[New Llanelli]]. The purpose of the meeting was to negotiate terms of cooperation between ONI and the Servants of the Abiding Truth, as ONI wished to create unrest amongst the Sangheili and thereby remove them as a threat to the UNSC and humanity. 'Telcam agreed to accept ONI's assistance on the condition that the UNSC ceased to "blaspheme" the divinity of the Forerunners, and that humanity would remain uninvolved with Sangheili affairs following the Servants' successful takeover of Sangheili society—terms to which Osman agreed.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 23''</ref>

'Telcam met with [[Kilo-Five|ONI operatives]] again on New Llanelli, where he received a shipment of human and Sangheili weaponry to support his forces. However, he was questioning what Osman's real plan was.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 133''</ref> Meeting with [[Forze 'Mdama]] and [[Jul 'Mdama]] in the state of [[Ontom]], 'Telcam took them on a tour of the [[Temple of the Abiding Truth]], pointing out the symbols that may lead to the [[Halo Array]].<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 177''</ref> 'Telcam worked with Forze, Jul, and [[Buran 'Utaral]] to retrieve the latter's [[Unflinching Resolve|ship]] he once commanded during the war from the [[Aanrar Shipyard]]. After stealing the [[Covenant frigate|frigate]], the Sangheili group hid it in the [[Bekan quarry]] in the state of [[Mdama]].<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 198-201''</ref> 'Telcam later had [[Manus]], a [[Jiralhanae]] loyal to Buran, transport weapons to him aboard the ''[[Piety]]''. However, the ''Piety'' was intercepted by the {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}} and the Jiralhanae crew were killed by [[Kilo-Five]]. The [[Huragok]] stationed on the ''Piety'', [[Requires Adjustment]], was taken aboard ''Port Stanley'', the navigational records were altered, and the bodies of [[Kig-Yar]] were placed on the ship; no evidence of human involvement remained.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 214''</ref> Upon recovering the ''Piety'' in Mdama, 'Telcam was tricked into believing Kig-Yar [[piracy|pirates]] were responsible for the attack. He searched the navigational records and discovered [[Venezia]] had radio contact with the Kig-Yar. Angered at losing a valuable Huragok, 'Telcam swore he would get his revenge against the planet.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 257-261''</ref> After leaving Mdama, 'Telcam met with Kilo-Five on New Llanelli again. He refused to name of the location or the names of the individuals he was meeting to others. During this meeting, Jul 'Mdama covertly observed from a distance but was captured by [[Naomi-010]], a [[SPARTAN-II]] and a member of Kilo-Five.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 296-299''</ref>

'Telcam later met with [[Evan Phillips|Professor Evan Phillips]] in Ontom. Phillips was on Sanghelios allegedly to study Sangheili culture; in addition, however, he was on a covert ONI mission to gather intelligence on the Abiding Truth's temple. Suddenly, two explosions, rigged by Jiralhanae [[terrorism|terrorists]], detonated nearby them. This caused Phillips to lose contact with the rest of Kilo-Five, sending the team to Sanghelios to recover him.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 453-455''</ref> 'Telcam was outraged by the Jiralhanae insurrection and aided the state's militia in killing them.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''', ''page 24''</ref>

===Sangheili civil war===
{{Main|Sangheili civil war}}
After the attempted Jiralhanae uprising in the state of Ontom, 'Telcam decided to launch an attack on the state of [[Vadam]].<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 28''</ref> After picking up more loyal troops and gaining a fleet of nine vessels, 'Telcam led the assault from the frigate ''[[Unflinching Resolve]]'', joined by Forze and Jul 'Mdama's wife, [[Raia 'Mdama|Raia]]. He ordered Buran and the other shipmasters to avoid damaging any [[Forerunner]] relics in the state, much to their disbelief. During the assault, ''Unflinching Resolve'' was damaged. Buran warned 'Telcam that the frigate needed to retreat, but 'Telcam ordered him to continue the attack. Ultimately, the frigate was shot down and the ship crash-landed on the Vadam shoreline, although 'Telcam, Raia, Forze, and Buran survived.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 168''</ref> 'Telcam and the other survivors ran from the wreckage, avoiding 'Vadam's forces, and joined the rest of the attacking force on the coast.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 170''</ref>

At first the attack seemed to be failing, as few Sangheili keeps backed up his invasion. Soon after however, news spread across the planet that [[Thel 'Vadam]] was allowing [[Kilo-Five|humans]] to fight for him and land on [[Sanghelios]]. After this word reached indecisive keeps, 'Telcam gained supporters and had [[Vadam keep]] surrounded.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 171''</ref> As 'Telcam's troops moved in on Vadam keep, the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} arrived at Sanghelios and aided the Arbiter by destroying several of 'Telcam's ships.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 235''</ref> Avu was then deemed valuable by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] and necessary to maintain the imposed stalemate between the two Sangheili factions. As such, he was abducted by Kilo-Five and taken aboard {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}} to make an agreement to retreat. During this time, ''Infinity'' destroyed the ''[[Defender of Faith]]'' and some of the Sangheili raiding Vadam keep.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 302''</ref> Kilo-Five's AI, [[Black-Box]], impersonated a Kig-Yar pirate shipmistress as a cover, allowing ''Port Stanley'' to attack Thel 'Vadam's ships to impose a stalemate between the Abiding Truth and 'Vadam. 'Telcam, truly believing ''Port Stanley'' was a Kig-Yar vessel, asked the "shipmistress" of [[Sav Fel]], a [[T'vaoan]] pirate that stole the ''[[Pious Inquisitor]]'' from him. This alerted the UNSC of the battlecruiser's disappearance.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 329''</ref> Most of 'Telcam's ground forces were killed and ''[[Cleansing Truth]]'' was destroyed with Forze and Raia aboard, resulting in their deaths.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 331''</ref> After retreating from the system, 'Telcam ordered Kilo-Five to drop him off at New Llanelli.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 308''</ref>

Due to a lack of ships, 'Telcam put out a reward to the [[Kig-Yar]] to find the ship ''Pious Inquisitor''.<ref>'''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''', ''page 76''</ref> Shipmistress [[Chol Von]] soon took his offer, although she secretly planned to take the ship for herself and use it as a means to defend the Kig-Yar from external threats. Meanwhile, on New Llanelli, 'Telcam established a military base for the Abiding Truth and met with several of his commanders to discuss the current situations.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 35''</ref> Some time later, 'Telcam once again met members of Kilo-Five on New Llanelli, this time receiving [[Evan Phillips|Professor Evan Phillips]]' notes on the Forerunner temple at Ontom for the religious significance they held. In return, 'Telcam provided information on the status of his civil war, the disappearance of Jul 'Mdama, and ''Pious Inquisitor''.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''pages 118-124''</ref> Believing he was responsible for the death of Raia and the disappearance of Jul, 'Telcam took [[Dural 'Mdama]] on as an apprentice.<ref name="md123">'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 123''</ref> By the time of the [[Battle of Requiem]], Dural had risen to become a leading member of the Servants, working directly under 'Telcam. While 'Mdama established a [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|new Covenant]], 'Telcam and the Servants of the Abiding Truth had refused to join.<ref>'''Halo Mythos''', ''page 178''</ref>

===Assassination===
{{Main|Assassination of Avu Med 'Telcam}}
{{Quote|WORT.|Avu Med 'Telcam's final words.{{Ref/Reuse|ktb}}}}
[[File:Wort-.png|thumb|300px|'Telcam's last moment.]]
On [[2558#January|January 21, 2558]], 'Telcam was in a ruined city on New Llanelli with a group of his followers, when the Office of Naval Intelligence's [[Section Three]] authorized 'Telcam's [[Assassination of Avu Med 'Telcam|assassination]] at the hands of [[SPARTAN-G059]]. Arriving in the city after being deployed from the {{Class|Winter|prowler}} {{UNSCShip|From the Ashes}}, SPARTAN-G059 eliminated 'Telcam's Kig-Yar scouts and [[Unggoy]] guards. Arriving at 'Telcam's location in a ruined tower, the [[Spartan-III]] burst into the room and engaged 'Telcam and his two Sangheili guards. After a brief skirmish, the Spartan quickly killed the guards and engaged 'Telcam himself. 'Telcam open fired upon the Spartan with a {{Pattern|Mosa|carbine}}, but was forced to take cover within a [[Z-4190 bubble shield]] when SPARTAN-G059 threw an [[M9 fragmentation grenade]] at the Sangheili. The Spartan rushed the Sangheili and knocked the carbine out of his grip, though 'Telcam was able to slam the Spartan into a wall. SPARTAN-G059 recovered and rushed 'Telcam, knocking his [[Type-1 energy sword]] from his hand just as the Sangheili activated the blade. The Spartan maneuvered around 'Telcam using agility and armor thrusters, eventually knocking the Sangheili to the ground. As 'Telcam picked himself up, SPARTAN-G059 finally executed the Bishop himself with a single [[M6 series|pistol]] shot to the head.{{Ref/Reuse|ktb}}

==Personality and traits==
{{Quote|There's a fine line between reckless and bold. Acting alone may be noble, but acting together with an agreed plan is effective.|'Telcam after [[Jul 'Mdama]] revealed that he could have killed [[Thel 'Vadam]]<ref name="gl199">'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 199''</ref>}}
Avu Med 'Telcam was very calm, patient, and definite. So much so that upon seeing him agitated, it was unsettling for [[Jul 'Mdama]]. He was very religious and still worshiped the [[Forerunner]]s, but he believed it was heresy to damage a Forerunner structure. During the [[Blooding Years#Assault on Vadam|Assault on Vadam]], he refused to allow [[Buran 'Utaral]] to damage the Forerunner structures throughout the state of [[Vadam]], making it very difficult for the shipmaster to engage ground targets. 'Telcam was slightly jealous of [[Evan Phillips|Professor Evan Phillips]], confused at how a "inferior" human was able to get a better understanding of the Forerunner writing in the [[Temple of the Abiding Truth]] in [[Ontom]] than he could. He believed that to successfully overthrow [[Thel 'Vadam]], his ideas and allies had to be destroyed to ensure that his legacy and ideals did not live on.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 225-226''</ref> 'Telcam felt guilty for the deaths of those under his command, including [[Raia 'Mdama]], the wife of Jul.{{Ref/Reuse|md123}}

'Telcam wished for the [[Sangheili]] to live independently from the other species. He believed that if the Sangheili worked together, the species could effectively achieve any goal. Despite being very religious and spiritual, 'Telcam was a rather pragmatic individual.{{Ref/Reuse|gl199}} He had little regard for other species and considered them to be inferior, including the [[Jiralhanae]], [[Kig-Yar]], [[Unggoy]], and [[human]]s. Though he did come to respect the Kig-Yar and humans to some degree. Although he hated both species, he was willing to work with them to achieve his goals.<ref>'''Halo: Mortal Dictata''', ''page 438''</ref>

==Trivia==
{{Linkbox|quote=yes}}
*In ''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'', 'Telcam wears golden armor throughout the novel.{{Ref/Reuse|gl19}}
*In ''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]'', 'Telcam wears [[Supreme Commander]] armor instead of his previous armor.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:SotAB.png|Avu Med 'Telcam and some of his subordinates in their base on New Llanelli.
File:G0594.png|SPARTAN-G059 breaks into the base.
File:HTfS AB.png|'Telcam orders his subordinates to attack SPARTAN-G059.
File:GO592.png|'Telcam grabs SPARTAN-G059.
File:TelcamBS.png|'Telcam in a bubble shield.
File:HTFS Avu Med 'Telcam.png|Close-up of 'Telcam's face.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
**''[[Knight Takes Bishop]]''
*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Telcam, Avu Med}}
[[Category:Sangheili characters]]
[[Category:Covenant military personnel]]