Vadam

Vadam is a Sangheili state partly encompassing portions of both Qivro and Yermo, continents on Sanghelios. It was named after its founder Ther 'Vadam, the ancestor of the House of 'Vadam. The bloodlines that control the state share the surname Vadam, as is the custom in Sangheili culture.

Topography and ecology
The region of Vadam consists of a large valley between Kolaar Mountain and Vadam Harbor, as well as the surrounding lands. The region is well-developed, with building stretching across the entire state from the valley to the fields where the serfs work. During the time of the Covenant, these serfs were strongly motivated and efficient, harboring ambition to gain distinction and receive a position inside the keep. The valley is home to the Council House, as well as the tenement islands, large compounds that house the forge-workers of the Kolaar Manufactorum. Other locations of the valley like the Old Borough consist of narrow warrens lined with single-brood domiciles occupied by merchants.

As the region's primary means of access to the neighboring oceans such as the Dalkesu Sea, Vadam Harbor brought profits and wealth for the state of Vadam. Toward the eastern edge of Vadam Harbor is a large flooded crater which was caused by a Magnetic Accelerator Cannon round fired from from the during the Siege at Kolaar in 2553. This extension of Vadam Harbor is known as the New Harbor and is the site of the Vadam Dockyards. Also near the coast of the New Harbor is the Young Borough and its curving lanes lined with tenement spires and merchant houses.

The lower slopes of Kolaar Mountain are the location of several residences such as the Villa of Long Views, each accessed by a winding road. Above the valley and built into the base of Kolaar Mountain is Vadam Keep, a large castle-like fortress founded during the Sangheili's first exploratory age. Originally, the keep sat roughly thirty miles from the shores of the Vadam Harbor. However, following the extension of the harbor formed by the crater from the UNSC Infinity's MAC round, it is unclear if the edge of the Vadam Harbor has been brought closer to the keep.

Locations

 * Dalkesu Sea
 * Kolaar Manufactorum
 * Kolaar Mountain
 * Vadam Keep
 * Vadam Harbor
 * New Harbor
 * Vadam Dockyards
 * Vadam Valley
 * Council House
 * Old Borough
 * Villa of Long Views
 * Young Borough
 * Unidentified Sangheilian desert

Early history
The state of Vadam was named after Ther 'Vadam who was said to have been imprisoned by his enemies. He was starved in the prison and yet refused to kill himself. He eventually became so thin from hunger that he was able to slip his body through the bars of his window. Even in his weak state he managed to scale the cliffs of Vadam keep, and swim down the river that surrounded the keep and also provided a good source of energy. He had to walk many days and he had to eat vermin and scraps to keep himself alive.

He soon came across the vast desert that was in the interior of the Sangheili land. He started rebuilding his strength and toughness in the years to come, and managed to make allies with other wanderers. His newfound allies had statuses that were lower than Vadam's but they were willing to fight under Vadam's leadership. Now that he had warriors under his command he returned to Vadam keep, successfully defeating those who had imprisoned and mocked him.

During the San'Shyuum-Sangheili War, the state of Vadam was one of the many Sangheili city-states attacked by the Reformist San'Shyuum. However, their keep was too well-defended to be destroyed.

Sangheili civil war
In March 2553, Sangheili insurgents led by the Servants of Abiding Truth launched assault on the state of Vadam. Along with nine ships and forces from Nuan Keep and Rtova Keep, Avu Med 'Telcam commanded the assault from the frigate Unflinching Resolve. Eventually, however, the Unflinching Resolve suffered a direct hit and crash landed. Despite being caught off-guard it appeared as though Arbiter Thel 'Vadam would be victorious, however, news spread that he allowed humans to land on Sanghelios; this caused many keeps to ally with the Servants of Abiding Truth and the tide turned in their favor. The Arbiter was caught off guard as his own reinforcements couldn't arrive on time, and he reluctantly accepted Admiral Terrence Hood's offer for help in fending off the attackers. The destroyed the rebel forces with a MAC round, leaving a large crater on the coast of the Vadam Harbor and effectively ending the attack. Following the battle and the flooding of the crater, the New Harbor was formed. This extension of Vadam Harbor would host the Vadam Dockyards and the Young Borough, a region that features winding lanes lined with tenement spires and merchant residences.

In October of 2558, following the death of Jul 'Mdama, the remnants of his Covenant launched a desperate assault on Vadam lands, hoping to kill the Arbiter directly. With assistance from Fireteam Osiris, the Swords of Sanghelios were able to fend them off and launch a counterattack at the last stronghold held by the Covenant on Sanghelios, the city of Sunaion.

Rise of the Created
By late 2559, the state of Vadam, as well as the rest of Sanghelios, was occupied by the Created. Prior to this, a human xenoarchaeologist named Keely Iyuska had discovered the potential existence of a weapon that could defeat the Created's Guardian Custodes and travelled to Vadam to speak with Olympia Vale, a Spartan-IV and ally of Arbiter Thel 'Vadam. While there, Iyuska attempted to hide from the Created armigers in the kreche warrens of a tenement island, leading to its destruction as the hands of the armigers. After this event, Oath Warden Crei 'Ayomuu came to Thel 'Vadam seeking his help in finding the human and the supposed method of defeating the Guardians. Ultimately, the Arbiter decided to leave for Netherop, the supposed location of the Guardian-killing weapon, without Iyuska. Shortly after this, Iyuska met with Vale at the Villa of Long Views and convinced the Spartan of her findings. Once Vale had convinced her superiors to support the mission to Netherop, the two left for Gao to recruit a consultant.

List of appearances

 * Halo: The Cole Protocol
 * Halo: Glasslands
 * ''Halo: The Thursday War
 * Halo: Hunters in the Dark
 * Halo 5: Guardians
 * Halo: Outcasts