Thel 'Vadam: Difference between revisions

{{Character Infobox|variant=Cov

|rank-title=Title

[[File:H2A Terminals - Thel training.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Thel 'Vadamee training.]]

Thel was born to the [[House of Vadam]], rulers of the powerful state of Vadam on Sanghelios. In his youth Thel was trained in the ways of fighting by his relative [[Lak 'Vadamee]].<ref name="tcp349">'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 349''</ref> He later joined the Covenant military, adding the "-ee" suffix to his surname according to custom. Thel participated in the Covenant attack on the human colony [[Madrigal]] in [[2528]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 146 and 156''</ref>

Within a short time, Thel achieved both the rank of [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]] and the title of [[Shipmaster]], and became kaidon of his state through the votes of Vadam's elders.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 89''</ref> Shortly after being promoted to Shipmaster, Thel sustained an injury in the training ring due to a mistake. His family hushed up the incident, as well as the resultant visit by a physician, due to the Sangheili's cultural stigma toward doctors and medical operations. During his convalescence, Thel handmade an old-fashioned [[doarmir]]-fur Shipmaster's cloak, and would later wear it as part of his Shipmaster's attire to remind him that he could make grave mistakes if he let his guard down.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 159''</ref>

 

Thel's role as kaidon was important for the House of Vadam, as he was tasked with continuing the reign of the powerful state of Vadam. Early in his rule, he was attacked by three Sangheili assassins wielding energy swords. He managed to kill all three without injury, and proceeded to appear before Vadam's elders to determine which had ordered the attack. Thel discovered that the assassination orders had come from the elder [[Koida 'Vadam]], and after killing him, he ordered all of Koida's line to leave Vadam keep by sunrise.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 83-94''</ref>

In [[2535]], Thel was sent to [[Charybdis IX]] with command over the vessel ''Retribution's Thunder'' to participate in the [[Battle of Charybdis IX]], while being overseen by the [[Prophet of Regret|High Prophet of Regret]]. He and several other Sangheili boarded the {{UNSCShip|Do You Feel Lucky?}} and attempted to access the vessel's navigation database, but it had already been purged. He left and witnessed the destruction of the ship before being called to the ''[[Infinite Sacrifice]]'', where he met the Prophet of Regret in person. Regret informed him of humans reportedly wielding modified Covenant weapons, a transgression he believed to be the doing of the [[Kig-Yar]]. He was then sent to the [[23 Librae]] system to track down the source of the illegal weapons traders. For the mission, his ship was accompanied by the Kig-Yar vessel ''[[A Psalm Every Day]]'', commanded by Shipmistress [[Chur'R-Mut]] and the [[Jiralhanae]] [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] [[Pellius]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 138-148''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 153''</ref>

Upon arriving at 23 Librae, Thel and his crew discovered the [[Rubble]], a collection of asteroid habitats built by Kig-Yar and Insurrectionist humans working together. Almost immediately afterward, the ''Thunder'' was attacked by ''A Psalm Every Day''; Pellius had decided to betray Thel so that he could claim sole credit for the discovery. Thel and his crew were taken by surprise, allowing the traitorous vessel's second salvo to disable the ''Thunder's'' weapons, communications and engines. ''A Psalm Every Day'' escaped while Kig-Yar boarding craft and [[Type-25 Troop Carrier|Spirit]]s strafed the hull. Thel, increasingly frustrated, gave permission for his crew to abandon ship; this was a test to weed out the weaker Sangheili among his crew. Enemy Spirits destroyed the retreating craft in short order. Thel then ordered the destruction of the ''Retribution's Thunder'', which killed the boarding Kig-Yar.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 155-163''</ref> Thel, however, survived and was captured, imprisoned on the Rubble along with most of the bridge crew. They ultimately managed to escape and hijack a [[Kig-Yar shuttle]],<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 169-172''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 187-190''</ref> taking them to [[Unnamed Kig-Yar transport|another Kig-Yar vessel]]. On the surface of [[Metisette]], Thel captured the leader of the warband, [[Reth]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 194-203''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 214-217''</ref>

{{Main|Battle of Installation 00}}

In [[2555|March of 2555]], the UNSC contacted 'Vadam after discovering that the Halo Array had been set to fire in three weeks. The countdown had been initiated from the Ark, and the UNSC requested the Swords of Sanghelios' aid in re-activating the [[Portal at Voi|portal]] at [[Voi]] in order to dispatch a team there to disable the activation sequence. As he was preoccupied with the ongoing civil war, 'Vadam sent [[Usze 'Taham]] and [[N'tho 'Sraom]], along with several other Sangheili aboard [[corvette]] ''[[Mayhem]]'' and a [[Huragok]] to aide the humans.<ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''pages 59-66''</ref>

[[File:MCC - Locke and Arbiter.png|thumb|250px|'Vadam, Locke and their respective forces preparing to fight together.]]

{{Quote|no=two

|q1=I saved your life today.

|2=Thel 'Vadam

|q2=Yet now you hunt [[John-117|another Spartan]]. The greatest of your clan.

}}

The Covenant deployed a [[Kraken]] between the support station and Osiris' position. While the Arbiter's forces engaged the Kraken with air squadrons, Osiris provided ground support. While the Swords of Sanghelios pushed the Kraken into a retreat, Osiris boarded the walker and destroyed its power core. With the Kraken destroyed, Osiris entered the nearby Forerunner support station and retrieved the Constructor. However, the Spartans were suddenly engaged by [[Promethean]] constructs.<ref name="enemy lines">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Enemy Lines]]''</ref> After battling their way to the extraction point, Osiris returned to the Swords of Sanghelios camp at Nuusra, where 'Vadam was ready to begin the attack on Sunaion and finally destroy the Covenant. As the Constructor departed to activate the Guardian, the Arbiter's forces launched their assault on Sunaion.<ref name="before the storm">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Before the Storm]]''</ref> 'Vadam and Osiris traveled to Sunaion aboard a [[Type-56 Lich]], narrowly avoiding [[Type-56 Shrike|anti-air weaponry]]. While the Arbiter led forces in engaging Covenant forces, Osiris destroyed the anti-air emplacements to allow the more air support from one of the Swords of Sanghelios' fleets. Osiris then moved towards the Guardian's position, with Locke warning the Arbiter to move his fleet before the Guardian set off its concussive blasts upon activation. However, Promethean constructs began engaging the Swords of Sanghelios near the Guardian's location and started to overwhelm the Arbiter's forces. As the Guardian began to initiate its activation sequence, parts of the city began falling apart. Osiris arrived at the 'Vadam's location just as he was killing a [[Promethean Knight]]. The Arbiter and the four Spartans came under attack from Promethean forces and were soon attacked by the [[Warden Eternal]]. The five managed to defeat the Warden and his Prometheans, just as the Guardian began to leave Sanghelios. Palmer managed to pick up the Spartans in a Pelican and drop them off aboard the Guardian before the construct left the planet into slipspace. 'Vadam then regrouped with his own soldiers and led the Swords of Sanghelios in eliminating the last of the Covenant forces on the planet.<ref name="sunaion">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Battle of Sunaion]]''</ref>

After his victory at Sunaion, 'Vadam and his forces returned to their campsite at Nuusra with Halsey and Palmer. After Cortana escaped with numerous Guardians at her disposal, Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris traveled to Sanghelios where they met up with 'Vadam, Halsey, and Palmer to begin plotting their next move.<ref>'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Guardians]]''</ref>

The Arbiter wears mandible guards in ''Halo 3'' despite lacking them in ''Halo 2'' and ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''. ''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' depicts 'Vadam in the likeness of ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Elites, most notably through the light tone and sparse texture of his skin. ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' ignores this overhaul, though he does wear his armor from the comic series in the "bookend" cutscenes—albeit with an open helmet with fixed mandible guards. ''Halo 5: Guardians''<nowiki>'</nowiki> depicts 'Vadam in the likeness of ''Halo 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Elites like in ''Halo: Escalation'', though he continues to wear his armor from the ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' "bookend" cutscenes. This is due to resource management rather than a retcon.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/why-the-heck-are-thel-s-covenant-wearing-h4-armor/662e9ed3-828e-448b-bd79-d6cf2c9bab06/posts?page=1#post20 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''GrimBrother ONE on resources'']</ref>

File:Thel 2558.png|Thel 'Vadam in [[2558]].

File:H5G-Arbiter-ThelVadam.jpg|Full-body portrait of Thel 'Vadam in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.

File:H5G-Thelrender.png|A render of Thel 'Vadam in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.

File:Arbiter rally.png|Thel 'Vadam and a Sword of Sanghelios Storm during the [[Battle of Sunaion]].

[[Category:Elites (Characters)]]

[[Category:Playable Characters]]