Thel 'Vadam: Difference between revisions

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'''Arbiter Thel 'Vadam''' (formerly ''''Vadamee''')<ref>'''[[Halo Waypoint]]''', ''The long road home''</ref> is the [[Sangheili]] [[kaidon]] of the [[House of 'Vadam]] and the last [[Arbiter]] to serve the [[Covenant]]. He continues to hold this title in the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|wake]] of its [[Great Schism|dissolution]]. Presently, he leads the [[Swords of Sanghelios]], an alliance of [[keep]]s modeled after an ancient order of the same name, and is considered by many to be the formal leader of all Sangheili.<ref name="wp thel">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/arbiter-thel-vadam '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Arbiter Thel 'Vadam'']</ref>

Thel commanded multiple fleets during his service in the [[Covenant]], most notably the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]], of which he was [[Supreme Commander]]. This fleet mounted a successful [[Fall of Reach|attack]] on the [[human]] colony of [[Reach]] under his command and later [[Battle of Installation 04|fought]] the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} on [[Installation 04]], the first [[Halo Array|Halo ring]] to be discovered by the Covenant and [[humanity]]. 'Vadamee was responsible for over one billion [[human]] casualties over the course of the decades-long war against the humans and the [[glassing]] of at least seven colonies.<ref name="terminal 3">'''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''', ''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal 3]]''</ref> At the outbreak of the [[Great Schism]], Thel became a leading figure among the Sangheili and aided the [[United Nations Space Command]] in its efforts to stop the [[High Prophet of Truth]] and his forces from activating the [[Halo Array]]. He and [[Fleet of Retribution|many Sangheili]] fought in multiple battles alongside the [[Spartan-II]] super-soldier, [[John-117]] on [[Installation 05]], [[Earth]], and [[Installation 00]] in the final weeks of the war.

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

Thel was born to the noble [[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]]''', Chapter 72, ''page 349''</ref> He later joined the [[Covenant military]], adding the "-ee" suffix to his surname according to custom. During the [[Human-Covenant War]], Thel participated in the Covenant [[Fall of Madrigal|attack]] on the [[human]] [[Outer Colony]] of [[Madrigal]] in [[2528]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', Chapter 19, ''pages 146 and 156''</ref> By [[2535]], he had at least one wife.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HTCP19|HTCP|Chapter=19}}

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 [[elder]]s.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', Chapter 9, ''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''', Chapter 22, ''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''', Chapter 8, ''pages 83-94''</ref>

[[File:H2A Terminals - SupremeCommander.png|250px|thumb|left|Thel 'Vadamee as an Elite Zealot soldier]]

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, ''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''', Chapter 22, ''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''', Chapter 24, ''pages 169-172''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', Chapter 27, ''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''', Chapter 29, ''pages 194-203''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', Chapter 32, ''pages 214-217''</ref>

[[File:H2A Terminals - Jai vs Thel.jpg|thumb|250px|right|'vadamee and Jai engaged in combat.]]

[[File:HGN ThelVadamee SupremeCommander.png|thumb|right|150px|'Vadamee wearing an ornate helmet and cloak during the [[Battle of Installation 04]].]]

{{Quote|Soon the [[Great Journey]] will begin, but when it does, the weight of your heresy will stay your feet, and you shall be left behind.|The Prophet of Truth to 'Thel Vadamee at his hearing.<ref name="TheHeretic">'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Heretic]]''</ref>}}

The loss of the holy [[Forerunner]] [[Installation 04|relic]] was an unforgivable failure in the eyes of the High Prophets and Sangheili Councilors. 'Vadamee was stripped of his rank, title, name, and honor, and branded a heretic for his failure to safeguard the Sacred Ring. The [[Mark of Shame]] was branded upon his chest, and he was sentenced to death. His corpse was to "be hung by his entrails" and "paraded through [[High Charity|the city]]" as an example to others.<ref name="thearbiter">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Arbiter]]''</ref>

With the uprising suppressed, the [[Jiralhanae]] [[Chieftain of the Jiralhanae|Chieftain]] [[Tartarus]] extracted the Arbiter and used the [[Fist of Rukt]] to capture the Oracle. His actions, which involved throwing the Oracle into the [[Type-52 Phantom]] recklessly, angered the Arbiter's religious sensibilities. With Tartarus, he left the gas mine via Phantom, as ''[[High Charity]]'' and the fleet departed the Threshold system.{{Ref/Reuse|theoracle}}

[[File:H2A-Arbiter&Prophets.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Thel 'Vadamee with Prophets of Truth and Mercy.]]

The Arbiter was teleported to the vicinity of Delta Halo's Control Room. Observing firsthand the results of the Prophets' betrayal, the Arbiter joined forces with a band of Special Operations Commandos and quickly became a leader in the [[Covenant separatists|separatist]] movement. This small unit wasted little time in massacring the Jiralhanae responsible for executing the [[Sangheili Councilor]]s.<ref name="Uprising">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[Uprising]]''</ref> Eventually, Thel met Rtas 'Vadumee, joining forces to reach a [[Type-47A Scarab]]. Near the Scarab, the Arbiter managed to rescue several separatist prisoners, as well as a group of UNSC Marines including Sergeant Avery Johnson. Johnson negotiated a tenuous alliance with the Arbiter in order to prevent Tartarus from activating Installation 05. Given the extreme danger posed by the ring, they both agreed that Tartarus had to be stopped at all costs. Johnson led the offensive, using a captured Scarab to eliminate ground units while Thel provided air support with a Type-26A Banshee. Together, they punched a hole through Covenant lines and reached the Control Room of Installation 05.<ref name="TGJ">'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Great Journey]]''</ref>

Opening a hole in the Covenant anti-air defenses, [[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood]]'s remaining ships assaulted the Prophet of Truth's [[Forerunner Dreadnought]]. The airstrike was insufficient to destroy the ancient Keyship, and the activated artifact formed an enormous [[slipspace portal]] through which Truth and the Covenant fleet retreated. Before Lord Hood could consolidate the scattered human resistance, a [[Indulgence of Conviction|Flood-infested Covenant cruiser]] transitioned out of Slipspace and crashed into the city, infesting a significant area in and around Voi.<ref name="TheStorm">'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Storm]]''</ref>

[[File:Marines_with_'ol_Arby.PNG|250px|thumb|'Vadam with UNSC Marines and [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] on the ''Shadow of Intent''.]]

Thel acted as a voice of reform to the Sangheili. Returning to his [[Sanghelios|homeworld]], he planned to visit each state to make his case for permanent peace with the [[human]]s they had battled for so many years;<ref>'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', Chapter 5, ''page 130''</ref> one of these would be a meeting in the state of [[Mdama]]. It was here that he announced that he no longer felt he was an Arbiter, but simply a [[Kaidon]]. He told the elders that if any of them disagreed with him strongly enough, they could attempt an assassination as per Sangheili tradition.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', Chapter 2, ''pages 58-61''</ref>

These reforms did not meet with universal approval. By January 2553, there was great dissent among disparate Sangheili factions, especially from the more devout believers in the Forerunners' divinity. Some, such as [[Avu Med 'Telcam]] and his [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]], saw the Arbiter as a [[Treason|false]] leader that has betrayed their pre-Covenant worship of the [[Forerunner]]s and sought to preemptively strike at humanity before they could retaliate. Additionally, many devout believers regarded Thel a "false Arbiter", stating that his very existence was heretical as he did not sacrifice himself the battle as was traditional of Arbiters in the Covenant. Others opposed 'Vadam not on religious grounds but due to his alliance with humanity, considering the notion of peace with the humans hopeless.{{Ref/Reuse|wp thel}} Thel argued with logic, they had not only failed to defeat humanity in the end, but the sundering of the Covenant had left their people without the technical expertise to replace lost warships, or maintain their own infrastructure.

[[File:HM-Thel.png|thumb|right|250px|Thel 'Vadam, outfitted in his new armor, during the Blooding Years.]]

Later in 2553, 'Vadam sent 'Vadum on missions to the frontier colonies to give the shipmaster a much needed break from combat. However, during these missions, 'Vadum encountered a surviving Covenant [[Prelate]] and [[Minister (title)|minister]]—[[Tem'Bhetek]] and [[Boru'a'Neem]]. With the help of [[Tul 'Juran]] of [[Rahnelo]], 'Vadum was able to defeat the two San'Shyuum. Afterwards, 'Vadum contacted 'Vadam and briefed him on the events that transpired. 'Vadam attempted to convince his friend to return to Sanghelios for a break, but 'Vadum wished to continue his missions in the frontier to search for the remaining San'Shyuum, to which the Arbiter agreed to. At 'Vadum's suggestion, 'Vadam also amended the Swords of Sanghelios' protocol to allow the enlistment of females in the military after 'Vadum personally witnessed the skill 'Juran showed in combat.<ref>'''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''', ''pages 81-83'' (Google Play edition); '''[[Halo Fractures]]''', Shadow of Intent, ''page 149-150''(paperback)</ref> 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 aid the humans.<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', Chapter 3, ''pages 59-66''</ref>

Inside the repair depot, 'Vadam notified Hood and the rest of an old fortified redoubt in which they could take refuge in. Captain Lasky ordered Palmer and the protection detail to escort the delegation to the redoubt. As the party escaped the depot, they were intercepted by a Covenant [[Type-56 Lich|Lich]]. Palmer quickly acted and threw her helmet filled with grenades and destroyed the Lich. The delegation stayed back as [[Fireteam Jackknife]] and their bodyguards went ahead to ensure the redoubt was safe for them to use as shelter.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 2|Issue #2]]''</ref> However, as the delegates entered the redoubt, [[Vladimir Scruggs|Spartan Scruggs]] of [[Fireteam Jackknife]]—who had betrayed his team—ambushed the group and held Hood hostage. 'Vadam queried Scruggs on what his demands were; Scruggs stated that they would discuss them once his associates arrived. With the Covenant bearing on the site in force, the ambassadors' security detail discovered [[Covenant cargo tug|a craft]] they could use to evacuate. Thanks to the sacrifices of Fireteam Bailey, the delegation, Lasky and the surviving Spartans made it aboard ''Infinity'', which rallied the feuding Sangheili and Jiralhanae fleets and forced 'Gajat's forces into retreat.<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 3|Issue #3]]''</ref>

===Victory on Sanghelios===

[[File:Halo_5_-_Arbiter_and_Locke.jpg|thumb|250px|Thel 'Vadam and Jameson Locke meeting in Nuusra.]]

Following [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s death on [[Kamchatka]] in [[2558#October|October 2558]], the remaining forces of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|'Mdama's Covenant]] regrouped and launched an assault on Sanghelios.<ref name="sos">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Swords of Sanghelios (level)|Swords of Sanghelios]]''</ref> The Covenant used the city of [[Sunaion]] over [[Csurdon Sea]] as a staging point to launch an attack against Swords of Sanghelios territory, though the Arbiter countered this move by establishing a forward operating base in the ruins of [[Nuusra]] on the sea's coast.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/sunaion '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Sunaion'']</ref> However, the Covenant attacked first and laid siege to the Swords of Sanghelios base on Nuusra, pushing back 'Vadam and his forces to the [[Elder Council Chamber]].{{Ref/Reuse|sos}}

Meanwhile, John-117 and the rest of [[Blue Team]] had apparently gone rogue to pursue Cortana and the UNSC dispatched [[Fireteam Osiris]] to retrieve them. After Blue Team escaped Osiris aboard a Forerunner [[Guardian]] that Cortana had entered into slipspace to an unknown location, Doctor [[Catherine Halsey]] and Spartan Sarah Palmer proposed for Osiris to utilize the Guardian located near Sunaion to follow Blue Team. Not wishing for the UNSC to get too engaged in the Sangheili civil war, Lasky had ''Infinity'' travel to Swords of Sanghelios and arranged for Osiris to be escorted to the Arbiter's position by Swords of Sanghelios soldiers. Osiris fought their way through many Covenant entrenchments between their landing point and the Arbiter's location within the Elder Council Chamber, while the Covenant started to overwhelm the Swords of Sanghelios at the camp; several corpses from these ambushes were witnessed by Osiris on their way to the Arbiter. With help from surviving Swords of Sanghelios soldiers, the Spartans eliminated the Covenant forces around the chamber and moved inside to find the Arbiter; Osiris arrived at his position just as he was single-handedly killing several Covenant Sangheili. Contacting [[Mahkee 'Chava]], Osiris was extracted from the chamber along with the Arbiter, and a number of other surviving Swords, by a [[Type-57 Phantom]].{{Ref/Reuse|sos}}

Returning to the Arbiter's primary camp in Nuusra with Palmer and Halsey, 'Vadam and Osiris leader Spartan [[Jameson Locke]] spoke about using Sunaion's Guardian to pursue Blue Team, with the latter greeting and thanking the former for his cooperation on behalf of Captain [[Thomas Lasky|Lasky]]. While understanding of Spartan Locke's intentions, he was understandably distrustful of the human standing before him, not only because of the ONI logo on his armor, but he somehow recognized him as the very [former] [[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)/One|agent]] [[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)/Two|who]] [[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)/Three|volunteered to terminate]] him during the [[Human-Covenant War|war]]. In response, Locke sternly-yet-politely pointed out that he saved his life. And 'Vadam was even more concerned that he was hunting the very Spartan he fought alongside with six years ago, whom he referred to as the "greatest of [the Spartans'] clan". However, using her recently gained access to the [[Domain]], Cortana suddenly blacked out every network at the camp, taunting Locke in the process. Halsey came up with a plan that involved locating a Forerunner [[Constructor]] at a support station for the Guardian and inputting commands into it to make the construct activate the Guardian for Osiris. And while the Swords of Sanghelios had the firepower to get the Spartan-IVs in Sunaion, he refused to commit to an attack on the Covenant's final stronghold until victory was a guaranteed certainty. He was briefing his fellow Swords at the camp who were alarmed by Cortana's disruption, reminding them they fight one enemy at a time; their target being the Covenant. While his Sangheili were alarmed by the Guardian's inevitable reawakening, he assured them that he was relying on it, stating that the Guardian's departure in the eyes of Covenant who worship it and its makers will be further demoralized upon seeing their idol deity depart and abandon them to their fate at the hands of the Swords. '<ref name="alliance">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Alliance]]''</ref> At some point, from his security officer Mahlo 'Turagg (via an interrogation toward a Covenant Unggoy), Thel discovered that [[Murok 'Vadam]], one of his own family, was the one who betrayed him and left him to die during the Covenant's attack at the Elder Council Chamber. Murok was cooperative during his interrogation, thinking the Arbiter wouldn't kill anyone from his own clan; he was soon proven wrong as Thel executed him for his treachery.

The Covenant deployed a [[Type-55 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 and Spartan Palmer were discussing the aerial assault on Sunaion, and was ready to begin his attack 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>

[[File:Joint Operation 2015-06-16 01-46.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Thel 'Vadam leading the Swords of Sanghelios, along with Fireteam Osiris, initiating the Covenant's final stand at Sunaion.]]

'Vadam's Swords of Sanghelios  and Spartan-IV Fireteam Osiris traveled to Sunaion aboard a [[Type-56 Lich]], narrowly avoiding [[Type-56 Shrike|anti-air weaponry]]. While the Arbiter led his forces in engaging Covenant forces, Osiris destroyed the anti-air emplacements to allow  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; 'Vadam responded with a Sangheili proverb about victory and honor, and personally asked Locke to send John-117 his greetings. However, while Swords and Covenant were fighting each other in the upper levels, Promethean constructs appeared and began engaging both Sangheili factions near the Guardian's location, and eventually 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 Arbiter 'Vadam's location just as he was killing a [[Promethean Knight]], and he soon reacted with anger that Prometheans kept warping in. The Arbiter and the four Spartans came under continuous 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/Reuse|sunaion}}

{{Clear}}

Thel, like most Sangheili, held an obsession with honor and tradition for most of his adult life. However, he was more flexible than his peers when it came to the tactics that he used, and in particular showed a keen interest in human weapons even before the Great Schism. His worldview changed greatly during the Great Schism. While once zealous and unquestioningly obedient to the Prophets' will, after learning of the true nature of the Halo rings, he became more open-minded and accepting of the humans, his former enemies. His experiences as Arbiter also made him more pragmatic than most Sangheili, being willing to accept help from the UNSC in fending off an assault on [[Vadam keep|his keep]]. He has shown to be true to his title "Arbiter", and sometimes tries to negotiate with his enemies, such as [[Yanme'e]] during the Battle of Earth (though this fell on deaf ears).

After the Battle of Installation 04, he was ashamed for his failure at Halo, and wished only to regain his honor before dying for the Prophets. He remained stubbornly attached to his faith even after the betrayal of Tartarus and his encounter with the Gravemind. However, when he heard the truth of the Sacred Rings from 343 Guilty Spark, he finally accepted the truth surrounding the Great Journey. Following his betrayal by the Prophets, Thel developed an intense hatred of San'Shyuum and Jiralhanae. Despite this, Thel was gracious enough to attempt to reason with the Jiralhanae Chieftain [[Tartarus]] in [[Control Room (Installation 05)|Installation 05's Control Room]].{{Ref/Reuse|TGJ}}

{{Clear}}

While 'Vadamee continued donning the [[Arbiter body armor|traditional Arbiter armor]] after the war, he has more recently started wearing a custom-built ceremonial battle armor intended to pay homage to past Arbiters and symbolize his newfound role as a leader of his people. This armor is gold-colored and more baroque than his old Arbiter armor. He favors the [[energy sword]], occasionally wielding his personal sword known as the [[Prophets' Bane]].{{Ref/Reuse|wp thel}} Thel most often uses the [[Type-51 carbine]] and [[Type-57B carbine]] in ranged combat.<ref name="H3">'''Halo 3'''</ref><ref name="H5G">'''Halo 5: Guardians'''</ref>

File:SOSEArbiter2.png|Thel 'Vadam and a Sangheili before an assault on a [[Kraken]].

**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition|Limited Edition]]'' {{Mo}}

 

[[Category:Sangheili characters|Vadam, Thel]]

[[Category:Nobles|Vadam, Thel]]

[[Category:Kaidons|Vadam, Thel]]

[[Category:Arbiters|Vadam, Thel]]

[[Category:Covenant military personnel|Vadam, Thel]]

[[Category:Swords of Sanghelios members|Vadam, Thel]]