Editing House of 'Vadam

{{Status|Canon}}

[[File:H2A Terminals ThelTraining.png|thumb|300px|Members of the House of Vadam in combat training.]]

{{Quote|no=two|q1=The lineage is strong.|Thel 'Vadamee|q2=Vadam is strong.|Elder|Thel 'Vadamee discussing Vadam before the elders<ref name="cp93">'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 93''</ref>}}

The '''House of 'Vadam'''<ref name="h2a terminal12">'''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''', ''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminal 12]]''</ref> is a legendary [[Sangheili]] noble [[clan]]. The family resides in [[Vadam]], a relatively young, yet powerful, state in [[Yermo]], [[Sanghelios]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 88''</ref> The [[Vadam keep|clan's keep]] stands on [[Kolaar Mountain]] and is located close to a [[Vadam Harbor|harbor]] which brings wealth to the clan and the state. Vadam's land was well-developed and their serfs were strongly motivated and efficient, as their great ambitions were to gain distinction and receive a position inside the keep.{{Ref/Reuse|cp93}}

Each Sangheili that brought honor to the noble house was given the opportunity to add their name to the [[Saga wall|Vadam saga]], a mural located within the keep.<ref name="cp90">'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 90''</ref> A legendary house of great renown, all male members of the House of 'Vadam were expected to meet high expectations in their military careers. The House of 'Vadam's [[kaidon]] during the [[Human-Covenant War]] and the following years was [[Thel 'Vadam]], later known as the [[Covenant]]'s last [[Arbiter]].{{Ref/Reuse|h2a terminal12}}

[[File:H2A Thel Epilogue.png|thumb|250px|left|Thel 'Vadam, the current head of the house]]

The House of 'Vadam was founded during the [[Sangheili]]'s first age of exploration, sailing to lands on the [[Yermo]] coast that would become the state of [[Vadam]] despite the oceans' massive tides.{{Ref/Reuse|cp90}} It was told by members of the house that [[Vadam keep]] was once captured by an opposing [[clan]] and the Sangheili of Vadam were forced to rot within their own fortress's dungeons. Their [[kaidon]], [[Ther 'Vadam]], soon escaped, however, due to the fact that he was skinny enough to slide through his cell's bars. He fled to [[Unidentified Sangheilian desert|a desert]] and quickly grew in power, recruiting bandits and outlaws to form an army. His newfound allies had statuses that were lower than Vadam's but they were willing to fight under Vadam's leadership.<ref name=cp195">'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 195-196''</ref>   

Soon, Ther returned to what was rightfully his with his army, scaled the walls, and killed all his enemies before throwing their bodies in the river; legend has it that the river ran purple with Sangheili blood for days. After this was done, he killed those of Vadam who had been foolish enough not to commit honorable suicide within their dungeon cells.<ref name=cp195"/> The fortified location of Vadam keep protected the clan from numerous invasion attempts, while allowing them to launch offensives. In the waning years of the [[War of Beginnings]], the state of Vadam was one of the many city-states on [[Sanghelios]] that was attacked by the [[San'Shyuum]] [[Reformists]]. However, their keep was too well-defended to be destroyed.{{Ref/Reuse|cp90}}

Years later, during the [[Human-Covenant War]], [[Shipmaster]] [[Thel 'Vadam]]ee was ascended to the title of kaidon in [[2535]]. The day after Thel had assumed his responsibilities of kaidon, clan [[elder]] [[Koida 'Vadam]] sent assassins to kill him, a common practice among Sangheili if the kaidon's capability was in doubt; however, all of the three assassins were slain by Thel. Thel assembled the [[elder]]s of his clan later that same day. Boldly announcing that the attempt on his life had failed, Thel promptly discovered and executed the culprit and exiled Koida's family line for his insolence, only sparing their lives after Koida attempted to kill the kaidon himself.<ref name="cp92">'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 92''</ref> Thel would eventually be promoted to the [[Supreme Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]], one of the largest [[Covenant fleet]]s. However, his failure to protect [[Installation 04]] resulted in his demotion by the Covenant [[High Council]]. Rather than [[capital punishment|execute]] him, the [[Hierarchs]] of the Covenant charged him with the title of [[Arbiter]].{{Ref/Reuse|h2a terminal12}} Following the [[Great Schism]], Thel would ally himself with the [[United Nations Space Command]] and helped end the Covenant.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Great Journey]]''</ref><ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', campaign level, ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''</ref>

Following the Great Schism and the end of the Covenant War, Vadam became perhaps the most prominent state on Sanghelios as the home of the Arbiter, now a key mediator between [[human]]ity and the Sangheili<ref>'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''pages 58-61''</ref> and the leader of the group known as the [[Swords of Sanghelios]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/covenant '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Covenant'']</ref> However, many Sangheili believed that Thel was a [[Treason|traitor]] for aiding the humans or for not believing in the "[[Forerunner|gods]]".<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 20''</ref> This dissent eventually led to a [[Blooding Years|civil war]] across Sanghelios, initiated by the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]]. Vadam keep was attacked during the war but, with the aid of {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}, the attack was repelled and Vadam was saved.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''', ''page 330''</ref> Thel 'Vadam continued to act as a face for the Sangheili as a whole in the coming years, even agreeing to peace negotiations with the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Lydus]]' [[Lydus' clan|master-pack]] in [[2558]].<ref>'''Halo: Escalation''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue 1]]''</ref>

 

==Members==

*[[Thel 'Vadam]], current [[kaidon]] of [[Vadam]] and [[Arbiter]] of the [[Swords of Sanghelios]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/arbiter-thel-vadam '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Arbiter Thel 'Vadam'']</ref>

*[[Lak 'Vadamee]], an [[elder]] of Vadam and close friend and advisor to Thel.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 349''</ref>

*[[Koida 'Vadam]], an elder of Vadam who was executed after an assassination attempt on Thel.{{Ref/Reuse|cp92}}

**Unnamed descendants, exiled from Vadam.{{Ref/Reuse|cp92}}

*[[Ther 'Vadam]], an ancient kaidon of Vadam.<ref name=cp195"/>

*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''

**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''

{{Ref/Sources|2}}

[[Category:House of 'Vadam| ]]