Editing Mark of Shame

{{Era|HCW}}
[[File:Mark of Shame.jpg|300px|thumb|The Mark of Shame.]]
{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=[[Arbiter body armor|This armor]] suits you, but it cannot hide that mark.|Rtas 'Vadumee|q2=Nothing ever will.|Thel 'Vadamee|Conversation between Vadumee and Vadamee after the latter was branded with the Mark of Shame, but given the rank of Arbiter.}}

The '''Mark of Shame''' is a brand given to those who have either disgraced or turned away from the [[Covenant]]. The Mark of Shame is permanently imprinted onto the bare chest of the disgraced being via a special branding iron. After being branded with the Mark of Shame, the being is executed soon thereafter out of sheer humility.<ref name="cairo">'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[Cairo Station]]''</ref>

The only known exception to the execution tradition was the [[Sangheili]] [[Thel 'Vadam]], formerly the [[Supreme Commander]] in charge of the protection of [[Installation 04]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[The Heretic]]''</ref> He became the [[Arbiter]] and was sent to eliminate [[Heretics|the heretical movement]] led by [[Sesa 'Refumee]] over [[Threshold]].<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level, ''[[The Arbiter]]''</ref>

It seems that an Arbiter's name is disregarded and is thus not mentioned due to the disgrace signified by the mark. Ironically, during the [[Great Schism]], the Mark of Shame became a rallying symbol of the [[Fleet of Retribution]] and a sign of deference to 'Vadam's honor, often being worn by rank-and-file [[Sangheili]] warriors.<ref>'''Halo 3'''</ref>

==Trivia==
*The Mark of Shame is available as a [[Multiplayer Emblems|multiplayer emblem]] in ''Halo 2'', ''Halo 3'' and ''Halo 3: ODST''.
*The Mark of Shame appeared as the symbol for the [[Halo 3 Skulls#Heretic Skull|Heretic Skull]] in the ''Halo 3'' multiplayer map ''[[Heretic (level)|Heretic]]''.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H2-MarkOfShame-Scar-Black.png|Recreation of the symbol.
File:H2A - Mark of Shame.jpg|The Mark of Shame on Thel 'Vadam.
File:Pain.png|[[Tartarus]] holding the Mark of Shame brander.
File:H2A - Tartarus branding.jpg|Tartarus preparing to brand 'Vadamee.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
<references/>
[[Category:The Covenant]]