Editing Thel 'Vadam

{{Era|UNSC|HCW|Post}}

{{New content|[[Halo 5: Guardians]]}}

{{disambig header|the Arbiter during the end of the Human-Covenant War|other articles relating to "Arbiter"|Arbiter (disambiguation)}}

{{Character Infobox|variant=Cov

|image=[[File:H2A Thel Epilogue.png|300px]]<!--Do NOT replace the introductory image.-->

|birth=[[2485|December 10, 2485]]<ref name="VIS"/>

|species=[[Sangheili]]

|gender=Male

|height={{Convert|238.76|cm|ftin}}<ref name="VIS"/><ref name="ENC">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''page 130''</ref>

|mass={{Convert|319|lb|kg}}<ref name="ENC"/><ref name="VIS"/>

|eyes=Amber

|affiliation=*[[House of Vadam]]

*[[Covenant]] {{C|formerly}}

*[[Swords of Sanghelios]]

|rank-title=Title

|rank=*[[Kaidon]] of [[Vadam]]

*[[Arbiter]]

|notable=*Killed the [[Prophet of Truth]], fragmenting the Covenant

*Primary liaison between the Sangheili and humanity

{{Quote|The Arbiter. Maybe more than any other figure, a symbol of what the galaxy could one day become.|[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Thomas Lasky]] about Thel 'Vadam's accomplishments}}

'''Thel 'Vadam''' (formerly ''''Vadamee''')<ref>'''[[Halo Waypoint]]''', ''The long road home''</ref> is the [[Sangheili]] [[kaidon]] of the [[House of Vadam]]. He was the last [[Arbiter]] to serve the [[Covenant]], and continued to be widely known by his title in the closing months of the [[Human-Covenant War]] and in the post-war period. Presently, he leads the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and is considered by many to be the formal leader of the Sangheili on the whole.<ref name="wp thel">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/arbiter-thel-vadam '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Arbiter Thel 'Vadam'']</ref>

Thel commanded numerous fleets during his service in the [[Covenant]], most notably as the [[Supreme Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]], which mounted a successful [[Fall of Reach|invasion]] and occupation of the [[human]] colony [[Reach]] and later during [[Battle of Installation 04|operations]] on [[Installation 04]]. 'Vadam was responsible for over one billion [[human]] casualties during the war, and the [[glassing]] of at least seven colonies.<ref name="terminal 3">'''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 2 Anniversary|Terminal 3]]''</ref> During the [[Great Schism]], Thel became a leading member of the Sangheili who seceded from the Covenant, and aided the UNSC in their effort to stop the Prophet of Truth and his forces from activating the [[Halo Array]]. He fought many battles alongside the [[Spartan|"demon"]] [[John-117]] on [[Installation 05]], [[Earth]], and [[Installation 00]] in the final days of the war.  

Returning to [[Sanghelios]] after the conclusion of the war, the Arbiter went on to become a symbol of Sangheili honor and resilience in the face of betrayal. He attempted to unite the feudal states across his homeworld in forming the first coalition government since the [[Sangheili-San'Shyuum War|First Age of Conflict]]. Despite his efforts, he met resistance from [[Covenant remnants|many of his people]], who felt that his ideals and beliefs went against the traditional values of the Sangheili.

[[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>

{{Quote|It is a poor soldier who insists on seeing things not as they are, but as he wants them to be. One day reality hits, and his illusions fail him, and he dies stupidly. What honor is there in that?|Thel 'Vadamee<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 228''</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>

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

Escaping Reth's clandestine [[Unggoy]] army, Thel returned to the Kig-Yar's vessel. Throughout the interrogation, the Sangheili were surprised by Reth's insistence that he was allying with the humans with the blessing of the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]]. According to Reth, the sale of the contraband weapons was a bluff in order to locate human worlds through tracking devices implanted in the weapons.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 227-231''</ref> Reth eventually escaped when a loyal Unggoy switched off his prison's energy barrier, fleeing via escape pod.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 235-237''</ref> Thel then turned his eyes to the Rubble, as a large skirmish between UNSC [[UNSC Midsummer Night|forces]] and Kig-Yar forces was taking place on the ''[[Infinite Spoils]]''.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 251-252''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 268''</ref> The Sangheili and his crew boarded the ''Infinite Spoils'' and came face to face with [[Jai-006]], engaging him in a brief fight. The Spartan then fled the ship with the other UNSC forces. Thel, surprised at the strength of the human warrior, stayed behind and commandeered the ''Infinite Spoils''.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 273-276''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 281-282''</ref>

Thel managed to destroy most of the Rubble's [[mass driver]]s,<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 299-301''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''page 310''</ref> but was left helpless when [[The Redoubt]] was destroyed and [[Habitat Exodus]] left the system. There was little else to do but wait for the [[Hierarchs|High Prophets]] of [[Prophet of Truth|Truth]] and [[Prophet of Regret|Regret]] to arrive and recover him with his comrade, [[Zhar (Sangheili)|Zhar]].<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 329-330''</ref> Upon reporting the failure of the mission, Zhar attempted to kill the Prophets feeling helpless at the loss of his honor caused by the Prophet's scheming. Thel activated his [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]] and killed his friend without mercy.<ref>'''Halo: The Cole Protocol''', ''pages 340-342''</ref> This act prompted Truth to spare his life, and he gave Thel command over a ship in the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]].<ref name="tcp349"/>

{{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.}}

At some point between 2535 and 2552, Thel's exceptional leadership and combat prowess earned him the rank of [[Supreme Commander]] of the [[Fleet of Particular Justice]]. Sometime after this promotion he led the Covenant forces in the [[Battle of Camber]]. 'Vadamee and his fleet caught the UNSC forces completely unaware. He began his ground and orbital assault before most of the planet was aware of the attack. While 17 of his ships bombarded key defensive positions, 'Vadamee personally led an attack on the UNSC system headquarters. He first engaged the [[3rd Battalion Reserves]], who were caught completely unprepared. 'Vadamee ordered his men to wait for the humans to prepare to defend themselves before wiping out the entire unit.<ref name="h2at2">'''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 2 Anniversary|Terminal 2]]''</ref> Throughout his time as Supreme Commander he was also responsible for the glassing of [[Bounty]], [[Alluvion]], [[Mesa]], [[Greydowns]], [[Kroedis II]], and [[Estuary]]. He and his forces were responsible for over 1 billion human casualties—23,000 of them military personnel—and the destruction of 123 UNSC ships.<ref name="terminal 3"/> ONI [[ONI#Section Three|Section 3]] attempted to kill him at different times, but failed each time resulting in the deaths of several operatives.<ref name="a2at1">'''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 2 Anniversary|Terminal 1]]''</ref>

[[File:H2A - Tartarus branding.jpg|thumb|right|250px|'Vadamee, stripped of his armor and branded with the [[Mark of Shame]] by [[Tartarus]]]]

Near the end of his time serving as Supreme Commander, he led the Covenant forces under his command to victory over the UNSC's greatest military stronghold. The [[Fall of Reach]] proved to be the highlight of Thel's service in the Covenant. As the battle ended, Thel ordered a flotilla of warships to follow the fleeing {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. The ''Autumn'''s course led them to holy Forerunner artifact [[Installation 04]]. After confirming that the ring was a creation of the "gods", the [[Prophet of Stewardship]], the highest ranking political figure with the Fleet, immediately claimed authority over the operation, claiming the mission was now a religious matter. As Thel was unwilling to relinquish command with the ''Pillar of Autumn'' en route, and unable to contact ''[[High Charity]]'' to determine who held jurisdiction, a power struggle emerged between Thel and Stewardship for ultimate authority. As the [[Battle of Installation 04]] wore on, the Prophet began subverting Thel, misappropriating military forces to secure facilities on the ring. Thel sent a single infantry unit to the ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' to relieve the Prophet, but it was destroyed on approach. The Prophet threatened further punishment for any future affronts to his leadership. As Thel assembled a strike force to physically relieve the Prophet, the emergency beacon on the ''[[Infinite Succor]]'' was activated. Thel dispatched a [[Covenant Special Operations|Special Operations]] force to assess the threat and procure the [[Minister of Etiology]]. As Thel was about to leave with his strike force for ''Ascendant Justice'', [[Special Operations Commander|Spec Ops Commander]] [[Rtas 'Vadum|Rtas 'Vadumee]] returned to the ship and revealed the results of his mission: the [[Flood]] had been unleashed on Halo.<ref>'''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''', ''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''</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>

The Hierarchs, however, had a different fate in mind for Thel. Upon being brought before the Prophets of Truth and [[Prophet of Mercy|Mercy]], Thel was offered the choice of becoming the new [[Arbiter]]. Understanding that the office of Arbiter was itself a death sentence and seeking to regain his honor, Thel accepted.<ref name="thearbiter"/>

{{Quote|What would you have your Arbiter do?|'Vadamee to the Prophets}}

 

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 Troop Carrier|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.

{{Quote|We shall cut into the heart of this infestation, retrieve the Icon, and burn any Flood that stand in our way!|Rtas 'Vadumee}}

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

The High Prophets, surprised by the fact that 'Vadamee had escaped from the gas mine, decided to send him to the "[[Quarantine Zone]]" on [[Installation 05]] to retrieve the [[Activation Index|"Sacred Icon"]]. This holy relic was needed to activate Delta Halo and begin the Great Journey. Before the mission, the Arbiter witnessed the [[Changing of the Guard|replacement]] of the [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Sangheili Honor Guardsmen]] with the [[Jiralhanae Honor Guardsman|Jiralhanae]] as a result of Regret's assassination at the hands of the human [[Demon]]. Though distressed by change, and voicing his concerns to the Prophet of Truth, 'Vadamee made no further comment. Fighting his way through the [[Sentinel Wall]] (with a few surviving [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]]) to deactivate the [[Library]]'s [[quarantine shield]], he made his way on foot, aided by Rtas 'Vadumee and his Special Operations forces.

The Arbiter proceeded into the Library, encountering the remains of a battle between [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marines]], [[Sentinel]]s and [[Flood combat form]]s, and witnessed [[Miranda Keyes|Commander Miranda Keyes]] and [[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Johnson]] retrieving the Index. Using his armor's active camouflage, he approached Johnson and Keyes. Attacking while cloaked, 'Vadamee surprised Johnson, knocking him unconscious with a headbutt. Keyes attempted to shoot Thel, but was quickly disarmed and captured. Tartarus then arrived and captured Keyes by using his hammer's gravity manipulation abilities, claiming the Index for himself. Tartarus informed Thel about the Jiralhanae's intended genocide of the increasingly incompetent Sangheili, an act sanctioned by the High Prophets themselves. The Chieftain then knocked the stunned Arbiter into a pit leading to the depths of Installation 05.

===Control room of Installation 05===

{{Main|Installation 05}}

{{Quote|This one is but flesh and faith, and is the more deluded.|The Gravemind describing Thel 'Vadam}}

The Arbiter was rescued from his fall by the [[Gravemind]], the central intelligence of the Flood, and brought to its lair. It was here that the Arbiter met [[John-117]] for the first time. The Gravemind attempted to convince 'Vadamee that the Halos were weapons of destruction, not a path to transcendence, a position which John supported. In order to "show the truth" to the resistant Arbiter, the Gravemind [[teleportation grid|teleported]] him to the Control Room, while the Master Chief was sent to ''High Charity'' to stop the Index from activating Halo.

Observing first hand the results of the Prophets' betrayal, the Arbiter joined forces with a band of Special Operations Commandos. This small unit wasted little time in massacring the Jiralhanae responsible for executing the [[Sangheili Councilor]]s. Eventually, Thel met Rtas 'Vadumee, joining forces to reach a [[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Scarab]]. Near the Scarab, the Arbiter managed to rescue several separatist prisoners, as well as a group of UNSC Marines including Sergeant Avery Johnson.

[[File:H2A-Arbiter&Co.jpg|thumb|250px|The birth of a new alliance]]

{{Quote|Tartarus, the Prophets have betrayed us.|Thel 'Vadamee's last attempt to convince the Brutes of the truth}}

With this revelation, the Arbiter attempted to convince Tartarus to see reason. The Chieftain however, remained loyal to the Prophets. In the battle that followed, the Installation was activated. With the firing process enabled, the Arbiter, with sniper support from [[Avery Junior Johnson|Johnson]] killed Tartarus after a prolonged firefight. Miranda Keyes then rushed to remove the Index, preventing the activation of the array. The shutdown, however, activated a fail safe system; the rest of the Halos were set to standby mode, and could only be activated remotely from [[Installation 00]]. 'Vadamee then escaped the Flood-infested installation with the surviving humans and Sangheili.

===Meeting the Chief on Earth===

[[File:Master Chief & The Arbiter.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Master Chief and Thel 'Vadam in the jungles of Kenya, Africa.]]

{{Quote|Were it so easy.|Thel 'Vadam tauntingly comments on John-117's apparent ease of overpowering him.}}

After Tartarus' defeat on Delta Halo, 'Vadamee officially changed his surname to "'Vadam", symbolizing his resignation from the Covenant; the rest of the Sangheili followed suit.

Upon arriving on [[Earth]] with Johnson, 'Vadam and several of his allies discovered the Master Chief's point of impact after his escape from Truth's Dreadnought. When John regained consciousness, he attempted to kill 'Vadam with Johnson's [[M6G Personal Defense Weapon System|sidearm]]. Johnson quickly informed the Spartan that the surviving Sangheili had allied with humanity after the Chief's last encounter with them. The Chief took Johnson's word, and 'Vadam assisted the Master Chief through the jungles near [[Mount Kilimanjaro]], guiding him through the dense forest to the [[A2 Hydroelectric Facility|dam site]]. He then aided the Chief and the other UNSC forces during the defense of [[Crow's Nest]] from Truth's forces.

{{Quote|Quickly! Let us find their ship. Make short work of this abomination!|The Arbiter on the arrival of the Flood}}

Thel rejoined John-117 at the docks, shortly after the Master Chief cleared the road to Voi of Covenant. The two then attacked a section of the Covenant mechanized presence defending the area around the [[Portal at Voi|Forerunner Portal]]. 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.

The Arbiter and the Master Chief proceeded to cauterize the local area of the Flood, battling their way to the cruiser to overload the crashed ship's engines and destroy the source of the infestation. They were aided by a handful of surviving Marines and a Sangheili Special Operations unit led by Ship Master Rtas 'Vadum. From his newly-arrived Sangheili comrades, 'Vadam learned of the fall of ''High Charity'' and how a single cruiser had escaped the station's blockade. The Arbiter assisted the Chief in clearing a path to the crashed cruiser. After the Spartan retrieved [[Cortana]] from the wreckage, Rtas 'Vadum's fleet glassed Voi and the surrounding area to prevent the Flood from spreading. Thel proved instrumental in moderating tensions between humanity and Sangheili, as the two races that had only recently been dedicated to each others' destruction. While Rtas 'Vadam callously advocated for the glassing of Earth to contain the Flood, Thel argued for a surgical strike on the landmass surrounding Voi.

{{Quote|The Prophet will die by my hands - not theirs!|The Arbiter on the Flood entrance to the battle}}

 

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

Conferring aboard the Sangheili flagship ''[[Shadow of Intent]]'', the allies learned from a message sent by the AI Cortana that the Flood were on their way to Earth. However, she claimed that the Gravemind was unaware of the Portal and that a solution to the Flood was there; one that would eliminate the parasite once and for all without the need to fire the entire Halo Array. Tensions quickly rose with Lord Hood wishing to make the UNSC's stand on Earth, and Thel supporting John's desire to pursue Truth and attack the Flood preemptively.

Arriving at the Ark, the Arbiter joined the Master Chief at the entrance of a local [[Cartographer]] facility to clear their way. Once there, they learned of Truth's location, as well as the forces he had deployed to the Ark's surface. When the group was attacked, the Arbiter joined the battle for air superiority, instructing John to follow 343 Guilty Spark to a nearby location for extraction.

With the destruction of the Covenant fleet, Rtas 'Vadum's carrier positioned itself near the Ark's [[Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel]] - where Truth planned to remotely activate the rings. Commander Keyes led a three-pronged assault on the shield generators protecting Truth's citadel. After Sergeant Major Johnson failed to deactivate the third generator due to heavy resistance, the Arbiter landed his forces at the third tower to deactivate the final generator and shut down the barrier.  

As 'Vadum prepared to bomb Truth's position, ''High Charity'' exited Slipspace, crashing into the Ark. In its plummet to the surface, ''High Charity'' scattered a barrage of infection capsules which crippled the carrier. The Arbiter led his forces in conjunction with the Marines to clear the third tower of Flood, with the Chief's assistance. As a security measure, the Arbiter escorted a distressed 343 Guilty Spark to reconnoiter the damage inflicted to the Ark by the Flood, leaving his Sangheili with the Chief to push on to the Citadel.

[[File:TruthDeath-large.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Thel 'Vadam executes the Prophet of Truth.]]

{{Quote|no=two|q1=I...am...Truth! The voice of the Covenant!|The Prophet of Truth|q2=And so, you must be silenced.|Thel 'Vadam|The exchange between 'Vadam and Truth moments before 'Vadam executed Truth.}}

After Thel and John entered the Citadel, the Flood [[Gravemind]] formed a tentative alliance with them, claiming that it would cooperate with them in order to kill Truth and abort the firing of the [[Halo Array]]. Fighting through the remains of Truth's forces, the unlikely comrades stood before the last High Prophet of the Covenant. The Arbiter approached Truth, who had been infected by the Flood and was undergoing mutation. The Gravemind spoke through Truth, informing Truth that he was deluded to think he could achieve godhood. Thel claimed that he would have his vengeance upon a Prophet, not a disease, and killed Truth with his energy sword before he could fully transform. After John deactivated the Halo Array, he and Thel faced the betrayal of the Flood, which now no longer faced any obstacles in killing the two and going on to consume the galaxy.

{{clear}}

[[File:Halo Chief Arbiter.jpg|thumb|right|250px|John-117 and Thel 'Vadam in Johnson's Warthog]]

{{Quote|This is our fight. And I will see it finished.|Thel 'Vadam to his fellow Sangheili}}

After a desperate escape from the Flood, the two soldiers witnessed the construction of a new Installation 04. As the newly created Halo was not linked to the rest of the network, it could be fired safely, destroying every remaining Flood infection form in its radius without harming humanity or the Covenant client races. The Arbiter, Johnson and Rtas 'Vadum evacuated all UNSC and Covenant separatist forces from the Ark while John went to rescue Cortana and retrieve the original Index from ''High Charity''. Thel later arrived on ''High Charity'' shortly after John set it to self destruct, using a [[M7057 Defoliant Projector|flamethrower]] to cover their escape.

The two then escaped on a [[D77H-TCI Pelican|Pelican dropship]], crashing it into Installation 04B; after fighting through numerous Flood forms, they rendezvoused with Sergeant Major Johnson and 343 Guilty Spark at the [[Control Room]]. The Monitor betrayed them after realizing that an immediate activation of the incomplete ring would destroy it and damage the Ark. In the battle that followed, the [[rampancy|rampant]] 343 killed Johnson and knocked the Arbiter out of the room. After the destruction of 343, both Cortana and Thel expressed sorrow over Johnson's death, noting his sacrifice would not be forgotten. John activated Halo, with Thel and Cortana joining him as they escaped the crumbling Halo in a [[Warthog]]. They succeeded in reaching the ''Forward Unto Dawn'' and escaped the Ark and Halo just before it fired. Before departing to the bridge, Thel and John nodded to each other, a moment of mutual respect between warriors. This would be the last time 'Vadam would see the Chief for several years, as he then exited the hangar, and made his way to the bridge, while Chief and Cortana stayed behind and guided the frigate to its jump point, but the slipspace portal collapsed as ''Forward Unto Dawn'' transitioned. The aft end of the ship, with John-117 and Cortana aboard, was sheared off and left adrift in unknown space. The bow section, containing 'Vadam, completed the jump and crash-landed on Earth, where he was rescued. The Covenant Empire had ceased to exist, and Thel began the first steps to bring his people into a new future.

{{quote|Arbiter is a title I would prefer to forget. I’m simply a kaidon again. As such, I’ve come to appeal for unity.|Thel during one of his meetings with Sangheili}}

Thel acted as a voice of reform to the Sangheili. Returning to his 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''', ''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''', ''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 traitorous leader that has betrayed their faith and sought to finish their war with humanity. Additionally, many devout believers regarded Thel a "false Arbiter", stating that his very existence was heretical as he did not sacrifice himself in 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 name="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.

In the midst of these events, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] secretly assisted 'Telcam in creating an insurrection against 'Vadam, in order to keep the Sangheili divided and prevent them from threatening the UNSC.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 20-26''</ref>  

{{Quote|no=two|q1=I remember how this war started. What your kind did to mine... I can't forgive you... but, you have my thanks. For standing by him to the end. Hard to believe [[John-117|he]]'s dead...|Lord Hood|q2=Were it so easy...|Thel 'Vadam|'Vadam's response to Lord Hood during the Voi Memorial.}}

In February [[2553]], 'Vadam met with [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Terrence Hood|Lord Terrence Hood]], along with [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Serin Osman]], [[Corporal]] [[Vasily Beloi]] and [[Evan Phillips|Dr. Evan Phillips]] in the state of Vadam on Sanghelios. There, he and Lord Hood discussed the fragile state of both species, as well as a treaty to formalize the peace. Hood then invited 'Vadam to a [[Voi Memorial|memorial service]] on Earth, and in return 'Vadam invited Dr. Phillips to study Sangheili history and culture on their homeworld.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''pages 358-361''</ref>

On March 3, 2553, 'Vadam was present at the dedication of the memorial to those humans lost during the Covenant War. He was thanked by Hood for standing alongside John-117 "to the end"; knowing the resilience of the Spartan first hand, Thel expressed doubt as to the soldier's death. The Arbiter departed for Sanghelios aboard the ''Shadow of Intent'' along with Rtas 'Vadum, to ensure the security of their people.

In March 2553, the Arbiter greeted Phillips in Vadam. Phillips requested a tour of Sanghelios' most ancient cities to which Thel approved and assigned Phillips an escort, [[Cadan 'Ilmir]].<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 425''</ref>  Not long after, they lost Phillips in [[Ontom]] after dissident Jiralhanae detonated an explosive in the state. In the wake of this uprising, 'Telcam and the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]] launched their attack on the state of Vadam. 'Vadam was later contacted by Lord Hood who informed him that he could recover Phillips and quell the rebellion. 'Vadam was doubtful of his offer but graciously accepted his help.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''pages 236-238''</ref> Despite 'Telcam's ship having been shot down early in the battle, the situation on Sanghelios intensified as reinforcements from like-minded [[keep]]s arrived to attack Vadam keep. Lord Hood arrived on Sanghelios onboard humanity's most powerful ship, {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}. The Arbiter was caught off guard and as his own reinforcements failed to arrive on time, he reluctantly accepted the UNSC's help in fending off the attackers. ''Infinity'' decimated the rebel forces while {{UNSCShip|Port Stanley}} posed as a Kig-Yar pirate ship and covertly destroyed some of 'Vadam's ships, leaving the Arbiter with a Pyrrhic victory. After the battle, 'Vadam was in talks to visit UNSC ''Infinity''.<ref>'''Halo: The Thursday War''', ''page 405''</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 aide the humans.<ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''pages 59-66''</ref>

{{Quote|He's had every reason to hate us, both before and after the war. The old Covenant races probably would have come after humanity a long time ago if he hadn't insisted we were important to their survival.|Captain [[Thomas Lasky]] about the Arbiter before the meeting on Ealen IV.}}

In [[2558]], Thel 'Vadam decided to enter into negotiations with the Jiralhanae, with the UNSC ''Infinity'' being assigned to escort him. On March 5, 'Vadam met with Lord Hood and the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Lydus]] on [[Ealen IV]]. During the negotiations, [[Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group|Covenant mercenaries]] led by [[Vata 'Gajat|Shipmaster 'Gajat]] attacked the delegates. [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Thomas Lasky]], [[Sarah Palmer|Commander Sarah Palmer]], and the [[SPARTAN-IV Program|Spartan-IVs]] defended the delegation and evacuated them from the chamber. Lydus accused 'Vadam of betraying him, but Thel reassured him that he had no part in the attack as he killed a [[Kig-Yar Sniper]] attempting to assassinate Lydus. When their evacuation ship was destroyed, the security detail proceeded to escort the delegates to a nearby parts depot.<ref>'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''[[Halo: Escalation Issue 1|Issue #1]]''</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:MCC - Locke and Arbiter.png|thumb|250px|'Vadam, Locke and their respective forces preparing to fight together.]]

|2=Thel 'Vadam

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

|3=Jameson Locke and Thel 'Vadam discuss Locke's mission

}}

Following [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s death on [[Kamchatka]] in [[2558#October|October 2558]], the remaining forces of [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|'Mdama's Covenant]] regrouped and launched an [[Battle of Sanghelios|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 name="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 enter 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 to the Arbiter's position at the Elder Council Chamber, while the Covenant started to overwhelm the Swords of Sanghelios at the camp. 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 by a [[Type-57 Phantom]].<ref name="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. However, using her recently gained access to the [[Domain]], Cortana suddenly blacked out every network at the camp. 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.<ref name="alliance">'''Halo 5: Guardians''', campaign level ''[[Alliance]]''</ref>

[[File:H5G-SOSrally.png|thumb|250px|left|The Arbiter rallying his forces]]

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 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>

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.

As noted by [[Jameson Locke]], Thel was an incredibly brilliant commander, known for utilizing advanced tactics that made his fleet unstoppable. Among the Covenant, he was noted for being one of the youngest Sangheili to attain the ranks of both Shipmaster and Supreme Commander.<ref name="a2at12">'''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 2 Anniversary|Terminal 12]]''</ref> During the war, 'Vadamee was known for his tendency to lead campaigns from the front lines. His unorthodox tactics in comparison to the Covenant at large quickly caught the eye of ONI; Lieutenant Commander Locke considered him the most dangerous asset the Covenant had due to his unpredictability and tactical flexibility.<ref name="a2at1"/> After the [[Fall of Reach]], 'Vadamee's influence within the Covenant fleet had grown so great [[Sesa 'Refumee]] suspected the Prophets may perceive him as a threat to their power even before learning of his appointment as Arbiter.<ref name="a2at13">'''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''', ''[[Terminal/Halo 2 Anniversary|Terminal 13]]''</ref>  

[[File:H2A-Arbiter&Rtas-01.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Rtas 'Vadum and Thel 'Vadam during the raid on the Threshold gas mine]]

Thel also managed to inspire great loyalty in his subordinates. While [[Rtas 'Vadum]] initially lost his respect for Thel for the loss of Installation 04, Thel's subsequent actions at the gas mine and Installation 05 restored his respect for Thel 'Vadam, to the point Rtas spared Earth from a full [[glassing]] at Thel's urging. [[Jora 'Konaree]] thought of him like a cousin, and Sesa 'Refumee considered him to be the only individual that he would trust with [[343 Guilty Spark]]'s revelations, though Thel's appointment as Arbiter prevented any detailed conversations. Even so, however, he was able to comprehend the same message when it was told to him by the [[Gravemind]], [[John-117]], and [[343 Guilty Spark]].

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. 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]].

Despite his former hatred for humans, Thel has displayed great respect for some, even former battlefield foes. He also holds admiration for humanity's courage; this is most clearly seen by his actions to avoid the glassing Earth, even though that meant risking a possible Flood outbreak. Presumably due to the role Johnson played in his killing of Tartarus, Thel respected him greatly and grieved his death, expressing sorrow to the Master Chief, but promising that his sacrifice would not be in vain. Despite initially hating the Master Chief greatly for destroying Installation 04 and being the "Demon" of the Covenant who killed so many soldiers, the Arbiter came to greatly respect and trust the Chief. The Chief helped convince him of the truth of the Great Journey and they fought together against the Covenant and Truth. Together they defeated Truth and deactivated the Halo Array. When the Master Chief went to rescue Cortana and activate [[Installation 04B]], Thel remained behind to help him and shared a nod of respect with him when it was over. Even though the Master Chief was believed to be dead, Thel showed disbelief in this presumption, confident that the Spartan had survived thanks to his extraordinary ability to overcome impossible odds. After the events of Ealen IV and discovering the Chief was still alive, Thel believed John was the key to the galaxy's future. He also admitted to Spartan Locke that even when they were enemies and he called the Chief "Demon," it was with a modicum of respect for him. He also admitted that after their alliance he came to see the Chief as his friend as well as an ally. Before Fireteam Osiris entered the Guardian on Sunaion to find the Master Chief, the Arbiter complimented Locke with a Sangheili proverb, and then asked Locke to send the Chief his greetings. Olympia Vale remarked that she had never heard an Elite address a human in such a way.

{{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 name="wp thel"/> Thel most often uses the [[Type-51 carbine]] in ranged combat.

[[File:ChiefArbiterConcept.jpg|thumb|250px|Concept art of the Arbiter and the Master Chief inside a Forerunner facility]]

Voiced by [[Keith David]], the Arbiter was introduced as a secondary playable character in ''[[Halo 2]]''; this was part of [[Bungie]]'s creative decision to broaden the scope of the story from what [[Jaime Griesemer]] referred to as an "alien war movie with a space marine". According to [[Joseph Staten]], the character's genesis was heavily tied to the idea of creating a figure who suffered the consequences of the Master Chief's success in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.<ref>'''[[Remaking The Legend]]'''</ref> Reception to his inclusion was mixed; Bungie community lead [[Brian Jarrard]] attributed some of the fan backlash to a discord between the game's marketing and the actual gameplay; whereas the marketing presented the game's focus as being the defense of Earth from the Covenant, this aspect constitutes only the first missions of the game.<ref>[http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/better-than-halo-the-making-of-halo-2-article '''Eurogamer.net:''' ''Better Than Halo: The Making of Halo 2'']</ref> In ''[[Halo 3]]'', the Arbiter was relegated into a supporting character and there are no levels designed solely from his perspective; he remains a playable character in the [[Cooperative play|co-op]] [[campaign]].

The name Thel 'Vadam was established in the novel ''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''. While the narrative does not explicitly connect the character with the Arbiter introduced in ''Halo 2'', his assignment to the Fleet of Particular Justice is referenced near the end of the novel. Much later, Halo Waypoint confirmed that Thel 'Vadamee was indeed the future Arbiter.{{Citation needed}}

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>

{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|quote=yes}}

*When the Arbiter activates his active camouflage in ''Halo 2'', his eyes will remain visible. This is visible only on Co-Op.

*In ''Halo: Reach'', a [[Unggoy]] may say in his native language something like "thalvadamee", though if it really refers to 'Vadam is unknown, as much of Covenant voice clips are simply reverse-English.<ref>[[:File:Grunt look lngtme8.ogg]]</ref>

File:1223857594 Arby3.jpg|'Vadam taunting his enemies to attack in ''Halo 3''.

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

File:H2A Arby.jpg|An early image of Thel 'Vadam in ''Halo 2 Anniversary''.

File:Supreme Commander Thel 3D model.jpg|An early model of Thel in Supreme Commander armor in ''Halo 2 Anniversary''.

File:H2A-ArbiterThelVadam-Render.jpg|An early model of Thel in Arbiter armor in ''Halo 2 Anniversary''.

File:H2A-ThelModel-Front.jpg|Model of Thel, used as the basis for all Sangheili models in ''Halo 2 Anniversary''.

File:H2A-ThelModel-Face.jpg|Close up on the face of the ''Halo 2 Anniversary'' Thel model.

File:H2A-ThelModel-FullBody.jpg|Untextured full body model of Thel in ''Halo 2 Anniversary''.

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

File:Arbiterlegendarycollection.jpg|The [[McFarlane Toys/Legendary Collection Series#Arbiter|Arbiter Legendary Collection Figure]] made by [[McFarlane Toys]].

**''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminals]]''

{{Reflist|2}}

 

[[Category:House of Vadam]]

[[Category:Elites (Characters)]]

[[Category:Playable Characters]]