- "This armor suits you, but it cannot hide that mark."
- — Rtas 'Vadumee
- "Nothing ever will"
- — Thel Vadamee
Tartarus holding the Mark brander
The Mark of Shame is a tattoo-like mark given to those who have either disgraced or turned away from the Covenant. The Mark of Shame is imprinted permanently onto the bare chest of the being by means of branding heated metal.
After being branded with it, the being is executed soon thereafter out of sheer humility, perhaps harnessing the last bit of honored dignity they can draw up. The only known exception of this tradition was Thel 'Vadam the Supreme Commander in charge of the protection of Installation 04. He became the Arbiter in order to settle the act of Heresy of Sesa 'Refumee on Threshold.
The Mark Of Shame can only be seen in the first cutcene of Halo 2 and in Halo 2 and 3 Multiplayer as a player emblem.
Trivia
- The Mark of Shame is available as a Multiplayer Emblem in Halo 2 and Halo 3,it looks the best for elites, and is usually used for them.
- If you look closely, the Mark of Shame can be seen on the Elites' armor on the Halo 3 Campaign, perhaps out of deference and respect for their current Arbiter. Or perhaps they all have broken a sacred oath to the Covenant given by their forefathers and their forefathers' forefathers before them to protect the Covenant and they are in shame.
- It also seems that the Arbiter's name means nothing and is not mentioned due to the disgrace signified by the mark.
- It can be assumed that after the Human-Covenant War and during the Covenant Civil War that the Mark of Shame no longer bears its old meaning, but rather has a new meaning it could be the symbol of the Covenant Separatist or Freedom from being free from Covenant Rule, and if you were to call the Mark something it could be renewed, to either The Mark of Freedom or The Mark of the Separatist and if one wishes, it could be called The Mark of Thel Vadam.
- Ironically during the Covenant Civil War the Mark of Shame was supposed to bring Thel Vadam shame and a symbol of his shame, but it actually became His Mark of Honor and the symbol of his Honor.