Vandham (XC2)

Vandham (), also known as Aquila Paronet Sol Esteriole, is a playable character in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. He is leader of the Garfont Mercenaries and Roc's Driver.
==Appearance and personality==
Vandham is a burly and tough man with dark skin and white hair. He appears to be a very tough kind of guy but is also very kind. He is well respected as the leader of the Garfont Mercenaries and those who are close to him.
==Story arc==
Vandham is first encountered in chapter 3 when Rex's party ends up being caught by the Urayan Titan. Vandham battles with Rex's party their first encounter. He is accompanied by his trustworthy companions and .
As the fight nears its end, Pyra realizes that Vandham doesn't mean any real harm. The fight is then concluded with no casualties. Vandham brings Rex's party to Garfont Village where they all regroup. Vandham learns that Rex is trying to reach Elysium and offers his help. Vandham then joins the party as a playable character onwards.
After their rest in Garfont, Vandham enlists the help of the party to investigate a "crazy energy effect" around Uraya's blowhole. While they travel up the Titan's head, they encounter an ether miasma that Vandham quickly dispels with Roc's help, and a , which Vandham uses to teach Rex how to use his anchor to enemies. After a brief demonstration, and a battle against the enraged Ardun, Vandham comments on how swiftly Rex picked up the trick, lecturing him on how to be a true Driver in the process, before revealing that it took him five years to learn the trick. After the party finally arrives at the source of the energy, a deceased Titan, they are attacked by a Driver Arachno.
After the Arachno is dealt with, the party returns to Garfont to rest at the . There, Vandham notices the peculiarity of Rex and Pyra's situation, their shared life, before they are interrupted by Akhos and Obrona. During the ensuing battle, Rex and Pyra are in difficulty against the member of before Vandham steps in, disturbing the ether flow around Akhos, who decides to retreat.
After the battle, Nia decides to tell him about her former affiliation with Torna, which Vandham quickly dismisses before telling Rex about a possible lead on how to reach Elysium, an old friend of his who lives in Fonsa Myma, accompanying the party on their journey there.
Near the end of the chapter, when Pyra is kidnapped by Malos and Akhos, Vandham demonstrates to everyone how to continue ether flow despite Akhos's ether jamming Blade Art by intentionally stabbing himself with Roc's sickles. This gives him a fighting chance against the two while yelling to Rex to flee. Vandham is then killed by Malos and is buried in the same place the battle took place as it is custom for Mercenaries to be buried to the place where they have fallen. After Vandham's death, Rex learns that Vandham wanted him to be the next leader of the Garfont Mercenaries.
==Lore==
* Vandham's birth name is Aquila Paronet Sol Esteriole, and he was born into a noble Urayan family. Zox
* Vandham got his name from a famous person he looked up to as a child. 
* Vandham once had a son, who is now deceased. In post-battle conversations, Vandham mentions that both Rex and Poppi remind him of his son.Banter
* Vandham's hobby is growing trees.Gronya 
* Vandham is well known in the mercenary business with many active and retired mercenaries in Uraya praising him and his legacy.Rhuban, Naddie and Kaizar
==As a playable character==
Vandham joins the party as a playable Driver in Garfont Village. His default and only is , as he is unwilling to bond with any other Blades.
==As an enemy==
Vandham is fought as a boss in Jebbas Cavern alongside and .
==Trivia==
* Vandham's X-shaped facial scar may be a reference to Vanderkam's face paint or a similar scar available in Xenoblade Chronicles X's character creator.
* In Japanese, Vandham is voiced by Tessyo Genda, who also voices Xord in Xenoblade Chronicles, Vandham in Xenoblade Chronicles X, and Guernica Vandham in Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
** Along with Vandham's Japanese voice actor, his English voice actor, Simon Thorp, also voices Guernica Vandham in Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
==In other languages==
==Gallery==
===Artwork===
Vandham concept art.jpg|Concept art
===Screenshots===
Vandham Jebbas Cavern bridge.jpg|Vandham on top the bridge at Jebbas Cavern.
Vandham (XC2) cutscene.jpg|Vandham.
Vandham and his party.jpg|Vandham and his party.
Vandham taunts Rex.jpg|Vandham taunting Rex.
Vandham's weapon at Rex throat.jpg|Vandham stops his attack.
Roc and Vandham disperse miasma.jpg|Roc and Vandham disperse the ether miasma.
Vandham topples Ardun.jpg|Vandham toppling the Rampaging Ardun with Rex's grappling hook.
Party finds dead Titan.jpg|The party finds a dead Titan.
Vandham finds Core Crystal.jpg|The Core Crystal Vandham found inside a dead Titan.
Vandham introduces Iona.jpg|Vandham introduces Iona.
Vandham invites party to theater.jpg|Vandham invites the party to watch a play.
Vandham vs Malos.png|Malos prepares to kill Vandham.
Vandham's last words.png|Vandham tells Rex to fight his own war before being killed by Malos.
Malos kills Vandham.png|Vandham's death.
Vandham (XC2) funeral.jpg|The party at Vandham's funeral.
==References==
Category:Characters (XC2)
Category:Drivers (XC2)
Category:Urayans
it:Vandham (XC2)