- Olympia Vale: "Those strange dinosaur-looking creatures?"
- 000 Tragic Solitude: "In your tongue it means 'blind wolf', though it has been some time since humans have encountered them."
- — Installation 00's monitor explains morolaath to diplomat Olympia Vale.[1]
Morolaath ("blind wolves" in English) are predatory creatures found on various Forerunner installations.[1][2] Known to humans in the ancient past, in the modern era operatives of the United Nations Space Command have encountered morolaath on Installation 00 and at least one Halo ring.[1][2]
Anatomy and physiology
Morolaath somewhat resemble carnivorous theropod dinosaurs, being bipedal with three clawed toes on each foot.[2][3][4] Unlike theropods, however, they possess neither eyes nor arms.[3] Morolaath have gargantuan fangs which extend from the bottoms of their jaws and nasty-looking teeth which line the tops. Their nostrils, situated at the tips of their snouts, are flared to check the air. It is hearing, however, that morolaath primarily rely on to perceive their surroundings; they are able to react to relatively loud sounds from some distance away and also take notice of something as quiet as a human sighing from ten meters away.[3][4] Their growls produce a low rumbling sound and they are also capable of making howling noises which sound eerily like those of wolves.[3] Morolaath have long tails and their legs are powerful, allowing a small group to make the ground rumble when running at high speeds and affording them the ability to leap through the air.[3][4] Their strong, wide jaws are capable of tearing a man's head from his body.[3][4]
Behavior
Blind wolves appear to travel in packs of at least six. The alpha of a pack takes lead of the other members, which fall behind it to make sure they can follow in the same direction as their alpha. Without any sounds audible to a human or Sangheili, blind wolves are able to communicate with fellow pack members. While hunting for food, the animals keep their heads low and move slowly, relying on their senses of sound and smell to detect possible food.[3] Although persistent, fear could negate their pack mentality.[4]
When a blind wolf grows irritable, they will snap their teeth in the air at random. Blind wolves gave out noises that sounded familiar to wolves of Earth, including a loud howling.[3]
Trivia
Miscellaneous
- On the Halo 2 multiplayer map "Terminal", the male announcer says occasionally says, "A child’s 'My Pet Blind Wolf' stuffed toy has been found. Will the owner please claim it at the lost and found?[5]
- In Halo Mash-Up: Minecraft Evolved, some horse mobs are textured to resemble the blind wolf.
- In Halo Wars 2 multiplayer, the Green Machine, a personalized variant of the Mark I Prototype ADS used by Leader Avery Johnson, is equipped with sonic blind wolf repellers.
Production notes
The blind wolf was planned to be featured in Halo: Combat Evolved as a player-controlled mount. It was removed from the game due to problems with the control scheme and the artificial intelligence.[6] It was said to have a symbiotic relationship with a local insect species, which would lead the blind wolf to prey and so get to scavenge off the carcass.[7]
Gallery
- Blind wolf by Marcus Lehto.jpg
Sketch by Marcus Lehto with its insect companion.
A 3D model of the blind wolf.
A pack of blind wolves run past a Warthog.
Several blind wolves on the partially destroyed Installation 00 on the cover of Halo: Hunters in the Dark.
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List of appearances
- Halo 2 (First mentioned) (Easter egg)
- Halo: Hunters in the Dark (First appearance)
- Halo Wars 2
- Halo: Outpost Discovery
Sources
- ^ a b c Halo: Hunters in the Dark, Chapter 12
- ^ a b c Halo Waypoint - Discovery Dispatch - The Ring Experience
- ^ a b c d e f g h Halo: Hunters in the Dark, Chapter 9
- ^ a b c d e Halo: Hunters in the Dark, Chapter 10
- ^ Halo 2, multiplayer map Terminal
- ^ Limited Collector's Edition Disc (Halo 2)
- ^ Paul Russel, Twitter, May 8th, 2014