Unggoy: Difference between revisions
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;[[Covenant]] | ;[[Covenant]] | ||
;[[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction]] | ;[[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction]] | ||
;[[Covenant | ;[[Covenant remnants]] | ||
*[[Thel 'Vadam's Covenant faction|'Vadam loyalists]] | |||
*[[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction|'Mdama's Covenant]] | |||
|notable-person= | |notable-person= | ||
*[[Dadab]] | *[[Dadab]] | ||
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Prior to the activation of the [[Halo Array]], the Unggoy had managed to achieve a [[Technological Achievement Tiers|Tier 4]] society on their homeworld, [[Balaho]]. However, the planet and the Unggoy civilization was devastated by the collapse of its biosphere due to massive global overindustrialization.<ref name="Bestiarum">'''[[Bestiarum]]'''</ref> | Prior to the activation of the [[Halo Array]], the Unggoy had managed to achieve a [[Technological Achievement Tiers|Tier 4]] society on their homeworld, [[Balaho]]. However, the planet and the Unggoy civilization was devastated by the collapse of its biosphere due to massive global overindustrialization.<ref name="Bestiarum">'''[[Bestiarum]]'''</ref> | ||
The Unggoy were one of many species indexed by [[ | The Unggoy were one of many species indexed by the [[Librarian]] for [[Library Project|preservation]] on [[Installation 00]] from the firing of the Halo Array. They were subsequently returned to their homeworld Balaho, where they began re-building their culture. | ||
===Induction into the Covenant=== | ===Induction into the Covenant=== | ||
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===The Great Schism=== | ===The Great Schism=== | ||
The Unggoy obey other Covenant races out of fear more than religious faith.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', '''[[Sierra 117]]''' - ''Arbiter'': "The Grunts' newfound courage is but fear."</ref> They have next to no political power in the Covenant; the highest political rank available to an Unggoy is [[Deacon]]. Within the Unggoy community there is a strong resentment of other species, especially the Kig- | The Unggoy obey other Covenant races out of fear more than religious faith.<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', '''[[Sierra 117]]''' - ''Arbiter'': "The Grunts' newfound courage is but fear."</ref> They have next to no political power in the Covenant; the highest political rank available to an Unggoy is [[Deacon]]. Within the Unggoy community there is a strong resentment of other species, especially the Kig-Yar. The low rank of the Unggoy, as well as the aforementioned war, also led to a lack of political loyalty during the [[Great Schism]], as the Unggoy did not ally with a particular side, and stayed with whoever commanded them, most likely out of subservient fear to their current masters. However, many of those serving under the Jiralhanae still held support for the Sangheili and revered the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]], pointing out to their comrades that they once served under him. | ||
===Post-war=== | ===Post-war=== | ||
After the Human-Covenant War, at least some of the Unggoy continued working for the Sangheili as farmers on Sanghelios, while others continued to work in the military under either their Sangheili or Jiralhanae commanders.<ref> '''Halo: Glasslands''' ''page 90''</ref> | After the Human-Covenant War, at least some of the Unggoy continued working for the Sangheili as farmers on Sanghelios, while others continued to work in the military under either their Sangheili or Jiralhanae commanders.<ref> '''Halo: Glasslands''' ''page 90''</ref> A number of Unggoy joined—or were drafted into—the various [[Covenant remnants|splinter groups]] that upheld the Covenant's religious beliefs after the war, most notably [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction]]. [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] surveys record no off-planet transport from Balaho since "Solipsis"<!--Presumably this was an ONI operation. However, the report does not specify what Solipsis was.--> and seem to indicate that Buwan has been abandoned, though both remain under observation. Moderate Unggoy populations have been observed in Sangheili systems at various intervals.<ref>[[Codename: SURGEON's post-war analysis]]</ref> | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
Unggoy are, in general, poor soldiers in terms of skill and combat ability. They are poor shots when not focused, are physically weak, and are tactically inept as a rule. If their commanders are eliminated during combat, they frequently panic and scatter in random directions. However, what Unggoy may lack in individual skill, they make up for with tenacity and sheer numbers. The [[ | Unggoy are, in general, poor soldiers in terms of skill and combat ability. They are poor shots when not focused, are physically weak, and are tactically inept as a rule. If their commanders are eliminated during combat, they frequently panic and scatter in random directions. However, what Unggoy may lack in individual skill, they make up for with tenacity and sheer numbers. The [[Covenant]] used the high breeding rate of the Unggoy to their advantage in the [[Human-Covenant War]], where squads of Unggoy frequently overpowered [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] personnel through force of numbers. A group of renegade Kig-Yar on the moon [[Metisette]] also took advantage of the Unggoy's prodigious reproductive rate, breeding an army with which they hoped to invade Earth. | ||
Unggoy are the only Covenant species to breathe [[methane]] rather than [[oxygen]]. Their combat armor/harness has an integrated methane re-breather system, as Unggoy are unable to survive for long periods of time without methane due to asphyxiation. Due to this, if the player manages to [[melee]] their [[methane tank]] off, they rapidly suffocate and die. | Unggoy are the only Covenant species to breathe [[methane]] rather than [[oxygen]]. Their combat armor/harness has an integrated methane re-breather system, as Unggoy are unable to survive for long periods of time without methane due to asphyxiation. Due to this, if the player manages to [[melee]] their [[methane tank]] off, they rapidly suffocate and die. | ||
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Unggoy share a number of features with different animal species on [[Earth]]. Like primates, they walk both bipedally and with the aid of their oversized forearms. However, their bodies are armored with a hard exoskeleton as with crabs and insects. Their mouths have a set of small, pointed teeth, much like reptiles. Unggoy are on average about four to five feet tall and are relatively weak compared to other Covenant species. Although they can easily walk upright on two legs, they may often use their arms to move in a quadrupedal fashion. While carrying armaments, they are forced to walk upright so that they may support their weapons with their hands, but while trying to flee, or while patrolling without a weapon drawn, they use their over sized arms as forelegs to add speed or stability to their gait. Their eyesight<ref name="THB 5.9.12"/> and hearing are average, and seem to have a very well developed sense of smell, sometimes sniffing the air to detect traces of foes or hidden enemies.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Arbiter]]''</ref> This is facilitated through the olfactory membranes installed in their masks. | Unggoy share a number of features with different animal species on [[Earth]]. Like primates, they walk both bipedally and with the aid of their oversized forearms. However, their bodies are armored with a hard exoskeleton as with crabs and insects. Their mouths have a set of small, pointed teeth, much like reptiles. Unggoy are on average about four to five feet tall and are relatively weak compared to other Covenant species. Although they can easily walk upright on two legs, they may often use their arms to move in a quadrupedal fashion. While carrying armaments, they are forced to walk upright so that they may support their weapons with their hands, but while trying to flee, or while patrolling without a weapon drawn, they use their over sized arms as forelegs to add speed or stability to their gait. Their eyesight<ref name="THB 5.9.12"/> and hearing are average, and seem to have a very well developed sense of smell, sometimes sniffing the air to detect traces of foes or hidden enemies.<ref>'''Halo 2''', campaign level ''[[The Arbiter]]''</ref> This is facilitated through the olfactory membranes installed in their masks. | ||
Unggoy also have thick, | Unggoy also have thick, bioluminescent,<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', page 59: ''Phosphorescent blood pooled beneath their prone forms.''</ref> light-blue blood,<ref>'''[[Halo: The Flood]]''', ''page 27''</ref> possibly a result of methane-based proteins in the blood to facilitate methane-based respiration. Like Earth's Horseshoe Crabs, it is possible that their blood is blue due to high copper content. | ||
Unggoy have over-sized forearms, while their upper arms and thighs are seemingly small. This has allowed them to be quite excellent climbers. Spiny protrusions on their elbows help them scale rocky surfaces and may also be used to add force to their melee attacks. They also have an astonishingly fast finger reflex speed, as they can fire a [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|plasma pistol]] at almost the same rate a Sangheili can with a [[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle|plasma rifle]]. | Unggoy have over-sized forearms, while their upper arms and thighs are seemingly small. This has allowed them to be quite excellent climbers. Spiny protrusions on their elbows help them scale rocky surfaces and may also be used to add force to their melee attacks. They also have an astonishingly fast finger reflex speed, as they can fire a [[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|plasma pistol]] at almost the same rate a Sangheili can with a [[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle|plasma rifle]]. | ||
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====Subtypes==== | ====Subtypes==== | ||
Some Unggoy, commonly seen among bands of Covenant remnant forces in the mid 2550s, have exoskeletons that cover only patches on their bodies, leaving most of their skin exposed; the paucity of chitin means that the elbow and knee spikes of these individuals are less pronounced.<ref name="THB 5.9.12"/> Unlike other Unggoy, which have a chitinous protrusion that covers the groin and posterior, these Unggoy are unarmored in this area, exposing their primate-like buttocks.<ref>[http://mcfarlane.com/toys/media.aspx?product_id=4573&type=photo&file=halo4s1_stormgrunt_photo_03_dp.jpg '''McFarlane Toys''' - ''Halo 4 Storm Grunt'']</ref> Their necks are also several times longer than normal, (Unggoy typically have almost nonexistent necks), and their heads are set farther forward; folds of loose skin hang down from their necks and chins, likely due to the relative lack of chitin. Their eyes are reddish orange and feature black, cross-shaped pupils, unlike the solid red or yellow eyes of their kin. Their mouths are set farther inward and house larger, more pointed teeth. These specimens have much stouter legs and have longer and thinner fingernails than the rest of the species, and they possess claws on their feet instead of the more common hoof-like digits. It is unclear what sets these Unggoy apart, (morphologically speaking), from the rest of their kind, though it has been theorized that they belong to a different species, that they are the result of natural mutation, or that they came about due to selective breeding and genetic experimentation; in any case, such morphological variation can be likened to the differences among dog breeds.<ref name="THB 5.9.12"/> | Some Unggoy, commonly seen among bands of Covenant remnant forces in the mid 2550s, have exoskeletons that cover only patches on their bodies, leaving most of their skin exposed; the paucity of chitin means that the elbow and knee spikes of these individuals are less pronounced.<ref name="THB 5.9.12"/> Unlike other Unggoy, which have a chitinous protrusion that covers the groin and posterior, these Unggoy are unarmored in this area, exposing their primate-like buttocks.<ref>[http://mcfarlane.com/toys/media.aspx?product_id=4573&type=photo&file=halo4s1_stormgrunt_photo_03_dp.jpg '''McFarlane Toys''' - ''Halo 4 Storm Grunt'']</ref> Their necks are also several times longer than normal, (Unggoy typically have almost nonexistent necks), and their heads are set farther forward; folds of loose skin hang down from their necks and chins, likely due to the relative lack of chitin. Their eyes are reddish orange and feature black, cross-shaped pupils, unlike the solid red or yellow eyes of their kin. Their mouths are set farther inward and house larger, more pointed teeth. These specimens have much stouter legs and have longer and thinner fingernails than the rest of the species, and they possess claws on their feet instead of the more common hoof-like digits. It is unclear what sets these Unggoy apart, (morphologically speaking), from the rest of their kind, though it has been theorized that they belong to a different species, that they are the result of natural mutation, or that they came about due to selective breeding and genetic experimentation; in any case, such morphological variation can be likened to the differences among dog breeds.<ref name="THB 5.9.12"/> | ||
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|'''[[Special Operations Unggoy]]''' | |'''[[Special Operations Unggoy]]''' | ||
|[[File:HReach_-_SpecOps_Unggoy.png|80px]] | |[[File:HReach_-_SpecOps_Unggoy.png|80px]] | ||
|These Unggoy are experienced and specially-chosen, usually commanded by the [[Special Operations Sangheili|special operations Sangheili]], and are given distinctive jet-black armor. They are part of the [[Covenant Special Operations]] division of the [[Special Warfare Group]]. Just like the special operations Sangheili, they are able to use [[active camouflage]]. They are extremely skilled in warfare compared to their lower-ranked counterparts, and won't panic too often in combat situations, if they do at all. They usually can be seen wielding fuel rod guns, and throw plasma grenades with great accuracy. Many of them chose to side with [[Thel 'Vadam]] and | |These Unggoy are experienced and specially-chosen, usually commanded by the [[Special Operations Sangheili|special operations Sangheili]], and are given distinctive jet-black armor. They are part of the [[Covenant Special Operations]] division of the [[Special Warfare Group]]. Just like the special operations Sangheili, they are able to use [[active camouflage]]. They are extremely skilled in warfare compared to their lower-ranked counterparts, and won't panic too often in combat situations, if they do at all. They usually can be seen wielding fuel rod guns, and throw plasma grenades with great accuracy. Many of them chose to side with [[Thel 'Vadam]] and [[Thel 'Vadam's Covenant faction|his Covenant separatists]] during the Great Schism. However, many remained within the Jiralhanae-led units loyal to the Prophets, wearing white armor similar to the Unggoy Ultra. Some loyalist Unggoy were seen during the [[Battle of Installation 00]]. | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''[[Unggoy Heavy]]''' | |'''[[Unggoy Heavy]]''' | ||
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|} | |} | ||
=== Other | === Other titles and roles === | ||
The [[Deacon]] is the only position open to the Grunts in the [[Ministry of Tranquility]]. Unlike many other roles available to the Unggoy, this rank does not often involve combat or hard manual labor, though they have been known to carry around plasma pistols and [[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]]s. | |||
Some Unggoy are also known to serve as merchants and are well-respected in the Covenant hierarchy. During the [[Ascension]] ceremony of the Covenant's last triumvirate of [[Hierarchs]], a [[Yanme'e]] [[Yanme'e Queen|queen]], Kig-Yar Shipmasters, and Unggoy traders were present. It was also said that their harnesses were adorned with large jewels.<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 381''</ref> | |||
While Unggoy infantry occasionally choose to employ [[suicide attack]]s out of desperation, the Covenant are also known to purposefully assign select fanatical Unggoy squads to use such attacks as their primary offensive tactic against the enemy.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 350''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[Exodus]]''</ref> | |||
The [[Heretic Unggoy]] followed their [[Sangheili]] organizers in [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction|a rebellion]] against the Covenant's Prophets. They started as members of an artifact retrieval group led by the Sangheili [[Sesa 'Refumee]]. | |||
The [[Heretic Unggoy]] followed their [[Sangheili]] organizers in a rebellion against the Covenant's Prophets. They started as members of an artifact retrieval group led by the Sangheili [[Sesa 'Refumee]]. | |||
==Gameplay== | ==Gameplay== | ||
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File:Unggoy concept.jpg|Early concept art for ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' | File:Unggoy concept.jpg|Early concept art for ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' | ||
File:Grunt Concept.jpg|Early concept art of an Unggoy [[Flood combat form]]. | File:Grunt Concept.jpg|Early concept art of an Unggoy [[Flood combat form]]. | ||
File:Succor.JPG|A cylindrical- | File:Succor.JPG|A cylindrical-backed Unggoy as seen in ''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''. | ||
File:Grunt Comparisons.jpg|A comparison among Unggoy in the ''Halo'' Trilogy and ''Halo: Reach''. | File:Grunt Comparisons.jpg|A comparison among Unggoy in the ''Halo'' Trilogy and ''Halo: Reach''. | ||
File:HCE - GruntArmorVariant.png|Armor variants for the Unggoy in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. | File:HCE - GruntArmorVariant.png|Armor variants for the Unggoy in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. | ||
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File:Halo2-GruntMinor.png|An Unggoy Minor as depicted in ''Halo 2''. | File:Halo2-GruntMinor.png|An Unggoy Minor as depicted in ''Halo 2''. | ||
File:1 grunt.jpg|An Unggoy as depicted in ''Halo 3''. | File:1 grunt.jpg|An Unggoy as depicted in ''Halo 3''. | ||
File:grunt-turret.jpg|An Unggoy Minor firing a plasma turret on board a [[Type-47 | File:grunt-turret.jpg|An Unggoy Minor firing a plasma turret on board a [[Type-47 Scarab|Scarab]]. | ||
File:Halo-3-20061220042119414.jpg|A [[Brute Captain]] leads a pack of Unggoy in the Earth | File:Halo-3-20061220042119414.jpg|A [[Brute Captain]] leads a pack of Unggoy in the Earth bunker [[Crow's Nest]]. | ||
File:Halo Reach - Unggoy.png|Another variant of the Unggoy harness. | File:Halo Reach - Unggoy.png|Another variant of the Unggoy harness. | ||
File:HReach - SpecOps Unggoy.png|SpecOps Unggoy in ''Halo: Reach''. | File:HReach - SpecOps Unggoy.png|SpecOps Unggoy in ''Halo: Reach''. | ||
