Vortigaunts: Probable vs Impossible
This is mega thread guide related to Vortigaunts in order to dispel the belief that think having a Vortigaunt makes them a badass super saiyan on steroids. So please, enjoy.
Vortigaunt General InformationVortigaunts or Xenotherium subservilia, formerly known as Alien Slaves or Xen Slaves, and affectionately known as "Vorts" by their allies,
They are sapient aliens found throughout the Half-Life series. Long before the events ofHalf-Life occur, the Vortigaunts' homeworld was invaded by theCombine, forcing the entire species (excluding the ones enslaved by the Combine) to flee to Xen. When the Black Mesa Incident occurred, their master Nihilanth viewed the rift that opened as their chance to escape, and directed the Vortigaunts in the invasion of Earth. Following the death of the latter, they have, as a species, chosen to ally themselves with the human-led Resistance in its bid to overthrow the Combine rule of Earth.
The "Vorts" have a special energy which can be used as a weapon and as a healing spell. If it attacks, it uses green-lighting type energy that requires to charge for a short period of time, after its fully charged it unleashes the energy. It sometimes sends the oppenent flying backwards.
It is basically the same for their 'Healing Spell'. As it needs to charge up in order to use it. When they use the healing spell on other people, they begin a ritual where they sing while the healing takes affect.
Vortigaunts are very intelligent and social creatures. In Half-Life, they serve as basic ground units for the Xen forces, often supporting heavier troops fighting the player and the humans in the Black Mesa Research Facility. They are capable of developing intelligent strategies and tactics to take on their enemies. Initially, Vortigaunts are enslaved to the Nihilanth, a large creature on Xen, who, in turn, claims it is a slave to unknown superiors. On Xen, the Vortigaunts are used as factory workers and drones. In Half-Life 2, Vortigaunts indicate that this slavery has lasted for generations. Despite this, Vortigaunts are shown to have developed an intellectual culture, valuing poetry, music and philosophy. In addition, Vortigaunts practise the husbandry of antlions, large insectoids that live in underground hives, as an ancestral tradition. The death of the Nihilanth at the hands of Gordon Freeman at the end of Half-Life frees the Vortigaunts from their slavery; consequently the Vortigaunts see Freeman as a messianic figure.
Vortigaunts possess their own method of vocal communication, "flux shifting", which they can be heard using in Half-Life 2. This method of communication involves both speakers vocalising at the same time and cannot be understood by other species who lack the auditory anatomy to interpret the sounds. In addition to standard conversation, flux shifting can be used by Vortigaunts to communicate over long distances. Vortigaunts use scattered English words in Half-Life to taunt the player, although by Half-Life 2 they have learned to speak at least the English language fluently, albeit using archaic words and grammatical structures. In addition, the Vortigaunts believe in a binding life-force referred to as the "Vortessence". The exact nature of the Vortessence is left unclear, although it is revealed that Vortigaunts believe the Vortessence is the fabric of the universe and connects everything.
AnatomyVortigaunts are remarkably similar to that of the Human physiology in the sense of maintaining an upright posture and having the notable features of the Torso, head, arms and legs. However, while there are similarities, there are also vast differences. The Vortigaunts has third-arm in which is used for the sake of feeding as seen in many instances in Half-Life 1 where they linger over a corpse and appear to be feeding upon it. They also have a single eye ball, however that single eye has several apertures in which its several pupils can gain an equal point of view which no doubt offers a wider field of view than that of a Human being.
Vortigaunts are also known for their back-jointed lower limbs in which in theory would hinder their ability to run at excessive speeds or for long distances however still enables it possible. These creatures also have four nipples, two rectums and a single navel. This leading many to conclude that Vortigaunts do indeed give life births and are in fact mammalian in nature. Finally, their lacking of a teeth on the lower jaw and absence of a tongue also cripples their speech, making it difficult to properly pronounce S's and R's.
Racial ObservationsWhile it is true that all organisms are different in some form or another, Vortigaunts have a few psychological traits in common. Extremely intelligent, Vortigaunts appear to be able to develop detailed plans in order to out-smart a foe and have shown signs of working together to preform near impossible feats. However, many have been seen to be rather timid as a default reaction to most situations they are more than able to defend themselves in dangerous situations. When injured, they seem more keen to retreat and return later to release the remainder of their unbridled fury. While some Vortigaunts observed have shown signs of higher intelligence and wise judgement, not all Vortigaunts are fully capable of this.
Most achieve this due to their seemingly perpetual natural life spans ranging into the hundreds. However, it is well theorized that manipulation of the 'Vortessence' is indeed a learned trained based off a quote driven from a Vortigaunt itself; "We are a tapestry woven of Vortessence. It is the same for you if only you would see it." This quote alone suggests that Vortessence is a learned trait (furthermore suggesting that not all Vortigaunts are natrually wise and mighty) and that even humanity has potential in its manipulation, however it seems impossible for the time being.
Probable vs ImpossibleVortigaunts are known to do many things, ranging from teleportation to even revival of the nearly departed but not all these things are always possible. From what is known, Vortigaunts are incapable of revival and the healing of potentially fatal wounds without aid from natural components, hence why Vortigaunts are known Antlion cultivators. Revival without major risk is something seldom achieved without aid from multiple (presumably no less than 4) Vortigaunts and Antlion Guard Larval Extract. Teleportation is along similar tracks, except the Extract is not needed. Teleportation is something only done with multiple (presumably no less than 4 to 6 depending on the distance and location) Vortigaunts and only with the highest level of concentration. During this process, Vortigaunts have been reported to turn form their usual mottled olive skin pigment to a shade of deep indigo with a Mother of Pearl consistency.
The strength of a physically fit and
fully healthy Vortigaunt (which most vortigaunts may be not due to their scarce sources of food and many living just under the radar of the Union for fear of being conscripted), while strong, is only comparable to that of a CCA unit with up to Section Leader Augmentations. However, a single blast of their Vortessence (if not stopped before charging time) can mortally wound even a OverWatch Commander if a direct blow is dealt.
Vortigaunts are capable of pausing time for a very limited duration of time (most likely up to 10-20 seconds) as shown in Half-Life 2 Episode One, however this would require a hefty amount of Vortigaunts (roughly a minimum of 5) for aid and even at that, the power boost of the Larval Extract would most likely be needed. Despite most cases, not all Vortigaunts are good in nature and willing to help. Like Humans, Vortigaunts are capable of having a malevolent side as seen throughout Half-Life 1 and many may even be hostile upon contact or plain cynical. Vortigaunts are also not keen at having threatening weapons around or pointed at them, if this is the case is may provoke...violent repercussions.
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