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{{Notability|Fiction|date=January 2008}} |
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'''Vortigaunts''' (sometimes known as '''alien slaves''') are a [[List of extraterrestrials in fiction|fictional species]] from the ''[[Half-Life]]'' [[video game]] series. They made their first appearance in ''[[Half-Life]]'', in which they serve as frequently encountered enemies. In the sequel, ''[[Half-Life 2]]'' they become allies and join the human resistance against the Combine empire which has enslaved both races. |
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Their only known home is the [[Xen (Half-Life)|Xen]] border world, from which they travelled to [[Earth]] during the Black Mesa Incident and Portal Storms. |
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== Overview == |
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=== Physiology === |
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[[Image:VortigauntHL2.jpg|200px|thumb|A Vortigaunt in ''Half-Life 2'']] |
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In appearance, a Vortigaunt is somewhat [[humanoid]] with two legs and two arms, but has an additional arm protruding from its thorax. This extra limb is a feature also found in the other bipedal, sapient species from [[Xen (Half-Life)|Xen]], including the [[Alien Grunt]] and [[Nihilanth]]. This similarity, along with other shared features such as red eyes and [[digitigrade]] legs, suggests a [[Lineage (evolution)|common ancestry]] with other intelligent Xen lifeforms. Vortigaunts have a mottled green-brown skin, sharp [[teeth]], and [[claw]]ed hands. Vortigaunts have a slightly hunched posture, and their faces are dominated by a large, single red eye, surrounded by five smaller eyes. It should be noted that the purple Vortigaunts in ''Episode One'' have blue eyes, while the eyes of the ones in ''Episode Two'' stay red. |
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=== Intelligence and culture === |
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Vortigaunts are intelligent and social creatures. Throughout the entire ''Half-Life'' series they are capable of developing intelligent strategies. |
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Brief glimpses into Vortigaunt culture can be gained by occasional speeches given by them in ''Half-Life 2'', and in scenes in the original ''Half-Life''. In the original game, Vortigaunts were an [[slavery|enslaved]] species to the [[Nihilanth]], used as factory workers and drone soldiers. Based on comments, Vortigaunts have suffered enforced servitude for generations up to the events of the first ''Half-Life''. Vortigaunts have many traditions, including an apparent oral tradition of passing down [[poetry]] and [[song]]s from generation to generation. One particular comment made by a Vortigaunt — "''We have lost all dear to us''" — suggests that they lost their original civilization. Vortigaunts also have a collective consciousness - each moment (Gordon killing the Nihilanth, Gordon's arrival at Black Mesa East, etc.) through time appears to them as one. |
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=== Communication and the "Vortessence" === |
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Vortigaunts possess their own method of vocal communication, which, in ''Half-Life 2'', they can be heard using and referring to as "flux shifting". This method of communication involves both speakers vocalising at the same time and cannot be understood by "those whose Vortal inputs are impaired" i.e. humans. |
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In the first part of ''Half-Life'', the Vortigaunts use scattered English words they heard from the humans to taunt them in combat ("''Die!''"). By the beginning of ''Half-Life 2'', however, Vortigaunts have learned to speak at least the [[English language]] fluently. The Vortigaunts' use archaic, even [[William Shakespeare|Shakespearian]], [[vocabulary|words]] and [[grammar|grammatical structures]]. It is not known whether this is a lack of understanding or a deliberate choice on their part. |
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The Vortigaunts believe in a binding life-force which they call the "Vortessence", which could be a religion or a popular belief. They believe the Vortessence is the fabric of the universe, made of "vortal cords", [[M-theory|of which everything is woven]] (and therefore everything is connected). Due to their use of this force, which remains untapped by the human species, the Vortigaunt species is capable of a form of [[telepathy]], at least amongst their own kind. The Vortigaunts are able to read and control this force for their electrical powers, nearly hive-mind telepathy and, likely, their ability to take power from objects. The Nihilanth's powers and enslavement of the Vortigaunts were also gained through control of the Vortessence. |
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In ''Half-Life 2'', the Vortigaunts are voiced by [[Louis Gossett, Jr.]]. It is mentioned in ''[[Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar|Raising the Bar]]'' that Gossett was chosen partially due to his role as the alien in the film ''[[Enemy Mine (film)|Enemy Mine]]''. In ''[[Half-Life 2: Episode Two|Episode Two]]'', he is replaced by [[Tony Todd]]. |
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=== Offensive and defensive abilities === |
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:halflife12.JPG|250px|thumb|Two Vortigaunts as they prepare to initiate electrical attacks in [[Black Mesa Research Facility|Black Mesa]], ''[[Half-Life: Blue Shift]]'']] --> |
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In ''[[Half-Life]]'' and its expansion packs, Vortigaunts are common enemies in both [[Black Mesa Research Facility|Black Mesa]] and Xen. While they usually attack aggressively, they often become timid when injured, preferring to run away rather than risk further combat and possible death. They have two modes of attack: an energy attack in which they fire fairly powerful green lightning-like energy beams that require a vulnerable period of "charging-up" before being unleashed, and when close to opponents, they attack with their claws; in ''Half-Life 2'', when faced with Headcrabs, they will attempt to kick them. Significantly, all of the Vortigaunts in ''Half-Life'' wear green collars and wrist bands. In Half-Life: Decay, it is shown that the green collars and bands can be "activated" to fire a burst of energy identical to normal attack used by the Vortigaunts. Vortigaunts often act as support for the tougher [[Alien Grunt|Alien Grunts]] in ''Half-Life'', as the player will be concentrating on killing the tougher Grunts while the Vortigaunts can attack freely. |
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In ''Half-Life 2'', their electrical attack is far more devastating, tending to kill whatever it hits immediately, and quite often knock back its target at considerable distance. Only objects with significant mass can resist being knocked back, such as the [[List of humanoid and synthetic Combine in Half-Life 2#Strider|Strider]] (which can only be damaged by explosives) and [[Antlion (Half-Life 2)#Antlion Guards|Antlion Guards]]. These attacks occur only twice during the singleplayer game both when Gordon's view is restricted by rubble or other blockages, and the only way to see a Vortigaunt in combat is to spawn it with enemies using the console. It is also suggested that Vortigaunts can siphon an opponent's lifeforce with their energy beam attack, as they are heard saying phrases such as "Give over your essence!" or "Empower us!" during some of their attacks in ''Half-Life 2''. |
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== Expanded role == |
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=== ''Half-Life 2'' === |
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[[Image:HL2 janitor vortigaunt AYool.jpg|200px|thumb|An enslaved Vortigaunt janitor in ''Half-Life 2''.]] |
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In ''[[Half-Life 2]]'', [[Gordon Freeman]] meets up with the creatures again. This time, however, they are eager to assist in overthrowing the [[Combine (Half-Life 2)|Combine]]. In the time between the two games, the Vortigaunts have been freed from their former master, and most remaining on Earth have joined the human Resistance against the Combine. The game also reveals that the Vortigaunts are capable of using their electrical attack productively, in the form of a blue energy stream that can recharge batteries, power electronic circuits and weld objects together. The Vortigaunts credit Gordon Freeman with their freedom, and hold him in high esteem as "The Free Man" (as it was Freeman who slew the [[Nihilanth]] and freed the Vortigaunts), though they also seem to mourn all those "whose cords [Freeman] cut." |
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However, not all Vortigaunts have been freed. In the first chapter of ''Half-Life 2'' — "Point Insertion" — it is possible to catch a brief glimpse of a Vortigaunt working under the Combine. Wearing a collar and armbands similar to those worn in ''Half-Life'' (with an additional band around the waist), the Vortigaunt is shown slowly and meticulously using a push-broom to sweep dirt and garbage in the City 17 train station. An unshackled Vortigaunt is seen in a similar role in a human-controlled silo in ''Episode Two''. When exploring Nova Prospekt, the player comes across a dead Vortigaunt, wearing collar and armbands, sitting in a restrained chair. It appears that the Vortigaunt has died during electrical [[torture]] by the Combine, which would explain [[Alyx Vance]]'s comments that the Resistance's only knowledge of Nova Prospekt is through telepathic communications from Vortigaunts taken there for torture or interrogation. |
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=== Miscellaneous ''Half-Life'' titles and mods === |
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In the official co-op expansion ''[[Half-Life: Decay]]'', players who manage to obtain an A rank on all of the regular missions with at least one character may unlock a bonus mission titled "Xen Attacks", where both players play as Vortigaunts. Although short on story, the mission gives some unique insight into the Vortigaunts' role in the Black Mesa incident. The players control "Drone Subjects" X-8973 and R-4913, two Vortigaunts sent to Earth by Nihilanth. The mission Nihilanth has assigned them is the retrieval of crystals stolen from Xen by the Black Mesa science team. Both Vortigaunts are able to regain health by damaging objects or enemies. |
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==Notable Vortigaunts== |
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===Uriah=== |
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[[Image:Vortigaunt uriah.jpg|thumb|Uriah is one of few Vortigaunts seen wearing Human Clothing]] |
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Uriah is a Vortigaunt first appearing in ''[[Half-Life 2: Episode Two]]''. In ''Episode Two'' Gordon is introduced to the Vortigaunt when he reaches [[White Forest Rocket Facility]]. Gordon is instructed by [[Dr. Arne Magnusson|Magnusson]] to head into the Silo 2 complex. Uriah lets Gordon into Silo 2 and reappears with Alyx when Gordon has closed the Silo Access. Uriah is later seen at the Magnusson Device training scene helping control the Strider test dummy. |
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Uriah is notable for being the only Vortigaunt with a name, and one of the few seen wearing human clothing. The [[Audio commentary#Audio commentaries in video games|developer's commentary]] reveals that this particular Vortigaunt acquired a name because of the special relationship it had with play testers. Uriah's original nickname was Heep, based on the character [[Uriah Heep (David Copperfield)|Uriah Heep]] from [[Charles Dickens|Charles Dickens's]] novel, [[David Copperfield (novel)|David Copperfield]]. This is because the Vortigaunt species is known for its "heaping" posture. Like all Vortigaunts, he is voiced by actor [[Tony Todd]]. |
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{{wikiquotepar|Half-Life 2#"The All-Knowing Vortigaunt"|"The All-Knowing Vortigaunt"}} |
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* ''[[Half-Life]]'' |
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* [[Half-Life#Expansions|''Half-Life'' Expansions]] |
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* [[Half-Life 2: Episode One|''Half-Life 2'' Episodes]] |
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{{Half-Life}} |
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[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial species]] |
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[[Category:First-person shooter creatures]] |
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[[Category:Half-Life characters]] |
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[[ca:Vortigaunt]] |
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[[pl:Vortigaunt]] |
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[[ru:Вортигонт]] |
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[[fi:Vortigaunt]] |
Latest revision as of 00:23, 19 July 2023
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