Bestiarum
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
The Bestiarum is a Forerunner-designed compendium of information about the various species in the Milky Way galaxy. Compiled by a Forerunner archival catalog, the Bestiarum also includes information about the species' homeworlds and the Forerunners' Technological Achievement Tiers. Sources for the information include the Halo Array, shield worlds, 2401 Penitent Tangent, and 343 Guilty Spark, with the latter Monitor's observations "under investigation".
Bestiarum - (CAVEAT)[edit]
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The following is a verbatim transcription of an official document for archival reasons. As the original content is transcribed word-for-word, any possible discrepancies and/or errors are included. |
The following information has been gleaned from a variety of sources, impartial and otherwise. Records retrieved from alien systems cannot be verified except by cross-reference against our own records. The significant system-wide lull in record-keeping for many of these species invalidates much of the provable veracity of this information. The following document is as accurate as possible under difficult circumstances but should be treated as an incomplete investigation only.
Investigation Status: ONGOING.
Information origins include:
UNSECURED ALIEN COMPUTER ARCHIVES (SUSPECT)
RECORDED OBSERVATIONS (VARIABLE)
TRANSLATED COMMUNICATIONS (VARIABLE)
INTERLOPED SYSTEMS (SUSPECT)
OWN ARCHIVAL EVIDENCE (ACCURATE)
COMMUNICATIONS FROM ARRAY INSTALLATIONS (CLEAR)
COMMUNICATIONS FROM SHIELDS (CLEAR)
ASSUMPTIONS FROM MONITOR 343 GUILTY SPARK (UNDER INVESTIGATION)
ASSUMPTIONS FROM MONITOR 2401 PENITENT TANGENT (CLEAR)
DNA/RNA/Silicon samples are encoded in this datastream. Reproduction of individuals for analysis is prohibited by this facility.
Bestiarum[edit]
Unggoy[edit]
[GRUNT, Monachus frigus]
Height: 1.67 meters | Weight: 118 kilos
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The Unggoy homeworld, Balaho, is a [terrestrial] planet with significant quantities of methane in the atmosphere. It is covered in a largely opaque layer of clouds, which prevents much of its surface from being seen from space. The parts of its surface that aren’t covered by polar ice caps or free water are brackish tidal flats with naturally occurring pillars of fire. It is still recovering from preactivation environmental collapse caused by massive global overindustrialization.
It seems that prior to their incorporation into the [Covenant], the Unggoy had yet to [reattain] Tier 4 technologies. Their discovery by the [Covenant] might even appear providential if it weren’t for their current [sociocultural] situation. The positions they hold within the [Covenant’s] rigid class structure have more to do with [genus bias] than inherent ability. To wit, their size relative to the species already in positions of power and reliance on external accoutrements to survive away from their homeworld have left them vulnerable to any number of exploitations. Their short gestational period, large number of young per clutch, and rapid sensory–motor integration development only increase their perceived disposability to the [Covenant] leadership. Although their principal [enforced function] tends more toward [drowning their foes in bodies and blood], their [unburdened neural pathways] allow them to [absorb knowledge more freely] than their peers, so they are also tasked with monitoring [the void] for signs of human communication. As a result, most Unggoy have a working knowledge of two or more Human languages. This has become a source of pride for them and, in times of great stress, also serves as a [reservoir of confidence].
One thing that has remained intact within the Unggoy population, even through [the dark time] following [reintroduction], is their unshakable sense of solidarity. It is quite extraordinary that they have been able to hold onto any sense of [national identity] separate from the [Covenant] after what amounts to [3,597,192 hours] of incessant indoctrination. Although their culture has been largely erased since their incorporation into the [Covenant], they retain enough of [an ethnic character] to occasionally urge them to challenge their oppressors—but they have yet to do so successfully.
Jiralhanae[edit]
[BRUTE, Servus ferox]
Height: 2.8 meters | Weight: 510 kilos
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Recent events have propelled Brutes from their role as Covenant-occupying muscle into a role previously held by Elites: the predominant military might of the hegemony total. These aggressive, pack-minded belligerents are one of the least technologically oriented species in the Covenant. What native technologies they do bring to the hegemony are invariably martial in nature, from reasonably sophisticated chemical explosives to primitive, yet markedly reliable percussive weapons. Because of their interactions with other Covenant species, their adoption of technologies is sporadic and nonlinear.
Typical of High-G mammalian bipeds, Jiralhanae are physically powerful, sturdy, and resilient. The Human term "Brute" is technically derogatory, referring generally to feral or wild creatures of prodigious strength. In that regard, it is one of the more accurate nomenclatures used by Homo sapiens. Brutes are strong, unsophisticated, and quick to anger.
Brute social structure is primarily pack-oriented under an alpha or alpha prime. There is certainly a patriarchal scheme that is followed loosely, depending on the social, martial, and sexual success of the patriarch. Patricide is an unfortunate side effect of patriarchy. No females have been observed in military roles.
Their adoption of the Covenant religion is recent and absolute. Indeed, Jiralhanae are some of the most fanatical adherents, following Prophet doctrine to the letter and maintaining an uneasy position of subservience to Sangheili until civil unrest and political turmoil propelled them to their new status. A long history of totemistic and symbolical native religions prepared them perfectly for conversion to the Prophet/Covenant dogma. This process is still in flux, but the Jiralhanae’s quickness to fill the Sangheili vacuum and its unpredictable predilection for destructive violence make them a significant threat to Array integrity.
Kig-Yar[edit]
[JACKAL, Perosus latrunculus]
Height: 1.9 meters | Weight: 88 kilos
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The homeworld of the Kig-yar is the primary satellite of the planet Chu’ot, which lies in the inner region of the system’s massive asteroid belt. It is characterized by its single equatorial ocean, sparse volcanism, and almost total lack of glaciation. Only about one-third of all Kig-yar who still reside in the Y’Deio system call Eayn their home; many have chosen to live among the [minor planets] within the asteroid belt since their initial contact with the [Covenant].
Although it is not entirely accurate to describe the Kig-yar as a typical Low-G species, they do have several qualities in common with other groups of [Lacerta erectus] from Low-G worlds that may or may not have survived [the dark time] following [reintroduction]. The female of the species lacks the spiny plumage of the male; replacing it are callositic plates at the forearms and rear of the head. Aside from the expected differences in reproductive organs, the male and female of the species are physically identical with none of the usual disparity in size or mass distribution.
The Kig-yar were initially intended to replace the Unggoy as the [Covenant’s] foot soldiers, but their temperament made the switch impractical. Instead, they have been employed as scouts or formed into special [commando] groups—overall, a more sensible utilization of their exceptional senses and physical prowess than to be used as amassed brute force. They are also used as an [ersatz] police force in occupied areas, although normally under the supervision of a representative of one of the higher castes. It is unclear whether they have been given this responsibility because the [Covenant] leadership feels the Unggoy aren’t reliable or intelligent enough for the job or because it is felt that the constant threat of [predation] projected by the Kig-yar is advantageous to the role.
Although the Kig-yar occupy a [caste] near the very bottom of the [Covenant] socioeconomic structure, they more closely resemble a separate entity existing independently within the state. None of the client species has direct representation within the [High Council]; rather, their [interests and concerns] are vetted by the Ministry of Concert. And while others have protested this inequity rather openly (but unsuccessfully), the Kig-yar have chosen a more pragmatic form of dissent—siphoning off resources to their expatriate brothers. But whether the [Covenant] powers have decided [to turn a blind eye] to their larcenous activities or those escapades have been made invisible by the labyrinth of bureaucracy is uncertain.
San'Shyuum[edit]
[PROPHET, Perfidia vermis]
Height: 2.2 meters | Weight: 91 kilos
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The Prophets claim their homeworld was destroyed when its star went [nova] some 3200 years ago, but there is very little data regarding the actual location of their system of origin. Their reluctance to disclose this seemingly inconsequential bit of information could well be a holdover from their long period of hostility with the Sangheili. At any rate, the [commitment[?]] necessary to maintain such a conspiracy of