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| {{Title|''Chaefka''}} | | {{Era|Forerunner|Post}} |
| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{New Content|[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]}} |
| [[File:Enc22 Tuskbeast.jpg|thumb|300px|The ''chaefka''.]] | | The '''chaefka''', known to ancient humans as a '''neldoruut''',<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''page 230''</ref> is one of several species encountered by a joint [[UNSC]]–[[Swords of Sanghelios]] task force encountered during an [[Mission to Installation 00|expedition]] to [[Installation 00]] in [[2555]]. They were similar in stature to the polar bears of Earth, but with taloned paws, tusks protruding from their faces, horn-like protrusions at the shoulders, and toothed mouths sealed by a set of six mandibles.<ref>'''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''', ''pages 174-175''</ref> Chaefka were capable of producing pheromones which had a psychotropic effect on humans. |
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| The '''''chaefka''''', known to [[Ancestors|ancient human]]s as '''neldoruut''',{{Ref/Novel|Id=HitD12|HitD|Chapter=12}}{{Ref/Site|Id=CFJurassic|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-jurassic-ark|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Jurassic Ark|D=23|M=12|Y=2019}} and colloquially known in modern day as the '''tusk beast''',{{Ref/Reuse|CFJurassic}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p362|Enc22|Page=362}} is a large mammalian [[List of animals|creature]] that can be found on [[Installation 00]] and several [[planet]]s [[Reintroduction|reseeded]] by the [[Forerunner]]s following the [[Great Purification|firing]] of the [[Halo Array]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p362}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HitD9|HitD|Chapter=9}}
| | Chaefka were known to eat vegetation, though their sharp teeth and claws would suggest that they are omnivorous.<ref>'''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''page 344''</ref> The chaefka encountered on Installation 00 initially attacked the UNSC-Sangheili task force on sight, however evidence suggests that they were acting at the behest of [[monitor]] [[000 Tragic Solitude]], as after the monitor's destruction they reacted to the interlopers with indifference. |
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| ==Overview==
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| ===Anatomy and physiology===
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| ''Chaefka'' are large mammalian creatures with similar white fur and stature to the [[Wikipedia:Polar bear|polar bear]]s of [[Earth]]. Each of their four [[Wikipedia:Digitigrade|digitigrade]] legs end in paws with sharp talons. ''Chaefka'' have two large, horn-like protrusions at their shoulders, and another set of two smaller swept-back horns atop their heads. They have a pair of tusks framing their mouths, which are topped with a mammal-like snout and filled with rows of sharp teeth sealed by a set of six mandibles. ''Chaefka'' also have short fur-covered tails.{{Ref/Reuse|CFJurassic}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p362}}{{Ref/Reuse|HitD9}}
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| ===Behavior===
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| ''Chaefka'' are omnivorous, having been known to eat leaves from trees with their mandibled mouths and hunt live prey using their sharp talons.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p362}}{{Ref/Reuse|HitD9}}{{Ref/Reuse|HitD18}} It appears that ''chaefka'' regularly make use of their natural camouflage, utilizing their white fur to hide during blizzards or appears as snow-covered boulders while resting.{{Ref/Reuse|HitD9}}{{Ref/Reuse|HitDpro}} When hunting, ''chaefka'' have a unique ability to produce pheromones with an agent that causes intense psychotropic effects on humans and other prey.{{Ref/Reuse|CFJurassic}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p362}}{{Ref/Reuse|HitD9}} For intimidation purposes, ''chaefka'' are known to growl and snarl, and even roar when about to attack. ''Chaefka'' regularly travel and hunt in packs, often charging at prey with surprising speed and agility. The creatures attempt kill their prey by tearing into them with their talons and teeth, sometimes using one of their paws to pin their prey to the ground. The tusks on either side of their heads are seemingly used defensively to knock back other predators that get too close.{{Ref/Reuse|HitD9}}
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| ===Habitat===
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| ''Chaefka'' could be found on thousands of [[planet]]s within the [[Milky Way]] even before the [[Forerunner]]s had mastered space travel. Following the [[Great Purification|activation]] of the [[Halo Array]], ''chaefka'' were [[Reintroduction|reintroduced]] on several worlds.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p362}}{{Ref/Reuse|HitD9}} A population of ''chaefka'' still existed on [[Installation 00]] as of [[2555]].{{Ref/Reuse|HitD9}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HitDpro|HitD|Detail=Prologue}} | |
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| Given their habitat on Installation 00, it appears that the ''chaefka''{{'}}s natural habitat includes snow-covered plains and taigas where they can utilize their white fur to stay warm and mask their presence from prey.{{Ref/Reuse|HitD9}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HitD18|HitD|Chapter=18}}
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| ==History==
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| ===Discovery and research===
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| Discovered by the Forerunners on thousands of worlds fairly early in their expansion into the stars, the inexplicable fact that the ''chaefka'' could be found on so many planets led [[Lifeworker]]s to collect them for study. However, eons of study failed to reveal any profound secrets regarding their origins. The only notable discovery resulting from this researched involved the creature's unique ability to release [[Wikipedia:Psychoactive drug|psychotropic]] [[Wikipedia:Pheromone|pheromones]] on its prey, which led to a number of unintentional biological advancements.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p362}} The [[Ancestors]] presumably encountered the ''chaefka'' at some point as they had their own name for the creature.{{Ref/Reuse|HitD12}} Prior to the firing of the Halo Array at the end of the [[Forerunner-Flood war]], many examples of the ''chaefka'' were archived by Lifeworkers as part of the [[Conservation Measure]] and later reseeded on several worlds.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p362}}
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| [[File:HM-FarStorm.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Zon 'Vadum]], [[Usze 'Taham]], and [[Olympia Vale]] fighting a ''chaefka'' on Installation 00.]]
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| ===Sightings on the Ark===
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| In [[2554]],{{Ref/Generic|Id=provenance|[[Eleventh Hour reports]]|Detail=Report #4}} the {{UNSCShip|Rubicon}} arrived at Installation 00 to investigate the state of the installation and begin research of its secrets.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HitD2|HitD|Chapter=2}} The [[monitor]] [[000 Tragic Solitude]] unleashed the installation's fauna and constructs on the [[remote contact team]]s deployed by the ''Rubicon'' and destroyed nearly all of the teams, with RCT [[Broadside]] in particular being set upon by ''chaefka''.{{Ref/Reuse|HitDpro}}
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| When a joint [[UNSC]]–[[Swords of Sanghelios]] task force embarked on [[Operation: FAR STORM|expedition]] to Installation 00 in 2555, they were attacked by several ''chaefka'' seemingly also under the control of 000 Tragic Solitude.{{Ref/Reuse|HitD12}}{{Ref/Reuse|HitD9}} A considerable number of ''chaefka'' had hunkered down on a snowy plain giving the appearance of several large snow-covered boulders grouped together. As the joint force approached, they could hear a low growling, snarling sound, but the noise was believed to have originated from a pack of ''[[morolaath]]'' heading their direction. When the ''morolaath'' passed and the force neared the snow-covered "boulders," the group of ''chaefka'' revealed themselves. They roared and charged at the UNSC and Swords personnel, and the ''morolaath'' soon returned after hearing the sounds of battle, lashing out at the ''chaefka'' as well as the [[human]]s and [[Sangheili]].{{Ref/Reuse|HitD9}} In the heat of battle, 000 Tragic Solitude utilized the psychotropic properties of the ''chaefka''{{'}}s pheromones to lure [[Olympia Vale]] away from her group. Eventually, the ''chaefka'' leading her away even prompted her to ride it as it took her to the monitor.{{Ref/Reuse|HitD12}}
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| As the joint task force prepared to leave Installation 00, they came across another group of ''chaefka'' that were eating leaves from some nearby trees. Seeing the group, the ''chaefka'' simply stared blankly at them before returning to what they had been doing, seemingly showing that they were no longer under the control of the monitor, who had been destroyed at this point.{{Ref/Reuse|HitD18}}
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| ==Production notes== | | ==Production notes== |
| The ''chaefka'', then known as the "arctic beast," was initially designed for inclusion in ''[[Halo Wars]]''. The creature was concepted and 3D modelled, though ultimately became one of [[Cut Halo Wars units#Animals|many creatures]] cut from the game. The arctic beast was likely intended to have appeared in the levels set on [[Harvest]]. The arctic beast would later re-appear in [[2015]]'s ''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' as the ''chaefka'', before being given an official illustration using the original ''Halo Wars'' design in the [[2016|following year]]'s ''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''. | | *The chaefka, then known as the "arctic beast", first appeared in the concept art for ''[[Halo Wars]]'',<ref>[http://www.halowars.com/Galleries/ConceptArt.aspx '''Official Halo Wars Community Site''': ''Concept Art'']</ref> though the animal was never implemented into the game. |
| | *The concept art of the chaefka, created for ''Halo Wars'', looks vaguely similar and comparable to the [[w:c:starwars:Wampa|Wampa]] from ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and the [[w:c:starwars:Reek|Reek]] in ''Attack of the Clones'' in Star Wars. |
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| ==Gallery== | | ==Gallery== |
| <gallery> | | <gallery> |
| File:HW_ArcticBeast_Concept.jpg|Concept art of the "arctic beast," created for ''[[Halo Wars]]''. | | File:concept08_8_1280.jpg|Concept art of the animal, created for ''Halo Wars'' |
| File:HW ArcticBeast HiPoly.jpg|High-poly sculpt of the "arctic beast" for ''Halo Wars''. | | File:HW - brett briley -arctic beast.jpg|A model of the creature for ''Halo Wars'' |
| File:HW_ArcticBeast_Render.jpg|A model of the "arctic beast" for ''Halo Wars''.
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| File:HM-Chaefka.jpeg|A ''chaefka'' in ''Halo Mythos''.
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| </gallery> | | </gallery> |
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| ==List of appearances== | | ==List of appearances== |
| *''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{1st}} | | *''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{1st}} |
| *''[[Halo Mythos]]''
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| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
| | <references/> |
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| [[Category:Animals]] | | [[Category:Animals]] |
