Editing Morolaath

{{Title|''Morolaath''}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Quote|no=two|q1=Those strange [[Wikipedia:Dinosaur|dinosaur]]-looking creatures?|[[Olympia Vale]]|q2=In your [[Human languages|tongue]] it means 'blind wolf,' though it has been some time since [[humans]] have encountered them.|[[000 Tragic Solitude]]|[[Installation 00]]'s [[monitor]] explains ''morolaath'' to diplomat Olympia Vale.}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HHITD12|HitD|Chapter=12}}
[[File:HHITD BW closeup.PNG|thumb|350px|At least some of the ''morolaath'' encountered on [[Installation 00]] in early [[2555]] were under the influence of its [[monitor]], [[000 Tragic Solitude]].{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD18}}]]
'''''Morolaath''''', colloquially known as '''"blind wolves,"''' are predatory [[List of animals|creature]]s found on various [[Forerunner]] installations.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD12}}{{Ref/Generic|Id=HODTRE|Heading=[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]|Subheading=[[The Ring Experience]]}} They are formidable [[Wikipedia:pack hunter|pack hunter]]s that primarily rely on sound to direct their attacks.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD12}}{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}} Known to [[Ancient humanity|human]]s in the ancient past, operatives of the [[United Nations Space Command]] have observed ''morolaath'' on [[Installation 00]] and at least one [[Halo ring]] in the modern era.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD12}}{{Ref/Reuse|HODTRE}}

==Overview==
===Biology and physiology===
[[File:BlindWolfHead.PNG|thumb|right|200px|''Morolaath'' are covered in scales.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HHITDC|HitD|Detail=Cover art}}]]
With several variations known to exist,{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P363|Enc22|Page=363}}{{Ref/Site|Id=CFCuttingRoomLore|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/canon-fodder-cutting-room-lore|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Cutting Room Lore|D=26|M=07|Y=2022}} ''morolaath'' somewhat resemble [[Earth]]'s carnivorous [[Wikipedia:Theropoda|theropod]] dinosaurs, being scaly bipedal creatures with three clawed toes on each foot.{{Ref/Reuse|HODTRE}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HHITD9|HitD|Chapter=9}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HHITD10|HitD|Chapter=10}} Unlike theropods, however, they possess neither eyes nor arms.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}} ''Morolaath'' have gargantuan fangs which extend from the bottoms of their jaws and sharp teeth which line their upper jaws. Their nostrils, situated at the tips of their snouts, are flared to improve their sense of smell. It is their hearing, however, that ''morolaath'' primarily rely on to perceive their surroundings;{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P363}}{{Ref/Reuse|CFCuttingRoomLore}} they are able to react to relatively loud sounds from some distance away and also take notice of something as quiet as a [[human]] sighing from ten meters away.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}}{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD10}}

''Morolaath'' have long tails and powerful legs which allow even a small group to make the ground rumble when running at high speeds and affording them the ability to leap through the air.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}}{{Ref/Reuse|HHITDC}}{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD10}} Their strong, wide jaws are capable of tearing a human's head from their body.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}}{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD10}} Certain parts of their anatomy are more susceptible to injury than others, and a few rounds from a rifle fired at point-blank range into one's mouth and out the back of its head is enough to kill it.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD10}}

===Behavior===
''Morolaath'' are predatory carnivores which hunt in small packs led by an [[Wikipedia:Alpha (ethology)|alpha]].{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD12}}{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}} While hunting, they have been observed slowly striding toward potential prey with their heads low to the ground, sweeping them from side to side like [[Wikipedia:Conning tower|conning tower]]s. When noise signals the presence of a target, they may bolt toward it, only to slow down with confusion or irritation should the target move silently away in time. This change in emotional state manifests itself through random snapping of their teeth in the air or howling.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}} When speeding in for an attack, ''morolaath'' may clack their jaws together.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD10}} They are known to make low growling sounds, and the roaring or howling noises they make sound eerily similar to those of Earth's [[Wikipedia:Wolf|wolves]].{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD18}}{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}}{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD10}}

[[File:BlindWolfHowls.PNG|thumb|left|160px|In addition to their lack of vision, "blind wolves" are likely named for their howling.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD12}}{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}}]]
While multiple variations of ''morolaath'' have been encountered, they are all territorial apex predators that closely guard areas important to them, such as riverbanks they need to drink from.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HHITD18|HitD|Chapter=18}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P363}}{{Ref/Reuse|CFCuttingRoomLore}} Those that encroach on these locales may find themselves set upon by the pack which claims it.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD18}} The pack mentality of ''morolaath'' can be overridden by fear, in which case a larger or more intimidating creature can cause a pack to retreat and slink away rather than engage it.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD10}} Prolonged gunfire is especially likely to upset them, leaving them disoriented as they scramble about to locate targets amidst the cacophony.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD10}}

''Morolaath'' could be readily keyed by the [[Forerunner]]s to inhabit specific hunting ranges, and their acute senses make them well-suited as a "tripwire species" for detecting early [[Flood]] infestation and incursions by unauthorized sapient parties.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P363}}{{Ref/Reuse|CFCuttingRoomLore}} Those on [[Installation 00]] that were bred by [[000 Tragic Solitude]] were specially imbued with a genetic predisposition to attack interlopers while the [[monitor]] was in control.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD18}}

===Habitat===
As ''morolaath'' were modified by the Forerunners so that they could suit different hunting ranges,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P363}}{{Ref/Reuse|CFCuttingRoomLore}}  these creatures have been found to inhabit several different biomes. Possibly lending to their differing variations, ''morolaath'' have thus far been witnessed inhabiting snowy plains,{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}} rocky badlands,{{Ref/Reuse|HHITDC}} desert-like regions,{{Ref/Reuse|HODTRE}} forested marshes,{{Ref/Game|Id=PLATB|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail="A Tensed Bolt" artwork}} and riverbanks{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD18}} on Installation 00 and an unidentified [[Halo Array|Halo Installation]].{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD18}}{{Ref/Reuse|HODTRE}}{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}}

==History==
===Distant past===
Long ago, ''morolaath'' were known to [[Ancient humanity|ancient human]]s and were among the creatures [[Conservation Measure|preserved]] by the [[Librarian]] in preparation for the [[Great Purification|activation]] of the [[Halo Array]] in [[97,445 BCE]].{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD12}}{{Ref/Site|Id=CF9|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-array-with-words|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Array With Words|D=14|M=08|Y=2020}}{{Ref/Site|Id=WaypointLibrarian|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/librarian|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Universe - Librarian|D=29|M=10|Y=2021}} Following this destructive event, they were seeded upon at least one Halo installation while also being left to flourish on Installation 00, far beyond the edge of the [[Milky Way]] galaxy.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD12}}{{Ref/Reuse|HODTRE}} 

===Modern encounters===
{{Quote|If I were to guess, I'd say that many of the species on this installation had been predisposed to attacking us because of their genetic disposition. When the monitor—this Tragic Solitude, as it called himself—bred these creatures, it must have done it with particular genetic triggers that it could control through some impulse or neural communication system.|Doctor [[Luther Mann]] reaches a conclusion about the behavior of ''morolaath'' and other creatures encountered on the Ark.}}{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD18}}
[[File:PL - UncomfortableTruth1.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[000 Tragic Solitude]] considered ''morolaath'' to be very dangerous.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD12}}]]

In [[2552#December|December 2552]], the unfinished [[Installation 08]] was fired above Installation 00, resulting in the destruction of many [[sentient]] creatures which inhabited its surface.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HHITD1|HitD|Chapter=1}}{{Ref/Book|Id=HM122|HM|Page=122}}{{Ref/Map|Id=H2T|H2|Terminal (map)|Detail=Intercom voicelines}}{{Ref/Note|The ''[[Halo 2]]'' [[multiplayer]] map ''[[Terminal (map)|Terminal]]'', set in [[2552]] [[New Mombasa]], includes audible public announcements, one of which informs those present that a child's "My Pet Blind Wolf" [[toy]] has been found and that its owner should claim it at a lost and found. [[000 Tragic Solitude]] claimed in [[2555]] that it had been some time since humans had encountered ''morolaath''. Whether this announcement should be treated as nothing more than an [[Easter egg]] or as actually having canonical implications is unknown.}} Installation 00's monitor, 000 Tragic Solitude, eventually then began to reintroduce many live forms to the installation's [[refugia]], breeding some for specific purposes. Among these were more ''morolaath'', at least some of which the monitor imbued with particular genetic triggers it could control through some impulse or neural communication system. In this way, they were made servile to him, but were also predisposed to attack any future interlopers Solitude did not expressly allow to pass by them unmolested.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD18}}

In [[2555#March|March 2555]], a team of humans and [[Sangheili]] representing the [[United Nations Space Command]] and [[Swords of Sanghelios]], respectively, encountered a pack of six ''morolaath'' shortly after traveling to Installation 00.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}} The group managed to escape detection at first, but the appearance of ''[[chaefka]]'' created a commotion which drew the ''morolaath'' to join the ensuing struggle.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD9}} Those that survived were chased off, but a couple of them returned shortly thereafter only to be discouraged from further violence this time by [[Mammoth (Installation 00)|an animal]] which resembled a large [[Wikipedia:Gomphothere|gomphothere]] or [[Wikipedia:Mammoth|mammoth]].{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD10}} One other pack was encountered during that particular [[Operation: FAR STORM|mission]] on the extragalactic installation, but it retreated under a barrage of gunfire.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD18}}

''Morolaath'' were later observed on at least one Halo installation and footage of them was obtained by [[OQ-45 Honeybee]] drones and broadcast to Earth for viewing by civilians attending an [[Outpost Discovery]] event.{{Ref/Reuse|HODTRE}}{{Ref/Generic|Id=TMOTRE|Heading=[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]|Subheading=''The Making of The Ring Experience''}}{{Ref/Note|''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]'', a traveling experience canonically set at some point between [[2554]] and [[2557]], includes an attraction called [[The Ring Experience|"The Ring Experience"]] which involves viewing a [[Wavespace|live]] feed from a [[OQ-45 Honeybee]] drone exploring a [[Halo ring]]. Multiple ''morolaath'' can be seen in the environment. The planet which the ring is shown orbiting discounts the possibility that it could be [[Installation 05|Delta]] or [[Gamma Halo]], and executive producer of The Ring Experience, Jason Ambler, believes it is supposed to be [[Installation 07|Zeta Halo]]. If this is the case, the experience cannot be set any earlier than the point in [[2555]] when the [[Zeta Halo project|exploration]] of that installation began. [[000 Tragic Solitude]]'s claim in ''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' that ''morolaath'' had not been encountered by humans for some time would also suggest they had not been seen elsewhere before those who traveled to the Ark ran into some. Officially, the identity of the installation shown in The Ring Experience is presently undefined by [[343 Industries]]. It should also be noted that the canonical dating of ''Outpost Discovery'' may be able to be further narrowed by a display which claims it is believed [[343 Guilty Spark]] was destroyed in [[2552]]. It was in late [[2555]] that the [[UNSC]] first learned of this [[monitor]]'s survival, as established in Chapter 13 of ''[[Halo: Renegades]]''. However, it's very possible that the UNSC would have kept this information from the general public.}} When the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s [[Materials Group]] designed the [[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark I (J) Green Machine|HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark I [J] armor defense system]], it was equipped with sonic emitters meant for the specific purpose of repelling ''morolaath''.{{Ref/Game|Id=PLGM|HW2|Phoenix Logs|Detail=Green Machine}} Similarly, [[Emerson Tactical Systems]] has designed the UTIL/EmerSound Mark I shoulder pauldrons for [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN3)|GEN3]] [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]] which incorporate [[Wikipedia:Long-range acoustic device|acoustic hailer]]s intended to deter ''morolaath'' and other dangerous predators found on Halo installations.{{Ref/Game|Id=Emersound|HINF|Armor customization (Halo Infinite)|Armor Hall|Detail=UTIL/EmerSound Mark I - Shoulder Pad Description|Quote=Acoustic hailer tuned to deter blind wolves and other dangerous predators known to be indexed on Halo rings.}}

==Production notes==
[[File:HCE BlindWolf Concept.jpg|thumb|300px|This image show's Marcus Lehto's original sketch of the "blind wolf" and its insectoid companion.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=Twitter4|game_fabricator|464432470616571904|Marcus Lehto|D=04|M=07|Y=2024}}]]
{{Quote|no=four|q1=Look, it's the blind wolf!|[[Shi Kai Wang]]|q2=Big, beloved blind wolf.|[[Marcus Lehto]]|q3=That was back when you could ride it.|Shi Kai Wang|q4=Yeah, yeah. You could actually mount the thing and ride it. A.I.... A.I. couldn't, uh... Couldn't handle it on the A.I. side. Couldn't flock 'em, couldn't, uh... fit them into gameplay.|Marcus Lehto|Marcus Lehto, ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' art director, and Shi Kai Wang, a concept artist, discuss the attempts made to include "blind wolves" in the first ''Halo'' game.}}{{Ref/Game|Id=H2LCE|H2|Detail=''[[Limited Collector's Edition Disc (Halo 2)|Limited Collector's Edition]]''}}
The "blind wolf" was a creature designed by ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' art director [[Marcus Lehto]] to be included in that game.{{Ref/Reuse|H2LCE}}{{Ref/Twitter|Id=Twitter2|Dr_Abominable|464351948297089024|Paul Russell|D=04|M=07|Y=2024}} According to that early design, a blind wolf would have a symbiotic relationship with some kind of [[Wikipedia:Insect|insectoid]] creature.{{Ref/Reuse|Twitter}} This "bug" would plant its stinger at the base of the wolf's [[Wikipedia:Cranium|cranium]] and in this way allow it to see through the eyes of the bug.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=Twitter5|game_fabricator|1150951715228700673|Marcus Lehto|D=04|M=07|Y=2024}} Then, when the blind wolf caught and killed its prey, the bug would be permitted to share in eating the carcass of whatever had been killed.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=Twitter|Dr_Abominable|464531323785576449|Paul Russell|D=04|M=07|Y=2024}}{{Ref/Reuse|Twitter5}} Not only would blind wolves exist in groups in some environments of the game, but they were planned to be able to be ridden by [[John-117|the player's character]].{{Ref/Reuse|H2LCE}} Ultimately, they had to be cut from the game because of problems with [[Wikipedia:Artificial intelligence in video games|artificial intelligence]].{{Ref/Reuse|H2LCE}} In ''[[Halo 2]]'', the blind wolf was referenced by an ambient announcement on the [[multiplayer]] map ''[[Terminal (map)|Terminal]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|H2T}}

In [[2007 (real world)|2007]] a ''Halo'' [[Wikipedia:Massively multiplayer online game|massively multiplayer online game]] being worked on by [[Ensemble Studios]] was cancelled.{{Ref/Site|Id=EESCPWHM|URL=https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20153|Site=Gamasutra|Page=Exclusive: Ensemble Studios' Canceled Project Was Halo MMO|D=26|M=07|Y=2022}} Called ''[[Titan (canceled game)|Titan]]'' and set during the time of the Forerunners, [https://www.halopedia.org/images/1/1e/Jaggmaw.jpg one known piece of concept art] for the game shows a creature referred to in the artwork as a "jaggmaw sailtail," which bears a strong resemblance to the blind wolf cut from ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.{{Ref/Reuse|H2LCE}}{{Ref/Reuse|EESCPWHM}}{{Ref/Twitter|Id=Twitter6|zaphodgjd|1151524900592640003|Graeme Devine|D=04|M=07|Y=2024}} The jaggmaw sailtail is drawn as a an eyeless bipedal carnivorous creature lacking any form of forelimbs, but unlike the blind wolf it bears notable protrusions along the dorsal surface of its tail. The largest of these is used in the imagery to mount a seat occupied by a [[Jiralhanae]] rider.{{Ref/Reuse|EESCPWHM}} When a [[Halo Mash-Up: Minecraft Evolved|''Halo''-themed texture pack]] was released for [[Wikipedia:Minecraft|Minecraft]] in [[2014]], it allowed [[Wikipedia:Horse|horse]]s in the game to be re-skinned to resemble "blind wolves."{{Ref/Generic|Id=HMUME|''[[Halo Mash-Up: Minecraft Evolved|Minecraft Halo Mash-Up]]''}} The blind wolves were formally introduced to canon the following year in the [[Halo novels|novel]] ''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'', where they were also first identified as ''morolaath''.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITD12}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:BlindWolf.jpg|This image shows a three-dimensional model of a blind wolf created for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.{{Ref/Reuse|H2LCE}}
File:Blind wolf - deletemat (textured).jpg|This image provides a more detailed look at the unused model of a blind wolf.{{Ref/Reuse|Twitter4}} 
File:Blind Wolves.jpg|A pack of blind wolves run past a [[M12 Warthog|Warthog]] in an early build of ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.{{Ref/Reuse|H2LCE}}
File:BlindWolfCut2.PNG|The player character rides a blind wolf in an early build of ''Combat Evolved''.{{Ref/Reuse|H2LCE}}
File:BlindWolfTrailer.PNG|A Warthog drives past a blind wolf in [[Halo E3 2000 trailer|the first]] trailer shown for ''Combat Evolved''.<ref name="E32000">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]] [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] [[2000]] ''[[Halo E3 2000 trailer|trailer]]</ref>
File:HCE CanonFodder BlindWolves.jpg|Blind wolves restored into ''Combat Evolved'' in the [[Digsite]] project.
File:Hunters in the Dark full cover.jpg|[[N'tho 'Sraom]] and [[Spartan]] [[Frank Kodiak]] face off against several ''morolaath'' on the cover art for ''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''.{{Ref/Reuse|HHITDC}}
File:HOD BlindWolf Concept.png|Concept art of the blind wolves for ''Outpost Discovery''.
File:HOD MorolaathSide.PNG|This portion of a promotional image for ''The Making of The Ring Experience'' at ''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]'' shows how ''morolaath'' appear within [[The Ring Experience|the experience]].{{Ref/Reuse|HODTRE}}{{Ref/Reuse|TMOTRE}}
File:HOD Morolaath.PNG|A blind wolf reacts to a [[UNSC]] [[OQ-45 Honeybee]] drone flying by it.{{Ref/Reuse|HODTRE}}
File:HOD_BlindWolf_Render_Angle.png|An angle of the morolaath's render from its 3D turnaround,
File:HOD BlindWolf Render Front.png|An alternative angle.
File:HOD_BlindWolf_Turnaround.gif|The full 360° turnaround
File:Enc22-Morolaath.png|A blind wolf as they appear in the [[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]].
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{Fm}}
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Mo}}

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources|3}}

[[Category:Animals]]