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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|UNSC|HCW}} |
| [[File:Enc22_ThornBeast.jpg|300px|thumb|A thorn beast.]]
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| The '''thorn beast''', known to the [[Forerunner]]s as '''Saaliban''',{{Ref/Book|Id=EN|Enc22|Page=363}} is a docile herd [[List of animals|herbivore]] used for food and other resources by the [[Covenant]] and the [[Jiralhanae]] in particular. Following the empire's collapse, Jiralhanae still use them.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
| | '''Thorn beasts''' are a docile herd [[List of animals|animal]] used as food by the [[Covenant]], particularly the [[Jiralhanae]]. Named for the five "thorns" that ridge their backs, they may have been domesticated for consumption. Their head and neck contain high concentrations of neurotoxins, likely a defensive adaptation against predators that go for the head or neck to kill.<ref name="cp195">'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 195''</ref> |
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| ==History==
| | [[Jiralhanae]] seem especially partial for the animal. Chieftain [[Maccabeus]] enjoyed eating the ball of muscle under the smallest of the five thorns that ridge its back when it was properly prepared, and the [[Jiralhanae Army Commander]] enjoyed it immensely, saying that it was "both an appetizer and dessert". The Jiralhanae prefer the thorn beast as served back up, showing its five spikes and its legs splayed forward. The head and neck is cut off, due to the high amount of neurotoxins. The thorn beast's entrails are often reduced into dipping sauces.<ref name="cp195"/> Given the Jiralhanae's enjoyment of the animal, it may have originated on [[Doisac]]. When the Jiralhanae vessel ''[[Valorous Salvation]]'' landed on [[Beta Gabriel]] and the Jiralhanae began hunting the humans there, it was noted that one Brute named [[Golubus|Brother Golubus]] came close to making the fatter humans taste like thorn beast.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss]]"</ref> |
| Thorn beasts were fostered on numerous [[planet|world]]s by [[Forerunner]] [[Lifeworker]]s following the [[Great Purification|activation]] of the [[Halo Array]] as part of an effort to rebalance struggling ecosystems. One such planet was [[Doisac]], the homeworld of the [[Jiralhanae]]. Thorn beasts became particularly important to the Jiralhanae following the [[First Immolation]] when they were one of the few herbivores to survive the effects of [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear warfare]].{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
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| The thorn beast has both totemic and practical significance in Jiralhanae culture, with every element of its body being used for food, tools, or chemistry.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}} Chieftain [[Maccabeus]] enjoyed eating the ball of muscle under the smallest of the beasts' thorns when it was properly prepared, and the commander known as [[Avitus]] enjoyed it immensely, saying that it was "both an appetizer and a dessert." Thorn beast is served with the spines pointing upwards and legs splayed outward. The head and neck are removed prior to consumption in order to avoid ingesting their neurotoxins. Entrails are often used to make dipping sauces.{{Ref/Reuse|cp195}}
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| When the Jiralhanae vessel ''[[Valorous Salvation]]'' landed on [[Beta Gabriel]] and the Jiralhanae began hunting the humans there, it was remarked that one Brute named [[Golubus|Brother Golubus]] came close to making the fatter humans taste like thorn beast.{{Ref/Novel|HEvo|Section=Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss}} In addition to being used as food, Jiralhanae have been known to use thorn beasts as a source of leather. Chieftain [[Hekabe]] used cloth and thorn beast leather to wrap a [[Forerunner]] artifact in his possession.{{Ref/Novel|Novel=Halo: Envoy}} The ease in which thorn beasts adapt to new environments led the [[Covenant]] to seed the species on multiple worlds, unintentionally mirroring the efforts of their gods.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}} | |
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| ==Anatomy and physiology==
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| Thorn beasts are named for the five "thorns" that ridge their spines, protruding from the tan-colored hide that covers their bodies. Their heads have four dark eyes with two on each side of a set of nostrils. Thorn beast mouths are framed by tooth-like protrusions that form a kind of beak. Their arms each end in a trio of long claws and their [[Wikipedia:Digitigrade|digitigrade]] legs end in three-toed feet.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}} A thorn beast's head and neck contain high concentrations of neurotoxins; likely a defensive adaptation against predators.{{Ref/Novel|Id=cp195|CH|page=195}}
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| ==Behavior==
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| Known to be fairly docile herd animals, thorn beasts are herbivores than can easily self-adapt to the conditions of new worlds. A population of thorn beasts can become completely accustomed to a new environment in as few as three generations if properly attended.{{Ref/Reuse|EN}}
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| ==Production notes== | | ==Production notes== |
| Thorn beasts were originally meant to appear in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', but were one of [[Cut_Halo:_Combat_Evolved_enemies|creatures]] cut from the game. The thorn beasts were going to be rideable creatures for [[Marine]]s before they were cut for AI issues.{{Ref/Twitter|Dr_Abominable|464351948297089024|Paul Russel|Quote=@HaloFanForLife @HaloArchive Here's the first. Didn't have shot of the 'blind wolf', @game_fabricator's creation.|D=30|M=10|Y=2020}} Thorn beasts were eventually brought into ''Halo'' canon with the release of the [[2007]] novel ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''. | | Thorn beasts were originally meant to appear in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', but were cut from the final game. The thorn beasts were going to be rideable creatures for [[Marine]]s before they were cut for AI issues. They were also originally meant to appear in ''[[Halo Wars]]''. The game developers stated that they would have reacted to units and battles around them. In the videos however, they merely ran away from units, not battles; if there was a bombing next to it, it wouldn't have flinched. However, since the videos were made as the game was still in development, this lack of a reaction may have been changed for a more real gaming experience if the creature would have made the final cut. Its first ''canonical'' appearance was in ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', where it is consumed by a Jiralhanae pack. |
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| They were later intended to appear in ''[[Halo Wars]]'', appearing in the [[Halo Wars E3 2008 Demo|E3 2008 build]] of the game. The developers stated that they would have reacted to units and battles around them. In the videos, however, they merely ran away from units, not battles; if there was a bombing next to it, it wouldn't have flinched. However, since the videos were made as the game was still in development, this lack of a reaction may have been changed for a more realistic gaming experience if the creature would have made the final cut. The creature was ultimately [[Cut Halo Wars units#animals|cut]] from the development of ''Halo Wars''.{{Ref/Site|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.gamespot.com/videos/halo-wars-e3-2008-stage-show-demo/2300-6194807/|Site=Gamespot|Page=Halo Wars E3 2008 Stage Show Demo|Detail=(13:00)}} | |
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| Thorn beasts were also re-considered for inclusion in ''Halo Infinite'' as a part of the extensive [[Cut Halo: Combat Evolved enemies|ambient life]] intended for the game, and received a concept pass by artist Sergey Snegirev but were cut.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.artstation.com/artwork/2qk9nY|Site=ArtStation|Page=Halo Infinite - Creatures exploration concepts|D=20|M=01|Y=2022}}
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| ==Trivia== | | ==Trivia== |
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| ==Gallery== | | ==Gallery== |
| <gallery> | | <gallery> |
| File:Pre-Xbox Halo Thorn beast 1.png|A render of a thorn beast as it was intended to appear in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''. | | File:IjYtqV.png|A render of a thorn beast. |
| File:Dinosaurs.jpg|Some thorn beasts being passed by [[Marines]] in the [[Halo E3 2000 trailer|''Halo: Combat Evolved'' E3 2000 trailer]]. | | File:Dinosaurs.jpg|Some thorn beasts being passed by [[Marines]] in the [[Halo E3 2000 trailer|''Halo: Combat Evolved'' E3 2000 trailer]]. |
| File:Pre-Halo Thorn Beast.jpg|Close up of a thorn beast on [[Installation 04]] in the E3 2000 trailer. | | File:Cropped_picture_of_a_thorn_beast_for_the_thorn_beast_article-_2015-10-19_04-58.jpg|Close up of a thorn beast on [[Installation 04]] in the E3 2000 trailer. |
| File:Thornbeast2.png|Several thorn beasts. | | File:Thornbeast2.png|Several thorn beasts. |
| File:HTMCC-HCE-thornbeastsmile3.jpg|Close up of a thorn beast. | | File:ThornBeastHW.png|Thorn beast in an early version of ''[[Halo Wars]]''. The concept of wildlife in-game was cut before release. |
| File:HW Unit Thorn Beast.png|Thorn beast in an early version of ''[[Halo Wars]]''. The concept of wildlife in-game was cut before release.
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| File:HINF ThornBeastConcept.jpg|Concept art of a re-imagined thorn beast for ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.
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| </gallery> | | </gallery> |
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| *''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'' | | *''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'' |
| **''[[Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss]]'' {{Mo}} | | **''[[Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss]]'' {{Mo}} |
| *''[[Halo: Envoy]]'' {{C|Leather only}}
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| *''[[Halo Wars 2]]'' {{Mo}}
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| *''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Mo}}
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| *''[[Halo: Fireside]]''
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| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| {{Ref/Sources}}
| | <references/> |
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| [[Category:Animals]] | | [[Category:Animals]] |
| [[Category:Deleted material]] | | [[Category:Reptiles]] |
| | [[Category:Deleted Material]] |
