T'vaoan
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
Template:Species Infobox The T'vaoans, referred by humans as the Skirmishers, are an uncommon subspecies of the Kig-Yar which served the Covenant as a specialized group in the military.[1]
History
Origins
The T'vaoans originated from the Kig-Yar homeworld of Eayn. They eventually colonized other locations within the Y'Deio system, primarily the asteroid T'vao, from which they earn their name.[2] The largely different environment on T'vao lead to the Skirmishers evolving much differently than other Kig-Yar.[3][4] When the Covenant made peace with the Kig-Yar after a battle in the system, T'vaoans were recruited into the Covenant's military.
The Covenant
Many T'vaoans served in the Human-Covenant War, often being led by Sangheili or Jiralhanae.
In engagements prior to 2530, mixed units containing both common Kig-Yar and Skirmishers were more common; however, this changed toward the end of the war, with Covenant doctrine favoring units comprised solely of Skirmishers.[1] Several Skirmisher squads saw action during the Battle of Hat Yai and Battle of Actium, among other engagements. During these engagements UNSC forces managed to capture the hologram technology used by the Skirmishers.[5]
They saw extensive action during the Fall of Reach, and as a result of catastrophically high casualties, the Skirmisher ranks were utterly exhausted and the Skirmishers themselves nearly wiped out, though the subspecies on a whole did survive.[6][7][8]
Post-war
Despite the amount of T'vaoans that died in the Human-Covenant War, many still remained. The T'vaoan Shipmistress Chol Von attempted to create a united Kig-Yar government to defend Y'Deio from threats, while others, such as Sav Fel, returned to the Kig-Yar's ancient ways of piracy.[9] At least one Skirmisher joined Jul 'Mdama's reformed Covenant, serving as Vata 'Gajat's second-in-command.[10]
Description
Anatomy and physiology
Skirmishers are a subset of the Kig-Yar species hailing from the isolated environment of T'vao. The morphological variation among the Kig-Yar represents divergent evolution in response to varied environments on prehistoric Eayn.[11] They are much faster and stronger than the more lightly-built common Kig-Yar, known to humans as Jackals. They have darker skin and stockier, squared heads with small yellow eyes. They also have more beak-like mouths and bony facial coverings. Skirmishers have true feathers on their heads and arms, unlike the Jackals' quills. A Skirmisher's voice is more raspy and guttural - this is because they have an expanding voice chamber on their throat. Skirmishers serve as Covenant shock troops, while the more lightly built Jackals see deployment as dedicated ranger or sniper units. Unlike other Kig-Yar, Skirmishers do not display color changes in their plumage when their moods shift.[12]
Their head shape appears to be more avian than their cousins; their skin tone is noticeably darker and not yellowish. They also run much faster than Jackals and can jump incredible heights. Like Jackals, Skirmishers have sharp talons on their hands and feet. While both subspecies are quite agile, Skirmishers are capable of sprinting at great speeds and leaping long distances. Male Kig-Yar from T'vao had much heavier upper body plumage than other Kig-Yar. Females from T'vao had a ruff of feathers on their heads and necks instead of scales.[13] Young T'vaoan chicks are covered in a brown fledgling down which gradually moults and gives way to scales and plumage as they age.[14]
The blood of a T'vaoan is thick and purple.[15]
Culture
Skirmishers have a culture largely similar to most Kig-Yar, although most T'vaoans believe themselves to be superior over the rest of the Kig-Yar. Among T'vaoans, it is often considered "bad form" to treat a T'vaoan like an average Kig-Yar.[16] Like other types of Kig-Yar, T'vaoan society is described as matriarchal.[17] T'vaoans are attracted to shiny, glittery and glamorous objects. Males often squabble amongst each other and display their quills for females.[4]
Role in the Covenant
The Covenant use Skirmishers as close-range combatants, attacking in packs and using lightning-fast flanking tactics, as opposed to Jackals, who are often used as defensive and long range combatants and assassins. Physically, they seem to be similar to regular Jackals, though in combat they do not wield large rounded energy shields like the Jackals. High-ranking Skirmishers do wear point defense gauntlets or wrist shields, medium sized ovular shields strapped on to their wrists, to help them deflect bullet and light plasma fire. Their eyes are also yellow with slitted pupils, as opposed to bulbous and pale.[18]
In battle, T'vaoans are not typically issued with grenades. Skirmishers are the only members of the Covenant to use holographic decoys, namely just Skirmisher Champions and Commandos.[19]
Rank structure
| Rank/Image | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Skirmisher Leaders | ||
Skirmisher Champion
|
The Champion is the highest rank of the Skirmishers, a specialized group of shock troops comprising of more heavily built Kig-Yar, deployed on the ground for their viciousness and fierce tactics. Members of this rank have gold armor and helmets. Champions have the ability to use holograms. They appear to be the leading rank of Skirmishers, being neither infantry nor specialists. | |
| Skirmisher Specialists | ||
Skirmisher Commando
|
Members of this rank have bright green armor and a helmet, and will occasionally use holograms to deceive the enemy. | |
Skirmisher Murmillo
|
Members of this rank have bright orange armor, a helmet, and arm shields. | |
| Skirmisher Infantry | ||
Skirmisher Major
|
Members of this rank have red feathers and red-gray armor. They are stronger than Minors but lack the helmets and point-defense gauntlets of the higher ranks. | |
Skirmisher Minor
|
The lowest rank of Skirmisher; members of this rank have black feathers and gray armor. Overall, they are the weakest and least experienced. | |
Trivia
|
See our gameplay information related to T'vaoan on its gameplay page. |
Skirmishers bear a notable physical resemblance to dromaeosaurs such as deinonychus and the smaller, better-known velociraptor. Like the Skirmishers, the dromaeosaurs were reptiles with prominent avian features including feathers and lightweight bones. Dromaeosaurs are considered to be one of the main taxonomic links between dinosaurs and birds, perhaps suggesting a similar evolutionary progression among the Kig-Yar.
Gallery
- ReachConcept Skirmisher.png
Concept art of a Skirmisher.
- ReachConcept SkirmisherVariant.jpg
A Skirmisher study.
An alpha build render of a Skirmisher's face.
An alpha build of Reach, showcasing a lance of Skirmishers in battle during the Fall of Reach.
A Skirmisher Commando in Firefight.
Skirmisher Murmillo armed with a focus rifle.
A Skirmisher bleeding.
Several Skirmishers of differing rank.
Tek, a Skirmisher operating with the Covenant remnant.
List of appearances
- Halo: Reach (First appearance)
- Halo: The Thursday War
- Halo: Escalation
- Halo: Mortal Dictata
Sources
- ^ a b Bungie: Halo: Reach Enemy Intel
- ^ Halopedia:Letter - Re:Mortal Dictata Question
- ^ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedEVG - ^ a b Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 59
- ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 139
- ^ Game Reactor: First Look: Halo Reach
- ^ OXM: Bungie reveals how Reach will fall, and the epic scope of its last Halo
- ^ Game Reactor: First Look: Halo Reach
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata
- ^ Halo: Escalation, Issue #2
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2011), pages 56 and 57
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 65
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, Chapter 3
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 71
- ^ This image
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 272
- ^ Halo: Mortal Dictata, page 60
- ^ YouTube: Halo: Reach - 5 Minute Firefight
- ^ Halo: Reach Official Strategy Guide
