The olfmeri, colloquially known as the sky leviathan or the space whale, is an elusive and mysterious creature described as an "avian cetacean", placed on several Forerunner installations by the Lifeworkers.[1]
History
Olfmeri were among the creatures preserved by the Librarian against the firing of the Halo Array in 97,445 BCE.[2][3] Following this destructive event they were seeded upon at least one Halo ring while also being left to flourish on the Ark, Installation 00, far beyond the Milky Way galaxy.[4][5]
In December of 2552 the Charon-class light frigate UNSC Forward Unto Dawn captured audio recordings of olfmeri songs after arriving at the Ark.[6] Soon after this an unfinished Halo ring was fired above the Ark, spelling death for the many sentient creatures which inhabited its surface.[7][8] The Ark's monitor, 000 Tragic Solitude, eventually then began to breed new life forms.[9] Among these were more olfmeri.[6] Then, in March of 2555 a team of humans and Sangheili representing the United Nations Space Command and Swords of Sanghelios, respectively, encountered a group of the leviathans shortly after traveling to the Ark.[6] Respected scientist Doctor Luther Mann had to urge the others not to shoot when one of the olfmeri took notice of the humans and Elites below it and drifted toward them to investigate. Surprisingly, Doctor Mann was able to mimic its singing and appeared to even hold congress with it for a while. It soon became clear to the beast that he was not a fellow olfmeri, however, but rather more like a noisy speck, and at that it broke away to rejoin its group.[6] By late 2558 the biological mechanisms behind olfmeri Buoyancy were still a mystery to the Office of Naval Intelligence's scientists, though there were no shortage of curious theories.[4]
Anatomy and physiology
Olfmeri are as large as many of Earth's whales and bear similar features to them as well.[4][6] Their bodies are shaped like huge, somewhat bulbous teardrops with large, toothy mouths which extend across their fronts and about a third of the way down their flanks.[6] Their undersides appear the purest white, often shimmering in the light which reflects off of them. What appear to be wings exist on each side of olfmeri and are known to ripple before propelling them.[6]
Unlike the leviathans of Earth's oceans, olfmeri are able to slowly but effortlessly cruise through the air, rather than water.[4][6] They have been observed doing so at just a few dozen meters above the surface of the Ark, but can certainly rise higher into the sky as well.[4][6] If they so choose, they can hover in place.[6] To gain altitude a sky leviathan may tilt its massive body to the side before being propelled upward by its apparent wings.[6] The creatures' ability to defy gravity seems impossible given their incredible size and nature.[4]
Behavior
- "The songs don't seem to serve as a language in the same way that words do for us. It conveys feelings, sensations."
- — Doctor Luther Mann tries to explain olfmeri singing as best he can.[6]
Olfmeri traveled together in pods. The creatures are apparently passive, and show interest in investigating new species. The creatures communicate with each other by "singing" and whistling; these vocalizations are slightly painful to human ears. The olfmeri communicate not as a form of language, but to convey feelings and sensations. Humans have the ability to mimic these vocalizations. During Operation: FAR STORM, Doctor Luther Mann mimicked the calls of a olfmeri and attracted one of the creatures. However, the olfmeri quickly flew off upon realizing that Mann was not a member of its species.
Production notes
The sky leviathan was planned to be featured in Halo 4. It was an enormous flying whale-like creature that would have lived on Requiem. The concept art was drawn by 343 Industries artist Paul Richards.[10][11] This design was later canonised in the Halo: Outpost Discovery Ring Experience.
Gallery
Concept art of the sky leviathan
Sketches of the space whale.
Other concepts of the creature.
- OlfmeriModel.PNG
List of appearances
- Halo: Hunters in the Dark (First appearance)
- Halo: Outpost Discovery
Sources
- ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Jurassic Ark
- ^ Halo Waypoint: Cannon Fodder - Array With Words
- ^ Halo Waypoint - Librarian
- ^ a b c d e f Halo Waypoint: Cannon Fodder - Jurassic Ark
- ^ Halo: Outpost Discovery, The Ring Experience
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Halo: Hunters in the Dark, Chapter 8
- ^ Halo: Hunters in the Dark, Chapter 1
- ^ Halo Mythos, page 122
- ^ Halo: Hunters in the Dark, Chapter 18
- ^ Autodestruct Digital: Space Whales 1
- ^ Autodestruct Digital: Space Whales 2