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Vortigaunts (sometimes known as alien slaves) are a fictional species from the Half-Life video game series. They made their first appearance in Half-Life, in which they serve as frequently encountered enemies. In the sequel, Half-Life 2 they become allies and join the human resistance against the Combine empire which has enslaved both races. This is a list of extraterrestrial species that have appeared in various works of fiction featuring aliens. ... Half-Life For a quantity subject to exponential decay, the half-life is the time required for the quantity to fall to half of its initial value. ... Computer and video games redirects here. ... Half-Life For a quantity subject to exponential decay, the half-life is the time required for the quantity to fall to half of its initial value. ... Half-Life 2 (commonly abbreviated to HL2) is a science fiction first-person shooter computer game that is the sequel to Half-Life. ...

Their only known home is the Xen border world, from which they travelled to Earth during the Black Mesa Incident and Portal Storms. Islands in Xen Xen (pronounced Zen) is the origin of the alien species that appear in the science fiction video game Half-Life (Valve Software, 1998); the expansion packs Half-Life: Opposing Force (Valve Software and Gearbox Software, 1999); Half-Life: Blue Shift (Valve/Gearbox, 2001); and Half-Life: Decay... This article is about Earth as a planet. ...

Overview

Physiology

A Vortigaunt in Half-Life 2

In appearance, a Vortigaunt is somewhat humanoid with two legs and two arms, but has an additional arm protruding from its thorax. This extra limb is a feature also found in the other bipedal, sapient species from Xen, including the Alien Grunt and Nihilanth. This similarity, along with other shared features such as red eyes and digitigrade legs, suggests a common ancestry with other intelligent Xen lifeforms. Vortigaunts have a mottled green-brown skin, sharp teeth, and clawed hands. Vortigaunts have a slightly hunched posture, and their faces are dominated by a large, single red eye, surrounded by five smaller eyes. It should be noted that the purple Vortigaunts in Episode One have blue eyes, while the eyes of the ones in Episode Two stay red. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1152x864, 277 KB)A screenshot of a Vortigaunt from Half-Life 2 This is a screenshot of a copyrighted computer game or video game. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1152x864, 277 KB)A screenshot of a Vortigaunt from Half-Life 2 This is a screenshot of a copyrighted computer game or video game. ... The term humanoid refers to any being whose body structure resembles that of a human. ... Islands in Xen Xen (pronounced Zen) is the origin of the alien species that appear in the science fiction video game Half-Life (Valve Software, 1998); the expansion packs Half-Life: Opposing Force (Valve Software and Gearbox Software, 1999); Half-Life: Blue Shift (Valve/Gearbox, 2001); and Half-Life: Decay... An Alien Grunt, as seen in Half-Life An Alien Grunt is a fictional creature from the first person shooter computer game Half-Life (Valve Software, 1998). ... The Nihilanth. ... A digitigrade is an animal that stands or walks on its digits, or toes. ... An evolutionary lineage (also called a clade) is composed of species, taxa, or individuals that are related by descent from a common ancestor. ... Types of teeth Molars are used for grinding up foods Carnassials are used for slicing food. ... Cat claw A claw is a curved pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger or, in arthropods, of the tarsus. ...

Intelligence and culture

Vortigaunts are intelligent and social creatures. Throughout the entire Half-Life series they are capable of developing intelligent strategies.

Brief glimpses into Vortigaunt culture can be gained by occasional speeches given by them in Half-Life 2, and in scenes in the original Half-Life. In the original game, Vortigaunts were an enslaved species to the Nihilanth, used as factory workers and drone soldiers. According to comments, Vortigaunts have suffered enforced servitude for generations up to the events of the first Half-Life. Vortigaunts have many traditions, including an apparent oral tradition of passing down poetry and songs from generation to generation. One particular comment made by a Vortigaunt — "We have lost all dear to us" — suggests that they lost their original civilization. Vortigaunts also have a collective consciousness - each moment (Gordon killing the Nihilanth, Gordon's arrival at Black Mesa East, etc.) through time appears to them as one. Slave redirects here. ... The Nihilanth. ... This article is about the art form. ... This article is about the musical composition. ...

Communication and the "Vortessence"

Vortigaunts possess their own method of vocal communication, which, in Half-Life 2, they can be heard using and referring to as "flux shifting". This method of communication involves both speakers vocalising at the same time and cannot be understood by "those whose Vortal inputs are impaired" i.e. humans.

In the first part of Half-Life, the Vortigaunts use scattered English words they heard from the humans to taunt them in combat ("Die!"). By the beginning of Half-Life 2, however, Vortigaunts have learned to speak at least the English language fluently. The Vortigaunts use archaic, even Shakespearian, words and grammatical structures. It is not known whether this is a lack of understanding or a deliberate choice on their part. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The vocabulary of a person is defined either as the set of all words that are understood by that person or the set of all words likely to be used by that person when constructing new sentences. ... For the rules of the English language, see English grammar. ...

The Vortigaunts believe in a binding life-force which they call the "Vortessence", which could be a religion or a popular belief. They believe the Vortessence is the fabric of the universe, made of "vortal cords", of which everything is woven (and therefore everything is connected). Due to their use of this force, which remains untapped by the human species, the Vortigaunt species is capable of a form of telepathy, at least amongst their own kind. The Vortigaunts are able to read and control this force for their electrical powers, nearly hive-mind telepathy and, likely, their ability to take power from objects. The Nihilanth's powers and enslavement of the Vortigaunts were also gained through control of the Vortessence. M-theory is a solution proposed for the unknown theory of everything which would combine all five superstring theories and 11-dimensional supergravity together. ... Telepathy, from the Greek τῆλε, tele, remote; and πάθεια, patheia, to be effected by, describes the hypothetical transfer of information on thoughts or feelings between individuals by means other than the five classical senses. ...

In Half-Life 2, the Vortigaunts are voiced by Louis Gossett, Jr.. It is mentioned in Raising the Bar that Gossett was chosen partially due to his role as the alien in the film Enemy Mine. In Episode Two, he is replaced by Tony Todd. Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr. ... Enemy Mine is a 1985 science fiction film based on the story of the same title by Barry B. Longyear. ... Tony Todd (born December 4, 1954 in Washington, D.C.) is an American actor and producer, known for his cult status amongst horror and sci-fi fans. ...

Offensive and defensive abilities

In Half-Life and its expansion packs, Vortigaunts are common enemies in both Black Mesa and Xen. While they usually attack aggressively, they often become timid when injured, preferring to run away rather than risk further combat and possible death. They have two modes of attack: an energy attack in which they fire fairly powerful green lightning-like energy beams that require a vulnerable period of "charging-up" before being unleashed, and when close to opponents, they attack with their claws; in Half-Life 2, when faced with Headcrabs, they will attempt to kick them. Significantly, all of the Vortigaunts in Half-Life wear green collars and wrist bands. In Half-Life: Decay, it is shown that the green collars and bands can be "activated" to fire a burst of energy identical to normal attack used by the Vortigaunts. Vortigaunts often act as support for the tougher Alien Grunts in Half-Life, as the player will be concentrating on killing the tougher Grunts while the Vortigaunts can attack freely. Half-Life For a quantity subject to exponential decay, the half-life is the time required for the quantity to fall to half of its initial value. ... The logo of the Black Mesa Research Facility, depicting a mesa mountain against the sky The Black Mesa Research Facility (also referred to as simply Black Mesa in the games) is a fictional complex located in the desert of New Mexico, United States, and is the setting for most of... An Alien Grunt, as seen in Half-Life An Alien Grunt is a fictional creature from the first person shooter computer game Half-Life (Valve Software, 1998). ...

In Half-Life 2, their electrical attack is far more devastating, tending to kill whatever it hits immediately, and quite often knock back its target at considerable distance. Only objects with significant mass can resist being knocked back, such as the Strider (which can only be damaged by explosives) and Antlion Guards. These attacks occur only twice during the singleplayer game both when Gordon's view is restricted by rubble or other blockages, and the only way to see a Vortigaunt in combat is to spawn it with enemies using the console. It is also suggested that Vortigaunts can siphon an opponent's lifeforce with their energy beam attack, as they are heard saying phrases such as "Give over your essence!" or "Empower us!" during some of their attacks in Half-Life 2. This is a list of humanoid and synthetic forces employed by the Combine empire in Half-Life 2, a 2004 first-person shooter, and its episodes. ... For the real life insect, see Antlion. ...

Expanded role

Half-Life 2

An enslaved Vortigaunt janitor in Half-Life 2.

In Half-Life 2, Gordon Freeman meets up with the creatures again. This time, however, they are eager to assist in overthrowing the Combine. In the time between the two games, the Vortigaunts have been freed from their former master, and most remaining on Earth have joined the human Resistance against the Combine. The game also reveals that the Vortigaunts are capable of using their electrical attack productively, in the form of a blue energy stream that can recharge batteries, power electronic circuits and weld objects together. The Vortigaunts credit Gordon Freeman with their freedom, and hold him in high esteem as "The Free Man" (as it was Freeman who slew the Nihilanth and freed the Vortigaunts), though they also seem to mourn all those "whose cords you [Freeman] cut." Image File history File links Under the watch of a Combine civil protection guard, an enslaved vortigaunt sweeps up City 17s rail station. ... Image File history File links Under the watch of a Combine civil protection guard, an enslaved vortigaunt sweeps up City 17s rail station. ... Half-Life 2 (commonly abbreviated to HL2) is a science fiction first-person shooter computer game that is the sequel to Half-Life. ... Gordon Freeman is the fictional protagonist of the Half-Life series of first-person shooter video games developed by Valve Software. ... The Combine is a fictional powerful alien race and empire from Valve Corporations 2004 first-person shooter computer game Half-Life 2. ... The Nihilanth. ...

However, not all Vortigaunts have been freed. In the first chapter of Half-Life 2 — "Point Insertion" — it is possible to catch a brief glimpse of a Vortigaunt working under the Combine to the right of the 1st "Breen Screen" in City 17's train station. Wearing a collar and armbands similar to those worn in Half-Life (with an additional band around the waist), the Vortigaunt is shown slowly and meticulously using a push-broom to sweep dirt and garbage in the said train station. An unshackled Vortigaunt is seen in a similar role in a human-controlled silo in Episode Two. When exploring Nova Prospekt, the player comes across a dead Vortigaunt, wearing collar and armbands, sitting in a restrained chair. It appears that the Vortigaunt has died during electrical torture by the Combine, which would explain Alyx Vance's comments that the Resistance's only knowledge of Nova Prospekt is through telepathic communications from Vortigaunts taken there for torture or interrogation. For other uses, see Torture (disambiguation). ... Alyx Vance is a fictional character and digital actor from Valves 2004 First Person Shooter computer game Half-Life 2, and its following episode: Half-Life 2: Episode One. ...

Miscellaneous Half-Life titles and mods

In the official co-op expansion Half-Life: Decay, players who manage to obtain an A rank on all of the regular missions with at least one character may unlock a bonus mission titled "Xen Attacks", where both players play as Vortigaunts. Although short on story, the mission gives some unique insight into the Vortigaunts' role in the Black Mesa incident. The players control "Drone Subjects" X-8973 and R-4913, two Vortigaunts sent to Earth by Nihilanth. The mission Nihilanth has assigned them is the retrieval of crystals stolen from Xen by the Black Mesa science team. Both Vortigaunts are able to regain health by damaging objects or enemies. Half-Life: Decay is an addon for the PlayStation 2 version of the first-person shooter computer game Half-Life, developed by Gearbox Software. ...

Notable Vortigaunts

Uriah

Uriah is one of few Vortigaunts seen wearing Human Clothing

Uriah appears in Half-Life 2: Episode Two. In Episode Two Gordon is introduced to the Vortigaunt when he reaches White Forest Rocket Facility. Gordon is instructed by Magnusson to head into the Silo 2 complex. Uriah lets Gordon into Silo 2 and reappears with Alyx when Gordon has closed the Silo Access. Uriah is later seen at the Magnusson Device training scene helping control the Strider test dummy. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... White Forest Rocket Facility is a fictional location from Valve Softwares 2007 first-person shooter computer game Half-Life 2: Episode 2. ... Doctor Arne Magnusson is a fictional character from the video games Half-Life and Half-Life 2: Episode 2. ...

Uriah is notable for being the only Vortigaunt with a name, and one of the few seen wearing human clothing. The developer's commentary reveals that this particular Vortigaunt acquired a name because of the special relationship it had with play testers. Uriah's original nickname was Heep, based on the character Uriah Heep from Charles Dickens's novel, David Copperfield. This is because the Vortigaunt species is known for its "heaping" posture. Like all Vortigaunts in Episode Two, he is voiced by actor Tony Todd. He is also known for the bizzare glitch that can be triggered by using cheats to access the "super" Gravity Gun and then using it on Uriah. On a DVD (or laserdisc), an audio commentary is a bonus track consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers, who talk about the movie as it progresses. ... Drawing by Fred Barnard Uriah Heep is a fictional character created by Charles Dickens in his novel David Copperfield. ... Dickens redirects here. ... For other uses, see David Copperfield. ... Tony Todd (born December 4, 1954 in Washington, D.C.) is an American actor and producer, known for his cult status amongst horror and sci-fi fans. ...

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

"The All-Knowing Vortigaunt"

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Wikiquote is one of a family of wiki-based projects run by the Wikimedia Foundation, running on MediaWiki software. ...

See Also

• Half-Life
• Half-Life Expansions
• Half-Life 2
• Half-Life 2 Episodes