ShockHelix
Administrator
Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
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Post by ShockHelix on Jul 10, 2013 17:51:57 GMT -5
Map Update 1! To make your roll post, use the dice button at the top, then state your groups action! Should look like something like this [ dice=9999] Faction Y expands in X location
[rand=97962631700645998751619761202527455786682683963059622882439498153]
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ShockHelix
Administrator
Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
Posts: 666,666,949 Likes: 27
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Post by ShockHelix on Jul 9, 2013 21:53:57 GMT -5
First RISK game for Nexus, just to see how things work out before we get into the themed Risk games (Fallout, Tamriel, and Halo RISK) Game will start after 3 more people join. I'll be taking the name Caesar's Legion, starting in southern Texas. Using the color Red.
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ShockHelix
Administrator
Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
Posts: 666,666,949 Likes: 27
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Post by ShockHelix on Jul 9, 2013 20:04:39 GMT -5
[dice=99999] [dice=99999] [dice=99999] [dice=99999] [dice=2] [dice=2] [dice=2] [dice=2] [dice=2] [dice=2] [dice=2] [dice=2] [dice=2] [dice=2] [rand=5997653030883584719446872052749491376616113808557635656428529748]
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ShockHelix
Administrator
Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
Posts: 666,666,949 Likes: 27
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Post by ShockHelix on Jun 10, 2013 3:18:32 GMT -5
Character Name: William Bashere Nickname(s): Ser William, Will Race: Human Sex: Male Age: 24 Birthplace: Camelot, Broken Banks, NC Height: 6'4" Weight: 243 lbs. Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Blonde Hair Style: Short cropped Facial Hair: None Skin Color: Tanned Build: William is rippling muscle from head to toe, his height giving him a seemingly elegant grace in tandem with his size. Distinguishing Features: William is ruggedly handsome, with a face seemingly carved from stone. Profession: Knight of Camelot Skills: Hand to Hand, Explosives, Survival Attributes:- Strength: 9
- Perception: 7
- Endurance: 9
- Charisma: 7
- Intelligence: 6
- Agility: 8
- Luck: 5
Training: William is well trained in combat tactics, scavenging, and weaponry, though he excels with the sword above all else, and is one of the few Knights of Camelot to hold the honor of the esteemed title of Blademaster. Other Abilities: N/A Apparel: William most commonly for ceremonial purposes, as well as combat purposes, wears a suit of black reinforced T-45d Power Armor, modified to suit his house. His Power Helmet has been molded into a fearsome shape resembling the head of a Bear, and the breastplate also has a snarling bear head etched into the black steel. The armor itself is reinforced around vital areas, while areas needing less protection against bullets and more mobility for sword-play have had some metal removed. About his shoulders attached to the armor is a flowing black cotton cloak with the snarling bear head embroidered in white. Both the feet and gauntlets of his power armor have been etched to resemble the shape of claws, and the pauldrons of his armor have been molded into the shape of bear heads as well. Weaponry: As a Knight, William only carries his sword and shield himself most often, as well as a dagger fastened to his scabbard, and another hidden in his left boot. As he is also well trained with a bow, his squire carries one for him, though more often then not he leaves the squire to use the bow himself. His hand-and-a-half sword is fully wrought in folded steel, it's pommel taking the form of a bear head after his house, the hilt wrapped in black cloth with an embroidered white spiral running from one end to the other. The blade itself is razor sharp on both ends, ready to slice into metal like a can-opener. His shield is a massive slab of curved black steel, nearly three feet wide and four feet tall, and over 2 inches thick. While not very mobile, even with the added strength of power armor, the massive tower shield serves one simple purpose - stopping bullets. William possesses a secondary, lighter Kite Shield with an engraving of a bear on the forefront, though he does not use it away from tournaments and melee's at Camelot - it provides little protection against enemy gunfire. Other Equipment: William himself carries no other equipment usually, though his squire keeps track of food, a sharpening stone for his blade, and other important traveling necessities. Affiliation: Knights of Camelot - Kingdom of Camelot Religious Belief: Light and Shadow (Standard 'religious' belief of Camelot) Sexual Preference: Heterosexual Relationship Status: Single, but unwillingly being Courted Personality: William is knightly to a fault, doing what is right because it is right, even if it leads to his misfortune. His father being a lord of Camelot, he has been trained well in keeping a stony, emotionless face, no matter what emotions may rage beneath the surface, and finds amusement in using it to his own advantage when it does not conflict with his beliefs. He can be a bit big-headed at times, while not necessarily being prideful, believing his skill as a simple matter of fact reality. He himself has little respect for those that use guns, do to both his religious beliefs, and his views on honor. In the company of those close to him, or whom he cares for or enjoys, he is very friendly and caring, and is quick to laugh. [/img][/center] William grew up in Camelot the son of Lord and Lady Bashere. As per tradition, his parents were tasked with the organization and protection of 'resource recovery,' or what was commonly known as scavenging. With the heavy threat of 'the lost' (better known as the savage tribals inhabiting the area and mainland,) such supply runs were difficult. As such, William - and his siblings - were trained from birth to become Knights. They were taught all the necessary skills, as well as the common teachings learned by every child in the realm of Camelot. From an early age, ------
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ShockHelix
Administrator
Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
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Post by ShockHelix on Jun 6, 2013 15:21:09 GMT -5
Prometheans In millenia long passed during the time of the Forerunner's galaxy-wide Empire, the Ecumene, the population of Forerunners was split into 'Rates'. Forerunners enter into these rates after maturation, going through biological engineering processes known as 'mutations' that allow them to perform the jobs of their given Rate (usually the one of their parents). Forerunners could swap to other Rates or to more specialised groups of these Rates through further 'mutation' and promotion. In order of most prominence amongst Forerunner society, the rates are thus: Builder, Miner, Lifeworker, Warrior-Servant, Engineers and Juridicals. Of these Rates, Warrior-Servants were expected to defend the Ecumene against all threats both external and internal. A particularly notable section of this Rate was the Prometheans, the elite division of the Warrior-Servants that served directly under the Didact himself. As the Forerunner-Flood war raged across the Galaxy, consuming countless worlds, countless lifeforms, countless species. . . The Didact initiated a terrible plan. The Builders had chosen to construct the Halo Array, the Warrior-Servants had been denied their right to defend the Mantle to their death. Instead they would be killed, like all the other Forerunners. The Didact converted all of the Prometheans into 'Knights', digital intelligence constructs that were granted Immortality and form as the perfect warriors for combating the Flood, warriors that could not be taken by their enemy. The Builders refused this, their rings had already been constructed. The Didact understood this would happen and used his Composer to convert a large population of a Human colony and yet more Forerunners into 'Prometheans'. The Didact waged a short and bloody war with the Builder-Security and other Paramilitary forces, including many Warrior-Servants. The Didact lost when a Lifeworker known as the Librarion stole away and hid the Composer. The Didact was imprisoned in his Fortress Shield-World of Requiem and his Prometheans were stationed as his defenders, for eternity. The events of the Promethean Wars resulted in the Didact's freedom, the Prometheans were granted their intelligence back by the Didact's actions. Eventually they were defeated, the Didact destroyed once and for all. But the Prometheans didn't die, the Didact had secreted the banks that stored them away before the destruction of Requiem. Several hundred thousand had died when the Didact had, but those that remained sought new purpose. But what purpose had they? Swords without a wielder, they had to find someone to lead them 'locate the next Forerunner or Construct higher than themselves to receive further orders'. A long, stealthy, search resulted in the Prometheans finding a Halo array unknown to the Covenant, Concordat or the UNSC. Installation 02. A Monitor was found at this Installation, a perfect candidate to order the Prometheans. Every Promethean flocked to their new master and the Monitor found himself with an army. Perfect. The Monitor had been driven completely rampant by the loss of "his weapon to defend the Galaxy", his Installation had been disarmed like the rest. Recordings of the Promethean's war with the UNSC, the Didact's defeat and several skirmishes with Covenant and Seperatist forces. The Monitor was outraged by the disregard of Forerunner technology that these seeded races, who owed so much to the Forerunners, had shown. More so for the "Reclaimers" of Humanity, who clearly didn't deserve the Mantle granted them. In a fit of rampant egotism he declared himelf the new Didact and begun constructing a fleet of starships of ancient Forerunner design alongisde weapons that had proved so well in the Foreruner-Human Wars so very long ago. Millions, if not Billions, of Prometheans at his disposal. A true Forerunner navy that outmatched and outgunned even the most advanced of these Tier-2 races' vessels. This, all backed by the extensive Sentinal production facilities of the Installation and the mineral-rich planets surrounding the Installation. Within three decades outter colonies of Humanity, the Covenant and the Sanghelios Concordat all begun falling to the Prometheans. Their message was clear, genocidal warfare, but their location of origin and their master remained unknown to all. Outposts were erected on Forerunner colonies, bringing the ruins of their old civilization back to life as they repair and power the installations of their creators. An army with a purpose. Their ultimate goal? Defend the remains of the Forerunners, destroy all "Sufficiently Evolved" races, rebuild the Ecumene from its ruins and perhaps find their creators once more. . . After all, the Didact survived. Why not others?
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ShockHelix
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Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
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Post by ShockHelix on Jun 6, 2013 15:19:49 GMT -5
Storm Covenant This Sangheili-majority faction is a continuation of the Covenant system of worship of Forerunners. They maintain this level of worship even after the revelations brought by the Human-Covenant War and the betrayal of the San 'Shyuum. They were founded not long after the Great Schism's end by the Sangheili Insurrectionist Jul 'Mdama when the Last Arbiter, Thel 'Vadam stated his intentions of an alliance between the Sangheili people and the UNSC. Jul 'Mdama sided with the Sangheili religious cult, The Servants of Abiding Truth and their persuasive leader Avu Med 'Telcam. Avu Med 'Telcam's insurrection failed and Jul 'Mdama found himself prisoner of ONI, who had been supplying The Servants of Abiding Truth with weapons and munitions (which the UNSC knew nothing about) whilst simultaneously working on a bio weapon capable of wiping out the Sangheili. 'Mdama managed to escape to a secluded religious Sangheili colony, where he was granted ships and soldiers of Sangheili, Kig-Yar, Unggoy and Lekgolo origin. They then proceeded to serve under the Didact and his Promethean forces during the Promethean Wars against Humanity until his eventual defeat and the Promethean Collapse. Since the end of those troubles the Storm Covenant have assimilated several other Sangheili Insurrectionists groups, allowing them to form the face and main body of the Sangheili Insurrection. Sangheili, Unggoy, Kig-Yar, Lekgolo and Yanme'e that refuse to support the blasphemy of the Sanghelios Concordat, yet remember the treachery of the Jiralhanae and the San 'Shyuum. Their equipment was, and still is, outdated by modern standards. Older classes of Sangheili and Covenant vessels that have been refitted and repurposed, older weaponry is wielded alongside more recently acquired arms. A force still to be reckoned with, despite its apparant age and lack of numbers. A constant guerrilla warfare against the Sanghelios Concordat, the UNSC and the Covenant that has led them to form an alliance-of-opportunity with several Human and Covenant Insurrectionist groups, although they still hold a large hatred for those races involved.
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ShockHelix
Administrator
Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
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Post by ShockHelix on Jun 6, 2013 15:17:58 GMT -5
The Covenant The Covenant, also referred to as the Covenant Empire or Covenant Hegemony, was a religious hegemony of multiple alien species that controlled a large portion of the Orion Arm in the Milky Way Galaxy. Originally a mutual alliance between the San 'Shyuum and the Sangheili, the Covenant expanded to include at least six other races united in the worship of the Forerunners and the Halo Array. They waged a genocidal campaign against humanity until they were defeated in December of 2552. Despite being ostensibly the most powerful military force in the known Milky Way galaxy at the time, internal conflict combined with stubborn human resistance were formidable enough to shatter the bonds that held the empire together. While the Covenant's original leadership was lost either during the Flood infection of High Charity or during the Battle of Installation 00, the faction remains and maintains many of the ideals of the Covenant's religion as well as many of its former subject species, continues to exist after the conclusion of the war. The Covenant had nowhere to hide when the might of the combined UNSC and Sangheili forces cut their head off at the Battle of Installation 0. Those who didn't surrender were hunted, persecuted, across the Galaxy for a number of years. The Jiralhanae warred amongst themselves, the loss of their leaders and the prophets reducing them to Civil War. From the ashes of Doisac rose something new. A Chieftain from a lowly clan had used political persuasion, sabotage and bribery to gain control of an entire sub-continent. He used his gains to war against the other Chieftains until he controlled the world. He begun to rebuild, something that hadn't been attempted in a long time. Infrastructure, societal buildings, healthcare, education, industry. The Jiralhanae were surprised that he did not build war factories, to conquer more worlds. But they enjoyed this period of peace. Not long after this had all been achieved, their Chieftain stepped aside to reveal the true architects of Dosiac's salvation. A colony of San 'Shyuum had returned to Doisac to assume control once more. They had found a willing Chieftain and aided him in bringing about a new golden age within just a single generation. The San 'Shyuum had the control of a Keyship, one they had discovered in one of the neighbouring star systems of the Jiralhanae's home star. The San 'Shyuum and the Chieftain claimed this meant the Jiralhanae were the true inheritors of the Forerunner's Mantel and the San 'Shyuum would lead them to reclaim their race's birthright. Several factions refused this, claiming evidence of the Forerunner's lie. But they were oppressed, completely annihilated. With that the Covenant was reborn. The San 'Shyuum oversaw the construction of a new world for themselves, taking a suitable planetoid from Doisac's system and tearing it in two with the power of their key ship. A new vessel to match the size and grandeur of their list High Charity was born. The Sanctity of Grace. The Jiralhanae of Doisac approached the various Covenant Remnant factions, showing them images of the Prophets and their Keyship, of the birth of the Sanctity of Grace. Most joined, bringing many new members and the vast majority of the previous Covenant races back into the Prophet's fold. Colonies pulled down the banners of their temporary independence, raising those of the new Covenant. Those factions that refused to follow the Covenant were either annihilated in bloody wars of total destruction or fled into hiding, to become Covenant Insurrectionists or to seek refugee status with the new-found Sanghelios Concordat or their UNSC allies. The Covenant Empire was reborn with the strong backbone of a united Jiralhanae. The San 'Shyuum at their head and the Unggoy, Lekgolo, Kig'yar and Yanme'e as their arms. As with the old, the new Covenant seek to transcend this existence through technological prowess and the reverence of the Forerunners. However they refuse the Promethean armies that have arisen, claiming them to be nothing more than a rogue group of sentinels that are the anti-body response to Humanity usurping the Forerunner's Mantel. They now spread, colonising new worlds in their search of living space for their burgeoning population and the never-ending search for Forerunner technology. A strong military guards this Empire, with a might that matches the UNSC and the Sanghelios Concordat combined. The Juralhanae have even trained a group of highly mobile, incredibly dangerous special forces units led by and sometimes solely including specifically trained SPARTAN-killers known as Demon Hunters that are equipped with incredibly high-standard power armour that makes the MJOLNIR and Sangheili combat harnesses look pathetic in comparison. It's origin lies with the Forerunners, like all things Covenant.
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ShockHelix
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Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
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Post by ShockHelix on Jun 6, 2013 15:16:18 GMT -5
Sanghelios Concordat The Sanghelios Concordat was formed from the Covenant separatists, the Sangheili-led forces that seceded from the Prophet-led Covenant during the Great Schism. In November 2552, the Prophet of Truth had the Sangheili removed from their former position and replaced by the Jiralhanae as the Covenant's main military caste, resulting in an open war breaking out between the Jiralhanae-led forces loyal to the Prophets and the Sangheili. After the Sangheili learned the truth about the Halo Installations near the end of the Battle of Installation 05, they allied with humanity on their mission to stop the Prophet-led Covenant. As they no longer looked to the Prophets for leadership, the separatists had no defined leadership, although Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum led their forces in the deciding battles of the war. With the Covenant dissolved, the Sangheili returned to their homeworld with the Arbiter and his policy of cooperating with humanity retaining a solid following, although many Sangheili disagreed with his ideals, forming splinter factions that planned to overthrow the Arbiter and rise against humanity. The Sanghelios Concordat came to be with the aid of the Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum. The group is one of the three major factions vying for control of the Milky Way. Their formation came when Thel 'Vadam arrived back at Sanghelios and received word that the Covenant had survived the destruction of High Charity, albeit in a fractured state. Thel 'Vadam petitioned to the new leaders of the ex-Covenant races that had sided with the Sangheili during the schism to form a new faction, a new entity for a new era. The Sangheili Lords agreed. They had nowhere to turn, the Galaxy had wanted their extinction and they had been saved by the Arbiter. They would follow him through the great darkness and back if he wished it. A quiet war was waged by his supporters, silencing or expelling all Sangheili opposition to the Arbiter's rule. The Unggoy agreed, with the condition that the Sangheili find them a new home world as the Covenant-backed Unggoy had forced them off their own. That they would be treated with respect was also offered to them, but such an alien concept to the Unggoy wasn't even considered in their conditions. The Lekgolo agreed, so long as they too could find sanctuary from the larger population of Lekgolo that sided with the Covenant. A sanctuary that they could call their own, be considered a true part of society instead of mere beasts of burden. The Kig-Yar that followed them agreed, if they would be paid, fed and treated with equal respect by the Sangheili. Something that they had strived for but failed to achieve under the rule of the Prophets. The Yanme'e Queens that had aided the Sangheili agreed, on the condition that they would be granted worlds to colonise and a rank of power in this new society. With the agreements of these factions of their parent races, representatives of the Sangheili, Unggoy, Yanme'e, Kig'yar and Lekgolo signed an agreement. A concordat. The Sanghelios Concordat, that would give birth the the faction of the same name. The faction was founded on equal treatment of all races, although centuries of Covenant rule had cemented what they believed their best roll was in their new society, their old one. However the option now existed for change, for cultural shift and the dissolution of caste boundaries. Unggoy politicians, Kig-Yar scientists, anything was possible for these new people's should they choose it and all were welcomed, should they prove useful for the Concordat. Years of expansion passed, of minor unrest and proxy wars with the Covenant. Their relation with the UNSC had turned into an Alliance of sorts. Trade blossomed along their routes and colonies sprung up far across the galaxy. However the threat of grand war loomed, the Arbiter had died of age as had the people that had originally followed them. New generations of Sangheili had taken his mantle, but never his rank. A council of Sangheili Lords, Yanme'e Queens, Unggoy Ministers, Kig-Yar Barons and Lekgolo Representatives rule the Concordat. Decisions are now made slowly, although often the council agrees on a decision in the end. A single figurehead is in place, the highest ranking military official that governs the combined forces and advises the council on war matters. A Warmaster.
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ShockHelix
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Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
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Post by ShockHelix on Mar 27, 2013 18:54:48 GMT -5
United Nations Space Command The United Nations Space Command (UNSC) is the military, exploratory, and scientific agency of the Unified Earth Government (UEG). The UNSC was formed in the 22nd century, a time when remnants of old cultural ideologies clashed for supremacy in the Sol System. The UNSC served mainly as overseer of United Nations military operations in space. After initiating massive militarization propaganda throughout its off-world colonies, through the UNSC, the U.N. defeated Communist and Fascist forces in a conflict generally known as the "Interplanetary War", which consisted of several side-battles that took place on Mars, the Jovian Moons and the South American rainforests. Although the Interplanetary War brought a great deal of suffering to both the colonial population and the residents of Earth, it also united humanity's military forces into a common armed force by the end of the 22nd century. Prior to the Covenant attack on Harvest in 2525, humanity was in chaos. Battles on multiple fronts and planets evolved from a group known as the Insurrectionists who wanted independence from the Unified Earth Government. The UNSC, more specifically, the UNSCDF, constantly battled against the Insurrectionists. In an attempt to help end the long running war against the Insurrectionists and rebels, the UEG commissioned the SPARTAN-II Program, which created elite super-soldiers to combat the separatists and the insurrections they spawned. When the Human-Covenant War began and the alien invaders began decimating the Outer Colonies, these Spartans became humanity's best hope against the technological superiority of the aliens. When the war began, the UNSC became humanity's greatest protector. This fact allowed the UNSC to override civilian rule and establish itself as humanity's primary government. Although the Unified Earth Government was more open to step down, the Colonial Administration, the arm of the UEG ruling over the colonies, resisted the UNSC's rise to power, and was thus stripped of its power. By 2552 A.D., Earth was the last remaining major human bastion; and fell under attack by the Covenant forces. The Human-Covenant War finally came to an end after a UNSC and Covenant Separatists force eliminated the Covenant leadership and destroyed the Flood threat. By the time the war began, humanity, and thus the UNSC, had reached Tier 3 of the Forerunner civilization achievement rank system. Humanity's rank continued to rise due to the capture of Covenant technology and equipment, which was studied and adapted for human needs. The very best and cutting edge of UNSC equipment was supplied to the SPARTAN-II project, and later less expensive but still cutting edge tech to the Spartan III's One such example of imitative human technology is the energy shielding adapted for use on the MJOLNIR armor. During the Battle of Earth, the UNSC fought the Covenant on Earth to prevent humanity's extinction, and eventually won their right to survive thanks to an alliance with the Covenant Separatists. After the war and reconstruction efforts came to a close, the UNSC began colonizing once again and rebuilding the human population. Soon after however, the UNSC found itself facing yet another threat. The Promethean forces, led by the Didact, began their own assault on the human race with the assistance of the Storm Covenant, a group of Elite based rebels who worshiped the Didact as a God. With the new Spartan-IV program leading the charge, the humans once again defeated their enemies, and were finally granted a period of peace. The UNSC re-established the UEG, focusing their efforts on protecting their new colonies, keeping the peace, and developing the best military technology they could manage for the looming threat of war.
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ShockHelix
Administrator
Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
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Post by ShockHelix on Mar 27, 2013 18:33:56 GMT -5
/*TRUE NAME UNKNOWN*/ Inferi redivivus A.K.A. The Flood [Restricted] Overlay:The Flood (Latin Inferi redivivus), or The Parasite as they are known to the Covenant, are a species of highly virulent parasitic organisms that reproduce and grow by consuming sentient life forms of sufficient biomass and cognitive capability. The Flood was responsible for consuming most of the sentient life in the galaxy, including the Forerunners, during the 300-year-long Forerunner-Flood War. The Flood presents the most variable faction in the galaxy, as it can infect and mutate Humans and Covenant species into Combat Forms. They are widely considered to be the greatest threat to the existence of life, or, more accurately, biodiversity, in the Milky Way Galaxy. Anatomy and Physiology:The Flood, a virulent species of parasites, is an anomaly in all known biology, and an anomaly to regular life. This may be explained by its nature as an extragalactic species, originating from a different galaxy. It is extremely adaptive, and mutates hosts through different stages of accelerated "evolution", where the body of biomatter accelerates its own evolution to the point of a massive biological breakdown, where by the infection can first take place. The species can reproduce without host bodies, though this is described as a last ditch effort, and only performed by pure Flood forms. The only known pathway for Flood reproduction and survival is by the infestation and assimilation of other species. They do this through a form of cellular reproduction known as lysogenic replication where the viral cells infect host cells with their own genetic code which mutates the host cells into viral forms. Capable of surviving extreme environments ranging from -75 to +53 degrees Celsius and even underwater, the Flood can withstand harsh environments of all known colonized planets. It would seem that the Flood can infest any living organism, but that they prefer hosts with a large brain capacity to accelerate the formation and expansion of the Gravemind hive intelligence and the Flood intelligence as a whole. They are only as intelligent as the beings they infect; the more cunning the enemy, the more dangerous the Flood will be. As the Flood spread and replicate, they will alter the environment to better suit their needs. This takes the form of biomass growing on any available surface, and the air being filled with spores. This appears to be part of the Flood life cycle and is done automatically, and leads to the development of a Gravemind and a Flood Hive. The Flood seem to thrive in moist and humid areas, which lends itself to the fact the the Quarantine Zone is bereft of organic life, and is cold and perpetually snowy, to hinder the development of the Flood. Approximate Population://ERROR //CODE STRING MISSING. . . //CLOSING FILE. . .
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ShockHelix
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Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
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Post by ShockHelix on Mar 27, 2013 18:33:39 GMT -5
Huragok (Facticius indoles) A.K.A. Engineers [Restricted] Overlay:Huragok (Latin Facticius indoles), known to Humans as Engineers, are an artificial race that was created by the Forerunners. They are the only known non-combatant race of the Covenant, though some are rigged to explode like suicide bombers. Anatomy and Physiology:The Engineers are actually not a natural, biological species at all, but rather an artificial life form created by the Forerunners. While they possess no true tissues or organs, their nano-mechanical surrogates so closely mimic their biological analogs that they seem almost indistinguishable to observers. Multiple gas-bladders serve as their method of locomotion, allowing them to float through the air even after their deaths. The bladders also serve as part of their respiratory system; if their gas bladders deflate, they will asphyxiate and die. They have small heads with six dark eyes, and four tentacles that can split into very small, near-microscopic cilia. The Engineers use these cilia to construct, repair, or rebuild nearly anything they can grasp. They can take apart whole vehicles and rearrange their entire structure in a matter of seconds, with the resulting machines still operating at least as well as they did before. They learn at an unprecedented rate, and store that information for future reference if ever they need to repair the same thing twice. They are capable of surviving in at least oxygen and methane-rich environments, though they cannot survive in a vacuum. Huragok are not normally a tactical threat and are hardly ever seen in combat situations. Most UNSC soldiers make a point of avoiding intentionally harming Huragok if possible. Unlike the majority of the Covenant races, they do not regard humans as enemies; during the John-117's assault upon Ascendant Justice, one even aided the SPARTAN-II by repairing the shield generator on his MJOLNIR armor and fixing the SPARTAN's current weapon, a broken Needler. Huragok "reproduce" by gathering the needed (or available) materials from their surroundings to "build" another Huragok. This new offspring is then filled with a precise mixture of lighter-than-air gasses. The initial buoyancy of the newly born Huragok is what it is named after. Three known Huragok names have been revealed so far. Those who sink are named 'Far Too Heavy'. Those whose buoyancy is almost perfect are named 'Easy to Adjust'. Lastly, those whose gas mixture causes them to exhibit extreme buoyancy are named 'Lighter Than Some'. Up to three Huragok take part in this process, relaying all the information that they have learned to their "offspring". Given sufficient raw materials, a pair of Huragok can produce a unified replica of themselves in approximately 45 minutes; the addition of a third Huragok cuts the time down to thirty minutes. Understandably, it is advantageous to have as many Huragok contribute to this process as possible, raising the "intelligence" of the offspring. When deployed during large-scale archaeological expeditions, Huragok make use of large Recharge Stations, where they rest, repair each other, and share data between forays. Huragok blood is luminescent blue-purple in color. Huragok are bioluminescent, and in dark conditions their heads and tentacles emit a bright bluish glow, which seems to pulsate when the Huragok is calm and dim when it is frightened. The cilia on their tentacles give off a pinkish-red light as well. Though the inner workings of an Engineer's internal macroscopic biology remain a mystery, it is known that they are capable of using the gas sacks that keep them afloat for anaerobic respiration. This method is painful, dangerous, and apparently only used as a last resort. Huragok use thousands of microscopic organisms to digest the food they consume, producing many gases, including methane, as a by-product. Approximate Population://ERROR //CODE STRING MISSING. . .
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ShockHelix
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Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
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Post by ShockHelix on Mar 27, 2013 18:32:53 GMT -5
Yanme'e (Turpis rex) A.K.A. Drones Overlay:The Yanme'e (Latin Turpis rex), referred to by Humans as Drones, are a race of sentient, flight-capable insectoids who make up part of the alien religious hegemony known as the Covenant. They are informally referred to by UNSC infantry as "buggers" or "drones". Although they have been part of the Covenant for some time, they have only recently been put to use as combatants in the war against the Humans. Their mastery of antigravity-assisted flight has given them an almost insurmountable strategic advantage in combat. Anatomy and Physiology:The Yanme'e are not true insects, as they do not share a common ancestry with Terran life, but they share many similarities with earthly beetles and colonial insects. The Yanme'e have hard exoskeletons made from a glossy chitinous substance, as well as two pairs of veined wings. Unlike Earth insects, which have three body sections, the segments of the Yanme'e body are broken into five: a head, a cephalothorax, a thorax, a pelvis and an abdomen. The head supports a pair of sensory antennae and a pair of compound eyes. The mouth consists of sets of mandibles like those found on insects. The cephalothorax, or "neck", most likely houses what must be an enlarged brain. The thorax has a pair of segmented arms with razor sharp claws, and two pairs of wings; complete with beetle like wing covers. The first pair of legs are attached to a pelvis like structure, while the second pair is attached to the abdomen. The last set of limbs allow the Yanme'e to latch onto ceilings and hang down vertically during sleep. Yanme'e exoskeletons are brightly colored, with different hues representing different ranks or stages of maturity. Adolescent, or pupal, Yanme'e are luminescent yellow and orange, workers are greenish, soldiers are pale blue, and Yanme'e majors are dark red. Very little is known about Yanme'e internal anatomy, but one can make some educated inferences based on what has been witnessed in combat. Yanme'e blood appears a mix of green and gray substances which implies they may have an open circulatory system like insects. The Yanme'e can live for an unknown amount of time in zero-gravity conditions, a strong argument against the open circulatory system. The Yanme'e are too large to rely entirely on the same type of trachea system found in insects; instead they may have some form of true lung system that delivers oxygen directly to the hemolymph, which in turn may carry copper containing hemocyannins (or something similar) instead of hemoglobin though they can do without atmosphere for an unknown though logically limited period of time. It is also possible that the Drones utilize special breathing gear in the vacuum of space, although this is unconfirmed. Because of their size and weight, it is also unlikely that the Yanme'e have only an exoskeleton, and it is possible that some sort of internal struts or other structures are used to hold up their exoskeleton. The weight of the Yanme'e's exoskeleton prevents them from flying in gravity without the use of antigravity support. There seem to be a number of different varieties, including copper, green, blue, silver, red, and gold. Drones have also shown variation in other characteristics than color, including differences in mandible, limb, and antennae structure. Whether these traits are indicative of different tasks or functions, or simply a result of genetic variation, is unknown. When the Drones sleep, they do so hanging upside down from the ceiling, similar to bats. Almost nothing is known about the Yanme'e life cycle beyond the fact that the queen lays eggs. It's possible that the Yanme'e go through a complete metamorphosis including an egg, larva, pupae and adult stage, as it is known that the Yanme'e life cycle does include some form of pupal stage. Approximate Population:Because of their ability to populate quickly and their smaller role in military operations then other Covenant species, the Drone population has grown to nearly 2 trillion in recent times, including the billions of non-combative forms in their hive-worlds.
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ShockHelix
Administrator
Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
Posts: 666,666,949 Likes: 27
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Post by ShockHelix on Mar 27, 2013 18:32:30 GMT -5
Unggoy (Monachus frigus) A.K.A. Grunt Overlay:The Unggoy (Latin, Monachus frigus) are a species of small, squat and bipedal arthropods in the unified races of the Covenant. They are the lowest rank in the hierarchy, and are frequently mistreated by higher-ranking races such as the Sangheili and Jiralhanae, so much so that killing Unggoy is not even considered a crime in the Covenant homeworlds. Unggoy are primarily used as laborers or, in combat situations, cannon fodder. They are one of the later races to be introduced into the Covenant. They were the third Covenant species to be encountered by humans. They are referred to as Grunts by humans, mainly because they are considered weak compared to their superiors and also because they perform the majority of the labor required by the Covenant. Anatomy and Physiology:Unggoy are average of about 5 1/2 feet tall and are relatively weak compared to other Covenant species. Although they can easily walk upright on two legs, they may often use their arms to move in a quadrupedal fashion. While carrying armaments, they are forced to walk upright so that they may support their weapons with their hands, but while trying to flee, or while patrolling without a weapon drawn, they use their oversized arms as forelegs to add speed or stability to their gait. Their eyesight and hearing is average, and seem to have a very well developed sense of smell, sometimes sniffing the air to detect traces of foes or hidden enemies. This is facilitated through the olfactory membranes installed in their masks. Unggoy also have thick, bio-luminescent, light-blue blood, possibly a result of methane-based proteins in the blood to facilitate methane-based respiration. Like Earth's Horseshoe Crabs, it is possible that their blood is blue due to high copper content. An Unggoy's forearms are incredibly over-sized, as are their calves, while their upper arms and thighs are seemingly small. This has allowed them to be quite excellent climbers. Spiny protrusions on their elbows help them scale rocky surfaces and may also be used to add force to their melee attacks. They also have an amazingly fast finger reflex speed, as they can fire a plasma pistol of the same rate a Sangheili can with a plasma rifle. The Unggoy have flat, three-toed feet, with another toe on the back of their feet. While they are small, stocky, and not agile, they are quite sturdy; most may be weak, as they seem to be unable to carry a weapon heavier than a plasma pistol, although certain Unggoy of higher ranks appear to be surprisingly strong, able to carry an undeployed plasma cannon or fire a fuel rod gun with one hand without toppling from the recoil. However, physical strength may not actually go along with rank; the types of weapons available to them may be a part of a "trust" issue with the other Covenant. As rank-and-file Unggoy are clumsy and tactically inept, more powerful weapons are likely only issued to those who are more disciplined and experienced. Unggoy have been described as breeding prodigiously in many instances, with large egg clutches and short childhood periods.This might explain why there are so many of them on the battlefield. This combined with the large number of young per clutch and rapid sensory motor integration development was one of the primary reasons why the species were given the role of disposable cannon fodder. Their unburdened neural pathway allows them to absorb knowledge more freely compared to their peers. As such, they are constantly monitoring the void for traces of human communication and have developed a clear understanding of two or even three human languages. This serves as a river of confidence in times of great stress for them. Overpopulation is a serious problem and in non-war times, strict laws are placed on Unggoy breeding. Approximate Population:With the split of the Unggoy population during the Great Schism, their population dropped to only 320 million, though during the ceasefire it was raised quickly to 47 billion, when both the Covenant and Sanghelios Concordat took necessary measures to slow their breeding throughout their Empires.
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ShockHelix
Administrator
Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
Posts: 666,666,949 Likes: 27
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Post by ShockHelix on Mar 27, 2013 18:31:49 GMT -5
Lekgolo/Mgalekgolo (Ophis congregatio) A.K.A. Hunters [Restricted] Overlay:The Lekgolo (Latin Ophis congregatio) are a species of small colonial worm-like creatures that can join together to form purpose specific assemblages. Lekgolo are also able to combine themselves within machinery such as the Scarab and use their combined intelligence to pilot, or control, the vehicle or machinery. Every worm-like creature is an individual eel, about 1.4 meters long, with its own central nervous system. It is speculated that the Lekgolo have microscopic muscular cilia which are used to connect to other Lekgolo and that each cilium is capable of communicating chemically similar to a synapse, explaining how the species can become a collective being in the form of the Mgalekgolo. The Mgalekgolo, more commonly known as Hunters, a combination of the tiny, orange, worm-like creatures that group together to exponentially increase their intelligence, strength, and maneuverability. During and after the Great Schism there was a division within the species, some aligning with the Covenant Separatists and others remaining with the Covenant Loyalists. They always come in pairs or "bond brothers." The death of one will enrage the other if it witnesses the other's death. Anatomy and Physiology:The Lekgolo Colonies form a single collective consciousness and act as one, a single "hive-mind", similar to the structure of operation in the Flood albeit on a more local scale. In other words they are a communal organism working together to perform specific tasks. Mgalekgolo are capable of manifesting in several different iterations according to what goal they are striving to achieve and the amount of Lekgolo worms that are present. The Mgalekgolo is the most common form seen in combat during the Human-Covenant War, but is actually one of the more rare forms in the Lekgolo society. This Mgalekgolo is employed by the Covenant as heavy infantry. Their society is predominated by this combination of being able to create exponentially more intelligent creatures, and the actual "Hunter" organism is one of the rarer and smaller forms to be found, used primarily in interaction with the Covenant hierarchy. Because of their make-up of several hundred "eels" instead of being a single large organism, the Lekgolo are one of the only species in the Covenant that cannot be assimilated by the Flood, as their unique physiology does not allow the organism to access a central nervous system or control them to any capacity. As such, there has never been a Hunter Combat Form, though the flesh of the Lekgolo can most likely be used by the Flood simply for its biomass. The collection of eels that make up a Hunter's body are unintelligent at the most basic level, but can form complex thoughts and emerge as a conscious individual when they combine into larger masses that communicate through chemical and electrical means. The neural net that Hunters develop enables them to be incredibly strong and very sensitive to all things within a 1,000 foot line pointing out from non-combat form, and a half sphere that extends 500 feet in combat form. This is why Hunters can think and work as an effective combat unit without even using verbal communication. Hunters generally growl during battle but will sometimes talk and make remarks like the other Covenant species. Instead of using vocal chords, like other Covenant species, they vibrate their bodies to make a low rumble that is described as "more felt than heard" to produce speech. It is theorized that Hunters reproduce asexually similar to earthworms; however there is no way to be certain. If true, calling Hunter pairs "mates" would only make sense in term for the pairing of two, not actually mating. Approximate Population://ERROR //CODE STRING MISSING. . .
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ShockHelix
Administrator
Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
Posts: 666,666,949 Likes: 27
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Post by ShockHelix on Mar 27, 2013 18:31:11 GMT -5
Kig-Yar (Perosus latrunculus) A.K.A. Jackals Overlay:The Kig-yar (Latin: Perosus latrunculus) are a saurian species which serve the Covenant Loyalists and occasionally the Sanghelios Concordat, as mercenaries and privateers. Humans have termed these vicious creatures Jackals, as they are known for their swiftness, viciousness, and dexterity, despite their physical frailty. In combat, Kig-yar serve as either snipers or scouts within the Covenant due to their excellent senses of sight, smell, and hearing. Anatomy and Physiology:Despite their saurian origins, Kig-yar are avian in appearance, with feather-like quills on their heads and arms on males and calloused plates on females for protection from males during mating, and three-toed bird-like feet with deadly talons. They have three fingers on each hand with razor-sharp claws. Kig-yar have bird-like beaks and razor sharp teeth that can easily rip flesh apart. They are mainly carnivorous and are known to the consume flesh of other sentient beings. Though they are not a low-gravity species, they do have many qualities that are shared with species from low-g worlds. The female of the species lack the spiny plumage (said plumage's color serving as indication of the Jackal's mood) of the male; replacing it with calloused plates at the forearms and the rear of the head. This thick skin helps protect the female during courtship. When mating, the male can choose to fertilize the egg, in which a male is produced, whereas if the eggs are not fertilized a female is produced. Aside from the obvious differences in reproductive organs, the male and female of the species are more or less identical in appearance with no physical disparity or mass distribution between the sexes. Kig-yar skin is scaly and typically light brown or sickly yellow in color. Their blood is bright purple in color, similar to that of the Sangheili, possibly showing a similar chemical makeup. The lack of calcium in their skeletons makes them a poor source of food for potential Flood forms, though this does not stop the flood from converting them to combat forms. Population:After the Human-Covenant War, the population of the Kig-Yar is estimated to be approximately 35 billion
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