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Vortigaunt
From HalfLife 2 Knowledge Base
First Seen: Chapter 1, Point Insertion
- Located in chapter(s): 1-3, 5, 7, 8
Description
In appearance, a Vortigaunt is somewhat humanoid with two legs and two arms, but has an additional, seemingly vestigial, arm protruding from its chest. Several other bipedal species from Xen, including the "Alien Grunt" and Nihilanth, also bear this extra limb, suggestive of a common ancestry. The Vortigaunt has a hunched back, and its face is dominated by a large, single red eye, surrounded by a number of smaller eyes. While they have their own language, they are also able to speak in English.
In Half-Life, they are common enemies in both Black Mesa and Xen. While they usually attack aggressively, sometimes they are more timid, preferring to run away rather than risk combat and possible death. They have two modes of attack : a slow-charging electric attack in which they "fire" green bolts of lightning, and claws for close combat. Significantly, in Half-Life all of the Vortigaunts wear green collars and wrist bands. Later events reveal these to be a means by which they are controlled by a remote master (the Nihilanth).
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 have joined the resistance against the Combine. The Vortigaunts' reverence towards Gordon (particularly in their use of calling him "the Free Man") seems to indicate that they credit him with freeing them from their servitude, most probably the result of the Nihilanth's death.
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. Wearing the traditional green collar and armbands along with an additional piece around its waist, the Vortigaunt is shown slowly and meticulously using a push-broom to sweep dirt and garbage in the City 17 train station.
There is a hint in Half-Life 2 that Vortigaunts can communicate with one another telepathically. When describing the Combine prison, Nova Prospekt, Alyx mentions that what little information they have has been obtained from Vortigaunts taken there. As only tortured Vortigaunts are encountered in the prison (rather than ones working as janitors as above), this suggests a telepathic mode of contact between Vortigaunts.
