Post by SyncxizT on Feb 4, 2014 17:48:36 GMT 1
Vortigaunts in General
So you're probably thinking how cool Vortigaunts are and how fun it must be to shoot lazers all the time? Fact of the matter is, Vortigaunts, enslaved or no, are actually one of the hardest factions to roleplay properly. If you're wondering why, it comes down to one simple thing - they're not actually human, unlike the other standard factions of HL2RP.
Vortigaunts originate from an unknown home planet, and came to Earth through the border world of Xen. Initially hostile to humans (Half life 1), they soon became a grave ally to the resistance, sharing the common goal of wanting their freedom from the Union.
I'm not going to copy and paste all of their history from the wiki page, so if you're really interested you can see it here:
half-life.wikia.com/wiki/Vortigaunt
Some important features to know about Vortigaunts are:
4 Red eyes, one being large and the other 3 at the top
Back-jointed legs, which results in rather awkward and slower running, as well as an awkward posture
Three arms, the third being on the chest of the Vortigaunt (used for feeding.)
All four eyes are actually multiple openings to a single eye surface
They also have two rectums
as well as four nipples, suggesting that Vortigaunts reproduce in a similar fashion to Earthly mammals.
No tongue or teeth on their lower jaw, yet they can speak English fluently, with a strange accent and some sort of speech impediment when using S's and R's.
Roleplaying a free Vortigaunt
As a free Vortigaunt, you need to establish that your top priority is survival. You are wanted by the ACP and the Union in general, and if found and captured, you will be enslaved or worse. Rushing off to find Resistance or showing off your magical vort powers is not how you should be roleplaying.
Typical food for a Vortigaunt consists of headcrabs, antlion parts but they will also eat human food if necessary.
Since Vortigaunts are aliens, you won't speak perfect English. You might not know complex words and you may have difficulty pronouncing them. Vortigaunts stereotypically speak in third person, although in episode two they speak in first person, so both can be used.
Example of third person: This one
Example of first person: I
Vortigaunts are also noted to use archaic words and syntax, tending to use outdated, even Shakespearean phrases. They also, typically in the game place a 'The' infront of names, which is popularly known as a feature of the german language.
Your powers, from an extract of the wiki:
Vortigaunts believe in a binding life-force which they call the "Vortessence". Due to their use of this force, which remains untapped by humans , the Vortigaunt species can communicate with one another telepathically. They believe Vortessence is the fabric of the universe, made of "vortal cords", of which everything is woven (and therefore everything is connected). 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. They can use their powers coupled with "the extract" of Antlion larvae to bring the nearly dead back to life (however, it is shown in Episode Two that they cannot do this alone).
Dumbed down, the Vortessence is untapped into by humans, meaning when communicating with your bretheren in Vortigese (this is normally just making up random words and pming the vortigaunt what you said IC) or telepathically via the Vortessence (be sure to /me this). The green electricity seen is powered by the Vortessence. This is quite powerful and could probably kill or wound somebody very badly with a powered charge of electricity, however takes a moment to charge and a moment to be fired, so be sure to roleplay this. Use your powers sparingly, because electrocuting everybody you see will only get you killed, and will also lower your image as a roleplayer. Your powers can be used to charge electrical devices, heal moderate wounds and to take power from devices.
With Antlion Extract, your powers are bolstered to the height of healing heavy wounds and deadlier electrical strikes, and with around 4 Vortigaunts and Antlion Extract, you could possibly also perform teleportation or the revival of a recently deceased corpse (12 hours max).
Roleplaying a Slave
The main difference between a Slave and a Free Vortigaunt is that slaves are equipped with Union engineered chains which prevent Vortigaunts from making their connection to the Vortessence. They can still speak Vortigese, but cannot communicate telepathically, or use any of their powers to any extent until the chains are broken, and will still take a day or so to fully reconnect with the Vortessence itself.
Experienced conscripts will normally have been beaten into discipline, and will usually heed their superiors out of fear or have been mentally conditioned into respecting Union staff through beatings and the like, very rarely, through rewards. Conscripts are usually expected to refer to the combine as 'Master' and the likes, but still speak like a Free Vortigaunt with the old styled language and blend of third and first person, as well as the 'the''s before the of who it is addressing.
Conscripts are now permitted, as of the reforms to wander the districts 1 and two, but are equipped with collars that will detonate around their neck region (effectively blowing their heads off, fallout style) upon entry to districts 3 or 4, including the sewer region. This makes escape pretty much impossible as the collar can never be removed once placed on, but hey, that's why there are two separate whitelists.
Conscripts, in order to receive rations and sustain themselves, must partake in labour to earn their worth, often done while overseen by a civil protection unit. They may only receive two rations per IC day, and units are entitled to force them to perform labour if they are not opting into it voluntary.
When not doing your duties, you will be expected to carry your identification around and are allowed to converse with citizens and units, even fellow conscripts under the condition that no Vortigese is spoken. Speaking Vortigese is a level two violation, which equals amputation for a lower class citizen such as the conscript biotic.
As stated above, all violations for the Biotics are amplified. A level one violation has the same punishment as a level three violation for a citizen, and a level two violation equals the same punishment of that as a four. Level three and violations will result in violent torture before your slow and painful departure from the World, so I don't recommend it.
Vortigaunts and you
When approaching free Vortigaunts, don't make a big deal out of it, unless you're sure this is the first time you've seen one IC (very unlikely). Don't go over and start demand favours unless your friend is bleeding out from a gun wound, even then, It's still not recommended because people asking you to heal their friends all day gets annoying, trust me. Don't ask them to cyber with you either (yes, it happens) because that's just fucking weird.
Also, don't point guns at their faces, it tends to have disastrous results (half-life 1).
With slaves, you shouldn't really be talking to them. While they may be seeking a good conversation, the ACP won't appreciate you distracting them from your jobs and may show this with a few new stunstick burns on your back, so it's not recommended. Don't group around them either, because that'll piss off units as well. Watching from a distance is the most preferable option, and won't piss of the ACP while saving you 5 minutes that you'd be sitting in detainment for.
Credits to Moon - Lemonpunch
