The subtitles refer to their native language as "Vortigese".īy the beginning of Half-Life 2, Vortigaunts have learned to speak at least one human language, which, in the English language version of the game, is predictably English (in some international versions of Half-Life 2, Vortigaunts speak the appropriate language for the country of the game's release, e.g: in the French language version of the game, the Vortigaunts speak French). A possible example of flux shifting occurs during the aftermath of the first Hunter attack in Half-Life 2: Episode Two, when the Vortigaunt that saves Alyx calls out over an immense distance to communicate with their kin, using two short but apparently highly descriptive calls. According to the Vortigaunts, flux shifting cannot be understood by "those whose Vortal inputs are impaired", which may suggest that inaudible components are involved, perhaps explaining why they are incomprehensible to humans. Vortigaunts possess their own native form of communication, which, in Half-Life 2, is referred to as "flux shifting". Vortigaunts "communicating" over a corpse in Black Mesa's Lambda Complex. In Half-Life 2, Vortigaunts make occasional references to their species' culture. Based on comments by the All-Knowing Vortigaunt, it seems that the species has endured slavery for many generations (" We have endured these chafing bonds for eons, yet a single moment of further servitude seems intolerable!" as he says) and enforced servitude appears to have formed the bedrock of Vortigaunt history and culture up to the events of the first Half-Life. In the original game, Vortigaunts were enslaved by the Nihilanth and used as workers and drone soldiers. īrief glimpses into the Vortigaunt culture can be gained by occasional speeches given by them in Half-Life 2, and in scenes during the original Half-Life. When faced with a superior enemy, Vortigaunts will often retreat, and if possible, group together with other Vortigaunts to form a stronger force.
Throughout the Half-Life series, they can be seen in pairs or groups, and are capable of developing intelligent strategies. Vortigaunts are very intelligent and social creatures. Their feet, while previously ending in a single hoof-like claw, now take on a more avian appearance with three clawed digits.Īnother interesting feature of the Vortigaunts is that they can speak English fluently, albeit with a strange accent and some sort of speech impediment when using S's and R's. Instead of the hands ending in two digits, an opposable thumb can now be seen on each hand. In Half-Life: Alyx, Vortigaunts appear slightly different.
Vortigaunts have a slightly hunched posture, and their faces are dominated by a large eye with a maroon Sclera and a Heterochromic red-yellow iris with a yellow pupil, surrounded by three smaller eyes. Vortigaunts have mottled green-brown skin, sharp teeth, and clawed hands. They are capable of using their arms to run like a quadruped, to cover large distances. However, Vortigaunts are also shown able to use their green energy through this third arm in Half-Life: Alyx. Apparently, this third arm is used for feeding, as both Vortigaunts and Alien Grunts are often seen bending over slain victims, feeding on them. This similarity, along with other shared features such as red eyes and digitigrade legs, is strongly suggestive of a common ancestry with other intelligent Xen life forms. This extra limb is a feature also found in other bipedal, sapient species from Xen, including the Alien Grunt and the Nihilanth. In appearance, Vortigaunts are somewhat humanoid, with two legs and two arms and an additional third arm protruding from the chest.