Guide: Xenian Terms and Vocabulary

[TheDeNuke]

Written by RogueSynapse and MelonHeadzzz
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Below are some terms that are commonly used by Xenian creatures that possess the capacity to communicate with each other. The Human/English language has their own variants of these words, but the choice of words present here are the terms in which Xenian creatures may chose to use. Feel free to use this during your Roleplay for immersion. This will be updated as time goes on so keep an eye out for changes and updates.

Weaver: Creatures that are sensitive to the Vortessence, often used by Hulkabin when they are referring to Vortigaunts.
Hulkabin: The title given to the 'Alien Grunts' during their creation on Xen.
Title: A name or identifier given to a specific creature.
Earth-Walker | Sol Creature: Reference to humans on Earth.
Ulathoi: Directly translating to the "Forced Connection," this is a universal term used to describe the Combine in general. The Vortigaunts go even further with their own classifications.
- Ula'rumden: Striders; "forced to walk tall."
- Ula'krii: Hunters; "forced to stalk."
- Ula'gruh: Assassins; "forced to prowl."
- Ula'nohaa: Crabs; "forced to shoot."
- Ula'diiyo: Mortars; "forced to launch explosions."
- Ula'rog: Dropships; "forced to hold."
- Ula'nohaa-grun: Gunships; "forced to shoot in flight."
- Ula'eeya: Cremators; "forced to burn."
- Ula'dara: Guards; "forced to shield."
- Ula'harrah: Stalkers; "forced to toil."
Shu'ulathoi: "Spawn of the Forced Connection," these are the grub-like Combine Advisors.
The Supreme | All-Giver | The Captor: The Nihilanth. The terms 'Supreme' and 'All-Giver' were honorifics to the Nihilanth. "The Captor" is modern, and used by those against the Nihilanth.
Gron'Totum: An Antlion in a stage of youth.
Imper'Tarum: Combine Ground Forces (Civil Protection or OTA)
Squra'Dum: Any variant of the Headcrab species.
Al'Thum: Another term used to identify Antlion Extract, usually one of a strong/potent nature.
Ard'rheesh: The vortigese term for "Earth," meaning "Planet of Tiny Trees."
The Supreme Path: The term used to describe the invasion of Earth through the Black Mesa Incident. Used often by those who support the Nihilanth.
The Way of Maweh: A term used to describe the inability for non-Weavers to correctly speak the language of the Vortigaunts.
A Gwan'Zek Ritual: The act of giving/restoring life into a recently deceased creature.
Mok: A weapon, often used in reference to a Hivehand or other melee tool.
False/Lost Weaver: A term used to identify Vortigaunts that are no longer tied to the Vortessence.
Kin | Kinsman: Another creature of the same species.
Galanga: Transcendence of the mind through martial perfection and its display. Often used when combat is begun.
Orm: A root word used to describe antlions. The base word is used to describe soldiers. Suffixes are attached to describe specialized forms.
- Ormbah; Antlion Eggs
- Ormlih; Antlion Larva
- Ormsun; Antlion Warriors
- Ormshuk; Antlion Spitter
- Ormdara; Antlion Guard
- Ormdarr; Antlion Guardian
Myrmidont: Used to describe Antlion Guardians, especially when using non-vortal languages.
Warchief | Mountain-Mover | Gud'Rak: A leader of an organized Hulkabin Warband.
Aja'nai: A full grown and far more lethal/mature Antlion.
Gore-Walker: Any creature from the Race-X series of species.
Lupthen'Rah: Any variant of crystal native within the realm of Xen.
Laurel: A trophy claimed from a kill, often in the way of a head or bone fragment from the slain creature. Common among Hulkabin practices.
Wind-Caller: A traitor or spy, often for the likes of Combine forces.
U'An'Men | Emissary of Decay: Title given to the "One Free Man" by followers of the Nihilanth.
The Saviour | Opener of the Way: Titles given to the "One Free Man" by Vortigaunts and those against the Nihilanth's path.
The Grand Faithful: Those who continue to follow in the path of the Nialanth after the Black Mesa Incident.
Garun'Tha: A term used to describe a weak and pathetic creature due to injury or as an insult.
Locusta: Combine Synthetic Units (Striders, Hunters, Etc.)


This color means the word is often used by Hulkabin
This color means the term is often used by Vortigaunts
This color means that all groups commonly use the term.

More soon to come.

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Guide: Alien Languages and You

Information on Willards Alien Language Systems

Preface
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Willard handles Alien languages in quite a unique fashion compared to other servers. Often on HL2RP servers, you will encounter the use of Vortigese, but not much else. This guide exists as both an introduction and a formal explanation to not just the Vortigese language, but also the several other Alien languages that are present on the server. Included will be general descriptions, language fundamentals, and event some basic rules to adhere to as you utilize such languages. It's important to not that you may have additional questions about such alien languages, which is a normal thing to have, not every single question or aspect surrounding such languages can be answered in one forum post. In the case that following the reading of this thread, you still have additional questions, don't be shy in reaching out to the faction leads before-hand, don't ever guess on things, as it may result in you being disappointed when the answer comes clear in time.

The Specifics

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The 'Tongue of the Weavers' as known by the masses who interact with such a language. Vortigese is so much more than audible sounds that below out of the mouths of Vortigaunts. It's the application of connections to the Vortessence which allows the creatures to speak in a unique and private form of communication. To onlookers (be they human or otherwise), the act of speaking such seems to be nothing more than a mish-mash of repeated words. The audible aspect of the language serves only as the foundation for the language. The other 75% of the language comes out through the individual minds who partake in such. This means that only those who possess a biological make-up and ties to the Vortessence may speak the language. If you are familiar with Half-Life lore, you may also know that the Alien Grunts were bread for war from heavily modified Vortigaunt DnA. The result of this intrusive process ended up butchering the ability for the Alien Grunts (Hulkabin) to use the Vortessence. The only modicum amount of grasp Alien Grunts have of the old Vortal ways is through a highly broken and pragmatic forum of the language which is highly dysfunctional and only useful in given direct orders to simple phrases to Vortigaunts, as was a custom and normal way of life during the time of the Nihilanth. These two species are the only ones capable of speaking or understanding this language. It's impossible for Humans or any other creatures outside of the language to understand or speak it. Trying to do so would be like trying to hear an inaudible frequency that human ears don't pick up, yet dogs/other animals do.

Vortigese does not have a written form. Vortigaunts write through illustrations that are similar to hieroglyphics that the Egyptians used. Visually, these are quite easy to tell what story or message is being told, and can be done by most people as it's not an act that is exclusive to the Vortigaunt species.

Notable Features
+A default language for the Vortigaunts and Alien Grunts.
+Alien Grunts do a very poor job of speaking/understanding the language and struggle greatly to do so (See Alien Grunt Megathread for more information).
+Humans cannot speak or understand this language.

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One of the most common languages spoken within the realm of Xen. The language of Xendarian was made common by the rule of the Nihilanth. Spoken by the Nihilanth and the Hulkabin forces in which it created in droves, the language has becomes the stable of the Hulkabin species. The act of speaking it does not require a connection to the Vortessence, but rather a very specific combination of biological organs to produce the sound, and even more specific audio receptors to hear. The sound emitted from the Hulkabin when speaking uses a large organ located in the torso of the create to emit a series of growls and bellows that include high frequencies of hums and vibrations that when picked up by capable ears, become a symphony of vocabulary. The only species capable of producing these sounds with receptors to understand them are the Nihilanth, his forces, the Hulkabins, and the Vortigaunts. Vortigaunts are able to speak Xendarian, but due to the fact that their vocal organs were not modified by the Nihilanth, they struggle to do so, often requiring them to exert a great deal of effort to speak it. They do however possess the audible receptors needed to hear the language fine. Learning the language as a Vortigaunt is no easy feat. Learning to speak the language can take up to decades, not only because of the complex nature of the language, but also because of the fact that it requires the respect and understanding of a Hulkabin to be willing to spend so much time to teach it. Most of the Vortgiaunts that know of the language were faithful to the Nihilanth, and rose through the ranks of being a feeble slave to something of a competent leader during times of labor and conflict.

There is no written form of this language. The Hulkabin rarely, if ever, write such, but if they are, it's in a similar and even more pragmatic method of images and symbols.

Notable Features
+The default language of the Alien Grunt faction.
+Vortigaunts can obtain this language flag if they have created a character biography on the forums that explains why/how they would know the language and have gotten it approved by the Vortigaunt/Alien Grunt faction leads.
+Humans cannot speak or understand this language.

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Arguably one of the most elusive of all of the Alien languages comes the Incongrous. This language is spoken by the creatures of the Race-X species. Information on the language is hard to come by, as Race-X creatures remain an elusive line up of antagonists within the series. The language is broken up into a handful of phrases and word splices that when used in a repeated fashion, have some sort of connection with informational sharing. It's rumored that there are additional aspects of this language that have been unnoticed such as additional inaudible phrases in-between words that amplify or better explain information conveyed, but details on this remain a mystery.

Notable Features
+Default language for the Race-X species of characters (Shock Troopers and such).
+No information on the language is within the grasp of other factions/species. No one is yet to uncover the language or has the ability to share within its understanding.

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The 'Language of the Empire'. During the expansive conquest of the Combine Empire, many species and civilizations fell into its control. Because of this, a core/mainstream language needed to be developed for the sake of communication. Enter the Imperial language. The Imperial language is a language that has several variants and deviations that make it possible to be spoken by many species that are under the rule of the Combine. First, there is the 'Natural' branch of the Imperial Language. This is the biologically conveyed method of speaking the language. Often spoken by the Shu'ulathoi (Advisors) telepathically, this is the version which is spoken without any modifications to the body or any intrusive means of ensuring the language is known. Some of the conquered species of the Combine Empire are able to partake in this 'Natural' branch, but they are rare and hardly ever seen by humanity. Then there comes the 'Artificial' branch of Imperial. This is the far more common way in which Imperial is spoken. The artificial branch is one that is spoken by the likes of Synthetic soldiers, Overwatch forces, and other common Combine assets. The language becomes known through mental augmentation and chemical enhancement of the neurological components of the creatures being modified. As for hearing and understanding the language, it depends upon the method in which the language is being obtained. The Shu'ulathoi possess the ability to speak telepathically and convey the likes of the language in a way which is far easier to digest for human minds. Information on the language is kept completely close knit, and shared with only the most important of human being on Earth that are not a military asset.

The written version of this language is also kept under a tight leash, known only to a handful of entrusted humans on Earth.

Notable Features
+Is a default language for most/all Synthetic/Augmented Combine forces (OTA and such).
+The ability to understand this language as a basic human would need to be handled by the Authorization team, the CCA leads, and the Overwatch leads.

 

[MelonHeadzzz]

Updates:
As the silly linguist of this faction, I have taken it upon myself to add some new translations.
- Ulathoi has been added, with new synth descriptions
- Shu'ulathoi has been updated
- The term "The Captor" has been added to the Nihilanth definitions.
- Added "Orm," its subsequent classifications, and the term "Myrmidont."
- Added "Galanga," since we've always wanted a description for that.