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The Jiralhanae - AKA: The Brutes |
Latin Name: Servus Ferox |
Homeworld: Doisac |
General Weight: Between 1000 lbs and 1500 lbs |
General Size: between 9'0" and 9'7" |
Eye Color: Red |
Skin Color: Gray |
Hair Color: Light Brown, Dark Brown, Gray, White, Black, Mixed |
Physical Properties: Very large and muscular, very hairy |
The Jiralhanae - AKA: The Brutes
The Jiralhanae, known as Jiralhanae to Humans for their very wild and aggressive disposition, are mammalian in appearance, and have been compared to Earth's bears and rhinoceros. Despite the connotation of the name, some Jiralhanae actually like the term "Brute" and wear it with pride, while a great deal many more rather despise the term, as they consider it slang and offensive. The Jiralhanae have thick, gray skin, and are covered with matted, black, tan, silver, white, or brown fur. The majority of Jiralhanae shave and groom their fur, with higher-ranking individuals sporting beards or mohawks. Brute society seems to identify their family linage, their clan, and their tribe origins by using different permutations and designs for their facial hair, body hair, body markings, and tribal customs. As a result of this form of self-identification and expression, there have been multitudes of various styles that have been worn by The Jiralhanae, to the point where it becomes extremely difficult to keep track of.
The Jiralhanae's large, stocky appearance is most likely due to the gravity on their planet, which is about twice the gravity of that on Earth. Due to the high gravity and intense requirements on the physical As they age, the hair will change to a grayish-silver color. Jiralhanae are immensely strong, hence the moniker "Brute" and are capable of crushing blows in hand-to-hand combat. Their teeth are very sharp, and are frequently used as natural weapons. In battle, they are prone to fits of berserk rage, in which they will rush at and pummel any targets within reach with terrifying aggression.
Jiralhanae can speak most languages, including English and Sangheili. They speak in deep, gravelly voices when speaking human languages and speak their native language as a series of grunts, hisses, roars and deep communal howls during ceremonies and for communication.
- Early History
- Human-Covenant War
- Post-Covenant Status
- Biology / Genealogy
- Physical Appearance
- Personality / Behavior
- Family / Close Relationships
- The Pack Mentality
- Culture
- Director Vernette's Personal Notes
Early History
The Jiralhanae, in the past, have proven to be a resourceful race, resourceful enough to advance their technology to at least space faring status. However, due to their war-like and combative nature, they quickly plunged into bloody civil wars, and ultimately destroyed themselves. By the time they were discovered by the Covenant, they had begun to rediscover early industrialized technology. They were adopted into the Covenant as heavy shock troopers, and proved to be quick converts, grasping tightly onto the promise of the Great Journey. This zeal proved to be a powerful motivational factor in the Great Schism, also known as the Covenant Civil War.
Human-Covenant War
For the duration of the war, Jiralhanae were primarily used as ground forces, deployed to the field to break the heaviest of defenses. They were seen as more than cannon fodder, but less than an Elite. Although there did exist Brute shipmasters, and even fewer fleet masters (although the sizes of those fleets were very small), they were still subservient to the Elites. Jiralhanae assumed command of the Covenant Navy after their military coup that took the form of the Great Schism. They were primarily responsible for the damage done to Earth in the second battle.
Post Covenant Status
After the defeat of the Covenant, Jiralhanae quickly plunged back into civil war and in-fighting. This was due to the lack of a unified leadership. After the death of The Chieftain of the Jiralhanae, all the clans began to fight for control, to install their own leader. Some clans formed alliances to increase their own military strength. This proved advantageous for the alliance between the Elites and Humans, but also created a climate of expandability for the Humans. The civil war between the clans did not last, as a new Chieftain of the Jiralhanae was soon installed. As the Jiralhanae began to stabilize, their danger began to once again increase and this eventually culminated in the third battle of Earth, which also is known as the Elite betrayal. As of 2555, after Delta assumed control of the title of Chieftain of the Jiralhanae, Humanity and Jiralhanae have formed a distant, but stable, working relationship to combat their mutual, and more numerous enemy in the Elites. The longer the alliance remains stable, the more each side begins to appreciate one another for their unique qualities.
Biology / Genealogy
Jiralhanae have been noted as only mating during certain points in the year. There seems to be a biological clock that every Brute shares when the Species feels it is the right time to reproduce. This can happen several times a year, and the phase can last up to two weeks in duration. During this time, Jiralhanae seem to shed, and seem to be much more extroverted. The Jiralhanae are a live-birth species, meaning they bare their young much like humans do. Jiralhanae have very enhanced senses. They have excellent eyesight, a highly evolved sense of smell, and highly evolved taste buds, all of which fits this predator species to the letter. Their hearing seems to be comparable to Humans however. With their sense of smell, they are able to sense another individuals current emotional state, regardless of species it seems, so long as the Brute in question is familiar with such scents. It should be noted that Nitrous Oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas, can inhibit a Brute's sense of smell, to the point where a scent can effectively be masked and made totally undetectable. Young Jiralhanae are known to emit pheromones that, when smelt by other Jiralhanae, can be a give-away of emotional and mental state. As Jiralhanae mature, they learn to control these pheromones and possibly stop them all together. Due to two nonmetallic compounds, namely iron and zinc, Brute blood is composed of two intermixed fluids, one being red due to iron, and the other being a dark blue due to zinc.
Physical Appearance
Jiralhanae are incredibly massive creatures. They are very muscular, and they seem to be built to take damage. Their skeletal structure is highly advanced and their bones very dense and very strong. Their muscular structure is highly developed and is also very dense. With their skin and very thick hair, Jiralhanae prove to be highly resilient to all types of injury. By comparison, it has been observed, that using a MA5B Assault Rifle, a full clip discharged into the abdomen of a Brute seems to only piss them off, doing very little, to no observable damage. Jiralhanae have hands with 4 digits (1 thumb and 3 fingers). Unlike Elites Jiralhanae can more easily use human weapons. Additionally, their hands are finished with very sharp claws that seem to be comparable to fingernails. Jiralhanae have feet with two digits, both digits equipped with very large claws, which can be used to impale their enemies, if they kick with their toes forward. Jiralhanae have very powerful jaws and very sharp teeth. Their jaws have been observed crushing the bones of large animals, and even Humans. They are a purely carnivorous race, as all of their teeth are designed for tearing and crushing. In physical combat, the teeth prove to be a favored choice of weapon. It has been observed that Jiralhanae can open their mouths to a very wide margin, enough to fit the entire head of a human inside, which can essentially allow them to decapitate a Human with their mouths.
Personality / Behavior
Jiralhanae are highly emotional creatures in every sense. They are prone to extreme fits anger in times of duress, but can also prove to be very loyal and passive in times of calm. Jiralhanae seem to be easily angered by people who they think disrespect them. On the other hand, people who they know who respect them, are given leverage as far as interpersonal relationships go. It has been observed Jiralhanae forming close bonds with other Jiralhanae and non-Jiralhanae alike, to the point of forming family-like connections and loyalty. Such bonds prove to be unbreakable, and can last a lifetime.
Jiralhanae have been observed going into intense fits of rage when a pack-mate is killed in battle. This could be due to any number of reasons, but more often than not, it is because of the tight-knit connections with their pack-mates. Even the loss of a single pack-mate can enrage them to highly dangerous levels.
Despite the allegations, Jiralhanae have the potential to be highly intelligent and highly skillful in battle. While younger Jiralhanae can have lapses in personal judgement, the more mature Jiralhanae have proven to be just as cunning as Elites, and even as controlled and disciplined in their fighting style. Chieftains, much like their Zealot counterparts, have demonstrated immense skill and talent when wielding their weapon of choice; The Gravity Hammer.
Family / Close Relationships
The Jiralhanae have a very mixed and diverse set of views when it comes to their families and close relationships. The most important thing to take note of is the individual values of each Brute, as well as the customs and traditions of the larger clans, and the smaller packs. There are some clans and packs which place a higher value on the strength of leadership as opposed to the bonds of family. As such, some clans and packs have succession customs where subordinates may challenge Chieftains, in a fight to the death, for the title of Chieftain. However, in most cases, these challenges only have merit and value when the Chieftain in question has demonstrated repeated failure or weakness. On the flip side, there are clans and packs which place a higher value on family, where such challenges of authority are frowned upon by members of the family unit or pack. In situations where clan-mates and pack-mates value family ties and bonds above personal advancement, clan-mates and pack-mates will usually rally to the defense of their Chieftain, and oppose a challenge which threatens the life of the Chieftain.
In general, Jiralhanae interpersonal relations tend to be highly complex and difficult to understand due to the vast differences between between each pack and each clan, combined with the sheer number of clans and packs. However, it is generally understood that Jiralhanae of similar thinking tend to stick together, and form clans, packs, master packs and Alpha Tribes which all generally think along the same lines and value the same ideals. This seems to be a natural phenomenon which has done wonders to simplify the entire process. However, in the rare case where disagreement has erupted, Jiralhanae society has very clear lines which dictate which views, customs, and ideals emerge as the predominant ones. This is usually determined by the dichotomy of their military, combined with what level the disagreement is on. In general: Alpha Tribes supersede Master Packs, Master Packs supersede packs, and packs supersede clans when there is a difference of ideology and custom. A disagreement on the pack level, between two Jiralhanae who are part of seperate tribes, will be settled in accordance with pack customs, as pack customs place higher than clan customs.
Interestingly enough, some Jiralhanae have no objection to "adopting" or forming very close ties and bonds with members of other species. While this is a rare phenomenon, Jiralhanae which form close bonds with a member of an alien species, will usually consider a close friend, regardless of species, as a member of their clan, going so far as to refer to them as "brother" or "sister".
The Pack Mentality
Generally, the term given to the intense loyalty shared between Jiralhanae is called "the pack mentality". This drive, which appears to be another natual phenomenon, compels Jiralhanae to seek out others and form close bonds and ties with each-other. The Jiralhanae seem to have a very strong desire to group together, preferring larger groups over smaller ones, and companionship over isolation. Even among lone packs, that consist of Jiralhanae that prefer no involvement with the rest of their species, there is an inclination to join together and form small packs on the outskirts of society. It is as a result of the pack mentality that many Jiralhanae will fall into fits of uncontrollable rage when members of their pack are killed in combat
Culture
As a species, The Jiralhanae have very diverse customs and traditions, that vary from each clan and pack. However, there are many aspects of their species that seems to transcend these boundaries and apply to most, if not all, members of the species. To the Jiralhanae, there is a very great emphasis of the notions of strength and prominence. Typically, stronger males that have been recognized for their prowess, tend to be highly desirable by females, and as such, have a much easier time in finding a mate.
As a species, the females tend to much more calm and progressive than males, and as such, it typically falls to the females to educate the young on issues of cultural identity and clan values. While males tend to be more aggressive, and prone to competition, the females of the species tend to be far less competitive, and even cooperate and work together to preserve issues of historical importance to The Jiralhanae. In the broadest sense, females tend to be the educators, while males tend to be the warriors and hunters.
After the fall of The Covenant, many clans had fallen back to their previous ways of worship, which involved the worship of totems and idols, while others had forsaken religion altogether, and have taken to a more atheistic lifestyle. Reguardless, there seems to be no more reverance for the Forerunners as gods, and their technology is regarded as little more than tools and weapons.
There is no observable stigma on issues of polygamy for The Jiralhanae, as many clans have embraced the concept of males taking multiple females as mates, having dozens of off-spring. Some other clans are slightly more strict on the matter, preferring a single, primary mate, with additional females, or in very rare cases, other males serving as a means of additional pleasure, but not procreation. Some other clans can go so far as enforcing monogomy, with males limiting themselves to a single female for life. Most clans seem to be tolerant of homosexual pair-bonds, with only a few totally rejecting the idea all together. Generally, however, there does exist a certain stigma to being in such a relationship, such that, the pair in question can potentially be mocked or taunted for their association.
Director Vernette's Personal Notes
I used to hate this species...but I have developed a...fondness for them. While most of my colleagues are nervous, scared, or uncomfortable around Jiralhanae, I find myself at ease. Why? I guess it is my personality and the way I do things. I have a kinship with them in this respect. I by no means eat my victims when I am done killing them, but, their vigor, their zealous nature, and their aggressive personality is something I personally identify with, as I share all these traits, much to the dismay of my colleagues. They may be aggressive, easily prone to anger, and vicious to face in battle, but I have never known them to be liars. They say what they mean and mean what they say. Unlike Elites, who can use trickery and deception in battle, the Jiralhanae tend to be more straight forward and "honest" with their tactics.
This is not to say they are inexperienced or poor tacticians, quite the opposite, but I have grown to understand that they have a sense of pride which negates the possibility of them being dishonest. I know them as loyal and as trustworthy. In my own experience, I have had the privilege of my best friend being a Brute, and not once has he ever let me down, disappointed me, or betrayed me. He has always had my back, and continues to pull my ass out of the fire when the need arises. With that said, I have always had a very strong loyalty to him, so I believe that his respect for me stems from his natural pack mentality. Generally, they tend to treat you exactly how you treat them. However, don't kiss their asses, otherwise they will walk all over you. A compliment here and there is all you need to keep them happy.
However...I must say...that I am thrilled to have the Jiralhanae as allies. When I first learned of the Schism, I felt a sense of overwhelming guilt. I had no love for the Elites, and the race that I had come to respect became my primary enemy. There are times I still feel the sting of betrayal...my betrayal to the Jiralhanae. My friendship with Delta was unique, based entirely on helping him, and in turn, the rest of his race reach their potential. I felt as if...I had failed. However...with Barrabus as Chieftain of the Jiralhanae...I can have my best friend...and the Jiralhanae as allies. So...in the end...everything worked out. They have a lot of potential, and I have met quite a few colorful characters, with very interesting personalities. They can still be very dangerous, and easily proked, despite the cease fire and attempt at cooperation, but, I have never gone wrong with patience, respect, and the very clear sign that I am not afraid to kill if provoked. Sometimes you need to show your teeth to get Brutes to settle down, but, this just comes with the territory of dealing with a species like The Jiralhanae.
-Director Vernette
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Update
12-25-2013
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