Locust Horde
From Gears of War
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- "Frankly, other than the fact that they want to kill every man, woman and child out there, we know nothing about them. We've tagged them Locusts since this degree of death has only been seen in times of plague. They're subterranean in nature. That's obvious. Aside from that, I'm afraid..."
- — Human Scientist dubbing the name of the Locust Horde[1]
The Locust Horde is a race of reptilian humanoids that until Emergence Day, appears to have remained in the subterranean regions of Sera. The Locust Horde has decided its ultimate goal is the extermination of the human race down to every man, woman, and child. They are waging a genocidal war against the Humans because they are in a civil war with the "lambent", which has been going on for an undetermined amount of time, forcing them out of the Hollow and into a war with humanity over who controls the surface world, which is discovered during the course of Operation Hollow Storm.
All known attempts at negotiating with the Locust Horde have ended in violence (although Adam Fenix believed he could end the war peacefully[2]). The Locust consist of a common race of drones and all manner of other animals that are indigenous to the Hollows. The Locust Horde exists in underground tunnels known as the Hollow, which is a short term used to describe the hollow portions of planet Sera which is mainly controlled by the Locust Horde. Under Mount Kadar is the Locust capital Nexus.
The majority of the Horde's technology is stolen or salvaged from what the Humans dumped[3][4][5]. It appears to be at around the same level as that of humans with similar firearms, although the locusts' arsenal seems to be more biological based with the use of Tickers, Nemacyst, Brumaks etc. Locust troops will use nearly any weapon, whether it is one of their own design or human-made.
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[edit] Origins
The origins of the Locust are a mystery, although they existed long before the Pendulum Wars[6]. In the history of Tyrus, there are stories and legends of creatures stealing disobedient children which are likely based on factual elements[7][8][9]. During Operation Hollow Storm, Delta-One was sent to New Hope Research Facility they discovered that during the Pendulum Wars the COG created 'the genetic bridge to the future'; the Sires. There is much speculation that the origins of the Locust can be traced to New Hope and in particular Ruth, one of the subjects. The occupants of New Hope were sent to Mount Kadar, where many years later Delta-One would find the entrance to the Hollows. An alternate theory is that the Locust came from a neighboring planet (or one of its moons) and feed off imulsion[10][11]. However this rumor is generally disregarded as false, since they most commonly feed on rockworms and live in the Hollows.
[edit] Physiology
A typical Locust is a hulking brute of a creature, nearly 7 feet in height, though many are larger. They are bipedal, muscular creatures, with extremely tough skin. They are considerably more bulky than a normal human, and notably stronger physically. Their bones are heavier and show signs of extensive thickening, showing that the Locust humanoids are bred for war. Grenadiers show further toughening and occasionally scarification, which appears to further toughen the Locust's flesh.
Locust Blood is a deep reddish-orange in coloration, indicating a high percentage of platelets in the system and hinting that their blood clots quickly (more likely than not to keep them in the fight longer). A Locust has multiple internal organs, as hinted by hearing multiple heartbeats from a given Locust when they run or are at critical health). This, likewise, hints at an active attempt to breed Locust towards combat survival. Locust require oxygen like any other species, though they seem somewhat more resistant to environmental hazards (more likely than not due to their harsh environment).
Locust have large eyes with good depth perception in spite of the fact that they are a subterranean race. They have a noted vulnerability to flash overcompensation response (Flash-blindness), a weakness many offset with polarized goggles or blinders. Some subspecies have particularly strong eyesight and incredible depth perception; it is strongly hinted that Locust can see perfectly in total darkness, and most seem to possess superior senses of smell.
[edit] Leaders
[edit] Queen Myrrah
- Main article: Queen Myrrah
The Locust Queen is the enigmatic leader of the Locust Horde. Though she is never present on the battlefield, she is possibly able to observe skirmishes with the COG and possibly even command the units of her army. It is unknown if she is a member of any known Locust races. Despite the fact that locust speech in general is deep and sometimes unclear, Queen Myrrah speaks perfectly, perhaps suggesting that she is more similar to a human, or is of a whole different species. She is only heard in Gears of War but is seen in Gears of War 2.
[edit] General RAAM
- Main article: RAAM
General RAAM was the Leader of the Locust Horde military, and was second to the Locust Queen. RAAM had pronounced facial features, with large, bony eyebrow ridges and a seemingly constant snarling expression. He is said to have been a Theron before being promoted to General, the reason for this being RAAM wears black Theron armor and has a similar face to that of a Theron, despite the noticeable size difference. During the final battle of Gears of War, he carried a Troika machine gun (although this weapon is normally mounted on a turret, RAAM wielded the weapon with one hand). He had one main advantage over his enemies in the battle: his shroud of Kryll he somehow could control. He was killed by Marcus and Dom at the end of Gears of War, while on the train carrying the Lightmass Bomb. He does not appear in Gears of War 2, but is mentioned by Delta Squad.
[edit] Skorge
- Main article: Skorge
Skorge was or is the High Priest of the Locust Horde. First appearing in Gears of War 2, he is a member of the Kantus caste of priests, sharing their tall, sinewy frame. After RAAM's demise, Skorge took the position of the Horde's highest military leader due to the Lightmass Bombs exploding, which awoke the Rift Worm that Skorge took control of with his screams and used it to start sinking COG cities on the surface. He wears specialized armor studded with spikes. He also sports several leather dreadlocks attached to his helmet. In addition to standard Kantus priest combat equipment consisting of a Gorgon Pistol and Ink Grenades, he uses a formidable staff with chainsaws at each end. He is defeated by Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in the Nexus; however he escapes before he is killed on his Hydra and then proceeds to pursue Delta Squad with it. He is presumed dead as of the end of Gears of War 2 because when the Hydra is killed in mid-air, while Skorge is thrown from the falling beast and hits hard ground, there is no confirmation if he died from the fall.
[edit] Foot Soldiers
[edit] Drones
- Main article: Drones
Drones appear to be the common race among the Locust Horde. They are larger than humans and have chalky white skin with gray, scale-like patches that most likely are hardened to protect them from minor damage. Sniper Drones often wear goggles for increased accuracy. They were bred in the Hollow to be bloodthirsty fighters. When ordered, Drones will throw their lives away by the hundreds to kill one entrentched Gear. They often crawl out of "emergence holes," which the Locust use as bridges between underground and the surface world. Drones follow basic infantry tactics of flanking, dominating the terrain, and setting up ambushes as well as more advanced tactics, which would suggest that Drones themselves are intelligent rather than brutes, or a combination thereof. Almost fearless, they know little in the way of self-preservation and almost never retreat. Drones are often heard shouting words such as "Groundwalker" or "Hominid" when they spot any human.
They will usually wield the Hammerburst assault rifle. While some regular Drones have taken to using the human Lancer assault rifle, Cyclops (Dubbed for the headgear they normally wear in tandem with wielding the Lancer) will use the chainsaw bayonet. Most basic drones wear a helmet and body armor while Grenadiers mainly go into battle armorless except for shoulder plates.
Aside from standard front line drones, there are eight variants that serve different military roles:
- Gunner from Gears of War 1 and 2
- Spotter from Gears of War 1 and 2
- Grenadier from Gears of War 1 and 2
- Sniper from Gears of War 1 and 2
- Locust Hunter from Gears of War 1 (Not implemented)
- Cyclops from Gears of War 2
- Bolter from Gears of War 2
- Flame Grenadier from Gears of War 2
[edit] Boomers
- Main article: Boomers
Boomers are large, barely intelligent Locusts that appear in Gears of War & Gears of War 2, usually wielding the 'Boomshot' grenade launcher. They are often seen partnered with other Boomers, but they do not use infantry tactics, instead they move forward slowly and fire their weapons. To combat this tactic, many Gears have noted that an easy way to defeat a Boomer is to stay behind cover and bring them down with automatic fire. Boomers mainly can be heard laughing and saying "Boom!" before they fire, and referring to the incoming mortar rockets as "Sky Fire."
[edit] Mauler
- Main article: Mauler
A new class of Locust seen in the events of Gears of War 2, A Mauler is a Boomer with a large, bulletproof shield, heavier armor and an explosive flail. The Mauler's Shield (Often referred to as a 'Boomshield' due to its ability to shield from splash damage) can be wielded by a human or Drone and set in the ground for mobile cover. Maulers will slowly move whirling their flail around, and then, when they are close to an enemy, they will charge. Most Maulers carry explosive flails that are used to first disorient, then literally maul their victims (hence their title).
[edit] Butcher
- Main article: Butcher
Another variant of the Boomer encountered in the events of Gears of War 2. Butchers are, in a sense, Locust chefs, wielding a cleaver which they use to chop up Rock Worm meat, among other meats, in the Hollow to feed the Horde. While they have a rather non-combat related role in Locust Horde society, they are deployed as shock troopers due to their immense size and endurance. However, they are only encountered in game when the player seems to wander into a Locust mess hall, and they attack. They can also be seen in the lower levels of Horde. Butchers often make their presence known by shouting "Hunger!" before attacking.
[edit] Flame Boomer
- Main article: Flame Boomer
As a variant of the Boomer encountered in the events of Gears of War 2, the Flamer carries a Scorcher Flamethrower (with fuel tanks on their backs) and is heavily armored. This armor also contains a helmet which must be knocked off via gunfire before a proper headshot can be made. Another easy way to kill this Locust is by shooting the fuel tanks on their backs, which causes the fuel to ignite and then explode. The only difference between the Flamers and the Flame Boomers is that Flamers will run, while Flame Boomers mainly move slowly.
[edit] Grinder
- Main article: Grinder
Another Boomer variant encountered in Gears of War 2, the Grinder is a heavily armored Boomer wielding a Mulcher. Its armor includes a helmet which must be shot from a specific angle before a proper headshot can be made. They will yell out "Grind!" or laugh before opening fire.
[edit] Berserkers
- Main article: Berserkers
Berserkers are huge female monsters which appeared in Gears of War. They are blind, and therefore, rely on smell and sound and can sense the faintest traces. Possessing enormous physical strength, these Locusts can tear foes limb from limb and can gain enough momentum when running to smash through a solid stone wall. Vicious and bloodthirsty (even by Locust standards), they have even been known to kill other Locust Drones just for getting too close. Any Gear that fights a Berserker will have to be quick with their feet to defeat her. To kill a Berserker, you must shoot it with the Hammer of Dawn due to its apparently impenetrable hide. Once struck by the Hammer of Dawn, the Beserker's hide becomes penetrable until the hide cools and rehardens.
[edit] Theron Guards
- Main article: Theron Guards
Delta Squad first encounters Theron Guards guarding the Imulsion pumping station, but went on to fight them through Gears of War & Gears of War 2. They are usually found in the underground or near seeder encounters. They are easily distinguishable from Drones because they wear long leather-like cloaks that trail behind them when they move and metallic masks, in addition to ornate crimson armor which is apparently superior to the generic Drone armor. Their sibilant voices have been known to scare Gears into fleeing. Their voices are also hard to distinguish being so raspy and mistaken for the wind. Therons are stronger, faster, and far more intelligent than an average drone. They mostly wield Torque Bows.
[edit] Theron Sentinels
- Main article: Theron Sentinels
There is also a 'subspecies' of Theron Guards, known as Theron Sentinels. They are taller and slightly tougher than Theron Guards, but other than the slight differences in size, armor, helmet and durability, there is little difference.
[edit] Palace Guard
- Main article: Palace Guard
These elite locust warriors appear in Gears of War 2 and will protect the hollow and Queen Myrrah with their lives. For this reason they are equipped with ornate armor similar to that of the Theron Guards, and some of them even ride upon fearsome beasts known as Bloodmounts. You are not able to play as the Palace Guards in multiplayer in Gears of War or Gears of War 2.
[edit] Wretches
- Main article: wretches
Small, jittery members of the Locust, Wretches are able to climb on almost any surface. Their attack tactics are similar to the Fast Zombies of Half-Life 2, the Flood of Halo, or Zerglings, climbing on surfaces, and jumping forward in a frenzy to attack their prey. They are weak yet fast and are often used as a distraction or as cannon fodder by the Locust. Alone, they are weak, but in groups, they can literally tear COG soldiers to shreds. They often make their presence known before becoming visible by letting out a horrid, extremely high-pitched scream that can make the Gears grab their heads and ears in pain. They are very dangerous to Gears that forget to look up or are overwhelmed by a subsequent attack. Another type of Wretch also exists, a type that has mutated and become lambent after exposure to Imulsion. First appearing in Gears of War, this kind of Wretch is called a "Dark" or "Lambent Wretch" and explodes when killed, injuring anyone who is too close making them extremely dangerous. Unlike the other Lambent, the Lambent Wretches are possibly members of the Locust Horde (alternatively, they may simply not be intelligent enough to pick sides). Wretches can be dispatched in any conventional manner, including Melee attacks. Dark/Lambent Wretches also kill one another when they explode, causing chain reactions, sometimes clearing entire rooms.
There seem to be two kinds of glowing Wretches. Those found in the Imulsion factory have a cyan glow to them because of the refined Imulsion they are exposed to there, while those underground and those attacking you in act 5 of the game, have an orange glow. Other than that, both types are the same when it comes to damage, damage resistance, etc.
[edit] Sniper
- Main article: Sniper
A nuisance through Gears of War & Gears of War 2, Locust snipers are deadly, long range aggressors who wield the Longshot sniper rifle. They do not generally pose much of a threat until they are encountered on Insane difficulty, where they often utilize headshots with lethal effect. They are less resilient to gunfire than other Locust, which can and should be exploited by players. It was one of these that killed Anthony Carmine in Gears 1.
[edit] Kantus
- Main article: Kantus
A new breed of locust appearing in Gears of War 2 is the Kantus. They stand almost 7 feet in height and have leathery white flesh. Kantus are essentially Locust priests and are led by the Locust High Priest, Skorge. Kantus are often heard chanting, which is used to communicate with other locust, (Drones, Rock Worms and Tickers) often directing them to attack the enemies concentrating on him. Kantus can also manipulate their voices to very deadly effect, stunning and even knocking opposition down with their ear-piercing screams. Since Kantus can also revive their downed locust brethren with their chants, it is advised to kill the Kantus hanging back before wiping out the other locust. This can be quite difficult though, because the Kantus are surprisingly agile, frequently leaping out of the line of fire. As vicious as their master, The Kantus' primary weapon is the Gorgon Burst Pistol and the Ink Grenade, which it wields with deadly precision. You can play as the Kantus but the size is reduce to that of a Theron.
[edit] Locust creatures
The Locust Horde use many creatures as vehicles, machines, and weapons of war. The origins of these creatures is largely unknown; they may be indigenous to the Hollow, or have been genetically engineered by the Locust (as is the Brumak)
It is interesting to note that Locust beasts often have a helmet-like device on them. Coupled with the 'controls' on Reavers and Brumaks, these helmets could be used to control the animals, and would explain why Delta squad was able to pilot two Reavers and later a Brumak in Gears of War 2.
[edit] Seeders
- Main article: Seeders
Large, insect-like Creatures that launch Nemacysts into the air, flying jellyfish-like creatures that act as flying mines and anti-air interceptors, causing havoc for King Raven choppers throughout both games. When Seeders are present in an area, they scramble COG radio frequencies. Nemacyst have the annoying habit of homing in on the player, exploding on impact and injuring anyone around it. Seeders can be killed using the Hammer of Dawn; additionally, Seeders are susceptible to the heavy cannon fire from a Centaur Tank, a Brumak or a Reaver.
[edit] Reavers
- Main article: Reavers
[edit] Corpsers
- Main article: Corpsers
Corpsers are immense Locust beasts which appear to be somewhat arachnid. Their heads appear almost humanoid except for their insect like eyes, and they wear multi-lensed helmets similar to those worn by Brumaks. Corpsers have eight thick rock camouflaged legs that guard their vulnerable underbellies, which is the only vulnerable part of their body besides their mouth. The Locust Horde uses Corpsers to dig tunnels through the soil of Sera, allowing the Horde to move about undetected, even as far as behind COG lines. Corpsers are often seen moments before Locust attacks, and they are often seen leading the Locusts out of the ground on Emergence Day. The Jacinto Plateau, which comprises granite and marble, is the only place on Sera that the Horde can not dig through quickly which made it suitable for the COG's main Headquarters. You only fight one in the first game in act 3 Angry Titan, though there are several in Gears of War 2.
[edit] Brumak
- Main article: Brumak
Brumaks are huge Monsters with extraordinarily thick hides. They often grow to 12 meters in height and tend to weigh around 10,000 kilograms (22,046lbs). They were apparently bred by the Locust Horde from smaller native apes and are lethal at close range. Their head-gear resembles the Corpser's helmet, but their bodies have more in common with humanoids than arachnids. Brumaks are capable of carrying a rocket launcher and a Gatling gun on their back, in addition to two high-caliber autocannon-like guns on the forearms; they have also been rumored to carry energy beam cannons to kill at a range. Their strength can be compared to a Corpser's.
[edit] Hydra
- Main article: Hydra
During the last cutscene of Gears of War what appears to be a subspecies of Reaver or a new species all together is shown. It looks like a Reaver but it has jaws like that of a Rhinoceros Beetle. Even though in Gears of War 2, it is confirmed that the anonymous rider is Skorge, Queen Myrrah's bodyguard and leader of the Kantus, at the end of Gears of War 1, the rider looks much more like a Theron Guard.
In the Official Gears of War 2 guide it is confirmed that the Hydra is a mutated Reaver, possibly as a result of Imulsion exposure. After the showdown in the Palace you fight it in a mid-air boss fight, Skorge mounted on its back. The Hydra is the third largest known animal in the game and even surpasses the mighty Brumak in size and possibly power, only dwarfed by the Lambent Brumak, which is easily the size of a large building, and the gargantuan Rift Worm.
[edit] Nemacyst
- Main article: Nemacyst
The Nemacyst are the small Ink Mortars that are spawned from Seeders. They will hover in the air as easy targets until an enemy is spotted, upon which they proceed to dive bomb kamikaze-style and decimate the area of impact. They are roughly the size of three or four wretches and have tentacles protruding from their undercarriage. Because of their explosive nature they are very weak, and basically anything that can cause damage can kill it in one or two shots. They are seen in Gears of War 1 and 2 and are used to bomb the Assault Derricks and prevent the deployment of the Grindlifts.
[edit] Bloodmount
- Main article: Bloodmount
[edit] Tickers
- Main article: Tickers
This type of Locust seems to resemble a small rodent with long front legs. It is a walking bomb that will detonate when it gets close to an enemy, though there is a slight delay between ignition and explosion thus giving the player plenty of time to kill it. As its name suggests, it emits a 'ticking' sound. The new Kantus can call upon these to help defend itself against an assault. Players can melee the Ticker to knock it into the air, and 30 melees on Tickers will bag the "It Takes a Lickin'" achievement. Tickers are also one of the few Locust in campaign that will deliberately go up to you and finish you off when you're downed on Casual or Normal difficulty.
[edit] Torture Barge
- Main article: Torture Barge
The Barge is actually a massive living creature coupled with Locust technology, used by the Locust to transport/torture Locust troops and Human captives respectively, and is an essential part of crossing the Hollow in Gears of War 2. The only way to destroy the barge is to use the Brumak's heavy machine guns (or presumably any other heavy weapon) to destroy its legs, which it uses in tandem with a gas-filled body to crawl along the ceiling of the Hollow.
[edit] Reproduction
It's interesting to note that Berserkers and Myrrah are the only females. The only known method of Locust reproduction is the mating of a Berserker and a Drone by tying the female down and raping her[12] to prevent the blind beast from killing her mate(s).
[edit] References
- ↑ Inside the Mind of Marcus
- ↑ Gears of War PC
- ↑ http://gearsforums.epicgames.com/showpost.php?p=7826629&postcount=83--
- ↑ http://www.flickr.com/photos/23026901@N00/3018760907/in/set-72157608811929784/
- ↑ Gears of War:Jacinto's Remnant
- ↑ Gears of War:Aspho Fields chapter 1
- ↑ Gears of War:Aspho Fields
- ↑ Gears of War:Hollow
- ↑ Gears of War 1 Trailer
- ↑ Gears of War:Destroyed Beauty
- ↑ Gears of War 2
- ↑ Gears of War:Aspho Fields
