From the recent Community Update from Halo Waypoint, we get some new details on the next novel in the Halo series Halo: Hunters in the Dark by Peter David, and a few species that will make an appearance.
Halo: Hunters in the Dark is set in the year 2555, and follows the hybrid crew of human and Sangheili operatives as they explore Installation 00 (aka The Ark). This novel bestrides an adventurous story line referencing other stories events while at the same time presenting its own story line as well. Not much has been revealed about what occurs in the storyline, but it is now available for purchase, which you can get now in the link below.
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Hunters-in-the-Dark/Peter-David/9781476795850
Installation 00 (The Lesser Ark)
During the adventures of the heroes from Halo: Hunters in the Dark, we will be introduced to new species that were originally scrapped during the early days of the development of the Halo series.
Concept of the Blind Wolf
Sky Leviatan
Sky Leviatans, also known as Olfermi from the Life Workers, are more precisely relatable as an “avian cetacean”, and is one of the most seen creatures on any Forerunner installation. It is also known for it’s outstanding ability to defy gravity. These species are more similar to all other whale species seen on Earth and bear striking resemblance to massive aquatic mammals, but while whales from Earth find their Kingdom in the planet’s oceans, Sky Leviatans dignify the skies from Installation 00.
Concept Art of the Sky Leviatan
Tusk Beast
The Tusk Beasts, also known as the chaefka, are massive and strong creatures that were first encountered on the surface on Installation 00. Known as the neldoruut by ancient humanity, these creatures have the ability to give out a pheromone that can give off an psychotropic effect, when encountering other creatures. The Tusk Beasts are mostly described to be polar-bear like creatures , with long white fur rippled across their bodies, and horned protrusions sticking out from their backs. They also feature large tusks extending from their mouths. Between these two huge tusks and a pair of smaller horns, their mammalian-like snouts feature three white mandible pairs, one atop the other that when splayed wide open, showcase row after row of razor sharp teeth. Also, this species was also meant to appear in Halo Wars, but was scrapped for unknown reasons.
Concept Art of the Tusk Beast
Blind Wolves
Blind Wolf as seen in the cover art of Halo: Hunters in the Dark
The Blind Wolves, also known as the Morolaath by the Forerunners, are bipedal predators with a theropod-like anatomy, appearing almost like T-Rexes with no arms nor eyes, but with unnervingly large fangs extend from their jaws. They are well known to hunt in packs, and were encountered several times during the events of OPERATION: FAR STORM. Originally, this species was going to appear in Halo: Combat Evolved for players to mount on, but were scrapped due to technical issues of both the control presentation and the Artificial Intelligence. Also, they appeared in the E3 2000 trailer of Halo: Combat Evolved, which can be viewed below.
3D model of the Blind Wolf
Quadwings
Quadwings, known as rangmejo by Lifeworkers, are one of the most ubiquitous species of fauna that have been encountered on Forerunner installations by the UNSC. the creatures representing one of perhaps a number of other species specifically selected and adapted by Lifeworkers to play a diverse and important roles within a wide range of ecosystems, helping contribute to the overall health and stability of a biome. Observable fans, who have been playing the campaign mode in both Halo 2 and Halo 3 might have notice these species flying in the atmosphere of any Forerunner constructs.
Halo 2 Anniversary model of the Quadwing
That pretty much raps up most of the content that has been shown in the latest Halo Community Update, and the latest novel Halo: Hunters in the Dark by Peter David is now available for purchase.
Source:
Easterling, Jeff https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-jurassic-ark Canon Fodder – Jurassic Park
