Lliaggale

Lliaggale are a race of aquatic mammalians that reside on Installation 02. 
== History ==
=== Early History and Rise ===
The lliaggale leave virtually no physical records, and much of their early history is conflated with various mythologies and legends, related via a very rich oral history. Extensive research by human scientists and xenoanthropologists have led to the conclusion that the lliaggale were likely some species indexed by the Librarian and then released upon Installation 02. Evidence from the databases from Installation 02 lend credence to the theory that the lliaggale's original homeworld was destroyed during the Forerunner-Flood War, and so the lliggale were released onto Installation 02 as their new home.
The lliaggale quickly became the dominant species on Epsilon Halo, but remained locally divided into small band-like societies, with relatively lower numbers. The oral history of the lliaggale recounts of a few instances of large-scale warfare and the rise of various lliaggale leaders who sought to conquer their own domain, but these were generally not the norm. Instead, the vast majority of lliaggale history is viewed within a cyclical structure, following the course of the Halo ring itself.
During this period, the lliaggale were routinely infected by the monitor of Epsilon Halo by small Flood parasites, and then slaughtered, in a test to ensure the defenses of the Halo were prepared to handle a Flood outbreak. 
=== Discovery ===
The lliaggale remained apart from the rest of the galaxy for over a 100,000 years, with no interaction with any other sentient species, until 2558. In August of that year a small fleet of the Testament, a radical Covenant splinter faction, landed on the ring, and over the next few weeks began to establish a base on the ring. Led by Lork Tanu, the Testament abused the local lliaggale shoals, and began to infect them with the Flood to develop new bioweapons. 
When the UNSC frigate Rage Against the Dying landed on Epsilon Halo, the Flood-infected lliaggale were used to attack the remaining defenders. On August 21, the first meeting between human and lliaggale would take place, with Guillemin Karly and Jay-G084 encountered Seirusri LenOlphawhuan, the local leader of a shoal. After a tense greeting, the Guillemin and Jay would eventually devise a crude communication method. Recognizing that the humans were opposed to the "sky tyrants" Seirusri rallied a confederation of local shoals, and they coordinated with the lliaggale to assault the Testament fortress.
The lliaggale provided the numbers for the smaller but better equipped human soldiers to enter and wipe out the Testament, and this marked the beginning of lliaggale-human relationships. 
After the defeat of the Testament, the remaining human survivors would be stuck on Installation 02 for over two months while repairing their ship. During this time, Guillemin conducted an extensive research survey, studying their culture, biology, language, and customs. The local lliaggale and humans developed an effective relationship, with certain human medicines and technologies offered to the lliaggale, who in return offered support and hospitality to the stranded survivors. Seirusri in particular became a close friend to Guillemin and Jay.
After the Rage Against the Dying was repaired, the human left, though Guillemin promised to return. He would fulfill this promise almost a year later, after the end of the Created Crisis. The UEG would establish a permanent research outpost on Installation 02, studying both the Forerunner structure and history, while also researching the lliaggale and developing strong relations with them.
== Biology ==
Lliaggale are a type of aquatic mammal. They have a short, powerful tail and long anal fin, four arms and a huge dorsal fin. Guillemin Karly, one of the first people to meet and begin extensive research on them, described them as "strange-looking mermaids as aliens"
Lliaggale are adapted to live in sea-water environments. Experiments have shown that lliaggale are irritated and unsuited to swimming in freshwater.
=== Anatomy ===
The lliaggale are physically humanoid in shape from the waist up, with four arms, but below the waist they possess a unique tail-like structure akin to a dolphin's tail, which ends in a caudal fin, the primary method of underwater propulsion. This large tail is very powerful and has one single bone-line running through it, connected to the spinal cord. In addition they also possess several pelvic fins located near the hips (similar to pectoral fins on fish, which lead the motion swimming), a long anal fin which provides stability in swimming, and a special "mohawk" fin one upon their head. In addition, the lliaggale possess a large dorsal fin on their back and side fins on their arms. Generally speaking, males possess larger fins while females are more colorful, which have important courtship functions.
Lliaggale four eyes which sit well in their sockets, and while they have eyelids they only blink above water. They have wide mouths and noses, which possess special flaps to fold in and prevent water from pouring into their nostrils. Lliaggale have small and pointy ears and they possess an acute sense of hearing. Their skin is smooth, elastic and quite strong, and skin colors are mostly black, red, orange, white and dark blue, which tend to become dim as they age. Each lliaggale "coat" is unique to the individual, and the coloration results from a combination of the genetics of the parents. The males are usually taller than their female counter part and their colors are more vibrant.
=== Breathing ===
Lliaggale possess two independent breathing systems: gill type and pulmonary. The first type works through dissolving oxygen passing through the mouth and the gills (located on either side of the neck), where the exchange of gases takes place, thanks to blood capillaries in the gills and the closeness of jugular and aorta. The pulmonary functions similar to human breathing, with oxygen entering into the lungs through the mouth and nose. When in open air, the gills of the lliaggale close-up.
=== Genetics and Reproduction ===
Sexual organs are internal, and male's potrude outside the body through the urogenital opening. After a courtship and "marriage" ceremony, lliaggale join their urogenital openings to copulate.
Due to their unique biological makeup lliaggale are oviparous. Lliaggale, like squids, participate in communal mating events following a build of hormones. Married lliaggale will engage in intercourse, while unmarried males will seek out new mates. Following intercourse, females will lay eggs in a capsule, typically no more than 1-3 eggs at a time. These capsules are fastened together into large, mobile clusters that the group can guard against predators and strong oceanic currents. Young lliaggale are born several months afterwards,
=== Growth Rate & Stages ===
The lliaggale grow at about the same rate as humans do, first cared for by their mothers and are unable to really swim in the early stages of their lives. After about 1-2 years their fins will fully develop, and they will be able to swim on their own. When they hit puberty, their large dorsal fins develop, lliaggale around the age of 20 begin developing larger fins and hair, as well as further changes in coloration and shades of scales.
=== Diet ===
Like many fish, lliaggale are omnivores, and often scavengers. They are as likely to feed on a school of fish as they are various types of alien kelp. Various different shoals due have a variety of different foods, with some settled groups feeding and growing their own aquatic foods, while more nomadic shoals are often hunter-gatherers.
Lliaggale have teeth specialized in a primarily piscivorous diet, though they'll eat most other aquatic creatures they come across such as crab or shrimp-like creatures. Some groups even hunt larger prey native to Installation 02. Being agile, quick, and dexterous, and able to work in tight hunting bands make the lliaggale a formidable predator. The lliaggale greatly enjoy fruits from the mainland which is primarily received through trading with humans, and fruits are considered a rare delicacy and valuable commodity.
Since their prey is naturally very high in concentrations of water, and as they don't lose any fluid through sweat, lliaggale need no other sources of drinking water. They have strong, specialized kidneys that reabsorb most water, and are able to easily filter out any ingested seawater. Those who inhabit saltwater often have urine double as salty as the surrounding sea. 
== Culture ==
=== Language ===
The lliaggale possess a strange language due to their underwater residence, and usually relies on a combination of communicative efforts. Firstly they have a spoken language, frequently used in large air pockets or above ground. This is known as "land talk." Lliaggale do have the ability to learn, understand, and speak human languages, though it is has proven difficult for them to fully verbally articulate. When actually underwater they use a combination of sign language that relies upon a lot of hand gestures and audio signals. the audio cues vary between different hums, whistles and dolphin-like clicks, and simple but distinct tonal vocalizations. This "sea talk" possess several similarities to their "land talk," but is extremely difficult for non-lliaggale to master or fully understand. 
To complicate matters even more, there are numerous lliaggale languages across Installation 02, although they all bear striking similarities, and are generally easier for a competent speaker to learn and master.
=== Society ===
Lliaggale society is divided into small groups referred as shoals, a loose tribal-like association of related family members all tied to a common matriarchal figure. Shoals can vary radically in sizes, ranging from 50-300. Most shoals have close connections with other ones, and any particularly charismatic and skilled lliaggale can become the leader of more than one shoal. 
Most shoals are led by influential female leaders who retain religious importance, called deaga-al. The deaga-al perform various rituals and are often the oldest of the shoal, and depending on the size of their band will form a council of elders. Younger male lliaggale perform the tasks of hunting and searching for food, as well as participating in ritualistic duels. When shoals meet and have conflict, they will partake in ritualized fights between two chosen champions to decide the course. Thanks to this tradition, large-scale warfare among lliaggale is almost none-existent.
Most lliaggale shoals undergo a generational cycle of migrating around Epsilon Halo, viewed as a religious act or a communal pilgrimage. Some shoals do stay in one general area, but most continue the tradition of migration and following the ways of their ancestors. Some lliaggale warriors, seeking to gain honor or prove themselves will attempt to "complete the cycle," swimming the entire length of the ring on their own. This is considered very heroic among the lliaggale, and often is undertaken to win the hand of a potential spouse.
Each shoal decides its own rules and reinforcements for them. When a crime is committed within it, the group will assemble to decide the perpetrator's fate. Depending on the severity, punishment ranges from community rehabilitation to exile or even death. Some punishments require a certain amout of labor in service of the shoal, such as catching prey or fixing up new dwellings. More serious crimes can result in a lliaggale being "cast out" from the shoal and exiled, left alone and vulnerable in the oceans. Depending on circumstances, elders or family members might intervene and warn a suspect lliaggale of a punishment if they do not fall in line.
Being aware however that this makes the felon a possible threat to other shoals, lliaggale will often leave a permanent mark as a warning to others who might encounter and consider letting the perpetrator join them: in most places this takes the form of a piece of their dorsal fin being sliced off with a sharpened shell or stone blade - marks which are impossible to hide, so proves a fair warning to anyone in the future who might encounter the individual. The worse the crime, the bigger the removed chunk: someone not deemed to be a dangerous threat may have a smaller bit removed. Larger amounts removed can greater alter an individual's balance, but is normally adapted to after enough time. 
=== Common Dress Code ===
Since they live underwater, the dress code for the lliaggale is quite relaxed, in some ways, compared to other species. They usually wear a little cloth over their chests, composed of underwater plant matter and often that can be it, such as pearls, shells, and ornaments and accessories made of seaweed. However, some chiefs and spiritual leaders often possess specially designed clothing to distinguish them and signify their position and rank within the shoal.
=== Religion and Beliefs ===
Lliaggale religion is known as Dein, an ancient belief system revolving around reincarnation. Their main teachings revolve around tolerance and inner peace, and these teachings are often passed on through attempting to reach enlightenment and seeking your inner self. Dein teachings come from ancient experiences of leaders who have volunteered to be teachers and mentors. They often express their beliefs through clothing, underwater "temples" that are simple structures made out of animal and plant matter, and objects akin to prayer beads, made out of pieces of metal which are considered holy or sacred.
== Homeworld ==
The lliggale reside on Installation 02, also known as Epsilon Halo, known for its oceanic climate interspaced with small islands and aquatic wildlife. 
== Technology ==
The lliggale have very little advanced technology, and instead are comparable to human hunter-gatherer tribes. They rely on natural resources, such as underwater plants and algae for clothing or food and hunt aquatic wildlife to build small homes or for clothing. The lliaggale have extensive knowledge about the local flora and fauna on Epsilon Halo, and have developed a very balanced nature with the landscape. 
Thanks to the discovery of Installation 02 and the arrival of humans, new technologies have been introduced to the lliaggale, though they have largely been met with distrust. In addition, several scientists and researchers have deliberately prevented giving certain technologies to the lliaggale, to prevent interspecies warfare and societal problems. 
== Trivia ==
* Lliaggale possess longer fingers and necks compared to humans.
* Lliaggale skin can remain on dry land for hours and are more resistant to heat than other aquatic animals, but still are in danger of excessive heat and drying out if they do not frequently keep their skin cool and moist.
Category:The Sagemaster
Category:Species