Kig-Yar Reaver

Kig-Yar Reaver refers to a heavy infantry, military role held by especially zealous warriors within the military, often dominated by the "Dlahkto" subspecies whose human-translated designation "reaver" is synonymous with their native descriptor. Unlike the Kig-Yar with deep historical roots, Reavers emerged under Covenant subjugation separating their culture between the early devotees and nonbelievers in the .
The Covenant adapted to the new found zeal in this minority of Kig-Yar populations, putting them on frontlines of led by eager, inexperienced officers who often favor confrontational, close quarters combat. Casualties from the civil wars were high, but Reavers emerged as a manner of Kig-Yar shock troops for Covenant commanders, outfitted with close quarters weaponry, reinforced armor including occasional , and tasked with assaulting hardened enemy positions.
Despite purported battlefield and cultural effectiveness, appearances of Reavers during and after the were rare, influenced by high casualty rates and isolationist, domestic interrelations of Kig-Yar culture.
==Subspecies: Dlahkto==
Genetic drift suggest the DlahktoSuggested subspecies name provided by Halopedia and Halo fan artist Tacit Axiom subspecies is a result of species interbreeding between Kig-Yar of the and of the . Dlahkto specimens are notable for smaller, yellow and "beady-black" pupils compared to their more diverse cousins, prominent caiman-like physical features (alligator/crocodile), and increased variance in dimorphism leaning towards increased size and muscularity favored for physical feats of endurance and strength.
Similar to Ruuhtians, Dlahkto have large gatherings of quill-like hair on their headcrests, though notably shorter. Dlahkto is also noteworthy for poorer eyesight but a comparatively sharp sense of smell similar to other Kig-Yar subspecies, helping them thrive in historical nesting regions with less hospitable geography including craggily cliffsides and coastal caverns away from other, more agrarian and communal-dependent Kig-Yar subspecies. Dlahkto historically favor a mariner diet mixed with toughened vegetation like wild berries and cliff roots, cultivated both by foraging and terrace gardening in their pre-industrial age.
The Dlahkto subspecies is culturally known for isolationist behavior, both self-inflicted and culturally reinforced by other subspecies. Their visage is often presented in Kig-Yar folklore being otherized/osterized as a common storytelling trope. Keeping mostly among themselves in history, Dlahkto are suggested to hold a deep-seated, generational inferiority complex and were among the quickest to adopt the Covenant religion following first contact.
Many accounts of Dlahkto remain in dispute, or rather in doubt, as observations of "extreme" Kig-Yar denoted behavior during the Human-Covenant War were attributed by Kig-Yar and Covenant historians to Dlahkto members despite lack of presence at particular battlefields of account; activity including cannibalism, eating live prey, occult-ritualistic killing, and favoring Sangheili-like close quarters combat and blind assaults.
===Speciesism Origin===
The Dlahkto subspecies of Kig-Yar share an especially close relation to the predominant Ruuhtian subspecies. Human comprehension and catalog of Kig-Yar history and archeology remains sparse due to tense diplomatic and cultural exchanges. However, common scientific theory believes Dlahkto emerged over hundreds or thousands of years of Ruuht domineering and colonization efforts against other subspecies, particularly species interbreeding and even historical efforts of cultural erasure.
Notable interactions relayed from Kig-Yar diplomacy and Covenant cultural historians seem to corroborate common inflection points in Ruuht historical domineering to the periods of island warfare between the supercontinents of Ah'lomet and Ruuht. Such practice might also associate with alignment of historical seafaring expeditions by Ibie'shan and Ruuhtian explorers intersecting in the historical periods.
With language and cultural translation emphasizing Dlahkto cultural status as a "mutt species," sociocultural consequences emerged out of favor for their kind. Dlahkto historic characters/individuals were most present in intercontinental gladiatorial records than elsewhere, before and during cultural exchange with the Covenant empire despite the end of gladiators as a cultural icon in common Kig-Yar society.
==Reaver Ranks==
*(1) Minor/Storm
*(2) Major/Heavy/Bruiser
*(3) Sniper/Sagitarii
*(4) Ranger/Commando/Creep
*(5) Zealot/Palatina
*(6) Shipmaster
===Nicknames===
*Uglies
*Devouts/Zealots
*Monitors
*Caimans
*Gator Dogs/Lizard Mutts
*Gladiators/Pillagers/Marauders
Category:Kig-Yar
Category:Covenant