Homebrew Unggoy (Grunt) Species Details

It’s so shiny! Me seem to member things looking preeeeeetty bleak there for a while, with me an’ all the other Unggoy spendin’ years just mostly running away from green demons, or mean boss flappy-mouths who just wanted to make sure we got shotted at first. But now… well now the blue lady helps us. I meen, it’s weird and confusing and all because she used to help the green guy be mean to us, then she was mean to the green guy, then nice to us… I don’t know, she’s definitely the most confusing blue lady I’ve seen – I mean, she’s really the ONLY one I’ve seen, but whatevers. Anyway, she must have feeled bad for us getting’ kicked around all the time cause now she sends us stuff to eat and things to be builded…"

— Hamyap on the Created occupation of Balaho

Unggoy (Latin, Monachus frigus, meaning "cold monk"), also known as Grunts by many individuals, are a sapient species of squat bipedal xeno-arthropodal vertebroid lifeforms from the planet Balaho. In 2142, the Unggoy became the fourth species to be assimilated into the Covenant. During their tenure in the hegemony, Unggoy were always the lowest-ranking species in general terms, and were frequently mistreated by members of almost every other race, especially the Kig-Yar, Jiralhanae, and Sangheili.

Unggoy were primarily used by the Covenant as laborers or—in combat situations—cannon fodder. They are commonly referred to as "Grunts", mainly because they are considered weak compared to other former Covenant species and because they performed the majority of the labor required by the empire.

Culture

Although the Unggoy culture has been largely wiped out as a result of constant indoctrination by the Covenant, they do retain a degree of their cultural identity as a result of their inherent tenacity. Of what is known, the Unggoy generally live in small, tribal societies which are typically defined as being matriarchal. Unggoy family structure is polyamorous, with several male and female Unggoy living together. On Balaho, Unggoy had to constantly produce food to ensure that they had enough stocked during the planet's winter seasons. On a near-daily basis, the corpses of those that succumbed to Balaho's plagues had to be burned to further prevent infections. Both of these problems were solved when the Unggoy were discovered by the Covenant. Unggoy universally agree that their species is embodied by three pillars: ruggedness, agility, and lethality.  The wise Ang'napnap the Enlightened, the charismatic Awlphhum Who Became Tolerable, and the strategist Yayep the Archdeacon of Indolence are revered as historical heroes by the Unggoy.

Many Unggoy are interested in human culture. During their service with the Covenant, Unggoy enjoyed trading human communication files, such as soap operas and sitcoms, through their own black market. Unggoy often gamble with each other and often play games; one in particular, hunting rock, involves two Unggoy competing to kill the most scrub grubs. Unggoy were also known to take recreational narcotics called infusions by adding them to their portable methane tanks.

Unngoy Names

The Sangheili did not permit the Unggoy to retain family names during their service in the Covenant. Instead, they formally identified themselves by the names and birthplaces of famous patriarchs within their family. This patriarch could be the Unggoy's uncle, grandfather, or even a mythical paterfamilias that was revered by their ancestors. An example of this identification method would be "Yayap, son of Pum. Of Balaho's blasted scablands."  Following the end of the Human-Covenant war, individual Unggoy serving under the Swords of Sanghelios and Jul 'Mdama's Covenant faction have begun to use family names to identify themselves, such as Dimkee Hotay. 

Unggoy (Grunt) Traits

Your Unngoy will be extremely hardy, to separate themselves from their more cowardly brethren.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2.

Age

Unngoy mature extremely quickly, usually being considered adults at the age of 2. They live a long, full life of about 30 years, though this life cycle can be expanded by Forerunner technology.

Alignment

Most Unggoy are lawful, in servitude to their masters, and neutral, because of their selfish nature. Many Unggoy break this trend, however.

Size

Unggoy stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 260 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor.

Darkvision

Accustomed to life in dim hallways, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Unggoy Combat Training

You have proficiency with the needler, plasma pistol and fuel rod cannon.

Languages

You can read and write English, Sangheili and Unngoy. Their native language is composed of dog-like barks, squeaks, and grunts. Though largely unintelligible to most humans, translation software is able to decipher the meanings of these. Unggoy are also fully capable of speaking a variety of human languages, a fact in which they take great pride.