Lambda Wars

Lambda Wars

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The Orgins of the Antlions!
By PapaNerdLord
Talks about the antlions as a species, similar to what I did with headcrabs!
   
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1. What are Antlions and what are they like?
Antlions are social creatures living in large underground colonies. They are blind and use pheromones and vibrations to identify other living beings.

Antlion Soldiers are the most visible element of Antlion society, most of which is kept hidden in fiercely defended underground nests. It is not clear how Antlions breed; one resistance member is heard referring to a "spawning season" at the beginning of the Highway 17 chapter, but whether Antlions mate separately, have a queen/drone system or practice something completely alien to Earth sensibilities is not known. Their young begin life as larvae in blue honeycombs similar to those of bees.

The extract of these larvae is highly prized by the Vortigaunts for its ability to "divide the false veils of the vortessence" when imbibed. This seems to augment their natural powers. It should be noted that when they imbibe the extract, they glow purple and look very similar to how they did in the beginning of Episode One. It may be speculated that they were in this state when rescuing Gordon.

The larvae grow into large grubs, which are attended to and protected by Antlion Workers and Antlion Guardians. Within this system, common Antlions presumably serve as hunter-gatherers. Inside their nests, decomposed bodies of other creatures can often be discovered, trapped in the viscous silk the grubs produce as a food source, and some of their deepest chambers are pooled with blood.

The grubs also produce a substance that possesses healing properties similar to those of a medkit.

Barnacles appear to be one of the few effective predators for Antlions, as they are commonly found in Antlion cave systems. The Antlions, being blind, are often unable to detect their 'tongues,' and as a result become easy meals. They also serve, however, to deal with any invaders hiding in the water, as Barnacles often hang over pools of water.
2.Different kind of antlions!
  • The Antlion Soldier, which is the most commonly found.


  • The Antlion Grubs, the larvae


  • The Antlion Worker, which works in nests and protects the Antlion Grub.


  • The Antlion Guard, a taller Antlion


  • The Antlion Guardian, which rules the nests.


3. The power of the Antlions!
Antlions were once farmed by Vortigaunts for their larval extract and a number of other purposes, possibly on their homeworld Xen; the Victory Mine Vortigaunt states that Antlion husbandry was once their ancestral practice. Since the Combine invasion of Earth and the beginning of the Portal Storms the Antlions have established themselves on Earth. They have obviously been very successful in doing so, possibly to the point of causing extinction to other kinds of Earth fauna. So widespread were the Antlions on Earth that the Combine had to install a large network of thumpers around Nova Prospekt, as well as a vast variation to the base of the Citadel. When these were shut down by Gordon Freeman's activities, both Nova Prospekt and City 17 were quickly overrun separately by Antlions, with chaotic results.



{These scary but cute and cuddly things are evil! heheheh}
4. More you know!
The Antlion (scientific name Myrmeleontidae) is an actual insect; strictly speaking, the term Antlion applies to its larval form which does somewhat resemble Valve's creation.

The Soldier and Worker antlions cannot swim, and because they are blind, they cannot avoid going into the water, once they are deep enough they will thrash around in vain for a few seconds before drowning. If the drowning Antlion is punted onto dry land by the Gravity Gun, they will continue to thrash around and eventually drown on land.

In the cut wasteland chapters of Half-Life 2, the player was to visit Antlion caves where they would meet the Antlion King and Antlion Grubs, among other enemies. This idea was brought back in Episode Two.

This is the only way to kill an Antlion Worker without it exploding.



{THEY EXPLODE WHAT??????}
Thanks!
If you enjoy this great if you loved even better. But all seriousness if you fill like stuff are missing please tell me and I will see what I can find! Give constructive feedback please! :D enjoy!

BONUS!

45 Comments
Seven Raging Storms (SRS) 17 Aug, 2023 @ 6:08pm 
when the hell was there ever a queen? i knew about the king but queen?:DartSoD:
JoeMate 12 Aug, 2023 @ 11:45pm 
nice now i know about antlions
SGT. Gay Dickman 17 Nov, 2022 @ 9:53am 
Ayyy very nice man! Really like this post!
Helldiver 5n23 22 Oct, 2022 @ 7:34pm 
@Itigra bit late but uh, basically antlion king big mean hurter, used to combat gordon before the queen
PapaNerdLord  [author] 22 Oct, 2022 @ 11:23am 
nice to know XD
pink.noise.chick 21 Oct, 2022 @ 4:29pm 
THE ANTLION QUEEN HAS THE SAME MODEL TO BOTH ANTLIONS WHICH IS ANTLION GUARD AND GUARDIAN AND THE ANTLION GUARDIAN IS RECYCLED AND COMPLETE VERSION OF THE ANTLION KING
Templar 28 Apr, 2022 @ 1:22pm 
what do you mean antlion king?
Helldiver 5n23 22 Feb, 2022 @ 12:55pm 
you forgot about the king and queen of the hive (beta but regularly thought as canon), as well as the antlion juice used to clean up infestations in Alyx
PapaNerdLord  [author] 15 May, 2021 @ 12:48am 
And @silverfox123
PapaNerdLord  [author] 15 May, 2021 @ 12:48am 
I mean what do you have in mind havent played alyx or watch it much, @idioticEd