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#REDIRECT [[Gears_of_War#Setting]]
{{Mergefrom|Marcus Fenix|date=November 2006}}
{{Mergefrom|Dominic Santiago|date=November 2006}}
{{Mergefrom|Augustus Cole|date=November 2006}}
This article is a list of characters and organizations with detailed descriptions of things encountered in [[Epic Games]]' [[Xbox 360]] [[video game]] ''Gears of War''.
{{spoilers}}
==Coalition of Ordered Governments (C.O.G.)==
During the seventy-nine year war, the Coalition of Ordered Governments, or COG, became a legitimate minor political party. Founded long before the Pendulum Wars by fanatical socialist Alexiy Desipich, the party was based on an obscure world-government philosophy based on eight guiding principle values: Order, Diligence, Purity, Labor, Honor, Loyalty, Faith, and Humility.
The Pendulum Wars finally ended with the COG establishing control over Sera, with magnificent cities and culture returning to the war-torn planet. Fuel problems arose later in the age however, but the C.O.G discovered a substance dubbed imulsion that was pumped by the tons out of the earth, it would end Seras fuel problems forever. Many believed a new golden age was upon them. This belief was crushed on what is now called Emergence Day.
{{R to section}}
'''C.O.G. Weapons'''
{{Rwh}}
*Lancer Assault Rifle
*Snub Pistol
*Gnasher Shotgun
*Longshot Sniper Rifle
*Hammer of Dawn
*Bolo(Fragmentation)/Smoke Grenades
===Delta Squad===
{{copypaste}}
Throughout the original ''Gears of War'' campaign, the game experience is centered around Delta Squad. During the first act of the game, several characters will rotate in and out of Delta Squad. The first to die in Delta Squad is private Carmine who gets shot in the head after complaining that his gun keeps jamming. Later Delta comes across Alpha member Agustus Cole aka "Cole Train". When Delta reach Alpha Squad, Lieutenant Kim is killed by General RAAM. After Kim dies, Delta and Alpha retreat in a nearby building in which they meet up with Private Damon Baird.
====[[Marcus Fenix]]====
[[Image:Gears-of-war-20060714024932572.jpg|left|200px]]
Son of famed military scientist Adam Fenix, Marcus established a reputation as a brilliant soldier during the Pendulum Wars, earning field promotions and decorations. He was on a fast track to an outstanding military career, until the war with the Locust Horde began.
One long decade after Emergence Day, the Horde Army breached Jacinto Plateau's defenses and Marcus defied orders so he could save his father. He was too late, and in addition to losing his father, Marcus was charged with dereliction of duty and was sentenced to 40 years in Jacinto Maximum Security Penitentiary.<ref name="IGN-Personal">{{cite web | first = Charles | last = Onyett | title = Gears of War Gets Personal | publisher = [[IGN]] | date = [[2006-07-14]] || accessdate = 2006-11-26 | url = http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/718/718873p1.html}}</ref> It's later shown that Marcus's father was mapping the underground tunnels of the Locust Horde (a detail integral to the plot of ''Gears of War''), although it is never revealed whether Marcus was aware of how important his father's research was when he attempted to save him, or whether he specifically knew it related to the Locust Horde.
Four years into his sentence, the Horde overtook the Jacinto Penintentiary, but Marcus was rescued by his best friend, Dominic Santiago, so that he could re-join the fight against the Locust Horde Army.<ref name="IGN-Personal"/> Marcus Fenix is 35 years old at the start of the ''Gears of War'' campaign. [http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1012/Gears-of-War/p1/]
Marcus Fenix's design varied at several points in the development of ''Gears of War''. It appears that at one time in development, he had a different appearance. Early game art and renders show that he was originally bald and did not have any facial hair. [http://media.teamxbox.com/games/ss/1167/full-res/1116361333.jpg][http://gearsofwar.com/NR/rdonlyres/88541B09-12AF-428B-9D01-8B68B776DA92/0/BTS_pic_1.JPG] Popular voice actor [[Steven Jay Blum]] originally voiced Marcus Fenix in early build of the game, but was later replaced by [[John DiMaggio]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Marcus Fenix's VA | publisher = Epic Games Forums | date = [[2006-06-13]] | accessdate = 2007-01-07 | url = http://gearsforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=409&highlight=Steve+Blum+John+DiMaggio}}</ref> DiMaggio is well known as the voice of the character [[Bender Bending Rodríguez|Bender]] from the TV series ''[[Futurama]]''.<ref>{{cite web | title = Marcus Fenix is Bender, Bender is Marcus Fenix | first = Alexander | last = Sliwinski | publisher = [[Joystiq]] | url = http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/03/marcus-fenix-is-bender-bender-is-marcus-fenix/}}</ref>
==[[Dominic Santiago]]==
[[Image:Gow-dom.jpg|left|200px]]
Dom is a vocal, colorful and yet practical soldier. He's loyal to a fault, especially with his friends, and has no patience for those that think of themselves first. He steadfastly believes in his country and leaders, though he finds his faith slipping in the face of endless war, prompted by his wife's disappearance during the Emergence Day cataclysm. For him, the fight against the Horde is deeply personal.
==== Background ====
Private Dominic (Dom) Santiago is a loyal friend and ally to the main protagonist, [[Marcus Fenix]]. Not long after Emergence Day, Santiago testified in Fenix's ramrod [[trial]] at the House of Soverigns, where he was accused of insubordination and extreme cowardice when he left his post to save his father from an attack by the [[Locust Horde]]. Dom's testimony at Marcus' trial prevented his friend from facing [[execution]]. However, he had to accept the harsh judgement of Marcus, and, due to his choice to testify, his reputation suffered some damage. In the chaos of Emergence Day, Private Santiago lost his wife (presumably, her name is Maria Santiago as Dom has large a tattoo of "Maria" written within a heart on his right arm). Thus, the war with the Locust Horde is a personal one for him.
==== Present ====
Dom rescued Fenix from the remains of the Jacinto Maximum Security Prison, which had been overrun by the Locust. Fenix had been left behind when [[Col. Hoffman]] pardoned everyone from the prison, except him. Dom, refusing to allow Hoffman's stubborn vendetta against Marcus to put his best friend's life at risk, freed him from the prison, and convinced him to join Delta Squad. Besides his connections to his COG comrades, Santiago also has ties with some of the Stranded, through whom he continues to search for a female "someone" (presumably his missing wife, Maria). Dom managed to help Fenix recover the sonic resonator, which was supposed to map the Locust tunnel network, but it failed. When Delta Squad resorted to a last ditch attempt to recover data on the tunnels from the home of Fenix's deceased father, Dom assisted him in entering the mansion, and recovering the data. He also helped Marcus input the data on the tunnels into the COG's Lightmass Bomb, assisted him in killing the Locust's most powerful general, [[General RAAM]], and helped Marcus escape the train carrying the bomb, before it fell into a Locust tunnel hundreds of feet deep.
====[[Augustus Cole]]====
[[Image:GoW-Cole.jpg|left|200px]]
Cole, aka "The Cole Train", is an adrenaline junkie and former professional thrashball player for the Cougars. He craves action and prefers the most direct path to the Locust Horde in any situation. He is one of the most aggresive NPC's in the game. What he lacks in finesse, he makes up for in raw energy. He is all muscle.
Along with his child-like enthusiasm and charm, Cole is supremely confident in his own abilities to overcome anything, regardless of the odds—and he hasn't been proven wrong yet. His superior strength make him one of your best allies on the battlefield. He and Damon Baird have served together for years, and he treats Baird as he would an older brother with a younger brother's license to torment.<ref name="IGN-Personal"/>
Augustus "Cole Train" Cole is voiced by [[Lester Speight|Lester "The Mighty Rasta" Speight]]. Lester Speight is most notable for his acting as the man who plays as [[Terry Tate|"Terrible" Terry Tate]], the "Pain Train", in the Office Linebacker commercials made for [[Reebok]]. The game's cinematic ending also leads into a credits sequence featuring a hip-hop remix of the various "Cole Train" voice overs encountered throughout the game.
====[[Damon Baird]]====
[[Image:GoW-Baird.jpg|left|200px]]
Despite being a reluctant and cynical soldier, Baird excels at the military life. Baird is perfectly capable of being a successful officer, but has never been promoted due to his poor attitude, short temper, sarcasm and his unwillingness to take on any responsibility
Baird's greatest strength is his intelligence. He not only fights the Locust, but he studies and observes them as well. He's the closest the COG have to an expert, and when he tells his comrades to be quiet and listen, they know it is in their best interest to do exactly that.
Both Baird and Marcus hold grudges against each other, mainly because they both share the same personalities and attitudes. Even though Baird is paired up with Cole for most of the time, Marcus and Baird form a duo every once and a while. When in battle, however, all of their differences seem to be put aside. When Marcus receives the promotion to Sergeant, Baird blames Colonel Hoffman for not picking the smart guy, but is most likely showing off jealousy.
Baird's only motivation is self preservation. He's willing to do whatever it takes to get through the war alive -- even march along side a troublemaker like Fenix.<ref name="IGN-Personal"/> Baird's expertise also includes a specialization in mechanical and repair-related skills. In Act 4 of ''Gears of War'', when Delta Squad finds an APC offline, Baird is able to fix it given time and the use of pure ingenuity. Baird is voiced by [[Fred Tataciore]].
====Lieutenant Min Young Kim====
[[Image:GoW-Kim.jpg|left|200px]]
Lieutenant Kim is a proud, dedicated and ambitious soldier, a by-the-books believer in all things COG. To Kim, the Coalition of Organized Governments is humanity's only hope for survival and feels that it is an honor and privilege to serve as a Gear.
Only the strength of Dom's faith, and the scarcity of experienced soldiers, convinced Kim to enlist Marcus Fenix into his squad.<ref name="IGN-Personal"/>
At the end of Act 1, a King Raven helicopter arriving to evacuate Alpha and Delta Squad is taken down by Nemacyst spores. Emergence holes spring up everywhere, and Kim is separated from the rest of the Gears in the ensuing firefight. Amidst all the chaos, Kim orders a retreat and distracts the incoming Locust Horde, unaware of General RAAM approaching him from behind. He is battered, skewered, and impaled on RAAM's blade (which seems to spontaneously appear and disappear) and eviscerated before Marcus's eyes. Because of this, Marcus is then promoted to Sergeant. Lieutenant Kim is voiced by [[Robin Atkin Downes]], who is the brother of [[Steve Downes]], the voice of [[Master Chief (Halo)|Master Chief]] from the ''[[Halo (video game series)|Halo]]'' series (another Microsoft game), and voiced the [[Hierarchs_%28Halo%29#High_Prophet_of_Regret| High Prophet of Regret]] in ''[[Halo 2]]''. Kim's character model is used for the anonymous COGs (including Pvt. Carmine).
====Private Carmine====
[[Image:GoW-Carmine.jpg|left|120px]]
"Voted most likely to get shot" in the COG Academy, Pvt. Carmine is a member of Delta squad at the beginning of the game, along with Lt. Kim, Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, also known as Dom. In battle, Carmine often rushes out into the open, and has a [[gung-ho]] attitude towards the war. Judging by his reaction to meeting Marcus for the first time, Carmine is likely to be the youngest member of the initial Delta Squad. Carmine is also the first member of Delta squad who dies. In Act 1, while complaining about his Lancer rifle jamming, he is shot in the head by a Locust sniper. After the firefight following Carmine's death, Delta Squad regards sympathy for him although Carmine is left where he supposedly died and no further development of his character is seen during the rest of the game. [[Michael Gough (voice actor)|Michael Gough]] provides the voice of Carmine. Gough also did the voice of [[Characters_in_Resident_Evil_4#Osmund_Saddler|Osmund Saddler]], the primary antagonist in ''[[Resident Evil 4]]''. Carmine's name is a play on the [[Redshirt_%28stock_character%29|Redshirts]] of [[Star Trek]], who were often the first members of the away team to die, alerting the main characters of danger. [[Carmine_%28color%29|Carmine]] is the particular shade of red these "Ensign Expendables" wear. Carmine also follows the fate of a Redshirt, being the first COG soldier in the game to be killed.
Other COG soldiers' demises include:
*Towards the end of Act 1, when Baird is first met, two COGS accompany him. One is killed in the chaos that follows the helicopter's destruction (Lt. Kim). The other escapes to the House of Sovereigns with the rest of the squad, but panics when the Beserker approaches, runs from the squad, and is beaten to death (off-screen) by her.
*A COG is brought to General RAAM at the end of Act 3, and is promptly shot in the head.
*At the beginning of Act 4, a helicopter where a COG is clearly visible is shot down by Nemacysts. When the squad reaches the chopper, dead COGs are found, as well a COG who is throwing up his own blood. The latter COG's fate is unknown.
===Other members===
====Lieutenant Anya Stroud====
Anya Stroud is the only female member of COG seen in ''Gears of War''. She is usually detailing ___location information through radio for Fenix, Dom, or Kim — particularly where to go next, if the [[Hammer of Dawn]] is online or whether hostiles are en route. She is only visibly seen once throughout the entire game, on board a King Raven towards the end of the opening cutscene of Act 1. She is voiced by [[Nan McNamara]].
====Colonel Victor Hoffman====
Like Anya Stroud, Hoffman is camera-shy in ''Gears of War'', often barking off orders through radio. Hoffman comes in at the third cinematic telling Marcus he is a traitor and doesn't deserve to wear the uniform, and final cinematic aboard the King Raven with Dom, Cole and Baird after defeating General RAAM. Initial interactions between Marcus and Hoffman are extremely confrontational, although Hoffman comes to have a grudging respect for Marcus by the end of the game; in one of the more dramatic cutscenes, as Marcus leaps to a helicopter from a train which is plumetting into a canyon below, Hoffman reaches his hand out to help Marcus onto the helicopter. In the final cutscene of the game, a voice over of Hoffman detailing the exploits of Delta squad mentions the heroism of the Gears. He is voiced by [[Jamie Alcroft]].
====Rojas====
A member of Alpha Squad, Rojas is killed by Locusts while making their way through the House of Sovereigns. After rescuing Pvt. Augustus Cole, Marcus, Dom, and Kim come across Rojas's corpse. Players never see Rojas in the game apart from his dead body, and he is never mentioned other than Dom's concern over his two-year-old son before confirming his death.
====Jack====
[[Image:GoW-Jack.jpg|left|150px]]
A [[Jack of all trades, master of none|Jack of all Trades]] [[robot]], Jack for short.<ref name="Jack">"Destroyed Beauty - An Inside Look at Gears of War", page 10.</ref> It has limited [[A.I.]], does not talk, and responds only to simple commands. It is always alongside Delta Squad, hovering about with a cloaking device that makes the robot unseen until it decloaks to make itself useful.
Jack is used for cutting doors, [[communications]], [[first aid]] and minor field surgery, as well as other delicate operations both during and outside of combat.<ref name="Jack"/> Often the Gears will have to defend Jack while it cuts open doors. In Act 4 of ''Gears of War'', Jack is also used to download and store Adam Fenix's research data, which contained amazingly detailed maps of the Locust underground systems, and would be ultimately used with the Lightmass bomb to destroy many of the underground Locust forces. When Jack is visible the player can walk right through him. Jack tends to "rip" doors making his name a joke as in "Jack The Ripper."
==The Locust Horde==
The Locust Horde is a race, or alliance of several races that, until Emergence day, inhabited the subterranean regions of Sera. The Locust Horde has decided its ultimate goal is the extermination of the human race down to every man, woman, and child.(Quite similar to the Strogg in Id Software's game "Quake 4") Locusts consist of a common race of drones and all manner of mutants and monstrosities. The Locust Horde exists in underground tunnels known as ''the Hollow'', which is a short term used to describe the hollow portions of planet Sera.<ref>{{cite web | title = Torque Bow question to EPIC | author = [[Cliff Bleszinski]] | publisher = [[Epic Games]] Forums | date = [[2006-08-08]] | accessdate = 2007-01-07 | url = http://gearsforums.epicgames.com/showpost.php?p=7826629&postcount=83}}</ref> Often, humans call the lower forms of Locust "grubs" (Drones specifically.) This seems to be a derogatory term to describe most Locust that deploy from emergence holes.
'''Locust Weapons'''
*Fragmentation Grenades
*Hammerburst
*Boltok Pistol
*Torque Bow
*Boomshot
===Leaders===
=====Locust Queen (Myrrah)=====
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<div class="boilerplate" id="npov">
: [[Image:Gtk-dialog-info.svg|20px| ]] ''This section's information is based on [[speculation]]. <font class="metadata">View this article's [[:{{NAMESPACE}} talk:List of Gears of War characters & adversaries|talk page]] or discuss it on the [http://gearsforums.epicgames.com/ ''Gears of War'' forums] at [[Epic Games]] for further discussion.</font>''
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At various times throughout the game, narration is provided by a female character; her voice is heard during the opening cinematic, the death of Lt. Kim, and the end-game sequence; as well as during split-screen multiplayer if the Locust side loses or wins. Many have speculated this to be a sort of faction leader, or Locust [[Eusociality|Queen]]. In the credits sequence the game mentions the character 'Myrrah', voice acted by [[Carolyn Seymour]]. Since the character has not been seen anywhere in the game, many have assumed that Myrrah is the Locust Queen. There is also evidence pointing to the voice being the queen in multiplayer. When playing multiplayer as COGs, Hoffman, the leader of the COGs, will address you. When playing Locust, you are spoken to by the same female voice heard in the campaign, perhaps indicating her to be the leader of the Locust.
It can be argued that it has been proven that there is a Locust Queen; as in the cutscene preluding the final boss battle (against General RAAM), General RAAM emerges onto a platform on the train, and says "Serve the Queen!". In addition, during various parts of the campaign where players are faced against Boomers, they can be heard gargling "For Queen!" In multiplayer, if a downed Locust is revived, the Locust who revived him sometimes says ''For the Queen!'' When the Locust lose a match in multiplayer, the "Queen" can be heard saying, "Perhaps the locust are not as powerful as I thought," or "Maybe the humans are stronger than I thought.", perhaps hinting that she is not of the Locust herself. However, in the end of game cutscene, she regards as to why 'They do not understand why WE wage this war', hinting mainly that she is a Locust, and a higher-up one at that.
=====General RAAM=====
[[Image:GoW-RAAM.jpg|left|190px]]
General RAAM is the main villain and final [[Boss (video games)|boss]] of ''Gears of War'' voiced by [[Dee Bradley Baker]]. He is a mostly silent and savage Locust [[general]] with a dark cinematic presence. He appears as a large Locust shrouded in Kryll. RAAM has pronounced facial features, with large, bony eyebrow ridges and a seemingly constant snarling expression. General RAAM is not revealed until the cutscene of Lieutenant Kim's death, in which RAAM impales Kim with his sword, which appears to appear and disappear involuntarily. Some people speculate that RAAM's heavy gauntlet is capable of disguising this wicked weapon, but this cannot be confirmed.
More speculation is that RAAM is named after a biblical demon (Raum), who commands 30 legions of demons. Thus, it is commonly agreed upon that General RAAM himself commands approximately 30 legions of Locust infantry.
At the end of Act 3, a nameless COG soldier is captured by the Locust, and this soldier's helmet radio is picking up on the orders Control is giving Delta Squad. When RAAM shoots him in the head with a Boltok revolver, his helmet falls silent. General RAAM's name also implies that the Locust Horde follows a sort of military command hierarchy, but the only known military title for the Locust Horde is General.
During the player's final battle with RAAM, he carries a Troika machine gun; although this weapon is traditionally mounted on a turret, RAAM wields the weapon by hand with apparent ease, suggesting his enormous strength. (Note that a Troika is comparable to size and presumably weight to a current day Heavy Machine Gun, and RAAM is similarly comparable in size to a Boomer). He is protected by shield of swarming Kryll, which he commands to attack the player when they are away from light or in shadows. Without his Kryll shield, RAAM is momentarily vulnerable to damage. Eventually he is killed by Marcus, with the help of Dom and the King Raven helicopter. Although it is shown that General RAAM stands several heads above a normal human during the campaign, the multiplayer model of RAAM is not the same size; rather, it retains the exact same size as a regular player model.
===Drones===
[[Image:DroneCloseUp.jpg|left|190px]]
Drones appear to be the common race among the Locust Horde. They seem to appear larger than humans with white skin with gray patches. Some Sniper Drones wear red-lensed goggles for reasons unknown. They were bred in the hollow to be bloodthirsty fighters. When ordered, Drones will throw their lives away by the hundreds to kill one Gear. They often crawl out of "emergence holes", which the Locust use as a bridge between underground and the surface world. These holes can be closed by tossing a frag grenade in, or firing the [[Hammer of Dawn]], Boomshot, or Torque Bow into the hole. Drones are intelligent opponents who follow basic infantry tactics of flanking, dominating the terrain, and setting up ambushes.
They will usually wield the Hammerburst, a burst-fire assault rifle. Some regular Drones have taken to using the human Lancer assault rifle, and will utilize the chainsaw bayonet to lethal effect. Most basic drones wear a helmet and body armor while Grenadiers (who normally wield gnasher shotguns and frag grenades) mainly go into battle shirtless. It should be noted that although Grenadiers are seen bare chested, their lack of chest armor does not affect their amount of hit points.
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===='''Boomers'''====
[[Image:Gow-locusts.jpg|left|190px|A Boomer (right) with a Drone]]
Among the least sophisticated of the Locusts, Boomers are large locust that can take a lot of damage. A Boomer's weapon of choice is the Boomshot, an RPG (Rocket-Propelled Grenade launcher) which they will fire while shouting "Boom!" (thus the 'Boomer' moniker) which acts as a warning for players to attempt evasive action to not die in a highly explosive shrapnel blast. They also sometimes say "For Queen!" (see [[#Locust Queen (Myrrah)|Locust Queen]]) They are often seen partnered with other Boomers, but do not fight with squad based tactics. The slow reload time of the Boomshot and lumbering speed are a Boomer's biggest weaknesses, and a lone Boomer poses little problem to a COG soldier who is adept at using cover.
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====Berserkers====
[[Image:Berserker.jpg|left|160px]]
Berserkers are the female counterparts of Drones. They cannot see, instead using sound and scent to detect enemies. The slightest click of a gun can be heard by these creatures. Berserkers will also charge when a player is too close, picking up their scent. They walk slowly, often with their hands out to feel their surroundings. Berserkers also carry the deadly ability to build sufficient momentum and smash through solid stone walls. With their fused fists they can obliterate armored Gears with a single blow. Berserkers can't be harmed with any weapon with the exception of the [[Hammer of Dawn]], but they can be damaged by regular weapons immediately after being exposed to the Hammer. After a few seconds, they regain their resistance to normal weapons. If confronted by a Berserker whilst the Hammer of Dawn is unusable, a COG soldier will have to be quick-footed and very resourceful if they hope to survive the encounter; yet, out of three encounters in the game, there is only one with a Berserker that puts the player in a situation where the Hammer of Dawn is offline.Berserkers do not use weapons, instead when they smell or hear something they run at it at about 100 miles per hour. Only 3 Berserkers were encountered, in Acts 1, 4, and 5.
They also appear to be similar to the Garradors found in ''[[Resident Evil 4]].'' Like Berserkers, they are blind and are capable of killing the player in one hit.
====Theron Guards====
[[Image:GoW-TheronGuard.jpg|left|100px]]
Delta Squad first encounters Theron Guards guarding the Imulsion pumping station at the end of Act 3 . These creatures are usually found in the underground or near seeder encounters. They are easily distinguished from drones as they wear long leather-like coats that trail behind them as they move and metallic masks. Their sibilant voices have been known to scare Gears into fleeing. Therons are stronger, faster, and excessively more intelligent than an average drone. They often wield Torquebows with explosive arrows into battle. When a Theron guard spots you, it will begin to whisper words like "alien", "hostile", "attack","human" and "die simian". Their bows make a humming sound and glow when they are charging up a shot. Theron Guards always keep a back-up weapon in case their Bows run out, particularly Lancer rifles or Gnasher shotguns.
There is also a 'subspecies' of Theron Guards, known as Theron Sentinels. They are taller than Theron Guards, but other than the slight differences in size, armor, helmet and durability, there is little difference.
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===Wretches===
Small, jittery members of the Locust Horde that are capable of climbing almost any surface. They run at the player on all fours, similar to the [[Headcrab#Fast_headcrab_zombie|Fast Zombies]] of ''[[Half-Life 2]]'', the Flood of ''[[Halo (video game series)|Halo]]'', [[Zerglings]], or Warhammer 40000 [[Genestealers]] (with which they also share a physical resemblance). Their attack tactics include climbing on surfaces, and jumping forward in a frenzy to attack their prey. They are weak yet fast and come in large numbers, often used as a distraction or [[cannon fodder]] by the Locust. They often make their presence known before attacking by letting out a horrid, extremely high-pitched scream that often shatters nearby glass or objects. They are very dangerous to Gears that forget to look up or are overwhelmed by a subsequent attack.
Later in the game, a new kind of Wretch is encountered, a type that has become [[Phosphorescence|lambent]] after exposure to Imulsion. This kind of Wretch is called a "Dark" or "Lambent Wretch" and explodes when killed, injuring players who are too close, making them extremely dangerous. Wretches can be dispatched in any conventional manner, including melee attacks. Dark/Lambent Wretches also kill one another when they explode, causing chain reactions, sometimes clearing entire rooms.
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=== Seeders ===
Large, insect-like Locust that launch Nemacysts into the air, flying jellyfish-like creatures that act as living mines and anti-air weapons. When Seeders are present in an area, they immediately scramble COG radio frequencies. These enemies [the nemacyst] then hone in on the player, exploding on impact and massively injuring anyone around it. Seeders can only be killed using the [[Hammer of Dawn]]. In the game, jammed communications prelude Seeder encounters. At several points throughout the game, Nemacysts attack and destroy the COG Raven Helicopters. Although the Seeders can launch Nemacysts out of (what can best be described as) their rear orifices (their "heads" remain underground), they cannot harm the player by themselves.
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===Reavers===
Large, flying creatures about eight to ten times the size of a drone. They are saddled up and ridden by a pilot Drone as well as a passenger Drone (or Theron Guard), who guns down enemies. The passenger often wields a Torque Bow. Reavers are vulnerable to all types of firearm, though Troika gun turrets are particularly effective.
During the final battle with general RAAM, Reavers fly along the outsides, making it extremely hard to hide from enemy fire on harder difficulties. They also physically resemble the Sentinels from the film ''[[The Matrix]]''
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===='Rhino' Reaver====
Large, flying creatures similar in appearance to the Reaver, but it has a head reminiscent of a [[rhinoceros beetle]]. It is seen only once during the end game cutscene and is never encountered by the player during combat. The Rhino Reaver is piloted by a Theron Sentinel who wears a long slender cape. The Rhino Reaver also appears to have a mounted machine-gun and other machinery assimilated into its flesh.
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===Corpsers===
[[Image:GoW-Corpser.jpg|left|190px]]
Corpsers appear as horrific giant [[spider]]-like monstrosities covered by a mysterious armored helmet. Their heads appear almost humanoid except for their bug-like eyes. Corpsers have eight thick rock camouflaged legs that guard their vulnerable [[caterpillar]]-like underbellies, which is the only exposed part of one's body. The Locust Horde uses Corpsers to dig tunnels through the soil of Sera, allowing the other members of Locust to move about undetected, and even allows the Horde to dig behind COG lines. Near the end of act 3 Marcus and Dom battle with a Corpser which has been stalking them since Act 1. Corpsers are often seen moments before Locust attacks in ''Gears of War'', and they are often symbolized leading the Locusts out of the ground on [[Emergence Day]]. The Jacinto Plateau, which is positioned on a huge slab of granite, is the only place on Sera that the Horde could not dig through for a while. A Corpser is not battled until Act 3, where Marcus and Dom defeat it.
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===Brumaks===
[[Image:GoW-Brumak.jpg|left|190px]]
Brumaks are gargantuan monstrosities with extraordinary thick hides. They often grow to 12 meters in height and tend to weigh around 10,000 kilograms (22,046lbs). They were apparently bred by the Locust Horde from smaller native apes. Brumaks are lethal at close range, and they have also been rumored to carry energy beam cannons to kill at a range.<ref name="Brumak">"Destroyed Beauty - An Inside Look at Gears of War", page 14.</ref> Their heads resemble the Corpser's features, but their bodies have more in common with humanoids than spiders. Brumaks appear to be mildly sentient, and carry the ability to hunt down, and bait prey.
While featured in many of the game's promotional material and pre-release articles, the player does not directly combat the Brumak, though it still appears at the end of Act 4 and in the resulting cutscene.{{-}}
==Other adversaries==
===Kryll===
[[Image:GoW-Kryll.jpg|left|190px]]
Kryll are [[nocturnal]] small flying bat-like creatures. Bearing a resembalance to the flying carnivorous creatures in the movie [[Pitch Black]]. But upon closer inspection, the player can see they vaguely resemble a locust(as in the bug). They stay deep underground during the day and come up to the surface the moment the sun has subsided into the night. Kryll avoid lit areas and can be dispatched by using a [[UV]] light or direct sunlight, but they cannot be harmed by anything else. Kryll apparently feed on humanoids, and they will literally strip the flesh and bone away to nothing within a few seconds. They will eat both COG Soldiers and Locust Drones if they are foolish enough to step into open darkness. However, in locations close to their habitat, they are spread sparcely, since they are feeding in the cities. Only General RAAM knows the secret behind what drives the Kryll, as he shields himself with them in Desperation: Pale Horse, the final chapter of Gears of War.
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==The Stranded==
The Stranded are the Human survivors outside of Jacinto. They live in poor conditions ravaged by war. Their former way of life was destroyed by the [[Scorched Earth]] policy. The Stranded are known to refer to COG as "bloodthirsty fascist pigs," but they will help the Gears fight against Locust. There also seems to be distinct dislike of the Stranded that comes from the Gears, and vis versa. This is especially apparent when Damon Baird, a member of Delta Squad, excalims "You hang out with stranded?" and later, "I'm sure there are nice Stranded...Maybe not." The allied firefight in the chapter ''The Last Stand'' at the end of Act 2 is an example of Stranded and Gears fighting alongside one another. Sadly in that chapter all of the Stranded are killed by Locust gunfire.
The Stranded are seen to live in camps along the city streets, where there is good lighting, even at night. They also are seen to link important areas together safely with stratgeically place lighting, be it propane tanks for emergency use, or strings of party lights. However, they dont only live in cities. In act 3, Marcus and Dom encounter a Stranded in the Imulsion Power Plant, one who has apparently only been alone for a while. In the room preceding the cutscene, there are mutilated corpses strewn across the room. While it is unknown as to why the Stranded were in such a sensitive spot, and how long they were there, it seems that they had been waiting to be picked up.
===Franklin===
Franklin is one of the Stranded that owes Dominic Santiago a favor. Apparently Franklin has come into possession of a Junker APC, and Dominic acquires the Junker's keys with his favor. Little else is known about Franklin. He spends most of the Nightfall act in Gears of War guiding Dominic and Marcus through the ruined city and two checkpoints to Chap's Aspho Gas Station. He is also the one helping Dominic find a mysterious "Lady". He is voiced by [[John DiMaggio]].
===Chap===
Chap is the elderly Stranded who guards the gas station where Franklin's Junker sits. He stands about 5 ft. 10 in. tall. Since he did not expect the arrival of Marcus and Dom, he neglected to fuel the Junker, leaving that job to Marcus and Dom as they protect the gas station from destruction. He also accompanies Marcus and Dom on the highway as they drive the Junker back to the Stranded base camp, giving rather uninformative notices as to where Kryll burst from during their run. His weapon of choice is the Boltok Pistol (A magnum revolver). He is last seen getting off the Junker back at Stranded base camp. He may or may not be mentally unstable, as during the defense of the gas station, he can be heard crying "They're shooting Laverne!" He may or may not be giving names to the gas pumps, the tanks, the Junker, or the station itself. Chap joins the player in battle in the final chapter of Act 2, where he is killed by Locust gunfire. Before his death, he had a shotgun instead of a Boltok Pistol.
===Johnson===
Johnson is one of the Stranded that is associated with Franklin. The only mention to Johnson is when Marcus and Dom call Franklin to tell him that Kryll killed the men at Checkpoint one. They hear Franklin over the communicator telling Johnson to check the lights. Johnson may be one of the Stranded that was around Franklin when Delta squad asked for the Junker.
===Factory Stranded===
A Stranded that is encountered in the Lethia Imulsion Facility. He appears to trapped and is the only surviving Stranded in the area, as the others were killed by Dark Wretches. He accompanies Marcus and Dom and is killed when leading them across wooden floorboards. The boards suddenly break, and he is torn to shreds by the Wretches underneath the boards.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Gears of War|List of Gears of War characters & enemies]]
[[Category:Lists of video game characters|Gears of War characters]]
[[es:Lista de personajes y adversarios de Gears of War]]
[[it:Lista dei personaggi e nemici di Gears of War]]
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