#any chance i have to loredump about half-life I TAKE

[narklos]

uhh I'm new here what is a Shu'ulathoi? If you don't mind me asking. Is that what Gman is?

A shu'ulathoi is a Combine Advisor (the weird lumpy sacks with the long tongues), but in the language of the Vortigaunts (Vortuguese). Advisors can't understand the language of the Vortigaunts, and so vorts refer to them as "shu'ulathoi' to get around being detected by the Combine.

The theory I personally subscribe to (and is heavily referenced in the Breengrub short story) is that G-Man is one of these shu'lathoi.

Breengrub states that the homeworld of the shu'ulathoi was taken over by the Combine when they were poisoned, making them easy to control. Some shu'ulathoi remained on the planet, hiding away from the Combine in a deep slumber, and "fewer still fled" (referring to the G-Man).

Due to shu'lathoi having such powerful psychic abilities, they're able to turn into almost anything when they hatch. The Advisors we see under the Combine's control are actually still in the larval phase, and are prevented from hatching.

We can infer that the G-Man is therefore a hatched shu'ulathoi who took the shape of a human to seek vengeance for his homeworld. His employers could be the shu'ulathoi that are still sleeping on the homeworld.

His strange mannerisms and talking patterns are due to shu'ulathoi actually being unable to breathe well in Earth's atmosphere (see the Air Exchange and the breathing apparatus that the Advisors wear for more info), and his otherworldly powers come from the incredible psychic abilities that the shu'ulathoi naturally have.

Hope this helps! If I should clarify anything, just let me know!