ShatteredPrism:Races Aquatian

Aquatian

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Physiology

Appearance

Aquatians are aquatic beings which resemble the earth species Tursiops Truncatis, the Bottlenose Dolphin. An elongated torso sports as the only limbs a pair of long fins approximately a third of the way down the torso, a second shorter pair another third down, and finally ending in a fluked tail. In addition to these movable limbs, there is a dorsal fin situated halfway along the spinal column, with a smaller stub of bone immediately behind. The head is similarly elongated, forming an almost conical skull with two pair of solid-black eyes on either side of the head. The skin, which has the texture of smooth galvanized rubber, is usually a silver-grey in color, shading from darker tones on the top to lighter tones on the underside. The average length of an adult is 4.5 meters, and the average weight is 760 kg.

Variability Among Individuals and Genders

In general females outmass males by almost 40%. Since there are few gross anatomical differences between individual to individual, Aquatians have adopted a custom of decorating their heads and dorsal regions with elaborate tattos. These tattos not only identify specific individuals, but can also be used to trace ancestry through matrilineal lines, preventing related families from inbreeding. In addition to the tatoos, many Aquatians eventually develop a distinctive pattern of scar tissue on their bodies from injuries among coral reefs and encounters with the more aggressive waterlife on their worlds.

Locomotion & Manipulation

Without artificial aid, Aquatians are restricted to swimming around in liquid environments. Recent advances in technology has enabled them to create cybernetically controlled harnesses equipped with gravitic impellers, allowing the Aquatian to 'swim' in the air as effortlessly as in the water. Regardless of wether they're in the water or using a grav-harness, Aquatians are a very graceful and agile species. Without technological aid, only Aquatians with telekinetic abilities can manipulate tools.

Body Chemistry

Aquatians are a carbon based species, with iron based blood and a calcium based skeletal structure. In this respect, they are rather similar to many of the other sentient races in the galaxy.

Chemical and Environmental Hazards

Aquatians have very efficient immune systems, making biological agents nearly pointless to worry over. They are still, however, quite vulnerable to toxins in waters they may swim in, and have very little tolerance for alchohol.

Senses

Because Aquatians were designed to live in the water, their senses are likewise adapted to such surroundings. Aquatians have no true sense of smell, the sense of taste making up for this when it comes to 'smelling' water or similar liquids. Both senses are near useless out of water, although taste still works when it comes to things like food. Likewise, the sense of touch is limited as well, pressure applied to the skin or anything obviously bringing pain the only real sensations available. Aquatian sight is superior to virtualy any other species when it involves underwater exploration but above water this range weakens to the point where they're no better than most humans without augmentation. The pride and joy of Aquatians is their sense of hearing. Superior even to some brands of accoustic sensors, they can hear into the subsonic and ultrasonic frequencies with ease, and they have that ever infamous sonar, which is able to plot incredibly detailed 'maps' in ones mind, as well as replace ultrasound medical equipment.

Reproduction

Aquatian females have a gestation of 10 months, usually resulting in a single calf. Sometimes there are twins born, but this is a rare event, and can often result in birth complications for the mother.

Food and Energy Requirements

A purely carnivorous species, Aquatians need to eat at least half their body mass per week to maintain health. Due to their stronger immune systems, Aquatians can consume and digest the fish-like prey on many worlds with a diverse aquatic ecosystem.

Lifespan & Lifecycles

Aquatians mature quickly, but live fairly long for mammal species. Considered adults at age 9, they can live a good 150 years, with old age thought to be around 100.

Instinctual Psychology

Aquatians are very curious and playful by nature, while normally this means you will rarely find an angry Aquatian, when you do, it's usually a good excuse to leave. Adults teach their children a style of discipline that keeps them from ignoring anything that isn't 'fun'. Rather than trying to find something else to do, the Aquatian turns a task into a game of sorts (or something amusing to do) and therefore concentrate on it.

Habitats and Ecosystems

Aquatians can tolerate cold waters up to arctic ocean conditions, though warm waters are preferred. Being a naturally aquatic species, without artificial aid, Aquatians must remain immersed in water to prevent their skin from dehydrating and sloughing off. Salt water environments assist the natural Aquatian in ballast and remaining afloat.

Communcation & Interaction

Aquatians normally communicate vocally, and have a -very- complicated language of clicks, whistles, and sonar pulses. Since most species couldn't emulate this language to begin with, Aquatians rely more on artificial translators and on those who can use telepathy.

Combat Capabilities/Natural Weapons

Aquatians posses little in the way of natural weaponry. Though their beaks are lined with a great many small, dagger-like teeth, and could cause harm from a bite.

Special Racial Capabilities

Aquatians do posses some psionic capability, but their most outstanding ability is the capability of Navigating the Void.

Society

LANGUAGE

Aquatians posses a complex language consisting simultaneously of vocal clicks and whistles, as well as subsonic and ultrasonic sonar pulses. Because of both the speed, complexity, and non-vocal methods used in this language, very few offworlders ever manage to learn to understand it, much less speak it. Because of this, Aquatians typically use artificial translators (implanted or worn), or else telepathy (for those who possess the ability) to communicate with other species.

Naming Protocals

Aquatian naming occurs in two parts. When a new calf is born, the parents decide on a name which the child will use till they reach adulthood, after which they choose the name they will use for the rest of their life. Names consist of two words, one noun and one adjective. Examples include StarRunner, WaveSkimmer, ReefHunter, and SkyRider.

Social Mobility/Status/Rank

Aquatians do not naturally grasp the concept of rank, as in their own society all are considered equal to another. Achievement of the individual and recognition of greater skill and knowledge is however recognized and often given respect. The three most ‘esteemed’ professions an Aquatian can attain are that of a Void Navigator, a starship pilot, or someone in a medical profession.

Cultural Subgroups

Since a small group of Aquatians encountered the non-sentient whales and dolphins of the Grrwrrawl’s homeworld, Earth, a small religion has sprung up in small enclaves on Aquatiane. This religion claims that their species was engineered from Earth’s dolphins, and was artificially transplanted against their will to Aquatiane. The religion encourages it’s followers to forgo sentience in order to rejoin the ‘whale dream’, so that they may once again rejoin their brethren on Earth.

Privacy and the Role of the Media

Aquatians do not have a native organized media service, and instead rumors, stories, and important events are spread through the ocean by ultra-low frequency sonar pulses, which travel hundreds of kilometers, picked up and passed on to the next Pod.

Overall Attitudes

Aquatians are a very curious and playful race, and as such will often go out of their way to have fun with those around them. Though certainly not masters of the art, they enjoy telling and listening to jokes of all kinds, and will make light of any situation to try and cheer up those around them.

Fashions & Manners of Dress

In their native environment, Aquatians do not wear clothing, as it increases drag and serves no practical purpose for them. When leaving the ocean, the only articles of ‘clothing’ an Aquatian will wear are cybernetically controlled grav-harnesses (which allow them to ‘swim’ through the air), mechanical walker suits controlled by sonar pulses, as well as various forms of cybernetically controlled rigs for various purposes

History

Empire and Colonization

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