Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos

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Thallascetaceans (Thallasua)

Tide Bringer (Protector of Mon Cala)
Images:
anthro_dolphin_by_frauwolfen-d3ea2s5%20edit%202_zpsvfljkeag.jpg

(This picture has been altered in paint by me, The original artwork by FrauWolfen can be seen here http://frauwolfen.deviantart.com/art/Anthro-dolphin-205383317



Name: Dolphinarian

Designation: Sentient

Home world: Mon Cala

Language: Basic, Mon Calamarian, Quarrenese, Delphinese

Average Lifespan: 120 years


Estimated Population: There were roughly 5000 individuals scattered across Mon Cala, but after the plague there are only about 100 individuals left. These individuals were shipped off world to ensure their survival.


Average height of adults: 1.96 m

Average length of adults: N/A

Skin color: Blue, grey, white, black, pink or mixtures of these with various patterns.

Hair color: No hair.

Distinctions: Flipper like extensions from elbows, dorsal fin along back, dorsal crest on head, tentacle extensions extending from head similar to the Lekku of a Twi’lek or the tentacles of a Nautolan, and a powerful fluke-like tail. They can survive in both salt and freshwater though preferences depend on race.


Breathes: Type 1 Atmosphere; like most other cetaceans they possessed a blowhole on the top of their head that they used as their primary form of respiration, however they do have a way that allows them to live underwater. They have developed an organ similar to gills on a fish that allows them to filter oxygen from the water.

Strengths:

·
Very intelligent: The Dolphinarian people, were a very intelligent race (Not unlike the dolphins of Earth). Their high intellect allowed them to solve many of the problems that faced them and allowed them to help others solve problems as well.

·
Superb swimmers: The Dolphinarians were practically unmatched when it came to moving around in an aquatic environment. Their smooth skin, streamlined physique and powerful tail allowed them to swim rapidly through the water; twisting and turning with ease, giving them a huge advantage when in the water.

·
Echolocation: Like their dolphin-like ancestors, Dolphinarians were able to use echolocation to help them find their way around in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. They were able to use a biological sonar to emit bursts of sound which proceeded to bounce off the surrounding environment and back to the user. This allowed Dolphinarians to hunt and also find lost objects, or individuals.

·
Aquatic and terrestrially adapted: Dolphinarians are adapted to move around in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. This advantageous adaptation allowed them to live an amphibious lifestyle.

· Can survive in cold environments: Dolphinarians like many other aquatic mammals have a layer of blubber that allows them to maintain their temperature in cold environments for longer periods of time and at colder temperatures than other species such as humans. For example when it came to planets with extreme cold temperatures such as Hoth or Orto Plutonia, they could probably withstand the temperatures for about 3 to 5 hours longer than that of a human.

·
Increased sensory perception: Dolphinarians have prehensile tentacles that extend from their head near the dorsal crest. These tentacles granted Dolphinarians an increase in sensory perception by allowing them to detect differences in water/air currents, subtle vibrations, and also changes in the electrical currents and also chemical composition of their environment. They were however extremely sensitive.

·
Capable warriors: Dolphinarians were often trained in various forms of martial arts and melee combat that made them formable opponents in combat. The fighting styles that they trained in often used their powerful tails as weapons using them to strike powerful blows and to sweep opponents off their feet.

·
Knowledge of the Force: Dolphinarians had a great knowledge and respect for the Force, they saw it as the great ocean tides that helped maintain equilibrium among the vast starry seas of the galaxy. Dolphinarians who were force sensitive often trained in the Force to telekinetically use water as a tool for both offense and defense (Similar to water bending or hydro kinesis). Because of this, many Dolphinarian Force users often carried around containers with water from their home world that they could use in combat.
Weaknesses:

·
Not very adapted for hot and dry environments: Even though Dolphinarians can survive in terrestrial environments, they tend to have a very difficult time in hot or dry environments. This is due to the fact that their skin often has to stay hydrated, so when on dry or hot planets (ex: Tatooine, Jakku, Sullust, Mustafar) they would have had to utilize devices or suits that helped to keep their skin moist.

· Aquatically inclined: While it is true that Dolphinarians can survive in terrestrial environments they are much more adapted to aquatic environments. In order to live out of water for extended periods of time they would need to have special equipment or structures that helped them to maintain their prefered salinity levels and also to keep moist. Any starship they were going to be on would also have to have facilities that would accommodate their aquatic needs.

· Achilles Tail: One of the most defining characteristics of the Dolphinarian species is their large fluke like tail. While their tail allows them to be powerful swimmers and formidable fighters, it can be a liability especially in terrestrial environments. They had to have clothes that properly accommodated their aquatic tails. They also would have to use chairs and furniture that fit their tail as well. But especially, it was a potential target when in combat especially when in close quarters.

· Isolated: Although Dolphinarians often gladly associated with the Mon Calamari and Quarren they shared their homeworld with, they often preferred to stay in their secluded settlements. While this could potentially act as an advantage, it also often prevented them from moving off world and advancing, technologically speaking. They also did not have as strong of immune systems compared to the space-faring Mon Calamari and Quarren. This made them particularly susceptible to off world diseases.

· Very compassionate: Dolphinarians were taught a very strict moral code that valued compassion, selflessness and protecting the weak and innocent. While many would consider these traits honorable, some did view it as weakness as. Reason being is because since most Dolphinarians upheld this code of honor it could be used as a means to trick and trap them. They also might take certain risks that put them in harm's way to protect those in need.

edit%202_zpsuj5xtd7i.png

(This picture has been altered in paint by me, The original artwork by JakkalWolf can be seen here
http://jakkalwolf.deviantart.com/art/LSC-Dolphin-Mage-449729936



Races:
· Tursiopas: Have features similar to those of the bottlenose dolphins, often have blue, grey or blue-grey skin color. They tended to settle in the more tropical waters of Mon Cala, usually near places such as coral reefs. They also tend to prefer salt water over fresh water.

· Orcaisa: Typically larger in stature, more powerful and had a more warrior-like culture. Dolphinarians of the Orcaisa race often had black and white markings (similar to an Orca). They preferred to live in the waters near the planet's Polar Regions. They tend to prefer salt water over fresh water.

· Amoza: These Dolphinarians were often appeared to be a little frailer than the other races. They preferred to live within the coastal communities and the freshwater systems of Mon Cala’s few islands. They typically had grey, blue, cream and even pink skin color. ( Think of Amazon River Dolphin). They tend to prefer freshwater over saltwater.

Diet: Fed primarily on a diet of seafood but sometimes added fruits and vegetables to their diets.

Communication: Oral, written, Dolphinarian tentacle sign language, clicks and whistles.

Culture: The Dolphinarians had a very simple and peaceful life style, often practicing meditation and oneness with nature. Dolphinarians were taught to value and respect all life forms whether they were sentient or non-sentient. When hunting they chanted a sacred prayer before finishing off their prey as they believed that this would ease the voyage of the creatures spirit to become part of the Force. They had a rather secluded life style as well preferring to live in the more hidden parts of Mon Cala. They preached the importance of using diplomacy and reasoning before violence as they only used violence as a last resort. They were also a very spiritual people believing that the Force was like the tides of the oceans, helping to keep the vast starry seas of the galaxy in equilibrium. Their Force culture consisted of the belief that every living thing had a soul that helped make up the vast celestial ocean. Each spirit was believed to be like a drop of water that helped form the great galactic sea. Force Sensitive Dolphinarians believed that their power was linked with water, believing that just like how a river flows through a channel, the Force flows through them as well. They often went on spiritual pilgrimages to places of immense natural beauty, observing the life around them,meditating, submerging themselves in the Living Force.

Technology level: Had rather simple technology but this was rather by choice as opposed to inefficiencies in technology. They sometimes utilized ships and weapons provided by their Mon Calamari and Quarren neighbors.

General behavior: They tended to be a very isolated people but would not shun away from outsiders, they welcomed all with open arms and would never turn away those in need. If met with hostile/aggressive attention they would first attempt to use reason and diplomacy to lessen hostilities, but would defend themselves if it came to blows.

History: The Dolphinarians were isolated from the rest of the affairs that occurred beyond their home world, they preferred to further their knowledge and spiritual enlightenment through simple living and meditation. They sometimes communicated with the Mon Calamari and Quarren that they shared Mon Cala with; this included simple trading and sometimes mentoring them in spiritual teachings, meditation and also martial arts. The priests of Dolphinarians were greatly respected and honored by both the Mon Calamari and Quarren who saw them as wise voices of reason. The Dolphinarians often helped the Mon Calamari and Quarren people resolve their many arguments and helped lessen hostilities between the two species.

When Republic scouts came to Mon Calamari the Dolphinarians welcomed them but chose to remain independent from the Galactic Republic, preferring to stay isolated, though they did offer to guide the Mon Calamari and Quarren on galactic affairs, giving them spiritual wisdom and insight. However the Dolphinarians were intrigued by the Jedi Knights of the Republic, they saw them as highly spiritual, and honorable defenders of peace. Many members of the Jedi order equally fascinated with the lifestyle of the Dolphinarians and their spiritual outlook on the galaxy. Some members of the order came to Mon Calamari to learn and trade knowledge with the Dolphinarian warriors, shamans, sages and priests. The Dolphinarians shared their views of the Force with the Jedi and also mentored some in the Dolphinarian martial art forms and also in their hydrokinetic combat forms. In return, The Jedi taught the Dolphinarians many things about the planets and stars beyond Mon Cala, and also taught them about the Light and Dark side of the Force. However despite this healthy relationship between the Dolphinarians and the Jedi, Dolphinarian Force-users politely refused the Jedi’s offer to train as Jedi on Coruscant.

Everything soon changed. Roughly about 1500 years before the start of the Clone Wars, a dark side fanatic had heard of the Dolphinarians and was eager to learn of their power. He traveled to Mon Cala disguised as a simple traveler, when he arrived on Mon Cala he requested to meet with the Dolphinarians so that they may teach him. a meeting was set up between some travelling Dolphinarian Sages and the darksider. The Dolphinarians were immediately put off by the fanatic, who rambled on and on about his desire to learn their power. Using the knowledge taught to the Dolphinarians by the Jedi, they were able to recognize the fanatic as a practitioner of the Dark Side. They apologized and told him that they could not teach him for his heart was like that of a violent storm full of rage and hate. The darksider in his anger attacked the sages but he was easily defeated and driven away. Feeling that the sages made a complete mockery of him, the darksider was filled with anger and hate as he vowed to get his revenge on the Dolphinarians. He started to think of a plan to get back at the Dolphinarians, he began to research them, desperately trying to learn of their weaknesses. He eventually learned that Dolphinarians were extremely susceptible to foreign diseases and decided that he would use darkside alchemy to concoct a terrible disease that would wipe out the species all together, however he would first need a test subject.

Through his research and observations he learned that Dolphinarians would often go on pilgrimages to isolated places to meditate. The man eventually acquired the services of a band of Karkarodon pirates that were based on Mon Cala for the time being promising them that they would be well paid. The pirates quickly agreed as they also wanted to get revenge on the Dolphinarians because they were defeated several times by Dolphinarian warriors, preventing them from raiding travelers and trade convoys leaving rural ports. Together they tracked a young Dolphinarian as he embarked on one of these sacred pilgrimages, surprising and capturing him while he was in deep meditation. The darksider proceeded to torture and perform terrible experiments on the young warrior, using his body in a alchemical ritual to develop a potent and deadly disease specifically designed to target the Dolphinarian species. This disease was put in special dispersal canisters that were distributed to several of the pirates, who proceeded to attack traveling Dolphinarian priests quickly activating the dispersal devices, infecting the Dolphinarians and then swimming away. At first everything seemed fine for it appeared that the disease was not working, but in actuality the disease just had a long incubation period. The infected Dolphinarians unwittingly spread the disease to several of the Dolphinarian settlements, and by the time the symptoms started to emerge nearly 85% of the Dolphinarian species was infected. The disease quickly brought death to the infected, causing death on a terrifying scale. Mon Calamari and Quarren officials eventually learned of the disease that ravaged their neighbors and desperately tried to help them but time was running out. With the help of Jedi healers from the Galactic Republic, scientists desperately tried to find a cure but the darkside disease was far to potent and would take huge amounts of time and resources to find a cure. They decided that they needed to save what Dolphinarians they could, the team of Jedi along with Calamari and Quarren scientists rounded up uninfected individuals from all 3 races and quickly shipped them off world away from their diseased home, where they would be safe. However despite all the effort it was not enough, over 90% of the Dolphinarian population was dead, with only about a hundred individuals surviving. Jedi archivists traveled to the empty ruins of the Dolphinarian settlements, attempting to preserve and archive whatever knowledge they could of the Dolphinarians and their way of life. However during one of these expeditions, the Jedi discovered one last remaining Dolphinarian; a young adult male. The young Dolphinarian was in some sort of deep sleep meditation, to the untrained eye he looked dead, but the Jedi could sense the vitality of life flowing through him but they also could sense the presence of the terrible disease. They also could sense that he was strong in the Force, and eventually learned that he was supposed to become the next head Sage of the Dolphinarian clans. But as he learned of the disease that ravaged his people, he somehow managed to halt the disease's progress by inducing some sort of deep sleep meditation that left him almost lifeless. The Jedi realized that they needed to take advantage of this, they rushed him back to the capital city where a top secret project was underway. A top secret group of Mon Calamari, Quarren and Republic scientists designed a state of the art, highly advanced stasis chamber where the Dolphinarian would remain until a cure could be found. In the time that followed a group of Jedi knights discovered the treachery of the dark side fanatic and his Karkarodon brigands and eventually brought them to justice.

The Dolphinarian continued to remain in stasis for centuries to come, however things changed around the time of the Clone Wars. For years Jedi Healers and Mon Calamari scientists had been trying to develop a cure for the terrible disease until finally at last a cure had been found. The administered the cure into the stasis pod, curing the Dolphinarian of the disease but before they could try and bring the Dolphinarian out of stasis, war had erupted on Mon Calamari. A civil war had erupted between the Mon Calamari and the Quarren after the assassination of Mon Calamari king Yos Kolina by a Karkaradon Separatist agent known as Riff Tamson. Despite the efforts of the Mon Calamari and their Republic allies, Prince Lee-Char and his forces were driven from the capital city by Tamson and his aqua droids. During this time, Tamson discovered the stasis pod holding the Dolphinarian and immediately recognized what he had found. Tamson had learned of the rivalry between the Dolphinarians and the Karkarodons, and also of the disease that supposedly wiped out the Dolphinarian species. Tamson wished to honor his Karkarodon ancestors and commanded that the stasis pod be delivered to the Karkarodon homeworld of Karkaris. The pod was transported to a separatist transport to be delivered to Karkaris, but before the transport could leave the system, the transport was attacked and shot down by a Republic cruiser that had come to deliver Republic reinforcements consisting of Gungan warriors led by representative Jar Jar Binks. The Separatist transport crashed in a highly remote part of Mon Calamari, far away from civilization. Prince Lee-char and his allies eventually defeated Riff Tamson and his forces after Quarren Representative Nossor Ri and the Quarren turned against the Separatists. Prince Lee-Char was eventually crowned king and desperately tried to locate the crashed Separatist transport, but it was not to be. The transport would remain hidden for hundreds of years, and with it one of the last of the Dolphinarian people.

Notable Player-Characters: None as of yet, if this species is approved then I will be able to make my dream character.

Intent: To make a cool, unique species for my first roleplay character, and to help bring a dream character to life. Also to my knowledge there aren’t too many cetacean or marine mammal species that are also sentient within the Star Wars universe.

Sources: Wookiepedia pages



http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Water_War

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Gungan_Attack

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Prisoners
 
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[member="TD.7795"]

Alright, I've decided I'll take a crack at this one.

Now, this is going to be quite a list, so do bear with me.

Please use an actual estimate for Population: I'm aware that, at present, you wish to have your character be the 'only one' remaining, but do note that others may wish to RP this species in the future, and your submission should allow them to feel free to do so. I'd go with 'less than 100', for example, just as a ballpark.

You've noted that your species is aquatic: is this a species that can breathe underwater without surfacing, or do they have to surface for oxygen (i.e. have a blowhole for oxygen exchange)?

The big issue we're going to have with this submission is Strengths vs Weaknesses: you have seven very clearly-defined strengths, and only three fairly poor weaknesses. The strengths you've picked out aren't bad: personally, I find 'highly intelligent' a questionable racial trait (idiots are everywhere, and dolphins are no exception!), but it's not a problematic thing to include. With regards to 'can survive in a cold environment', I assume that doesn't mean they could roam around on Hoth naked? Might be worth ballparking their actual survival capabilities in terms of temperature.

Also: are they capable of permanently surviving out of water, or are there certain conditions that need to be met in order to preserve their lives outside of seawater? Can they function effectively in fresh water?

Now, weaknesses are where we've got a big problem: the three you have are not sufficient to offset the strengths your species has. Their isolation strikes me as a big problem - I'd add a fourth weakness as part of that: technologically uneducated/inept. A race that has little to no exposure to technology shouldn't be expected to use it well, nor even find it 'normal' - I'd fully expect such a being to be mystified or even scared by a computer!

'Very Compassionate' is not a racial trait, by the by: although a species can have personality traits that are common, nobody has such a thing universally. I'd be highly disinclined to believe that there's never been a 'bad' Dolphinarian, or that none of them ever hurt another being deliberately. Also, note that even you have called it a 'highly righteous and honourable trait'. That's a strength posing as a weakness right there.

At any rate, please do elaborate on racial weaknesses some more - three are insufficient against seven strengths! Think biological issues, sensory perception, survival capability etc. That should be particularly noted with respects to the idea of your species as it might exist in space - how would it fare on a starship? What environmental modifications might be needed?

I love the different races, by the by. Excellent idea!

Much of the history is interesting, but I'm led to wonder: if the Dolphinians rejected teaching by the Jedi, do they have their own Force tradition? What does that look like?

I'm sorry to be blunt here, but I simply don't buy the explanation about the near-extinction of your species. No Sith would be convinced to destroy that species just because some pirates got their noses bloodied (and given that Mon Cala is a powerful shipyard world with their own capital ships, I have to question how pirates were even a problem in the first place). That whole scenario just doesn't make any sense to me.

The 'lone survivor in a stasis pod' is a huge cliche, by the way, but I admit, it's the only possible way to explain the survival of an individual from a species annihilated over 1500 years ago. I'll overlook that (though, again, remember what I said about there being more than one survivor!), but the scenario behind their near-extinction really needs refining. It just couldn't happen on Mon Cala. That said, if you were to pick another aquatic world (I'm sure there are tons of barely-noted ones floating around on Wookieepedia), it'd be more plausible.

So for the history I would ask that you either a) make the history better fit what is known about Mon Cala or :cool: find a different planet suitable to your needs. I leave that choice to you!

If you could make a few edits accordingly, I'll review them and we'll move this process along. Please don't be discouraged by the long list: you gave us a lot to work with, and it's an excellent submission for a new member, but as with most entries into the Codex, it could use a little refinement. Good luck!
 
Tide Bringer (Protector of Mon Cala)
I reluctantly admit that my explanation for the near extinction of my species is a very implausible scenario, I just could not think of any other ideas at the time. I was hoping to keep them on Mon Calamari, and the reason I used Karkarodon pirates was because I was hoping for some kind of species rivalry. I also embarrassingly admit that I probably should have recognized that the Mon Cala shipyards would have proven adequate defense against any pirates. Hmmmm this leaves me at a difficult spot but I will see If i can come up with something else. [member="Tirdarius"]
 
[member="TD.7795"] Why not go with a disease? Their isolation would keep it from affecting the Mon Calamari and Quarren populations, and the survival of a small handful may well be a consequence of their absence from Dolphinarian population centres - as you said, many of their Priests/Sages travelled around to share their knowledge and help mediate disputes. Perfectly reasonable that a small handful would have been absent at the time of such a plague, wiping out all but that group. It also means the overall history of the planet won't be affected adversely.

Just a thought!
 

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