Octaran

Written by Pookas Kreations

Octarans are an aquatic humanoid race with octopus traits, whose parents originally came from the Plane of Water. They are native outsiders.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Octarans are a long, slender race with a humanoid upper body, and a cephalopod (octopus) lower body. Eight tentacles are arranged radially below their hips with a pair or more used as arms as needed, they taste with their suction cups. The pair commonly used as arms have split ends with smaller tentacles that can be used as hands. Males have armored chitin scales on the back of their head/neck and sideways eyelids.

Biological Traits

Depending on the local/environment, coloring varies, mostly dark colors with patches or stripes. They excel at creating magical tattoos.

Genetics and Reproduction

As with most sea creatures, eggs are laid in a safe place and fertilized there. 200-1000 per female are laid at a time.

Growth Rate & Stages

All young are raised together in a communal creche. Everyone in the pod take turns protecting the egg chamber. Octaran grow rapidly depending on abundant food sources. They mature in 1-2 years.

Ecology and Habitats

Any temperate water. Preferring sheltered rocky areas for nesting sites.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Octaran are carnivorous and at times of scarce food cannibalistic. They favor fish and crustaceans. A few pods that live near hot vents have learned to like the taste of cooked food.

Biological Cycle

The Octarans ancestors were significantly larger on their native Plane, but over generations, they changed to be a smaller size. Although, as they age their size can increase over the centuries to be Huge or larger (depending on access to food).

Additional Information

Social Structure

Octaran have a loose communal society, where members can come and go as they please. They have no hereditary leader, instead they choose him/her by consensus when needed.

Facial characteristics

They have purple skin, large eyes, facial beard tentacles around large lips (like Davy Jones), some have beaks instead of mouths.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Octaran can live in any water-based location on Aquatica.

Average Intelligence

Octaran are considered to be of Genius level Intelligence. They excel in Magic, Psionics and Bio-Technology.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Deepsight (underwater) 120 ft, watersense (blindsense) 30 ft, detect gravity 1 mile.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

They have a mixture of toxic digestive juices, some of which are manufactured by symbiotic algae, which they eject from their salivary glands onto their captured prey held in their mouth. These juices separate the flesh of their prey from the bone or shell. The salivary gland has a small tooth at its end which can be poked into an organism to digest it from within

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Octaran rarely take more than one name and that name is usually elaborate and long, including visual cues and chemical signatures. Although nicknames are commonly used as well.

Beauty Ideals

Both shape and coloring of the body, especially the head, also the pattern of their bio-luminescence attract a prospective mate.

Gender Ideals

Genders are equal, although most females would rather be artists, casters, performers, etc than warriors. These occupations are considered to be more valued than laborers or warriors.

Courtship Ideals

Every few years mating dances are performed. The female has her choice of males. Some choose a trial joining first, but others choose a mate for life at first sight. These Octaran link their minds and effectively become one being, their name is hyphenated and they are always together. Those with weaker mind skills aren't able to complete the joining ritual so often make joinings of convenience.

Relationship Ideals

Everyone hopes to attain a mind-link with a strong mate.

Average Technological Level

Octaran are a dynamic culture with a high technological society, although from outsiders it wouldn't appear so. They learned much of their technology from the Octari but also combined it with science from this world. Much of their technology is a combination of bio-engineering, magic and psionics.

Since they can see into the ultraviolet spectrum most of their writing is only visible there. Even with the problems of living underwater, Octaran have amassed large libraries. Through their magic/psionics they are able to create dry rooms or items that are able to be written on, visually, verbally and chemically.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Octaran of Aquan, also Mer, Lutran and Walaran.

Common Etiquette Rules

Usually they are very generous and friendly.

Common Dress Code

They have no need for clothes. Although some females and performers wear decorations. A harness or belt is worn if items need to be carried.

Common Taboos

Waste of common resources, and murder.

History

During the Chaos Wars a portal opened up and pulled part of a large pod of Octari through to Aquatica. Only a few of the Elders are currently alive, some died in the aftermath of the Chaos Wars, others from the grief of losing their loved ones.

One infamous noble Elder Octari went insane because this separation. He descended into madness, and created or became the Maelstrom. Thinking that if he collected enough life-force energy from killing travelers that he could open another portal home to reunite with his Mate.

Historical Figures

• Goroloth

• Maelstrus

Common Myths and Legends

Maelstrus

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

• Allies: Lutra, Mer, and Walaran.

• Enemies: Atlantean, Krestean, and Naga.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Octari (outsider)

Genetic Descendants

• Squaran

Scientific Name

Teuthida Loligo vulgaris

Origin/Ancestry

Octari, Squaran

Lifespan

200 years

Average Weight

200 lbs

Average Length

8 ft

Average Physique

They have sleek, muscular bodies with medium-length tentacles.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Like many cephalopods, Octaran have the ability to communicate with others through bio-luminescence. With a similar ability they can change the pigment/coloring of their skin. Most have dark purple skin tones.

Geographic Distribution

• Oceania