soru
The soru (pronounced 'sord-ru') are an offshoot of the atlantean species. This sub-species emerged as a series of stable mutations in an Atlantea settlement near the Puerto Rico Trench region. Unknown at the time, a series of ancient orange Eisenite-heavy meteorites lay along the sea bottom near the Puerto Rico Trench.
The proximity of the meteorites to the settlement caused a series of mutations that altered the evolutionary course of atlantean people in the area. By the time a sea-quake dislodged most of the meteors, burying them at the bottom of the Puerto Rico Trench's 27,500 (8,229 meters) feet, the mutations had become stable. A few shards of the meteors were recovered and sent back to Atlantis for study. There they were sealed away in a research lab, away from the general populace.
In the meantime, the sea-quake had damaged the settlement to the extent that the inhabitants relocated to southeast off the island of Bermuda where they remained for seven generations until the current day. Within the past few years, a fledgling Atlantea settlement is attempting to settle off the coast of Vibora Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. The proximity to the mainland and humans breaks with centuries-old traditions.
Despite this brave move to live so close to a heavily populated surface city, the soru, like the rest of the culture of Atlantea, still have an isolationist tendency. This keeps them unknown to the general human population. Those soru that have been interacting with humans, do so under the disguise of being a 'human mutant'.
Basic Information
Biological Traits
During the change induced over generations from the proximity to the orange Eisenite, those former atlanteans retained a basic humanoid physical shape. But the mutations affected them in many other ways.
Their skin became smooth, almost rubbery, allowing them more freedom of movement in the water. Skin color variation was reduced to shades of either cobalt blue or sea green. Purple, indigo, or blue-gray eyes became common, with the occasional uncommon shade of yellow. They kept their amphibious nature from their atlantean genetics as well as a dense muscle structure.
Another enhancement to their ability to move through water was a loss of body hair, though they still have humanoid facial features. Along each leg, from mid-thigh to lower calf, they evolved a multi-colored, flexible membrane they could unfold in water that aids them while swimming. These allow them to outpace even atlanteans in the water with regards to swimming speed. These adaptations are not without a downside, as the 'fin' membranes don't help them when out of the water, and they are sun-sensitive. If they are out of the water, they require the use of a strong sunscreen to protect their skin.
However, their increased strength allows them greater lifting, jumping, and running ability than the average human. But humans are far better suited to rapid changes in climate. Soru, for example, are more sensitive to rapid changes between hot and cold temperatures. Such quick alterations fatigue a soru, causing them to go short of breath for a time.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The soru have an ability that the atlantean species is just starting to develop, and that would be a touch/near-touch based telepathy. This isn't the soru's main method of communication, but a strong secondary one. They can communicate with each other and other species with little trouble using this ability. This ability is affected by sonar for reasons unknown. Strong use of sonar directed at a member of the soru species can stun them for a short time as they become overloaded from the sensory input.
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