Species: Balian
Physiology:
Overall, an adult Balian resembles a rough cross between an octopus and a squid, only grown to very large proportions. Measuring at roughly four feet in length, five including the crest, and weighing only about 200 pounds. Unlike many land-based animals, a Balian's head and body are one and the same. The main body measures roughly three feet across.
Balians possess no 'face' as such, but do have one recognizable feature: eyes. They eyes are easily a half-foot wide, bulging from the sides of the body in forward-facing sockets. The milky-white orbs are broken only by the vertically oriented pupil, and protected by large, sideways closing eyelids. Set just behind and below the eyes are two openings, resembling blunt, fleshy tubes; a third of these openings is situated on the back of the body. The top of the body is crowned with a flexible, sponge-like, foot-long 'crest' shaped roughly like a shark's dorsal fin.
The bottom of the body spreads out into six, tri-laterally symmetric tentacles. Each measuring roughly three inches thick and three feet long. The end of each tentacle branches out into two secondary tentacles, measuring an inch thick and one foot long. These secondaries then branch out into two tertiary tentacles measuring half an inch thick and also a foot long. Finally, the tertiary tentacles again branch into two tiny 'feeler' tentacles, measuring five inches long and only a fraction of an inch thick. Spreading out from the body and between the primary tentacles is a thin 'hood' made of flexible skin. Roughly a foot in length, this hood aids underwater locomotion.
Owing to their aquatic natures, Balians have adapted to an unusual method of locomotion. The two fleshy tubes behind their eyes are intake valves for a complex 'water-jet' system inside their bodies. Water is drawn through these intakes into specialized bladders inside the body, then squeezed out under great pressure through tubes that run through the primary tentacles, and exit in outflow vents roughly midway down the primaries.
The three intakes and bladders can all pump at the same time, or alternate to provide constant flow. By adjusting the angle of the primary tentacles, a Balian can change their heading even at speed, with their crest stiffening and acting as a rudder as well.
Balians breathe oxygenated water through gills, which are situated inside the water-jet's bladders. Balians are capable of limited amphibious activity by storing water in their bladders, then percolating air through the water to re-oxygenate the liquid. In this manner a Balian may survive out of water for several days if necessary, or indefinately if they can draw additional water into their bodies.
A Balian's skin retains moisture for several hours, but afterwards dries out and cracks. When hydrated, the skin has a damp, slick texture, but does not feel slimy. Normally the skin is smooth in texture, but the entire surface is impregnated with chromatophores - color expressing nodules, and texturaphores - texture producing muscle fibres. These are both under concious control, and a Balian can change their skin's color, pattern, and surface texture at will.
Abilties:
Owing to their water-jet syphons, Balians are extremely fast and agile when underwater, and prefer this environment whenever possible. They can crawl at a slow pace on land, but are pitifully clumsy and dislike the experience. When forced to travel out of the water, they traditionally employ a grav-harness which lets them 'swim' through the air, albeit at a much slower rate than underwater, as their water-jets cannot handle air very well.
Balians have absolutely no magical ability whatsoever, and while their bodies *do* produce thaumic energies, their minds are incapable of shaping this energy to perform magic. As a species, Balians also have a rather low instance of Psionic ability, with the most common being telekinetic powers, usually with a water affinity.
A Balian's sense of sight is adapted for underwater vision, and when in that environment they can see clearly for miles. Above water, their vision is distorted and blurred, limiting clear sight to a hundred feet or less.
The sense of smell is exceptional when underwater, with specialized receptors designed to 'smell' blood for miles, like a shark. Other chemicals can also be smelled in very minute amounts, and tracked underwater. When on the surface, their sense of smell is dulled to roughly human level, as air has a poor circulation for particulate compared to water.
A Balian's skin is quite sensative, able to discern very minute details on a surface. This is required for their form of texture-based writing.
Balians possess no organs for the senses of taste or hearing, however the tips of their tertiary tentacles possess specialized touch receptors which are sensative enough to pick up vibrations when underwater. This can be interpreted as hearing of sorts, though the ability is voluntary and the Balian must concentrate to discern anything useful.
Finally, Balians also possess receptors able to sense and locate electrical currents when underwater, not unlike sharks, and use this ability when hunting.
Balians communicate using their chromatophores and texturaphores, so to them, speaking *is* reading. If a Balian can 'speak' an alien language, the Balian is actually producing textual symbols on it's skin surface.
They generally use zero gravity in space, and are all excellent at maneuvering in that condition. They are instinctively good at thinking 3 dimensionally, and do not need any arbitrary orientation to be comfortable.
Society:
Balian phyles, equivalent to a House or Clan, are the species' method of specialization, and each phyle has a particular specialization. The phyle develops and promotes the phyle members, pushing for phyle inclusion in any particular venture. There are thousands of Balian phyla, and they compete with similar phyla for employment. The head of the phyle is the oldest member, with the next ten oldest making up an advisory council.
Balians government is entirely ad-hoc, consisting of phyla agreeing to cooperate to further a joint endeavor. Sometimes, long-lasting alliances are built up in this way, but phyla are inherently competitive, and most cooperations are short-lived marriages of convenience. Art is essentially propaganda, designed to intimidate other phyla into submission or cooperation. Balians make no music, but subtle scent and taste markers are embedded into thier art to boost the reality of the experience.
Each phyle has it's own religion, known as the "Phylic Mysteries". Balians are very close mouthed about their mysteries, saying nothing on the subject, but what follows is consistent with all that is known about the species. The many, many religions of the Balians all apparently spring from one particular concept, the sacrifice of one for the advancement of the pair, the phyle, or the species. Since all sentient Balians are sexless, there is no biological drive for family. No one know which particular triad gave birth to which particular Balians. The phyle is all the family a Balian knows, and Balian philosophy is entirely one of ruthless altruism. Those who sacrificed themselves to advance the phyle or species are venerated as saints or demigods, depending on the religion. Their lives are taught as examples of rightness, and the highest praise is given to those who imitate their lives.
The Balians are Hunters - total carnivores who never eat vegetation except for medicinal purposes. They eat their food raw, and do not consider non-Balian sapients as non-food. They divide all animals into 3 types: Balians, Prey-which-Can-Safely-Be-Eaten, and Prey-Which-Cannot-Safely-Be-Eaten. The last category includes poisonous species and creatures able to defend themselves. A human with a powerful weapon maight be in the latter category, while one without ammuntion might be in the second. Balians are very intelligent, and if there is a strong possiblility they will be harmed, they will not attack, but if they think they can get away with it, all bets are off.
Balians are fast and voracious predators. Any non-Balian animal is considered fit for food, including other sentients. Their water-jet siphons push them at extreme speeds underwater, and they are known to fly up out of the water for minutes at a time in pursuit of prey. Balians get a visceral thrill from the hunt, and will hunt prey they cannot eat for the pleasure of the chase. Balians do raise food animals for consumption for those times when they cannot break from their duties to hunt, but all far prefer hunting to eating food animals.
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