Aquarians

AQUARIANS by Reagren Wright

Between TMC Charters and Titrana Quadrant lies the giant gas planet Jusmora (30% bigger than the planet Jupiter). One of its twenty moons is Aquarus, which is about the same size as planet Earth. The moon is made of silicate rock and has a water-ice crust, as hard as granite that is 8-12 miles (12.8-3.65 m) thick. Beneath this ice is a warm salt-water ocean about 60 miles deep (96 km). This makes the moon an Aquatic/Twilight world. Life thrives in the under-ice ocean in an alien ecosystem as large and diverse as the ecosystem on Earth’s surface. The ultimate life form would be the Aquarians, human looking with smooth blue skin, no body hair, and jet black eyes. Aquarians are a Megalopolis Age society with advanced computers, robotics, and weapons. Having mastered chemical experiments and genetic engineering 300 years ago, and subjected their infants and children to mandatory augmentation have enabled the Aquarians to turn themselves into a super being race. Aquarians are regarded as friends to all aquatic life, even against the giant octopus, squids, sharks, and eels.
Twenty years ago, the Aquarians successfully punctured through the crust to explore the planet surface. With temperature averaging -260 degrees F (-160 degrees C) at the equator, there is nothing on the moon surface nevertheless scientists and explorers are eager to see what lies on the surface. Presently they lack space travel capabilities, but upon seeing their giant planet and the glowing object confirmed to be a star, they are eager to develop technology that will allow them to explore the solar system. First contract between Aquarians and half a dozen space-fearing races has occurred in the last twenty years, with none of them offering any technology or trade, but they’ve been willing to transport ambassador throughout the galaxy.
Unfortunately, there is a small, but growing movement of radicals demanding all efforts to explore beyond the ice or else the “light” will cause certain disaster. Light is seen as an ever-growing danger and those who support exposure to light must be convinced of its danger or they will have to be killed in order to protect the Aquarian way of life. Likewise anyone coming from the light (aliens) is considered a threat and no matter what anyone else thinks, the Protectors of the Dark.

Alignment: Any, but the vast majority are anarchist or aberrant

Attributes: I.Q. 3D6, M.E. 3D6, M.A. 3D6, P.S. 3D6+4, P.P. 3D6, P.E. 3D6, P.B. 3D6+6, Spd. 2D6, Swimming speed is Spd x8).

Hit Points: P.E. attribute plus 1D6 per level of experience.

S.D.C.: 30+3D6. Additional S.D.C. can be gained by selecting physical skills.

P.P.E.: 1D6

Appearance: Human looking, blue skin, webbed hands and feet, no body hair, and sharp teeth.

Age: 100 years, Height: 6½ feet (1.82 m), Weight: 200 lbs (90 kg).

O.C.C.s: Any, but instead of Spacecraft Pilot or Engineer, its Submersible Pilot or Engineer.

Natural Abilities: Nightvision 600 feet (183 m). Can see in total darkness. Natural Swimming Ability 100%. Breathe underwater indefinitely. Depth tolerance unlimited. Speak underwater.

Vulnerability: Aquarians cannot breath in an atmosphere for more than 20 minutes and even then their breathing is labored (reduce sped by 1/3, -2 on initiative, -1 attack per melee, -2 to dodge or roll with punch and -6 to save vs. gas attacks, including smoke and dust). Blinded by an light greater than 840 lumens (60 watts), must wear protective photo-sensitive visors or goggles to see in daylight or blinding flashes (-8 to strike, parry, and dodge).

Minor Super Abilities: Beastmaster, Animal Brother, Ultra-Hearing, and Impervious to Pressure (suffers only half penalties from high/heavy gravity) and Oceanic Depths. All Super Abilities are natural abilities native to all Aquarians.

Attacks per Melee: Depends if the Aquarian selects a hand-to-hand combat styles. Additional attacks can be acquired from additional levels of education and/or training.

Combat Bonuses: +2 to initiative and +3 to dodge underwater. These are in addition to possible bonuses from other attributes, skills, and Hand-to-Hand bonuses.

Combat Skills: Depends upon hand-to-hand combat.

Language: Read-Write/Speak Aquarian Language

Special Weapons: Sonic Weapons, increased the range and damage of all weapon by 20%.

Preferred Armor: None, although they have the technological capabilities of building power armor.

Special Equipment & Vehicles: Submersibles (equivalent to all hover and space vehicles on page 198- 203).

Familiarity with Earth: Aquarians have no familiarity or interests in the planet Earth. However, wandering adventurers and freelance operatives might have a different outlook.

Phase World® Setting: Aquarians are S.D.C. beings in a Mega-Damage setting. All of their sonic weapons do M.D.C damage, but half the M.D.C. damage will penetrate M.D.C vehicles and power (body) armor, and hit and hurt the person inside, although the damage is converted into S.D.C. This means a Sonic Blast Pistol would 2D6+2 M.D.C., but half the damage will carry through the armor and inflict S.D.C./Hit Point damage to the person inside.