Species Name: Delfin, Dauphin

Type: Humanoid Dolphin

Physical Traits: Delfins have excellent awareness of their surroundings thanks to keen sensory abilities.
Delfin eyesight is considered very good, with an ability to change the focal length of their eyes on demand to suit both in water and above water environments. Hearing ability is one of the Delfin's greatest assets. Delfin bones, due partially to buoyancy reasons, are filled with a thick oil that conducts sound very well. Sounds propagate through the water or air to their jaw, which then vibrates their inner ear and allows them to hear sound. Delfins can be observed orienting their jaw towards objects or pressing their body towards the source when listening closely to something. Underwater eyesight is fairly keen, as it has been adapted for that environment. The lenses of their eyes are very globular and hence convex in nature in order to reverse the negative effects of aquatic reflection.
Delfins have an advanced sonar sense called echolocation that they use to find objects in cloudy or dark conditions, as well as in loose sand. By producing a series of rapid clicks, the Delfin listens to the reflected echos and gains a mental image of the surroundings. They can tell the shape and material an object is made of, even complex abstract objects. They have also been reported discerning whether a predator has eaten recently and whether a potential mate is pregnant or not. Delfins have been proven to be capable of interpreting another Delfins sonar without being present in the same environment, as well as being able to interpret an environment through sonar without generating any sounds themselves. Sound generation is accomplished through a pair of air sacks just below their blowhole. These sacks can be squeezed and manipulated independently to create whistle and click type sounds, similar to a stretched neck of a balloon. Sound travelling from air to water has nearly 90% reflection, so Delfins have an organ at the front of their head called their melon which is filled with thick oils and fats of different densities that allow them to direct sounds from air to water with much greater efficiency. Delfins can focus sounds with their melon on a widespread or small area, which is particularly useful when used with echolocation.

Height: 6-7 feet

Weight: 50-200lbs

Abilities: Typical Delfins can dive for up to 15 minutes without respirator assistance. When swimming near the surface, Delfins breathe 2 to 6 times per minute, increasing up to 8 after a long dive or period of exertion. Unlike humans, who normally use only 12.5% of their lung capacity, Delfins almost completely empty and fill their lungs with every breath. Also, they store much more oxygen in their blood and muscle tissues than humans, which allows them to make such prolonged dives. They are able to dive down to a maximum depth of 20 metres per CON.

Mobility: Legs

Sensory Organs: Visual

Communication: Visual

Reproduction: Sexual

INT: 3D6, WIS: 3D6, STR: 3D6, DEX: 3D6, CON: 3D6, CHA: 3D6, MR: 3D6 walk/9D6 swim, HPs: CON +D8

Orbit/Climate: See Earth

Feeding Habits: Carnivore

Lifespan: 80 years

Technology: 2

Culture: Standard. Diversified mix of kind and evil people. Delfin culture is based on a belief in total equality. Everything is shared equally and each citizen is entitled to the full benefits of the society’s capabilities. They are unable to understand many concepts which seem almost absolute to humans; for example, the ideas of property and land ownership. If one Delfin has a tool that another needs, the latter simply takes the tool and returns it after use (it is customary to ask if the current holder has finished with the object first, but this is not unlike a human request to “borrow” an item). Further, the concept of land ownership is beyond them. They point out that “the sea is always in motion, so how can you claim a portion of it as yours?” In the same way, the land is in motion (although far more slowly), and similar reasoning results. These concepts can result in problems when Delfins interact with other lifeforms. Delfin have been known to take objects (such as jewellery) which appealed to them, without asking permission if the object did not seem to be currently in use. If confronted with the “theft”, they gladly admit to it and cheerfully return the object as long as they have finished “using” it. Delfins who have spent a great deal of time among other races eventually learn that this is considered improper behaviour by many others. At this point, they usually modify their behaviour and ask to use things which others seem attached to. In such cases, they see this as a game they must play in order to “fit in”. Delfins do not usually gather in large communities, but live in extended family groups of between 15 and 20 individuals. Family groups interact frequently, and it is not uncommon for two or more of them to dwell very near to one another. They simply do not have a structural society such as envisioned by humans and others.

Government: Tribal

All Delfin gain all the following free;

Night Vision - The character can see in low light with absolute clarity at a distance of 60 feet.

Sonar - The character can sense objects in total darkness including shape, distance, direction and speed while in a liquid environment. It has a radius of 10 metres per WIS, +30 metres per level radius. +4 Initiative, and +1 Attack.