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Starport: 7/Class C

Government: Rating 10

Factions: 2

First faction: rating 8, Hereditary Oligarchy

Second faction: rating 8, Captive government (Imperial colony)

Law level: 10

TL: 13

Ecological Stock: Carnivore/Chaser

Gender: 2 genders

Reproduction: Live-bearing

Size: Large

Locomotion: Swimmer/legs

Symmetry: Bilateral Symmetry, 3 pairs of limbs

Limbs: 1 pair locomotion (fin/feet combination,) 2 pair manipulators (1 pair humanoid arms/hands, 1 pair tentacles.)

Speed: Fast (12 m on land, 18m in water)

Ability scores: Str 3d6+1 Dex 1d6+1 End 3d6 Edu 2d6+1 Soc 2d6+1 Int 2d6

Starting age: 18

Base height: 245cm + 4d6x5

Base weight: 260kg + 4d6x5

Alien traits:

Atmospheric requirement

Heat endurance

Fire resistance

Cold vulnerability

Aquatic

Amphibious

Natural swimmer

Multiple limbs

Natural armor

Natural weapons: claw/bite

Darkvision

Low-light vision

Acute hearing

Scent

The Mutane evolved to be the dominant species on the planet Ruwa’duniya, a water world situated on the Imperial border with the Skein Reach, which has only a handful of scattered islands on its surface.  Imperial xenobiologists theorize that the Mutane were uplifted by the ancients and given self-awareness hundreds of millennia ago from aquatic mammals like Terran dolphins or orcas.  Unlike the Terran cetaceans, the Mutane had evolved with legs that allowed them to move about on the islands that dotted the planet, and two sets of limbs that allowed fine manipulation of tools.

Already being the apex predators worldwide, the uplift led to the Mutane dominating all aspects of the environment on Ruwa’duniya.  Over time, tribes formed and the Mutane developed an oligarchic government. Several hundred years ago, Imperial scouts discovered Ruwa’duniya and the mineral deposits hidden beneath the ocean, leading to an attempt at conquering the world.

While the Empire managed to subjugate and win over part of the Mutane population, the others maintained their traditional government and began a long, quiet war against the Empire and their fellows who had accepted imperial rule. The rebel oligarchic Mutane often will venture off-planet, particularly if they are from a family near the bottom of the society, these sojourns usually last a few years at a time, although some Mutane have left their home for good.  The rebels also send envoys to the Federation and the more powerful operators in the Skein Reach, looking for help with removing the empire from their world.

Those who swear allegiance to the Emperor are valued as shock troops, both in zero-g and in operations on other worlds with large amounts of water. The Mutane tendency to have psi-talent also led to recruitment into the Emporor’s cult of psions (called the S’ith in guarded whispers).

The Mutane are clearly aquatic, with heavy bullet-like torsos and thick legs and arms ending in webbed hands and feet that sport short, sharp claws.  They tend to have very short, thick necks and wedge-shaped heads.

Mutane have large eyes that have very little white and no pupil, and a vast variety of iris colors that change for many different reasons. Close medical examination of Mutane eyes has revealed that the irises actually contain many different pupils that adjust in size to control light reception, they also have multiple lenses that allow very acute sight both above and under water.

The eyes are located on either side of a stout bony ridge that supports a head fin, as well as what Imperial xenobiologists refer to as a “snorkel” that allows the Mutane to breathe without completely surfacing.

Circling the neck and coming up over the back of the skull are a series of vents that serve as combined auditory and olfactory receptors, providing them with exceptional senses of smell and hearing.

All the openings on the head are protected by extraordinarily tough nictitating membranes that resist the corrosive atmosphere of the planet.

As striking as the other features of the head are, the mouth tends to draw the most attention.  Nearly invisible when closed, when a Mutane opens its mouth it appears to replace the rest of the face with a toothy abyss.  The shape of the mouth makes it difficult for Mutane to vocalize at all, and actual language is out of the question.

Mutane communicate amongst themselves with a complex sign language, for communication with other species they often use a “speech box” that is tied to their nervous system and language centers.  Mutane also often develop basic telepathy which allows communication without issue underwater as well as with other species.

The entire body of the Mutane is covered in tough hide that is ridged and furrowed all over, lending a great deal of hydrodynamic advantage.  The skin ranges in color from green and blue to black.  Some Mutane have iridescent patches of skin, a feature that is prized among members of the rebel oligarchs.