Cecily Demici
Princess of Naboo
Name: Cetecea Galacticus (aka. Space Whales)
Designation: Semi-Sentient
Homeworld: Extra-planetary
Language: Primitive Telepathy
Average height of adults: 600 meters (length)
Skin color:
The most common of these creatures are typically midnight blue and dark purple with lighter underbellies. Their young are distinctly lighter in color, either light purple or pink. Certain races such as Core Cetecea are completely white with bright red around their eyes and lining their fins and Clouds Cetecea have achieved a form of camouflage that allows them to blend into the clouds they inhabit.
Hair color: None, hairless species.
Breathes: Vacuum breathing is achieved by this species similarly to the way it gains food. They intake gas clouds, dust, and mineral matter and using highly developed cells, sort out the necessary nutrients to sustain their life in the vacuum.
Strengths:
+Strong Connection to the Force: This species has a particularly strong connection to the Living Force which they employ to navigate the vacuum of space. They use the force as an almost sonar-like function which helps them to avoid collision with larger ships, planets and other celestial objects similar to or greater than them in size. Their Force Sight is less accurate with objects smaller than themselves. Similarly, they can 'see' people and objects with better the stronger their connection to the Force. In this way they also use the Force as a means of identifying members of their species.
+Thick Skin: While this species attempts to avoid large celestial bodies through its Force sensitivity, they frequently come in close quarters with small asteroids. As a result their hide is incredibly thick, similar to durasteel.
+Extra-Galactic Breaching: The Outer Cetecea have been known to breach outside of the galactic spiral for great distances. This behavior has been observed when these creatures feel threatened or pursued, but also as a form of play. It is unknown how far outside of the galaxy they can travel.
+Insulation: All Cetecea are insulated with an incredibly dense blubber that makes them resistant to the drastically cold temperatures encountered in the vast vacuum of space. This insulation also allows brief exposure to intense heat, though Cetecea only brave this heat long enough to pass between the shadows of large stellar objects.
+ High Speed: Owing to their need to stay in the shadows of stellar objects, Cetecea are able to keep pace with the orbiting planets and drifting asteroids with relative ease. This sets their top speeds at about 140,000km/h.
Weaknesses:
-Naive: This species rarely encounters, but due to the lack of natural predators is generally trusting of other life forms. If an individual is particularly strong in the Force, this species may even misidentify it as a member of their own species and develop an attachment.
-Mostly Blind: Due to the relative absence of light in the vacuum of space, these creatures are almost entirely blind and rely on the Force to detect other objects and life forms. As a result, species and objects resistant to the Force such as the Vong would be invisible to them. They are also hyper sensitive to the light given off by suns, adding to their need to dwell in the shadows of large stellar objects.
-Heat Sensitivity: All Cetecea have a weakness to the extreme heat in space. While the Cloud Cetecea remain hidden in the interstellar dust clouds and the Outer Cetecea inhabit some of the coldest places in the galaxy, the Core Cetecea seek out and dwell in the shadows of planets, large asteroids, and other stellar objects.
-No Brakes: Due to their massive size and their method of maneuvering through space, it is incredibly difficult for Cetecea to come to a stop without significant warning. This is another reason why Cetecea are known to shift small objects using the Force. If an object too large to manipulate through the Force appears suddenly in their path, Cetecea will either veer sharply out of the way or in rare circumstances will ram the object head on, usually causing significant damage to both.
Distinctions:
Cetecea are massive in size with huge gaping mouths that open to almost half the size of their body which allows them to intake massive amounts of mineral matter necessary to sustain life in the vacuum. These creatures also have many large fins which they use to excrete the gases which propel them through space. These fins include two large pectoral fins, two anal fins of equal size, both sets have pores that put out the gas that moves them through space; and one extremely large caudal fin used primarily for steering.
On either side of their mouth are large whisker like protrusions that help them ‘see’ through the Force.
In Pod based Cetecea such as the Outer and modern Core Cetecea, the group is led by a matriarch. When a pod selects a matriarch, typically the eldest female, she never leaves her place as head of the pod and receives the largest portion of sustenance. As a result, they will grow to be slightly larger than the rest of the pod members.
Average Lifespan: 3000-4000 years
Races:
-Core Cetecea: An incredibly rare species of Cetecea Galacticus due to widespread trophy hunting, Core Cetecea are completely white in color except for bright reddish pink marking around their eyes and fins.They tend to be more solitary than their outer cousins, typically only traveling with their young and only coming together for mating. An estimated 20 Core Cetecea survive and have adapted to live in a pod similarly to their Outer cousins. 12 females are guided by Galactic University Preservation Officers while the additional 8 males are monitored individually by their own team of Preservationists in predetermined protected territories.
-Cloud Cetecea: The most solitary of the Cetecea. Unlike their relatives, who frequent interstellar dust clouds for precious nutrients, these cetecea reside exclusively inside the clouds, leaving only to mate. Highly aggressive, they fiercely defend the clouds which makes up their territory from outside intruders. Their coloration is determined by a highly advanced form of camouflage which is dependent upon the chemical makeup of the cloud in which they reside.
-Outer Cetecea: The most common cetecea, they reside exclusively along the rim of the galactic spiral and appear a midnight blue color. They are the most abundant and most social of the species, traveling in large school-like pods of mothers and calves, typically led by an ancient matriarch. The matriarch grows slightly larger than her pod mates and becomes much stronger in the Force due to her maintenance of their telepathic bond. Males are pushed out of the pods when they reach adulthood and travel alone until mating season.
Estimated Population: 3000-4000 total
Diet:
The Cetecea absorb solar radiation through special, highly developed cells located in their fin-like protrusions. This energy is then converted into chemical energy which not only keeps them alive but when processed inside various internal organs becomes a gas which is discharged through pores located around the creature's body; allowing it to maneuver in the vacuum of space.
Communication: It is believed they utilize a primitive form of telepathy.
Pod based Cetecea rely on their matriarch to establish this connection and she is the primary source of communication for the group.
Culture: The Cetecea Galacticus have no distinctive culture.
Technology level: The Cetecea Galacticus have no understanding of technology.
General behavior:
The vast majority of the species (the Outer Cetecea) are social creatures who travel in large family-like pods of mothers and calves. Males of this type generally travel alone until mating season when genders converge. Rearing for this species is an incredibly long process with babies not reaching maturity until almost 100 years of age. During this time, the mother and her calf (or calves as they sometimes produce two) are inseparable as the calf is very small and requires protection. As a result, mating seasons occur only once every century or so.
The pod based Cetecea are heavily reliant on their matriarch who decides where the pod goes, directs the efforts of the pod to navigate space, and maintains their telepathic bond. They are also responsible for initiating the mating seasons by guiding the pod to the mating grounds. The matriarch is highly protective of her daughters and sisters and thus is generally the most aggressive. Her constant exercise of the Force also gives her greater sensitivity to it.
While the Outer Cetecea are typically docile and at best treat outsiders with cautious curiosity, their Core and Cloud relatives are generally much more aggressive with the latter frequently attacking small ships out of boredom or for amusement. While none of the species are carnivorous in nature, the Cloud Cetecea are believed to consume smaller ships and it is not impossible for unwary space travelers to wind up inhaled if they stray too close to feeding Cetecea. It is unknown what sort of nutritional benefit, if any, may come from this.
All Cetecea are capable of harnessing the Force in more active ways than just sight. Given their incredibly large size, their ability to 'make waves' in the Force is exponentially greater than smaller force sensitive creatures. This gives them the ability to shift large stellar objects such as small ships, larger asteroids and other similarly sized objects out of their way. This ability developed along with their Force Sight due to their poor vision. While the Cetecea would be able to see military cruisers, planets, and moons at great distances, objects smaller than them such as the larger asteroids would be nearly impossible for them to see until it was too late to alter their course. Without the ability to shift these objects through the Force, space travel would be very difficult for them.
Generally, the Outer Cetecea will work together with their podmates in clearing paths under the direction of the matriarch. Fully mature members of the pod will rotate positions flanking the matriarch to assist with the task of moving objects when the need arises to prevent exhaustion. While the Core Cetecea are closely guarded by Preservationists who typically clear paths for them, they have adopted a similar pod behavior. Cloud Cetecea rarely encounter large foreign objects in their clouds but they, like the solo males of all species, must be careful not to over exert themselves or risk becoming exhausted. For a lone Cetecea, shifting larger objects drains their energy very quickly and if used too frequently or attempted on anything too big they will require a period of rest before attempting it again. When this happens they will move closer to the objects they live behind and slow significantly to go through a sort of sleep period lasting for any number of days.
Note: Relative to their size, their mastery of the force is about the same as a standard force sensitive initiate.
History:
Cetecea Galacticus exist in legends as old as space travel itself with ancient space faring civilizations (specifically those in the core) pursuing these massive creatures on epic hunts that spanned the galaxy. Unfortunately, this led to the very rapid decline of what is now known as the Core Cetecea until they became a thing of legend.
It wasn’t until late in the development of more advanced space travel that the more abundant Outer Cetecea were discovered and while they too have faced the threat of hunters, they have largely been preserved by their willingness to breach the boundaries of the known galaxy in order to defend themselves.
Stories of old and even recent tales of encounters with these mighty giants have varied from epic struggles against their bloodthirsty pursuit, to more benevolent encounters. They are revered by many orders of Force users as they have what is believed to be one of the strongest connections to the Living Force ever observed. It is said that their very behaviors are governed by the ever changing tide of balance that governs the Force.
In recent years, as the hunting of this species has again become a frequent occurrence, several benevolent orders such as the Galactic Republic have taken measures to protect them. The 20 remaining Core Cetecea live under the strict protection and observation of the Galactic Republic University and recent efforts to repopulate them have proven successful.
Notable Player-Characters: N/A
Intent: To provide a new and unique species for the SWRP universe. This will also provide players with trophy game to pursue.
Co-subbed by My Beloved [member="Anja Aj'Rou"]
