Planet of Mystery: The Ul-Mor

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adapted by R. Kevin Smoot

Characteristics
Average Size 1.75 meters (body .75 meters, 4 muscular tentacles 1 meter each, 4 grasping tentacles, 1 meter length each)
Average Mass 70 kg (very densely muscled)
Average Lifespan 150 years
Reproductive System heterosexual, ovoviviparous
Body Temperature 38 degrees Celsius
Ability Scores
STR/STA -5
DEX/RS +5
INT/LOG +5
PER/LDR -5
Author’s Note: These abilities have been extrapolated from stat blocks contained in the module SF0. Those stat blocks include level 2 in melee and thrown weapon skill. The module SF2 (on p.30) has stat blocks that include substantial bonuses to INT/LOG (+15) & PER/LDR (+5 net), but I cannot seem to understand any basis for the adjustments based upon any text description, so I made a judgment call to moderate the adjustments to what I have listed and attribute the SF2 module stats as assumed XP based increases for those warriors. If you see errors in my interpretation, please feel free to adjust as necessary.
Movement
Walking 5 meters per turn
Running 20 meters per turn
Hourly 3 kilometers/hour
Special Abilities
Mind Link Superior communication can be established with willing participants
Multiple Appendages Up to four tools or weapons may be used
Ul-Mor Sign Language Automatic extra language skill.

Author’s Introduction: The following race description assumes that the events of ‘The Volturnus Adventure’ were successfully resolved, and some several years have since past. In addition to the Mechanon expansion into space, other races of Volturnus have also ventured out. The Eorna were prodigious genetic manipulators and have successfully molded a few races worthy to travel the stars. Much of this race is taken from existing material (SF0, SF1, SF2)


In terms of frontier history, the nomadic race of cephalopods called Ul-Mor has only recently begun traveling through space. Since their discovery on the planet Volturnus of the Zebulon star system, the Ul-Mor have spread out and now small communities of the species can be found on many systems, especially on the multi-cultural core worlds.

Contents

Physical Structure

Ul-Mor resemble octopi adapted to life on land. Like octopi, the Ul-Mor have eight large limbs. Each limb ends in five small tentacles useful for grasping and manipulation. They walk on the four largest and more muscular limbs, using the other four more dexterous limbs to hold weapons or tools. Despite all the limbs, Ul-Mor are not especially fast movers, in the past having made up for this by riding mounts of various types.

The Ul-Mor also have a ninth limb, a tentacle about 30 centimeters long. This tentacle is an extension of their central nervous system. The end contains a hard cartilaginous point encasing a series of nerve endings. The Ul-Mor can insert the tip of this tentacle into the fatty tissue surrounding the spinal cord of other creatures, achieving a nerve link that allows them to communicate directly with the creature’s mind. The Ul-Mor use this tentacle so effectively that they can achieve a direct mind link with nearly any being.

Despite their obvious origins, Ul-Mor are no longer adapted for the water and cannot swim any better or longer than most other frontier races. Ul-Mor must breathe air, so breathing apparatus must be used for any underwater escapades. There are unsubstantiated rumors of a Volturnian race similar to Ul-Mor who are still completely water-dwelling.

Senses

The Ul-Mor senses of sight and touch are the most developed. Cephalopod eyes are quite advanced, seeing full color ranges and well-defined senses of depth and distance. Their sight is also quite adapted to bright light as well as dim areas with little light.

The sense of touch is remarkable in Ul-Mor. Their entire skin surface is covered in receptor nerves, and even more so in their dexterous limbs. The degree of nerve control by Ul-Mor allows them to utilize all four manipulating limbs simultaneously without any hint of handedness (see racial abilities below).

Speech

The Ul-Mor can achieve verbal speech by muscular control over air forced through their respiratory system. The process of verbal speech is difficult and tiring for them. As a race, the Ul-Mor do not have a complex spoken language, since they communicate with each other using mind-link. Ul-Mor prefer their mind-link, but they often understand the spoken word of several languages. Their mind-link ability aids them in the learning process, helping them in understand terms and overall comprehension. In addition to this mind-link communication method, they have developed a sign language used in situations where mind-link proves impractical.

The Ul-Mor sign language has been simplified and adapted over the years to allow the more numerous core races to be able to learn. Because of the ease of expression, Ul-Mor Sign language has replaced the PanSLan (Pan-Galactic Sign Language) standard, as the language of choice for hearing and speech impaired individuals and other species that have difficulty with spoken language.

Society and Customs

The Ul-Mor were formerly pastoral nomads inhabiting the deserts and rocky barrens of Volturnus, herding indigenous herds of creatures. Unknown to them at the time, the Ul-Mor were being genetically engineered by the Eorna race of Volturnus to eventually fight against the Sathar threat. Eventually as the Ul-Mor accepted the truth of their past, they embraced the other cultures of the frontier.

Much of the current Ul-Mor culture is still based on their religion, albeit that religion has had to adapt and change to reflect certain realities that were previously unknown to the Ul-Mor. The Ul-Mor still believe in a concept of ‘Universality of Mind,’ a deity-like concept that encompasses all things. Eventually all will become one with the One. Special Ul-Mor historians called Remembers, record those who have joined the One, forming long genealogies. With new technologies available to the Remembers, they have begun to add detailed genetic information to these histories, and the Remembers are quickly becoming a new kind of Geneticist-Priest type of occupation, with the respect of even the most devoted Vrusk scientists.

The basic social unit of the Ul-Mor is the ‘clutch,’ a kind of multi-partner marriage unit consisting of several Ul-Mor that have all found each other compatible. Formerly the males of the clutch worked as herders, hunters, and protectors, while the females maintained the home and incubated the clutch’s eggs. Modern frontier attitudes have blurred these distinctions and now males and females have each expanded their roles into many new areas.

Since the Ul-Mor do not control any major world or population center, their former legal system has since disappeared. They still tend to follow laws to the letter, and tend not to understand legal ‘gray areas’ common in the frontier legal systems of various worlds.

Though the Ul-Mor are basically communal beings amongst themselves, they maintain distinct senses of individualism. Gone are the primitive headdresses of feathers and beads, but tattooing has flourished and become a primary outlet for displaying their individual tastes. Ul-Mor have also taken to fashion, especially forms of jewelry, to display how affluent they are.

Attitudes

The Ul-Mor have taken a liking to most of the frontier races, seeing each new being as part of the One, and therefore worthy of respect and understanding.

Of all the frontier races, the more civic-minded Vrusk are the most appreciated by Ul-Mor. Several communities of Ul-Mor have formally been incorporated into Vrusk Mega- Corporations, and both have benefited greatly from the ‘mergers.’

Ul-Mor are rather equally disposed to the other races, although this is sometimes not reciprocated. Many are disturbed by the Ul-Mor preferred communication method. The Ul-Mor do hate the Sathar passionately, which is probably a genetically built-in mechanism that the Eorna race left in the Ul-Mor DNA. Even with the Remembers’ genetic knowledge, no attempts to isolate and remove this genetic code have been recorded.

Ul-Mor have also taken to law enforcement careers. Mercilessly following the letter of the law has been a trademark of the Ul-Mor lawmen and criminals know there will be no negotiating when confronted by one.

Special Abilities

Mind Link

Ul-Mor can create a mind-link with another willing creature to allow for full communication. This communication method is generally superior to normal modes of conversation, as emotional content and advanced thinking processes that go beyond typical vocabulary can be conveyed. The result is like having the equivalent of level 8 in language skill (level 6 is normal maximum), or 120% comprehension. Occasionally a particular alien species’ nervous system is incompatible with Ul-Mor physiology and a link cannot be established, however all the major frontier races may be linked.

This Mind Link ability has another substantial benefit. Ul- Mor take to hypno-training quite well, being able to learn new skills in half the time and half the cost using this teaching method. In particular, when learning languages, Ul-Mor need only spend 2 experience points per level of fluency instead of the 3 point normally required.

Multiple Appendages

All Ul-Mor can use their four dexterous limbs equally well, and players with Ul-Mor characters do not need to choose handedness (like Vrusk). Because of their advanced nervous system Ul-Mor can utilize 4 small tools or weapons simultaneously, giving them up to 4 attacks per turn.

Attacking with 2 melee weapons has no penalty. Attacking with 3 melee attacks incurs a –10% penalty to each attack, and 4 melee attacks the penalty is –20% to each attack.

This ability does not translate to ranged-weapons equally. Ul-Mor using more than one ranged weapon does not remove the penalty for multiple weapons, although the handedness penalty does not apply. For two weapons the penalty is –10% for each attack, for three the penalty is – 20% for each attack, and for four ranged weapons the penalty is –30% to each attack. An individual cannot take careful aim with multiple ranged-weapons, ever.

Most often, Ul-Mor hold two melee weapons, and one light ranged weapon, and keep one hand free, attacking either ranged or melee as appropriate without penalty. Alternatively they hold two melee weapons and one rifle weapon.

Ul-Mor Sign Language

Ul-Mor sign language is an expressive signing language that can be easily taught to others. In addition to the standard starting languages, Ul- Mor begin play with Level 6 skill in the language when they begin their careers.