Kalo Deepspeaker

ECOLOGY

Environment any aquatic
Organization solitary or delegation (1 deepspeaker and honor guard of 3–6 kalo sharkhunters)

Humans often compare kalos to bats due to the thin membranes between their arms and legs. In fact, these winglike structures are fins, allowing kalos to swoop with grace and speed through icy waters. Kalo skin has a blue-green tinge and is translucent in places.

Their bulging, glowing eyes can move and focus independently.

Highly civilized and generally peaceful, kalos were the first residents of any moon to successfully win independent recognition, and today, many of their coral-encrusted underwater vent cities feature air-filled spaces for terrestrial dignitaries and expatriates, with trading outposts studding the ocean world’s crusty shell of surface ice. While kalos primarily rely on sonar as they glide wraithlike through the dark oceans, their cities are riots of colored lights—testaments to the culture’s rich artistic tradition.

Few kalos lack an artistic or scholarly hobby, and though not overly tied to tradition, most kalos take pride in their history, giving their children and organizations names hearkening back to ancient tribal practices.

Members of military units are often given evocative names like “sharkhunters” despite their modern responsibilities. Those in traditional roles such as that of the mystical deepspeaker, who converses with—and can even command—creatures of the depths, are less necessary in the age of executives and prime ministers, yet these sages are still often sought out as arbitrators and mediators for both community and governmental disputes.

Although slower out of water, kalo warriors are renowned for their calm precision in battle, especially in zero-g and underwater, and known for using cryo weapons against enemies of other races, trusting their natural resistances to protect them from friendly fire.

The average kalo is 5-1/2 feet tall and weighs 100 pounds.

Underwater Weapons

Like residents of most water worlds, kalos create their own versions of common weapons, redesigned to function better underwater.

These weapons have the following special property and generally cost 10% more.

Underwater: A weapon with this special property that is used underwater ignores the –2 penalty to attack rolls and deals full damage.