Octarians

== Description ==
The Octarians are a race of octopus creatures ruled by DJ Octavio. They reside in Octo Valley and Octo Canyon and are responsible for stealing Zapfish and the Great Zapfish from Inkopolis. Their main ink color is purple or magenta. At one point the Octarians were a neutral species coexisting with Inklings, but this ended as a result of conflicting interests of territory that lead to the beginning of the Great Turf War, in which the Octarians lost.
Unlike Inklings, the species includes a great number of sub-species that act differently from each other (ie: Octolings). Like Inklings, certain Octarians can switch between mollusk form and humanoid form at will (ie: Elite Octolings).
== Background ==
Octarians are an animal species which evolved from octopuses after the start of the Mollusc Era. Like Inklings, Octarians are ink-based creatures and are implied to not be able to live underwater due to their historical fight with Inklings over the remaining land. Before that, they used to have a friendly relationship with the Inklings but rising sea levels caused the two species to engage in a war called the Great Turf War. The war took place 100 years before the events of Splatoon, where the Inklings emerged victorious, which forced the Octarians to retreat and live in underground domes located in Octo Valley and Octo Canyon. While the length of the battle is unknown, it is revealed that it at least lasted over a year based on the date of a photo taken during the war.
During the war, the Octarians used technology such as the Great Octoweapons, which seemed to be more advanced than the Inklings, who were depicted as using Bamboozlers. The Sunken Scrolls state that the Octarians were winning the war, but lost momentum due to the Great Octoweapons being turned off by being removed from their plug. Another Sunken Scroll states that it was the Inklings' superior number of limbs that led them to victory. It is unknown whether either of these statements could be propaganda by one or the other faction.
The Inklings had a fighting force called the Squidbeak Splatoon which was led by Cap'n Craig Cuttlefish. While the Squidbeak Splatoon ceased to be, Cuttlefish continued looking out for the Octarians after their defeat, where he has a cabin in Octo Valley and Octo Canyon as a lookout.
== Culture ==
Octarians are frequently described as diligent, serious-minded, and loyal to their leader. Even defected Octolings such as Agent 8 still seem to respect DJ Octavio, based on a Mem Cake. Marina also has a sticker of the text from DJ Octavio’s album art on her laptop as seen in the Octo Expansion.
It appears that Octarians are a part of the army at an early age as revealed by documents on Marina, where she started elementary training at the age of 6 and designed weapons when she was 10. It is also suggested that Agent 8 is around 16 years old at the time, and that Agent 8 was present when the Squid Sisters played Calamari Inkantation two years prior, meaning they were 14 while they were a part of the military.
=== Technology ===
The Octarian society features a lot of machinery, which is also present in their military. Octarians are skilled with technology and machinery, where inventions such as floating platforms are staple examples of Octarian technology as revealed by Cap'n Cuttlefish. It is mentioned in the first art book that they tend to hoard a lot as to not let anything go to waste, using ancient artifacts left from the humans of the past era into their current technology, and are described to make them more efficient. Defected Octarians still seem to have an affinity with technology, where Marina still likes to develop machines and weapons as her hobby, and Agent 8 appreciates Sheldon's technical talk. The Octolings who live in Inkopolis also inspect weapons more carefully than Inklings when trying them out in Ammo Knights.
Octarians are said to make trade deals with the Salmonids, where they trade their technology for Power Eggs, which are described as a form of energy source. This may explain why Power Eggs are present in the domes and why Octarians drop Power Eggs when defeated.
Like Inklings, Octarians are seen using a mixture of conventional weapons, such as gatling guns, snipers and missiles, while also using weapons inspired by regular appliances such as bowling balls, stamps and showers. Octolings also use weapons which have an Inkling equivalent. In the Octo Expansion, Sanitized Octolings can use the same special weapons as Inklings.
=== Gear ===
Octarians wear uniforms or a standard set of clothes, which carry a general theme of having a black color and metal elements. The Octarians resembling tentacles usually only wear black boots with some peripherals relating to their attack methods, such as Octodivers wearing snorkels and Octocopters wearing propeller helmets. Octolings wear black, tight clothing exposing their midriff, black boots, metal plating and belts. Every Octoling in the army also wear goggles or shades which covers their eyes.
During the course of Splatoon 2 the outfit worn by the Octolings underwent a change, as well as certain Octarians having a different look for their gear and machines. It is unknown whether this is related to the difference in location between Octo Valley and Octo Canyon, or if they updated their look over time. However, in the past, Marina is seen wearing the old Octoling gear even though she is stated to have worked in Slimeskin Garrison in Octo Canyon. The new Octoling gear also uses the term “Neo” in their name, which implies that the gear is the new standard uniform and not dependent location.
=== Music ===
Octarians seem to like music, as their leader is a DJ and the society has a band, Turquoise October, which plays music in each dome. The final Great Octo Weapon against Inklings also has music integrated in its design by featuring turntables and speakers that plays DJ Octavio’s music. Octarians were also invited to spectate both final battles, which were perceived as “concerts” according to the Sunken Scrolls. DJ Octavio also kidnapped Callie and had her work as a singer in the final battle in Splatoon 2. Her vocals can also be heard in Turquoise October music that plays in the Octo Canyon domes.
Hearing the Squid Sisters sing the Calamari Inkantation is also what caused many Octolings to defect to Inkling society.
=== Language ===
Octarians have their own language different from Inkling. In the Japanese version, DJ Octavio speaks only in katakana, which is usually used to display foreignness in the way the speaker speaks. 
== Range ==
Octarians live in the Splatlands, a set of islands in Indonesia, specifically Octo Valley and Octo Canyon. Elite Octarians live with Inklings in Inkopolis.
== Trivia ==
* Inklings and Octolings share many physiological similarities, despite having evolved from separate animal species. This could be a case of convergent evolution, where species of different lineages evolve similar features.
Category:Species
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