Draculings

Draculings concept, drawn by Meringuepie

Draculings are a sapient race and a possible playable species. They are the descendants of the vampire squids (Vampyromorphida), and mostly resides at the great land of East Magmell (mostly in its capital, Neo Atlantis). They're the main protagonists of Splatoon Noir.

## History

A few centuries ago before the Great Turf War, they used to be a resilient civilization amongst different species in the great subterranean realms of Azoidia. However, they grew tired of the cold and artificial underground living systems that was holding them back, and began to dig up evidence of the surface's existence. One major clan of Draculings planned to ascend to the realms of the surface, but was seen as delusional by other co-existing species, who only see the land of the surface as an outdated mythical element of folk stories.

Eventually after a few decades, the clan has found the way to the surface despite a variety of dangers lurking above - while the remaining population suffered and died out due to underground conflicts, as the other marine populations of the underground began to gain further intelligence and figured that they could overpower the Draculings.

Those who reached the surface were perceived as strange-looking cephalopods at first, and were confused upon seeing other species speak languages they've never heard, but eventually picked Inkling language up and forgot their old language. They blended in with society eventually but nevertheless found trouble as some would judge them by their appearance and oddities - their bodies began to adapt to the surface's conditions and sort of resembled a modern Cephaling's, but still retained elements like webbed fingers, filaments and dark-pigmented scleras. When wars on the surface broke out, the Draculings were never really were on anyone's side, and went back to their peaceful lives, leaving their true past forever forgotten. Recently, they began to expand on inksports, and the biggest Draculing population in Neo Atlantis created a new generation and style of turf war separate from the ones from Inkopolis and Splatsville.

### Biology and appearance

Draculings have a very distinct appearance. They have eyes with black sclera and shiny irises without pupils. They mostly have the same eyemarks; a triangle on the top middle part and another on the bottom middle part of the eye. Their eyebrows are triangular. Draculings have two long strings that works like Inkling tentacles called filaments. They can use it to grab things or even pickpocket others sneakily, but nowadays, they tend to use it for hairstyling-purposes. Their tentacles are more narrow than Octoling tentacles and usually curls inwards, but there are webbings around them that makes Draculing hair looks blanket-like. Their spots are shaped similarly to Inklings' , but appears from the top of the hair instead from the tips.

Draculing ink is not actual ink, but a special bioluminescent slime. Other than being able to glow in the dark, it functions just like Inkling/Octoling ink.

Their fingers are like Octolings', but rounder, and webbed with membranes like their tentacles. Their beak/teeth consists of one fang on the top and two on the bottom. Their ears/fins are teardrop-shaped and resemble vampire squid fins. Certain areas of a Draculing body can glow in the dark, like the eyebrows, eyes, and spots. They also develop skin markings that glow, but turns invisible when exposed to a light source. Their fins and webbings allow them to effortlessly maintain agility. However, their low metabolism rate and weaker muscular structures may cause some limitations. Draculing skin is also more sensitive to the sun and is more susceptible to sunburn or other skin diseases than other Cephalings, which is why they're the main consumers of Magmell's skincare industry.

It is unknown how they evolved in the underground, but there may have been genetic mutations that caused them to develop strikingly similar traits to Inklings and Octolings, and also superior traits that their ancestors do not possess, like more developed chromatophores. They weren't the only cephalopods who evolved in the underground, but probably the most successful one in terms of evolution.

### Calls

Draculings have their own unique booyah calls:

* Damuu! (Draculing girl)
* Wryah! (Draculing boy)

### Hairstyles

Female

* Bobtail
* Twintacles (low twintails)
* Spunky (high pigtails)
* Half-up (half ponytail)
* Scene
* Braid-band (curly short hair with braid headband)

Male

* Unkempt
* Pineapple
* Spikes
* Vlad (long)
* Edge (asymmetrical)
* ????

## Relationships with other species

### Inklings

They don't have much opinions on Inklings, and doesn't like being labeled as one.

### Octolings

They were confused when Octolings started to show up in Inkopolis. Also doesn't like being labeled as one.

### Inkling subspecies (Cuttlelings, Boblings, etc)

They don't feel indifferent towards them but finds their colorfulness interesting.

### Fishlings

They find the Fishlings intriguing, and is interested in their armor.

### Azoids

Although modern Draculings doesn't really know of Azoids or their underground origins, their ancestors and Agent 0 does; they either find some species more justified than others, or is slightly terrified of them.

### Eusuchians

Draculings like to get the job done, and they won't mind getting those huge gator guys out of their way. However, some questions the ethics of Holoste Inc. and why river reptiles were occupying the sewers of Inkopolis.

by u/dessertfordoctor on Reddit#3 Heaven, by Keye (on Caitlin Koi's Discord)
## Trivia

* Their name derived from Count Dracula, a famous fictional vampire.
* Their horn-like cirri could resemble demon/oni horns.
* Unlike Inkling cuisine, Draculing cuisine is much more simple and sometimes preserved for convenience. They tend to avoid wasting as much food as possible.
* An example of Draculings in the Inkopolis music industry is Marion from Fathom Out, Lily from Inktank Quintet, and Luzon from DuoTone.
* Their taxonomy / scientific name is **Anthrovampyromorph Infernalis.**