Aqualish

Why.

> "*The Aquala? Yeah, their savages. Goddamn disgrace to a species, I'll tell you that. I mean seriously, how hard is it to be born with actual hands? You gotta be mutation-conscious in this day and age.*"
> ― An Ualaq
>
>

The Aqualish are the single most confusing species in the galaxy. There are many odd-looking species, like the Cereans with their weird shaped head or the Geonosians, which are literally just large mosquitoes. The Aqualish, however, have one distinct, strange trait that does not fit with the rest of them, no matter the subspecies: spider fangs. Scientists often convene for hours, discussing the effectiveness of evolution and whether or not it's a viable method for the continuation of a species, when creatures like the Aqualish exist. To date, none have been able to answer the age old question: Why the fuck do they have spider fangs?

Many Aquala subconsciously pondered this fact for so many generations that it seeped into their genetic makeup, eventually giving birth to the Quara subspecies. After pondering their own existence and, if there is a god, why he would do this, they often ran away from a life that reminded them of their hideousness and lived elsewhere. They performed odd jobs, mercenary tasks and the like.

Eventually, another subspecies was born: the Ualaq. These took an actual good trait from spiders: four eyes. This allows for a deeper and more accurate depth perception while also increasing their field of vision. However, they kept the spider fangs, keeping even them from reaching a respectable position in alien society.

Physical Description The Aqualish people are made up of three distinct races: the Aquala, the Ualaq and the Quara. Although they all have their differences, their baseline genetic structure is the same and their appearances do not vary so drastically as to characterize them as different species. All Aqualish have two facial tusks which curve down over their mouths; a trait which adds to their appearance as arachnids. These facial tusks are highly sensitive to heat and cold.

The Aquala subspecies is considered to be the baseline Aqualish breed. Having finned hands and two bulbous black eyes, the Aquala are unable to manipulate most machinery or equipment developed by species with fingered hands. As a result, Aquala tend to remain on their homeworld in greater numbers than either of the other subspecies.

The Quara have developed clawed, five-fingered hands and like the Aquala have two eyes. Combined with the Ualaq, the Quara make up only ten percent of the Aqualish population. This is largely due to their ability to use equipment designed offworld for fingered species. Thus, they are the subspecies more commonly found off-world.

The Ualaq, considered by some specialists to be the result of genetic mutation, have four eyes instead of two and fingered hands which vary from three to five digits on each. As the least common subspecies, the Ualaq often times journey far from their homeworld to avoid discrimination by the Aquala.

Homeworlds TBD

Languages All three Aqualish subspecies speak mutually intelligible dialects of the same language, Aqualish.

## Fins

Aqualish are born with the natural ability to swim. They receive a +2D bonus for all movement attempted in liquids. However, the lack of fingers on their hands decreases their Dexterity, and the Aqualish suffer a −2D penalty when using equipment that has not been specially designed for its fins.

## Hands

The Quara and Ualaq do not receive the swimming bonus, but they are just as “at home” in the water. They also receive no penalties for Dexterity actions. The Ualaq are most likely to be encountered off-world.

## Natural Fangs

The Aqualish have fangs that do STR+1D stun damage due to their venom.