Octarian

The **Octarians** and **Octolings** are a race of octopus creatures ruled by DJ Octavio, and the main antagonistic species of the story mode in the *Splatoon* series. They reside in Octo Valley and Octo Canyon, and are responsible for stealing 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 the 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. The Octolings can shift between humanoid and mollusk forms similarly to Inklings. They are a main ally of Z-Tech and are once again friends with the Inklings on the fight against Gray Gravel

## History and events

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.

### *Splatoon*

The Octarian Domes had been losing energy during the course of *Splatoon*, which may have caused some of them to no longer be habitable as suggested by the comic in The Art of *Splatoon*. DJ Octavio, who had been around for and partook in the Great Turf War, currently leads the Octarians and possibly planned to revenge against the Inklings and take the land back that they lost in the war. The Octarians stole the Great Zapfish, which helps power Inkopolis, and used it to power DJ Octavio's Great Octoweapon while using other Zapfish to power the rest of the facilities and bosses. Octarians also invaded Inkopolis, as evidenced by the missions that take place in Inkopolis during evening and nighttime, presumably while Inklings or other residents are not around.

To deal with this, Cap'n Cuttlefish started the New Squidbeak Splatoon, which consists of his granddaughters Callie and Marie as Agents 1 and 2, and recruits an additional member known as Agent 3 to rescue the Great Zapfish and stop DJ Octavio's plans. Agent 3 navigated through the Octo Valley domes and confronted DJ Octavio in a final battle. In this battle, DJ Octavio used the Octobot King weapon, and during the battle, the Squid Sisters managed to hijack his music and play the *Calamari Inkantation*. While not visible in the game, several Octarians were said to be spectating the battle, where this performance is said to have changed their lives. Even DJ Octavio is seen dancing to the song before he is defeated by Agent 3 and imprisoned in a snow globe.

### *Splatoon 2*

During the events leading up to *Splatoon 2*, the Octarians managed to brainwash Callie by equipping her with a pair of hypnoshades and freed DJ Octavio. The Octarians stole the Great Zapfish again and rebuilt some of the Great Octoweapons, as well as employing Octobosses now stationed in Octo Canyon. While Callie was brainwashed, it was implied that she helped decorate Octo Canyon after deeming it ugly. She can also be heard singing in the background music present at the Octo Canyon domes, where these vocals are reversed versions of her existing work. Cap'n Cuttlefish had gone on a research trip with Agent 3, so Marie took on the role to look over the Octarians while they are gone and recruited Agent 4 to help get the Great Zapfish back and rescue Callie. The final battle is staged like a concert, with multiple Octarians watching as an audience around an arena, where DJ Octavio used the Octobot King II to fight Agent 4. DJ Octavio is seen playing on the turntables with wasabi sticks while Callie stands on the upper part of the machine, singing and dancing. After they defeat DJ Octavio, he is again imprisoned in a snow globe, which is stationed in Tentakeel Outpost by the cabin.

#### *Octo Expansion*

The events of the *Octo Expansion* reveal that several Octarians, or at least Octolings, have had their "souls freed" by hearing the *Calamari Inkantation* from the fight Agent 3 had against DJ Octavio. Many of these Octolings defected and found their way to Inkopolis, where they have integrated themselves to live among the Inklings.

It is also shown that many Octarians had been kidnapped and taken to another underground facility located under the sea, which belongs to Kamabo Corporation. These Octarians underwent several tests with the premise that they will return to the surface if they succeed. These tests served to select out the best genes, where the successful test subjects get tricked into building a machine that blends them alive into a paste of supreme DNA. Other Octarians get Sanitized, which is a state reminiscent of zombie where they lose their sense of self and free will, and default to follow commands. They are also implied to be dead, as Marina states that they show no pulse or signs of life. Commander Tartar is responsible for this plot, who is an AI made by a professor to pass on humanity's knowledge to the next intelligent lifeform. The AI changed its mind as it was disgusted by the senseless wars between Octarians and Inklings, despite their minor genetical differences, as well as their lifestyles.

Agent 8 is one of the Octolings who ended up in the facility and lost their memories. They are revealed to be test subject number 10,008, which suggests that there may have been 10,007 other test subjects in the facility. Given that only Octarians were sanitized and Octarian technology was frequently used for the tests, it is possible that most test subjects were Octarian. This is further hinted by Commander Tartar's animosity towards specifically Inklings and Octarians, and that the Denizens of the deep are explained to not necessarily be test subjects. Sanitized versions of the Octobosses that Agent 4 fought in Octo Canyon are also present in the testing facilities.

Agent 8 is an Octoling who had their "soul freed" after listening to *Calamari Inkantation*. This song is also one of the first things they remember after losing their memory as well as motivating them to reach Inkopolis. They manage to escape the facility with the help of Off the Hook and help defend Inkopolis and the world from being destroyed. While being stuck underground in the facility, it is possible to read Agent 8's thoughts on the Octarians and their previous life in the army, as well as Marina's worry about being revealed to be an Octoling who also worked for the army. Cap'n Cuttlefish was apprehensive of the defected Octarians at first but showed support over the course of the *Octo Expansion*.

The Inklings in Inkopolis are said to be unaware that Octolings are Octarians, and instead, assume that they are Inklings with weird hairstyles. This is attributed to the Inklings' laid-back and inattentive lifestyle. It is revealed that Inklings do learn about Octarians and their army in schools, and Pearl did recognize the Sanitized Octarians as Octarians, which may imply that descriptions or depictions of Octolings are absent in Inkling school curriculum for Inklings not to notice.

#### Splatoon 3

Octarians are back again in Splatoon 3, this time possessed by Fuzzy Ooze. DJ Octavio is initially assumed to have been involved in the theft of the Great Zapfish again, but Craig Cuttlefish and Agent 3 soon realize that he is not involved in it and in fact had discovered that his entire army had vanished under mysterious circumstances. It was revealed near the end of the campaign that Grizzco’s CEO, Mr. Grizz, kidnapped the troops and subjected them to experiments, leading to them to become his own personal soldiers. 2 new Octarians were introduced, an Oversized Octopod and an Octodisco. In addition, a new variant of the Octotrooper has also been added: the Octohoppers.

## Appearance

Octarians usually resemble tentacles rather than full octopuses. They are red and cream colored, with their suckers present on the red side of their bodies, googly yellow eyes, purple lips, and tiny legs in black boots. They come in a variety of forms, and the line is often blurry when it comes to what is an Octarian and what is mechanical, suggesting they may use some manner of biotechnology.

## 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 of Splatoon 2, 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. It is also suggested that Marina sings in Octarian, since her lyrics are rendered in katakana in the Splatune 2 booklet, where the developers confirmed that she is singing in a different language than Inkling.

As seen with the Octoling Amiibo, defected Octolings can have difficulties speaking Inkling and make several grammatical mistakes. In the Japanese version, Marina also speaks in a way that suggests she only recently has learned the Inkling language.

### Fuzzy Octarians

**Fuzzy Octarians** are Octarians that appear to be affected by Fuzzy Ooze. They resemble ordinary Octarians, but have fur and different eyes. They are featured as the main enemies of Return of the Mammalians in *Splatoon 3*, appearing in missions in the Crater and Alterna.

## Appearance

Fuzzy Octarians have different visual traits from normal Octarians: their normally red parts, such as the back side of Octotroopers, are covered in brown fur colored similarly to a grizzly bear's. Their usually beige parts, such as their fronts and legs, are now a very light shade of brown, and their eyes resemble the non-furry parts of Fuzzy Ooze with yellow irises and black pupils. Their lips and purple rings around their eyes are unchanged. They no longer wear shoes, showing four-toed feet.

Fuzzy Octolings have the same changes as other Octarians, with the red parts of their hair having reddish-brown fur and the normally beige side being light brown. In addition, they have browner skin than their hairless congeners, and their lips are purple. Their clothing has also changed, consisting of new goggles with Fuzzy Ooze appearing to cover the lenses, a leopard top, new legwear, and boots styled after sea mines.

The Fuzzy Octarians' ink is a similar color to Fuzzy Ooze, but it does not have the same fuzzifying properties and damages the player like normal instead.

## Types of Fuzzy Octarians

The following Octarian types have Fuzzy variations. Types denoted with an asterisk have only appeared in their fuzzy form.

* Octotrooper
	+ Shielded Octotrooper
	+ Octotrooper Bonbon
	+ Octohopper\*
	+ Octodiver
* Twintacle Octotrooper
	+ Deluxe Twintacle Octotrooper
* Octocopter
	+ Deluxe Octocopter
* Octosniper
* Octobomber
	+ Deluxe Octobomber
* Octoballer
* Octopod
	+ Oversized Octopod\*
* Octostamp
	+ Amped Octostamp\*
* Octozeppelin
* Octomissile
* Octoling
* Tentakook
* Octocommander
* Octodisco\*

The following Octarian machines appear using Fuzzy Octarian ink:

* Flooder
* Ink Piston
* Octowasher

### **Octolings**

**Octolings** (Japanese: **タコゾネス** *Takozonesu*) are a subspecies of Octarians who serve as elite fighters in their army, and the octopus equivalent of an Inkling. They are recurring enemies in Octo Valley, Octo Canyon, and Return of the Mammalians, appearing both in special missions where they are the only enemies, as well as in normal missions. Sanitized versions of Octolings appear in the *Octo Expansion*, using a much wider range of weaponry, and fuzzy versions appear in *Return of the Mammalians*. They were once fighters in the Octarian military and were fiercely loyal to DJ Octavio, but hearing the *Calamari Inkantation* inspires new feelings within them, making them want to defect. Many (but not all) of them escaped to Inkling society in Inkopolis afterwards, hoping to start anew. They had their friendship restored with the Inklings.

## Appearance and traits

Octolings are the Octarian equivalents of Inklings. Unlike Inklings, they have thicker and curlier hair, with four tentacles instead of six (added with their arms and legs this gives them eight "limbs", as opposed to Inklings' ten), have their suckers above their hair than underneath, beige undersides of their hair, small round ears, purple circled eyes with a dash on the end, pointed fingers, and no spots at the ends of their hair.

Like Inklings, they can walk on land in humanoid form as well as swim through their own ink in octopus form, making up a somewhat small but dangerous portion of Octarian forces. They can use various main weapons as well as sub weapons. With no visible target, Octolings wander alone or in small groups and ink nearby surfaces for their convenience. Upon being engaged by the player, they make tactical maneuvers, quickly jumping in and out of their ink while shooting and throwing bombs. The best way to deal with Octolings is to catch them before they can react; once found, they are difficult to escape from, as they follow the player in octopus form and shoot at them in humanoid form.

All Octolings encountered are female, and their Japanese name, タコゾネス (*Takozonesu*, a portmanteau of "octopus" and "amazons"), further supports this. Their body features seem slightly more mature than female Inklings', though this is a result of their clothing, as the in-game model is the same. These Octolings are considered elites compared to the playable Octolings, of which there are also male versions, and not every female Octoling can become a full-fledged soldier.

Octoling hair color seems unrelated to their ink, as they have their pre-set hair color regardless of the color set for the mission.

As shown in art of the Octolings in *The Art of Splatoon*, their eye markings are the same as their playable counterparts, but with a purple tinge at the edge of their 'eyelashes', and they have green eyes, like the other Octarians (even in octopus form, as opposed to the Inklings' eyes, which are grey in squid form, despite the player's chosen eye color).

Like Inklings, Octolings have an octopus form, which they can use to swim or hide in ink, but can sometimes be seen using it on dry land. Compared to playable Octolings, they have a different octopus form, which has curlier tentacles of the same length and Octarian eyes. Their hairstyle is also not available for playable Octolings.

### Elite Octolings

While normal Octolings have red hair and are fairly easy to defeat, later missions feature Elite Octolings instead, which are faster, more resilient, and deal more damage. Further separating them from the common Octolings are their darker hair and two long strands of seaweed attached to their heads. In Japanese, they are called デラタコゾネス (*DeraTakozonesu*, meaning deluxe or decorated *Takozonesu*).