Deep Dwellers «Marlok»

Description (Initial Observations): Marloks look like Pure Strain Humans, except for their extremely pale skin and their large, light-sensitive eyes, both of which are the result of their subterranean exist- ence. Why those humans who were the marloks ancestors went underground in the first place is not clear, though it is thought they might have been refugees from the devastation during the Social Wars, or even command personnel con- trolling the war from deep below the earth. No matter what their origins, marloks are one of the most successful of the various subterranean races and are widespread, often migrating from one underground complex to another by traveling at night on the surface.Marloks lead a nomadic life while underground, traveling various tunnels, caverns, and other passageways in small, close-knit groups. Because of the large number of subterranean preda- tors, they seldom stay in any one place for more than a few days. Marloks often use tunnels to the surface to send out nighttime foraging parties to collect whatever edible plants and animals they can get. These are used to supplement the usual marlok diet of roots and fungi. However, since marloks do not recog- nize the rights of surface people, they often are not above raiding a nearby village for foodstuffs, though some groups have been able to establish mutual trade arrangements in which the marloks receive food for metals and an occasional artifact or two.Marloks have developed several powers to aid in underground survival. Their directional sense helps individuals to find their way back to their clan if separated, and this ability also helps in navigating the maze of underground passageways. Heightened precision lets them test the stability of tunnels and caves before entering them. Their heightened hearing, besides detecting the approach of enemies, can also detect the sounds of settling and potential collapse in tunnel systems. Telekinesis is often used to move obstructions from their path; if objects do not prove easily movable, molecular disruption can usually reduce them to more manageable size. Should the exercise of the former two abilities be beyond the range of any one individual, then their mass mind can increase their power output. The marlok racial ability of mass mind is better than the type usually encoun- tered, in that the base chance of any of the participants dying is only 1% ( + 1% for each minute of contact). All involved in the mass mind share a weak tele- pathic link while in contact, between those in the link who are touching.