Dolphin
Climate/Terrain:
| Any saltwater
|
|
Frequency:
| Uncommon
|
Organization:
| School
|
Activity Cycle:
| Any
|
Diet:
| Carnivore
|
Intelligence:
| Very (11-12)
|
Treasure:
| Nil
|
Alignment:
| Lawful good
|
No. Appearing:
| 2-20
|
Armor Class:
| 5
|
Movement:
| 30
|
Hit Dice:
| 2+2
|
THAC0:
| 19
|
No. of Attacks:
| 1
|
Damage/Attack:
| 2-8
|
Special Attacks:
| Nil
|
Special Defenses:
| Save as 4th-lvl fighter
|
Magic Resistance:
| Nil
|
Size:
| M (5'-6' long)
|
Morale:
| Steady (11)
|
XP Value:
| 120
|
Dolphins are intelligent seagoing mammals.
While all dolphins share a variety of common traits, the species comes in a
variety of shapes and sizes. Their long, compact bodies are superbly adapted to
the aquatic environment, and dolphins are among the most powerful swimmers in
the oceans. All breeds of dolphins have a large fin on their backs, two flippers,
a powerful tail, jaws filled with many sharp teeth, a blow hole, and are 5 to
6 feet long. Most common and well-known are the gray, or bottle-nosed dolphins,
so named for their gray skin and bottle-shaped snouts. Other varieties have
two-toned blue and gray coloring. The species communicates through an intricate
speech consisting of high-pitched sounds, some out of the range of human hearing.
Combat: Inherently peaceful, dolphins will generally attack only if threatened. Unless
outnumbered 2 to 1, dolphins always attack sharks. Whether attacking a foe or
defending their school, dolphins fight as an organized unit, responding to
commands from their leader. They fight with special vehemence to protect their
young, and a select number of dolphins may sometimes engage in a holding action,
sacrificing themselves so that the remainder of the school can swim to safety.
Habitat/Society: Dolphins are completely carnivorous, living on a diet of fish. Though they can
remain submerged for several minutes at a time, they must surface regularly to
breathe. Unlike most mammals, breathing is a conscious, rather than
unconscious action on the part of dolphins; in other words, they literally must
remember to breathe. Newborn dolphins are assisted to the surface to breathe by their
mothers and a female dolphin midwife. Dolphins are by nature playful,
good-tempered, and lawful good, despising evil creatures. Most roam the oceans in
schools, numbering as large as 20 dolphins, swimming where their fancy suits them.
They never fight among themselves or with other breeds of dolphins. Dolphins are
famous for the great pleasure they take in life; when swimming they often
perform dazzling aquatic stunts, leaping in and out of the water in a spectacular
fashion. They will also play with objects that they find and enjoy games.
Dolphins sometimes follow ships, entertaining the crews and passengers with their
antics.
About 10% of all dolphins live in organized communities. These groups have
1d4+1 swordfish (AC 6, move 24, 1+1 Hit Dice, 2d6 points of damage/attack) or 1-3
narwhales (AC 6, move 21, 4+4 Hit Dice, 2d12 points of damage/attack) as
guards, depending on the climatic region. If a community is found, there is a 75%
possibility that there are 1d4 additional communities of dolphins within a
five-mile radius. These organized communities of dolphins do not tolerate the presence
of evil sea creatures in their domain, and if necessary enlist the aid of
nomadic schools of dolphins to drive out evil creatures. Any region inhabited by
dolphin communities is also shark and killer whale free.
Dolphins are highly intelligent and take a benign, distant interest in human
doings. They will always help humans in distress, guiding them to the shore and
keeping the sharks at bay. Certain solitary dolphins, known as rogues, have
been known to form closer attachments to humans, accompanying them in a friendly
fashion on swimming and fishing expeditions. These rogues often play dolphin
games with their human companions. Dolphins are far more valuable to men in other
respects. Friendly dolphins have warned sailors of the approach of pirate ships
and the intentions of evil sea creatures. More than one ship owes its safe
arrival in port to the timely intercession and warning of dolphins. They have come
to men's aid when their ships were attacked by mermen and sahuagin. Dolphins
have been known to raid sahuagin communities and destroy their eggs, for
dolphins perceive these monsters as a threat to their safety.
Ecology: The dolphin is both a hunter and hunted in its marine world. Sharks and other
large evil sea creatures hunt the dolphin with enthusiasm. Despite its many
enemies, the dolphin has many distinct advantages that enable it to survive and
even flourish. Not only is it a strong, swift swimmer, but its intelligence and
organized lifestyle are highly effective defenses against its enemies.