Loon
| Loons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Minor Race | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locomotion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terrain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Body Form | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Confluence | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bio-Identenoid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Size | 8.0 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Culture | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Languages | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Social Structure | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technological Epoch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Psionic potential | Standard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin World | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Homeworld location | Paradise/Paradise (Halcyon 3026) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UWP | X000000-0
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary Star | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Atmosphere | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Off-world presence | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zoetic individuals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reference | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canon | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Also see | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Sophont species native to Paradise (3026 Halcyon), a world in Halcyon Sector with an exotic nitrogen-chlorine atmosphere and trichloramine seas. Loons are flying chlorine-breathers, estimated to number around 5 million in total and content to exist at a tech level of 0: the 3 million humans living on the world are entirely contained within an island “enclave” surrounded by the fluid seas. This island is the site of the starport and gives the world its tech level.
Loons are named for Terran hot air balloons, which they resemble. The major part of the Loon body is a huge buoyant sac with a volume of hundreds of cubic meters. It is studded with clusters of secondary sensory organs – their main sensory and manipulatory organs are located on a thick hanging torso at the base of the sac. They secure themselves in place with long organic “tethers” while feeding. They are geovores, consuming the minerals, chlorides and salts that crust the surface of their world. They excrete exotic compounds that fetch excellent prices if they can be gathered before they degrade.
All Loons are psionic and communicate with one another through telepathy. They appear to partially maintain their bodies through the use of awareness.
All Loons crave solitude and are intensely xenophobic, disliking the presence of other individuals of any kind, including other Loons. The natural functions of the human brain appear to disrupt Loon psionic activity, though the use of psi shields alleviates this. Loons are patient and pacifistic, and unless something presents an immediate danger they will either ignore an irritation until it goes away or release their tethers and float away.