The Cetacea Kingdom: A Design Guide

The Cetacea kingdom is unlike any other—blurring the line between biology, technology, and sheer absurdity. Its denizens, the Delphinus, are sapient dolphins (and other cetaceans) that have, against all reason, developed crystalline technologies far beyond dragon comprehension. They are simultaneously ridiculous and terrifying: brightly-colored songsmiths or monstrous clan-warlords. Where other kingdoms embody primal elemental forces, Delphinus thrive in their own defiance of natural law.

​

Delphinus – The Sentient Dolphins

• Form: Dolphins and other cetaceans, sometimes adorned with crystalline decorations. Some are smooth-skinned and colorful, others scaled and spiked (particularly dark variants). Sizes range from sleek porpoises to colossal, near-whale behemoths.

• Elements: Almost exclusively water-aligned, though rare wind or lightning variants exist (the infamous Skyphins).

• Nature: Unlike most kingdoms, Delphinus lack natural elemental abilities—except when they don’t. (Wind/Lightning Skyphins break all rules by levitating into the air through psychokinesis.) Fire Delphinus categorically do not exist.

• Player Note: This is where things get weird. Delphinus are intelligent, society-driven, and technologically advanced—but they’re also literal dolphins that can fly, shoot psychic blasts, and mock dragons with their sonar technology.

​

Variants

• Light Delphinus: Sleek, curious, playful, often brightly colored. They lean toward diplomacy and exploration, using sonar-driven technology as tools rather than weapons.

• Dark Delphinus: Aggressive, bulky, scarred with jagged scales, tusks, spines, and glowing red eyes. Clan Delphinus are territorial and warlike, their sonar used to control destructive constructs and sophisticated, unnervingly alien tools. They're known for altering forms of aquatic  life to serve as tools and servants and are actually considerably more advanced than your standard Delphinus. It's worth noting that these are the ones who will hunt dragons for sport.

• Skyphins: The rarest form—psychokinetic, flying Delphinus aligned with wind or lightning. They soar across storms like mocking gods of the sea and sky.

​

Technology of the Delphinus

• Powered by sonar and sound vibrations, their machinery harnesses crystalline matrices that mimic magic.

• Dragons cannot use Delphinus tech. The systems respond only to cetacean sonar signatures.

• Crystals serve as both decoration and functional cores, embedded into devices ranging from sonar amplifiers to devastating pseudo-magical weaponry.

• While not inherently magical, their tech feels like sorcery to outsiders, blurring lines between science and spellcraft.

​

Classification Notes

• Any cetacean species may fall under Delphinus, though larger ones (whales, orcas) are rare.

• Delphinus lack naturally occurring elemental traits; their power lies in technology and psychokinesis, not traditional magic.

• Crystals are universal adornments—jewelry, weapons, architecture—all resonating with their sonar.

• To dragons, Delphinus are paradoxical: absurd jesters and deadly rivals both.