View source for Oortling

{{Creature
| image        = Oortling-2e.png
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| name         = Oortling
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| size2e       = Small
| alignment2e  = [[Neutral]]
| refs2e       = <ref name="R.MC">{{Cite book/Realmspace/Monstrous Compendium}}</ref><ref name="Poly55-p16">{{Cite polyhedron/55/Spelljamming Monsters|16}}</ref>
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| activecycle  = Any<ref name="R.MC" /><ref name="Poly55-p16" />
| diet         = Special<ref name="R.MC" /><ref name="Poly55-p16" />
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| location     = Comets<ref name="R.MC" /><ref name="Poly55-p16" />
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| first        = [[Polyhedron 55|''Polyhedron'' 55]]
}}
'''Oortlings''' were docile [[humanoid]]s with enlarged brains who were bred by [[illithids]] inhabiting [[Realmspace]] as a food source.<ref name="R.MC" />

==Description==
Oortlings resembled [[dwarves]], but were very pallid and had bloated skulls that housed overdeveloped brains.<ref name="R.MC" /><ref name="Poly55-p16" />

==Personality==
Oortlings, despite a lack of curiousity and creativity, still contained the potential for great intelligence. The breeding for larger brains by illithids had resulted in a massive gain for potential intellect, even though circumstances usually prevented them from reaching it.<ref name="R.MC" /> They were timid by design, and flinched with fear at even minor shows of dominance.<ref name="RS2e-p41-42">{{Cite book/Realmspace|41-42}}</ref>

==Combat==
Oortlings possessed no desire or ability for battle and fled during times of conflict. If cornered they pathetically scratched and bit at their foes.<ref name="RS2e-p41-42" />

==Society==
The majority of the oortling people lived in [[skull farm]]s maintained by the illithids on the planet [[Glyth]] and in its rings. There, they were subjected to a rigid breeding program, as their brain growth was constantly watched and monitored to produce best results, which were then sold to merchants. The richest of Glyth's skull farms, kept by the illithid [[Surrell]], was popular even in [[Greyspace]].<ref name="RS2e-p41-42" />

Oortlings who were not being actively raised as cattle in Glyth's rings lived in small communities inside comets across [[Realmspace]]. They fed on the mineral-rich ice from the comets, which provided them nourishment that simple [[water]] could not replace.<ref name="R.MC" />

==Ecology==
Their brain fluids could be used as a useful component for potions related to mental abilities such as telepathy, hinting at the capability for psionic powers.<ref name="R.MC" />

==History==
Oortlings once had a sophisticated culture and were capable of constructing beautiful palaces from the ice of their comet homes, until they were dominated early in their history by the mind flayers across most [[crystal sphere]]s.<ref name="R.MC" /><ref name="Poly55-p16" />

In Realmspace, oortlings originally inhabited the comet [[Comet K'Thoutek|K'Thoutek]], but they were kidnapped by the mind flayers and transferred to the rings of Glyth to be bred and raised as cattle.<ref name="RS2e-p53">{{Cite book/Realmspace|53}}</ref>

By the mid-14{{th}} century [[DR]], even though oortlings could be found on many comets across Realmspace, the entire race had been reduced to a broken and fearful tribal society, its once advanced and sophisticated culture destroyed. However, although all creativity and curiosity had been bred out of the race by the illithids, the potential for great advances still had not.<ref name="R.MC" />

==Appendix==
===References===
{{Refs}}
===Connections===
{{Mind flayers}}
[[Category:Humanoids]]
[[Category:Creatures found on Glyth]]
[[Category:Creatures found in Realmspace]]