Taalo

The Taalo are a race of fictional aliens that are mentioned in the PC game Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters and the only member of the Sentient Milieu known to inhabit the region of space currently occupied by the New Alliance of Free Stars. According to Melnorme, Slylandro and other alien sources, their appearance is that of large, rock-like creatures. The unusual silicon-based physiology of the Taalo did not trigger the instinctual territoriality of the Ur-Quan and the two races became friends, resulting in the entrance of the Ur-Quan into the Sentient Milieu. They were highly advanced technologically, their final creation being the Taalo Shield, created in desperation for their allies as a protection against Dnyarri mind-control (the Taalo themselves were naturally immune). After the arrival and enslavement of the rest of the Milieu by the Dnyarri, they were annihilated by their former allies, the Ur-Quan.

According to information gained from the Orz, it can be assumed that some of the Taalo managed to survive the Dnyarri onslaught by escaping to another dimension. Their relationship to the Orz is still unknown, but seems to be unfriendly, as the Orz, when asked, say that the Taalo were being "chased" by the Dnyarri, and that since there are no more Dnyarri, now the Orz can "chase" them instead.

Origin
The term Taalo comes from Sami religion. It is the Finnish version of stallu. Stallu were malevolent inhabitants of saivo, the spiritual world. They were seen as large and strong, but simple human-like beings living in the forest, always traveling with a dog, ráhkka. Occasionally stallu would steal young human girls to keep as wives.