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Nor'baal

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Name: The Sanlack

Biology:

Sanlack were sentient amphibian reptiles, averaging around 1.6 meters in height. Covered in thick green, brown or blue skin, they had deep green eyes, and long retractable tongues used in the hunting of insectoid prey. They had large hands and webbed feet, born with sufficient strength to match that of a human being. They had no particular physical abilities, beyond the ability to lay eggs.

Breeding:

Sanlack reproduce in the usual way, but lay numerous eggs instead of a mammalian birth. Upon hatching, they live in spawning pools for a year, before growing legs - at which point they are considered children for the next seven years, teens for the next seven, and then adults for the remainder of their lives. It is not uncommon for them to live several hundreds of years if well fed - and some tribal elders are known to use the Force to extend their lives for much longer. A natural death will normally occur after 100 years for non-elders, whilst a sheltered Sanlack, who lives a risk-adverse life, could live to 200 at best.

Strengths:

The main strength of this species is their reproduction rate, with each female laying dozens of eggs each year.

Weaknesses:

Being a swamp-dwelling/jungle-dwelling species, they suffer a lot in hot climates.

Diet:

Sanlack subsists off of a combination of insects and fish, making use of large netted farms within their settlements to catch insects as the morning mist drives them up into the air. Other than this, they tend to hunt fish with large harpoons, saving such delicacies for feasting days. It is common for settlements, and even lone huts, to have grub farms, which the Sanlack eat regularly as high protein snacks.

Behavior/Temperament:

Sanlack in their settlements tend to be quiet creatures, keeping to themselves and untrusting of outsiders. Focused on the tribe and their Elders, they are simple people. However, sociologists have noticed that Sanlack who head into the Galaxy, and are born away from their tribes, tend to be garrulous people, eating and eating often, making friends quickly - academics believe this stems from their instinctive desire to be part of a group.

Communication:

The Sanlack Language was known as ‘San’, a unique language that bore many similarities to Huttese’ being best suited to creatures with deep voices, large lungs and a low diaphragm. Consisting of deep guttural sounds, croaks and the like, it was a hard language to learn for outsiders.

Culture:

Settlements & Living

Swamp Towns

The great majority of the Sanlack lived in swamp settlements on distant worlds, such as Degobah, in villages constructed on platforms in the marshes. The basic design of most settlements of this type consisted of a central ‘Stargazing Chamber’, in which the ruling Council of the tribe would sit. Nearly all swamp villages, and indeed villages in general, are positioned in places that allow for a commanding view of the stars. About the stargazing chamber can be found a small collection of buildings belonging to the Tribal Council, such as feasting halls and meditation chambers of the Elders.

Whilst the heart of most swamp towns see their buildings fashioned from stone, the periphery buildings are normally mud huts or crafted out of wood, occupied by farmers, fishermen and the like. Technology is not out of place in such settlements, the older the technology, the closer it will be to the town's heart.

Mountain Town

Some of the Sanlack gravitate toward higher levels, especially on planets wherein the cloud base is higher up, meaning that moisture and humidity tends to coalesce at the top of mountains. In such occurrences, a Mountain town is created. Once again, built around a central stone hall, or Stargazing Chamber, the town's perfifiery is marked out by vast nets, for capturing moisture and insects as they rise up the mountain side.

Cave Towns

On dry worlds, such as Utapau, settlements of the Sanlack are to be found in caves, with the central Star Gazing Chamber of the tribe normally located at the base of a shaft, allowing for the Elders to gaze at the heavens despite their deep resting place. Such areas are prone to producing pale skinned, and sometimes even blind Sanlack, who rarely venture above ground. They are considered outcasts, and sometimes even feral, by their brethren.

Culture

For the Sanlack, the mysteries of the Galaxy have always held a special place in their hearts - from the early days of their race, in which their elders held titles such as ‘Seer’ and ‘Mystic’ all the way through to the modern day, in which technology and the pursuit of it, takes precedence over everything else. The Sanlack therefore often form in societal groups that take the form of Technocratic Oligarchies, in which an enlightened class of scientists have absolute power over a devout servant class.

Despite their obsession with science and technology, they live reasonably simple lives.

Astronomy & Science

The Sanlack have always looked to the heavens, placing a great importance on the movement of the stars and other celestial objects for millenia. Indeed, science is of great importance to the Elders of their Clan, who view it as the only thing separating them from the beasts of their histories. Having turned to science, in such a severe manner that their society is ordered entirely around providing for their greatest minds, most of their societal units live in an Enlightened Oligarchy, in which the Elders live a life of contemplation, whilst the remainder of society lives a life of tribal servitude.

Sanlack and the Force

Sanlack are a tribal group, one that draws its beliefs from the world around it, nature and the mysteries of the Universe. However, as time has gone on, the Sanlack began to adapt their beliefs following the discovery of the Mediclorian. As such, the Sanlack worship the cosmic entity known as ‘Sanlakki’, their version of the ‘Creator’, who the Sanlack believe created the Force, which in turn, created the Universe.

They abhor the Dark Side of the Force, which they understand to be a corrupt entity intent on unwinding the work of the creator. As such, the Sanlack believe that by ‘reading the heavens’, they can determine the will of their gods, and it is such an undertaking that practically governs the way in which the Sanlack Elders rule their settlements.

Elders

Elders are, by far, the most important elements of Sanlack Culture and society. Force Sensitives, Elders are therefore selected at the moment of their birth, for a life as a member of the enlightened oligarchical class that rule the Sanlack race. Effectively seen as Shamans by some of the more traditional members of the Sanlack tribes, their power manifests itself through their use of the Force, and their understanding of astrology and science, which they study throughout their lives.

Many of the Elders chose to live lives of silent contemplation, ensconced within the Stargazing Chambers of the settlements of their birth, using the force when needed, and seeking to understand the will of their gods from the movement of the skies. Eating well, which was a sign of status for the Sanlack, most are large creatures, physically weak, relying on the force and their brains for a competitive edge in life.

Shamanistic in nature, they often drew crude tattoos onto their skin, wearing animal parts, skulls and the like, or wielding totemic staffs.

History:

Despite their reclusive nature, it was not uncommon throughout Sanlack history for them to be seen out and about in the Galaxy. Many thousands of years ago, the Sanlack had been a warrior race, originating on the swamp world of Dagobah, and fighting amongst themselves for centuries, before an enlightened Shamanistic group of Sanlack Force Adepts bought an end to the conflicts, and refocused their society around a Shamanastic Oligarchy, dedicated to understanding the heavens.

Over the forthcoming centuries, technology was developed, mostly focused around fishing, construction and eventually, speeders, personal weapons and FTL ships. Indeed, during the time of Agorander, the Sanlack headed to the heavens far out of his reach, founding new settlements on other worlds, seeking knowledge and wisdom for themselves. Settling worlds in important locations on their star maps, and asteroid belts near important solar objects, the Sanlack came into contact with other Galactic species, and great Galactic powers.

It was through such expansion that the Sanlack Shamans came into contact with the Jedi and the Sith during their formation. Keen to learn more, the Sanlack sent a representative to each group, to join their ranks. After some years of learning, more and more Sanlack Shamans joined the Jedi, and a smaller number joined the Sith. Such has remained true since then, the Sanlack who feel compelled to join such groups, being free to do so.

Centuries stretched on, and the Sanlack continued to exist, holding their settlements, and living reclusive lives, studying the stars and the mysteries of the force, observing the Galaxy, rather than participating in it. With some of their settlements on more populated worlds being subjected to oppression and purges during the Imperial Era, the Sanlack have withdrawn further to their older settlements, and in the current day, are more reclusive than ever before.

Planet of Origin: Dagobah

Technology:

Sanlack technology is considered to be standard by the rest of the Galaxy, yet advanced with respect to their astrological technology. Whilst their speeders, weapons and ships are in line with the rest of the galaxy, it is cheap and reliable and commonly seen across the outer-rim. With regard to astrological technology, they can create highly advanced scanners, telescopes and the like.

When it comes to weapons, they make use of the normal weapons seen in the galaxy, but are known to use traditional weapons as well. Bows and arrows, dipped in toxins of the dangerous native flora and fauna, are commonplace.

Intent:

Some of the Swamp-like worlds already have a solid number of species, the most famous being the Gungans, however, I thought it would be cool to have something a little more ‘traditional’. Basically, Toadmen - which everyone needs to love. A classical outer-rim/native species, they can form an interesting outer-rim species to come into contact with, for Jedi, for Sith, no doubt occupying areas strong in the Force (given their homeworld). Other than this, there is nothing all that special about them, no latent abilities, massive overpowering strengths, just an interesting culture, for a hopefully interesting species.

 
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