Author Topic: The Gran  (Read 1947 times)

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The Gran
« on: December 18, 2009, 03:26:59 PM »
INFO: The Gran were sentient mammalian humanoids native to the planet Kinyen, though they had colonies across the galaxy, including settlements on the planets Hok and Malastare.


RACE: Gran
HEIGHT: 1.5 to 1.8 Meters Tall
SKIN: Tan
DISTINCTION: Three eyes and goat-like snout
LANGUAGE: Gran

HOMEWORLD:
Kinyen was an agriworld in the Expansion Region, located on the Corellian Trade Spine. It was the Gran home world,[3] with a recorded history dating back to 10,000 BBY. During its recorded history, the planet has had no local wars.

The planet itself boasted many differing climates, large and rolling grasslands, a dense and beautiful forest, and one of the longest and clearest rivers in the Sumitra Sector. The beauty of this planet, which boasted almost no natural predators, helped the Gran develop strong bonds of home and family in their race. With such close bonds formed throughout the Gran community, it was not surprising that they concentrated their cities into very small areas, so they were never out of touch with their many relatives. Oftentimes, families would adopt the native Houjix as pets.



These cities, while hosting a majority of the population of Kinyen, also hosted the small government of the Gran. The government was a loose group of delegates from the major Gran families who usually control different aspects of Gran society. One delegate is selected randomly every three and a half standard years to be the leader of this group. It is only due to the very peaceful sensibilities of the Gran race that this system worked at all. Indeed, in most of recorded history there had never been a major conflict between Grans.

The government of the Gran controlled many aspects of Gran society for a very long time. Mostly the Gran have accepted this government, the one exception being the Gran colonies on Hok and Malastare. Feeling they were destroying too many families, and diluting the Gran race, the government asked all Gran to stay on Kinyen. This protected the Gran society, but it also isolated them from the Gran on Hok and Malastare.

Under the Galactic Empire, the Gran became less influential and powerful. On one occasion, the Imperials leveled one of Kinyen's cities after the Gran refused to allow them access to all parts of Kinyen. This forced the Gran of Kinyen to collaborate with the Empire. Some Gran during the Imperial era secretly supported the Rebel Alliance, usually by peaceful means such as supplying food to the Rebels. Most Gran disapproved of violent revolt, however, and even Rebel sympathizers insisted that no military actions were acceptable on their home world. Eventually, Kinyen would be liberated by the New Republic.

BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:
Gran could easily be identified by their three eyes and their goat-like snout. Female Gran also had three breasts. Gran were also able to sense one another's emotions and disposition by noting subtle changes in body heat and skin color. The Gran had excellent vision, able to resolve more colors than most species, and even able to see into the infrared. Gran had two stomachs, having evolved from herbivorous grazing animals who lived in herds on the mountains and highlands of Kinyen, surviving on the local Goatgrass, for which Gran kept their taste. Gran chewed and digested their food quite slowly, savoring the flavor carefully. A single meal could take almost an entire day to finish, but a Gran would often not need to eat for several days afterwards.

A recessive genetic mutation sometimes caused some Gran to suffer from misshapen extremities, with hands and feet swelling to abnormal sizes. While not affecting the individual's ability to do finer work, the handicap nonetheless often resulted in social isolation. Gran scientists intently studied the trait to attempt to find a cure.

CULTURE AND HISTORY:
The peaceful nature of Gran society was a reflection of their homeworld, Kinyen. Kinyen boasted large and rolling grasslands and highlands, a dense and beautiful forest, and one of the longest and clearest rivers in the Sumitra Sector. The beauty of this planet, and the need for primitive Gran to band together for defense against predatory animals, helped the Gran develop strong bonds of home and family in their society. (Once they became a civilized species, the Grans set aside fenced nature preserves for the carnivores which once threatened them.) Grans also mated for life, forming such strong bonds that they generally died within days of a mate's death. It was rare for any Gran to leave his or her planet of origin once they had taken a mate.

The Grans were also very protective of their families, and were some of the most devoted parents in the galaxy. This was because of their very powerful and sensitive sight, which could sense the emotions of their mates and their children. Gran society maintained its balance by setting up strict career quotas, and making sure young Gran were educated for a specific job that best serves his or her talents. While other species who valued free will criticized such a rigid social system, to the Gran it was both logical and essential. Gran religion revolved around the worship of the goddess Doellin.

Gran had a strong need for companionship—a Gran left alone for too long would go insane or die of loneliness. Generally, they needed other Gran for companionship, but some Gran were able to form sufficiently strong bonds with aliens. The most feared punishment among the Gran was exile. Lone, outcast Gran, often wearing black to avoid painful memories of the colorful cities of their homeworld, were generally given a wide berth by experienced spacers. Grans isolated from Gran society were often unreliable, easily bribed, and easily addicted to drugs and liquors, though they were shrewd and often under-estimated. Conversely, Gran within their society were peaceful and amiable, with a keen sense of their place in society, and unselfish instincts putting the greater good ahead of their individual wants.

With such close bonds formed throughout the Gran community, it was unsurprising that they concentrated their cities into very small areas, so they were never out of touch with their many relatives. These cities, while hosting a majority of the population of Kinyen, also hosted the small government of the Gran. The government was a loose group of delegates from the major Gran families who usually controlled different aspects of Gran society. One delegate was selected randomly every three and a half standard years to be the leader of this group. It was only due to the very peaceful sensibilities of the Gran race that this system worked at all. Indeed, the only known major conflicts between Gran took place very early in Kinyen's history, before 10,000 BBY. Even these wars resulted from matters of survival, rather than strong emotional conflicts between the Gran of rival nations.

The Gran on Kinyen had maintained a peaceful civilization for over ten millennia before the fall of the Galactic Republic. During an expansionistic period circa 1,000 BBY, colonies were established on Hok and Malastare. However, the emigrating colonists left a significant imbalance in Gran society on Kinyen.

Feeling they were destroying too many families, and diluting the Gran race, the government reacted with isolationist policies and prohibited unauthorized emigration from Kinyen and limited offworlders to special alien quarters in their cities. This protected the Gran society, but it also isolated the Gran on Hok and Malastare who had begun to form strong bonds to their new homes. The Gran colonies continued independently, continuing the strong social bonds of Gran society but with loosened social codes. The looser social codes allowed for more corruption in the upper levels of colonial Gran society.

One of the most infamous examples was the Gran Protectorate of Malastare, which subjugated the native Dugs population, treating them as little more than slaves and even relocating them to the western continent of their own planet. The behavior of Malastare's Gran was unusual, as most Gran on Kinyen were peaceful, calm beings who abhorred violence, and preferred peaceful ways to adapt to difficult situations. The high corruption rate, as well as the brutality towards the Dugs, led some Gran on Kinyen to conclude that the Gran of Malastare were no longer real Gran.

The Gran of Malastare had a great deal of power within the Galactic Senate during the later years of the Galactic Republic, represented by the thought to be corrupt Aks Moe and his successor, the influential Loyalist Committee member Ask Aak. Ask Aak later took Aks Moe's seat in the Galactic Senate. Other Gran Senators such as Kharrus and Philo also played important roles in the Galactic Senate during the Clone Wars. Hok also produced a well-known Gran in that era, the podracer Mawhonic.

During Emperor Palpatine's reign of terror over the galaxy, Gran became less influential. At one point, the Galactic Empire demanded access to all parts of Kinyen, and leveled one of Kinyen's cities when the Gran protested. This forced the Gran of Kinyen to collaborate with the Empire. Some Gran during the Imperial era secretly supported the Rebel Alliance, usually by peaceful means such as supplying food to the Rebels. Most Gran disapproved of violent revolt, however, and even Rebel sympathizers insisted that no military actions were acceptable on their homeworld.

APPEARANCES:
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Commencement
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Nights of Anger
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
Star Wars: The Old Republic
"The Secret of Tet-Ami" - Star Wars Tales 13
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan: The Aurorient Express (Picture only)
Star Wars Republic: Prelude to Rebellion
Darth Maul: Saboteur
Cloak of Deception
Star Wars: Darth Maul 3
Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter
Star Wars: Episode I Racer
Episode I: The Phantom Menace ½
Podracing Tales
Star Wars: Battle for Naboo
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace / comic / game
"Portrait of the Artist as a Young Rodian"
Star Wars Republic: Outlander
Star Wars Republic: Emissaries to Malastare
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
Nomad
Star Wars Republic: Twilight
Star Wars Republic: Infinity's End
Star Wars Republic: Darkness
Star Wars: Jango Fett
Star Wars: Zam Wesell
Starfighter: Crossbones (Appears in hologram)
Star Wars: Racer Revenge
Palpatine Sets Army Vote Date—HoloNet News Vol. 531 46
Palpatine forms Loyalist Committee—HoloNet News Vol. 531 49
Senator Moe Killed in Blast—HoloNet News Vol. 531 50
Moe's Bomb Identified—HoloNet News Vol. 531 51 (Mentioned only)
Senator Tikkes Jumps Bail—HoloNet News Vol. 531 51 (Mentioned only)
Moe Funeral Disrupted by Dug Activists—HoloNet News Vol. 531 51 (Mentioned only)
Senator Aak Officially Appointed—HoloNet News Vol. 531 53 (Mentioned only)
Malastare to Increase Import Security—HoloNet News Vol. 531 54 (Mentioned only)
Loyalist Committee Split on Vote—HoloNet News Vol. 531 56 (Mentioned only)
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones / comic / novel / junior novel
Republic Commando: Hard Contact
"Elusion Illusion" - Star Wars Insider 66
"Spy Girls" - Clone Wars Adventures: Volume 7
"Old Scores" - Clone Wars Adventures: Volume 8
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 21"
Star Wars: Battle for the Republic
Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Volume 1: Shipyards of Doom (Mentioned only)
Star Wars The Clone Wars Volume 2: Crash Course
The Clone Wars: Procedure
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Dooku Captured"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "The Gungan General"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Hostage Crisis"
Republic Commando: Triple Zero (Mentioned only)
Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 14:10:03
Star Wars Republic 61: Dead Ends
Star Wars Republic: Show of Force
CIS Shadowfeed Dispatch 15:01:15 Edition (Mentioned only)
MedStar II: Jedi Healer (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: General Grievous
Boba Fett: Crossfire
Boba Fett: A New Threat
Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
Labyrinth of Evil
Evasive Action: Reversal of Fortune
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Evasive Action: Recruitment
"The Order of Outcasts" - Clone Wars Adventures: Volume 5
Star Wars Republic 78: Loyalties
Jabba the Hutt: Betrayal
The Rebel Thief
Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire
"Being Boba Fett" - Star Wars Tales 18
Star Wars Missions 10: Showdown in Mos Eisley
Perfect Evil
Star Wars Galaxies – An Empire Divided
Star Wars: Rebellion (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption (Mentioned only)
Battle of the Bounty Hunters
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi novel (First appearance)
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi 1: In the Hands of Jabba the Hutt
Taster's Choice: The Tale of Jabba's Chef
Let Us Prey: The Whiphid's Tale
And Then There Were Some: The Gamorrean Guard's Tale
Old Friends: Ephant Mon's Tale
Goatgrass: The Tale of Ree-Yees
The Great God Quay: The Tale of Barada and the Weequays
A Free Quarren in the Palace: Tessek's Tale
Tongue-tied: Bubo's Tale
Mara Jade: By the Emperor's Hand (Appears in flashback(s))
The Jabba Tape
"Three Against the Galaxy" - Star Wars Tales 3
A Credit for Your Thoughts
Star Tours
X-wing Rogue Squadron: The Phantom Affair
X-wing Rogue Squadron: Battleground: Tatooine
X-wing: Wedge's Gamble
Star Wars: Dark Forces
Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
Tatooine Ghost
Crimson Empire
Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood
Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
Young Jedi Knights: Diversity Alliance (Mentioned only)
Edge of Victory II: Rebirth
Force Heretic I: Remnant
Force Heretic III: Reunion
Sacrifice
Star Wars Legacy 38: Tatooine, Part 2

SOURCES:
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi toy line
Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995)
Galaxy Guide 12: Aliens — Enemies and Allies
Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive
Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Jabba's Palace Limited (Card: Gran)
Alien Anthology
Ultimate Alien Anthology
The Essential Guide to Alien Species
The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
Star Wars: Power of the Jedi
Star Wars Miniatures: Clone Strike
The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
"Secrets of Mos Eisley" - Star Wars Gamer 7
"The Vaynai Archipelago" - Star Wars Gamer 8 (Picture only)
The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Champions of the Force (Card: Extraction) (Picture only)
The Essential Atlas
Ask Aak in the Databank
Dug in the Databank
Gran in the Databank
Mawhonic in the Databank
Mawhonic's podracer in the Databank
Aks Moe in the Databank
Ree-Yees in the Databank
Saleucami in the Databank
Sebulba's podracer in the Databank

I would like to thank Wookieepedia for this info.