INFO: The Chevs were one of the two native sentient species of the planet Vinsoth. These humanoids were slaves of the Chevin, Vinsoth's other indigenous people, for most of their recorded history, a fact which shaped their culture and their interactions with the rest of the galaxy.
RACE: Chev
HEIGHT: 1.2 to 1.6 Meters Tall
SKIN: Pale white, slate grey
DISTINCTION: Lidless eyes, two hearts
LANGUAGE: Chev
HOMEWORLD:Vinsoth was the home planet of the Chevin and Chev species in the Quelii sector of the Outer Rim Territories. It was a temperate planet with zones of grasslands and prairies, arctic ice, and deserts.
The Chevin had a skin that could adapt to all three environments. In 3,000,000 BBY, an asteroid collided with the planet, killing most life on its surface, but the remaining survivors evolved into the Chevin. The Chevin were nomads, following herds of the native grazing backshin and keeping their Chev slaves in small farming and manufacturing villages. The planet was composed of seven continents, each ruled by a Chevin dictator who remained stationary, while the rest of the Chevin migrated. After the Battle of Endor, Ephant Mon established a Force-cult temple on the planet and advocated Chev liberation.
After the Yuuzhan Vong War, many Chevins favored abolishing slavery and joining the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances. However, they had to form secret societies, as they were persecuted as traitors by the local dictators, who sent assassins after them.
BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:Though they were sometimes classed as Near-Humans, other sources indicate that they were humanoids who evolved from Vinsoth's indigenous primates. By the time of the Galactic Empire's rise, they had been enslaved by the pachydermoid Chevin for millennia.
The outward appearance of the Chevs was generally similar to that of Humans, with pale skin, short blond or white head hair, no facial hair, and heavy brows. Their hair was often dyed in bright colors to identify them as property of a particular Chevin. Their lidless eyes were black to violet in color, and were protected by thin transparent membranes. They were physiologically much like other humanoid species, with their twin hearts being a notable exception. According to sources such as The University of Sanbra Guide to Intelligent Life, one Chev heart could take over when the other failed, allowing Chevs to live for up to three hundred standard years. As Chev slaves could outlive their Chevin masters, this meant that Chevin slave-owners often left prize slaves to relatives in their wills. Other sources, however, gave a more modest 75 years as a typical Chev life expectancy.
CULTURE AND HISTORY:The Chevs originally developed a civilization on Vinsoth thousands of years before the Imperial era, thriving for some time before they were enslaved by the Chevin. Since the Chevin were a nomadic people, the Chevs were forced to live nomadically as well. Their temporary settlements of tents and lean-tos were ruled by a Chevin overseer, with the oldest female Chev acting as the leader among the slaves. Giving what political power the Chevs had to the oldest among them was criticized by some younger Chevs, who believed this simply perpetuated the system of slavery. Generations of subjugation had left most Chev docile and submissive. Despite this, they would gather at night to try and understand the strengths and weaknesses of their masters, in hopes that a future generation might someday have the courage and the opportunity to free their people. The Chevs even had legends which foretold that someday, they would become masters of the galaxy.
As nomadic slaves, they wore simple garments, and had few possessions. Despite this, they had a rich culture, strong in folklore and the visual arts. Their cultural rituals were tolerated by their masters, and even encouraged as a way to keep the Chevs content. Some Chevin even found lucrative offworld markets for the art of their Chev slaves. Chevs were also highly skilled technically, though they sometimes hid their technical expertise from their masters.
IN THE GALAXY:Chev slaves were found off-world as well, whether owned by traveling Chevin or sold to non-Chevin masters. Some free Chevs existed away from Vinsoth, escaping either by stowing away on visiting starships or fleeing their masters offworld. Free Chevs tried to keep a low profile, and avoid politics for the most part. Some became quite wealthy, and used their wealth to take almost paranoid precautions against losing their new found freedom. Off-world Chevs who had escaped slavery often dressed elaborately, or tattooed or dyed their skin, in order to express their previously suppressed individuality and set themselves apart from their enslaved brethren.
During the Galactic Civil War, some Chevs became part of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, where they befriended members of other enslaved species such as the Wookiees. Interestingly, some Chevin were disgusted by their people's reliance on slavery. A few of these Chevin left Vinsoth, and joined the Alliance. (It is not recorded if any of them worked alongside free Chevs, however.) Ephant Mon, a Chevin ex-criminal and religious leader, led a movement to emancipate the Chev on Vinsoth.
Jedi Master Tresina Lobi, who fought in the Yuuzhan Vong War and the Swarm War, was a Chev.
APPEARANCES:Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Prophet Motive
SPECIAL REPORT: The Death Stick Scourge—HoloNet News Vol. 531 49
"A Mon Alone"
Mission to Lianna
X-wing: Solo Command
Balance Point
Destiny's Way
The Unifying Force
Dark Nest I: The Joiner King
Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
Tempest
Exile
Fury
Omen
SOURCES:Galaxy Guide 12: Aliens — Enemies and Allies
The Essential Guide to Alien Species
The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
Alien Anthology
Ultimate Alien Anthology
I would like to thank Wookieepedia for this info.
