INFO: The Gorvan Horansi were a Horansi subspecies, native to Mutanda, and were the rulers of the Horansi tribes, providing guidance and justice according to Horansi law.
RACE: Gorvan Horansi
HEIGHT: 2.6 to 3 Meters Tall
SKIN (FUR): Blond-tan to reddish-brown
DISTINCTION: Thick mane (males upon puberty only)
LANGUAGE: Mutanda
HOMEWORLD:Mutanda was a planet in the Kiilaniri system. The planet was a rolling land of grasslands, jungles, and natural wonders. In addition to the sentient Horansi, the world had many different species of big game animals, resulting in a booming legalized safari trade. Primarily, Mutanda was a planet for exotic hunting vacations and was easily accessible because of the spaceport on the satellite of Justa. However, the encroachments of poachers resulted in the extinction of many species of Mutandan wildlife.
Mutanda was a planet in the Kiilaniri system. The planet was a rolling land of grasslands, jungles, and natural wonders. The sentient race, the Horansi, were actually divided into four distinct subspecies. In addition to the Horansi, the world had many different species of big game animals, resulting in a booming legalized safari trade. However, the encroachments of poachers resulted in the extinction of many species of Mutandan wildlife.
Mutanda, like the Killaniri system, were part of the galactic community for hundreds of years. Primarily, Mutanda was a planet for exotic hunting vacations and was easily accessible because of the spaceport on the satellite of Justa.
Mutanda was primarily a temperate plains planet, with wild, open grassland, dotted with copses of trees. The planet was generally warm and arid, with light gravity, few rains and a light but breathable atmosphere. The arid plains had few rains—primarily at the onset of the cooler winter season—and were often under drought conditions. The rare streams, rivers and watering holes were areas of prime contention amongst rival Horansi tribes and wild animal herds. The mountain and forest regions saw much more rain, also primarily during winter, but they were still quite dry and water was a precious commodity.
Many "common" species of the galaxy were also found on Mutanda. Several species grew to larger than typical sizes on this world, and invariably, all of the species were aggressive and dangerous.
BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:The Horansi are carnivorous hunters who are divided into four distinct sub-species. They share some common characteristic. They are bipedal, although run using all four limb for speed. All Horansi are covered with thick hair of varying coloration, dependent upon subspecies. The Gorvan Horansi have a thick mane of hair trailing down the back of their skulls and necks, while the Kasa Horansi have thick, striped fur and tufts of hair behind their great triangular ears.
The Gorvan Horansi stood on average between 2.6 and 3 meters in height and their fur varied in color from a blonde-gold to a reddish-tan, and the males sported manes upon reaching puberty.
All Horansi have excellent vision in low-light conditions, but only the Mashi Horansi are nocturnal. Horansi have an atypical activity cycle, with alternating periods of rest and activity, normally four to six hours long.
Horansi sub-species can cross breed, but these occurrences are rare, primarily due to cultural differences. The Gorvan Horansi are an exception, and have been known to forcibly take wives from other Horansi.
CULTURE AND HISTORY:As the ruling caste, each House or Pride's duty was to the care of its peoples and its lands. The Nkosi (lord) saw to the protection of his fief, as well as the upholding of laws and the expenditure of justice, and his Mbwana (second in command) was there to assist him as his right hand.
There were also a handful of trusted Gambas (warriors) who were bodyguards to the Nkosi and his family, as well as commanders of the fief's Kasa warriors. Female Gorvan were not only respected for their ability to give birth, but also their talents in tending to the house, the fief, and trade. The wives of the Nkosi were responsible not only for the care of the house-hold and its larder, but the stores of foodstuffs and other necessities of the fief, as well as trade with other fiefs and offworlders.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT:Despite the industrial development being carried out on Mutanda by such corporations as BlasTech and Czerka, most Horansi communities find it more satisfying to retain a primitive and war-like lifestyle. They don't want to unite their people; instead they are manipulated by petty criminals, local corporations, poachers, and powerful tribal leaders. Off-worlders occasionally come to Mutanda to hunt the Horansi for their gorgeous pelts.
Through strength of numbers and a war-like nature, the golden-maned Gorvan Horansi are the defacto rulers of Mutanda. They actively encourage hunting and they have no qualms about hunting other Horansi races. Gorvan Horansi are polygamous: a tribe is composed of one adult male, all of his wives, and all of the children. As a Gorvan's male children reach maturity, there is a battle to see who will lead the tribe. The loser, if he is not killed in the battle, is free to leave and establish a new tribe. Many Gorvans in recent years have found employment at the spaceport on Justa.
The Gorvan Horansi have purchased many more weapons than the Kasa, but have shown no interest in the other benefits of technology. Through sheer numbers, they are able to control the other Horansi races, but they don't have a complete control over the situation. Imperial representatives have only recognized and accorded rights to the Gorvan, or specific individuals from other groups if they are "sponsored" by a Gorvan.
Gorvan Horansi are war-like, belligerent, deceitful, and openly aggressive to almost anyone. They dominate the plains of Mutanda and have been able to control the planet and the interactions of off-worlders with the other Horansi races.
LOCATIONS:The Justa starport was a great subterranean complex, with surface-level docking facilities for up to 50 light freighters. Larger bulk transports were assigned orbits around the satellite. Jointly owned by BlasTech Corporation, Czerka Weapons and Blethern Gas Industries, this was truly a corporate facility. All of the personnel were dependent upon the corporations and the prothium refining stations for their livelihood. Ships not owned by these corporations were charged exorbitant fees for the services the starport provides: approximately 200 percent of standard costs.
However, there was also a great deal of opportunity aboard the starport, which was a bustling trade city. The companies generally ignored illegal activities if they were handled with secrecy, and the station became a haven for mercenaries. Many Horansi came to the station and were hired out as scouts, or were very useful in opening up trade with Horansi tribes on the surface of Mutanda. A great deal of trade was also geared to the many hunting expeditions that came to Mutanda, since most of these tourists had a great deal of disposable income.
APPEARANCES:None
SOURCES:Alien Encounters
Planets of the Galaxy, Volume One
"Wanted by Cracken" - Star Wars Adventure Journal 6
The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
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