INFO: Cantrosian were a cat-like race who was ruled by the female populace.
RACE: Cantrosian
HEIGHT: 2 Meters Tall
SKIN (FUR): Variable
DISTINCTION: Cat-like
LANGUAGE: Cantrosese
HOMEWORLD:Cantros 7 was a planet located within the Outer Rim of the galaxy. The world was inhabited by a species of sentient felinoids who joined the Alliance to Restore the Republic during the Galactic Civil War. Having been ignorant of the defeat of the Galactic Empire at the Battle of Endor, two separate Rebel cells that had been established there continued to fight the Empire, not realizing that they were actually fighting each other as a result of being duped by Lumiya. Luke Skywalker eventually succeeded in exposing the truth to both sides.
BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:Cartosian stand roughly human-sized, averaging 2 Meters Tall. They are descended from four-limbed, upright, feline stock originally adapted to a solitary arboreal existence.
The earliest explorers saw in them a vague resemblance to the cats of coruscant and they have been described as cat-like ever since, although there is very little true similarity. There are two sexes, male and female. The most notable external difference is the increased size. Females outnumber males by 3:1
Cartosian have a single highly specialized dewclaw under each thumb which folds back jackknife fashion into a horny covering in the base of the thumb and palm.
CULTURE AND HISTORY:The Cartosian are a warrior race, proud, noble, and devoted to those in authority above them. An individual Cartosian is usually a member of a family of from 2 to 12 individuals under a matriarchal leader. Several families will combine into a pride with one family dominant. A number of prides form a clan, again with a top pride. Aside from military organizations and the ruling council (within the Hierate), the clan is the highest social-political organization among the Cartosian.
A deep-seated territorial instinct causes the Cartosian to have an inordinate (from a human standpoint) concern with land. For male Cartosians, owning land is a major goal in life. An Cartosian's stature is determined by the amount of land she (or her husband) controls, or by the amount of land owned by any higher lady the Cartosian may be vassal to. The lowest classes of Cartosian are landless, and provide the farmers, laborers, craftsmen, and factory workers. A holder of a large territory will often grant authority over it to vassals (usually daughters, sisters, or female relatives by marriage) who administer the land in her name.
The sexes have very different roles in Cartosian society. Females (in all but the lowest classes) are concerned mostly with the accumulation of knowledge, , trade, acquisition of territory, and political affairs. Males are concerned with military operations and industry. Upper class males have little conception of money and are literally incapable of functioning in a technological society without aid, so they are thus seldom encountered without the supervision of a wife, mother, or other female relative or employer.
For instance, a typical Cartosian mercenary unit will be organized by a wealthy married female, who will then assign its operation, for a share of the proceeds, to an unmarried female relative. The battle commander and most of the troops will be unmarried males (many of them also relatives) hired with the promise of land grants (and the opportunity to gain honor and reputation in combat); however, staff, operations, supply, and intelligence officers will generally be female.
The extremely deadly nature of any combat between Cartosian has led to a rigid, ritualized pattern of behavior designed to reduce conflict. Cartosian are very polite, and while most have learned to be patient with non-cartosian, accidental fights still occur. Disputes between individuals are handled by the matriarchs; disputes between families are handled by the pride leader; disputes between prides are handled by the clan leader.
APPEARANCES:Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows
Star Wars 93: Catspaw
SOURCES:None
I would like to thank Wookieepedia for this info.
