INFO: Gotals have spread themselves throughout the galaxy and can be found on almost every planet possessing a significant population of non-Humans. They have found employment in mercenary armies and as members of planetary armies, where they make excellent lead men on combat teams, as they are rarely fooled by sophisticated traps or camouflages (although, due to concerns expressed by high ranking officers in the Imperial military regarding a possibly tendency for the Gotals to empathize with their enemies, they are banned from service in the forces of the Empire). Along these same lines, they make excellent bounty hunters and trackers.
Gotals have also made a name for themselves as counselors and diplomats, using their enhanced perceptions to help other beings cope with a wide range of psychological problems and situations. They can often anticipate tension and mood swings, not to mention misinformation.
Many individuals are uncomfortable in the company of the Gotal claiming that they can read minds. While this is not accurate, it is true that the Gotal can use data received from their cones to make educated guesses as to what the activity levels in certain areas of a creature's brain might mean. Of course, this ability makes them formidable opponents in business, politics, and gambling, and it is rumored that the finest gamblers in the galaxy learn to bluff by trying to trick Gotal acquaintances.
However beneficial it might seem, sensitivity to so many forms of energy input can be a hindrance in some situations. Gotals senses become overloaded in the presence of droids or other high-energy machines, and this fact has kept the Gotal from utilizing many modern technological advances, as well as from developing them.
RACE: Gotal
HEIGHT: 1.8 to 2.1 Meters Tall
SKIN: Gray-brown to black
DISTINCTION: Full body fur, flat noses, head cones
LANGUAGE: Antarian
HOMEWORLD:Antar 4 was the fourth of six moons orbiting the gas giant Antar and was homeworld of the Gotal race. The planet had wild seasons, extreme tidal variations, and strange phases of light and dark caused by the parent planet eclipsing the sun and reflecting the light from the system's star. Sixty percent of Antar 4 was covered by water. Its rotation even prevented ice caps from forming at its poles.
Principal elements on Antar 4 included silicon, nickel, and iron. Magnetite, which was the most abundant, would form from the presence of the iron and was invaluable to life on the moon. Xenobiologists believe that the magnetite's magnetism in conjunction with the stars' electromagnetic field led to the unique sensory abilities acquired by the Gotal. Please see post below for further info on this planet.
BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:The Gotal species evolved on Antar 4, the mineral-rich fourth moon of the gas giant Antar in the Prindaar system. As the moon of a gas giant, Antar 4 was a world with a complex day/night cycle. Sometimes, one side of Antar 4 would be illuminated by the sun Prindaar, while the other received almost the same amount of light from the highly reflective surface of the gas giant Antar. At other times, Antar would block all sunlight to both hemispheres. As light was not always available there, Antarian animal life could not rely on sight as a primary sense.
To compensate for this, the ancestors of the Gotals evolved cranial horns as receptors to sense electromagnetism and other energy emissions. These nerve-ending filled cones could sense the natural electromagnetic fields produced by Antar, Prindaar, and Antar 4's magnetite-rich crust. Their senses also picked up the electromagnetic auras from other life forms. Gotal hunters could sense their quarry from up to ten kilometers away, and could track herds of quivry for weeks. Gotal horns were even sensitive enough to pick up such indistinct signals as neutrino emissions. Electronic devices could also be sensed by Gotals: in fact, most droids gave off enough electromagnetic emissions to seriously disorient a Gotal. Gotals relied heavily on their cones, with their eyesight and hearing being quite weak, and their sense of smell almost completely absent.
Though standard reference works such as the Catalog of Intelligent Life in the Galaxy were silent on the subject, some records indicate that Gotals may have been able to sense the Force with their cones. While the writings of Mammon Hoole described this as a rumor which had "yet to be proven,"other sources indicate that both the Jedi Order and the Galactic Empire had conducted inconclusive research which attempted to train Gotals to sense the Force. The records of the Gotals themselves were split on the issue. Those sources which did describe Gotals sensing the Force varied in their descriptions. Some sources described it as an intense, overwhelming sensation, while others treated it as a mere "indistinct buzzing". At least one Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker, believed that sensing the Force could cause Gotals headaches. Any ability to sense the use of the Force with their cones did not hinder Gotals who were Force-sensitive in the conventional sense from learning to use the Force, however.
Gotals had flat faces with reddish eyes, small, flat noses, and shaggy fur covering most of their bodies. Their overall body plan was humanoid, with proportions generally similar to Humans. Both of their hands had four fingers and a thumb, with short, conical claws on each digit. Their skin color varied from gray-brown to black, and their fur came in shades of brown or gray. While male Gotals typically had a thick fringe of hair around their cheeks and chins, this was absent in female Gotals.
CULTURE AND HISTORY:Although they were easily disoriented around devices that produced high levels of electromagnetic interference, the Gotals managed to develop quite sophisticated levels of technology. Using chemical reactions where other species would use electronics, the Gotals managed to colonize four of Antar's other five moons, and set up mining operations on the fifth, even before Galactic Republic explorers contacted them.
The Gotals joined the Galactic Republic early in its history, becoming one of the first species to send representatives to its newly formed Galactic Senate. Kith Kark, a Jedi killed during the Freedon Nadd Uprising, is the earliest known Gotal to make his mark on galactic history. Goethar Kleej and his son Aubin came to prominence during the Mandalorian Wars a few decades later as swoop-duelists on the space station Jervo's World.
In later centuries, one of their most notable contributions to Republic society was the Antarian Rangers, founded in 620 BBY to assist the Jedi. Co-founded by the Human Jedi Master Marus Timpel and the Gotal businessman Kaskutal, this organization grew to become a major non-Jedi paramilitary auxiliary, working alongside the Jedi Order to protect the Galactic Republic.
In the Republic's final years, however, the relationship between the Gotals and the rest of the galaxy became increasingly strained. The Duinuogwuin-Gotal conflict between 35 and 33 BBY was a short, but intense struggle which required the intervention of the Jedi Masters Jorus C'baoth and Tra's M'ins to bring to an end. Tensions between the Gotals and the rest of the galaxy continued over the next decade, however.
During the Separatist Crisis of 22 BBY, many Gotals supported the Gotal Assembly for Separation, or its more violent splinter group the Roshu Sune. After Roshu Sune terrorists set off bombs in Antarian Ranger chapterhouses, the Jedi and their Antarian Ranger allies invaded Antar 4 in retaliation. During the Battle of Antar 4, the Jedi and the Antarian Rangers took heavy casualties. They used electromagnetic pulse weapons in desperation, even though such weapons caused immense pain and disorientation for civilian Gotals caught in the crossfire. The Jedi response turned the Gotals, and the people of thousands of other worlds, against the Republic. After the battle, many Gotal refugees fled to Atzerri, leading to the Gotal hostage standoff. During the Clone Wars, Antar 4 was conquered by the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The Gotals did not benefit from the war, and were greatly impoverished during the Confederate occupation. Around this time, a Gotal team was entered in the Cularin Classic swoop race on the planet Cularin and was represented by the racer Arum Oru.
At the war's end, the Gotals became subjects of the Galactic Empire. The Imperial military refused to let Gotals serve in the military, believing they were too apt to empathize with their enemies. Only a minority of Gotals were willing to work with the Empire in any case, since their empathic sense led them to distrust the promises of Imperial diplomats. During the Galactic Civil War, some Gotal soldiers became mercenaries and bounty hunters, while others joined the Rebellion or its successor, the Alliance of Free Planets. The financier Sarlim Gastess, who headed the Imperial-aligned corporation Gastess' Finance, Inc., the "precog" bounty hunter Glott, and the Tatooine bureaucrat and part-time bounty hunter Feltipern Trevagg were among the few Gotals who served Imperial interests.
During the time of the New Republic, Gotals were one of the nonhuman races targeted in Warlord Zsinj's plot to destabilize the New Republic. The operation was able to brainwash certain individuals to attempt to assassinate major leaders in the New Republic. Three of the targets included Wedge Antilles, Admiral Ackbar, and Mon Mothma, whose intended assassin was Tolokai, her trusted Gotal bodyguard. The intent of the operation was to breed distrust between Humans and prominent nonhuman races of the New Republic. The operation was ultimately foiled. By 9 ABY, the New Republic had liberated their homeworld, together with the rest of the Inner Rim Territories. At the end of the Yuuzhan Vong War, Antar 4 became a part of the Galactic Alliance. Gotal senator Ta'laam Ranth served on the Alliance's High Council as Minister of Justice.
In 130 ABY, at least two Gotals were involved with the new Sith Order: an unnamed Sith who took part in the Massacre at Ossus, and the spy and information broker Attatag Gosem.
IN THE GALAXY:After joining galactic society, Gotals could be found on almost any planet with a significant non-Human population, including Centares, Berchest, Tatooine, and Engebo V. They avoided the city-planets of the Core Worlds, however, due to the disorienting effects of the many droids and electronic devices on such planets. The most sensitive Gotals even avoided the relatively low-level emissions of Antar 4's city centers, preferring to live in remote wilderness areas. Some time after the Yuuzhan Vong War, some Gotals began wearing cone socks to muffle electromagnetic interference in energy-rich environments. Though these were expensive garments at first, they quickly grew in popularity for Gotals traveling in galactic society. Well integrated into the galactic community, most Gotals were fluent in both Antarian and Basic.
Their electromagnetic senses often led them to employment as trackers, soldiers, and bounty hunters. Gotal hunters and soldiers were difficult to ambush or trap, and easily saw through most attempts at camouflage. They prided themselves on tracking difficult targets, referring to the Gotal proverb "What is easily achieved is easily lost." Some Gotal hunters had developed their empathic skills well enough to accurately and quickly anticipate their enemies' moves—these were referred to as "precogs".
Thanks to their empathic abilities, they also worked as diplomats, counselors, and even professional gamblers. This sort of employment gave rise to the erroneous belief that Gotals were telepathic, a misconception which made some people uncomfortable and suspicious when dealing with Gotals. In fact, the opposite was often true—Gotals with little experience dealing with non-Gotals frequently misunderstood their emotional states, mistaking moderate anger for imminent violent intent, and mild affection for love.
GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY:Since their natural empathy made them instantly sensitive to the feelings of others, Gotals had little use for government or laws on their homeworld. This resulted in problems when dealing with non-Gotal societies. For example, no central authority figure could speak for Antar 4 as a whole in a crisis, and no organized Gotal military or police force could act on their behalf. The Gotal Foreign Affairs Commune, a group which existed circa 22 BBY, did act as spokespeople for the Gotals during diplomatic crises, but their role in Gotal government is otherwise uncertain. Though they had little government of their own, Gotals did send representatives to participate in galactic-level governments, and Gotals living among non-Gotals even worked in local government bureaucracies.
THE GOTAL CONES:In addition to sensing energy emissions in their environment and the presence of their prey animals, Gotals used their cones to monitor subtle changes in one another's electromagnetic auras. This ability to quickly and easily judge another Gotal's emotional state was fundamental to their culture. For example, love at first "sight" was the norm among Gotals, whose empathic nature made the elaborate courtship rituals of other sentients unnecessary. Gotals only spoke to each other to relay abstract information, since they had no need to vocally express their emotions. (Ironically, since Gotals spoke in a non-inflected monotone, they seemed emotionless to Humans and other non-Gotals).
Young Gotals often had trouble assimilating the information arriving from their cones, and were in a constant state of agitated confusion until they learned to filter unwanted signals after about one standard year. Even then, it took them until the age of twelve to attain emotional maturity, and they could sometimes be nearly psychotic until then. Despite this, Gotal parents were devoted to their children, and young Gotals would have children as soon as they could manage it. Mature Gotals were generally calm and peaceful individuals.
The ruthless Imperial era financier Sarlim Gastess was among the few Gotals whose cones were non-functional. Perhaps because of his inability to sense emotions, this "blind" Gotal was a fearsome psychopath by his people's standards.
According to Gotal myth, their head cones could detect evil.
APPEARANCES:Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Dueling Ambitions
"Survivors" - Star Wars Tales 13
"Incident at Horn Station" - Star Wars Tales 2
Cloak of Deception
Star Wars: Darth Maul
Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter
Star Wars Republic: Twilight
Star Wars: Jango Fett
Coruscant Restricts Immigration—HoloNet News Vol. 531 51 (Picture only)
Gotal Guerillas Hijack Commuter Hopper, Take Hostages—HoloNet News Vol. 531 52
Gotal Standoff Ends Violently—HoloNet News Vol. 531 53
Quick Poll—HoloNet News Vol. 531 53
"Elusion Illusion" - Star Wars Insider 66
"Twi'light Storm"
Boba Fett: Maze of Deception
Star Wars Republic 62: No Man's Land (Silhouette) (Cover only)
Jedi: Count Dooku
The Cestus Deception (Mentioned only)
MedStar I: Battle Surgeons
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 21"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Volume 1: Shipyards of Doom (Mentioned only)
"Cloak and Vibroblade"
Labyrinth of Evil
Evasive Action: Recruitment
Evasive Action: Prey (Mentioned only)
Star Wars Dark Times: Parallels
The Hutt Gambit
A Hunter's Fate: Greedo's Tale webstrip
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (First appearance)
Nightlily: The Lovers' Tale
The Star Wars Holiday Special
Star Wars 23: Flight Into Fury
Star Wars 29: Dark Encounter
Star Wars 31: Return to Tatooine
Star Wars Galaxies – An Empire Divided
"Tinian on Trial" - Star Wars Adventure Journal 4
"To Fight Another Day" - Star Wars Adventure Journal 6
"Only Droids Serve the Maker" - Star Wars Adventure Journal 10
River of Chaos
The Truce at Bakura
"A Credit for Your Thoughts" - Star Wars Gamer 2
The Politics of Contraband
The Abduction
X-wing Rogue Squadron: Masquerade
X-wing: Wedge's Gamble
X-wing: The Krytos Trap (Mentioned only)
X-wing: Solo Command
The Courtship of Princess Leia
Relic
Dark Force Rising (Mentioned only)
The Last Command
Children of the Jedi
Planet of Twilight
The New Rebellion
Dark Tide II: Ruin
Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial
Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse
Tatooine Ghost
Balance Point
Recovery
Star by Star
Destiny's Way
Force Heretic III: Reunion
The Unifying Force
Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
Exile
Star Wars Legacy: Broken
Star Wars Legacy 35: Storms, Part 2
Triplet Threat on Wizards.com (article)
Death, Dirt, and the Nerf Rancher's Daughter on Wizards.com (article)
Abyss
SOURCES:Galaxy Guide 4: Alien Races (First Edition) (First identified as Gotal)
Galaxy Guide 4: Alien Races (Second Edition)
Cracken's Rebel Operatives
Galaxy Guide 9: Fragments from the Rim
Dark Force Rising Sourcebook
The Last Command Sourcebook
The Truce at Bakura Sourcebook
Tales of the Jedi Companion
The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons
The Essential Guide to Alien Species
Alien Anthology
Ultimate Alien Anthology
Hero's Guide
The New Essential Chronology
Star Wars Legacy 0
The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
StarWars.com Cantina Roll-Call: Shedding Light on Some Alien Aliases on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org)
Antarian Rangers on Wizards.com (article)
The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
The Essential Atlas
Givin in the Databank
Gotal in the Databank
Sarrisa Jeng in the Databank
M'iiyoom Onith in the Databank
I would to thank Wookieepedia for this info.
