INFO: Gands were sentient insectoid species who evolved on the ammonia-gas planet Gand. There were two main sub-species of Gands: those with lungs and those without lungs. Gands with lungs were used to Gand's atmosphere, but like Kel Dors, they required a special breathing gear if they wanted to leave Gand to manage potentially poisonous offworld gas mixtures. Gands had special regeneration properties.
RACE: Gand
HEIGHT: 1.4 to 1.6 Meters Tall
SKIN (EXOSKELETON): Tan
DISTINCTION: Exoskeletons
LANGUAGE: Gand
HOMEWORLD:Gand was a planet in the Outer Rim Territories. It was the homeworld of the Gand species.
A gaseous planet, Gand's atmosphere was comprised primarily of ammonia, making it lethal to most galactic lifeforms. Discovered prior to 3,951 BBY, the planet was later overrun by the Galactic Empire. Imperial agents brought sophisticated sensor equipment on-world, to the detriment of the native findsmen.
Small pocket colonies covered the surface, all of which were ruled by the Gand's totalitarianism government.
BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:Gands were stocky insect-like humanoids covered in a chitinous exoskeleton. They possessed large, bug-like eyes with a visual range that included the ultraviolet spectrum, and only three fingers on each hand. These digits, though, were capable of punching through stormtrooper armor, as evidenced by Ooryl Qrygg, a Gand pilot with Rogue Squadron, on the planet Talasea. The subspecies that didn't have lungs did not respire, as they obtained all the metabolic ingredients they need through the ingestion of their food. This made lungless Gands immune to poisonous gasses. Usually, they spoke Gand, but to speak with other beings they required the aid of a muscular gas bladder that allowed them to, among other things, draw in gases and expel them at a controlled rate through pieces of their exoskeleton that vibrated to approximate speech. These Gands also made use of translator vocoders to compensate for their lack of vocal cords.
Gands needed only a fraction of the amount of sleep needed by Humans, and were able to 'store' sleep to use in times when they would not be able to get much rest.
Gands also possessed remarkable regenerative abilities; Ooryl Qrygg, was able to grow a severed arm back within months, although he was assisted by a bacta cast. The exoskeleton appeared more pale and chalky in hue than normal until the regeneration process was complete.
Many Gands, primarily a group of bounty hunters who left for Nar Shaddaa, regularly visited Jekk'Jekk Tarr where they could find gas fumes similar to these present on their homeworld. Some of them were probably killed by the Jedi Exile during her search for Quarren Visquis.
CULTURE AND HISTORY:Gand society placed heavy importance on the achievements of an individual and held that an individual had no name, and thus no worth, until he proved otherwise. Young or unproven Gands were all called "Gand," a first feat earned the use of a family surname, and a second allowed for the use of a chosen first name, all with third-person self-reference. A storied Gand could earn the right to use the first person after many feats and accomplishments and the ritual aptitude test, the Janwuine-jika. If a Gand were ashamed of his actions, it would reduce his name to earlier stages when talking about himself. Use of the first person was considered arrogant, as it implied those a Gand was speaking to should already know his identity. Once a Gand became janwuine, this was considered a reasonable presumption, as all other Gands would know his name and accomplishments.
Findsman
Within Gand society, a select few felt the call to the path of the findsman. A findsman interpreted the movements of gases on Gand to predict the location of criminals. Part shaman, part law enforcer, a findsman would augur the location of a fugitive, track him and bring him to justice. The findsmen were known for being very reliable. Many attributed their success to the Force, believing that findsmen were actually Force-sensitive. A few findsmen were led away from Gand by the allure of the galaxy and used their abilities as bounty hunters.
APPEARANCES:Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 6: Commencement, Part 6
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
Darth Maul: Saboteur
Marked
Star Wars Republic: Rite of Passage
Star Wars Republic: The Battle of Jabiim
Jedi: Yoda
Star Wars Republic: Show of Force
Star Wars Dark Times: The Path to Nowhere
The Force Unleashed novel (Mentioned only)
Underworld: The Yavin Vassilika
Star Wars Missions 11: Bounty Hunters vs. Battle Droids
Rookies: Rendezvous
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back novel (First appearance)
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Infinities: The Empire Strikes Back (Non-canonical appearance)
Of Possible Futures: The Tale of Zuckuss and 4-LOM
Shadows of the Empire comic
The Bounty Hunter Wars
X-wing: Rogue Squadron
X-wing: Wedge's Gamble
X-wing: The Krytos Trap
X-wing: The Bacta War
X-wing: Solo Command
X-wing: Isard's Revenge
I, Jedi
Star Wars: Union
Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse
Dark Nest I: The Joiner King (Mentioned only)
Inferno (Mentioned only)
SOURCES:Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back toy line
Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995)
Alien Anthology
Ultimate Alien Anthology
The Essential Guide to Alien Species
The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive
Alliance Intelligence Reports
Arkanian Chill
Scum and Villainy
The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
Rebellion Era Campaign Guide
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Champions of the Force (Card: Expedition Team Leader) (Picture only)
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Champions of the Force (Card: Asteroid Prospecting) (Picture only)
The Essential Atlas
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