Star Wars Universe Roleplaying Game

Kian'thar

Kian’thar are a lesser-known but intriguing Star Wars species whose lore appears primarily in roleplaying game material and expanded references. Canon sources offer little direct information, but Legends-friendly sources agree that they are tall, perceptive humanoids from the world of Shaum Hii, known for their emotional sensitivity and close relationship with their world’s aquatic and coastal ecosystems. Rather than dominating their environment through heavy industry, Kian’thar societies are often described as working with animal life and natural cycles, using domesticated creatures for transport, labor, and food in a way that blends practicality with respect.

Biology and appearance notes depict the Kian’thar as large, well-muscled humanoids with purplish or pink-tinged heads, keratin plates protecting the neck, and large, deep-set eyes. Many sources highlight two dangling, tentacle-like olfactory organs on their faces, which give them a distinctive, almost cephalopod-like profile. These organs, alongside other facial tendrils or small tentacles above the eyes and below the mouth, help them interpret chemical cues in their environment, making them remarkably adept at reading subtle scents—and, by extension, the emotional states and physical conditions of those around them.

Shaum Hii itself is generally presented as a world with extensive oceans, dark swamps, and coastal regions where Kian’thar culture took shape. According to Legends roleplaying material, they evolved from land-dwelling reptiles in swampy regions and later moved toward shorelines and open water, developing a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Their societies rely heavily on herding large aquatic or semi-aquatic herd beasts and using massive flying or swimming animals—such as Bentails and Derlacs—for transportation, trade, and farming. While exact ecological details vary slightly across sources, all agree that Kian’thar culture is deeply intertwined with animal husbandry and environmental rhythms.

Multiple game references describe Kian’thar as perceptive, empathetic beings with a reputation for sensing the emotions of others. This ability is not explicitly classified as Force-sensitivity in the source material but is often presented as a natural species trait, likely tied to their enhanced olfactory and sensory biology. Their knack for reading moods, tensions, and unspoken intentions makes them valuable mediators, merchants, or guides, especially in environments where misreading a situation could prove fatal.

Kian’thar involvement in broader galactic affairs appears limited, reflecting either a cultural preference for remaining close to home or the logistical challenges of leaving an ecosystem to which they are so well adapted. Those who do travel offworld are often herders-turned-merchants, scouts, scouts-for-hire, or specialists who leverage their environmental knowledge and empathy to navigate foreign politics. Expanded sources portray them as cautious but fair dealers, preferring stable arrangements and long-term partnerships over quick, risky gains.

Because most of the detailed information about Kian’thar comes from Star Wars roleplaying game supplements and fan-curated lore, some aspects of their society are open to interpretation. However, the consistent themes—semi-aquatic origins, reliance on domesticated beasts, emotional sensitivity, and physical resilience—offer a strong foundation for SWURPG storytelling. They occupy an archetypal space as pastoral or coastal peoples whose lives are defined by tides, migrations, and the health of their herds.

In SWURPG, Kian’thar characters fit naturally into roles that blur the line between shaman, scout, and negotiator. They bring a unique blend of physical robustness and quiet perception, making them ideal for campaigns involving frontier worlds, environmental threats, or delicate inter-species diplomacy. While their lore is less prominent than that of Twi’leks or Kel Dor, their thematic focus on emotional insight and ecological connection gives them a distinct identity in the Star Wars galaxy.

Where sources diverge slightly—for example, on the precise balance between swamp and open ocean habitats—any further elaboration should be treated as informed speculation rather than hard fact. Game Masters and players are encouraged to build on the existing framework of herding cultures, semi-aquatic evolution, and empathic perception without contradicting the core traits established in published material.

Home Planet: Shaum Hii
Physical Description: Kian’thar are tall, broad-shouldered humanoids, generally standing between 1.8 and 2.1 meters in height, with robust musculature shaped by labor-intensive lifestyles and challenging environments. Their most striking physical feature is their head structure: purplish-pink in coloration, protected at the neck and upper shoulders by keratin plates that function like natural armor. These plates help shield them from bites, environmental hazards, and the rough contact inherent in working with large herd animals.

Their faces are adorned with distinctive sensory organs. Two prominent, tentacle-like olfactory appendages hang from the facial region, allowing Kian’thar to sample air and water for chemical cues. Smaller tendrils or tentacles may appear above the eyes and below the mouth, giving them a somewhat alien but expressive visage. Their large, deep-set eyes provide excellent low-light vision, well suited to the dim swamps and overcast coastal regions where many Kian’thar communities developed.

Their skin is often described as tough and scale-like, arranged in plates or ridges that both protect and insulate. This reptilian texture reflects their evolutionary origins in humid, swampy habitats and later adaptation to aquatic or semi-aquatic conditions. Their limbs are powerful and steady, capable of supporting long walks through mud, wading through water, or managing large animals in crowded pens or on floating platforms.

Clothing and gear among the Kian’thar tend to be practical: thick waterproof fabrics, harnesses for handling beasts, and utility belts designed for tools, feed, and other necessities. Jewelry or ornamentation, when present, often incorporates shells, carved bone, or symbols tied to herds and migration routes rather than abstract wealth. Offworld Kian’thar may adopt more standard galactic attire but often retain elements that accommodate or display their unique head structures and keratin plates.

Some sources hint that Kian’thar may be capable swimmers and comfortable in both shallow and deeper waters, but the degree of aquatic adaptation beyond what is specifically stated in published material should be treated as informed speculation rather than canon fact.

Average Height: 1.9 meters
Average Weight: 75 kilograms
Age of Adulthood: 17 years

Personality & Customs: Kian’thar cultures, as presented in roleplaying material, are typically portrayed as pastoral and nomadic, with social structures built around herding, breeding, and caring for large animals. Their daily lives revolve around the movement of herds, seasonal changes, and the constant negotiation of space between swamps, coasts, and open waters. Cooperation is essential; managing Bentails, Derlacs, and other massive beasts requires coordination, patience, and a keen awareness of both animal behavior and environmental conditions.

Their noted ability to sense or interpret the emotions of others gives Kian’thar a reputation for empathy and perceptiveness. In many sources, they are described as hard to deceive, not because they read minds, but because they pick up on subtle cues—scents, posture shifts, stress-related chemical changes—that others miss. This makes them effective negotiators, guides, and judges within their own communities, and valuable intermediaries when dealing with outsiders whose motives may be unclear. Any portrayal that expands this into overt telepathy should be clearly marked as speculative or Force-related, rather than a baseline species trait.

Customs among Kian’thar often center on respect for animals and shared resources. Ceremonies may mark the birth of a new herd, the safe completion of migrations, or the loss of a particularly valuable or beloved beast. Leadership roles are frequently tied to experience with herds, knowledge of routes, and the ability to maintain harmony among both people and animals. Wealth and status are measured as much in healthy stock and reliable grazing or breeding grounds as in conventional currency.

Offworld Kian’thar tend to retain their pragmatic, observant outlook. They often gravitate toward work that parallels their home traditions—shipboard quartermasters, beast handlers, wilderness guides, or negotiators in frontier settlements. While they may struggle with densely urban environments that lack natural rhythms, their emotional insight and steady temperament help them navigate social complexity. Any further extrapolation of Kian’thar religion, political history, or detailed clan structures should be treated as campaign-level worldbuilding built on this established foundation, rather than asserted as universal canon.

Languages: Kian'thar, Basic

Example Names: Khral'Nas, Kreet'ah, Llleag'Mak, Lliegis'Nevz, Ttul'Thar