Selrossian

Selrossians are a Near-Human sentient species native to the planet of Selross. Due to their generally reserved personalities, low economic stature, and remote homeworld, Selrossians were rarely seen in the Galaxy

Appearance
Physically, Selrossians are imposing, with adult males standing around 2 meters in height. The adults of both genders are lean and powerfully built; although as a rule, males tend to be slightly larger.

Selrossians are typically dark-haired and most choose to wear their hair fairly long, although children and some tribal groups traditionally wear their hair shorter. Selrossians also have unique skin pigmentation, with a subtle pattern of mottles on their arms and shoulders. Blues, greens, and browns are common colors in these patterns, however there are some very rare exceptions, since the Selrossian equivalent of albinism causes a purple-red mottle coloration. The coloration and pattern of the mottles vary between tribal groups and as a consequence, they serve as an important part of a Selrossian’s cultural identity.

Selrossians have facial features very similar to those of Humans. However, Selrossians tend to have smaller, almost recessed ears and less pronounced nostrils than typical Humans.

Physiology
Selrossian physiology is broadly similar to that of Humans, with most metabolic processes and physical structures being identical or similar. However, there are numerous key physical differences between the two species.

The Selrossians have a variety of unique evolutionary adaptations, many of which can be attributed to their semi-aquatic habitat and lifestyle. Their lung capacity is significant, and Selrossians have the unique ability to “supersaturate” their bodies with oxygen prior to diving. This process involves the saturation of atypical levels of oxygen in the bloodstream and the storage of wikipedia:hemoglobin:hemoglobin in the spleen. Oxygen in the bloodstream and lungs is metabolized first, and then the spleen gradually releases its oxygen, a unique physiological adaptation which gives Selrossians a continual supply of oxygen to upon during long periods of submergence.

Like many amphibious and aquatic species, Selrossians have a form of webbing on their digits. However, Selrossian webbing is somewhat unique in that it is only semi-permanent, and the webbing being retracted into the space between the fingers and toes. However, upon prolonged exposure to water, the webbing membrane unadheres, moving up to bridge the gap between the digits. This unique adaptation allows Selrossians full control of their digits upon land without having to trade away increased efficiency in the water.

Although lean and athletic in appearance, Selrossians are not brawny, and as a species they actually lack brute strength. Significant portions of their muscle tissue is analogous to the Type IIB muscle tissue found in Humans, a variety of muscle adapted for long periods of anerobic respiration. This physiological trait gives Selrossians remarkable endurance and stamina, a trait Selrossian fighters have used to their advantage, seeking to tire out and weaken opponents through prolonged duels.

In order to prevent water from entering bodily orifices, Selrossians are capable of sealing off their nostrils while underwater via a small flap hidden near the nasal cavity. And much like sharks and some species of desert animals, Selrossians have a second set of eyelids, an adaptation which acts a set of swim goggles, allowing them to see underwater with greater clarity.

Origins
As a Near-Human species, Selrossians are believed to be descended from Humans or to have shared a common ancestor at some point prior to their divergent evolution. Selrossian folklore and legend supports the former theory, telling of the mythical “Fathers of Selross,” who were though to have “fallen from the sky like stars.” These details suggest that the Selross was first populated by a party of stranded spacers, a type of origin similar to that of several Near-Human species such as the Chalactan.

However, the unique physiology and biological characteristics of Selrossians has lead some xenobiologists to support theories of parallel evolution or a common Human-Selrossian ancestor.

Culture and Traditions
Selrossian society was a fragmented one. Large population centers were virtually nonexistent on Selross, with most Selrossians living in small villages with their extended family units. These units were composed of parents, grandparents, young children and newly-married sons and their spouses, who would live with their family until the birth of their first child, at which point they would move to a hut of their own. However, Selrossians reproduced slowly, and so villages generally grew fairly slowly. Villages were composed of reed huts and were typically located near a lake, river or marsh.

Each individual village owed allegiance to a given Selrossian tribal group, which in turn owed its allegiance to a tribal leader. These tribal groups were fiercely competitive and as a consequence had little to do with their fellow tribes outside of the occasional raid or trading foray. These years of near-isolation further increased the difference between tribes, as tribal inbreeding lead members of each tribe to develop and share unique skin coloration and facial features.

As a culture, Selrossians placed a high value on oral traditions. As a consequence, elders and musicians were highly respected for their storytelling skills, with families and villages eagerly gathering to hear the retelling old legends and tales.

Outer Rim traders would occasionally stop by on Selross to purchase Selrossian fish, crafts, and during some periods in Selross’ history, slaves. These exchanges gave Selrossians access to basic technology, namely engines for their small boats, industrial fishing nets, and basic household utensils. However, there was one key piece of technology which they did not adopt. Selrossians never purchased weapons from offworlders, frowning upon the usage of blasters, preferring to use harpoons, atlatls, and elaborately carved fighting sticks.

Language
Selrossians spoke a complex, semi-lyrical language known as Teyllik, with each tribe speaking its own unique dialect of the language. For most of Selross’ history, its people did not have a written form of their language, although over time two written scripts developed

One, referred to as Keyllan, was an arcane and elegant, curling script, used primarily to record epics, genealogies, and histories. It was not widely used, and it was used only by a tiny handful of Selross’ few scholars, scribes, and storytellers. The second, and more prevalent script, Kollo, was use for basic math, accounting and inter-tribal trade, and most Selrossians had a working knowledge of the script.

Those few Selrossian who made frequent contact with offworlders were usually capable of speaking and writing a form of pidgin Basic at the very least, and in practice, most Selrossian traders spoke Basic, Bocce, and several other trade languages with reasonably fluency.

Personality
Selrossians tended to be strong-minded, stubborn and set in their long-established ways. However, as a people they also were methodical, hard-working, and utterly courageous. This set of traits allowed the Selrossians to survive on their harsh, resource-poor homeworld, however they also had a tendency to keep them there. Despite their bravery, Selrossians had a poorly developed sense of adventure, and outside of traders, the occasional runaway youth, and the mere handful of children chosen to be Jedi, few ever left Selross.

Notable Selrossians

 * Logan Kel-Doric

Appearances
Coming soon

Behind the Scenes
The culture and lifestyle of Selrossians is loosely based on those of the real-world Ma’Dan people, also known as the Marsh Arabs. The Ma’Dan lived, and to a degree still live in the reed marshes and swamps of Iran and Iraq. Although of “Persian” ancestry, Marsh Arabs follow many of the cultural and religious traditions of desert Arabs, a fact which is illustrated by their Muslim faith and fealty to their region’s Ma’Dan sheik.