Sotirsian

"Them Sotirsians are a weird bunch, yeah? I saw one once, right, and I thought it was a Jawa on that fancy corellian spice, yeah? But each one is a walking library, y'know. Reeeal secretive. Still, I dunno why, but something tells me you shouldn't mess with one. Can't picture 'em with a blaster, but I get the feeling they'd do something else, y'know? Somethin' weird, yeah? Anyway, stay away from 'em. They gimme mynocks in my belly, yeah?"

- Vehlk Jailer on the species

The Sotirsians were the native species of Sotirsis. They bore a resemblance to Jawas and were often mistaken as taller versions of such when they travelled offworld. However, Sotirsians rarely left their homeworld. They were very dignified and complex life-forms. They had a high reverence for knowledge, and much of their culture was based around this.

Biology and Appearance
Sotirsians were a race that had no definite form. Their physical state was almost entirely derived by their mental state. The mental state(which could include mood, current stream of thoughts, worries, anxieties, interests, curiosities, skepticisms, emotions and unconscious thoughts) not only determined stature, posture and colour of the physical body, but the shape and even the consistency - Indeed, Sotirsians could switch between solid, liquid and gas-formed beings. Usually they would retain one form for a lifetime, for it was unusual for a being to undergo a mass mental change. However, it was normal for one to change drastically upon leaving adolescence. Sotirsians, however, went through adolescence within their first few months after being born. Toward the end of this time period, which can range from seven to twelve months, the Sotirsians enter a five day state of change, from which they emerge as a full adult. It is during this five day metamorphosis that much of the adult mind, as well as the gender of the Sotirsian in question in decided. Prior to this, they are hermaphrodites, but the gender would be rather unimportant for reasons other than aesthetic ones. Because their shape and form reveals their inner most thoughts, Sotirsians are constantly attired in concealing robes and hoods, so as not to allow strangers see their true colours. In order to reproduce, the two Sotirsians would reveal their form to one another and then enter a period of deep meditation. Due to the fact that they are so used to having certain parts of themselves showed to others by shape and colour, almost all sotirsian citizens wear a special type of robe that changes colour in accordance with the mood. For example, when the sotirsians were enslaved by the Separatists, nearly every citizen on the planet turned to dismal shades of beige and grey.

Culture
"Where would we be without technology? Coughing and spluttering around in the wastelands, ignorant of even the slightest medical or literal sciences! And where would technology be without knowledge? Bereft of advancement, feeble structures of what precious biomass we can summon from the venom deserts! Knowledge carries us across wild beasts and valleys to see our loved ones, shields our homes from vicious storms and puts air in our lungs! Thus we remember; No devotion to deities, no loyalty to cults, only reverence of knowledge!"

- Unidentified Sotirsian Minister

Sotirsian culture was very much shaped by the physical features of the world and the species. Due to the crust of the planet being close to the mantle in most parts, the ground was cracked and hot, and the air was poisoned with toxic geysers that are constantly spewing venomous substances into the atmosphere. Because of this, almost all Sotirsian cities were mounted on peaks and summits of mountains. Many of these outlasted the stone structures beneath them, and become entirely industrial, metal cities. Aircrafts also became a necessary form of transport as opposed to land vehicles, thus Sotirsians became skilled pilots. However, their culture was based almost enitrely upon the reverence of knowledge. They had a collaborative bank of knowledge which was accessible by any Sotirsian. Even the sub-race that typically acted as the working class, working closer to the surface to collect raw materials, was given the same rights of access to knowledge. Very few ever left the planet, except for a small number who left in search of knowledge to add to the bank. This bank was sometimes accessible in the form of The Abyss. The Abyss was a huge natural landmark on Sotirsis. It was supposedly a bottomless pit, but was simply un-explorable. It was heavily weighed down with the remaining consciences of Sotirsian ancestors, which can bend and twist perception and vision to form powerful illusions - a constant reminder of the power of the sentient mind. A large amount of Sotirsian knowledge was present here, and many went on pilgrimages there, accessing the knowledge.

Violence
"Pacifists? You may call us pacifists, I suppose. There is no violence on Sotirsis, not because we think it is wrong, but.. I suppose it is like how when you grow up, you stop playing with toys. We don't see violence as wrong, so much as just.. illogical, useless, childish and.. a waste of time. Now, when some, such as I, leave the Home-world, we realize that violence is the language of these wilder worlds and engage in it when we must... But it's still all just a youngling's toys to us."

- Nu Lendai, explaining his people's concept of violence to Warzaq

While Sotirsians saw physical violence a child-like, useless thing that solved nothing as long as no one engaged in it, that does not mean they were unable to utilize it. By maintaining a steadfast, determined mindset, their body could be hardened, and their strength indomitable. While remaining humble and open-minded, they could be stealthy and flexible. Mastery of the mind meant a completely versatile fighting style, and the few Sotirsian sentinels that existed were extremely skilled.