Cratniks were an insectoid sentient race hailing from the world of Cratnis in the Unknown Regions. With their bulging eyes and extendible mandibles, their appearance was considered repulsive by Human standards. Their homeworld was devastated by the Galactic Empire in 18 BBY as a punishment for siding with the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars, forcing the surviving Cratniks to flee and live on other worlds. Their race went from about 14 million before the massacre to just around 1 million scattered throughout the galaxy.
History[]
Much of their civilization's history was unknown to human explorers of the Unknown Regions, other than that it had existed for several million years. Cratniks lived on their planet and rarely ventured offworld, although they had developed space flight around 15,000 BBY, viewing alien races to be inferior barbarians.
Biology and appearance[]
The staple food of the Cratniks was a species of small, furry mammals, which they preferred to eat live. Visitors were frequently offered these small mammals as a sign of hospitality. While Cratniks could become violently angry if such an offer was impolitely refused, they would accept a polite refusal from non-Cratniks who were vegetarians or who would not eat raw food.
Stronger and faster than the Human average, Cratniks used their mandibles to bite opponents in combat.
They had an average lifespan of 120-140 years.
Society and culture[]
Cratniks lived in hives spread out across the barren wastes and rugged mountains of Cratnis, with their capital being known as the Great Hive (and also their state). The largest and main hive, it was thought to have a connection to the gods by the Cratnik people, and was viewed as holy. Each hive was normally ruled by a prince of the first rank, a member of the Sor Talgren imperial clan, and possessing a small court of his own. They ultimately answered to the emperor in the Great Hive, who reserved the right to promote and demote the princes. The Sor Talgren was divided into coalitions of influential families known as the Eight Banners, each of which ruled over several hives. Smaller colonies were ruled by lower-ranked nobility, depending on the colony's importance. Cratniks identified closely with their hive.
Cratnik society was divided into rigid social classes, depending on the color of their skin. The ruling class, most frequently green-skinned Cratniks, were usually members of government, diplomats, or religious figures. They were the nobility and considered to be god-like by other castes. The merchant and industrialist class, often blue-skinned, represented the middle class of society. The lower class was mostly used as low-ranking laborers and warriors. There was very little opportunity for social mobility, although most Cratniks were not independent-minded and believed that there was no greater calling than service to the emperor.
The Cratniks did not pay much attention to what went on in the surrounding systems, viewing others as inferior barbarians, for much of their history. However, the ambitions of the final Cratnik ruler, the Sarkoni Emperor, resulted in the race's downfall. His support for the Confederacy during the war against the Republic resulted in the genocide of Cratniks by the Galactic Empire. Following their near-destruction at the hands of the Empire and scattering throughout the galaxy, the Great Hive regime fell apart with the death of the Sarkoni Emperor. The Sor Talgren clan was decimated and also forced to flee, unable to decide on a legitimate successor. Since then the remaining Cratniks have been largely divided, loyal to one of the Eight Banners, or going rogue.