Ranth The Ranth were sentient carnivorous mammals indigenous to Caaraz . Even before the Galactic Empire discovered their homeworld and brought the Ranth to the attention of the galactic community , they were a deeply divided people . While some Ranth lived a civilized lifestyle , others lived in tribes of nomadic hunters . The former wished to integrate themselves within the galactic community , while the latter preferred to keep to their lifestyle as hunters . Biology and appearance . Caaraz was a tidally locked planet , with one side perpetually facing its sun . The Ranth lived on the frigid night side of Caaraz , which was lit only by Caaraz ' s twin moons and heated by Caaraz ' s geological activity . Ranth were highly resistant to cold temperatures , thanks to the insulation of their thick fur . Nomadic Ranth were also particularly skilled at surviving in extremely cold climates . Ranth possessed long bushy tails , flat muzzles , dark eyes , and short pointed ears which were canine in appearance . As natural hunters , they had sharp claws on their hands , and mouths filled with short sharp teeth . Ranth had to continually forage , hunt , and swim to survive in the harsh environment of their homeworld , and would hunt for food whenever the conditions would allow them to do so . Their keen hearing , extending into ultrasonic ranges , helped them search for prey and avoid larger predators . Society and culture . When discovered by the Empire , the two Ranth societies had already diverged . Civilized Ranth were working towards an industrialized society with formal governments . Their cities , built in ice caverns on top of drifting glaciers , contained sophisticated architecture . Meanwhile , the nomadic Ranth continued to exist as small groups of hunters , led by the best warrior among them . They had no machines , only muscle - powered devices and riding beasts . The two Ranth cultures also had different typical temperaments . While many Ranth in either society were short - tempered , nomadic Ranth expressed their anger violently , while civilized Ranth tended towards flamboyant , but harmless displays . Nomads tended to be self - confident , passionate , and determined , while city - dwellers were introspective , with a tendency towards apathy . All Ranth cultures had a strong respect for family ties , and were usually led by the elder members of extended family units . History . Knowledge of Ranth history as a whole was fragmented and incomplete . However , individual families did maintain detailed histories of their own , with each community and extended family unit possessing its own history . Each individual Ranth community , whether civilized or nomadic , had its own government and culture , with no single authority uniting them . This changed when the Galactic Empire discovered Caaraz while searching for Rebel bases in the sector . When initial scans indicated the presence of eleton gas on Caaraz , a small Imperial force was sent to seize control . The Empire faced almost no resistance , and soon employed the civilized faction of the Ranth to help build and operate eleton mines near their ice - cavern cities . Civilized Ranth also served as hunters and guards , protecting the mining operations and the local garrison from the natural predators of the world . The civilized Ranth began to reject their native culture , replacing it with ideas taken from Human and Core Worlds culture . Even their clothing was patterned after off - world styles . Their interest in off - world affairs led them to develop trading relationships with inhabited planets in nearby systems . The cities of Caaraz began to use Imperial technology and restructure their governments with the Imperial bureaucracy as a model . Due to their loyalty , civilized Ranth enjoyed more freedom under Imperial rule than many nonhuman species — though the Imperial Governor ' s word was , of course , still final . While initially no resistance was faced from the nomadic Ranth , the gradual dumping of waste from the Imperial mining operations began to damage the planetary environment . This angered the nomads , who began to ambush Imperial patrols and attack Imperial mining stations . These nomads mastered hit - and - fade guerrilla tactics . Finding their snowtroopers unable to defeat the " savages " , the Imperials provided weapons to the civilized Ranth , and requested that they hunt down the nomads . This led to a civil war between the civilized and nomadic Ranth . The Rebel Alliance considered intervening by arming the nomads , or by convincing the civilized Ranth to change sides , but it is unclear what actions , if any , they took . Eventually , the Imperials abandoned Caaraz , leaving their bases and mines for the civilized Ranth . Without Imperial support , these bases became overcrowded and impoverished makeshift cities . The wars between the city - dwellers and the nomadic tribes continued , as the civilized Ranth tried to push the nomads further into the wilderness , and the nomads continued their raids . Even without the destabilizing influence of the Empire , neither side of the war showed any sign of trying to settle the conflict . While under Imperial rule , some civilized Ranth left their homeworld to work as traders , scouts , bounty hunters , and mercenaries . They were drawn towards planets with cold climates , where they were in great demand as wilderness guides . After the Imperial retreat from Caaraz , many more civilized Ranth left their homeworld . The nomads were rare in the greater galaxy , however , except for escaped Imperial slaves who had been relocated by Imperial forces . During the Imperial occupation , a few nomads were rumored to have escaped Caaraz to contact the Rebel Alliance , or fight the Imperials on other worlds .