Zabrak

Zabraks were a near-human carnivorous species native to the planets Iridonia, a planet located in the Mid Rim known for its inhospitable terrain and fierce predatory life, and Dathomir. In addition, they inhabited several colony worlds, including Iridia, Feldrona, Frithia, and Lorista, which were mostly located in star systems close to their homeward. The individual evolution of these colony worlds led to the development of several sub-types of Zabraks, including Iridians, which were characterised by pale skin and lived on Iridia, and Iridorians. The Zabraks were a species known for having a fierce sense of self-determination and an equally dominant need for independence. Most members of the species had distinctive horns atop their heads, as well as two hearts. Although most Zabraks lived on Iridonia, some settled on the planet Dathomir, where the females of the species, known as Nightsisters, ruled over the Nightbrother males and practiced powerful dark side magick. Notably, female Dathomirian Zabraks lacked the cranial horns shared by the rest of the species. 
Zabraks fought against the Galactic Empire's attempts to undermine and subvert them, and instead of surrendering, many joined the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Zabraks were considered to be proud, self-determined, and even arrogant to some, and they were one of the most independent species in the galaxy. 
==Biology and appearance==
 Zabraks were a species of near-humans that had evolved to be tough due to the nature of their homeworld Iridonia. The species was carnivorous and had two hearts, which allowed them to pump oxygenated blood around their systems more quickly than other species meaning they could go faster for longer. Some Zabraks possessed a ring of small, vestigial horns that ran from high on their brow round to the back of their head. The horns of males were generally more developed than those of females, although horn placement, length, and thickness varied enormously across the species. Zabraks could be Force-sensitive.
There were two subspecies of Zabraks, the Dathomirians and the Iridonians. Female Dathomirians did not have any horns, but males did.
Zabrak individuals could have a variety of skin tones usually with human ranges, but they could also have more pale white, red and even yellow skin. They also had eye colors not typically human such as yellow, orange, purple and red.
The lifespan of a Zabrak was roughly similar to humans, around 100 years, but force-sensitive Zabraks could live up to 200 years.
==Society and culture==
All Zabraks were fiercely independent, usually taking on roles in society that minimized their need to be ordered around by others. This was often mistaken by other species for aloofness or arrogance, which was erroneous, although Zabraks were unashamedly proud of being survivors. The majority of Zabraks wore facial tattoos which often indicated familial ties, but could also simply be based on an individual's personal taste. They were a colonial species, having migrated and adapted to dominate many worlds. The Zabraks of Iridonia were commonly seen traveling across the galaxy as Jedi, bounty hunters, or in other professions. A group of tribal male Zabraks lived on the planet Dathomir, where they were subservient to the female Nightsisters, but dwelt separately from them. Much of the Dathomirian Zabraks' culture was unknown to outsiders, as they did not trust offworlders.
Zabraks were also known to be very religious, believing in gods such as the sisters Nath and Ath meant to guard the Zabrak afterlife. (known as the "Lands of Plenty") They even named two of their colonies in the Iridonian system under the names of the two gods, the twin moons Nath and Ath. The Zabraks also held great respect for force-sensitives, naming ancient force-sensitives "Jith" in reference to the religious figure "Gith", which they believed had the ability to offer an abundance of food and wealth through unknown means. Another example of this faith was the Eeth Koth's status as a priest in the Church of Ganthic Enlightenment after he left to the Jedi Order.
==History==
The Zabrak were one of the first interstellar species of the current generation: After an age of war on their homeworld, they discovered interstellar flight at an incredibly early time, even before the Duros encountered them. By that time, they had already developed 8 colonies in 5 different systems. 
Sometime before the founding of the Republic, the Zabrak homeworld came in contact with the interstellar Sith empire, who recruited numerous mercenaries amongst the population in order to aid them in their fight against the Rakata. This was presumably how the Zabrak managed to obtain hyperdrive and develop space travel. The Sith long maintained a strong partnership with the Zabrak population, creating an academy on Iridonia during the Ruusan era.
The Zabrak later became one of the founding species of the republic, electing a single representative for all their worlds despite interplanetary independence. They were also heavily involved in the Mandalorian Wars, going into violent conflict with the Mandalorians, but the two species eventually walked away with respect for each other, which led to Mandalorians maintaing a presence in Zabrak space, such as in the planet Frithia where a Mandalorian enclave resided for centuries.
Sometime between the foundation of the republic and the modern Era, the Zabrak settled on the planets Talus and Corellia and remained a significant part of their populations. They continuously remained loyal members of the Galactic Republic during its reign, but were immediately opposed to the Galactic Empire upon its creation, with many resisting Imperial Occupation and joining the Alliance to Restore the Republic. However, their trials and tribulations during the galactic civil war led to Iridonian space being unified for the first time in their history and had a positive impact on the species overall. Their loyalty to the Republic persisted as many Zabraks sided with the Resistance to oppose the First Order after the fall of the New Republic.
Later they bent the knee to Darth Krayt, and two of their colonies were flattened.
==Zabraks in the galaxy==
 Despite the species overall loyalty to the Republic, individual Zabraks could be found across the galaxy with a wide range of allegiances, usually in roles with minimal managerial supervision such as independent traders, mercenaries, bounty hunters, or scouts. One such Zabrak was Sugi, who worked as a bounty hunter during the Clone Wars, and taught her niece Jas Emari the same trade. Another was a member of the Bounty Hunters' Guild, Kaylynn Crendal. Criminal pursuits were often attractive to younger Zabraks, and during the Iron Blockade of the Anoat sector several Zabraks served in the crew of the the Smuggler, who led the Uprising against the Imperial blockade.
Several Force-sensitive Zabraks joined the Jedi Order during the time of the Galactic Republic, including Amara Crendal, Eeth Koth, and Agen Kolar, the latter two of whom served time on the Jedi High Council. Conversely, the Force-sensitive brothers Maul and Savage Opress both served the Sith before independently forming the Shadow Collective criminal cartel and briefly ruling the planet Mandalore. Many Dathomirian Zabraks lived on Dathomir, the world for which their race was named. These included the Nightbrothers under the rule of the Dathomirian Nightsister witch clan.
In 9 ABY, members of the species could be seen on planets such as Sorgan and an Outer Rim planet, where a Zabrak worked for gangster Gor Koresh.
==Appearances==
Category:Human and Near-Human species
Category:Mid Rim species
Category:Zabrak