CHEV

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The Chevs are a Near-Human Species native to the world of Vinsoth, where they live in small farming and manufacturing communities scattered across the planet's surface. With the exception of a few bands of rebels that hide in the world's mountains, all Chevs are slaves of the Chevin, the pachydermoid species with whom they share the world. The Chev villages are all surrounded by mine fields and fences intended to protect the Chevs from predators and banish any thoughts of escape.

Millennia ago, the Chevs lived in grand cities, but the more aggressive Chevin shattered their peaceful civilization. Chev communities exist primarily to supply food and manufactured goods for their nomadic masters, although they are permitted to trade goods between villages. They have a rich culture, filled with folklore, a wide range of musical, dramatic, and artistic forms of expression, and religious traditions. The Chevin have never made any effort to discourage the Chevs from practicing their cultural rites within the boundaries of their settlements, as the overlords find the activities interesting to watch and believe it helps increase the productivity of the slaves. Also, aspects of Chev religious beliefs exist that the Chevin find suits their purposes-such as ancient myths describing how the Chevs would be enslaved as punishment for their pride in their great cities. Other beliefs are less appreciated by the Chevin-such as the tales that someday the Chevs will be delivered from their bondage and rise to rule all space-but the Chevin are willing to take the bad with the good. Further, a number of Chevin masters have discovered off-world markets for the more impressive Chev artistic works. Some Chevin have even managed to sell Chev theater troupes at “Group Rates.”

Unlike many other slave populations, the Chevs are well educated and as informed about the galaxy at large as their Chevin masters, perhaps even more so.

The Chevin have always taken relatively good care of the Chevs because they believe healthy, bright, and happy slaves are more efficient than starved, illiterate and rebellious ones. The Chevin pass virtually every bit of knowledge they gain about the galaxy at large, including technology- with the exception of repulsorlifts, comlinks, and weaponry- to their slaves.

One drawback to the Chevin's permissive attitudes toward Chev culture, at least from the point of view of oppressive slave masters, is that they remain unaware of high-tech rebel movements within Chev villages. Like the Chevin, the Chevs take quickly to advanced technology and secretly build communications devices, jamming devices, sensors and weapons from parts stolen from farming equipment or Chevin communities. Although the seeds of rebellion are first planted during the time of The Galactic Republic, it isn't until The New Jedi Order Era that organized off-worlders begin helping the Chevs expand their network of rebels.

All Chevs encountered off Vinsoth are either current or former slaves. When the Republic contacted the Chevin, they almost instantly started exporting their slave population, either to other slavers or to Chevin colonies off-world. Most Chevs prefer to remain low-key and avoid political entanglements for fear of being recaptured by wandering Chevin.

**Personality:** The Chevs are not a broken people, despite their apparent subservience to the Chevin. Their passive, compliant behavior belies a sly craftiness and firm resolve. Centuries of slavery have made the Chevs protective of their cultural heritages as well as forced them to become highly adaptive. Chevs know that they will overthrow their masters someday, but until that day comes, they remain patient and guarded.

**Physical Description:** Chev skin color ranges from pale white to slate gray, with hair colors displaying similar varieties (rare Chevs have wheat-colored hair). They have sloping foreheads with pronounced brows and large, black eyes that appear lidless. They do in fact have transparent membranes that can cover the eyes to protect and clean them. Chevs usually dress in simple, sturdy garments but wear whatever style of clothing seems most practical for their line of work. They are shorter on average than baseline Humans, standing 1.4 to 1.8 meters tall.

**Home Worlds:** Vinsoth, a temperate and verdant world located in The Outer Rim-a world they share with the pachydermoid Chevin.

**Languages:** All Chevs speak Basic in addition to their own language and that of the Chevin; their masters encourage the Chevs to practice the galactic tongue to make them more useful and easier to sell to off-worlders.

**Example Names:** Afrec, Amencia, Brophar, Inchef, Percifel, Sajan, Varel, Zethan.

**CHEV SPECIES TRAITS**

• • Ability Modifiers: None. Chevs fulfill a variety of duties and tasks, with a general mind- and body-set.

• • Medium: As medium creatures, Chevs have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.

• • Speed: Chevs have a base speed of 10 meters.

• • Bonus Class Skill: Chevs have a general training in a vast variety of skills. A Chev character chooses one additional Class Skill at 1st level.

• • Bonus Feat: With a trend of constant work and diligence, Chevs receive the Toughness Feat at 1st level as a bonus Feat.

• • Automatic Language: All Chevs can speak, read, and write Basic, Chev, and Chevin.