Kobok/Legends

The Koboks were sentient insectoids native to the planet Koboth. The species was known for their militarism. Their homeworld was located in the Outer Rim Territories, on the fringe of the Tingel Arm. It bordered the Corporate Sector, a neighbor with whom the Kobok were at war for years, leading to such conflagrations as the violent Mavvan Conflict. Koboks were known for their venomous claws, which could cause sickness and paralysis to anyone struck by them.

Biology and appearance
The Koboks were a species of thin, humanoids with insectoid origins. They had a bipedal stance with a slight, almost skeletal frame. A typical Kobok stood between 1.3 and 1.8 meters tall, but due to their thinness, they rarely weighed more than 60 kilograms. Kobok were quite strong despite this slight frame, and they could jump as high as at least half their body length. Although their constitution was not particularly robust, they were immune to the more deadly effects of Rooze Disease&mdash;although the medicine for the illness caused them to laugh uncontrollably. A Kobok reached adolescence at age nine, adulthood at age seventeen, and had a life expectancy of seventy-six years.

Although yellow was most common, the coloration of a Kobok's carapace depended on the region of their homeworld from which the individual came. For example, the Koboks from the Kuurok Peninsula tended to sport a dark green to black carapace. Other Koboks had a crème, beige, brown, orange, or green coloration. This carapace featured several spikes and protrusions and was rigid and fairly durable; it afforded the Koboks a degree of resistance to radiation.

Claws, also referred to as foreclaws and stingers, grew from each of a Kobok's limbs, four on each hand and three on their feet. Kobok combatants could extend these natural weapons somewhat in preparation for combat so that their wielders could use them to slash at enemies. Each of these natural weapons was filled with a potent venom that could render a victim unconscious for several hours. Not even Koboks were not immune to this venom; careless individuals could even knock themselves out. Koboks possessed four-fingered hands and three-toed feet. Members of the species walked with the torso angled slightly forward.

Each Kobok possessed three compound eyes set into spiked sockets and covered by lids. Alhough their carapace was tough and chitinous like that of many insectoid species, their spiky brows were also able to move to create expressions. Two of these organs were positioned at the front of the head roughly where a Human's eyes were located, and one was at the center of the back of the head. This provided the Kobok with a 360-degree view of his or her surroundings. These visual organs were red or orange in color. Although the Kobok mouth featured insectoid mandibles, it opened to reveal a humanoid interior, including sharp, white teeth and a red tongue. This physiology allowed the Kobok to create humanoid facial expressions, such as a smile. Two small, flat nostrils perforated the front of the face. Koboks were covered in a thin fuzz, and they were able to grow the hair on their faces long, with some individuals even gathering their facial fuzz into a sort of ponytail beard.

Society and culture
The Koboks hailed from the planet Koboth, governed by the united body of the Koboth Union. A history of violence and warfare, coupled with the harsh and unforgiving nature of their homeworld, made the Koboks a hardy and calculating species. This temperament made them particularly suited for military and mercenary work. Non-Koboks in the galaxy at large saw them as crafty killing machines, a perception only solidified by the Kobok's proclivity for violent professions.

The elite of the Kobok military was known as the Kobothi S-Corps, a body that had been created less than a decade before the Battle of Yavin. The S-Corps were charged with the duty of protecting Kobothi space and interests. This body used its own secret language, known only to members of the unit. The species had spread to the surrounding systems and engaged in trade with their galactic neighbors, the Trianii and the Hiitian species. They also came into conflict with the power-hungry Corporate Alliance, as their territories bordered one another.

The species spoke and wrote Kobothi, their native language, which was composed of tonal hisses. It was difficult to translate into Basic, although the Koboks could speak that language. Examples of Kobok names included Kasj, Koas, Slis, and Tiska. The Kobok wore very little clothing, other than small scraps of cloth or leather straps.

History
The Koboks evolved on the Outer Rim Territories planet of Koboth, on the border of the Tingel Arm. As they spread across the six continents and numerous island chains of their homeworld, a planet scorched by solar flares, they diverged into several races distinguished by the color of their carapaces. Although the Koboks had no contact with the greater galaxy for millennia, they developed sub-light speed travel on their own. The species spread to surrounding systems, establishing Kobothi Space. Over thousands of years, they warred constantly with one another. However, with the rise of the Koboth Union several centuries before the fall of the Galactic Republic, the Koboks were united under a single government and began to encounter other sentient species.

Although they never joined the Old Republic, the Koboks brokered trade agreements with both the Trianii and the Hiitians centuries before the rise of the Empire. Corellian and Duros explorers eventually came across the Koboks and found the insectoids already engaged in intra-system flight. These contacts resulted in the blazing of Corellian and Duros trade routes to Kobothi Space, making the planet Koboth accessible via the Hydian Way.

Because of their proximity to the Corporate Alliance and its planetary holdings, the Koboks became engaged in territorial disputes. One such altercation erupted circa 15 BBY, a dispute that turned more violent than past conflicts. This caused the Koboks to become even more combat-ready. The Koboks became heavily involved in what became known as the Mavvan Conflict, which in turn led to the creation of the Kobothi S-Corps. Those Koboks who earned distinction in these conflicts were awarded the Koboth Insurgent Mantle. These events further defined the Koboks' image galaxy-wide as capable soldiers.

Koboks in the galaxy
"I must say, Master Mungo, it's a little late now to realize the error of your ways!" "Don't worry; he'll have plenty of time to regret it!"

- C-3PO and Gaff discuss Mungo Baobab's fate

After their homeworld was opened to trade, some Koboks spread across the galaxy, working as soldiers and mercenaries. Outside Kobothi Space, however, they remained fairly rare. Due to their martial prowess and warrior-like nature, Koboks quickly became associated with mercenary and assassin work. Although they were not a malicious species, these assignments earned them a reputation for being vicious, not unlike that of the Rodians. Some Force-using Koboks were known, but these were exceedingly rare. Other Koboks found work as scouts.

The planet Roon was a destination for many Koboks who traveled offworld. When the population of Roon had reached 665,000, Koboks made up three percent of the populace. Koboks raised away from their homeworld, such as those on Roon, oftentimes were raised to speak Basic rather than Kobothi.

A notable Roon-born Kobok was the mercenary and Imperial collaborator, Gaff. At some point, Gaff visited his species' homeworld and joined the Kobothi S-Corp, but during the reign of Galactic Emperor Palpatine, he returned to Roon. He often wore a Koboth Insurgent Mantle, although it was not known if he actually participated in the Mavvan Conflict. After his return to Roon, Gaff allied himself with Governor Koong, an employment he considered the nadir of his career. During his work for Koong, at a time which he was referred to by some as a “henchman”, he came into conflict with the Human merchant Mungo Baobab and his droids, C-3PO and R2-D2. Gaff assaulted and captured them on several occasions, but they ultimately escaped and defeated him in every instance. Gaff was thought to have escaped Roon after Koong's demise, likely fleeing along the Roon–Ryloth corridor to search for new employment.

Behind the scenes
The book Geonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds, for Wizards of the Coast's Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, expanded greatly on this species' history and biology. The game represents the species as stronger than Humans, but less healthy and less charismatic.

Appearances

 * Escape from the Monster Ship: A Droid Adventure
 * Treasure of the Hidden Planet
 * Rebel Force: Firefight
 * Treasure of the Hidden Planet
 * Rebel Force: Firefight
 * Treasure of the Hidden Planet
 * Rebel Force: Firefight