Gand/Legends

Gands were a sentient species of an insect genus that evolved on the ammonia-gas planet Gand. Several physical varieties existed, but there were two main sub-species of Gands: those with lungs and those without lungs. Gands with lungs were adapted to Gand's atmosphere, but like Kel Dors, they required a special breathing gear if they wanted to leave Gand to manage potentially-poisonous offworld gas mixtures. Gands without lungs, however, were immune to poisonous gases and could venture offworld without worry of suffocation. Both races possessed special regenerative properties. Gands were considered to be a very humble species. This was a result of their culture, which dictated that an individual's identity be earned. Due to that, most Gands were self-deprecating and polite, usually referring to themselves in the third person. First-person pronouns were reserved for the most legendary of Gands, as the usage presumes that one is so renowned that everyone would know one's name.

Within that culture was one of the species most-notable professions; the findsmen. Shamanistic bounty hunters, these Gands would track their quarry by divining omens sent to them in rituals. Though their methods were sometimes viewed as arcane, the accuracy of a findsman could be unsettling to the casual observer.

Biology and appearance


Gands were stocky insect-like humanoids covered in a chitinous exoskeleton. This exoskeleton was considered to be rather durable, as Gands were able to shrug off injuries that would cripple most other species. For example, the Gand bounty hunter Zuckuss had jumped from third-story windows, been caught in an explosion, and even shot in the shoulder, but was able to continue his duties without so much as a disorienting effect. The Gands also possessed large, compound eyes with a visual range that included the ultraviolet spectrum and had excellent night vision, however they could not perceive colors in total darkness. They had only three fingers on each hand, though those digits were capable of punching through stormtrooper armor, as evidenced by Ooryl Qrygg, a Gand pilot with Rogue Squadron, on the planet Talasea.

There were several different physical varieties documented, however most Gands were classified into two sub-species; lungless and "breathers." The breathers possessed lungs, along with the usual assortment of internal organs that were typical in most species. These Gands, however, were adapted to breathing ammonia and required breath masks and similar equipment to survive in the more-common oxygen-rich environments offworld. Oxygen exposure would scour the insides of the lungs like acid, requiring replacements if the Gand did not suffocate.

The Gand subspecies that did not have lungs did not respire, as they obtained all the metabolic ingredients they need through the ingestion of their food. The materials would aid in gas exchange in waste would be passed through openings in the exoskeleton. This made lungless Gands immune to poisonous gases and they were not required to wear respirators when venturing off-world. Some lungless Gands would wear such equipment anyway, usually to maintain anonymity.

Usually, Gands spoke their native language, but to speak with other beings lungless Gands required the aid of a muscular gas bladder that allowed them to, among other things, draw in gases and expel them at a controlled rate through pieces of their exoskeleton that vibrated to approximate speech. These Gands also made use of translator vocoders to compensate for their lack of vocal cords. Some Gands, however, were born with the proper organs and structure to speak other languages such as Basic.

Gands needed only a fraction of the amount of sleep needed by Humans. This trait was common throughout the Gand varieties, so xenobiologists attributed it to culture. Staying awake and aware was more beneficial to the work of findsmen and was a skill that was honed throughout a lifetime.

A breathing Gand was able to hold their breath for a length of time when needed, along with reducing the perceptibility of their bodily functions to a point where it could fool an observer to thinking that the Gand had died. Zuckuss demonstrated this ability while working with Boba Fett, however he made use of compressed ammonia canisters to extend respiration cessation for several days.

Gands also possessed remarkable regenerative abilities. Ooryl Qrygg was able to grow a severed arm back within months, although he was assisted by a bacta cast. The exoskeleton appeared more pale and chalky in hue than normal until the regeneration process was complete.

Society and culture


"Insects, from a poisonous world. They do not praise their skills or accomplishments, and they are difficult to surprise. They have the instincts of prey, yet are predators &mdash; it is strange."

- Vossk, a former bounty hunter on Nar Shadaa, to the Jedi Exile

The Gands evolved on the planet Gand, an isolated Outer Rim world that boasted a potentially-lethal atmosphere comprised of ammonia. This atmosphere helped deter the galaxy as a whole which allowed the Gands to evolve into a rich, yet peculiar, culture. They were considered by most to be a very humble society, its members soft-spoken and polite.

Gand society placed heavy importance on the achievements of an individual and held that an individual had no name, and thus no worth, until he proved otherwise. Young or unproven Gands were all called "Gand," as they were considered merely aspects of the same whole. Major accomplishments earned the use of a family surname. Mastering a skill, such as becoming a findsman, allowed for the use of the given name, all with third-person self-reference.

A storied Gand could earn the right to use the first person after many feats and accomplishments and the ritual aptitude test, the Janwuine-jika. To deem if a Gand was worthy enough to become janwuine, the Elders of Gand would send the ruetsavii&mdash;a group of Gands who were renowned through own accomplishments and therefore considered able to judge the deeds of others.

Use of the first person otherwise was considered arrogant, as it implied to those a Gand was speaking to that he was so great that everyone would know his name. Once a Gand became janwuine, however, this was considered a reasonable presumption, as all other Gands would know his name and accomplishments.

However, if a Gand were ashamed of his actions, he felt it reduced his accomplishments, and thus his name. This "name reduction" was done to show penance, and depending on the level of identity earned, the Gand could refer to his or herself by either the surname, or even "this Gand." Some Gands, if they commit unspeakable acts, were exiled. They discarded their culture and could thus refer to themselves in any way they wish. Failure to become a findsman was sometimes a reason for exile.

Trade and commerce were conducted on orbiting space stations due to the poisonous atmosphere of the planet. Gands were also seen as insular and somewhat xenophobic. Outsiders were rarely, if ever, allowed onto the surface of Gand, as the Gands did not want their society to be tainted with ideas of independence and self-worth. The few that were allowed onto the planet were usually under the sponsorship of a janwuine Gand, or considered hinwuine&mdash;a being of standing. However, for a visitor to speak of their time on Gand was considered an insult to their hosts.

Findsman
Within Gand society, a select few felt the call to the path of the findsman. Findsmen belonged to a religious sect that worshiped and interpreted the movements of gases on Gand to predict the location of criminals. Part shaman, part law enforcer, a findsman would augur the location of a fugitive, track him and bring him to justice. The time-honored tradition was established since the planet's totalitarianism monarchy formed and thrived for centuries. However, when the Galactic Empire took over Gand's slave trade, sophisticated scanning equipment was used to locate fugitives hiding in the enshrouding mists, to the detriment of the findsman trade.

Many findsmen retired, or pursued new professions, such as the renegade Vytor Shrike and the Rebel operative Venlyss Pnorr. However, other Gands, notably Zuckuss, took the profession offworld, finding work as bounty hunters, security advisors, or even assassins.

The findsmen were known to take at least three hours to complete, but were very reliable. Many attributed their success to the Force, believing that findsmen were actually Force-sensitive.

Gands in the galaxy
During the reign of the Old Republic, many Gands, primarily a group of bounty hunters who left for Nar Shaddaa, regularly visited Jekk'Jekk Tarr where they could find gas fumes similar to those present on their homeworld. Some of them were probably killed by the Jedi Exile during her search for the Quarren, Visquis.

Gands were also present in the Jedi Order in varying capacities. Vaabesh, and orphaned Padawan during the waning years of the Galactic Republic, served as a commander for the Grand Army of the Republic. However, he lost his life during the Second Battle of Jabiim. Another Gand, Jedi Master Tyffix, served as a general. During the Battle of Thustra he sacrificed his life to save those of his and Master Tyr's Padawans when the command center was struck by a bomb.

Gands were also seen in the Outer Rim Territories, and on the slave trade planet Orvax IV. After the Clone Wars, many former findsmen took their trade offworld, including Zuckuss and his second-cousin Lu'daal-ud. Others, like R'Kayza, found work as an assassin. Some Gands pursued what most would consider to be a nobler profession, such as Ooryl Qrygg, a pilot for Rogue Squadron.

Notes and references
Gand Gandowie Ганды