Arkanian/Legends

"Aren't Arkanians fascinating, Squint? So loving of science&mdash;and so willing to use it."

- Demagol

The Arkanians were a near-Human species which resided primarily on the planet of Arkania, though they were not indigenous to it.

Biology and appearance
Arkanians considered themselves the pinnacle of evolution, and as such many were distinctly arrogant. Arkanian scientists had been experts in genetic manipulation for millennia, and by the time of the Mandalorian Wars the species had been split into many sub-species, making it hard to determine exactly what was a baseline Arkanian. Most Arkanians could pass for Human, though the majority had pure white eyes and four clawed digits on each hand.

Arkanians were capable of seeing in infrared light, and their eyes were sensitive to sources of extreme heat. This was helpful on their dark and frigid homeworld, but when traveling offworld, many were forced to wear blinders on planets with hotter, younger suns. It was also not unusual for an Arkanian to enhance themselves with internal or external cybernetics, or in some cases both. It was also standard practice for many of the Arkanians to undergo further genetic manipulation on their own bodies, enhancing themselves even further and better than lesser species.

History
"The only thing more dangerous than a foolish Arkanian is a smart one."

- Arca Jeth

The Arkanians were believed to be natives of the planet Arkania though it was stated that they were not always residents to that world. In fact, they were not true natives of the planet but the fact that they had been there for countless generations meant that it was considered their homeworld. They were well known throughout galaxy for their extremely reclusive scientists and there were numerous rumored whispers among many worlds of their actions in genetic experimentation. In fact, it was believed that the Arkanians had been responsible for generations in the creation of new species.

Regarded as some of the greatest scientists in the galaxy, members of the species either made some of the greatest advancements in medical science, or performed atrocities which surpassed even those of the Galactic Empire. The Arkanians saw the genetic betterment of their neighboring systems as their duty, though many of their experiments were unwelcome.

One of their earliest known endeavors was the creation of the Quermian species from the Xexto around 17,000 BBY. Though they abandoned their secret experiments, fearing legal action from the Galactic Republic, the Quermians resurfaced millennia later.

Centuries before the rise of the Galactic Empire, much criticism was leveled at the Arkanians for their experiments on the dim-witted Yaka. Though they dramatically increased the species intelligence of the Yaka with their cybernetic enhancements, they also removed all trace of emotion from the people. The controversy culminated in 50 BBY with the Arkanian Revolution. A group of renegade scientists on Arkania, disapproving of the systematic alteration of the Yaka, built an army of cyborg knights to overthrow the Arkanian Dominion, the dominant government. The rebels were defeated when the Jedi intervened in the war.

Culture
The Arkanians tend to be an unpleasant and arrogant species who had a dislike of many visitors to their homeworld - this was only the case when they even recognised the existence of such beings. This arrogance was a notable barrier to any visitor that encountered them on their homeworld though cautious beings were able to be prepared in their interactions with them and expect the worst. Impoliteness deeply offended Arkanians and when this occured, the offending individual needed to make amends quickly or risk being osctracised. When offended, an Arkanian typically spoke badly of the offending party once they were gone and when no apology was given - the Arkanians were known to lock up the person or detain their starship from leaving the planet with overt threats. Even at this point, however, it was possible to redeem themselves in the eyes of an Arkanian though failure meant that they became even more offended and storming away. But, if successful, the individual needed to also offer a gift to the offended Arkanian as a sign of their sincerity.

Arkanian Offshoots
This particular sub-species was bred as workers for the famed Arkanian gem mines. These people had hands with five digits, pointed ears in some races, and eyes whose iris contrasted in coloring to the rest of the eyeball. Members of this breed, including Zadawi, Gorman Vandrayk and Jarael, were viewed as lower species and forced to live as outcasts by other "pure" Arkanians.

Appearances

 * Tales of the Jedi 1: Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon, Part 1
 * Tales of the Jedi 2: Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon, Part 2
 * Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising 1
 * Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising 2: Initiates of the Sith
 * Tales of the Jedi (audio)
 * Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith 1: Masters and Students of the Force
 * Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith 2: The Quest for the Sith
 * Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith 3: Descent to the Dark Side
 * Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith 4: Death of a Dark Jedi
 * Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith (audio)
 * Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War 1: Edge of the Whirlwind
 * Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War 3: The Trial of Ulic Qel-Droma
 * Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War 5: Brother Against Brother
 * Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War 6: Dark Lord
 * Tales of the Jedi: Redemption 2: The Search for Peace
 * Tales of the Jedi: Redemption 3: Homecoming
 * Tales of the Jedi: Redemption 4: The Trials of a Jedi
 * Tales of the Jedi: Redemption 5: Master
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 0: Crossroads
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 3: Commencement, Part 3
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 4: Commencement, Part 4
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 5: Commencement, Part 5
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 6: Commencement, Part 6
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 7: Flashpoint, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 8: Flashpoint, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 10: Flashpoint, Part 3
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 11: Reunion, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 12: Reunion, Part 2
 * "Labor Pains"
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 13: Days of Fear, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 14: Days of Fear, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 16: Nights of Anger, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 17: Nights of Anger, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 18: Nights of Anger, Part 3
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 19: Daze of Hate, Part 1
 * Adascorp Fiscal Period Financial Report and Outlook: Field Report: Project Black Harvest
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 20: Daze of Hate, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 21: Daze of Hate, Part 3
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 23: Knights of Suffering, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 28: Vector, Part 4
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 29: Exalted, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 30: Exalted, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 31: Turnabout
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 33: Vindication, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 35: Vindication, Part 4
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 36: Prophet Motive, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 37: Prophet Motive, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 38: Faithful Execution
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 39: Dueling Ambitions, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 40: Dueling Ambitions, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 41: Dueling Ambitions, Part 3
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 42: Masks
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 43: The Reaping, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 44: The Reaping, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 45: Destroyer, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 46: Destroyer, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 47: Demon, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 48: Demon, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 49: Demon, Part 3
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 50: Demon, Part 4
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Knight Errant
 * Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth
 * HoloNet News — A Galaxy Divided
 * Republic Commando: True Colors
 * Secrets of the Jedi
 * Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
 * Boba Fett: A New Threat
 * Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
 * In His Image
 * Rebel Force: Uprising
 * Star Wars Galaxies
 * Children of the Jedi
 * Star by Star
 * Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
 * Invincible
 * Allies
 * Positive ID
 * The Kitonak Connection
 * Star Wars: Legacy 26: The Hidden Temple, Part 2
 * The Kitonak Connection
 * Star Wars: Legacy 26: The Hidden Temple, Part 2

Non-canonical appearances

 * Star Wars Miniatures: Knights of the Old Republic ad

Notes and references
Arkanianer Arkaniano Arkanian Arkanianie