Bith/Legends

Bith were a highly advanced craniopod species native to the planet Clak'dor VII. Fully adapted to a civilized, high-technology lifestyle, Bith were found Galaxy-wide at all levels of society, most notably as engineers, scientists, intellectuals, and musicians.

Biology
Bith were craniopods with pale pink, yellow, or (rarely) green skin, large heads, large lidless eyes, and long fingers. The Bith's internal systems were different from most humanoids, as the Bith had only one lung. Bith also lacked a proper nose, instead having highly sensitive olfactory organs hidden in the flaps of their cheeks.

The other Bith senses were also acute. Bith could sense the tonal qualities of sound as well as other races sensed colors. They could also see microscopic details of nearby objects, but were extremely nearsighted as a result. Similarly, Bith had high manual dexterity which helped them manipulate fine tools, though their physical prowess with gross motor skills was only average.

Bith had even evolved past the need for sleep. Instead, they would slip into a light meditative trance, which allowed them to get as much rest in four hours as other species could get in eight. During this trance, Bith were still almost fully aware of their surroundings.

Since they had relied on technology for so many generations, Bith were also unable to reproduce naturally. Instead, the relied on artificial conception and gestation. Mates brought genetic material to a Computer Mating Service for analysis against prospective mates. Bith children were created from genetic material from two parents, which was combined, fertilized, and incubated for a year.

History


Bith were one of the Galaxy's most ancient civilizations, with a history going back millions of years. Their society was highly regimented, with everything from mate selection to political leadership controlled by sophisticated computer programs.

Circa 300 BBY, the Bith city-states of Nozho and Weogar engaged in a massive civil war over patent rights to a new hyperdrive. The aftermath of the Nozho-Weogar War destroyed Clak'dor VII's ecosystem and crippled the Bith industrial capacity, forcing the Bith to retreat to sealed cities and rely on imported goods and machinery to keep their society functioning. The Y'bith, a subspecies of Bith, were descended from Bith whose genetic code was altered in the aftermath of a biological attack on Nozho. These "ghost Bith" resettled on Clak'dor IV and developed their own society, somewhat estranged from the Bith mainstream.

The war also brought out a strong pacifistic streak in Bith culture. For example, they attempted to remain neutral during the Separatist Crisis, though they were eventually persuaded to support the Confederacy of Independent Systems against the Galactic Republic. While they viewed the Republic as morally corrupt, they restricted their support of the CIS to technological and artistic contributions.

Not all Bith joined with the Separatists, however, notably Jedi Master Ph'ton, who served the Republic as a Senior General during the Clone Wars. Many other Bith had served the Republic as Jedi Consulars over the years: some of them were rumored to have survived the Great Jedi Purge by hiding on their homeworld.

Both the Clone Wars and the rise of the Galactic Empire made the Bith uneasy about conditions in the rest of the Galaxy, with most Bith choosing to wait out the Dark Times within Clak'dor VII's sealed cities. After the Clone Wars ended, the Bith did not resist the Empire, instead putting their technical expertise at the service of the Imperial war machine. The Bith were horrified by the Empire, however, and were among the first species to be liberated by the New Republic in 5 ABY. The Bith did not emerge fully from their isolation until 8 ABY, shortly after the Hapans rejoined the Galactic community.

Bith in the Galaxy


Ever since the Nozho-Weogar War, Clak'dor VII's main exports were the products of the Bith intellect. Many Bith worked as engineers, data analysts, or in other intellectual professions. Others used their intelligence, natural technical skills, and dexterity to work in the criminal underworld. Their hearing also made Bith such as Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes (the house band in the Mos Eisley Cantina circa 0 BBY) excellent musicians.

Behind the scenes

 * The Bith species were originally meant to be called the "Sicmoo".
 * The Bith costumes seen in A New Hope were built by Doug Beswick.

Notes and references
Bith