Entymal

"Really now! This fixation with the continuation of your species...disgusting!"

- An Entymal male comments on Human love

Entymals were sentient insectoids from Endex, an Outer Rim world of many canyons. They had reputations as skilled pilots, but were enslaved by the Empire due to their strength. This slavery continued under the auspices of the Pentastar Alignment.

Biology and appearance


The Entymals were bipedal in form, their lanky frames covered in a hardened exoskeleton that averaged 1.2 to 2 meters tall. This shimmered a metallic-jade color in sunlight. Their heads were small and bulbous in form, dominated by two large jewel-like eyes.

Extending from their abdomen to their wrist was a thin chitinous membrane that allowed limited gliding capacity. Under standard gravity conditions, an Entymal could glide somewhere between 60 and 100 meters, depending on wind conditions. A large landing area was required, with an Entymal typically requiring approximately 6 meters of flat surface to make a successful running landing. Entymal hands ended in numerous fingers, and their legs were double jointed. Entymals walked either upright or hunched over, using all four limbs for locomotion.

Entymal commonly had spikes extending from their exoskeletons; on their heads, torso and limbs.

Society and culture
Entymal society followed a classic hive arrangement of a fertile queen served by barren females and a court of male drones. Male drones coupled with the queen in an elaborate mating ritual to produce the next generation of Entymal. This ritual also served as a death ritual for the males, who died shortly after mating.

This terminal courtship gave the Entymal little capacity to comprehend the displays of affection common among other species. As a result male Entymals found Human romantic endeavors disquieting and disagreeable.

As a species, Entymals were technically adept, earning an unprecedented reputation as brilliant pilots and navigators. This was possible due to finely honed spatial senses, enabled by their particular brain patterns.

History


Once renowned as pilots throughout the galaxy, the species suffered great oppression with the rise of the Empire. The Empire and its corporate allies enslaved thousands of hulking drones, forcibly removing them from their hive homes. They were then forced to work for Amber Sun Mining Corporate as scoop ship pilots or as satellite miners in their gas mines on Bextar. Some few Entymals managed to obtain shipping licenses from the Bureau of Ships and Services during this period, but otherwise, they were forbidden to leave Endex, except as slaves.

After the fall of the Empire, the Entymal's subjugation continued under the auspices of the Pentastar Alignment. Elta Besk, head of Dynamic Automata (which owned the Amber Sun Mining Corporation) supported the formation of the Alignment, precisely because she feared that the New Republic's pro-freedom ideals would lead to the revolt and liberation of her Entymal workforce.

It is unclear what happened to the Entymal when the Empire was driven back by the New Republic, and, later, when it signed the Pellaeon-Gavrisom Treaty.

Behind the scenes
The Entymal first appeared in the Star Wars Adventure Journal article "The Pentastar Alignment". Much of this information was then reprinted in Alien Encounters. The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4 then reprinted the "The Pentastar Alignment" picture in color.