Zelosian

Zelosians were sentient plants native to Zelos II.

Biology and appearance
Zelosians were Near-Humans outwardly identical to Humans, but all had emerald green eyes and a type of chlorophyll sap instead of blood. To Zelosians, sugar had the effect that alcohol had on Humans. Zelosians were absolutely blind in the dark, which meant that they stayed indoors after sunset and held many superstitions about the night (although their suspicions about zombies proved to be somewhat true, actually caused by corpses reanimated by parasitic worms). Although well-known galaxy-wide as skilled horticulturists, few realized the Zelosians were not Humans.

Culture and history
Zelos II was subjugated by the Galactic Empire for ore mining, but the Zelosians were kept ignorant that the mining work they did supported the Imperial war machine. After the Battle of Endor, the Zelosians believed the Imperial military had abandoned Zelos II, not knowing of a hidden base in the Valley of Umbra; the New Republic sent in forces to take out the base, but walked into an ambush. In the wake of the seeming Imperial abandonment of the planet, Zelosian Galleros Nul declared martial law, making himself Mandated Commander of the People of Zelos. When the Imperial presence on Zelos II was exposed by Jai Raventhorn, Nul disavowed the Empire entirely and petitioned entrance for his world to the New Republic.

Superstitions
The entire Zelosian culture seems to be built on the dichotomy of day and night. In their language, “good” is synonymous with bright, light, glowing and day. “Bad” is identified with dimness, darkness, shadows and night. Speaking any of the four latter words is akin to swearing in Zelosian society. There are darker skinned Zelosians but they are not shunned. It appears that their light/darkness stigma is important to their words and ideas and excludes actual colours – they paint their dwellings all manner of hues and will wear any shade of clothing, including black.

During daylight hours, Zeolsians are cheerful, happy, energetic, helpful, kind, pleasant and open people with laughing voices and animated movements. As the sun goes down, they seek the shelter of their well-locked homes, even to the point of being rude and leaving someone in the middle of a task or conversation in order to get home in time. During the night, Zelosians are fearful, easily cowed, suspicious and unwilling to help strangers.

Whatever the time of day, Zelosians are chiefly very superstitious people and very set in their ways. Some examples of Zelosian superstition are as follows:

Never leap out of a starship and land on the ground with both feet. Never travel in groups of four. Four is an unlucky number. If the light of two full moons strikes you, you will die within one day. If anyone spills water or any other liquid, they must be slapped lightly across the face.

Notable Zelosians

 * Darth Rivan
 * Celot Ratua Dil
 * Galleros Nul

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance
 * Death Star
 * Gathering Shadows
 * Children of the Jedi
 * Children of the Jedi
 * Children of the Jedi