Ossan

The Ossan were a bioengineered humanoid species used (and sold) as slaves by the Ancient Houses of the Senex Sector. Their homeworld was Ossel II, and they had sizeable populations on Asmeru and Karfeddion (which House Vandron used as an Ossan breeding planet).

Ossan had four arms and two legs, with hands and feet evolved for digging and backs evolved for lifting. Their thick skin provided natural protection from heat and cold, as well as low-level radiation. Ossan heads were dominated by their large eyes which enabled them to see in the dark. They had small, inflexible mouths, and no noses or ears.

Ossan on their swampy high-gravity homeworld lived a primitive lifestyle, without even the technology of the bow and arrow. They were visited regularly by independent spacers trading for syp wood. Though many spacers would attempt to trade goods for syp, the Ossan insisted instead on exchanging wood for the chance to sign on as crewmembers. Though this usually meant that the Ossan would end up an indentured servant or slave, the Ossan believed this to be an excellent trade. Ossan fancied themselves clever negotiators, though this was usually not true. Many Ossan would be released from their contracts early due to ineptitude. These Ossan had few skills to offer other than their strength, and even that was short-lived as their muscles turned to fat in lower gravity environments.

Behind the scenes
In older references such as Galaxy Guide 4: Alien Races, the Ossan are described differently. Rather than having small mouths and no noses as described in Cloak of Deception, they are illustrated as having long toothy snouts with a single nostril. They also are shown with long, floppy ears, and two rather than four arms. Alien Races does not describe the Ossan as being bioengineered either.

Ossan also is used as the adjective for the planet Ossus, as evidenced in the sixth Legacy of the Force novel, Inferno.

Appearances

 * Cloak of Deception
 * Droid Trouble
 * Children of the Jedi
 * Star by Star