Mustafarian/Legends

The Mustafarians were the native sentient species of the volcanic planet Mustafar. They were divided into two subspecies: the taller, thinner northern subspecies, and a smaller, stockier, and hardier southern subspecies.

Biology and appearance


The two subspecies of Mustafarians had different physiologies as well as different roles in their society. The northern Mustafarians were significantly taller than their cousins and physically weaker. Because of their frail physiology, those who served as sentries commonly had their limbs enhanced with cybernetic prosthetics.

The southern Mustafarians were stronger and shorter in stature than their northern cousins. They handled the "heavy lifting" jobs of the their planet's lava mining. The southerners could withstand higher temperatures than northerners as well. Since they spent more time near the lava, they wore breath masks and thick armor to compensate.

There were similarities between the two subspecies, though. Both were hard-shelled arthropods with long snouts and insectoid eyes. Their exoskeletons lay in plates over leathery skin. Unlike most species of the galaxy, they had very little water in their bodies.

Society and culture
The Mustafarians were an egocentric people who wanted nothing more than to squeeze any resource they can off their volcanic planet. They were not commonly seen off-world. If they were, it was usually for trade or business reasons.

They also had a highly symbolic culture. Their architecture was based on the shape of the kahel cave fungus. There was also a manhood ritual that required youth to jump a lavafall on a lava flea without protective clothing.

Notable Mustafarians included Chief Armstrong, Foreman Chivos, Urup Fal'co, and Chief Ulon Glost. At least one Mustafarian became a bounty hunter; Jabba employed this hunter in an attempt to kill Tyber Zann, but the hunter failed and was killed by Urai Fen.

History


The Mustafarians evolved from extremophilic arthropods whose natural habitat was the slightly cooler hollows and caves inside Mustafar's dormant volcanoes. They fashioned armor from lava fleas to protect themselves from the hotter lava flows on the surface which separated Mustafarian townships such as Fralideja. Lava fleas served as their mounts. Even without lava flea armor, Mustafarian skin was tough enough to resist standard blaster bolts. Mustafarians used weapons which fired bolts of kinetic force instead.

When the Techno Union arrived on Mustafar about three hundred years before the Clone Wars, the Mustafarians signed a trade treaty with the offworlders. Technology gained through trade allowed the Mustafarians to survive even the harshest conditions on their homeworld. In return, the Mustafarians worked as lava miners, extracting minerals from lava streams for the Techno Union. Some Mustafarian miners rode harvesting platforms skimming over the active flows, extracting lava with large, pole-mounted cauldrons. Mustafarians also worked in industrial complexes which took advantage of their planet's abundant mineral resources and geothermal energy. Otherwise, Mustafarians were generally unconcerned about offworlder affairs. Their fate under the Galactic Empire after Darth Vader's massacre of the Separatist Council leaders in 19 BBY is unknown; however they were loyal to the Empire as of 0-6 ABY.

Behind the scenes


Some of the original designs for the Mustafarians were much more humanoid. These designs were later used for the Pau'ans.

The Mustafarians look very similar to the Kubaz, leading some to believe that they were one and the same species. Though this is not the case, Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary depicts a Mustafarian wearing a Kubazian skirt, which may point to a relationship between the species (similar to that of the Duros and Neimoidians).

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith video game
 * Star Wars Galaxies: Trials of Obi-Wan
 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption