Charric

The Charric was a Chiss ranged energy-weapon analog to the blaster, notable for utilizing maser-beam technology that was prevalent in the Chiss Ascendancy.

Description[]

The Cheunh word "charric" was typically used to denote personal weaponry in the Chiss Ascendancy, referring to handheld weapons ranging in size from pistols to rifles.^[3] Occasionally, the term could also refer to larger vehicle mounted weapons and artillery-grade pieces, such as Maser fans and Megamasers.^[3] Charrics differed from blasters by firing a maser-guided particle beam, known as a maser beam, which carried significant thermal and kinetic energy.^[1]^[2] These intense microwaves created a potent bolt that was easily capable of penetrating non-metallic armors (such as ceramic and polymer armors).^[1]^[2] Against metallic armors, the interaction between a maser bolt's microwaves and a metallic surface created a nasty electrical discharge capable of temporarily stunning or even knocking a target out cold.^[1]^[2] Despite this discharge, metallic armors provided decent protection from charrics, as the beam would not simply punch through it as it would a non-metallic armor.^[1]^[2] Charrics on their own were not capable of switching between a lethal and stun setting in the way a blaster was, and many did not come equipped with one stock.^[1]^[2] Variant models of charrics did include a stun function, however; when set on stun these variants shut off its maser and emitted a green EM-charge specially designed to disrupt neurological patterns.^[1]^[2]

Charric discharges were typically actinic blue or bright green, with slightly shorter ammo capacity and range than blasters.^[4]^[3]^[1]^[2] Charrics were more or less capable of the same amount of output as a blaster, however, despite using a different technology - and the Chiss made extensive use of the weapons throughout their history.^[4]^[3] Because of the difference in technologies, charrics were unable to be reflected by lightsabers,^[4] and also carried far more kinetic energy than a blaster bolt, with the "enormous impact" of the bolts being substantial enough to physically wear down a Jedi Knight to the point of having their lightsaber knocked from their grasp.^[3]

History[]

Charrics were common within Chiss space, but relatively rare in the wider galaxy until the Chiss joined the galactic community. Although the Republic at large did not know of the Chiss until the Imperial Era, the charric could still be found on Republic worlds as early as 3951 BBY, such as Onderon and Nar Shaddaa.^[5]