Ovissian

Last Updated: 12/27/2023

Name: Ovissian

Humanoid: Yes

Classification: Alternative/Reptilian

Homeworld: Krystar and/or Sinta IV

Coloration: Green, Pink, Orange

Biology: The Ovissians were generally humanoid, although they stood just slightly shorter than most Human or Human-like species. They usually had green or orange skin, sometimes with additional light-colored striped on their heads, forearms, and potentially other parts of their bodies. Their most notable features were their four head horns (two small and two large) as well as their wide mouths, filled with razor sharp teeth that were not always visible (potentially retractable). Their blood was a bright green color, and their skin was thick, able to withstand incredibly low temperatures. Ovissians were capable of growing some hair, with men generally appearing bald but sporting facial hair such as moustaches, while women could grow hair from the top and back of their head. Said hair could be naturally black, brown, or orange, very similar to Humans. Finally, the species was capable of clearly pronouncing Galactic Basic.

Lore: We still know very little about the Ovissians, and some of what is known remains confusing. The Ovissians were found en masse on the planet Krystar, which is widely accepted as their homeworld, although it has also been implied that they may have originated from the astronomical object known as Sinta IV, so until we get more concrete information regarding their roots, it’s hard to make any definitive claims. Still, by the start of the Clone Wars, Krystar was indeed where many of the species called home, enough, in fact, that they were represented among the Republic Senate through that world. As such, the Ovissians (and Krystar) were members of the Galactic Republic for an indeterminate amount of years leading up to it’s collapse.

These loyalties would be shaken when, during the first year of the Clone Wars, the Ovissian Regent, generally accepted as the leader of their people, allied himself with the Confederacy of Independent Systems for monetary gain. Krystar would then host a secret prison camp containing GAR troops, although this infraction would be foiled only shortly after it began. With help from the planet’s senator, Vishar Koss, as well as Padmé Amidala, the current power, namely Regent Queb, was overthrown and imprisoned himself. This landed Krystar in a less-than-favorite spot as far as Republic perception was concerned, although we have no idea if they were involved any further with the raging Clone Wars from either side.

At some point before the collapse of the Empire, an Ovissian crime syndicate known as Enthian Mob gained some sort of reputation. Being led by a man know simply as Boss Voss, they were quite imposing, their ranks appearing to consist only of Ovissians and no other species. Unfortunately for the mob, Voss was eventually assassinated (potentially inadvertently) by the infamous smuggler Rik Duel, choking to death on some sort of food. Following the Boss’ death, it is unclear what happened to the Enthian Mob, although given that they have yet to be mentioned again, they were most likely swallowed up by much more prominent criminal groups.

There is a gap in any species lore following this event, with the next prominent cluster of Ovissians appearing during what was commonly coined as the Galactic “Cold War.” For whatever reason, the Ovissians, or at least those found at Sinta IV, had allied themselves with the Resistance movement, potentially indicating their involvement with the early New Republic and/or suffering at the hands of the First Order. Some Ovissians operated as spies for the Resistance, while others served on the front lines as heavy weapons specialists. They were generally known for their happy-go-lucky demeanors and encouraging attitudes, even when facing imminent danger.

Legends/Canon: Ovissians did not exist within Star War Legends, and were only relatively recently introduced into Canon via Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Unexplored: Nearly everything about this species is ripe for exploration. We don’t know how most worlds dealt with being occupied by the First Order, but the Ovissians could serve as a fascinating example. As indicated above, we also do not truly know where the species comes from yet. If they do come from Sinta IV, how did they deal with the cold without fur. Is it possible they migrated from said frigid astronomical object to Krystar? Or maybe it was the other way around? In general, how and when were they first distributed across the galaxy? When was the species first discovered by the Republic, were they immediately made members and given a seat on the Senate, and when may have sentiments began to change, leading to the soft CIS-allyship we see during the Clone Wars?

On that same note, did the Ovissians possibly attempt to secede after their leader was arrested by the Republic and their allies, or was their relationship with the Republic only strengthened as the leadership changed hands? Was Krystar ever home to any further major battles, and did either side attempt to set up a designated military presence on the world? What happened to the Ovissians after the Empire rose to power, and were they subjugated or punished for their leader’s previous crimes? How then might that have affected their treatment by the First Order, who often followed in their footsteps or targeted worlds made vulnerable by their predecessors? Were the Ovissians ever official members of the New Republic? And what happened to their people and homes after the fight against the First and Final Orders were finally over?

Additional Notes: As stated above, we really do know next to nothing about this species, but they were used fairly heavily in the promotion for Star Wars: Episode IX (with Boolio, the Ovissian within the film, becoming a fan favorite minor character), and were later picked to be one of the heavy weapons classes in Star Wars Battlefront II, specifically for the Resistance! If you are crafting a story set in the Sequel era, these are great and interesting characters to try and add to your roster. They clearly have some sort of rich history with the First Order, and quite possibly some really interesting goals and motives for why they fight, or even why others don’t. “Win the war!”

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