Godoan

Last Updated: 11/20/2023

Name: Godoan

Humanoid: Yes

Classification: Near-Human

Homeworld: Godo

Coloration: Yellow

Biology: The Godoans were a rather Near-Human species from the early days of Star Wars. They were generally humanoid in appearance, although there were a few differences. On average, the Godoans were slightly shorter than most Human or Near-Human species. They had bright yellow pigmentation, with thick, dark black hair. There were two antennae sprouting from the top of their head, slightly above their forehead. They had flat noses, large eyes, and wide teeth. Their hands and feet were considered large within proportion to the rest of their body. And they were known for having very “child-like” faces and appearances throughout their entire life, so it was nearly impossible to gauge their age based on their physical appearance. Godoans had the ability to speak Galactic Basic, and while we were never given a solid natural lifespan length, it appears to be somewhat longer than that of the average Human.

Lore: The Godoans were first and foremost known for their fiercely religious culture. As a still primitive people, when a mysterious machine was found on their homeworld of Godo, the Godoans immediately formed a religion around it, worshiping the various components found inside as if they were deities. Some of the “idols” they worshiped included the “Minstrel” and the “Dancing Goddess,” although these small statues were actually crucial components of the machine and their removal would result in it’s deactivation. The machine itself became a temple known as the “House of the Goddess” and was kept securely guarded and sealed away from any offworlders who sought it out. 

Interestingly, this machine was far more important than anyone originally realized, as while it was active, Godo remained a habitable world. However, when not functioning, the entire planet became covered by a mist which brought with it a deadly plague, called a “techno-virus” which was potentially caused by nanobots. In their entire history, we only know of three times this has ever happened. Once in ancient times, and potentially twice within short succession around the time of the Galactic Civil War. The last time was especially brutal, resulting in the near eradication of the entire Godoan race. Despite this, the Dancing Goddess and Minstrel idols always made their way back to Godo, and upon reactivation, the machine would release a red gas which would coat the planet and immediately eliminate the virus.

The Godoans were a very isolated species, and were not necessarily fond of outsiders, especially those who would threaten the deities or place of worship. Treasure hunters or criminals who had heard of the mysteries contained within the House of the Goddess would often attempt to plunder Godo, with Black Sun, Jabba the Hutt, and a lesser known group called the Lemo-Sanda Gang (as well as Crimson Dawn’s leader Dryden Vos in Canon) all ending up in possession of the Dancing Goddess statue, Jabba even taking a personal trip just to visit the Godoans and take it for himself. Still, there were some outsiders like the Rebel Alliance who brought aid to the people of Godo, especially during the deadly pandemic that plagued the world during the Galactic Civil War. They never officially allied themselves with the Rebellion, nor the New Republic, however they at least welcomed them out of desperation.

Legends/Canon: The Godoans have been referenced in Canon, but we literally only know their name and the fact that they worshiped a deity known as the “Dancing Goddess.” All of the additional lore mentioned above, including their history and homeworld, as well as any illustrations, are currently exclusive to Star Wars Legends. (There has been one interesting addition to Canon, as Crimson Dawn leader Dryden Vos was in possession of the “Dancing Goddess” statue as of his death, meaning the Godoans are canonically still without it as of last we heard.)

Unexplored: So to get this out of the way, as a species with almost no lore in Canon, the Godoans can really be taken in any direction without repercussion. However, when species are brought over from Legends and not just entirely new to Star Wars, they usually bring with them some of, if not most of their lore. And as we’ve seen with the Godoans, a little bit of their lore has already seeped into Canon. So if they were to keep the majority of their established history, there are still questions we can ask to help flesh the species out even more.

The biggest question, of course, is where did the “House of the Goddess” come from? It is unlike any technology we’ve ever seen, so was it developed by ancient Godoans, another ancient visiting race like the Zeffo or even something like the Rakatans or Kwa? Does it create the “techo-virus,” or does it simply exist to keep it at bay? What is the point of the “idols” and why does the functionality of the machine hinge around their presence? Does it have anything to do with the Force or magick? Are there other machines like it found on Godo or similar worlds? Does it serve any other functions outside of dealing with (and potentially producing) the devastating Godoan plague? And within what we’ve seen in Canon, are the Godoans still plagued by the virus as one of their idols is in the possession of Dryden Vos/Q’ira?

Other questions to ask that relate more to Canon include: When were the Godoans first discovered, and how long ago did they develop sentience? Are they primitive because they are still in the early stages of development, or simply because they have been hindered by their religious attitudes? Were there any Godoans who ever left Godo, potentially to seek answers in the greater galaxy, rebel against their “deities,” or even become something like a Jedi? Were they ever revisited by organizations like the Hutt Cartel or Black Sun, or even antagonistic groups like the Galactic Empire or First Order? And if the extinction-level event still took place during the Galactic Civil War, how did they recover, how did their views of offworlders change, and how did that affect their religious beliefs?

Additional Notes: This species has a surprisingly unique and interesting backstory, and I found myself very intrigued by the “House of the Goddess” and the mysteries that it held. Because most of the info above comes from very early media (the 1997 “Star Wars” comic run), a lot of it may not even be within continuity of the grander EU timeline(s). So answers to my questions will probably never come, as they were either quickly forgotten or never meant to be expanded upon in the first place. And who knows, maybe that’s for the best, as mysteries with 0% chance or resolution are often some of the most enthralling!

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