Galderian

Last Updated: 11/29/2023

Name: Galderian

Humanoid: Yes

Classification: Alternative/Reptilian/Beast (Ovine)

Homeworld: Galdar

Coloration: Unknown

Biology: Galderians were a humanoid species that fit into a number of moulds, including possessing reptilian and Human-like traits, while also generally being referred to as a goat-like species. They had a generally Human or near-Human-esque body structure, being bipedal with two arms (with five fingered hands) and two legs, with a muscular frame yet not being overly bulky. While we have yet to learn their pigmentation coloration(s), we do know their hairless skin had the same texture as that of tanned or treated leather. They also had mottled spots across their body, seemingly concentrated on at least their arms and head, although it’s likely they could be found on other body parts as well. Soft, flat lobes lined their arm, from the lower portion of the shoulder, along their outer forearm, and ending at their wrist, the longest growths sprouting from their elbow.

Galderians had muscular necks with pronounced clavicles, as well as various other neck and facial muscles that were raised and visible under the skin. The six most visible muscles were situated in pairs, extending outward from their face, with two running down the front of their throat, two extending out and down the sides of their neck, and two shooting out from their cheeks towards the back of their heads. This made it seem as though Galderians were wearing a mask, the front of their face appearing to be stretched out and connected to their skull. Said skulls were bulbous, with the back of their head being much smoother and mottled than the front.

Galderian faces were slightly elongated, almost resembling that of a traditional dragon, with pointed chins, wide mouths and wrinkled lips, razor-sharp teeth and one to two “tusks,” which was actually just a large tooth extending from the middle-left (and sometimes middle-right) portion of their lower jaw that rested outside of their mouth when closed and had a noticeably darkened tip. Their noses were coarse, unturned, and flat, revealing wide nostril openings. They had protruding brows that overshadowed their ever-squinted, solid eyes. Running up the center of their forehead were a number of raised bumps or dots, usually anywhere from three to five of various sizes. And one of their most prominent traits were their twin horns, which extending from the upper portion of their forehead in a manner not unlike the aforementioned raised muscles, growing thinner and pointier as they wrapped around the back of their skulls, while also gaining periodic ridges.

Galderians were a fairly strong species, and their claws could seemingly deal significant damage, even when unarmed. They were also quite acclimated to extreme environments, specifically those with little food or water, and high heats. Their skull and horns were much harder than the rest of their body, making them the perfect species to execute headbutts without the usual repercussions. They were also known for their moderate intelligence, and especially for their temperamental, sadistic natures, making them very unlikeable essentially from birth, and usually downright antagonistic to all others, especially those who were not of the same race. Galderians did seem capable of speaking broken Galactic Basic, although the universal language they understood even better was violence. There are no known instances of a Force Sensitive Galderian, although they are highly unlikely to ever become a Jedi, or any lightside faction for that matter.

Lore: Galderians hailed from the sparse, rocky, near-inhospitable world of Galdar. Some time over a millennia before the rise of the Galactic Empire, the Galderians all but abandoned their arid homeworld as it was no longer considered suitable for living. Despite this mass exodus, a few members of the species stayed behind, although they were definitely in the minority. Those who left grouped up to form a number of large wandering pirate factions, which soon devolved into an organized slave trading circuit. While not as prominent as other species involved in the intergalactic slave trade such as the Zygerrians or the T’surr, the Galderians still developed quite the infamous reputation.

Even moreso, all Galderians carried notoriety for being such an incredibly unpleasant species. They were always loud, crude, disgusting, and to many, their appearance was grotesque, unsettling, or in some cases, downright scary to look upon (and listen to). Galderians had a reputation for reveling in misery, and it was even common to state they would “salivate” if they witnessed torture or atrocities. It was also said they simply loved raiding ships or villages more than the actual business/profit side of imprisoning others. This repute became so bad that pretty much every major galactic power or organization would not deal with them, although, at the very least, they seemed to get along among themselves, unlike other unsavory species such as the Huraloks. Galderians were well known by the time of the High Republic, and had become such an issue a few centuries later that, at one point, the Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire were forced to work together to deal with a group of them.

Legends/Canon: The Galderians have currently been mentioned once in Star Wars Canon within a THR novel, although they were only referenced and did not actually appear. Still, the brief mention canonized the fact that the species are still as unsavory as ever, although the rest of the lore above, including their homeworld and history as slavers remains exclusive to the EU.

Unexplored: Within Canon the Galderians are ripe for exploration, and while their Legends lore established a lot of “absolutes” when it came to these species, these rules can also be broken, and it’s almost more interesting they are. So here are some questions I believe are worth exploring someday in Canon, under the assumption that their original lore remains intact: When did the Galderians first develop sentience, what did they evolve from, and when were they first discovered and/or when did they first leave their homeworld? How might they have gotten access to hyperspace-capable technologies, and how did they survive on such an inhospitable planet prior to their “escape?” In fact, what were the few Galderians who remained up to following the exodus, and were they ever affected by intergalactic events or wars? Did Galdar secretly hold any valuable resources or secrets that would cause them to be invaded or explored at a later date?

Were the Galderians ever considered for membership by the Republic, or were they ever employed by factions like the Confederacy of Independent Systems or the early Empire? And were they considered rivals or allies of other slaver groups like the Zygerrian Empire or the first iteration of Crimson Dawn? Is it possible the Galderians had a dwindling population due to both the nurse nature of their home, and the fact that they made an enemy of the entire galaxy? What were their thoughts on peacekeeping groups like the Jedi, and was it possible there was ever a Galderian Sith or Dark Side Force user sometime in the distant past? Of course, solidifying the usual worldbuilding traits I mention in most of my articles will never be frowned upon. But in this case, I think it’s just as important to explore the species more visually. We have no full-body images of a Galderian, and of course, we don’t even know what colors they could be…

Additional Notes: I like the design, it’s fairly unique and unsettling. I also love a good hateable species, and the lore here is unique enough to set them apart from others. Of course, I had that we haven’t had a better look at them since their first and only colorless illustration from 1994 (which was uniquely unlicensed by the way). However, it’s nice to have them solidified in Canon now, even if it’s just in name at the moment, and hopefully we’ll finally get a new colored illustration in some project within The High Republic, just like the Chortose finally got!

Additional Images: