Trianii

Last Updated: 1/30/2024

Name: Trianii

Humanoid: Yes

Classification: Beast (Feline)

Homeworld: Trian

Coloration: Varied

Biology: The Trianii were one of the many bipedal feline species that inhabited the galaxy. They were a muscular species, generally standing around 2 meters tall upon reaching maturity, however, female Trianii are notably larger, taller, and stronger than their male counterparts. Their bodies were covered in semi-longer fur that could be any number of the following colors: black, brown, tan, gray, white, orange, yellow, red, or even green. They could also have solid fur, or they could possess dark patterns and stripes, often similar to that of a tiger. 

The Trianii’s arms and legs were incredibly muscular, and their hands and feet were paw-like while still possessing more pronounced humanoid digits. Often Trianii are depicted with either two or three toes, and either three or four fingers. However, they always have naturally long and sharp claws which could seemingly be filed down (or clipped) without causing the Trianii any pain. They also possessed a long, often thin prehensile tail which was possibly their most distinguishable trait as a species (as they were often confused with other, much more common or popular bipedal sentient felines races).

The Trianii had large muscular chests/breasts and broad shoulders. They also often had a very curved neck that almost gave them the appearance of having a hunched back (this was much less visible in young Trianii). Their heads were large and felinoid, often much longer than most other cat-like sentients. Again, the fur on their face could be a variety of colors, sometimes lightening with age, as well as often possessing black stripes extending down from their forehead. They could also grow thick hair resembling beards from a very young age, although this was not present in all or even most Trianii. Their chins were very pronounced, as were their snouts, and their ears were usually tall and pointed.

Their whiskers could grow to be over .3 meters long and served as a form of tactile hair that can sense certain vibrations. They also had phenomenal eyesight, smell, hearing, and balance, in part to their long tails as well as their naturally attuned senses. They were naturally athletic and could jump higher and run faster than post species, as well as absorb more of the shock when landing. Their lifespans were never specified but it was believed to be similar or the same to humans (right down to the fact that the females were generally healthier and lived longer). They were also perfectly capable of speaking basic, as most feline species could, but they also spoke a very cat-like language known too as “Trianii.”

Lore: The Trianii were somewhat of an isolationist species, highly valuing their independence and not giving their allegiance to any higher galactic powers. As the females were the larger and more predominant gender of the species, they possessed a highly matriarchal society. They originally evolved on their homeworld of Trian, however, they eventually began colonizing every world around them. By the time of their discovery, they had taken over and colonized well over 7 entire star systems, including the entirety of their home Trian System, as well as the Brochiib, Ekibo, Fibuli, and Piypin Systems, and two or more other unidentified neighboring systems. 

All of their conquests took place within something known as the “Tingel Arm,” which was a portion of space considered to be nestled between the Outer Rim, the Unknown Regions, and Wild Space. This was also on the border of the “Corporate Sector,” a small independent pocket of space originally designated as a zone of operation for large corporations who wanted more leniency from the stringent Republic laws on the Core, Inner, and Mid Rims. They often expanded their reach into the surrounding star systems using the authority of the “Corporate Sector Authority (CSA)” forces.

The Trianii, however, were very territorial and did not approve of outsiders. When the CSA tried to claim their section of space, the Trianii dispatched their elite fighting force known as the Trianii Rangers to deal with them. This initiated the CSA-Trianii War which lasted for well over 3 years and distracted both parties from larger events like the Battle of Yavin and destruction of the first Death Star. Following the war, it took nearly an entire extra year for the Trianii and CSA to negotiate and come to a delicate armistice as well as a pretty one sided agreement (in Trianii’s favor). By the time the Trianii had reclaimed their systems, it was already some time between 2 and 5 A.B.Y.

During the war, a number of Trianni were taken as prisoners of war and sent to various CSA-allied detainment centers, causing numerous members of the species to be spread out further than their usual reaches during this time. The Trianni also found themselves allied with various colonist communities around their territory during and following the war, given their shared disapproval of the Corporate Sector’s attempts to usurp their homes. The Triannii remained completely unbothered by the events and aftermath of the Galactic Civil War, as well as the Imperial Remnant traveling the galaxy in search of new fortress worlds. They also declined any offers to join the New Republic, and decided they would remain indefinitely independent.

They were often mistaken for the Togorian, Catuman, or even the fairly different but still felinoid species known as the Cathar (although they didn’t usually seem to take offense to these mistakes). Supposedly the elite Trianii Rangers made for incredible combatants, enough to fascinate outside parties and require extensive study from the CSA to counter. The Rangers themselves were strict and well-trained, most of their lives devoted to protecting their territory. They were trained extensively in stealth tactics, hand-to-hand combat, light and heavy weaponry, space combat, and even intimidation tactics. They could almost be considered a religious order, and were known for using any means necessary to secure victory, as well as taking trophies, often in the form of body parts. The Rangers led a massive space fleet split up into “trisector” contingents, utilizing their own terms for ranks such as “Punctino” (Admiral), “Pyorn” (Commodore), and “Sinth” (Captain).

Continuity: While the Trianii are technically Canon, all of the above lore remains relegated to the EU, with their only appearances within the current continuity being nothing more than background or minor supporting roles.

Unexplored: While there’s already some quite extensive established lore, it is worth noting that they’re more or less an open book in Canon, meaning there’s a chance they could end up being VERY different than their original iteration (although it’s pretty unlikely). Regardless, I’m just going to pose a few questions that would help us even better understand this species assuming their previous lore is adapted essentially one-for-one. For starters, when were the Trianii first discovered, and by whom? Was it Republic explorers who came across their territory, colonists who would eventually lay the groundwork for the Corporate Sector, or is it possible they developed their own spacefaring vessels and went out to encounter offworlders on their own terms? Who were the first enemies that led the Trianii to create the Rangers so many millennia ago, and did they possibly get caught up in Old Republic conflicts involving the Jedi and Sith Orders, or even the Eternal or Infinite Empires?

What various galactic events were the Trianii involved with, intentionally or otherwise, or did they manage to remain completely isolated and independent throughout the many years? How truly extensive was their reach and had they spread out across many worlds or did the primary bulk of their population remain on Trian? On that note, how advanced had the Trianii become by their war with the Corporate Sector, and could they be considered among some of the most technologically impressive species in the galaxy? How reliable was their truce with the CSA, and did any additional conflicts arise between the two, or was it possible an outside threat may have forced them to work even closer together to maintain their individual territories? Finally, what did life look like on the average Trianii world, especially their homeworld, as we usually only ever see their military explore? This question encompasses really the entire list of usual worldbuilding concept questions that I pose in most of these articles, so I won’t type all of them out individually for now!

Additional Notes: I would argue that the Trianii are one of the most interesting feline species to exist within the Star Wars universe at present, although I know the Cathar are much more prevalent and I still prefer the Togorians. They can have a pretty distinctive silhouette at times, and I really do hope we see more of them soon. With the Corporate Sector seeing more attention within Canon, I have a feeling this species won’t be far behind, but in the meantime, I encourage you to try and include a Trianii in your own current WIP, unofficial or otherwise!

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