Blarina

Last Updated: 09/08/2025

Name: Blarina

Humanoid: Yes

Classification: Diminutive/Alternative/Beastite (Rodentia)

Homeworld: Rina Major

Coloration: Pink or Brown

Biology: The Blarina were a diminutive bipedal rodent-like species standing between 1 and 1.2 meters tall on average, with pudgy bodies, and a pair of arms and legs. Their skin was hairless, wrinkled, and fleshy-looking, usually taking on a pale pink or pinkish-brown coloration, although it was revealed that they were actually covered in a layer of nearly imperceptible scales. While they had rounded torsos, their limbs and appendages were rather thin, sporting small five-fingered hands with sharp claws. They were not known for their physical strength, however, their scaly hide was said to be surprisingly thick, preventing them from extreme temperatures, rapid decompression, the “vacuum” of space, external toxins, and many forms of piercing damage.

Blarina heads were rounded, with tiny eyes hidden within protruding circles of flesh, said eyes apparently usually being colored gold, black, or both. They also had prominent snouts extending from the lower portions of their faces which curved downwards, the mouth-like opening on the underside full of powerful incisors and other razor-sharp teeth. They had no visible nostrils, although it’s believed they breathed through their snoots. Just as they were on the outside, the Blarina were also durable internally, resistant to most health conditions, diseases, and poisons. It would appear, despite the strange nature of their mouths, they were capable of speaking Galactic Basic. It’s also been stated that in-universe, most Blarina looked almost identical, with non-Blarina having a difficult time telling them all apart.

Lore: The Blarina are a species well known for their seeming inability to shut up. This reputation was only partly true, however, as they were self-aware about their blabbering, yet continued to do it both as a method of manipulation, as well as simply because they found it fun. Somehow, the Blarina managed to be an incredibly social species without being overly hospitable, often forming one-way antagonistic relationships with others. They were also a shrewd species, getting their way either by effortlessly lying, or simply talking their prey into utter boredom or submission. Despite their incessant usage, words and wordsmithing did mean a lot to the Blarina, and they even hosting popular “soliloquy competitions” on their homeworld, known for inserting hisses and cackles into their speech, especially when overjoyed or entertained.

Blarina were a very communal species, forming into packs wherever they went, and rarely observed alone. They acknowledged that they almost all appeared identical, and used this to their advantage, with multiple Blarina sometimes posing as one individual to manipulate or scam others. While not strong or skilled combatants on their own, a unit of Blarina could be quite the formidable force. Blarina families often stayed together, forming into traveling crews, troupes of traders, or even micro mining guilds. While we don’t know much about their Outer Rim homeworld of Rina Major, we can assume it was some sort of ore rich planet as Blarina were famous (or infamous) for being intergalactic miners, although usually as hired contractors and not owners of any major known mining corporations. Their efforts had already been expanding since the days of the High Republic, and they sought out further methods of providing for their own kind in the following years

These ventures eventually saw many Blarina migrating to the Anoat Sector, located only a couple grid squared over from Rina Major. There they sought out additional mining opportunities, with many Blarina finding themselves on the well known mining colony, Burnin Konn. There communities of the species would form to work and scam their way to riches, at least until they were inevitably pulled into the conflict between the growing Anoat rebel movement and the angered Empire, culminating Burnin Konn be selected as a prime target Operation: Cinder, which saw the planet decimated by Imperial forces and leading to the death of a number of Blarina. Still, it was not enough to put a dent in their expanding efforts, and by the rise of the First Order, the species could be found spread out as far as Jakku and Takodana. It was additionally learned that the name “Blarina” translated to “Children of Rin,” potentially to some sort of deeper, possibly religious history or aspect of their culture.

Continuity: The Blarina exist exclusively within Star Wars Canon.

Unexplored: Usually it feels like we know a lot about the newer live action species histories and not much about their current characterization, however, for the Blarina, it kinda feels like it’s been flip flopped! So the following are a few proposed questions that mostly focus on their history and whereabouts, with a few personal inquiries sprinkled in as well. Of course, as usual, we first need to ask when the Blarina first developed sentience, what sort of creatures might they have evolved from, why did they develop into what we see in the “modern eras,” and when might the species’ first true civilization have been developed? When were the Blarina first discovered, and were they ever propositioned by the Republic for membership? What was the surface of Rina Major like, was it a prolific mining world, and did they have any major ore or precious gem exports, possibly indicating a status of collective wealth?

What was the size of the Blarina population, and is it possible they began to spread offworld due to overpopulation, or did their numbers boom after they formed various extended colonies? Did they have a passion for mining, or was it simply the only lives they knew from birth? Who or what was “Rin,” and why were the Blarina considered their children? Was Rin some ancient traveler, benevolent species, real or fictional deity, Rina Major itself, or something we aren’t even considering? Did the Blarina form any meaningful alliances or relationships throughout their history? And were they involved in any major galactic events or wars? Were they occupied and suppressed by the Empire due to their size and teamwork? And finally, what were the species up to in subsequent eras like the First Order-Resistance War and beyond? Alongside these more specific questions, delving into our usual list of broad worldbuilding traits will help to flesh out the Blarina to a new, higher degree!

Additional Notes: A surprising amount of lore here for this one already, but I guess we have the now lost media that was Star Wars: Uprising to think for a fair bit of it! Also glad to have seen them make their way into the High Republic, and the future of this species looks bright, both out of universe and in (unless they were living on Burnin Konn). So yeah, I guess be on the lookout for more Blarina in future projects! (It’s also worth noting the name “Blarina” in real life represents a genus of short-tailed shrews, so shrew-like (or maybe even naked mole-rat-like) would probably be the best descriptor for them, despite not really being established as such in-universe.)

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