Galandan

Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Name: Galandan

Humanoid: Yes

Classification: Near-Human/Alternative

Homeworld: Galand

Coloration: Unknown

Biology: The Galandans were described as a fairly near-Human sentient race, bearing the same general height, weight, build, and frame as the average Human, as well as being bipedal, with two arms, two legs, and one head. The species also had five digits on each of their appendages, as well as a very similar facial configuration to that of Humans or other Human-passing species. That’s really where the similarities end, however, as the species did bear some differences as well. For starters, their skin was coarse and wrinkled, seemingly pale though we don’t know the exact color(s) of their pigmentation.

Galandans had rigid heads, with small, pointed bones extending from their lower jawline and chin. They also had small lips, pointed ears, and squinted eyes that seemed to be solid in coloration. Their cheekbones were pronounced, as were their brows. The species did not grow hair across the top of their head, however, a few large, dreadlock-like strands protruding from the very back of their head. It is unclear what the Galandans’ native tongue was called or sounded like, though they had long since adopted Galactic Basic Standard as their official language and could seemingly speak it without issue. It’s worth noting the Galandans bore a striking resemblance to a much more well-known species, the Weequay.

Lore: The Galandans hailed from one of the Core Worlds, specifically a planet known as Galand. The species was known for traveling a lot across their homeworld, causing roadways to be so ingrained into the surface, especially around Galand’s equator, that they were apparently visible from space. There is no evidence that the Galandans were ever brought into the folds of the Galactic Republic, and were instead solely governed by the “Ruling Families of Galand,” who had become rather corrupt and controlling a few centuries prior to the Galactic Civil War. Apparently they overcomplicated laws and politics, constantly squabbling and sowing division while turning a blind eye to the poor living conditions of those under their governance.

One individual, a Galandan philosopher and messiah known as H’kig, rose to prominence around this time, preaching messages of peace, kindness, selflessness, and simplicity to the people who had seemingly lost much of their sense of community and empathy under the rule of the families. Because of his ministry, the families had H’kig executed in 179 BBY, spurring a turning point for the species. His following had grown quite large by that point, all collectively also referring to themselves as the “H’kig” after the passing of their leader, and they faced severe persecution following their formation. This forced most of the H’kig to flee Galand over the next century or so, with most of them ending up establishing a colony on Rishi by approximately 60 BBY. By the time the Empire had collapsed, the H’kig’s numbers were reportedly over 2 billion, mostly comprised of Galandans, though they accepted anyone into their religion.

One unnamed Galandan viceroy seemed in charge of the H’kig purge, though the rule of the families may have started to crumble after the teacher’s death as his message had been readily accepted by many of Galand’s lower class. The species primary tenets could be summarized in three glyphs, specifically “Jeh” or “J,” “Teh” or “T,” and “Peh” or “P,” roughly meaning “the imminent,” “the transcendent,” and “the eternal” respectively. This was the H’kig’s path to salvation that would supposedly lead them to an eternal life after death. The religion also commonly utilized instruments known as “H’kig chimes” for some sort of ritual or form of worship. Though sparsely documented, we do know the H’kig eventually split into two denominations after an intense theological debate ran rampant around the rise of the New Republic. The lesser sect would move to the planet J’t’p’tan, supposedly the physical manifestation of “Jeh,” where they would befriend Fallanasi refugees, establish the “Temple of the Infinite Spirit,” suffer at the hands of Yvethan invaders, and eventually obscure their entire existence from the rest of the galaxy forever.

Continuity: At present, the Galandans and all of the direct lore surrounding them are not Canon.

Unexplored: We seem to know a lot about one specific aspect of the Galandans, namely their religion(s), yet have seen very little else regarding their grander lore. Here are some questions that would help us better fully understand the Galandans should they ever be answered, starting with: How advanced were the Galandans by the start of H’kig’s ministry, when had they first developed sentience, when were they first discovered, and were they ever members of the Republic given Galand’s relative proximity to Coruscant? Did any outside groups or factions witness the rise of H’kig and the subsequent religious purge? Was there any sort of resistance, or did the peaceful followers of H’kig refuse to retaliate and instead continued to spread his message in hiding? What happened to the Viceroy who led the persecution, and was he ever faced with divine judgment, or would he go on to possibly become the most influential family leader who established a hatred of H’kig for the foreseeable future?

What was Galand like following the H’kig’s mass exodus? Did they suffer any sort of economic recession, possibly a collapse of the current ruling system, or maybe they had a technological boom now that certain philosophies had changed or been restricted? Did the planet suffer any during the Clone Wars, Galactic Civil War, or subsequent conflicts? As for the H’kig who had arrived on Rishi, why did that end up being their new home? How quickly did the religion grow among other species after they had established themselves there? And was H’kig relatively popular among the local Rishii population, or did they instead mind their own business, even as the commune’s population exceeded a billion members? What was the ultimate cause for the denominational split that took place, which side remained most true to H’kig’s original teachings, if any, and would the religion eventually become unpopular and die out, or, if H’kig preached the truth, would it persevere until the end of the universe?

Additional Notes: Christian themes, biblical imagery, and religious undertones have always been a mainstay part of the Star Wars franchise, usually nuanced and lowkey, although some aspects, especially when it comes to Anakin, have been a bit more overt. That being said, I don’t think I’ve seen anything in Star Wars lore quite as blatantly a 1:1 adaptation of the New Testament accounts as with the history of the Galandan and H’kig, and it’s honestly fascinating! I’m pleased with the sparse details we got, as well as the mystery surrounding whether H’kig was legit or nothing but a false prophet, and their lore following his eventual, seemingly unjust execution is equally as interesting. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the Galandan explored within Canon, though I’m also okay with leaving them as they are now, an interesting snapshot into a side of the EU that’s as unique as it is relatively uncreative.

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