Jin

Last Updated: 4/19/2024

Name: Jin

Humanoid: Yes

Classification: Alternative

Homeworld: Unknown (Zchtek System)

Coloration: Green and Black

Biology: The Jin were a bipedal alien species with the same general frame as the average Human. They were humanoid, with two arms, two legs, and one head, though they were much more spindly than baseline Humans, and stood around 2.1 meters on average. Jin had mottled green skin that was seemingly coarse in texture, with various veins, muscles, and what appeared to be patches of scales seen on areas like their arms and five-fingered hands. They had large heads, with elongated faces featuring downturned mouths, wide, flat noses, and large, glossy, black eyes. They also had segmented skin surrounding their eyes in a way that almost made their face resemble the front of an Imperial Stormtrooper helmet, in addition to a protruding, rounded brow. Jin had jet black hair that grew from the top and sides of their head, as well as from their chin and jaw. Jin eyes were complex, and allowed them to see the infrared spectrum, giving them some degree of sight even in no-light environments. The species seemed capable of pronouncing Galactic Basic with little-to-no issue. They also appeared to have relatively long lifespans, still active and more than physically capable at around 80 years old.

Lore: In the years prior to the fall of the Galactic Republic, the Jin were known for being a relatively peaceful species who had developed somewhere within the Mid Rim Zchtek System and had since colonized a number of the surrounding worlds, deeming their territory the “Zchtek Worlds.” They were most well known for being naturally creative, producing many quality sculptures, paintings, and written works that were well received across all they reached. Unfortunately, due to their number and spread, they were deemed a threat to the Galactic Empire, leading to an Imperial campaign shortly after their formation that would result in the near-annihilation of the entire Jin species. The few who escaped developed a deep vendetta against the Empire for the genocidal acts they had committed, and most would take up arms and join the Rebel Alliance, including the man that would become an elite and decorated officer, Dutra Zeneta.

Continuity: The Jin had yet to be referenced anywhere in Star Wars Canon.

Unexplored: As you can tell, we learned very little about this species within the EU given the sparse and obscure nature of their appearances. Since they have yet to appear in Canon, they are sorely lacking in established lore, and are technically canonically a blank slate. Still, what was established in Legends does not conflict with Canon in the slightest, so we’re going to ask some questions regarding their history and characterization under the assumption that all of their preexisting lore still exists. So, let’s go ahead and begin by asking, what sort of creature did the Jin evolve from, was it potentially reptilian in nature, when in galactic history did they first develop sentience, and why did they adapt to have or retain the ability to see infrared light in the form of species’ heat signatures? Was this for hunting purposes, maybe because they lived subterranean lives, or some other unspecified aspect of their homeworld or existence?

On that note, which planet within the Zchtek Worlds did they specifically come from? How long did it take for them to develop spacefaring vessels, and how many worlds did they eventually colonize? What stopped them from continuing to spread their reach, what was the nature of the various worlds they discovered, and did they encounter any other sentient species that they either subjugated or folded into their own society? When did the outside galaxy discover their existence, and was there ever any attempt to bring them into the Galactic Republic given their location, or would they have had to secede most of their territory for that to be a reality? What were their views on organizations and governments like the Republic, and even the Empire prior to their invasion? What did the Zchtek Worlds Campaign look like, how long did it last, and how many were lives were lost on both sides? Finally, how many members of the species survived, how many of those survivors joined the Rebellion, and were they already set on a path towards extinction, or was there a chance they could recover and recoup following the war?

Additional Notes: I feel like there isn’t a lot to note about the species at the moment. Their lore is fairly generic, and while their design is definitely alien, it’s also fairly reminiscent of a few other designs from the franchise around that era of the EU like the Hethas. In fact, I’m surprised we got the lone Jin illustration that we did, and even more surprised that we later received a colored version, there are just so many EU species that we’ve seen but have no idea what their coloration was. Anyway, I would never be mad if this species made the jump into Canon, however, they’re in dire need of just a little bit more… “everything,” so hopefully existing within a dynamic continuity would eventually fix that!

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