Hysalrian

Last Updated: 11/4/2024

Name: Hysalrian

Humanoid: No

Classification: Serpentine/Giant

Homeworld: Unknown (Hysalria System)

Coloration: Tan and Blue or Green

Biology: Hysalrians were elongated serpentine sentients who were believed to be relatively ancient and long-lived, though considered strange in appearance by many. Their bodies were primarily cylindrical and snake-like, seemingly being at least 5 to 6 meters in length when fully grown, though when “standing” upright, they were only between 2 and 2.5 meters tall. Their tails were solid blueish-gray or muted green, ending in a point. At their thickest, their circumference was seemingly nearly twice as wide as that of the average Human’s torso. At some point up their tails, they began to possessa ribbed, tan strip underneath that led all the way up to their torsos. Their long chests possessed two pairs of pectorals, as the species had four arms, stacked in sets of two. These arms were thin yet muscular, much like the majority of their bodies, ending in three spindly, apparently semi-webbed fingers.

Hysalrians possessed long, wrinkled necks, with large heads perched atop. These heads had two cranial rings on the back, an elongated central ridge on the front, and four rounded eye protrusions, two extending out from each side, stacked much like their arms. The upper portion of the center of their faces displayed two thin, vertically angled nostril slits, lacking any sort of formal nose protrusion, while the bottom, near their pointed chins, featured small, downturned mouths. Hysalrian eyes appeared to be large and solid black, possessing a glassy texture that was at least somewhat reflective. The species seemed capable of pronouncing Galactic Basic, and were capable of being Force Sensitive, potentially even possessing a high baseline midichlorian count. As mentioned above, they also seemed to have extended lifespans, though to what extent we have no context.

Lore: Next to nothing is known about the Hysalrians, aside from the fact that they had made themselves at least somewhat well known across the galaxy by at least a thousand years prior to the collapse of the Galactic Republic and Jedi Order, though after that millennia their prominence had seemingly nearly entirely faded, potentially preserved only through those who were old enough to remember them and via certain engraved “sand sculptures.” Still, despite their reputation as being rather bizarre in appearance, even according to galactic standards, they were also a wise and storied species, so much so that one member of the race, N’Kata Del Gormo, served as the mythical instructor of legendary Jedi Grand Master Yoda. Outside of this legacy, little remain spoken of the Hysalrians, though we know, at the very least, that they hailed from a world nestled within the Hysalria System.

Continuity: The Hysalrians were canonized incredibly recently as of the initial writing of this article, specifically in the 2024 novel “Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss,” remaining a Legends exclusive species for an entire decade! In fact, I had kinda written the species off as being one of the ones always relegated to the EU due to their sort of mythical status as part of the upbringing of Yoda, something the franchise seems to rarely want to touch. Fortunately, I was disproven as the species, and specifically N’Kata Del Gormo, were both canonized in this novel, bringing with it the closest mention we’ve ever had to their homeworld, identifying the “Hysalria System” for the first time in the history of Star Wars!

Unexplored: This is one of those species, much like Yoda’s, where many things are better left unexplored to preserve the intentional mysticism that surrounds them. That being said, unlike Yoda, official Star Wars creators do seem at least partially comfortable in fleshing out more of the species, starting with the fact that they gave them a name. So if they’re cool with diving deeper into the species’ lore, we will be as well, starting with the following batch of questions. For starters, where specifically do the species hail from? What was their homeworld like, and what was it called, potentially “Hysalria” as well? When did the species first develop sentience? Does their existence date back to the days before the Old Republic, the era of the Kwa, Rakata, and Taung (or even Zeffo)? What sort of beings did they evolve from? What sort of unique anatomical or biological traits did they possess? How long were their natural lifespans? And was it true that they were all Force Sensitive?

When did the species officially rise to prominence, what was the height of their technological or societal progress, and exactly how well known did they become across the galaxy? Why did they garner the reputations that they did? And were they generally a wise and benevolent race, or were the most well known Hysalrians outliers? Why did they seemingly disappear by the rise of the Galactic Empire, and had they nearly gone extinct, or did they simply shrink away from the public eye, intentionally or otherwise, spreading out to unknown locations or simply isolating themselves on their homeworld? What were the Hysalrians up to during various galactic events or eras? Did they have any major alliances or relationships with other groups, species, or worlds? And what were some of their other worldbuilding concepts like, such as their history, architecture, languages, arts, politics, governments, civilizations, economies, exports, diets, habits, traditions, practices, religions, and/or philosophies?

Additional Notes: Now that I know they’re not afraid to feature this species within the current Star Wars Canon, I’m excited to see more of them and what various creators will do with the species next! I would love to take a deeper look into the inner workings of this species that has been intriguing fans since their debut official debut in 1996, being an honorable mention in Star Wars Galaxy Magazine’s “Design an Alien” art competition, cemented within the EU due to this inclusion, and created and submitted by 23-year-old Star Wars fan named Chuck Hamilton, a BTS story that makes the Hysalrians just that much more special!

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