Design an Alien

Ever since I mentioned the Skel as one of the new species introduced by the MMORPG The Old Republic, I’ve had the idea to write about the other entries in the “Design an Alien” contest featured in Star Wars Galaxy Magazine in 1997. The published entries do not always describe alien species, and sometimes only have alien characters or creatures, but can all be considered part of the old canon (as in Expanded Universe). While they are not necessarily mentioned in any part of the new canon (Disney era), it doesn’t mean they are not out there anymore. It’s a big galaxy. And as we have seen, it happened quite a few times that “EU” aliens were re-used in the new storytelling. Anyway, enough about the whole canon discussion, let’s have a look at what the contestants of “Design an Alien” came up with!

The Amphi-Hydrus were an amphibious species, native to Dac (Outer Rim, U6). They were small in stature, and physically weak, but masters of mind control. The Amphi-Hydrus used the dark side of the Force to manipulate others into doing their bidding. They wrought destruction on Dac by telepathically controlling a group of imported Rancors once, but after the Empire attacked Dac, the Amphi-Hydrus retreated to the swamps.

The Critokians were an insectoid species native to Critoki (Outer Rim, Q4), although a number of them inhabited the moon Yavin 4. They stood 2 meters tall, had tentacle-like fingers to manipulate objects, as well as large claws to kill prey. Critokians were able to breath both on land and in water, using six breathing holes on the top of their large head. The same holes were used to emit the hoots and whistles that encompassed their language. The head and body were basically fused into one, with the top housing a complex nervous system, while the bottom half contained the circulatory and digestive systems. Originally meant to be natives to Yavin 4, the Essential Atlas included the planet Critoki. The reason, however, was that Jason Fry was unaware of the Design an Alien entry, and had drawn the reference from the Millennium Falcon novel. The appearance in the novel, made the Critokians one of only two species that was ever mentioned in any source outside Galaxy Magazine, the Skels being the other.

The Hepsalum Tash, or “Tash”, were a giant species indigenous to the Dagobah System (Outer Rim, M19). They stood 8 meters tall, and had tough, leathery skins that hung in folds around their bodies. The coloration of their skin ranged from pale yellow to deep red-brown. The Tash had a claw-like right hand that was used to forage for roots and nuts, important elements in their vegetarian diet. They were a simple, peaceful race, and were skilled craftsman of utensils, clothing and musical instruments. Although the entry mentions several Tash living on Dagobah itself, the world has never been described as having indigenous life. It’s most likely they hail from one of the other planets in the system, but the contest entry does not specify the exact planet.

The Hysalrians were a reptilian species, native to Hysalria (Outer Rim, M19). They had green, serpentine bodies with four arms, similar to the Thisspians or Sluissi. Their head featured a small mouth and four large, black eyes. One Hysalrian was N’Kata Del Gormo, a Jedi Master who trained Yoda in the ways of the Force. The original entry stated that the Hysalrian was a native of Dagobah, but as mentioned with the Hepsalum Tash, Dagobah had no indigenous sentient life. The Essential Atlas included the planet Hysalria, which was placed very close to Dagobah, however. It’s placement in the Sluis Sector, however, was also meant to imply a connection to the Sluissi.

The Jeby were three-headed beings native to Rainboh (Inner Rim, O9), a planet in the Hapes Cluster. They had white scaly bodies, covered in pink spots, with six tentacles on either side and four legs. The Jeby were jovial beings, known for their laughter. The entry for the Jeby leaves the sentience of the species ambiguous, but for the sake of completeness I’ve decided to included it in this list.

The Pitrillistians were an insectoid species from Pitrillistia (Outer Rim, O3). They stood well over 2,10 meters tall and often wore brightly colored clothing over their purple carapaces. Pitrillistians were a peaceful species, using musical buzzes created by small wings as a form of communication. With their long proboscis, they were able to suck minerals from fluids, and they had two different manipulators. The left “hand” was more insectoid, while the right hand resembled a four-fingered human hand.

The Remplish were a species that once was native to Sullust (Outer Rim, M17), but exiled after a long holy war. They ended up on Ord Mantell and Gamorr, often operating frontier outposts and fuel ports. Although not specifically referred to as an alien species, Hepmaga MiOrd was a character that was a member of a Remplish clan. Since the actual text in the contest entry is illegible in the magazine, the wording of the article suggests this may be a species name. He doesn’t really look like a Sullustan anyway.

The Skels were already included in Alien Compendium: The Old Republic.

The Stellans were a fiercely isolationist species from Stellan (Outer Rim, R16). Most of the members of the species were peaceful, but some were born overly aggressive. Whenever such children were born, they were launched into space, to be raised by whomever found them. One such Stellan was Jeigh Esse, who was brought up by Rodians to become a lethal bounty hunter.

The Tibannucks were dragon-like beings that lived on Bespin (Outer Rim, K18). They fed on Tibanna gas, using sectioned lungs to spread it through their body. The Tibannuck body was long and snake-like, with two arms terminating in large, webbed hands that resembled wings. Tibannucks were often hunted and killed by the Tibanna miners in Cloud City, who put a considerable price on the head of the Tibannuck queen mother.

The Zybahhod Yenyoni were a tribal species from the Zybahhod System (Outer Rim, T15). They were well-adapted to living in the desert, and at one point also came to Tatooine. The Zybahhod Yenyoni were semi-nocturnal, and were able to drink brackish water. They had Y-shaped naso-facial openings, which they also used to play their traditional udjudg instruments. The Zybahhod Yenyoni were originally meant to hail from Tatooine, but as that conflicted with the existing canon, they received a “home system” in the Essential Atlas appendix by Jason Fry.

There also were a few entries that had alien characters, without naming the species:

• Brock Lar of Gryphon (Inner Rim, N9)
• Rorr’hn of Drgi (Expansion Region, O13)
• Shao to Gok
• Tarron Neb of Yavin 8 (Outer Rim, P6)
• Vetria Scoth
• Wikyochee

And several creatures were entered into the Expanded Universe as well:

• The Lyco Pybex
• The Quariped
• The Sandswimmer from Tatooine (Outer Rim, R16)
• The Scalt from Tatooine (Outer Rim, R16)
• The Ubese Thorn-Back War Dragon (from Uba IV?)

Sources

• Star Wars Galaxy Magazine, Topps Publishing 1997