Arkanien
Arkanien
Arkanien
Name: Arkanian
Designation: Sentient
Classification: Mammal
Average height: 1.8 meters
Skin color: Tan
Hair color: White
Eye color: White
Distinctions: Four clawed digits, Extreme intelligence, Able to
see into the infrared spectrum
Average lifespan: 100 standard years
Child: 1-11 years
Young adult: 12-16 years
Adult: 17-52 years
Middle age:53-84 years
Old: 85-102 years
Venerable: 103+ years
Homeworld: Arkania
Dex: 2D/4D
Know: 2D/4D
Mech: 2D/4D
Perc: 2D/4D
Str: 2D/4D
Tech: 2D/4D
Special Abilities:
Infra Red Vision: Arkanians can see into the Infra Red, allowing them a bonus +1D to counter
penalties for darkness, however unless they wear blinders under younger hotter suns, they suffer a -1D
penalty to visual rolls.
Story Factors:
Body Alteration: It is standard practice for Arkanians to undergo genetic manipulation of their own
bodies, enhancing themselves so as to be better than "lesser" species.
Arrogance: The most defining trait of the Arkanian species was their arrogance which stemmed
from their belief that they were the pinnacle of evolution. This led to them often appearing arrogant and
aloof to others as they saw themselves as being superior to all other species. Even those with a more
moderate viewpoint tended to see themselves as being amongst the most intelligent beings in the galaxy.
As such, they were highly confident of their abilities.
Move: 10/12
Description: The Arkanians were a near-Human species which resided primarily on the frozen planet of
Arkania in the Perave system of the Colonies region of the galaxy.
Arkanians were capable of seeing into the infrared spectrum, and their eyes were sensitive to sources of
extreme heat. This was helpful on their dark and frigid homeworld, but when traveling offworld, many
were forced to wear blinders on planets with hotter, younger suns. It was also not unusual for an
Arkanian to enhance themselves with internal and/or external cybernetics. It was also standard practice
for Arkanians to undergo genetic manipulation of their own bodies, enhancing themselves so as to be
better than "lesser" species.
Visitors to their homeworld often faced unpleasant and arrogant Arkanians—despite this, Arkanians were
deeply offended by impoliteness and when this occurred, the offending individual needed to make
amends quickly or risk being ostracized. When offended, an Arkanian typically spoke badly of the other
party once they were gone and when no apology was given—the Arkanians were known to lock up the
person or detain their starship from leaving the planet with overt threats. Even at this point, however, it
was possible to redeem themselves in the eyes of an Arkanian though failure meant that they became
even more offended and storm away. But, if successful, the individual needed to also offer a gift to the
offended Arkanian as a sign of their sincerity.
Knowledge and research were highly prized within Arkanian society which meant that many of the
species were highly skilled scientists as well as academics. Their near boundless arrogance and great
wealth as well as dedication was unmatched by others with their scientific community creating research
projects that easily matched those of the Galactic Republic and later the Galactic Empire. Imperial
researchers often struggled to match the dedication of the Arkanians as their projects often took
generations to unfold. In addition, they were not above using their intelligence and research to gain profit
with their corporations massing great wealth due to medical treatments entering the market at opportune
moments. Arkanian scientists were well known explorers and they were also famous for their skills in
genetic manipulation which resulted from their fascination in the genetic make-up of other races. This had
led to frequent experimentation on alien species, much to the subjects' detriment as a result of Arkanian
involvement.
The Arkanians themselves were not above genetic experimentation with this avenue of research leading
to the creation of the Arkanian Offshoots that were engineered to perform specific tasks. Occasionally, a
number of racist pure blood Arkanians were known to conduct purges of the Offshoot population.
Reactions to the Offshoots varied as some Arkanians viewed them as little more than tools or even as
slaves but many believed that they were an example of the cruel consequences of Arkanian corporate
greed.
Results of their scientific work had led to great advances in medical techniques throughout the galaxy
whilst others were considered some of the greatest atrocities known. They were known to have made
significant contributions in the fields of cybernetic medical technology and micro-circuitry. Their actions
had, however, led to many races holding a negative view of their kind which resulted from the actions of
their scientists. However, many Arkanians were either embarrassed or even horrified at the acts their
kind had gone to in the name of science. The more conscientious of their kind tended to be favored as
allies of the Jedi Order and the Republic through their darkest hours.
History
The Arkanians were native to the Colonies planet, Arkania, a world of frozen tundra and intense cold.
The rich gem mines on their planet led to its great development and the construction of elaborate trade
cities established by offworlders from the Galactic Republic. This influx of commerce allowed Arkanian
culture to flourish and the species quickly became well known throughout the galaxy for their extremely
reclusive scientists. It was believed for generations that the Arkanians, because of their tampering, had
been involved in the creation of new species.
In fact, their reputation for experiments on other species were largely accurate. One of their earliest
known endeavors was the creation of the Quermian species from the Xexto around 17,000 BBY. Though
they abandoned their clandestine experiments, fearing legal action from the Republic, the Quermians
resurfaced millennium later. During the Mandalorian Wars when The Adasca BioMechanical Corporation
of Arkania implemented Project Black Harvest that was launched by Lord Arkoh Adasca who intended to
use it as a means of gaining further power for himself through the use of the ancient exogorths which
floated through space.
In 490 BBY, the Arkanians began experiments on their dim-witted Yaka neighbors in order to uplift the
species, bestowing intelligence upon the previously simple-minded race. Much criticism was leveled at
the Arkanians for their actions toward the Yaka and protests were made against their government, the
Arkanian Dominion, by their own people. Though they dramatically increased the intelligence of the Yaka
species with cybernetic enhancements, they also removed all traces of emotion from them. The
controversy culminated in 50 BBY with the Arkanian Revolution. A group of renegade scientists on
Arkania, disapproving of the systematic alteration of the Yaka, built an army of cyborg knights to
overthrow the Arkanian Dominion, the dominant government. The rebels were defeated when the Jedi
intervened in the war.
Following the revolution, the typical Arkanian mindset continued to dominate their culture and they
proved to be among the most vocal members of the Galactic Senate. Time and again, investigations
were conducted by the Senate into the activity of Arkanian scientists. This state of affairs continued into
the emergence of the Galactic Empire, when it was known that many Arkanians worked in the secret
laboratories of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin and Grand Admiral Demetrius Zaarin. Throughout the Galactic
Civil War, many Rebel sympathizers blamed the Arkanians for unleashing bio-weapons during the war
and upon the emergence of the New Republic, the species were not permitted to join the fledgling
government. This further incriminated Arkanian scientists for their complicity with the previous Imperial
government as information regarding their role during the New Order came to light.