Darth Hater

Ever since the argument arose about whether Greedo shot first, Rodians have been a popular alien species in Star Wars canon. Rodians have appeared in all but one film and most everything else in the Expanded Universe. Throughout all their appearances, the story of the Rodian species has evolved to be quite rich and complex. As such, it should be no surprise that Rodians will also be making an appearance in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Let us take some time to learn more about Rodians and see what it is that makes them tick.

The Planet Rodia

The Rodian homeworld is of course Rodia--a hot, sodden planet covered in rainforest. It is located in the Tyrius System in the Outer Rim. In time, the Rodians were able to industrialize parts of the planet. They were decrepit farmers, which meant the Rodians had to compete for food with the other native species of the planet. Out of necessity, the Rodians developed several hunting strategies in order to survive. Hunting soon became integral to the Rodian culture. Eventually, most of the planet's predatory animals were hunted to near extinction, so the Rodians turned on themselves. This led to many wars and the development of their gladiatorial games.

The Rodians broke off into many clans in the following millennium. After many wars, the largest and most authoritative clans would eliminate, or enslave, the weaker clans. Of these clans, the most powerful was the Soammei Clan. At some point in their history, the leader of the Soammei Clan declared himself the Grand Protector, or Inta'si'rin'na, of Rodia. This title would change from clan to clan as other clans rose up in power. The Grand Protector became a totalitarian figure for all of Rodia.

Rodia was eventually discovered by the Galactic Republic, who sent scouts to survey the new planet. Despite being technologically inferior, the Rodians managed to destroy the Republic ships and hunt down and kill any ground scouts they could find. The Grand Protector at the time recognized the potential gain in establishing a rapport with the greater galaxy. A grand tournament was held to find the best hunters who would be chosen to leave Rodia and work as bounty hunters, mercenaries, slavers and other similar professions. The Grand Protector's Hunters Guild, or Goa-Ato, was established and began providing annual awards to the best hunters. Atiang, which is what they called the awards, were composed of categories such as "Best Shot," "Longest Trail" or "Most Notorious Capture."

During both the Great Sith War and the Mandalorian Wars, Rodia managed to stay neutral. However, Rodia was drawn into the full-scale conflict of the Jedi Civil War. The Sith attempted to destroy the planet with their massive Star Forge fleet in order to deny the Republic their most abundant source of scouts and explorers. The Jedi were able to uncover their plot and were successful in calling the Republic fleet to defend the planet. The Battle of Rodia was an important battle in the war and the Republic was successful in repelling the Sith forces. Rodia officially joined the Republic after the battle, despite there being many Rodians in the employ of the Empire. From Rodia, the Republic launched several successful campaigns against the Sith, resulting in victories at Monn Gazza and Lannik. Following the Great Galactic War, however, the Sith Empire was successful in annexing the planet as part of the Treaty of Coruscant. The Rodian ambassador Mareesh was outraged and saw this as a betrayal by the Republic, straining the relationship between Rodia and the Galactic Republic.

Rodian Biology

Rodians are green-skinned humanoids. They have large, multi-faceted eyes capable of detecting body heat, prehensile snouts, and saucer-shaped antennae capable of sensing vibrations. Their skin has a tough, pebbly texture, covering every part of their body save for their hands and snout. Their flexible snouts contribute to their exemplary sense of smell, collecting and filtering the air they occupy. Most Rodians are lean and fit, due to the active lifestyle their culture propagates, however, there are exceptions to this norm.

Although naturally green, different skin colors are not uncommon and can vary from disfiguring birthmarks to discoloration of the entire body. Rodians also have long, dexterous, sucker-tipped fingers, blessing them with a superior grip. A ridge of flexible spines also crest their skulls, differing in length, volume and sometimes even color. Instead of spines, some Rodians grow hair. Hair is most common among female Rodians. Females also have breasts and mammary glands. Off-world female Rodians oftentimes shave their heads and wear loose-fitting clothing to hide their gender. Other females proudly flaunt their sexuality, using it to their advantage.

Rodians exude a pungent, musky aroma, with varying potency. This scent is caused by an oily pheromone that is excreted to moisturize their skin and attract a mate. This scent does not have the same effect on other species, who often equate the smell of a Rodian to that of animal droppings. Rodians mostly smell the same to other species, but Rodians can distinguish themselves by their scent. A Rodian can distinguish identity, family heritage and breeding by scent alone.

Rodian Theater

Granting their violent and brutal nature, the Rodians developed a form of performing arts known as Rodian Theater. Developed by Grand Protector Harido Kavila, Rodian Theater was a way for Rodians to have an outlet for their aggressive tendencies and to counteract the gladiatorial games and hunts that threatened Rodian existence. The plays are also cathartic for the Rodians in the audience, offering the same release without active participation.

At it's inception, the works of the theater were nothing more than choreographed fighting. Dramatists and playwrights quickly realized the effects of the drama could be enhanced if the battles and skirmishes were elements of a larger, greater story. The stories continued to grow in complexity and were soon as good as the choreographed fighting. Rodian Theater is now highly considered throughout the galaxy as some of the most poignant and incredibly violent forms of drama. The effects depicted by the violence are very realistic, and most species--if the writing was good--would even be struck by the moral impact.

Rodian dramatic performances usually follow a specific format; presenting the story first and allowing the plot to segue into the typical graphic violence of the later acts of the play. The fights are often intense and horrific, marked by bloody dismemberment and decapitations. Some plays are comedies, but Rodian humor is often culturally-specific, and most species find it to be blatant and even irritating.

Rodians

Rodians typically leave their homeworld to fulfill morally ambiguous professions. Their violent nature and hunting culture make them unparalleled bounty hunters. This success often leads to proficiency in other jobs, such as armorsmithing and gunsmithing for companies like the Salus Corporation and Tonena Munitions Corporation. Such Rodian influence has lead to the manufacture of many Rodia-style weapons and armor. Many Rodians also find homes in numerous criminal organizations, such as Black Sun and the Exchange, often working as slavers and pirates.

There were Rodians in more mainstream and acceptable professions. Rodians are especially adept mechanics. Other Rodians became musicians and actors. Some became businessmen, while others were treasure hunters and archaeologists. Being a part of the Republic, Rodians who were Force-sensitive were also trained as Jedi in the Jedi Order.

Sources:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Rodian
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Rodian_Theater
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ghest
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Rodia
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Battle_of_Rodia_(Jedi_Civil_War)