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Biology and Culture[]
Also referred as 'Squid Heads', the Quarren were an intelligent humanoid species whose head resembled a four-tentacled squid. Having leathery skin, turquoise eyes, and suction-cupped fingers, this amphibious race shared the world of Dac with the Mon Calamari, living deep within their great floating cities.
The Quarren and the Calamari shared the same language, but the Quarren are more practical and conservative in their views. Unlike the Mon Calamari, who had also adopted the common language of the galaxy, the Quarren had remained faithful to their oceanic tongue, using the other only when dealing with off-worlders.
Dac was a watery world with few land masses. What land existed were swampy, boglike marshes where the first aquacultural civilizations sprang up when the Calamarians emerged from the blue-green ocean. The Quarren remained deep sea-dwellers, able to live in air but preferring the warm security of the sea. Eventually the two races began cooperating, the Mon Cal - as the Quarren called them - providing ideas and the Quarren providing the metal that made the ideas reality, which was a vision of floating cities on the surface of Dac. These cities extended far below the waters and served as centers of learning, culture, and government. Within the lower levels of these floating metropoli, the Quarren lived and worked.
A Quarren Sith.
The Quarren were pragmatic people, unwilling to trust new ideas or lofty concepts. Their outlook on life, as evident in their art and literature, was somewhat opposed to that of the Mon Cals. They did not dream of brighter tomorrows, but held fast to remembered yesterdays. The sea was where the people belonged, not upon floating hunks of metal or out amongst the stars. Still, the Quarren had followed the Mon Cals from the ocean depths to the endless void of space, benefitting from the dreams and aspirations of the fish race and growing considerably dependent upon them.
This dependency had created friction between the two ocean peoples, which was indicated in the literature, and may have been at the root of some hostilities that manifested around the time of arrival of the first Imperial ships. What the Calamarians viewed as an opportunity to meet and join other species in a galactic brotherhood quickly turned bad when Imperial ships opened fire on the Calamarians, destroying several Mon Cal ships and damaging some cities on the surface. What few defenses the water planet possessed that fateful day were inoperative when called upon; rumors persisted that the Quarren aided the Imperials by sabotaging the protective network.
But both races were quickly enslaved by the Empire, impelled to work in labor camps to power the Imperial war machine. Little time passed before there was again solidarity against the outsiders, and led by the Mon Calamari, theories of passive resistance were implemented against the Imperial Forces.
A Quarren diplomat sneaking about.
The Imperial Army, however, was not so easily deterred, and the resulting backlash was an atrocity the likes of which few in the galaxy even believed possible.
Entire floating cities were blasted out of existance by the Imperial fleet turned the ocean red with the blood of the water planet's people. This act rallied the planet's inhabitants to join forces, and together they rose up desperately to repel the Imperial invaders with crude weapons and sheer will. Since that day of cooperation, many Quarren have fled the system to seek a life elsewhere in the galaxy. They have purposely steered clear of both the Rebellion, now Galactic Alliance and the Galatic Empire, now the Fel Empire, opting to work in more shadowy occupations. Quarrens are found among pirates, slavers, smugglers, and within various spy networks operating throughout the Empire.
Special Abilities[]
Deep Ocean Amphibians: Quarrens are just as comfortable on land as they are underwater, as long as it's salt water and not fresh water, and can handle deep ocean pressure without penalty and naturally re-pressurise themselves as they go back up to the surface.
Moist Environments: In moist environments, Quarrens receive a +1D bonus for all Dexterity, Perception, and Strength tasks.
Dry Environments: In dry environments, Quarrens receive a -1D penalty for all Dexterity, Perception, and Strength tasks.