A humanoid species identified by their short builds and fur-covered faces, Bothans are widely known as proficient and intrepid spies. However, members of the species have also become fearless leaders, relentless warriors, courageous pilots, and brilliant scientists.

As a species, Bothans have been mastering the art of information-gathering for nearly 300 years. The resulting Bothan spynet is among the largest and most renowned intelligence organizations, with operatives stationed throughout the galaxy. In fact, spying has become the Bothans primary industry. Since the outbreak of the Galactic Civil War, the Bothan spynet has primarily benefited the Rebel Alliance, although both the Empire and the criminal underworld occasionally make use of Bothan spies as well.

Due largely to their reputation as spies, Bothans are often regarded as power hungry, manipulative, cunning and paranoid. But Bothans are also well-organized, keenly intelligent, and very loyal. They live orderly lives, place great emphasis on family bonds, and are extremely protective of their allies. In addition, Bothans can be passionate and surprisingly eloquent orators, poets, and politicians.

Bothans hail from Bothawui, a clean, cosmopolitan planet. They live in tight-knit clans and are ruled by a democratic Bothan Council. Bothans speak both Basic and their own native tongue.

Species Attribute Modifiers:

Health +0

Strength +0

Constitution +0

Action +300

Quickness +300

Stamina +100

Mind +100

Focus +100

Willpower +0

Bothans






Many Bothans died to bring us this information. -Mon Mothma, Return of the Jedi

Home Planet: Bothawui Languages: Bothan, Basic Sociology: Family Clans Avg Height: 1.3 to 1.5 meters

A humanoid species identified by their short builds and fur-covered faces, Bothans
are widely known as proficient and intrepid spies. However, members of
the species have also become fearless leaders, relentless warriors,
courageous pilots, and brilliant scientists. As a species, Bothans have
been mastering the art of information-gathering for nearly 300 years.
The resulting Bothan spynet is among the largest and most renowned
intelligence organizations, with operatives stationed throughout the
galaxy. In fact, spying has become the Bothans primary industry. Since
the outbreak of the Galactic Civil War, the Bothan spynet has primarily
benefited the Rebel Alliance, although both the Empire and the criminal
underworld occasionally make use of Bothan spies as well.



Due largely to their reputation as spies, Bothans are often regarded as
power hungry, manipulative, cunning and paranoid. But Bothans are also
well-organized, keenly intelligent, and very loyal. They live orderly
lives, place great emphasis on family bonds, and are extremely
protective of their allies. In addition, Bothans can be passionate and
surprisingly eloquent orators, poets, and politicians.


Bothans are noted for their quickness and agility, but they aren't the hardiest species.



As a race, Bothans take great pride in their clans, and it was
documented that there were 608 registered clans on the Bothan Council.
They joined the Alliance shortly after the Battle of Yavin. While the
Bothans generally stayed out of the main fighting, there were two
instances of Bothan exploits. The first came when they were leaked the
information about the plans and data on the construction of the second
Death Star near Endor. A number of Bothans assisted a shorthanded Rogue
Squadron in recovering the plans from the Suprosa, but their lack of
piloting skills got many of them killed. The plans were recovered and
brought to Kothlis, where more Bothans were killed in an Imperial raid
to recover the plans. Again, the Bothans retained possession of the
plans, and eventually turned them over to Mon Mothma and the Alliance.
The second came when they helped eliminate Imperial ships near New Cov.
It was later revealed that the Bothans were also involved in bringing
down the planetary shields of the planet Caamas, during the early reign
of Emperor Palpatine, allowing the Empire to burn the surface of the
planet to charred embers. Although the Bothans searched for several
years to discover the clans involved, Imperial records were too
well-guarded to provide any clues. Then, some fifteen years after the
Battle of Endor, records were discovered at Mount Tantiss that told of
the Bothan involvement.



Culture
Bothan culture was
guided by the philosophy and principles set forth in the ancient text
The Way by Golm Fervse’dra. In this "Bothan Way", the pursuit of power
and influence was paramount. Thus, individual Bothans put their own
political and economic success above all other concerns, and as a
species, Bothans put their own advancement ahead of other intergalactic
interests. The volume of backstabbing, subtle character assassination
and political maneuvering in Bothan society was dizzying, and resulted
in many species stereotyping Bothans as untrustworthy.


In times of crisis, the focus of Bothan society shifted to a
survivalist state known as "Ar’kai". When engaged in Ar’kai, all fit
Bothans volunteered to defend their species from impending
annihilation. The last calling of Ar’kai was during the Yuuzhan Vong
invasion after the death of Borsk Fey’lya and the practical defeat of
the New Republic.


Clans

Immediate Bothans families were organized into large clans, which were
the more important social unit in Bothan society; family and clan
loyalty were equally important as power accumulation. Clan associate
was denoted as the last component in a Bothan name. For example, the
name Girov Dza’tey would mean that Girov is his given name, Dza his
family name, and that he was of the Tey clan.


Government


The Bothan Council, a representative body of selective Bothan clans,
was the primary governmental body of the Bothan people. Renamed the
"Combined Clans" during the New Republic era, the body was still
commonly referred to as the Council. At the height of the Galactic
Civil War, the council was comprised of representatives from 608
registered clans. A constant flow of new clans petitioned for
membership with the numbers soaring during crises like the Yuuzhan Vong
invasion. At the head of the Council was the First Secretary, who led
the council from their headquarters in Merchant's Square in the capital
of Drev'starn.


Beginning with the Clone Wars and continuing after the fall of the Old
Republic, the Council absorbed many of the Bothan political bodies,
such as the Bothan Independent Treasury, seeing them as wasteful,
corrupt and inefficient. Highly centralized, the Bothan Council
governed all social, political, economic and security issues of Bothan
life. The Bothan Diplomatic Corps was one of the few government
organizations to survive the culling, and was in fact expanded. The
Diplomatic Corp operated as a branch of the Bothan government, and held
the responsibility of furthering Bothan ideals through diplomacy. Its
agents met with the leaders of other worlds, forged treaties, and
represented Bothawui in the New Republic, to ensure that Bothan ends
were served in any alliance.


Military

Although a neutral planet during the Galactic Civil War, the Bothans
maintained a small defense force to protect Bothawui, and Bothan
colonies and economic interests. Bothan soldiers and officers were
trained at the oft-mocked Bothan Military Academy.


After the Empire subjugated the Bothan worlds, Alliance General Bob
Hudsol organized many Bothan into a resistance movement that eventually
overthrew the Imperial garrison. As Bothan involvement in the New
Republic increased, so did Bothan military advancement. From 4.5 ABY to
8 ABY, the New Republic Defense Fleet maintained a Bothan-only Bothan
Combat Response Element as a quick response force, giving early
experience to many future Bothan New Republic officers. By 25 ABY,
Bothans such as Traest Kre'fey held high ranking posts in the New
Republic military, and the Bothans had developed several warships, such
as the Bothan Assault Cruiser.



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