View source for Zygerrian/Legends

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{{TCWSlavesAdapt}}
{{Species
|image=[[File:Zygerrians-SWE.png]]
|name=Zygerrian
|designation=[[Sentience/Legends|Sentient]]<ref name="Encyclopedia Zygerrian">{{SWE|groups|zygerrians|Zygerrians}}</ref>
|class=*[[Humanoid/Legends|Humanoid]]<ref name="Encyclopedia Zygerrian" />
*[[Feline/Legends|Feline]]<ref name="Encyclopedia Zygerrian" />
|subspecies=
|races=
|height=1.7 [[Imperial standard meter|meters]]<ref name="Galaxy at War">''[[Galaxy at War]]''</ref>
|length=
|wingspan=
|mass=60 [[Kilogram/Legends|kilograms]]<ref name="Galaxy at War" />
|skincolor=[[Color/Legends|Light]]<ref name="Friends Like These">''[[Friends Like These]]''</ref>
|haircolor=Brown, gray, red,<ref name="Encyclopedia Zygerrian" /> black<ref name="Bacta Raid">{{TCWUKCite|6.35|Bacta Raid}}</ref>
|feathers=
|eyecolor=Yellow, blue<ref name="Slaves of the Republic Episode">{{TCW|Slaves of the Republic}}</ref>
|distinctions=*Pointed [[Ear/Legends|ears]]<ref name="Encyclopedia Zygerrian" />
*[[Claw/Legends|Clawed]] [[Limb/Legends|hands]]<ref name="Slaves of the Republic Episode" />
*Faces covered in [[Hair/Legends|fur]] {{C|Some individuals}}<ref name="Encyclopedia Zygerrian" />
*[[Bone/Legends|Bony]] spurs on chins of [[Gender/Legends|males]]<ref name="Encyclopedia Zygerrian" />
|lifespan=81 [[Standard year/Legends|years]]<ref name="Galaxy at War" />
|planet=[[Zygerria/Legends|Zygerria]]<ref name="Galaxy at War" />
|habitat=
|diet=
|language=*[[Galactic Basic Standard/Legends|Galactic Basic Standard]]<ref name="Galaxy at War" />}}
The '''Zygerrians''' were a [[Sentience/Legends|sentient]] [[Humanoid/Legends|humanoid]] [[Species/Legends|species]] [[Homeworld/Legends|native]] to the [[Planet/Legends|planet]] [[Zygerria/Legends|Zygerria]]. Members of the species were medium-sized, standing 1.7 [[Imperial standard meter|meters]] tall on average and weighing around sixty [[Kilogram/Legends|kilograms]]. The Zygerrians were distinguished by their [[Feline/Legends|feline]] appearance, having pointed [[Ear/Legends|ears]] and [[Claw/Legends|clawed]] [[Limb/Legends|hands]], while some individuals also had faces that were entirely covered in [[Hair/Legends|fur]]. The species was well-known for its long history of violence, war, and [[Slavery/Legends|slavery]], which the Zygerrians viewed as a natural order of life. This contributed to the Zygerrians being feared across [[The galaxy/Legends|the galaxy]].

Founders of the [[Zygerrian Slave Empire/Legends|Zygerrian Slave Empire]] and the subsequent [[Zygerrian Slavers Guild]], the Zygerrians conducted [[Slaver/Legends|slaving]] operations in the [[Outer Rim Territories/Legends|Outer Rim Territories]] for [[Standard century/Legends|centuries]] before the [[Clone Wars/Legends|Clone Wars]]. During the [[Imperial Period|reign]] of the [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]], the Zygerrian slaving business thrived, since slavery was permitted by [[Imperial Decree A-SL-4557.607.232]]. The Zygerrians kept close ties with the Empire, supplying it with slaves and receiving discounts on [[slaver permit]]s in exchange. Due to the nature of their business, the Zygerrians also became targets for [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Rebel Alliance]] [[Privateer/Legends|privateers]], [[Bounty hunter/Legends|bounty hunters]], and various non-affiliated [[Spacer/Legends|spacers]].

==Biology and appearance==
The Zygerrians were a bipedal [[Sentience/Legends|sentient]] [[Humanoid/Legends|humanoid]] [[Species/Legends|species]]. [[Feline/Legends|Feline]] in appearance, the species possessed strong, angular features and large, pointed [[Ear/Legends|ears]].<ref name="Encyclopedia Zygerrian" /> Other distinctive features included long [[Tooth/Legends|fangs]] that jutted from their [[Mouth/Legends|jaws]] and [[Claw/Legends|claws]] that extended from their [[Limb/Legends|hands]].<ref name="Slaves of the Republic Episode" /> Some Zygerrrians had faces and ears that were entirely covered with [[Hair/Legends|fur]]&mdash;ranging in [[Color/Legends|color]] from brown to gray, red,<ref name="Encyclopedia Zygerrian" /> or black.<ref name="Bacta Raid" /> Other individuals displayed a certain amount of bare skin on their faces, which was light in tone.<ref name="Friends Like These" /> The Zygerrians' eye color varied between yellow and blue.<ref name="Slaves of the Republic Episode" />

[[File:AtaiMolecHS-SWE.png|thumb|left|200px|Prime Minister Atai Molec, displaying his species' traditional features]]
[[Gender/Legends|Males]] traditionally had more hair than females, with bands of fur growing on their cheeks. Male Zygerrians also displayed a number of [[Bone/Legends|bony]] spurs protruding from the chin, which females lacked.<ref name="Encyclopedia Zygerrian" />

With an average lifespan of eighty-one [[Standard year/Legends|years]], the Zygerrians reached adolescence at ten years; they were considered adult at seventeen, middle-aged at forty, and old at sixty-one. Medium-sized, they usually grew up to 1.7 [[Imperial standard meter|meters]] and weighed around sixty [[Kilogram/Legends|kilograms]] on average. They generally had sallow complexions and were physically strong,<ref name="Galaxy at War" /> but some individuals suffered from obesity.<ref name="Slaves of the Republic Episode" />

The Zygerrians spoke [[Galactic Basic Standard/Legends|Galactic Basic Standard]]<ref name="Galaxy at War" /> with a pronounced accent.<ref name="Slaves of the Republic Episode" />
==Society and culture==
===Notorious slavers===
{{Quote|Slavery is the natural order of things. The weak deserve nothing more than to kneel before the strong, bound to our service.|Queen Miraj Scintel|audio=Zygerrian2.ogg|Slaves of the Republic}}
A warlike species, the Zygerrians held strength&mdash;both physical and mental&mdash;in great esteem, viewing it as a means to gain power and authority.<ref name="Galaxy at War" /> The Zygerrians were cunning, ensuring that they had the upper hand in any situation, and traditionally settled their differences with an [[Unarmed combat|unarmed fistfight]].<ref name="Encyclopedia Zygerrian" /> They believed that it was the natural order of life for the strong to dominate the weak, so [[Slavery/Legends|slavery]] was normal for the species,<ref name="Slaves of the Republic Episode" /> and a display of weakness could mean [[Death/Legends|death]] or enslavement in their culture.<ref name="Galaxy at War" /> Those unfortunate enough to become their slaves were [[Speciesism|viewed as inferior species]] by the Zygerrians.<ref name="Friends Like These" /> As such, a [[Zygerrian slave market/Legends|slave market]] thrived on their [[Homeworld/Legends|homeworld]] of [[Zygerria/Legends|Zygerria]].<ref name="Slaves of the Republic Episode" />

[[File:ZygerrianSellingSlave.png|thumb|right|275px|A Zygerrian presents a Twi'lek slave to potential buyers.]]
Because of those views, the species willingly cultivated its image as dangerous and unpredictable, in order to discourage others from challenging them. This tactic worked, and the Zygerrians were feared in [[Spaceport/Legends|spaceports]] across [[The galaxy/Legends|the galaxy]], earning fame for their history of violence, [[Pirate/Legends|piracy]], [[Slaver/Legends|slavery]], and war.<ref name="Galaxy at War" /> Despite their predations, the Zygerrians were nonetheless an advanced civilization.<ref name="Slaves of the Republic Episode" />

Founded [[Standard century/Legends|centuries]] before the Clone Wars, the [[Zygerrian Slave Empire/Legends|Zygerrian Slave Empire]] focused on slave [[Merchant/Legends|trading]] in the [[Outer Rim Territories/Legends|Outer Rim Territories]] for many years, until it was [[Jedi–Zygerrian conflict/Legends|defeated]] by the [[Jedi Order/Legends|Jedi]]. Eventually, the Zygerrians reestablished their business under the [[Zygerrian Slavers Guild]],<ref name="Friends Like These" /> which thrived due to its disciplined and structured approach to business,<ref name="GG9">''[[Galaxy Guide 9: Fragments from the Rim]]''</ref> as well as the [[Galactic Republic/Legends|Galactic Republic's]] diffuse presence in the Outer Rim.<ref name="HNN 50">{{Hnn|50|news/1344_5.html|Senators Implicated in Slave Ring|https://web.archive.org/web/20050221082919/http://www.holonetnews.com:80/50/news/1344_5.html}}</ref> Each Zygerrian slaver had to pay a yearly membership fee to join the Guild and was then allocated a patch of [[Realspace/Legends|space]] in which to work. The size of that patch varied from one planet to an entire [[Star system/Legends|system]], depending on the level of membership the slaver paid for. The [[Twi'lek/Legends|Twi'lek]] species preferred to use Zygerrians over other slavers, since the Zygerrians' "honorable" business approach reduced the damage that slavery inflicted upon Twi'lek society.<ref name="GG9" />

===Traditional equipment===
The species' natural physical strength was well-complemented by their mastery of various weapons,<ref name="Galaxy at War" /> such as retractable [[shock whip]]s.<ref name="Slaves of the Republic Episode" /> The shock whip was a traditional weapon of the Zygerrians that ensured that the target ensnared by the whip's electrified metal wires experienced great pain and muscle spasms. In combat, the Zygerrians tended to resort to non-lethal tactics, in order to maximize the number of [[Prisoner/Legends|prisoners]] captured.<ref name="Friends Like These" />

[[File:ZygerrianSlaver-KaD.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Zygerrian slaver armed with a shock whip]]
In addition to shock whips, [[Electrostaff/Legends|electrostaffs]] also saw widespread usage by the Zygerrians.<ref name="Slaves of the Republic Episode" /> The species also utilized firearms, such as the [[Zygerrian blaster rifle]],<ref name="Blaster rifle">{{SW|url=series/clone-wars/slaves-of-the-republic-concept-art-gallery|text=Slaves of the Republic Concept Art Gallery}}</ref> which could fire both regular blaster bolts as well as shots that detonated on impact, creating an explosion.

==History==
===Early history===
[[File:ZygerriaSystem-EFK.png|thumb|right|275px|Zygerria, the homeworld of the Zygerrian species]]
The Zygerrians hailed from Zygerria,<ref name="Galaxy at War" /> a planet located in the [[Chorlian sector/Legends|Chorlian sector]] of the Outer Rim Territories, on the outskirts of the [[Galaxy/Legends|galaxy]].<ref name="Atlas">''[[The Essential Atlas]]''</ref> Organized under the Zygerrian Slave Empire, the species prospered on slave trade across the galaxy<ref name="Encyclopedia Zygerrian" /> and especially within the Outer Rim. Eventually, the Zygerrian Empire came to dominate a large portion of the region, stretching from the planet [[Argazda/Legends|Argazda]] down the [[Salin Corridor/Legends|Salin Corridor]] [[hyperlane]].<ref name="Friends Like These" />

The slavers were also in control of the [[Triellus Trade Route/Legends|Triellus Trade Route]], which provided access to the planet [[Ryloth/Legends|Ryloth]],<ref name="Friends Like These" /> the homeworld of the Twi'lek species.<ref name="Atlas" /> At the height of their empire, the Zygerrians provided slaves to other powerful factions operating in the region, such as the [[Hutt Empire]] and [[Chevin/Legends|Chevin]] slavers.<ref name="Friends Like These" />

===Relations with the Galactic Empire===
However, the Zygerrians' tenure under the heel of the Galactic Empire was short-lived, since King Molec was able to negotiate a deal with [[Galactic Emperor/Legends|Galactic Emperor]] [[Palpatine/Legends|Palpatine]]. In exchange for freedom from Imperial control, the Zygerrians agreed to restrict their slaving activities to the Outer Rim.<ref name="Friends Like These" /> The species enjoyed a rise in prominence once again, and the Zygerrian Slavers Guild went public after [[Imperial Decree A-SL-4557.607.232]] legalized slavery under certain conditions.<ref name="GG9" />

However, because of such close ties to Palpatine's Empire, Zygerrian ships were considered legitimate targets for [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Rebel Alliance]] [[Privateer/Legends|privateers]] during the [[Galactic Civil War/Legends|Galactic Civil War]].<ref name="P&P">''[[Pirates & Privateers]]''</ref>

==Zygerrians in the galaxy==
===The rescue of Arhul Hextrophon===
{{Dialogue|Calrissian|Zygerrian slavers? You never told me that one.|Solo|It wasn't anything important.|Ghent|He and Chewbacca attacked a Zygerrian slaver ship. Just the two of them. The Zygerrians were so scared they abandoned ship.|Solo|They were more pirates than slavers. And they weren't afraid of me&mdash;they abandoned ship because I told them I had twenty stormtroopers with me and was coming aboard to check their shipping licenses.|Calrissian|And they ''bought'' that?|Solo|I was broadcasting a borrowed Imperial ID at the time.|attr=Han Solo, [[Lando Calrissian/Legends|Lando Calrissian]], and [[Zakarisz Ghent]]|audio=HanZygerrian.ogg|src=Heir to the Empire: The 20th Anniversary Edition (audiobook)}}
Although the Zygerrian slaver business was mostly situated near their homeworld, in the [[Imperial Period|time of the Galactic Empire]] the Zygerrians also controlled a smaller and less organized [[Slaver Syndicate]]<ref name="GG10">''[[Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters]]''</ref> based in the [[Karazak system]]<ref name="GG9" /> on the other side of the galaxy.<ref name="Atlas" /> This organization, generally regarded as mere thugs, was controlled by the Zygerrian [[Clan Pr'ollerg|Pr'ollerg clan]], which strongly dictated the Syndicate's [[Politics/Legends|politics]]. The Syndicate, estimated to have over 2,000 active members, actively employed bounty hunters to capture individuals with only minor [[Bounty/Legends|bounties]] on their heads in order to sell them as slaves later.<ref name="GG10" />

[[File:Han_Solo_JTL.png|thumb|right|260px|Han Solo outwitted Zygerrian slavers in order to rescue Arhul Hextrophon.]]

Around [[3 BBY/Legends|3 BBY]],<ref name="Solo date">''[[The Star Wars Sourcebook]]'' is set immediately after the events of the film [[Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope|''Star Wars'': Episode IV ''A New Hope'']], and [[Arhul Hextrophon/Legends|Arhul Hextrophon's]] capture by the Zygerrians is said to have occurred three [[Standard year/Legends|years]] earlier. ''A New Hope'' ends in the year [[0 ABY/Legends|0 ABY]], according to ''[[The New Essential Chronology]]'', which places Hextrophon's capture around the year [[3 BBY/Legends|3 BBY]].</ref> a group of Zygerrian slavers captured [[Journalist/Legends|journalist]] [[Arhul Hextrophon/Legends|Arhul Hextrophon]] and his family. The Zygerrians had been ferrying the captives for months before they were confronted by the [[Smuggler/Legends|smugglers]] [[Han Solo/Legends|Han Solo]] and [[Chewbacca/Legends|Chewbacca]]<ref name="SW Sourcebook">''[[The Star Wars Sourcebook]]''</ref> over the planet [[Janodral Mizar]].<ref name="HttE">''[[Heir to the Empire]]''</ref>

Solo broadcast an Imperial [[transponder code]], claiming that twenty [[Stormtrooper/Legends|stormtroopers]] were going to board the slavers' ship to check their shipping licenses, forcing the Zygerrians to abandon ship. Since Janodral Mizar had a law giving slaver profits to their victims, Solo and Chewbacca left the ship and the Zygerrian treasure held aboard it to Hextrophon, departing in their own starship, the [[Millennium Falcon/Legends|''Millennium Falcon'']].<ref name="HttE" />

===Other victims of the Zygerrians===
At some point during the Galactic Civil War, the pirate [[Jondrell Inx]] captured [[Cressis Linrec]], the daughter of Imperial Governor [[Linrec]], and held her hostage on the planet [[Kallistas]]. Inx demanded that the governor pay a large ransom for his daughter, threatening to sell her to the Zygerrian Slavers Guild. Governor Linrec assigned Kallistas's governor, [[Dengless Rinn]], to rescue his daughter. In turn, Rinn hired three bounty hunters to rescue the girl, hoping to resolve the situation quickly and keep Linrec's attention away from the planet, since Rinn himself was plotting an elaborate scheme against his superior governor.<ref name="Two for One">{{WEGCite|book=Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters|story=Two for the Price of One}}</ref>

Following a pirate raid on her family's transport, a young [[Human/Legends|Human]] female named [[Janildakara]] was sold into slavery to the Zygerrians, who branded her on the neck. After enduring the life of a slave for several years, Janildakara escaped and became a bounty hunter in the females-only [[House Renliss]] chapter of the [[Bounty Hunters' Guild/Legends|Bounty Hunters' Guild]]. She hoped to use the Guild's help to find her family, who had not been heard of since the pirate attack.<ref name="GG10" />

==Behind the scenes==
===Development===
The Zygerrians were originally created for ''[[The Star Wars Sourcebook]]'', written by [[Bill Slavicsek]] and [[Curtis Smith]], and published in [[1987]]<ref name="SW Sourcebook" /> as the first sourcebook for the [[West End Games]] ''[[Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game]]''. The species was mentioned in the book's Han Solo entry, which was presented as an [[in-universe]] piece authored by Arhul Hextrophon, describing the story of Hextrophon's capture by the Zygerrians and subsequent rescue by Solo and Chewbacca.<ref name="SW Sourcebook" />

An inconsistency regarding the spelling of the species' name previously persisted in several ''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game'' sources. Whereas ''The Star Wars Sourcebook'' originally spelled the name "Zygerrian," a few subsequent supplements alternatively spelled the name "Zygerian."<ref name="Zygerian">In contrast with ''[[The Star Wars Sourcebook]]'' ([[1987]]), ''[[Galaxy Guide 9: Fragments from the Rim]]'' ([[1993]]), ''[[Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters]]'' ([[1994]]), ''[[Galaxy Guide 11: Criminal Organizations]]'' (1994), and ''[[Pirates & Privateers]]'' ([[1997]]) spelled the [[Species/Legends|species']] name "Zygerian."</ref> 

===Canon/Legends===
Legends and newer material have consistently changed Zygerrians in various ways, from describing them as merely human, being red with horns, and felines. See [[Wook:Zygerrian]] for more details.

==Appearances==
{{Mediacat|soundcat=Audio files of Zygerrians|imagecat=Images of Zygerrians}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters|story=Two for the Price of One}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Heir to the Empire]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[Heir to the Empire 4|''Heir to the Empire'' 4]] {{Mo}}

==Sources==
*''[[The Star Wars Sourcebook]]'' {{1stm}}
*''[[Galaxy Guide 9: Fragments from the Rim]]''
*''[[Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters]]''
*[[Star Wars Sourcebook (Second Edition)|''Star Wars Sourcebook'', Second Edition]]
*''[[Galaxy Guide 11: Criminal Organizations]]''
*''[[Pirates & Privateers]]''
*{{SWECite|Janodral Mizar}}

==Notes and references==
{{Scroll_box|content={{Reflist}}}}

[[Category:Feline sentient species]]
[[Category:Outer Rim Territories species]]
[[Category:Zygerrians| ]]