Zafiel Snopps

"It's not my fault half my entertainers on Ralltiir are being rounded up as Rebel sympathizers, Governor Snopps on Corulag won't tell those Academy cadets to stop abusing my pleasure hall girls, and the Esselian government wants to cut out the union and regulate the industry there in its own tyrannical fashion."

―Mayli Weng, representative of the Exotic Entertainers' Union, complains about Governor Snopps

Zafiel Snopps was a Human male from the planet Corulag who was one of the dominant political figures on his homeworld for several decades. A businessman and captain of industry, Snopps earned appointments to represent Corulag as its senator in the Galactic Republic Senate, as well as its successor, the Imperial Senate. When the Imperial Senate was disbanded by Galactic Emperor Palpatine in 0 BBY, Snopps was granted a special dispensation to serve as Corulag's Imperial governor. In that position, he presided over Corulag's ruling body, the House of Citizens, and worked to ensure that the planet's industry and economy thrived under his stewardship. Snopps' position on Corulag afforded him great power and prestige, and he was often left to control the affairs of the Bormea sector while its Moff, Jamson Caglio, was on the galactic capital Coruscant advising the Emperor. Well liked by the citizens of Corulag, Snopps was elected to represent the planet in the New Republic Senate once his homeworld decided to join the new galactic coalition.

Biography

Zafiel Snopps was a Human male from the Core World Corulag in the Bormea sector. He fathered several children, including his youngest son, Regenald Hanniper Snopps III. A businessman and captain of industry, Snopps was appointed as senator for Corulag to the Senate of the Galactic Republic. Snopps and Corulag supported Supreme Chancellor Palpatine during his tenure leading the Republic; when Palpatine declared in 19 BBY that the Republic was being reorganized into the Galactic Empire in the aftermath of the Clone Wars, Corulag's staunch loyalty was rewarded. The planet benefited from having Corulag bureaucrats in key governmental positions, and the establishment of a military academy to rival the academy on Raithal.

Snopps continued to serve as senator for Corulag to the Imperial Senate, representing his homeworld's interests until the body was dissolved in 0 BBY, shortly prior to the Battle of Yavin. Snopps was then granted a special dispensation by now-Emperor Palpatine to serve as Corulag's Imperial governor. Due to Corulag's influence in Imperial politics, the Moff of the Bormea sector, Jamson Caglio, maintained his residence in Curamelle, Corulag's capital city. However, Moff Caglio spent much of his time advising the Emperor on the galactic capital, Coruscant, leaving most of the actual running of the sector to Snopps. Governor Snopps used his position to further his own industrial holdings, and was not interested in using his power to enforce minor violations of the Imperial Military Code, or engage in politicking. Snopps' main concern was to keep Corulag's powerful economy on track rather than promote the New Order ideology of the Empire.

Snopps' position placed him in command of the House of Citizens, the ancient ruling body of Corulag. He was extremely popular with the citizens of Corulag, owing to his days representing the planet as a senator, but was looked down upon by the administrators of the local military academy. Snopps attempted to use his influence to secure a place at the Imperial Academy for his son, Regenald, but failed.

At some point, Snopps arranged for a gang of thugs hired from Crullov City to break a strike held by the Orbital Transports Union. The Union was protesting new taxes on starship berths, and their strike was effectively halting the planetary economy, a situation that Snopps could not allow to continue. After a series of confrontations between the hired thugs and the protesters, union leaders hired a group of spacers to intercede and stop the violence.

In 3 ABY, after the Imperial victory at the Battle of Hoth during the Galactic Civil War, Snopps refused to discipline the cadets at the Corulag Academy for abusing members of the Exotic Entertainers' Union despite protests by their Core Worlds representative, Mayli Weng. In 6 ABY, the New Republic was established as the galactic government, displacing the Empire and re-establishing the Senate. When Corulag allied themselves with the New Republic, Snopps was once again appointed to represent his homeworld in the galactic governing body.

Personality and traits

Zafiel Snopps was a no-nonsense businessman and captain of industry with a hard-edged attitude and a ruthless streak. However, he was a warm individual, who had the ability to inspire confidence and greatness in those around him. Snopps was a good listener, and was able to sense when others hid a motive for their actions, and could be intimidating when he needed to be. His position gave him access to a large amount of information, and he was particularly knowledgeable about bureaucratic and diplomatic procedures. His role as an industrialist gave him access to vast resources, and he was able to coordinate his workforce ably.

Snopps was trained to use a blaster pistol, and was considered to be an excellent shot. He was also trained in melee combat. Snopps could pilot starships and operate computers, and was noted for his ability to play the harp. He had an eye for appraising items, and could swim. In addition to being able to read, write and speak Basic, Snopps could also read, write and speak Herglese. He wore his Imperial uniform with rank insignia while on duty, and carried a blaster pistol, comlink, and datapads.

Behind the scenes

Zafiel Snopps was first mentioned in The Spira Regatta, an RPG adventure published in the first issue of the Star Wars Adventure Journal by West End Games in 1994. It was written by Paul Sudlow, and Snopps was briefly mentioned to be a former senator and current Core World governor in the biography of his son, Regenald Hanniper Snopps III. The adventure was subsequently reprinted in 1996's The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4. In 1995, Sudlow also wrote the RPG article Into the Core Worlds for the seventh issue of the Adventure Journal, expanding on Snopps' character and placing him as the former Imperial senator and current Imperial governor of the Core World of Corulag. 1996's Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook included a short narrative story entitled An Old Flame in Need..., which name-checked Snopps in dialogue, and he received a mention in 1998's The Far Orbit Project in the section detailing Corulag and other Core Worlds within the Bormea and Darpa sectors.

Appearances

• "The Spira Regatta" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 1 (First mentioned)
• "The Spira Regatta" – The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4
• "Small Favors" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 12 (Mentioned only)
• "An Old Flame in Need..." – Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook (Mentioned only)

Sources

• "Into the Core Worlds" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 7
• The Far Orbit Project
• Coruscant and the Core Worlds
• "Quick Locations" (original article link) on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link)