Gados

Content approaching.Heir to the Empire Sourcebook,The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook–class. Parts of this article are no longer up to date. Please update the article to include missing information, and remove this template when finished.

Gados

TheGados were aspecies ofsentienthumanoids with slender, fur-covered bodies. They had elongated necks and lankylimbs, and their heads featured only two largeeyes and a pair of protrudingincisors. Gados internal organs ran like ribbons throughout their bodies. This arrangement meant that any injury a Gados sustained was potentially critical, with the loss of an appendage almost certainlyfatal. The species was incredibly nimble; they were known throughoutthe galaxy for their gymnastic skills, an ability made famous by theLeaping Tee group ofacrobats who toured with theAlsakanCirco-Menagerie.

The Gados were indigenous to theplanetAbregado-rae in theAbregado system of theCore Worlds. They developed a simple society independent of theirhomeworld's other native sentients, theMoochers, and thegalactic community largely left them to their own devices formillennia. However, their world's relative obscurity and its location at the head of theRimma Trade Route made it an ideal staging area forpirates,smugglers, and otherscoundrels. Gados were known as highly amenable, overlooking major eccentricities and breaches of protocol, tolerance that encouraged immigrants from the galactic fringe to come to Abregado-rae, and the ever-amiable Gados welcomed them and learned the secrets of galactic technology. Overtime, the Gados abandoned most aspects of their native culture, including theGados language. As their culture became congruent with the galactic standard, they assimilated into the amalgamated culture of thealien inhabitants of Abregado-rae.

After the rise of theNew Republic, a multi-species oligarchy known as theTundei regime took control of Abregado-rae's government and instigated strict new laws that challenged the longstanding frontier nature of the world. Although the Tundei tried to shift the planet's economy from criminal endeavors to manufacturing, conditions on the world worsened, and the Gados suffered. Especially heinous were new punishments for crimes, such asamputations and executions—which, to the Gados, were essentially the same thing. Nevertheless, some Gados supported the Tundei, working asspies.

Biology and appearance[]

Gados were tall, slendersentients whose thin frames were covered in shaggy fur. Despite their generallyhumanoid anatomy, a Gados'sarms stretched to a greater length than his or her legs. Even longer was the attenuated neck,^[1] which stood the typical Gados head and shoulders over an average-sizedHuman.^[2] Upon this perched a small, round head that curved forward.^[1] The Gados face was simple, featuring only two bulbouseyes—which could be black^[2] or red incolor—and a pair of white buckteeth extending from behind a cleft lip.^[3] A Gados's skin turned yellow with age, but this was hidden under a coat of white^[2] or light brown fur.^[3]

Although Gados were not particularly strong or tough, they were incredibly nimble and lithesome. The Gadosskeleton contained only small pieces of bone, which were held together by muscle and ligaments. The arrangement permitted their muscles to expend great bursts of energy, which allowed them to leap about acrobatically and to great heights. Such gymnastics did not easily tire the Gados; the same individual could leap and jump, flip, and tumble for long stretches,^[2] looking to others almost like dancers.^[6] Even elderly Gados enjoyed this ability to bounce and somersault with ease.^[2]

Like the Gados body, thespecies' vital organs were thin and elongated. Rather than being concentrated in a particular area, each organ ran like a ribbon from the Gados's head to his or her feet. This arrangement left Gados vulnerable to injury, as every portion of the body housed some sensitive tissue. Accordingly, amputations and severed limbs were essentially critical blows in most cases.^[2]

Society and culture[]

Gados were amiable, tolerant beings with the ability to ignore habits, quirks, and character faults that other beings might find annoying or offensive. They were friendly to a fault, greeting strangers openly and warmly. This combination of welcoming nature and tolerant attitude led them to turn a blind eye to criminal activity. Despite their friendliness, their ability to bounce and leap allowed a threatened Gados to roll about quickly and confuse an attacker.^[2]

Gados were also known for their high level of cultural adaptability. Although a distinct Gados society existed on theirhomeworld at one point, with its own art, cuisine,^[2] and technology,^[7]millennia of contact with other species erased most traces of it. For example, the Gados once spoke their own language, also known asGados, but over thousands of years, most Gados turned toBasic as their primary tongue. Overtime, Gados began to dress like other species,^[2][4] usegalactic-standard technology,^[2] and adopt affectations such as the smoking ofhookah pipes like other species.^[3] After this embrace of galactic culture took root, many Gados became aware of the loss of their indigenous way of life and were saddened by it.^[2]

Like all citizens ofAbregado-rae, Gados were divided into clans.^[8] They lived incities of canals, serviced bywatercraft known asGados Floatboats. In these environments, Gados cohabited with cosmopolitan populations of many different species and, beginning after the fall of theGalactic Empire, were ruled by a multi-species group known as theTundei.^[2] Despite the diversity of the city, Gados were charged with maintaining theplanet'slone spaceport.^[4]

History[]

The Gados evolved on Abregado-rae, a world of rolling hills and little biodiversity that also served as home to theMoocher species.^[2] Beings from another planet first visited the world between15,000^[9] and10,000 BBY, but the species was left alone for thousands of years, during which they developed a distinct culture, society, and technology.^[2][7]

By3000 BBY, Abregado-rae had become the mostCoreward stop on theRimma Trade Route, but the planet and its inhabitants were largely ignored by thegalactic community.Smugglers,pirates, and otherscoundrels, on the other hand, took advantage of the Gados' tolerant natures and began using the planet as an alternate starting point for runs along the Rimma, thus avoiding the stricter law enforcement of theTapani sector.^[2] With the long-term presence of offworlders on Abregado-rae, the Gados adopted galactic-standard technology^[7] and built aspaceport.^[10] Over time, the Gados abandoned most aspects of their indigenous culture, and a tentative multi-species government was established on the world. Even their spaceport lost its native name, coming to be known as simply "Abregado-rae spaceport."^[2] Abregado-rae became known galaxy-wide as ashadowport, particularly known as a conduit forspice smuggling.^[9] Meanwhile, Gados colonists founded settlements on other planets in thestar system.^[2] In22 BBY,^[11] the species' homesystem was the site of abattle during theClone Wars.^[12]

After the collapse of theGalactic Empire in4 ABY, the Gados homeworld was claimed as part ofZero Command under the rule ofAdmiralBlitzer Harrsk. However, by6 ABY, the world was free of Harrsk, and had joined theNew Republic by7 ABY.^[9] The world at this time had some forty million inhabitants,^[10] sixty percent of whom were Gados.^[2]

Abregado-rae had by this point come under the rule of theTundei, a group that overthrew the previous, mostly hands-off government in a coup. The Tundei outlawed piracy and smuggling and hiredpolice to patrol the streets and arrest lawbreakers. The new rulers tried to replace the criminal activities that had once sustained the economy with industry and manufacturing. They also ordered the spaceport refurbished as a gesture to the commerce they hoped to generate.^[2] Despite these changes, the Tundei limited the freedom enjoyed by the Gados in years prior.^[4] Crime was prosecuted by theTundei Tribunal, headed by aHerglic namedShelov, with punishments consisting oftorture, amputation, or execution, all of which amounted to the same thing to Gados due to their unique vital organs. Some Gados actively opposed the Tundei; a group of Gados colonists from other planets in the system offered abounty on the head of Shelov, for instance. Still, some Gados supported the Tundei; an older Gados namedTrarr, for example, manufacturedtransparisteel but secretlyspied for the government.^[2] In9 ABY,^[7] when a group ofspacers agreed to send a shipment of surplus war rations to a group of peaceful dissidents in the hills outside the city, Trarr reported them to the authorities.^[2]

Ultimately, the Tundei regime failed to attract the new investment they sought.^[2] Nevertheless, the world remained important to the New Republic for its manufacturing.^[10] The New Republic liaisonsHan Solo andLando Calrissian visited the world in9 ABY under the cover story that they were investigating this manufacturing, although their true mission was to make contact withFynn Torve, a representative of the smugglerTalon Karrde. The pair found Torve in acasino, playingsabacc at a table with aGados and other beings. Solo joined the game, but his stalling irritated the Gadosgambler.^[3]

Following theThrawn campaign of 9 ABY, the New Republic pressured the Tundei to change their laws, but the regime refused. Years later, theYuuzhan Vong invasion of the galaxy flooded Abregado-rae with refugees. The Tundei saw their grip on the world slipping, and the planet seemed on the brink of another government overthrow.^[2] TheYuuzhan Vong eventually captured the world.^[10] By137 ABY, Abregado-rae fell within territory claimed by theSith LordDarth Krayt as part of hisGalactic Empire.^[9]

Gados in the galaxy[]

Although Gados were spread between the various habitable planets of the Abregado system, few members of the species traveled to other parts of the galaxy. One major exception was theLeaping Tee family, a group of itinerate Gados performers who traveled the galaxy putting onacrobatics and tumbling shows as part of theAlsakanCirco-Menagerie. At their height, the Leaping Tee family was extremely popular, and for many citizens of the galactic community, they were the face of the Gados species.^[2]

Behind the scenes[]

The Gados are mentioned inTimothy Zahn's novelHeir to the Empire (1991), but the book provides no description of their appearance or culture. The novel uses both the terms "Gado" and "Gados," leaving it unclear what the singular form of the species' name truly is.^[5] In thecomic bookadaptation of a scene fromHeir to the Empire (1996) where Han Solo plays sabacc with a group of gamblers on Abregado-rae, a furred alien is depicted as one of the players, as drawn byOlivier Vatine andFred Blanchard. The species' description in the bookThe Essential Guide to Planets and Moons (1998), by authorDaniel Wallace, is based on Vatine and Blanchard'salien.^[4]

The bookCoruscant and the Core Worlds (2003) forWizards of the Coast'sStar Wars: The Roleplaying Game expands on the species' history and biology. It also provides statistics for Gados characters. The game represents the species as highly agile, yet not very tough or perceptive. Average members of the species know some sort of profession, have the ability to leap long distances, and are able to tumble like a gymnast.^[2]

Appearances[]

Explore all of Wookieepedia'simages for this article subject.

• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed novelization(andunabridged audiobook)(Mentioned only)
• Star Wars: Rebellion(Mentioned only)
• Heir to the Empire(andunabridged audiobook)(First appearance, in book)
• Heir to the Empire 4(First pictured)

Sources[]

• Heir to the Empire Sourcebook
• The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook
• The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons
• Star Wars: Behind the Magic(Indirect mention only)
• Coruscant and the Core Worlds
• Star Wars: Empire at War: Prima Official Game Guide
• Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption Expansion: Prima Official Game Guide
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia

Notes and references[]