Few beasts are as beautiful and practical as the beloved Varactyl. Originating from Utapau, the Varactyl were originally hunted for game for hundreds of years for their colorful plumage and their warm, durable fur. As the planet's society evolved the Utapauns began to domesticate the fur-and-feather covered creatures and turn them into their mode of transportation before the planet's technological golden age.

Even after the boon of space flight and hyperspace travel, the Varactyl have been used as non-mechanized mounts across Utapau. So adaptable and able at what they do, several companies from all corners of space had begun to buy their own litter of Varactyl pups. Eventually, they came to be a common sight across the galaxy, most of them landing in the hands of those in need of traversing hazardous areas with the expertise and finesse that only the Utapaun Varactyl could provide. Where skiffs and speeders would break down under sweltering heat or begin to teeter precariously on unsure cliff edges, the Varactyl would perch like they were born to do it—and many xenobiologists agree that they were, indeed, born to do it!

One of the fastest species in the galaxy, Varactyl have been known to outrun the most vicious predators, several history documents claiming that a racing swoop was beaten to one of the beasts in a head-to-head race. Unfortunately, the spread of Varactyl have led to unknown side-effects after their owners became one with the Force or their pens came to ruination.

While wild Varactyl may share physical properties with their domesticated cousins, they may very well be dangerous! The loving, peaceful creatures have been known to kill many a traveller advancing towards the commonly friendly beasts in search for petting due to the proximity to a Varactyl nest. Never make that mistake! Wild Varactyl are very, very territorial!

Other than isolated instances of travellers advancing on nests, the Varactyl is, indeed, how it is perceived: the excellent companion. Eternally grateful, loving, and ever happy to see its owner, many Varactyl have been known to throw themselves into the way of harm for their riders, the intelligence in the reptavian species' eyes being nothing else but intelligence and love. Currently, they are the most sought-after non-mechanized beast of burden and are a favorite amongst ranchers and explorers, but RHS definitely agrees that as long as you're mounted on a Varactyl, it is they who have your back.

In a monumental and normally unseen rate of change, the formerly rundown "heart" of the galaxy is suddenly becoming the respectable planet it was before the Great Galactic War. Plagued by corruption, crime, hunger, and the rampant fires that still burn from the Sacking of Coruscant, it almost seemed like an impossible task to turn the world that was sliding into a pit of Rancor filth back into the prosperous center of trade it once was.

While planets like Ord Mantell and Alderaan still suffer from internal problems, the changes taking place on Coruscant will pave the way to a galaxy strong in democracy and purity of government. These changes will also put fear back into the Empire, their border skirmishes and strong-arming will not last long against the combined focus of the Galactic Republic.


Only so much as a year ago, Coruscant seemed unbearably close to its breaking point – the point where billions of refugees and other civilian lives would be cut down in an ever-growing tension that tore the lower levels apart at the seams. Criminal gangs controlled several districts, as well as violent paramilitary groups, Cthon, hunger, and more led to an inflow of complaints, and deaths, which the Senate couldn't ignore any longer.

Once noble and great beasts, the Orpali dragons of Hutta are now the chemical-infested monsters nicknamed "Chemilizards" by both the Evocii natives and immigrant workers to the adopted Hutt planet. In this day and age, the Chemilizards are one of the few, rare species that prefer the fetid, polluted swamps to the few places on Hutta where natural animals remain untainted.

In the days before their forced mutation, Orpali dragons were a rare delicacy that were grown and farmed in their youth for consumption by Hutts partaking in their centennial feasts, traditionally served over a bed of glazed Chuba eyes. Due to poor handling by the cooks and servants of Bakuush the Hutt, several hatchlings were lost in the ventilation system of his palace, never to be seen or heard from again.

Having eventually escaped through the sewer system of Bakuush's palace, the naturally resilient Orpali dragons evolved through the sludge and grime of Hutta, leaving many a Hutt irritated at the new, mutated lack of taste and rougher, more scaly skin. Now that they are unappetizing, the Hutt enforces for both Nem'ro and Fa'athra have taken the beast's hatchlings and raised them to act as a bigger, more unruly version of your standard guard dog, though their acidic spit and unruly nature leave something to be desired.

As individual creatures in the galaxy at large, however, they are no more frightening than an Akk dog. From their solitary hunting methods to their dwelling in bog-like burrows in the marshes of Hutta, they are only a true danger to the Evocii and any bounty hunter or civilian stupid enough to venture off the roads into the knee-deep vomit hued industrial wasteland.

Billian "Bill" Tetley,
RHN Reporter
Republic HoloNet Story Report
[Chemilizard]