Chiss
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- Chiss is also a fictional creature from L. Frank Baum's Oz books.
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In the fictional Star Wars universe, Chiss are a humanoid species with pale blue skin, blue-black hair and glowing red eyes. First introduced to the Expanded Universe in Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn Trilogy through his arch villain Grand Admiral Thrawn, the Chiss have since developed into a popular species amongst fans and other Expanded Universe authors.
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Homeworld
In the Expanded Universe, Csilla is identified as the homeworld of the Chiss. Csilla is cold world of glaciers and snowy wastes located deep within Chiss Space, and serves as the capital of the Chiss Empire. Glaciers cover the normally warm equatorial regions of the planet, while solid ice locked the poles in perpetual winter. In order to survive, the Chiss had to build energy-efficient warrens beneath the ice, as close to the warmth of the inner planet as possible. Underground travel routes connect the various underground sections of Csilla. The iceways were bored through the bedrock of the planet, so that they were unaffected by the shifting ice found on the planet's surface. Specialized carriages moved passengers and cargo through the tunnels. Locked in ice for decades, Csilla has forced many socioeconomic and technological changes upon the Chiss, but few physical changes. Contrary to simplistic beliefs in a link between the Chiss skin color and the Csillan temperature, scientists have concluded that the Chiss’ blue skin is caused by a mineral found in the Csillan hydrosphere.
Csilla is also home to the Expeditionary Library, which is a huge, underground library was maintained by the Chiss Expansionary Defense Force, and contained written information on virtually every planet, moon, and star system ever encountered by the Chiss. It was unusual, not because it was underneath the ice, but because every volume contained in the Library was hand-written.
Culture
Chiss culture is at the root of the disciplined species. Beyond their cold calculation, there are parts of Chiss culture that exhibit an intriguing mix of elegant beauty, which may be attributed to the differences caused in Chiss society after the glacial movement that plunged Csilla into its long ice age. Elements of the pre-glacial Chiss culture are visible in the smooth, striking lines of Chiss technology, as well as in Cheunh, the native tongue of the Chiss. Cheunh is a complex and creative language with an intricate syntax involving compound words made from a relatively small core of primary words, and the Chiss used detailed ideograms to represent concepts and combinations of images to represent complex ideas. A simple example of Cheunh can be seen in the three-part names used by the Chiss. For example, Grand Admiral Thrawn’s full name was Mitth'raw'nuruodo. The first component, “Mitth”, has an unknown meaning, but the second component “Raw” is the primary name, while the third component “Nuruodo” denotes a Chiss’ familial origins. The Chiss are also said to have incredible works of art, but none have ever been seen or described. Aspects of Chiss cultural practicality are visible in the Chiss societal divisions and approached to decision making. At birth, each Chiss claims affiliation to one of the four ruling families, whose divisions predate modern Chiss civilization. While the actual bloodlines are mixed and convoluted, the Houses are more than just as a cultural holdover, but rather a practical method of dividing Chiss society into focused, specialized segments. Chiss are taught to approach their areas of specialization with intense focus and harsh logic, driving Chiss culture to suppress emotion and avoid hasty emotions such as anger, fear and revenge. From this emotional coolness, and despite a socialist economic model, Chiss culture stresses individual responsibility and self-discipline.
A strange diversion from this shrewd analysis is the Chiss consideration of a pre-emptive strike as equivalent to the most horrible murder, which can be considered a strategically necessary option in the appropriate circumstance. This unspoken law dated back nearly a millennium before the Battle of Endor, and was one of the strongest points of Chiss honor and morality. Within Chiss society, children matured very quickly, never truly having an adolescent period before becoming adults. The concept of open aggression is utterly alien to the Chiss. They do control a large expanse of the Unknown Regions, but this territory, divided into 28 colonies has been taken only as a matter of logic or self-defense, to better maintain Chiss society or to end the threat of a particular enemy.
Another cultural norm is a distrust and dislike of other species, viewing them as inferior. Yet again, the Chiss make exceptions and have been known to accept non-Chiss members into their society, even to go as far as to welcome them into the Chiss military, as they did with Baron Soontir Fel, Jagged Fel, and Peita Aabe. Later, during the Yuuzhan Vong crisis, Chiss scientists worked closed with a New Republic staff in Alpha Red.
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Government
The Chiss are governed by an oligarchy of four extended ruling families from House Palace, located in the capital city of Csaplar on the Csilla. Each clan with the families is headed by leaders known as Aristocra who wear particular colors to indicate their clan and family loyalties. Standard and day-to-day decisions are made by a democratically elected parliamentary body from each of the 28 colonies. Issues are siphoned up through the parliament to a cabinet of appointed governors, and then to the ruling families, where a decision made by the parliament and/or cabinet may be approved for action. Each of the extended ruling families is responsible for a set of government affairs to manage: House Sabosen is responsible for social issues such as justice, health, and education; House Inrokini is responsible for industry and science; House Csapla is responsible for colonial affairs, agriculture and redistribution of resources; and House Nuruodo is responsible for military and foreign affairs. The Csapla’s redistribution of resources amongst the Chiss colonies and Csilla is particularly important, given the collectivist-socialist economic system of the Chiss, and has led to their relative position at the head of the families, with the others acting in an advisory role. To other species within the Unknown Regions, the Chiss civilizations and oligarchy are known as the Chiss Ascendancy.
Each family was equally represented in the Chiss government, although they went to great lengths to ensure that family identity was eliminated wherever possible. The leaders of the Chiss did not use names, but instead wore colorful robes to distinguish themselves. This helped ensure that decisions were reached in a fair and equitable method. Although the four extended ruling families are not known to face power struggles, lesser five clans often vie for great authority and power, such as the Chaf clan, which is considered the fifth ruling family.
Technology
Chiss technology is generally practical and efficient, as well as adaptive and elegant. A good example of these characteristics is the Chiss Nssis-class Clawcraft, a hybrid of Imperial and Chiss technology. The clawcraft uses the cockpit and engine of Sienar Fleet Systems’ standard TIE Fighter, but replaces the solar panel wings with a set of four laser cannon tipped wings that projected forward from the cockpit. In a demonstration of their practical application of technology, the Chiss equipped their clawcraft with limited hyperspace capabilities, striking a balance between the cost-effective TIE Fighters and the New Republic’s highly mobile fully hyperspace capable starfighters. Instead, the clawcraft used a set of realspace anchor points based around each Chiss colony, allowing the Chiss Expansionary Defense Force to respond to threats while not overbearing the clawcraft or increasing their cost. Other stylish Chiss technology includes the paired pyramid shape of their military space stations and the flattened sphere shape of the Paskla-class cruisers.
Military
While their history has been marked by nearly continual warfare and conquest of other worlds, the Chiss are generally not violent. They prefer to extend themselves only from a defensive posture, although their exposure to threats in the Unknown Regions and Outer Rim, such as the Ssi-Ruukvi threat, or the more recent Yuuzhan Vong invasion. There are two military organizations: the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet and the Colonial Phalanxes, which are both led by the Nuruodo family. The Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet patrols the Chiss borders and space, although segments have been known to combat forces beyond the realm of the Chiss in times of dire need. This fleet is considered to be a tool of foreign affairs rather than a military asset. Each of the 28 colonies is protected by a phalanx, which is commanded by a Syndic, or House leader, and responsible for handling any threats that slip past the fleet. In times of crisis, Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet segments draws upon the nearby Phalanxes to strengthen itself and tighten boarder patrols. The formation of the Chiss Army and Navy is tributary, with each Chiss colony world sending a complete Phalanx to Csilla for command by the Nuruodo family.
Known Planets
- Csilla
- Nirauan
- Sarvchi
- Klasse Ephemora System
Famous Chiss
- Grand Admiral Thrawn - Military officer of the Imperium, responsible for nearly destroying the young New Republic
- Chaf'orm'bintrano – Aristocra of the Chaf clan, also know as Formbi
- Jer'Jo Cam'Co – Chiss hero, responsible for founding the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet
- Sev'rance Tann - CIS general during the Clone Wars
External Links
- http://www.theforce.net/swtc/humans.html#chiss Dr. Curtis Sexton’s analysis of Chiss humanoid characteristics, particularly through red blood.