Mara D'Lessio Merrill
The Lesser D'Lessio
[Image Source]
Name: PulkaDesignation: Semi-sentient
Homeworld: Kilia IV
Language: Whickers and neighs, generally
Average height of adults: 1.8-2.4m
Skin color: Generally tan to dark brown, though black and white are possible
Hair color: Generally tan to dark brown, though black and white are possible
Breathes: Type I, Type II (very-high-altitude)
Strengths:
Unsurpassed surefootedness and balance
Excellent navigational instincts (comparable to a mild version of the Force ability called Instinctive Astrogation)
No hands, tentacles, or other manipulators, apart from their mouths
Often ornery and contrary mounts
Average Lifespan: 20 standard years
Races: As with many equines, various pulka breeds are more or less specialized for mountaineering, draft work, running, or war. A war pulka, commonly ridden by a Kilian Ranger, can stand well over two metres tall; a draft labour pulka can be even taller.
Estimated Population: 700,000 - common throughout the towns and villages of Kilia IV, but only rarely found offworld.
Diet: Herbivore with a tough mouth and tougher stomach. The pulka can eat grass, brambles, tree bark, or lichen.
Communication: Pulkas are quite clever for equines, and communicate among themselves in whickers and neighs. Sentients who are familiar with pulkas can often get a sense of their moods and intentions, not unlike a binary-illiterate sentient listening to an R2 unit.
Culture: Pulkas are nominally herd animals. However, they are quite comfortable in solitary wandering. In the wild, they are generally found in groups of two to four adults (a male and a few females).
Technology level: N/A
General behavior: Pulkas are canny, tricky equines, fond of pranks and perverse humour. Many are the traveling merchants who’ve found their wagons perched on top of a boulder, or their stores eaten and replaced with rocks. Otherwise, pulkas behave like most equines.
History: Equine species and subspecies are common throughout the galaxy. Kilia IV is no exception. The remote, largely forgotten world had fallen to a medieval level of technology by the time of the New Republic, when explorers rediscovered the Kilian system. In short order, sightseers, reenactors, holiday makers, and anachronistic dreamers flocked to Kilia IV. Some brought various equine breeds with them. Over the next few centuries, Kilia IV experienced constant immigrant and emigrant flows. Some sought the lifestyle that came with galactic standard technology, but others looked for a simpler life. When the Gulag Virus descended on the galaxy, Kilia IV closed its borders. Hobby farmers and historical tourists found it necessary to truly learn from and live among the people they’d considered curiosities. Imported offworld equines -- racehorses, farm stock, pets -- interbred with local pulkas over the next few centuries. The most successful new breeds were stocky, shaggy, clever, nimble...and lucky.
Notable Player-Characters: N/A
Intent: A suitable mount for one of Star Wars’ very, very few medieval planets. Development thread (15 posts, 10,000+ words): Mara moves to Kilia IV and learns to ride pulkas.
