Rishii

Rishii

Species: Rishii
Home Planet: Rishi

Rishii
Rishii are small avians who live in primitive tribal clusters high in the mountains of their homeworld, Rishi. The feathered wings which spread from a Rishii's body gives him the ability of true flight.

Their humanlike hands have made them tool users, but they have not advanced much beyond working with stone and wood. In many ways, the Rishii are more primitive than the Ewoks of Endor's forest moon.The loose tribal clusters of the Rishii, or nests, are made up of a small number of family groups.

Neighboring nests live in peaceful harmony, respecting the territory of other Rishii tribes. Their peaceful coexistence has been extended to the humans and aliens who have set up cities and a spaceport in Rishi's lowlands. Though the Rishii do not understand why these strangers want to live in the most undesirable parts of the planet, they do not object to their presence. In fact, a few of the nests have started to trade with the strange, wingless ones. They are most interested in the shiny rocks which allow the wingless ones to fly.

Rishii have an uncanny knack for languages. They can learn new languages quickly, though their methods are sometimes misunderstood by the human colonists. The Rishii learn by mimicking the sounds made by newcomers. They can produce the words perfectly, sounding exactly like the person they are mimicking.

To the Rishii, this is learning. To the person being mimicked, it sometimes appears as if the primitive avians are making fun of them. This caused a few problems when the two species first were introduced, but has since been seen for what it is. The Rishii hunting weapon of choice is a sling which can be used while perched or in flight. Rishii senses are extremely good, especially sight and hearing. Their nests are open air living perches, either natural, or constructed when no suitable formations are available. They have no interest or understanding of modern technology, and those items which have been traded to them have become nest liners and perch decorations — whether they be blasters, credit vouchers, or power generators.

Biology & Appearance:
Rishii had an owl-like appearance, with a pair of large wings. At the ends of these wings, they had talon-like hands with opposable thumbs. They were excellent hunters, and would swoop down at very great speeds from cliffs to catch rodents in their lower talons. They possessed a long, thin tail with a tuft of feathers at the tip.

Rishii had a talent for mimicking language. They would often copy the voices and movements of other beings, much to the annoyance of the person being copied. The Rishii, however, enjoyed using their talents.

Society & Culture:
The Rishii were known for their friendly attitude towards outsiders. They lived in the high mountains of their world, while Human and alien colonists lived in the deep valleys. Family groups lived together in open-air nests built on cliffs and perches, and members of the tribe lived and worked together peacefully. They respected members of other tribes who came to visit them, and also the offworlders that colonized the humid lowlands.

During Rishi's frosty season, the Rishii relied on energy from exonium stones to help them prepare food. Rishii had little interest in technology, and the items they traded with outsiders they usually used to decorate their nests. However, they were intrigued by what they called "shiny rocks" (spacecraft) which allowed beings without wings to fly. Even when entering combat against advanced foes like the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Rishii fought using spears and axes, rather than adopting more powerful weaponry.

Attribute Dice: 11D
DEXTERITY 2D/4D
KNOWLEDGE 1D/3D+2
MECHANICAL 1D/3D
PERCEPTION 2D/4D+1
STRENGTH 1D/3D+2
TECHNICAL 1D/3D

Special Skills:
Dexterity Skills: Thrown weapons: sling: This skill allows a Rishii to use their individually built slings (STR +1D; ranges: 3-5/10/15).

Strength Skills: Flight: Rishii characters use this skill to fly, much like humans and other land-based creatures use running. Their speed is 13/18, or 37/52 kmh and may be improved in the same manner as ground movement (see page 15 of Star Wars, The Roleplaying Game: Second Edition).

Special Abilities:
Learn Languages: Rishii receive a +2D when checking to see if they understand a new language; they need only make 5 Very Difficult languages checks to learn a new language.

Enhanced Senses: Because of their keen eyesight and hearing, Rishii receive a +1D when using the search skill.

Story Factors:
Ignorance: Rishii can only place beginning skill dice in the following Knowledge, Mechanical or Technical skills: Knowledge: languages, survival; Mechanical: beast riding; Technical: first aid. They may not place any beginning skill dice in the following Dexterity skills: blaster, firearms, grenade, lightsaber, or vehicle blasters.

Move: 7/9 (walking), 13/18 (flight)
Size: 1.6 meters tall
Source: Dark Force Rising Sourcebook: 2nd Edition (p.95-96)& Wookieepedia (For the Rishii Description)