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X'Ting

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this insectile race was once the dominant, sentient race found on the planet Ord Cestus, which they referred to simply as Cestus. Standing nearly two meters in height, the average X'Ting was dsitinguished by its two pairs of arms. One pair was considered the primary arms, and were used to perform actions that required strength and control. The secondary arms were used for finer manipulation and menial activities. The body of an X'Ting was oval in shape, and was made up of carapace-covered segments. Where the shiny carapace didn't cover the body, tufts of bristles provided a minimum of protection. A stinger was located at the base of their abdomen, which could inject a deadly poison into their prey. Within the abdomen of an X'Ting were three stomachs, each with a specific purpose in the digestion of food. X'Ting larvae were raised in pentagonal chambers, with one small chamber for each individual. The X'Ting were descended from a species of flying insects, as evidenced by their vestigial wings. The X'Ting society was based on a fairly rigid caste system that separated warriors from diggers, chewers from workers, and this system seemed to be in place to counteract the most unusual aspect of the race. The sex of the adult X'Ting cycled between male and female every three years, requiring that each caste ignore genders when considering its membership. During the peak periods of each cycle, X'Ting experienced intense hormonal surges that signalled the need to reproduce. Interestingly, in addition to sexual changes, male and female forms of X'Ting were distinctly different. Males tended to be smaller although more lethal in combat, while the females were larger and more intimidating. The history of the X'Ting people was hidden in secrets, since they wanted desparately to maintain their own existence. Many years before the Clone Wars, the X'Ting took control of Cestus after defeating the Spider People in a great war. With their new-found independence, the X'Ting decided to allow the Old Republic to establish a prison complex on Cestus, hoping to gain a place in the galactic community. The hive queen negotiated a deal with the politicians on Coruscant, and the prison facilities were constructed. The unexpected outcome of all this was the formation of Cestus Cybernetics, which virtually enslaved the X'Ting people. Shortly after the prison was completed, plagues began to destroy parts of the X'Ting society. Many felt that the plagues had been set loose by the offworlders who came to the planet as prisoners. It was during this period of strife, some 150 years before the Clone Wars, that a Jedi Knight was believed to have arrived on Ord Cestus and rallied the X'Ting, giving them strength and encouragement to save themselves against all odds. A so-called Great Plague then decimated the X'Ting about 100 years before the Clone Wars, reducing the millions of X'Ting to mere hundreds and destroying the royal family. Only a handful of eggs from the queen remained, which were hidden beneath the planet's surface behind an extensive security system, thereby ensuring the survival of the royal line.