Agbui
The Agbui, also known as Scratchlings, were a sentient species that made their home in the Unknown Regions. A key characteristic of this species was their telepathic ability, which allowed them to discern the emotions of others through physical touch. They were visually distinct, possessing dark red and off-white patterned faces, punctuated by black eyes and mouths that were merely lipless slits. A notable Agbui, Haplif, served the Grysk individual called "Jixtus," demonstrating skill in understanding cultures. Following Jixtus's instructions, Haplif endeavored to instigate a civil conflict within the Chiss Ascendancy, a scheme that involved the cooperation of several other Agbui.
By the time the first Death Star was nearing completion, the Agbui existed as a client species under the Grysk Hegemony, offering their assistance to their overlords as they prepared for an invasion of the Galactic Empire. It was during this period that the Chiss and humans began referring to them as "Scratchlings," a name derived from the distinctive, scratchy quality of their vocalizations.
Biology and appearance
The Agbui were sentient beings characterized by skin displaying a combination of dark red and off-white hues. These colors manifested in patterns that seemed random and served to distinguish individuals from one another. Compared to other sentient species, the Agbui possessed elongated fingers, and their native tongue was perceived as scratchy by Chiss and human observers. Fully grown Agbui typically stood between 1.5 and 2 meters tall. Their mouths were characterized by the absence of lips, appearing simply as slits.
Agbui possessed a limited form of telepathy that relied on physical contact with other sentient beings. By touching the skin of another individual, they could perceive that person's emotions and desires. The depth of their understanding increased with the duration, directness, and frequency of the contact. Haplif exploited this ability to manipulate numerous Chiss during his travels throughout the Chiss Ascendancy, particularly on Celwis. Haplif asserted that, after using his telepathy on a sufficient number of members of a species, he could comprehend how to manipulate the entire species.
The Agbui generally kept their telepathic abilities secret from those they interacted with. A notable exception was the Grysk Hegemony agent "Jixtus," who specifically sought out Agbui for their unique abilities. Some Agbui, like Haplif and Shimkif, displayed irritation or even anger when others refused to allow them to touch them. This lack of physical contact hindered their ability to manipulate the individual, leading Haplif to become angry at Yomie and Lakphro. The Agbui's physical structure differed greatly from that of The Magys's people.
History
Helping the Grysks conquer the Unknown Regions
Under the leadership of Haplif, a group of Agbui orchestrated a devastating civil war on the planet Sunrise, resulting in widespread death and subsequent mining operations for the resource nyix. The Grysk individual "Jixtus" then assigned them the task of executing a scheme to dismantle the Chiss Ascendancy by inciting conflict among several Great Families over a planet falsely rumored to be rich in nyix.
During the Age of the Empire, certain Agbui continued their service to the Grysks, which included overseeing captured Chiss ozyly-esehembo navigator children on behalf of their Grysk superiors. Un'hee, a young girl, was held captive by the Agbui, whom she nicknamed Scratchlings due to their vocal characteristics. Several Agbui were assigned to guard Un'hee during her imprisonment aboard a Grysk observation post, but they met their death when the Grysks realized the post was about to fall into the hands of Imperial forces.
Subverting the Empire
In the time leading up to the Liberation of Lothal, the Agbui lent their support to the Grysk Hegemony's efforts to infiltrate, undermine, and ultimately invade the Galactic Empire. Two Agbui starships used as slave labor were stationed at a Grysk forward base within Imperial territory, where they formed a communications triad with a cloaked Grysk warship. Following the destruction of the Grysk warship by the Chimaera, a squad of stormtroopers led by Commodore Karyn Faro boarded one of the Agbui vessels, discovering six Agbui holding a group of human and Dashade prisoners.
These Dashades and humans were participants in Grand Admiral Balanhai Savit's anti-piracy campaign, which was secretly a cover for Savit's theft of Project Stardust materials for redistribution within the Imperial Navy. The Agbui had captured these smugglers and employed their telepathy to uncover their deepest fears, desires, and ambitions. Their intention was to use this information to aid the Grysks in their efforts to subvert, sabotage, and/or invade the Empire. They succeeded in convincing Yimmer and Westerli to align themselves with the Grysks.
One of the Agbui aboard spoke the trade language Meese Caulf, which Grand Admiral Thrawn translated for Commodore Faro. This Agbui claimed he feared for his life and the lives of his companions, demanding a personal assurance of safety from the Imperials. This was a deception designed to enable them to initiate a suicide bombing, eliminating as many Imperials as possible to maintain favor with the Grysk. Thrawn recognized this ploy and ordered the stormtroopers to eliminate the Agbui before they could trigger the detonation.
Society and culture
Agbui culture included myths about demons, which they used to scare children into behaving. Haplif had never seen Jixtus unmasked and wondered if Jixtus was a demon from Agbui mythology.
Agbui could consume the same foods as the Chiss. Some Agbui learned to understand the Chiss language Cheunh, and some were fluent in the trade languages Minnisiat and Meese Caulf.
Behind the scenes
The Agbui were introduced in the 2019 novel Thrawn: Treason, where they were described as having dark red and dirty white skin, a lipless slit of a mouth hidden among skin folds, and bright black eyes. The species was first formally identified as the Agbui in the 2021 novel Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good, which reiterated the same physical description. In both novels, the Agbui encountered were serving the Grysk Hegemony.