The Temolak were a sentient species originating from the planet Zirulast. Across the galaxy, they gained notoriety as skilled scavengers.
These beings were stocky bipeds characterized by reddish-brown skin, reminiscent of baked clay. With heights ranging from 1.9 to 2.3 meters, they possessed a muscular build and a somewhat stooped stance. Each hand featured five fingers, and a distinctive fin-like appendage extended along the lower side of their forearms, connecting the elbow and wrist.
Their facial features included a compressed face, a broad and bald head, small fin-like protrusions on their chins, and prominent, upward-curving horns sprouting from their cheekbones. They had small, deep-set, white eyes, and their mouths contained large, irregular teeth. A wide nose with expansive nostrils, which flared during speech, completed their appearance.
A unique trait differentiating the Temolak from many other species was their possession of multiple vital organs. Adaptation to their challenging home environment and extensive spacefaring history led to evolutionary developments that enhanced their resilience. They were equipped with two hearts, two livers, four lungs, and three kidneys.
Following their departure from their desolate homeworld, Temolak society rapidly gravitated towards the practice of salvage. They scoured the galaxy in search of abandoned starships, space stations, and other forms of space debris. Demonstrating remarkable skill, they transformed discarded materials into functional technology, dismantling derelicts down to their basic components for reuse. Abandoned space stations served as their preferred dwellings and operational hubs, functioning as colonies. The Temolak showed a clear preference for interacting with less advanced civilizations, while avoiding contact with more sophisticated societies. They recognized that primitive species had a greater demand for the simple technologies they offered, and attributed a higher value to these goods.
Despite their imposing appearance, they had a reputation for being cautious and peace-loving, exhibiting a quiet and cunning nature. Displaying both resourcefulness and technological expertise, they were willing to defend what they considered their property, often surprising pirates who underestimated them.
Their primary language was Temolish, characterized by a guttural sound to outsiders. However, the majority of Temolak also acquired proficiency in Basic.
Temolak typically used single names, such as Chaiza, Durakas, Eskavon, Kurun, Luzura, Orborus, Shalunask, Unkave, Zanvost, and Zardanka.
Around the year 2000 BBY, the complete evaporation of water resources on Zirulast, the Temolak's home planet, drove the species to desperation. Demonstrating ingenuity, they rapidly constructed orbital platforms capable of extracting water from the icy rings encircling their world. Shortly thereafter, they engineered their own sublight drives, and soon managed to obtain hyperdrive technology.
As the Temolak spread throughout the galaxy, they began their scavenging activities in earnest. Although their presence became relatively widespread during the era of the Old Republic, they generally avoided interactions with advanced civilizations, preferring to engage with less-developed species. During this period, competition among salvage crews escalated into internal conflicts, many of which turned violent. In response, the Temolak established the Temolak Salvage Consortium, an organization that divided territories among the numerous salvage crews operating throughout the galaxy, effectively eliminating competition.
With the rise of the Empire, the Imperial authorities imposed stringent regulations on the consortium's salvage operations. In response, many Temolak abandoned the consortium, seeking opportunities beyond the reach of Imperial law in the Outer Rim Territories. While some Temolak crews achieved success, others vanished without a trace, presumed to have perished.