Name: Hirang Birren
Type: Talent Scout
Species: Nithorn
Homeworld: Nithorn
Gender: Male
Born: —
Died: —
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Black
Height: —
Weight: —
Skin: Brown/Green
DEXTERITY 2D
Dancing: 2D+1
KNOWLEDGE 3D+1
Alien Species: 5D
Business: Cruise Ship Entertainment 5D
Cultures: 5D+2
Languages: 5D+1
Planetary Systems: 4D+2
Scholar: music 6D
Value: 4D
MECHANICAL 2D+2
Musical Instrument Operation: 3D+2
PERCEPTION 3D+2
Bargain: Contract Negotiation 5D
Search: 4D+2
Search: Musical Talent 6D
STRENGTH 2D
TECHNICAL 2D+1
Special Abilities:
“Gutteral Birdsong” and Overtone Singing: Not unlike real-world overtone singing, which originated in the Mongolian and Tuuvan regions, or in-universe songs such as “Sugaan Essena” (performed by the Hu, as heard in the Jedi Fallen Order video game), the Nithorn have an affinity for a style of singing in which the performer manipulates resonances to produce additional overtones above the fundamental note being sung. This resonant tuning, created in the vocal tract, allows singers to produce more than one pitch at the same time (ie: the fundamental pitch and one or more selected overtones), while generating only a single fundamental frequency with their vocal folds. In some circles, this has been referred to in a derogatory manner, termed “Gutteral birdsong.” In game terms, Nithorn gain a +1D bonus to any rolls related to, or attempts at, throat-singing or overtone singing.
Just Vibin’: Hirang Birren has such a deep appreciation and love for music that when a tune moves him, he more often than not loses himself in a performance. Absent-mindedly singing along or swaying subconsciously to the music, he is often so enrapt that he becomes semi-oblivious to his surroundings otherwise. In game terms, when Birren encounters a musical performance or song he enjoys, and when in non-dangerous circumstances, he must make an Easy willpower check to avoid becoming distracted by it, and suffering a -1D penalty to all actions. If in dangerous conditions, the difficulty of this willpower check is reduced to Very Easy.
Keratin Beak: The beak of the Nithorn inflicts STR+2 physical damage if used to bite or peck when brawling.
Language Acquisition/Affinity: Perhaps due to their facility for vocal overtones, Nithorn has a gift for languages as well. They are able not only to quickly parrot the unique sounds of languages still foreign to them, but they also progress toward proficiency in new languages faster than many other species. In game terms, at character creation, Nithorn gains 2D for every 1D placed in the language skill. In addition, rather than having to make 10 Difficult skill checks to gain fluency in a particular language, the difficulty for Nithorn is reduced by one level, allowing them to roll against Moderate difficulty to gain fluency.
Recumbent Crest: The crest of feathers “displayed” atop a male Nithorn’s head is often used for persuasive purposes and is often reflective of that Nithorn’s mood or disposition — an evolutionary callback to the species’ ancestral mating signals and practices. In game terms, if a male Nithorn spends a full round presenting his crest feathers while performing no other actions and succeeds on an opposed willpower check, he gains a bonus to his Persuasion checks against his target romantic partner, equal to +1 for every +3 by which he beat his potential romantic partner’s roll. This bonus lasts for several rounds equal to the margin by which he won the opposed roll. However, a female Nithorn in turn gains a +1D bonus to her opposed willpower roll if she has more than one suitor, with an additional +1 bonus per additional suitor beyond the second.
Force Sensitive: N
Force Points: 1
Dark Side Points: 0
Character Points: 4
Move: 10
Equipment: Holocorder and recording rod, metal cocktail tumbler, silk shirt, sateen-collared-and-cuffed formal longcoat.
Background: Hirang Birren worked as a cruise ship talent scout during the reign of the Galactic Empire. In 10 BBY, Birren was attending a party aboard the First Light—the personal yacht of Dryden Vos, leader of the Crimson Dawn criminal organization—when it arrived on the planet Vandor.
While on the starship, Birren listened to a musical performance by the singers Aurodia Ventafoli and Luleo Primoc, and unwittingly began singing along with them in his own guttural birdsong. With a drink in hand and a human woman on his arm, Birren walked past the outlaw Han Solo on the yacht’s viewing platform. He then stood with the woman at one of the platform’s windows to talk.
Appearances: Solo