Askaj is a boiling desert planet located in the Outer Rim, a day's travel off the Rimma Trade Route. Few people visit this isolcated world other than the traders who came to buy the luxurious tomuonfabric made by its people.
The Askajians are large, bulky, mammals who look very much like humans. Unlike humans, however, they are uniquely suited for their hostile environment. They hoard water in internal sacs, allowing them to go without for several weeks at a time. When fully distended, these sacs increase the Askajian's bulk considerably. When low on water or in less hostile environments, the Askajian are much slimmer. An Askajian can shed up to 60 percent of his stored water without suffering.
The Askajians are a primitive people who live at a stone age level of technology, with no central government or political system. The most common social unit is the tribe, made up of several extended families who band together to hunt and gather. | 
