Corchaaz Creature 3

The crab-like corchaazes of Tabrid Minor build their shells from copi, a coral-like polyp that also constitutes the bodies of humanoid copaxis. Copi contain hollows that collapse matter into dense stores, creating pressurized chambers that emulate black holes. Corchaazes break down copi with their claws and add the material to their shells, creating gravity wells on their bodies. Corchaazes are effectively immortal unless they die of injury or illness. Legend has it their shells continue to grow as they age—copaxi folk tales describe corchaazes as big as islands.

A coastal shelf collapse on Tabrid Minor in 322 AG destroyed the planet's major corchaaz spawning ground, but this wasn't the end for this hardy species. In 324 AG, a team of scientists in a nearby star system noticed wildly fluctuating gravimetric readings. Following the weird readings, the scientists discovered and tracked a group of corchaazes traveling along a local Drift lane. Corchaaz migrations were new, and many scientists were eager to study rafts, as the migratory groups were called. More corchaaz rafts showed up the following year in other systems, including the Ghavaniska and Pact Systems.