Twi'lek/Legends

Twi'leks are a species with colored skin and two tails - called lekku - protruding from their heads. They have a homeworld in the Star Wars galaxy but their existence was known to the Old Republic. They understand most alien languages but prefer to speak their own kind. Many Twi'lek females are sold to slavery as dancers for crimelords and such, while others take jobs to dance at cantinas. This is a result of the females' legendary beauty. Twi'leks are a prominent race in the Expanded Universe series of books, games, and other media. Twi'leks served in both the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance. This article covers Twi'leks in both the movies and the Expanded Universe.

Homeworld
In the Expanded Universe, Ryloth is identified as the homeworld of the Twi'leks. Because of the nature of Ryloth's orbit around its primary, one side of the planet always faces the sun. This results in the temperatures on the day side being very high, and the night side the temperature is very cold. There is a habitable band around the planet where the day and night sides of the planet meet.

The Twi'lek people live in a series of caverns that are located in the habitable band of the planet.

Government
Twi'leks living in the caverns on Ryloth structure their society around a five member "Head Clan." These five Twi'leks lead the society in all such matters until one member of the Head Clan dies. At that point, the remaining members of the Head Clan are cast out into the barren landscape on the day side of the planet, presumably to die. Then five new members of the Head Clan are chosen.

Culture
Twi'leks join the personal name and clan (or family) name together. They use this as a way of symbolizing a way of togetherness. For example, Nawara Ven is said by fellow Twi'leks as Nawar'aven. When combining the names, Twi'leks make changes in the way in the name is pronounced in order to change the meaning of the words. For example, Twi'leks often pronounce Wedge Antilles' name as Wedg'antilles so that his name means "Slayer of Stars." Otherwise if they pronounced it in standard it would mean something so vile that it could induce vomiting in a Rancor. However, for those they cast out as criminals, the Twi'leks will break the individual's name into two distinct parts.

While many in the galaxy consider the Twi'leks as merchants or even criminals, the race does have a proud and honorable warrior tradition. The warriors invented the Chir'daki, or "Deathseed," star fighters that married the TIE fighter cockpit to the s-foils of the X-Wing fighter. During the Bacta War, Twi'lek warriors assisted Wedge Antilles in the fight against Ysanne Isard.

Prominent Twi'leks
Following are prominent Twi'leks from both the movies and Expanded Universe:


 * Aayla Secura
 * Bib Fortuna
 * Mission Vao
 * Nawara Ven
 * Oola
 * Orn Free Taa
 * Tol Sivron
 * Tal'dira