Tusken Raider

"Those Tuskens walk like men, but they're vicious, mindless monsters."

- Cliegg Lars

Tusken Raiders, less formally referred to as Sand People or simply as Tuskens, were a culture of nomadic, primitive sentients indigenous to Tatooine, where they were often hostile to local settlers.

Culture
"A moisture farm? Poor locals never stood a chance. The Sand People think all water is sacred and was promised to them. I say nuts to that. Send in the troopers!"

- Saponza to his partner after discovering a moisture farm ravaged by Tusken Raiders

Tusken Raiders were a species native to the desert world of Tatooine. Their homeworld's harsh environment resulted in them being xenophobic and extremely territorial, often attacking the outskirts of smaller settlements such as Anchorhead. The Sand People believed that all water was sacred and promised to them, resulting in them raiding moisture farms set up by colonist.

Tuskens inhabited encampments located within the rocky Jundland Wastes. , which were guarded from intruders by viscous massiffs. The Sand People and banthas shared a close, almost bond. During warrior initiation rites, a young Tusken is given a bantha and learns to care for it, with the pair becoming extremely close as the youth earns a place in its clan.

Male Tusken Raiders were the aggressors of their clans, often attacking vulnerable travelers that were unfortunate enough to wander through their territory. They wielded gaderffii sticks in combat, and used Projectile Rifles to fire on vehicles they spotted. Females could be distinguished by their elaborate jeweled masks with eyeslits and torso-covering sand-shrouds. Tusken children wore unisex cowls and simple cloaks.

History
A month before the Battle of Geonosis, Sand People attacked the Lars homestead and kidnapped Shmi Skywalker Lars, whom they imprisoned and tortured. Her son, the Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker, returned to Tatooine to rescue her, but after finding her in a Tusken camp, she died of her injuries. The vengeful Anakin proceeded to slaughter every nearby Tusken, even the women and children.

Over twenty years later, Anakin's son Luke was attacked by the Tuskens after venturing from the homestead to retrieve R2-D2. Fortunately, Obi-Wan Kenobi warded off the Tuskens by imitating the cry of a krayt dragon, Tatooine's deadliest predator.

Behind the scenes
The Tuskens appeared initially in the second draft of Star Wars: A New Hope, as Imperial spies deployed as a platoon onto the surface of Tatooine to search for whatever had brought Deak Starkiller to that planet. They appeared to be humanoid, with red eyes, and drove distinctive landspeeders. They became a native people of Tatooine in the third draft.

When a Tusken speaks, they sound like the sea lions of Earth, but in actuality their sounds were fashioned by Ben Burtt from donkey brays.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Journeys: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Journeys: Beginnings
 * Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
 * The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight
 * Star Wars: Darth Vader 1: Vader
 * Star Wars: Commander
 * Star Wars: Galactic Defense