Noghri/Legends

Noghri were a primitive humanoid species. They had steely gray skin, and were extremely skilled assassins due to their abilities in stealth and hand-to-hand combat. Despite their small size, they were efficient killing machines, with claws, fangs, and an acute sense of smell. They were much like the Wookiee species culturally, in that they respected honor above all else. Noghri society was clan-based, revolving around the dukha, or community building, at the center of each village.

History
The Noghri were natives of the planet Honoghr. Long before the Clone Wars brought devastation to their world, the Noghri were enslaved by the Rakata of the Infinite Empire. While the empire itself eventually faded into history, the ex-slaves soon began worshipping the memory of the Rakatans, viewing their ancient structures as evidence of the gods' time on Honoghr.

The Noghri entered the galactic spotlight during the Clone Wars when their planet was ravaged by the Separatist toxin Trihexalophine1138. The contaminant had come from a downed Lucrehulk-class Core Ship destroyed in the spaceborne Battle of Honoghr, and decimated a vast majority of the planet's flora.

Soon after the conclusion of the conflict, Darth Vader discovered the planet, and was dramatically impressed with the warrior skill of the Noghri when they slew his stormtrooper escort. Under the guise of "helping" the planet recover from the ecological disaster, he recieved the homage of the Noghri, as a result of which most of the young males of the planet became Death Commandos - the personal assassins of Emperor Palpatine.



The Noghri remained in service to the Galactic Empire after the death of Palpatine. Lord Cronal captured some and created mutated branches of Noghri assassins, to guard Dromund Kaas

About five years after the death of the Emperor, Grand Admiral Thrawn ordered the Noghri to kidnap the pregnant Leia Organa Solo. Realizing that neither she nor her children would be truly safe as long as the Noghri served the Empire, she went to Honoghr in order to convince the Noghri to leave the Empire's service. She was able to use the fact that she was the daughter of Darth Vader to convince the Noghri that the Empire had been lying to them and kept them in virtual slavery for many years. As a result, the Noghri turned against the Empire. Grand Admiral Thrawn died when his Noghri bodyguard Rukh turned on him and stabbed him.

Following the death of Thrawn, the Noghri came into the service of the New Republic. The New Republic helped resettle the Noghri to other planets, including Wayland, to give Honoghr time to heal. Leia and her entire family became very highly respected figures in Noghri society. Leia was later assigned two Noghri bodyguards, Cakhmaim and Meewahl.

Notable Noghri

 * Adarakh
 * Barkhimkh
 * Basbakhan
 * Bolpuhr
 * Cakhmaim
 * Jhordvar
 * Khabarakh
 * Kahr'corvh
 * Meewahl
 * Mobvekhar
 * Mushkil
 * Olmahk
 * Ovrekhem
 * Sakhisakh
 * Rukh

Behind the scenes
Author Timothy Zahn originally intended for the Noghri to be the Sith, thus making Darth Vader "Dark Lord of the Sith"; this idea came into conflict with Lucasfilm and was, thus, forced to change.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Republic 68: Armor
 * Mist Encounter
 * Heir to the Empire
 * Dark Force Rising
 * The Last Command
 * Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * Specter of the Past
 * Vision of the Future
 * Vector Prime
 * Dark Tide I: Onslaught
 * Dark Tide II: Ruin
 * Edge of Victory II: Rebirth
 * Star by Star
 * The Joiner King
 * The Unseen Queen
 * The Swarm War