Sluissi

The Sluissi were the indigenous sentient species of the planet Sluis Van, located in the Outer Rim Territories. While their bodies above the waist were humanoid, their lower halves were serpentine, long and heavily muscled. Sluissi were noted for their calm temperament, aversion to rushing and impatience, compliance to protocol, no matter how trivial, and their technical aptitude. Like most reptiles, Sluissi could use their forked tongues to sense heat.

Renowned for their ability to repair and maintain starships, the Sluissi were active in Galactic society almost since the beginning of the Republic. This was because the Sluissi's technology was almost on par with other space-faring races such as Duros and Humans.

Biology and appearance
Sluissi's upper torsos were similar to a human's, with two arms, each with four-fingered hands. Their fourth finger was an opposable digit. Their arms had almost winglike extentions of skin, which aided their movement while they were flat on the ground. The bottom half of their body was similar to a snake's, with a long, heavily muscled, singular tail. Their bodies were covered in fine scales which ranged in color from light brown to dark green. Other colored scales on Sluissi were not unheard of, however they were quite rare. Sluissi had round black eyes and a swooping, hoodlike fold of tough skin at the back of their heads. They had forked tongues that aided their sense of smell.

Society and culture
Sluissi were patient, sociable, relaxed, easy-going beings, famous for remaining calm under pressure. Their patient, calm nature&mdash;combined with their seeming inability to have become genuinely upset or angry&mdash;often baffled, and sometimes even infuriated other species. Extremely industrious, Sluissi loved to tinker with gadgets and mechanical objects, and Sluissi technicians were able to improve the engine efficiency, power output and system response in even archaic, worn out ships.

As well as Sluissese, their native language, Sluissi spoke basic, though they tended to slur and lisp many words, due to the snakelike structures of their tongues and mouths.

Common Sluissi names

 * Sirlahn Alsek
 * Vsil Ejahsa
 * Usahn L'sehl
 * Sekae N'sehnor
 * Mektiss Risohr

History & Culture


Sluissi were among the greatest starship mechanics in the galaxy. However, they considered ship repair to be equivalent to artwork, and tended to take a very long time in repair. Spacers learned to be patient though, as the repairs were first rate.

The Sluissi joined the Galactic Republic early in its history, and established major shipyards throughout the Sluis Sector. However, during the Republic's waning days, they became disillusioned, and were among the first to join the Separatist cause. After the end of the Clone Wars, the Sluissi lived under Imperial occupation. When this ended, they became valuable members of the New Republic.

Behind the scenes
An issue of the French RPG magazine Casus Belli contains additional, but ambiguously canon material on the Sluissi. According to this article, the Sluissi were a calmly methodical species who compensated for physically frailty with technological skill and ingenuity. In contrast to mentions of a Khedive in Clone Wars material, this source says that Sluis Van was governed by an elected parliament of a hundred members, known as the Council, and throughout the New Order, their political consensus was that loyalty to the Empire had brought their world prosperity.

According to this material, the Sluissi joined the New Republic in around 6 ABY thanks to a diplomatic mission led by Jonas Stern and Borsk Fey'lya. At this time, the Council was composed as follows:




 * Party of Union (40 members): led by Slui-Merchar, weighing the relative merits of alliance with the Empire and New Republic with the dispassionate care typical of the Sluissi people, they eventually opted to support the New Republic.
 * Liberal Party (30 members): led by Slui-Aberdar, they believed that the shipyards' first loyalty should be to economic principles, and thus prepared to cooperate with whoever could pay then.
 * Unitary Party (13 members): ultra-conservatives committed to a continuing alliance with the Empire, led by Slui-Koronar.
 * Democratic Party (10 members): enthusiastic backers of the New Republic and their policy of liberation for the peoples of the Galaxy, led by Slui-Palomar.
 * Sluissiese Movement (7 members): a nativist movement urging retreat from the wider Galaxy and a rediscovery of native cultural and religious values, led by the high-priest Slui-Thanadar, whose position could perhaps be identified with that of the Khedive from more recent canon material, albeit no longer serving as head of the government.

Appearances

 * CIS Shadowfeed Dispatch 14:9:08 Edition
 * Jedi Trial
 * Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
 * Out of the Cradle
 * Fair Prey
 * Heir to the Empire
 * Dark Force Rising
 * Balance Point
 * Dark Force Rising
 * Balance Point