Charza Kwinn was a legendary male Priapulin pilot who was in the employ of the Jedi Order for well over a century.
Biography[]
- Kwinn: "There are no pirates here, no commerce centers—indeed, the only inhabited planet for many light-years is Zonama Sekot. But Zonama Sekot is very close to the edge of the galaxy. Beyond this point, there is much that is not known. Anything could happen."
- Skywalker: "The edge of the galaxy! We could be the first beings to go beyond the edge! If we wanted to."
- Kenobi: "There are still frontiers, and that is a comforting thought."
- Kwinn: "Why comforting? Empty places without friends are not good!"
- Kenobi: "The unknown is a place where we can discover who we truly are. So Qui-Gon taught me."
- ―Charza Kwinn, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi[2]
A male Priapulin, Charza Kwinn was a starship pilot. By 129 BBY, he had become an ally of the Jedi Order, and was known to have transported needy Jedi to various planets and other locations in need of their services. In 30 BBY, Kwinn transported the rogue Jedi Knight Vergere aboard his YT-1150 named the Star Sea Flower to the living planet Zonama Sekot; Kwinn left the world once ordered to, having received no orders to return for Vergere. He did note six ships in orbit as he left, and assumed them to be Sekotan Personal Starships. A year later, Kwinn transported two more Jedi, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan, Anakin Skywalker, to Zonama Sekot. After dropping them off near the planet's north pole, he stayed in orbit and out of contact with the pair of Jedi. Soon, however, the planet was attacked by Wilhuff Tarkin, Commander of the Republic Outland Regions Security Force, who wanted the planet's abilities for the Galactic Republic. Kwinn participated in the battle, defending Zenoma Sekot and taking on a Corellian Engineering Corporation light cruiser.
In 19 BBY, following the establishment of High Human Culture under the Galactic Empire, Kwinn was forced to become a pirate and smuggler to support himself and his food-kin, which he ate as well as provided for. Flying the ship the Coral Fin, he limited his prey to Imperial vessels.
His legacy inspired his people to assist the persecuted New Jedi Order during the Yuuzhan Vong War.
Personality and traits[]
- ""Chazra comes from a species devoted to peace. He regards overt conflict as the grossest breach, and would rather die than fight. Still, he is intensely intelligent and extremely ambitious."
"So he makes a great spy?"
"A great spymaster. And an extraordinarily resourceful pilot."" - ―Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker on Charza Kwinn
Kwinn was regarded as highly intelligent by the Jedi he transported, as well as having a sense of humor not easily understood by humans. He was a pacifist by nature, but that didn't stop him from enjoying aggressive competition among other species, finding it amusing. He had a symbiotic relationship with the Crast, whom he referred to as food-kin. His kind used the species as food, and in return incubated and cared for their young. In addition to the normal Priapulin relationship with Crast, he also provided food and a place to live for his food-kin on the Star Sea Flower, in return for them being the ship's crew.
He was also a pilot of exceptional skill, having the ability to even outfly Sky mines, in addition to Droid Starfighters. He attributed part of his flying prowess to the Sea Star Flower, whom he called his friend.
Behind the scenes[]
Kwinn was introduced in the novel Rogue Planet by Greg Bear. He was subsequently mentioned in several reference books. Under the "Coral Fin" entry in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, he is incorrectly described as a Jedi Knight.[3]
Appearances[]
- Rogue Planet (First appearance)
Sources[]
- The Essential Guide to Alien Species
"The University of Sanbra Guide to Intelligent Life: The Priapulin" — Star Wars Gamer 8- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Essential Reader's Companion
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 In Rogue Planet, Thracia Cho Leem mentions that Kwinn has served the Jedi Order for "over a century".
- ↑ Rogue Planet
- ↑ The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Vol. I, p. 139 ("Coral Fin")