Twi’lek

Twi’leks are a humanoid species with long, prehensile head-tails called lekku–organs housing sections of the Twi’lek brain and specialized for communication through subtle motion. Twi’leks are native to the harsh world of Ryloth, a planet that has suffered from occupation by the Hutt Cartel in recent years; Twi’leks on Ryloth not forced to work in the mines are often taken as slaves, exported to markets throughout the Outer Rim.

Millennia of dispersion into the wider galaxy, however, means that many Twi’leks have little or no sense of connection with their beleaguered homeworld; Twi’leks may be second only to humans in their ubiquity throughout known space. Nonetheless, many Twi’leks can’t escape the shadows of slavery and the underworld–often, they find work with the same pirates, slavers and spice dealers who have traditionally oppressed their species.

Twi’lek names vary dramatically, depending on whether the parents follow the old Twi’lek tradition of combining given and family name, or use the more common approach (separating first name and surname) used by many other species. Some Twi’leks eschew any surname altogether.