In the fictional Star Wars universe, Twi'leks are a species with colored skin and two tails—called lekku—protruding from their heads. They have a homeworld in the Star Wars galaxy but their existence was known to the Old Republic. They understand most alien languages but prefer to speak their own kind. Many Twi'lek females are sold to slavery as dancers for crimelords and such, while others take jobs to dance at cantinas. This is a result of the females' legendary beauty. Twi'leks are a prominent race in the Expanded Universe series of books, games, and other media. Twi'leks served in both the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance. This article covers Twi'leks in both the movies and the Expanded Universe.

Homeworld

In the Expanded Universe, Ryloth is identified as the homeworld of the Twi'leks. Because of the nature of Ryloth's orbit around its primary, one side of the planet always faces the sun. This results in the temperatures on the day side being very high, and the night side the temperature is very cold. There is a habitable band around the planet where the day and night sides of the planet meet.

The Twi'lek people live in a series of caverns that are located in the habitable band of the planet.

Government

Twi'leks living in the caverns on Ryloth structure their society around a five member "Head Clan." These five Twi'leks lead the society in all such matters until one member of the Head Clan dies. At that point, the remaining members of the Head Clan are cast out into the barren landscape on the day side of the planet, presumably to die. Then five new members of the Head Clan are chosen.

Culture

Twi'leks join the personal name and clan (or family) name together. They use this as a way of symbolizing a way of togetherness. For example, Nawara Ven is said by fellow Twi'leks as Nawar'aven. When combining the names, Twi'leks make changes in the way in the name is pronounced in order to change the meaning of the words. For example, Twi'leks often pronounce Wedge Antilles' name as Wedg'antilles so that his name means "Slayer of Stars." Otherwise if they pronounced it in standard it would mean something so vile that it could induce vomiting in a Rancor. However, for those they cast out as criminals, the Twi'leks will break the individual's name into two distinct parts.

While many in the galaxy consider the Twi'leks as merchants or even criminals, the race does have a proud and honorable warrior tradition. The warriors invented the Chir'daki , or "Deathseed," star fighters that married the TIE fighter cockpit to the s-foils of the X-Wing fighter. During the Bacta War , Twi'lek warriors assisted Wedge Antilles in the fight against Isanne Ysard .

The Twi'leks use their head-tails, or lekku, when they speak their native tongue of Twi'leki. The language is a combination of physical and linguistic communication, with spoken word being supplemented by subtle twitches and moves from the lekku.

Twi'leks are omnivorous, eating cultivated molds and fungi, as well as meat from bovine animals called rycrits. They have a sly disposition of patience and adaptability. As the Twi'leks learned from evolving through the harsh storms of their world, strength does not always come from confrontation. Often, as a Twi'lek proverb says, "one cannot defeat a heat storm, one must ride it."

The Twi'leks have developed an industrial-level technology, with windmills and turbines providing power to their homes and industries carved into the Ryloth mountains. Each city complex is autonomous, and governed by a head-clan. Having no native space-faring technology, the Twi'leks instead rely upon neighboring systems (such as Tatooine), pirates, smugglers, and merchants for their contact with the galaxy.

The planet Ryloth provides the galaxy with ryll, a powerfully addictive recreational substance and mineral. Twi'leks have adapted to the criminal attention brought to their world by selling their own people into slavery. This way, the Twi'leks have something to give the criminals, and still retain control of the ryll mines. Unfortunately many Twi'leks, mostly female, bare the brunt of this despicable trade-off.

During the Galactic Civil War, the Twi'leks remained neutral, not wanting to become involved in the struggle. They viewed the Rebel Alliance and the Empire as two heat storms that would eventually dissipate. Only after the storm had cleared, could the opportunist Twi'leks emerge and prosper.

Among the colors that Twi'leks have appeared in are white (Lyn Me), blue or Rutian (like Sebulba's masseuses Ann and Tann Gella), green (Oola), red or Lethan, (Shakka). There have even been purple and orange Twi'lek as well.

Prominent Twi'leks

Following are prominent Twi'leks from both the movies and Expanded Universe.

Tol Sivron

Tol Sivron initially served as a member of the Head Clan in Twi'lek society. When chosen, it was expected that he would serve in the Head Clan for many years. However, about one year afterwards, another member of the Head Clan fell while inspecting a project, and impaled himself. Sivron and the three other members of the Head Clan were then cast out. Sivron convinced the three other members to pool their resources, and try to eke out a living in one of the nearby uninhabited caves.

While the other former Head Clan members slept, Sivron murdered all of them. He then took their supplies, and set out in a trek across the desert. Eventually he came upon an Imperial refueling station on Ryloth. He then met a young commander named Tarkin. Tarkin soon found that Sivron was an excellent manager of the complex business arrangements that Tarkin had.

Eventually, Tarkin named Tol Sivron to head up the research facilities at the Maw Installation. For over ten years, Sivron ran the facility that produced such weapons as the Death Star and Sun Crusher.

When the facility was invaded by New Republic forces, Sivron escaped with the other scientists on board the Death Star prototype that was in orbit around the facility. He took the weapon to Kessel, and used the superlaser to destroy the planet's moon, which proved the effectiveness of the weapon. He returned to the Maw Installation to destroy it rather than allow it to fall into Rebel hands. Sivron died when the Death Star prototype fell into one of the nearby black holes.

Nawara Ven

Another prominent Twi'lek from the Expanded Universe was Nawara Ven. Ven was originally trained as an attorney. However, he later became a member of Rogue Squadron, and was trained as an X-Wing pilot. Despite being a pilot, he was called upon to act as an attorney when he defended fellow squadron member Tycho Celchu against charges of murder and treason. Ven was twice shot out of his X-Wing when enemy TIE Fighters scored direct hits. While he had completely recovered after the first time he had to eject, during the second instance he lost his leg. As a result, he wasn't able to continue as a pilot. Later, Nawara Ven served as an officer on board the Errant Venture.

Tal'dira

Tal'dira was a Twi'lek warrior featured in the Expanded Universe. Tal'dira initially appeared in the Michael Stackpole book The Krytos Trap. He had served as a member of the small military force that Ryloth possessed. Later, he and 11 other warriors joined Wedge Antilles and the other Rogues in the war against the Bacta War and Isanne Isard. When the Rogues were invited back into the New Republic Armed Forces, Nawara Ven was unable to continue as a pilot due to injuries he sustained. As a result, Tal'dira was invited to join Rogue Squadron. It's not been revealed what Tal'dira's ultimate fate was.

Bib Fortuna

Bib Fortuna was a Twi'lek that had appeared in both the Phantom Menace and the Return of the Jedi. He had served as a majordomo to Jabba the Hutt for many years. Bib Fortuna was a member of the Una clan. At some point in the past, Bib Fortuna was found guilty of crimes and was cast out of Twi'lek society. It was noted that he preyed on other members of his society. He had captured and trained several dancers for Jabba the Hutt. After he was cast out Twi'leks then began breaking his name into two distinct parts "Bib Fortuna" when referring to him as a way of symbolizing that he was cast out.

Bib Fortuna accompanied Jabba the Hutt when he had taken Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca to the pit of the Sarlacc to be executed. Fortuna managed to escape before Jabba's sail barge exploded, but when he returned to the palace to take over, the mysterious B'omarr Monks who inhabited the cellars removed his brain from his body and placed it in a spider-like walker, much as the monks themselves used. Undeterred, Fortuna managed to keep several of his plots going, eventually managing to get his brain placed in the body of another Twi'lek, Firith Olan. Now with Olan's resources at his disposal, Fortuna has begun to rebuild Jabba's criminal empire.

Other Twi'leks

See also Oola, Aayla Secura, Mission Vao, Orn Free Taa .