Twilek

Twi'leks are humanoids easily distinguished by the twin tentacles that grow from their skulls. These prehensile appendages, known as "lekku" or "tchun-tchin," are advanced organs used for communication and cognitive functions and are thought to be errogenous zones. Rare variants have a single lekku or up to four. Each lekku is filled with muscles, and stored in the cells of the lekku were the Twi'lek's deepest memories. Twi'leks often use subtle twitches and flexings of their lekku as a form of communication. They have rows of pointed teeth, and close-set, pig-like eyes. Like humans, Twi'leks vary greatly in appearance and have a wide variety of skin colors ranging from pale white to bright green, blue or red.

Twi'leks speak Twi'leki, a language that combines verbal components with subtle head-tail movements. When they wish, they can even communicate in complete secrecy using their versatile head-tails.

Twi'leks' native planet is mountainous and located on the Outer Rim. Because of Ryloth's strange orbit, half of the world is trapped in perpetual darkness, while the other half remains scorched by the sun. The Twi'leks inhabit a thin band of twilight between these two extremes, living in sprawling catacomb cities just below the planet's surface. They have a relatively primitive industrial civilization, and survive on a diet of raw fungi and cow-like rycrits. Because Ryloth is relatively defenseless, the planet has long been the target of off-world slavers.

Culture

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, bear the brunt of this despicable trade-off.

Ryloth's harsh environment and turbulent history have forged Twi'leks into tough survivors. Generally nonviolent, they typically use their intelligence and cunning to achieve their goals or resolve conflicts. Noble Twi'leks may seem stoic or even aloof, while less scrupulous members of the species can be considered ruthless and manipulative.

Clans

Twi'leks adhere to a familial clan government organized around a series of head clans, each consisting of five members who are born into the position. Head clans are responsible for all community decisions, but the position also has a heavy price: When one member of a clan government dies, the remaining four leaders are exiled into Ryloth's uninhabitable Bright Lands, allowing the next generation of clan leaders to assume their rightful place. Religiously, the species worships a single female deity.

The members of the clan append their clan name to their given name; for example, Koh'shak. This combined name has a definite meaning, and subtle changes in pronunciation can be incurred by the addition of the clan name. The Twi'leki will often adapt the full name to indicate the true - or more flattering - actual name. One example it Nawara Ven. A member of the Ven clan, his full name should be Nawara'ven. However, when translated, this becomes "tarnished silver." His family adapted his full name to be Nawar'aven, which translates to "good speaker" (literally, "silver-tongued").

Twi'leks are intelligent and agile.

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