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Rodian

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Rodian

Biological classification

Designation

Sentient^[1]

Classification

Reptilian^[2]

Physical characteristics

Average height

1.75meters^[3]

Skin color

Blue^[4]
Green^[1]
Orange^[4]
Red^[5]
Turquoise^[6]
Yellow^[7]

Eye color

Blue^[2]
Black^[2]
Green^[8]
Purple^[2]
Red^[9]

Distinctions

Large and round pupil-lesseyes^[2]
Snouts^[2]
Pointed ears^[2]
Antennae^[2]
Scaled and usually green skin^[2]

Sociocultural characteristics

"Aliens are always a problem. Especially Rodians. Those little slimeballs are the scourge of the galaxy. Can't do honest business anymore without ending up with a Rodian bounty hunter on your tail."

―A Kaldana Syndicate pirate, to Han,Qi'ra, andTsuulo^[13]

Rodians werereptilian humanoids native to theplanet Rodia. During theClone Wars, Rodia was represented bySenator Onaconda Farr in theGalactic Republic'ssenate.He briefly sided with theTrade Federation during the war, under the promise offood and protection frompirates. Rodia was betrayed, and fell back in line with the Republic. A number of Rodians acted asbounty hunters, includingGreedo andJakoli. Greedo was an amateur eventuallykilled by thesmuggler Han Solo, while Jakoli was a skilledbounty hunter who only killed his targets. Some Rodians also worked asinformants, such asTsoklo, who worked for theGalactic Empire.

Biology and appearance[]

"He's sorry to be a bother. But Rodians don't do so well with the cold apparently? Something about the Rodian homeworld being hot, I dunno, he's not making much sense."

―Han Solo, onTsuulo^[13]

Flestic Crupp, a Rodian with a muscular build

Rodians were aspecies ofreptilian humanoids. They possessed large pupil-lesseyes that could see ininfrared spectrum.^[14] Indeed, thePantoran Kevmo Zink suspected the Rodians andhis people saw different spectrums of light, but he was not sure what the exact divide was.^[15] They also had twin saucer-likeantennae that detected vibrations^[14] and twitched^[15] atop their head. Rodians had slendersnouts, pointedears, and a ridge of spines cresting theirskulls.^[14] Their snouts were said to resemble those oftapirs.^[16]

Green—but sometimes red, yellow, or turquoise—scales covered their bodies, and their skin had a rough, pebbly texture, except on the snout andhands. They were coldblooded and had green blood.^[17] Females were physically distinguished by their mammary glands, and some of them, likeGreeata Jendowanian, were capable of growing longtresses.^[18] The Rodian hand featured five long, dexterous fingers with suction cups at the ends.^[14] The pads helped them cope with the variety of conditions associated with living in aswamp, and could be used to help them climb aquaticvegetation.^[11] The shape of the Rodian hand, however, was as such that if an object was designed for their species, it would be uncomfortable for ahuman to use.^[19] Their toes were a lot like their fingers: long and tipped by suction cups.^[13]

Although they wereoxygen breathers, Rodians could breathe an air saturated withClouzon-36 without the assistance of arespirator.^[20] Rodians smelled rank to humans.^[21]

Society and culture[]

, a Rodian who competed in . — Skora, a Rodianchemist who competed inHunters of the Outer Rim.

Rodians spoke thelanguages Rodian^[12] andGalactic Basic Standard.^[6] Rodians greeted or showed respect to others with a salute consisting of an open-palmed hand across the chest, either with one or both arms. Before theGalactic Civil War, it was common for groups of Rodians to huntghests, slithering creatures that preyed on Rodians, though there were often casualties. Rodians were self-aware, and some Rodians usedperfume to create a pleasant environment for humans.^[21]

Rodia'sjungles fostered an idealization ofhunting in Rodian culture. Many unqualified rookies becamebounty hunters to gain respect and accolades.^[7]

History[]

Ancient history and Republic Era[]

"You speak of friendship I have notwitnessed of late. Where was the Republic when our supply ships were destroyed by pirates? Where was the Republic as my peoplestarved? We... have been stranded out here withoutany help at all. I know it is not your fault, but my people starved all the same."

―Onaconda Farr, to Padmé Amidala during the Separatist takeover on Rodia — 20?cb=20250116042720

Link ▶️(file info)^[6]

Rodians evolved on theplanet Rodia. At some point in their past, a faction of Rodians was known to have made war with another faction on Rodia. Eventually, one of the factions made a pilgrimage to thestars and created a settlement onMaldroth, where they used the stories of the war as a cautionary tale to promote peace amongst themselves.^[22] The Rodians eventually joined theGalactic Republic and spread acrossthe galaxy.^[23]Jabba theHutt, acrime lord, employed various Rodians as bounty hunters, including one namedGreedo. Rodia eventually received representation in theGalactic Senate by means ofSenator Onaconda Farr. He eventually made friends withRuwee Naberrie, a senator fromNaboo, and worked closely with him. Eventually, the senator's daughter,^[24]Padmé Amidala, became the senator for Naboo.^[25]

A Rodian Jedi Knight wielding two lightsabers

During theClone Wars, Rodia'sspace vessels were attacked bypirates, leaving the Rodian people impoverished and starving for offworldfood. Farr, distressed by his people's suffering, appealed to the Republic for aide, but received none. Desperate, he turned to theTrade Federation and made a deal with theirviceroy,Nute Gunray, who was to deliver supplies to Rodia in exchange for control of the planet and Senator Amidala, who was an enemy of Gunray's. Amidalawent to Rodia in an attempt to work out her own deal, but was captured by Gunray'sbattle droids. As the situation progressed, Farr had second thoughts and sided back with Amidala. Gunray was later fooled into thinking a Jedi was attacking his forces, who in actuality was the bumblingGungan Jar Jar Binks. The viceroy admitted to Farr that he had brought no provisions for the Rodian people with him. Gunray was eventually arrested by the Republic,^[6] only to escape at a later date.^[26] Farr was later murdered during the war by hisaide Lolo Purs, who blamed him for bringing the war to Rodia.^[27]

Imperial Era and beyond[]

When Rodia was brought into theGalactic Empire's fold, many Rodians opposed the Empire and as such, many were recruited by theAlliance to Restore the Republic.^[28] During theGalactic Civil War, theBetu continent of Rodia was ruled by theChattza clan. It was opposed by theChekkoo clan. Shortly after theBattle of Yavin,Luke Skywalker went on amission to recruit the Chekkoo clan into the Rebel Alliance.^[19] Rodia would go onto join theNew Republic forged by the Rebellion after its great victory over the Empire at theBattle of Endor, with the RodianDor Wieedo representing the planet in theNew Republic Senate by the time of theBattle of Jakku that formally ended theGalactic Civil War with Imperial defeat.^[29]

Rodians in the galaxy[]

«Going somewhere, Solo?»

―Greedo, to Han Solo — 20?cb=20250116042720

Link ▶️(file info)^[30]

During theHigh Republic Era, achild Rodian namedHallisara was aLittle within thePath of the Open Hand cult on the planetDalna. While within the town ofFerdan with her fellow Littles under the care ofMarda Ro, Hallisara met theJedi Padawan Kevmo Zink, who let the child touch hislightsaber, although he was unsure if she would see the colors the same as him, before the cult learned he was aForce user.^[15]

Four Rodians in a cantina, among other aliens.

Greedo was a Rodian bounty hunter active during both the Clone Wars^[17] and the Galactic Civil War, who eventually met his end at the hands ofHan Solo on the planetTatooine.^[31]Jakoli was a bounty hunter hired byCount Dooku during the Clone Wars, who died during a subsequenttest in theBox.^[32] Jakoli had a reputation of only taking assignments where he was allowed tokill his target.^[7]Tsoklo was a Rodian who lived on the planet Lothal, and worked as afactory worker. He doubled as aninformant working for the Galactic Empire, reporting toSupply Master Yogar Lyste on the activities of rule-breaking citizens or unproductive workers.^[33] Some Rodians, likeBolla Ropal, weresensitive tothe Force. Ropal was aJedi Master who acted as the keeper of theKyber memory crystal. He was murdered by the bounty hunterCad Bane.^[34] Another Rodian Jedi,Huulik, was killed as a result ofOrder 66.^[19] At leastone Rodian was a member ofEnfys Nest'sCloud-Riders and fought alongside her onSavareen.^[35]

Rodians also made it as far asLothal, where a number of them worked for theGalactic Empire. Some of these Rodians lived inLothal re-settlement camp 43, nicknamed "Tarkintown," which housedfarmers who had been dispossessed by the Empire.^[36]Tseebo was a Rodian who worked for theImperial Information Office,^[37] although after stealing a large amount of Imperial data he tried to escape the Empire, and was eventuallyrescued by aband of rebels.^[38] Another Lothal Rodian,Frid Kelio, playedgrav-ball for theAppSci SaberCats inCapital City.^[39]

Behind the scenes[]

"There were several Greedo-type aliens in the cantina and Mos Eisley scenes, all dressed identically. Production notes nicknamed Greedo's alien species "Martians," since the bug-eyed green-skinned suction cup-fingered alien fit many a Martian cliché. That name would never do for Star Wars, which is set in a distant galaxy with no Mars. A 1978 memo established Greedo as one of the Graffties, a species of bipeds whose name may be a corruption of American Graffiti, in reference to Lucasfilm's other big hit of the era. In 1989, that name had been forgotten, and Galaxy Guide 1 established Greedo as a Rodian. Since then, "Rodian" has been adopted not only by the expanded universe, but also the production team that often uses the correct alien name in indentifying the many Rodian extras seen in the prequels."

―Star Wars authorPablo Hidalgo, on the development of the Rodian species after Greedo and more Rodians appeared inA New Hope^[40]

Rodians were created for the1977 filmStar Wars: Episode IVA New Hope, the first installment of theStar Warsoriginal trilogy.^[31] The Rodians' gigantic dark eyes, dual antennae, and suction-cupped fingertips evokedaliens of old science-fiction classics.^[21] Costume DesignerJohn Mollo's sketches for the three Rodians present in theMos Eisley Cantina referred to them as "Martians." At one time, the Rodian masks were to fit a four-armed body, which would eventually be known as aMorseerian, but the heads were switched before filming.^[41] Although the terms "Rodian" and "Rodia" were first developed for theStar Wars Legends roleplaying sourcebookGalaxy Guide 1: A New Hope in1989,^[42] the name stuck, and saw its way into production for theprequel trilogy.^[41]

DirectorGeorge Lucas called upon sound desginerBen Burtt to come up with a voice for Greedo, the first Rodian inStar Wars. LinguistLarry Ward provided the voiceover, and it was Burtt's job to make the voice interesting. At first, the word "oink" was going to be manipulated with "the right rhythm and electrical equipment" to make a bizarre-sounding language, but they were unhappy with the result. Burtt and aUC Berkeley grad student went through multiple languages including theQuechua, and they created their own. A combination of multiple languages paired with expert editing were used to create Greedo's voice.^[21]