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Ryloth
Astrographical information
Region
Sector
System
Orbital position
Moons
Grid square
Trade routes
Rotation period
Orbital period
Physical information
Class
Diameter
Surface water
Points of interest
Other lifeforms
Societal information
Other species
Government
Major imports
Affiliation
Description[]
The night side of Ryloth was punctuated by diverse, luminescent forests of crystalline flora
Ryloth, the secondplanet in theRyloth system, possessed a thin, but breathableatmosphere. The planet wasorbited by fivemoons, which had subtle tidal effects on the planet's liquid core and underground springs. It had little or no surfacewater except for patches of water ice on the night side.
It was a planet of extremes: dry, rocky landscapes of deserts, mountain ranges with mist-covered peaks, shadowy valleys, alternated with snowy wastes, joined by lush temperate bands which concentrated much of its population.[4]
Because of its unusual day-night rotation period, atmospheric conditions on Ryloth's surface were characterized by turbulent seasons[4] and extremely high winds (reaching 500 kilometers per hour) scouring the surface and sculpting the landscape and unpredictable bursts of heat calledheat storms, which could reach 300 degrees Celsius. The more extreme heat storms sometimes moved across the terminator and reached miles underground, making caves near the surface temporarily uninhabitable, before eventually dying out on the night side.
Along the terminator lay a thin habitable border, a twilight realm between the two extremes. Along this narrow strip were the series of caverns where some of the Twi'leks decided to build their underground cities, blockaded with thick blast doors and portcullises to keep out the vicious monsters that prowled the Bright Lands, especiallylyleks.
TheFloating Rock Gardens of Ryloth were a natural wonder and tourist attraction, well known throughout the Outer Rim, where strong winds blew among the tunnels, causing rocks to float gently through the air. Over the years the gardens became filled with rare and dazzling stones. Visitors were allowed to rearrange the stones to their liking, but were encouraged to seek meaning in the natural configurations.
Kala'uun was a permanent city located within theLonely Five mountain range, boasting a large undergroundspaceport.
To people like Jerris Rudd like and others who have been to Ryloth and Tatooine they describe the planet being a little bit like Tatooine.
Fauna[]
A pair ofgutkurrs
Ryloth had several nativenon-sentient species, most of which were fierce and predatory for survival on a planet with such a harsh environment. Thelylek was easily the most dangerous predator native to Ryloth, with their hard shelledinsectoid bodies and sharp limbs and extremely strong tentacles. They were one of only a few creatures able to withstand the extreme temperatures of theBright Lands.
Thedoashim was another fierce predator that inhabited the dark subterranean caverns of Ryloth. They were horned, red-eyed, sharp-clawed and fanged creatures reminiscent of demons from the lore of many different sentient species across the galaxy. Thegutkurr were fast, two-legged creatures with hard-shelled carapaces with spines protruding from their backs. They were predatory creatures feared by the Twi'leks.
One of the few non-aggressive creatures of Ryloth was therycrit, which were short-furred quadrupeds kept as herd animals by the Twi'leks. They were raised for their hides, which could be used for clothing, and for their meat which was often used inrycrit stew.
History[]
Twi'leks flee aheat storm.
Ryloth was originally discovered byOld Republic explorers approximately 10,000 years before the onset of theClone Wars and was one of the first worlds discovered in the Outer Rim. Located at one end of theCorellian Run, it was one of the few worlds ofthe galaxy further from theGalactic Core thanTatooine.
Civilization on Ryloth at the time of its discovery was not particularly advanced. Twi'leks integrated windmills and turbines to power their homes and industries carved out of the mountains. The cultivation of fungi and molds provided nourishment for the populace, as did the rearing of the domesticated herd animalsrycrits for meat. Twi'leks never developedspace travel, but instead expanded throughout the galaxy by trading with the Republic, variously negotiating, charming, or seducing their way to the stars.
Life of enslavement[]
Theslave trade had been an everyday part of life on Ryloth for millennia and persisted long after its contact with the Republic sometime in10,000 BBY.[4] Dancing girls were especially prized, and as Twi'lek communities were established throughout the Republic and elsewhere, they found numerous eager markets. The slaves were often sold by 'contract,' as a feeble way of evading antislavery laws.
Female Twi'lek consorts and companions soon became a status symbol among the rich and the decadent throughout the Galactic Republic and eventually theGalactic Empire. The slave trade remained profitable all throughout Ryloth's history, and though the early slavers were Twi'leks, over the years many aliencrime lords migrated to Ryloth for a piece of the action.
Twi'leks of all professions eventually became a common, even ubiquitous, sight all over the galaxy, as businesspeople, servants, bodyguards,majordomos and slaves. Their near-Human appearance made them less a target of anti-alien prejudice than others during theImperial era.
TheAnx crime lordGraxol Kelvyyn had his headquarters on Ryloth shortly before the onset of the Clone Wars. He was known for having a vast slave-trading network that covered the Outer Rim and even reachedKidiet Olgo in the Galactic Core.
Prominent examples of Twi'lek slaves during the last days of the Republic and the Empire includedAnn Gella andTann Gella, twins owned bySebulba, andOola, owned byJabba the Hutt.
Ryll[]
The major export of Ryloth, and the product which sustained its early trade, was the mineral known asryll, a potentspice, discovered in4800 BBY, which wasmined and originally distributed for medicinal use. Ryll was found in 'blooms' in the rock rather than veins, typical of most ores. Miners placed their mines underneath the blooms and drilled up. Ryll's highly addictive nature and hallucinogenic properties also made it a favorite recreational substance among the scoundrels and decadent nobles of the galaxy. A particularly popular and addictive mixture wasglitteryll, a synthetic mixture of ryll andglitterstim which had a strong numbing effect on memory. Ryll and glitteryll were outlawed on most Republic worlds, but the demand was great enough to sustain a healthyblack market. Crime lords and slavers turned their attention to ryllsmuggling operations and began competing with legitimate miners. By the time of theJedi Civil War, mostlegitimate ryll mining operations were gone, leaving only the smugglers.
The exclusive distribution rights to ryll were temporarily seized by theNeimoidians around 4800 BBY. Though it was thought this might end the perilous illegal ryll trade, it had quite the opposite effect. Irresponsible distribution of the drug eventually led to theGank Massacres.
Jedi Knights on Ryloth[]
Tott Doneeta leading fellow Twi'leks away from a heat storm on Ryloth in3986 BBY
At one point, theGugal bloom decimated theforests of Ryloth.[10]
Around1002 BBY, theBrotherhood of Darkness operated aSith academy on the world that specialized in the training ofSith assassins.[16]
In the years before the Clone Wars,Anoon Bondara served asJedi Watchman of Ryloth, identifying Force-sensitive Twi'leks and sending them toCoruscant for training.
In46 BBY,[17]Jedi MasterTholme andQuinlan Vos were sent to Ryloth under orders to stop illegal animal smuggling. There they met a Force-sensitive infant Twi'lek namedAayla Secura. She was taken and later trained by Quinlan Vos.[18]
Later in32 BBY, Vos and Aayla, now hisPadawan, discovered an illegal glitteryll smuggling operation masterminded by Aayla's unclePol Secura,Bib Fortuna, andSenatorChom Frey Kaa, usingenergy spider eggs taken fromKessel. Using the mental abilities of theKiffarAsanté Vos and large doses of glitteryl, Pol Secura wiped their memories and kept Aayla as a dancer in his estate. Eventually, Vos recovered his memories and returned to Ryloth to retrieve his Padawan.[19]
Ryloth in the Republic[]
Ryloth entered into theGalactic Republic circa10,000 BBY.[4]
Ryloth was represented in theGalactic Senate by SenatorsConnus Trell andOrn Free Taa, who succeeded the controversialChom Frey Kaa. Senator Free Taa, a strongLoyalist, kept Ryloth under the Republic's protection by supporting most ofSupreme ChancellorPalpatine's decrees, including theMilitary Creation Act.
Clone Wars[]
During theClone Wars, Ryloth was invaded by theConfederacy of Independent Systems and was used to house a largedroid reclamation facility under the eye ofWat Tambor. At first the Republic Garrison, under the command ofJedi GeneralIma-Gun Di andClone Capt.Keeli fought the droids alongsideTwi'lek freedom fighters under Gen.Cham Syndulla to protect the refugees. Unfortunately, supplies were running low and the droid army was closing in on their position. When a Republic fleet under AdmiralDao failed to make it past theRyloth blockade, Gen. Di decided to sacrifice himself and his command to buy the Twi'leks time to escape. Though Gen. Di and his command perished, supplies sent fromToydaria reached the refugees.[20] After the droids took control of Ryloth, the Twi'leks were taken captive and some were used as human shields for the droid army. The seizure was officially protested bySenatorOrn Free Taa, and public opinion on Ryloth itself was bitterly divided. Thebattle was short, but Ryloth's towns were left heavily damaged bydroid bombers. Eventually, the planet became the site of a battle in19 BBY during theOuter Rim Sieges.
Galactic Empire[]
The anti-alien prejudice of the Galactic Empire was clear to the inhabitants of Ryloth.Human High Culture thought little of aliens, but Ryloth shrewdly played the role of loyal servant to the Empire, while quietly and unobtrusively aiding theRebel Alliance. These were dark times for the Twi'leks, however, as even members of the most influential clans were enslaved, losing all their property and influence to entertain and see to the needs of Imperial bureaucrats andgovernors.
For a time, roughly the same year as theBattle of Yavin, the Rebellion operated a base on Ryloth. It was located byViper probe droids, prompting an attack by an Imperial task force, which infiltrated and wiped out the installation, despite strong resistance from the Rebels and even from immigrantJawas.
During this time, theZann Consortium owned a secretConsortium palace on Ryloth.[14]
In5 BBYGrand MoffWilhuff Tarkin established a refueling outpost on Ryloth, using Twi'lek slave labor, and recruited native Twi'lekTol Sivron to administer the outpost now calledMaw Installation.[21]
In2 ABY,Tyneir Renz,Padija Anjeri,Nikaede Celso, andDrake Paulsen brought the crystal skull of Twi'lekJediNewar Forrth to the Rebel base onDerora. Renz presented the skull to theNercathi clan on Ryloth to persuade them to join the Alliance.[22][23]
After the Empire[]
Kala'uun Starport on Ryloth
Following theBattle of Endor in4 ABY, Ryloth became a member of theAlliance of Free Planets. However, after it was liberated from the Empire, Ryloth chose not to join theNew Republic right away. Later,Wedge Antilles andWinter would journey to Ryloth in search of a fugitive Twi'lek, and had to compete with a group of Imperials in a rigged race.[24]
AfterRogue Squadron went to Ryloth in6 ABY to get ryll to help heal theKrytos virus, Twi'lek pilots joined Wedge Antilles and former pilots of Rogue Squadron in fightingYsanne Isard in theBacta War. Due to theirryll kor scams against the New Republic, theShak clan was discredited.[25]
Shortly after that, the Twi'lekNolaa Tarkona engineered a revolution that overthrew the ruling clans. She then assumed control of Ryloth and founded theanti-HumanDiversity Alliance. However, in24 ABY, the Diversity Alliance's efforts to launch a war against Humans was foiled. Following that, the planet was represented in theNew Republic Senate byKur[26] and later byCola Quis.[27] During theYuuzhan Vong War, the planet was a valuable member of the New Republic and the subsequentGalactic Alliance. During theSecond Imperial Civil War it was part of theGalactic Alliance Remnant.[4]
Behind the scenes[]
Ryloth inThe Essential Atlas
The PC gameStar Wars: Rebellion mistakenly places Ryloth in theOrus sector, which is actually asector located in theInner Rim. Additionally,Rebellion's in-game encyclopedia entry for Ryloth erroneously states that most of the planet's inhabitants live in perpetual darkness on the side of the world that eternally faces away from its sun.
Despite Ryloth's lack of rotation in earlier portrayals, the Ryloth story arc in thefirst season ofStar Wars: The Clone Wars instead shows day and night on the planet, as well as a mention of its "planetary rotation." This was later confirmed as aretcon rather than an error inThe Essential Atlas, although the planet was still mentioned to have harsh environmental conditions.[4]
The Twi'lek cities built within caverns have been compared to real-life locations such as theAnasazi people ruins ofMesa Verde National Park in south-westernColorado, which were discovered by two cowboys in 1887.[28]
Appearances[]
Non-canon appearances[]
Path of the Jedi onCartoonNetwork.com(backup link) (original site is defunct)(Mentioned only)
Sources[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑1.01.1Star Wars: Empire at War: Prima Official Game Guide
- ↑
Star Wars: The Essential Atlas Online Companion onStarWars.com(article) (backup link) - ↑3.003.013.023.033.043.053.063.073.083.093.103.113.123.133.143.153.163.173.183.193.203.21Geonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds
- ↑4.004.014.024.034.044.054.064.074.084.094.104.114.124.134.144.154.164.174.184.194.204.21The Essential Atlas
- ↑Empire 20
- ↑According to bothGeonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds andThe Essential Atlas, Ryloth is the onlyplanet in theRyloth system that isorbited bymoons. Consequently, thisunidentified moon must be in orbit around Ryloth.
- ↑7.07.1Lords of Nal Hutta
- ↑8.08.1Galactic Campaign Guide
- ↑9.09.1Star Wars: The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia
- ↑10.010.1
Star Wars: The Old Republic — Bioanalysis Crew Skill mission: "Aboreal Armageddon" - ↑The New Jedi Order: The Final Prophecy
- ↑Star Wars: The Old Republic: Rise of the Hutt Cartel
- ↑The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons
- ↑14.014.1Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
- ↑"Oblivion's Kiss" – Living Forcecampaign
- ↑Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
- ↑The Official Jan Duursema Discussion Thread(post by Jan_Duursema) on theJedi Council Forums' Literature board (September 25,2003):"Aayla was 2 when Quin and Tholme found her on Ryloth. Quin was 11. So there's 9 years difference in age. Quin is Obi-Wan's age--which I think was stated as 25 during Ep I. So Aayla would be 16 at the time of Ep I."(backup link)(Note: In response to a question directed to Jan Duursema byBilly Buehler (aka The2ndQuest) on theJedi Council Forums, Jan Duursema explained that Aayla "would have been about 10" & "Quin about 19" during the flashback sequence inJedi: Aayla Secura depicting Quinlan Vos taking Aayla as his Padawan.)
- ↑Jedi: Aayla Secura
- ↑Star Wars: Twilight
- ↑Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Supply Lines"
- ↑Champions of the Force
- ↑ "Idol Intentions" —Star Wars Adventure Journal 12
- ↑ The Dark Forces Saga, Part 4 onWizards.com(backup link) (original site is defunct)
- ↑Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: Battleground: Tatooine
- ↑X-Wing: The Krytos Trap
- ↑Young Jedi Knights: The Emperor's Plague
- ↑The New Jedi Order: Destiny's Way
- ↑Star Wars Kids (1997) 20
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