Tchuukthai
Homeworld	Unknown; a closely guarded secret
Language	Tchuukthese
Height of average adult	2 meters at the shoulder when on all fours, 3 meters when standing
Distinctions	semi-mythical, ceratopsian quadrupeds
Members	Gaarx Thon

[Source]

Tchuukthai, also called Wharls, were sapient ceratopsian quadrupeds from the Unknown Regions. They had bristly fur on their shoulders and back, while natural armor plating covered their head, joints, and vital organs. Even where there was no armor, their skin was thick and leathery, offering natural protection. Those that had dealings with other species generally wore clothing, while others did not.

The Tchuukthai were considered semi-mythical non-sentient creatures for millennia. The Tchuukthai encouraged, and possibly propagated, this view with displays of bestial ferocity that discouraged explorers and curious visitors. Their quadrupedal nature and inability to speak Basic with their fang-filled mouths only reinforced the misconception. A number of famous love poems were composed by Tchuukthai, although they translated poorly into Basic.

A Jedi Master befriended the Tchuukthai later known as Thon, who was instructed in the Jedi arts and eventually became a Jedi Master himself around the time of the Great Sith War. Thon's nature was unknown even to most Jedi for millennia, though it's possible others of the species left (or were taken from their unknown homeworld as captive beasts) into the galaxy.

The Tchuukthai were, at least, aware of the Lugubraa, as they were credited with naming the Lugubraa's place of origins, the Stratos Distribution.

Bureaucrats from the Galactic Republic Bureau of Xenology labeled Thon a "Wharl", though the Jedi Master declined to refute or acknowledge the designation or any other speculation as to his origins.

The Tchuukthai were generally quite thoughtful, and although they would often put on displays of ferocity for outsiders, disdained fighting. Some enjoyed meeting outsiders while others preferred to be left alone.

Common Tchuukthai namesEdit

• Bval
• Drol
• Gaarx
• Huun
• Nrak
• Tkur
• Zvod

Behind the scenesEdit

The first mention of the Tchuukthai, by that name, was in The Courtship of Princess Leia in 1994, in a brief reference to Tchuukthai poetry. Previously, in the Tales of the Jedi miniseries, the character Thon had appeared without a given species name. Tales of the Jedi Companion identified him as a "Wharl" in 1996. At this point Dan Wallace had already contemplated making Thon's species the Tchuukthai, and when Wallace wrote The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons in 1998, he retconned the Wharls and Tchuukthai as the same species.^[1]

The Tchuukthai were based on the dinosaur Triceratops.

AppearancesEdit

• Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic (First appearance) (Retcon)
• Tales of the Jedi (audio) (Retcon)
• Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising 1 (Retcon)
• Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising 2: Initiates of the Sith (Mentioned only) (Retcon)
• Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith 1: Masters and Students of the Force (Mentioned only) (Retcon)
• Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith (audio) (Retcon)
• Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith 3: Descent to the Dark Side (Retcon)
• Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith 4: Death of a Dark Jedi (Mentioned only) (Retcon)
• Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith 6: Jedi Assault (Retcon)
• Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War 4: Jedi Holocaust (Retcon)
• Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War 5: Brother Against Brother (Retcon)
• Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War 6: Dark Lord (Retcon)
• Tales of the Jedi: Redemption (Retcon)
• The Courtship of Princess Leia (First mentioned before retcon)

SourcesEdit

• Tales of the Jedi Companion (Retcon)
• The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons (Ambria entry)
• Power of the Jedi Sourcebook
• The New Essential Chronology (Mentioned only)
•  Ultimate Alien Anthology Web Enhancement on Wizards.com (original article link, backup links on Archive.org)
•  Star Wars Galaxy Series 4 (Card: Amy Pronovost sketch card)
• Jedi Academy Training Manual
• The Unknown Regions (As Wharls)

Notes and referencesEdit