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Togruta

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Togruta
Homeworld

Shili

Language

Togruti

Average height

1.5 - 1.9 meters

Skin color

Red, white, orange, blue[source?] and purple[1]

Distinctions

Montrals, head-tails

Average lifespan

Up to 94 standard years[2]

Famous members
[Source]

The Togruta were a humanoid species from the planet Shili. The race exhibited head-tails which were similar to those of Twi'leks, perhaps suggesting a common ancestry. Togruta were also distinguished by montrals, large hollow horn-like projections from the top of their heads, that gave the species a form of passive echolocation.

In order to protect themselves from dangerous predators, and to hunt their own prey, Togruta banded together in dense tribes and relied on their natural pigmentation to disrupt and confuse the slow-witted beasts. Togruta worked well in large groups, and individualism was seen as abnormal within their culture, although it was also a necessary quality in leaders.

Contents

[edit] Biology and appearance

Ashla, a Togruta youngling

Togruta had rusty skin tones ranging in hue from orange to red, with white pigmentation on their faces[3], and greyish lips.[4] White stripes also adorned various parts of their bodies, including their chests, legs, backs, arms, lekku (head-tails), and montrals.[4] The pattern of stripes varied from individual to individual. This red and white pattern was a phenotype left over from their ancestor's camouflage that helped them to blend in with their natural surroundings, especially the red-and-white turu-grass which dominated Shili's scrublands.

Their heads bore two montrals, and three (rarely four[5][6]) head-tails, whose stripes were darker than those of the montrals.[4] Togruta had the ability to sense the proximity and movement of physical objects around them by means of their hollow montrals, which detected space ultrasonically. Young Togrutas' montrals and posterior head-tail did not fully grow until adolescence, when their montrals become curved and their third head-tail grew to the length of their two main head-tails.[7]

As predators, Togruta had sharp canine teeth, which they used to painlessly kill thimiars, their primary prey, causing the creatures postmortem death spasms. This gave outsiders the false impression that Togruta were venomous. However, Togrutas did nothing to dispel this misconception and even took advantage of the intimidating presence it gave them.

[edit] Culture

Shaak Ti, a notable Togruta Jedi

Togruta had a strong sense of unity and togetherness. On their native homeworld of Shili, they relied on each other and would band together to take a stand against the massive monsters that hunted them, such as the akul. It is said that the creatures of Shili most often attacked in groups, which was even more reason for the native Togruta to work together.[4]

While most of Shili was covered in the scrublands where the Togruta hunted their herbivorous prey, the Togruta lived in small communities in the forest valleys, where the canopies kept them out of sight.[4]

Togruta were known for their habit of not wearing shoes; they believed that the land was spiritually connected to them, and wearing shoes cut themselves from a bond with the land. In the pack, every able Togruta was expected to contribute his or her own share, as any food attained was distributed equally. Togruta were also known for their belief that those who could not keep up should be left to fend for themselves, because that is nature's way. Other sentient species found this particular belief quite inhumane. Those within a pack who led had a difficult time with fulfilling their goals because of the risk of becoming individualistic. As hunters, the Togruta showed off the pelts and teeth of their game as a sign of pride and maturation. Ironically, special pride was taken in the teeth of akul that a Togruta had taken down as an individual. These teeth often were made into jewelry such as an akul-tooth headdress or a necklace, which also incorporated metals, stones, and pearls found on Shili.[4] Other Togruta, such as Shaak Ti, wore the Togruta sash with their Jedi apparel.[3] Togruta spoke the Togruti language, which had a few elements of Basic.[8]

[edit] Personality

Togruta were tranquil and silent, though when the situation called for it they were true warriors. Their fidelity to their beliefs was legendary, as was their happiness within large groups. Togrutas, not surprisingly, excelled at teamwork and the ability to associate with different cultures. To an extent, Togruta had an aversion to isolation and made efforts to have friends around for companionship.

[edit] History

The Togruta were discovered by 25,000 BBY. At some point in their history they established a major pacifist colony on the planet Kiros. Togruta as a whole possessed a special affinity for the Force, though they had slightly less than the normal number of midi-chlorians. It was believed that this affinity was produced from their heightened spatial awareness imparted by their montrals and their role as hunters. Their sense of spiritual connection with the land also heightened their connection with the environment, thus leading to a greater ability to feel the Force. The species had contributed members to the Jedi Order practically since its beginning. A majority of the Togruta species within the Jedi Order were females, though males were not unheard of[4].

[edit] Togruta in the galaxy

Ahsoka Tano, a teenage Togruta

One of the earliest known Togruta in the Jedi Order was Jedi Master Raana Tey, a member of the Jedi Covenant, who participated in the Padawan Massacre of Taris early in the Mandalorian Wars.[9]

During the Clone Wars one of the most well known Togruta was Shaak Ti, a member of the Jedi High Council, who participated in many of the battles during the war. Ti was one of the few survivors of the Battle of Geonosis and helped save Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Padmé Amidala from execution.[10] Shaak Ti also protected Chancellor Palpatine, though she was unable to prevent his capture by General Grievous.[11] Ti survived Order 66 and went into exile on Felucia where she trained her apprentice Maris Brood[12]. Another Togruta Jedi during the Clone Wars was Ahsoka Tano, the Padawan of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker[13].

Other Togruta padawans during the Clone Wars were Ashla, a member of the Bear Clan trained by Yoda[10], Deran Nalual, a Padawan that survived the initiation of Order 66[14], and Codi Ty, a male Togruta who saved a number of younglings from General Grevious, though he was expelled for seeking vengeance[5].

Records indicated that there were no known Togruta within the early New Jedi Order, though at least one youngling survived the Massacre at Ossus[15] along with a male Togruta who was a Hidden Temple Jedi.[16]

[edit] Behind the scenes

It is not yet explained why some Togruta have all-black eyes (Shaak Ti, Ashla) and others have irises (Ahsoka Tano, the Togruta in The New Essential Guide to Alien Species).

[edit] Appearances

[edit] Non-canon appearances

[edit] Sources

Wookieepedia has a collection of images related to Togruta.
Togruta concept art.

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic, Threat of Peace Act 2: New Galactic Order
  2. ↑ The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star Wars: General Grievous
  6. ↑ Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Knights of Suffering
  7. ↑ The Clone Wars: The Visual Guide
  8. ↑ Ultimate Alien Anthology
  9. ↑ Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Commencement
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
  11. ↑ Labyrinth of Evil
  12. ↑ Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
  13. ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)
  14. ↑ Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
  15. ↑ Star Wars Legacy 1: Broken, Part 1
  16. ↑ Star Wars Legacy 26: The Hidden Temple, Part 2
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