Wookiee
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| Wookiee | |
| Homeworld | Nominally Kashyyyk; may have originated on an unknown world |
| Language | Shyriwook, Xaczik, Thykarann |
| Average Height | 2.1 meters |
| Hair color | Different shades of black, brown, and white in varying combinations |
| Distinctions | Tall, hair covered, retractable climbing claws, long life spans |
| Known Members | List of known Wookiees |
Contents
Biology and appearance
Wookiees are an anthropoid species native to the planet Kashyyyk. Wookiee directly translates into People of the Trees. Wookiees are tall, strong and covered by soft, thick fur making them very hardy. Most Wookiees have been stereotyped as being ferocious opponents, but loyal friends. The average member of this species grows to over two meters in height and has a much longer life expectancy than a human averaging out at around six hundred years. Wookiees also have impressive regenerative abilities that allow them to recover from injury at a remarkable rate.
As tree dwellers, Wookiees have wickedly curved claws that pop from hidden fingertip sheaths with the flex of a muscle. With the aid of these claws and their strong limbs, Wookiees can travel through the upper reaches of the great wroshyr trees of their home world, clinging to vines and branches with agile ease.
Reportedly, Wookiees were descended from tree-climbing mammals.
Adult Wookiees were tall, in excess of two meters in height, and were covered with a uniform, mid-length coat of thick hair in various shades of brown. Although albino Wookiees were rare, they were not unheard of. However, such a birth was generally held to be a bad omen, as white hair did not blend in with the earth-tones of their forest surroundings.
Young Wookiees (pups) were large at birth (averaging slightly less than one meter). Female Wookiees had six breasts and gave birth to live-born young, with their gestation period nearly a year long. After birth, a Wookiee grew very fast, fully conscious and able to walk unassisted within one standard year. The average lifespan of Wookiees was around 600 years. In spite of their bestial appearance, Wookiees were highly intelligent and had mastered advanced technology, including hyperspace travel. Wookiees also possessed exceptional skill in mechanical repair. An old saying was "Give a Wookiee a knife and send him into a forest in the morning, and by evening he would have carved you a table to eat dinner on - and a house to put it in."
Wookiees were also among the variety of species that could develop asthma.
Society and culture
While feared as opponents, Wookiees employ no obvious fighting style. They seem to simply charge forward, arms swinging, shattering whatever they hit with their huge, powerful fists. They also are known to use Ryyk Blades, which they are the creators of, to complement this style. Wookiees never use their claws in combat. They consider their claws tools, to use them in combat is considered a serious breach of the Wookiee code of honor. Wookiees who have used their claws in combat have been labeled as a "Mad Claw" and exiled.
Their fierce fighting style served as the basis of the Deal-slang expression "wookinate" which referred to the rendering harmless an enemy using excessive force, obviously referring to the great physical strength that provided the essence of Wookiee combat.
Shyriiwook, the Wookiee language, is made up of grunts and growls. They can understand other languages, but their limited vocal ability makes it impossible for them to speak anything other than their own language. Most Wookiees who have left their home planet have overcome this problem by using a translation droid. On Kashyyyk, Wookiees live in cities situated high within giant trees. Though they appear to be primitive in nature, they are quite comfortable with high technology, combining natural features with modern conveniences.
Wookiees have a primitive patriarchy with a complicated lineage structure, initiation rites, and a religion that rejects materialism. One of the most important Wookiee customs is Life Day, wherein extended Wookiee families gather and celebrate a day of joy and harmony, as promised by the Tree of Life. Even the Imperial blockade could not keep Wookiees from recognizing this most important day. Wookiees greatly value morality, courage, compassion and loyalty. A sacred and ancient Wookiee tradition is that of the honor family. An honor family comprises a Wookiee's closest friends and companions. These family members pledge a commitment to lay down their lives for one another, as well as members of any honor families these individuals may have. Like the similarly sacred Wookiee life debt, Wookiees extend this tradition to members outside their species. Sadly these life debts have caused trouble for some Wookiees. Some people do not respect the Wookiee and abuse their life debts. This has led to some Wookiees being enslaved by their own culture.
Wookiees were often short-tempered. Despite their temper and great strength, Wookiees were usually gentle and affectionate with their friends and family. Around the age of twelve, young Wookiees underwent the coming-of-age Hrrtayyk ceremony.
History
The Wookiees are believed to have originated on the planet Kashyyyk, part of the Kashyyyk system, though some of their lore seemed to claim otherwise. In the millennia before the rise of the Galactic Republic, Kashyyyk was a member world of the Infinite Empire. Its surface was terraformed by the Rakata for agricultural purposes, but the collapse of their empire left the machines unattended, resulting in the abnormally large foliage.
Later, Kashyyyk was discovered by Czerka Corporation, which enslaved the native Wookiees. They named the planet first "G5-623" and then, after a poll of stockholders, "Edean". Czerka control of "Edean" was disrupted when, in 3,956 BBY, the enslaved Wookiee populace overthrew the local corporate headquarters and drove all outsiders off the planet. It was presumably some time after this before Kashyyyk decided to join the Galactic Republic.
The Wookiees were welcomed into the Republic through dealings with the Corellians and Alderaanians. At least one Wookiee became part of the Jedi Order. Eventually, Kashyyyk was even represented in the Galactic Senate.
Known Wookiees
Accomplishments
See also
References: [1] - http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Wookiee
