Star Wars Universe Roleplaying Game

Jawa

Jawas are short, hooded scavengers native to the desert world of Tatooine. To offworlders they are half-myth and half-menace: small figures with glowing eyes, reeking cloaks, and an uncanny ability to appear the moment a droid, engine, or starship part hits the sand. Beneath their rough reputation as thieves and junk peddlers lies a surprisingly complex culture built on salvage, barter, and the harsh realities of life under twin suns.

Moving in extended tribes that roam the Dune Sea in towering sandcrawlers, Jawas survive by stripping the wastes of every usable scrap of technology. They pick battlefields clean, crack open wrecked transports, and quietly unbolt gear from unwatched moisture farms, then sell their "finds" back to desperate homesteaders. Trade is less about credits and more about survival and status—Jawas keep meticulous track of favors owed, promises made, and who got the better end of a deal. Shamans, elders, and clan leaders guide each tribe, interpreting omens in sandstorms, machinery failures, and the ever-shifting fortunes of the desert.

Though many outsiders see them as vermin or pests, Jawas are clever, observant, and surprisingly brave when backed by a clan or driven into a corner. They prefer sabotage, traps, and stealth over direct confrontation, and would rather disable a target’s equipment than fight them outright. Player-character Jawas bring a mix of comic chaos and sharp practicality to an adventuring group: expert tinkerers who can coax life from half-dead hardware, vanish into the sand with an armful of parts, and trade information or scavenged gear in places where proper mechanics and supply chains simply don’t exist.

Home Planet: Tatooine, a harsh desert world in the Outer Rim
Physical Description: Jawas are small, slight humanoids usually around 1.0 meter tall, almost never seen without their iconic brown, hooded cloaks and layered wraps. Their garments are soaked in pungent oils and sealants to preserve precious body moisture, giving them a notoriously sour smell. Beneath the cloth, Jawas are slight, rodent-like beings with tiny hands and feet, well-adapted to scrambling over scrap and rocky terrain. Their most distinctive feature is their glowing orange eyes, shielded behind dim lenses that protect them from Tatooine’s blinding sunlight and allow them to see well in the dark.

Average Height: 1.0 meter
Average Weight: 20–25 kilograms
Age of Adulthood: 15 standard years

Personality & Customs: Jawas are cautious, opportunistic, and intensely communal. They prefer to flee or hide rather than confront danger directly, but become bold when moving in numbers or defending their sandcrawler, clan, or shaman. Jawa society revolves around trade caravans, salvage runs, and the annual gatherings where tribes exchange offspring, stories, and rumors. They are masters of haggling and misdirection—never outright malicious without cause, but always angling for an advantage. A lone Jawa is often an exile, survivor, or curious wanderer whose path has diverged from their tribe, making them unusual but resourceful companions for a hero band.

Languages: Jawaese (scent/gesture-based), Jawa Trade Language

Example Names: Akkit, Het, Oklect, Klepti, Tikkit, Tteel