Star Wars Universe Roleplaying Game

Kel Dor

Kel Dor are a distinctive and highly respected Star Wars species native to the planet Dorin, a dangerous world whose unique atmosphere and position between two black holes have shaped every aspect of Kel Dor biology and culture. Dorin’s atmosphere, composed primarily of helium and a rare native gas, is lethal to most other beings, just as standard oxygen–nitrogen atmospheres are deadly to the Kel Dor. This environmental divide naturally isolated their civilization for millennia, producing a species that is at once deeply self-reliant and quietly introspective. When Kel Dor do step onto the galactic stage, they often leave a profound impression as judges, mediators, and Force users who embody calm strength and a sharp sense of justice.

Because survival on Dorin demands cooperation and discipline, Kel Dor society developed around strong communal values, ethical responsibility, and decisive action in the face of danger. The violent storms produced by the nearby black holes forced them to build reinforced structures and share shelter freely, fostering a culture where offering protection and aid is both practical necessity and moral duty. This combination of environmental hardship and social reciprocity laid the groundwork for a people known throughout the Star Wars galaxy for fairness, courage, and a willingness to act when others hesitate.

Kel Dor history is closely intertwined with the mystical Baran Do sages, an ancient Force tradition that predates their formal contact with the Jedi Order. The Baran Do serve as seers, advisors, and storm-watchers, using the Force to predict environmental disasters and guide their people through crises. While the Jedi Order focuses heavily on galactic affairs and martial discipline, the Baran Do emphasize introspection, foresight, and service to Dorin itself. This dual heritage—Jedi and Baran Do—created generations of Kel Dor Force users known for their moral clarity and measured use of power.

In Legends, Jedi Master Plo Koon stands as the most famous Kel Dor figure, epitomizing the species’ strengths. Calm, analytical, and quietly compassionate, Plo Koon became a symbol of Kel Dor virtues on the Jedi Council. Legends material further associates him with Electric Judgment, a controversial Force power used with a strict ethical framework, underscoring the Kel Dor tendency to balance decisive action with a rigorous internal code. Even outside Legends-specific details, his canonical portrayal reinforces the image of Kel Dor as principled, restrained, and unafraid of difficult decisions.

Kel Dor culture encourages thoughtful engagement with the wider galaxy but does so from a position of caution. Travel off Dorin is physically dangerous for them, requiring special antiox masks and goggles to survive in foreign atmospheres. As a result, those who do leave home tend to be diplomats, scholars, Force users, or individuals with particularly strong motives. This natural self-selection means that Non-Kel Dor encounters with the species often involve highly capable, well-trained individuals who serve as judges, peacekeepers, or spiritual guides.

Despite their serious reputation, Kel Dor communities are not joyless. Social life includes storytelling, communal meals adapted to their unique dietary needs, and shared meditation sessions that reinforce community bonds and Baran Do teachings. Humor tends to be dry and understated, often revolving around perspective and irony rather than slapstick. Outsiders who earn their trust may witness a gentler side of Kel Dor culture, where warmth and subtle emotional depth reveal themselves beneath a stoic exterior.

In SWURPG campaigns, Kel Dor characters can easily anchor stories involving justice, prophecy, or moral conflict. Their connection to both the Baran Do tradition and the Jedi Order supports roles as contemplative warriors, seers, or investigators driven by a deep ethical compass. Whether navigating political intrigue, confronting corruption, or guiding allies through spiritual dilemmas, a Kel Dor hero brings gravitas and philosophical nuance to any party.

Mechanically and narratively, Kel Dor are especially well suited for roles that mix perception, wisdom, and decisive action. Their harsh homeworld explains natural advantages in awareness and resilience, while their cultural background provides a built-in rationale for seeking balance between mercy and firm judgment. In a galaxy shaped by empires, wars, and hidden manipulations, Kel Dor stand out as figures who strive to do what is right, even when the path forward is obscured by storms—literal or metaphorical.

Home Planet: Dorin
Physical Description: Kel Dor are tall, bipedal humanoids typically standing between 1.6 and 2 meters in height, with lean but sturdy builds adapted to Dorin’s high-pressure, helium-based atmosphere. Their skin tones range from warm oranges and russets to deeper reds and browns, often accented by dark facial markings unique to each individual. Their faces are among the most striking in Star Wars species design: rather than a conventional nose and mouth, they have a gaping, toothless opening framed by fleshy folds and drooping strands, covering a pair of hard palates that serve in place of teeth.

Framing the sides of their heads are extrasensory organs that terminate in small black tusks, features that contribute to their heightened reflexes and spatial awareness. These organs, combined with their large, often dark or silver-tinted eyes, give Kel Dor an intense and somewhat alien appearance. However, their native vision and sensory processing are finely tuned to Dorin’s unusual atmosphere; away from home, unfiltered oxygen-rich air quickly overwhelms their eyes and lungs, making specialized gear essential.

When in standard galactic atmospheres, Kel Dor must wear antiox breathing masks and protective goggles. These masks filter out toxic gases such as nitrogen and oxygen, replacing them with a Dorin-compatible mix, while the goggles protect their sensitive eyes. The gear is so iconic that many sentients never see a Kel Dor’s face uncovered. Offworld, their masks also amplify their voices, giving them a resonant, mechanical tone that adds to their air of quiet authority. The combination of rugged skin, specialized organs, and life-support equipment even allows Kel Dor to survive briefly in the vacuum of space, a feat that further sets them apart.

Their hands typically feature three fingers and an opposable thumb, with strong, dexterous digits well suited to both fine manipulation and combat grips. Clothing favored by Kel Dor tends toward practical, flowing robes or layered garments that accommodate their breathing gear and emphasize freedom of movement. Force users and Baran Do sages often wear traditional robes with muted colors, while offworld professionals may adopt more utilitarian outfits that still retain cultural motifs from Dorin.

Overall, Kel Dor physiology reflects a species evolved for a uniquely hostile environment, then further refined through technological adaptation. Their appearance can be unsettling to those unfamiliar with them, but it also communicates resilience, specialization, and the profound difference between life on Dorin and standard worlds in the Star Wars galaxy.

Average Height: 1.8 meters
Average Weight: 70 kilograms
Age of Adulthood: 16 years

Personality & Customs: Kel Dor personality is strongly shaped by the demands of Dorin and the teachings of traditions like the Baran Do. As a people, they are known for calm temperaments, strong moral convictions, and a willingness to intervene when injustice threatens others. Survival on a world framed by black holes and violent storms left little room for apathy; in Kel Dor ethics, recognizing danger and doing nothing is considered deeply irresponsible. This sense of duty manifests in individuals who are deliberate rather than impulsive, but unflinching once a decision is made.

Community structures on Dorin emphasize mutual support and shared responsibility. Homes and public buildings are often built to shelter anyone who needs protection from storms, reinforcing the idea that safety and stability are communal obligations. Kel Dor customs encourage direct but respectful communication, and disputes are often resolved through mediation guided by elders, Baran Do sages, or other respected figures. Their legal traditions value restorative outcomes and moral clarity, with the goal of reintegrating wrongdoers rather than simply punishing them.

Spiritual life among the Kel Dor centers on the Baran Do philosophy, which focuses on foresight, balance, and service. Baran Do adherents study the currents of the Force as a way to read weather patterns, political shifts, and personal destinies. While not all Kel Dor are Force-sensitive, many internalize Baran Do ideas about self-discipline, introspection, and humility. Even Kel Dor Jedi often carry elements of this worldview into the wider galaxy, tempering traditional Jedi doctrine with a Dorin-born appreciation for caution and predictive awareness.

Kel Dor customs also include quiet forms of hospitality. Guests are often offered shelter, safe atmosphere, and simple but carefully prepared meals suited to the host’s physiology. Storytelling, philosophy, and quiet conversation are preferred over loud celebration, though moments of victory or hard-won peace may spark more spirited gatherings. Personal honor is closely tied to keeping one’s word, defending the vulnerable, and acting decisively when one’s moral instincts demand it.

As player characters in SWURPG, Kel Dor frequently embody roles such as judges, guardians, strategists, or seers. They fit naturally into Jedi, mystic, or adviser archetypes, but can also shine as investigators, pilots, or tacticians who rely on perception and foresight. Their cultural emphasis on justice and responsibility gives them a built-in narrative arc: they are often driven to confront corruption, protect civilians, or mediate dangerous disputes. In any campaign that grapples with the ethical consequences of war, authority, or the Force, a Kel Dor character can serve as the group’s conscience—steady, perceptive, and determined to act before the storm breaks.

Languages: Kel Dor, Basic

Example Names: Dorn Tlo, Plo Koon, Torin Dol