Star Wars Universe Roleplaying Game

Noghri

The Noghri are a compact, stealth-oriented species from the ravaged world of Honoghr, known in Legends for their near-supernatural tracking abilities, unwavering loyalty, and tragic history intertwined with the Galactic Empire. Their story begins with ecological devastation caused by a Clone Wars–era orbital battle that poisoned the planet and crippled its delicate ecosystem. When Darth Vader arrived promising aid, the Empire instead imposed generations of manipulation, using the Noghri as elite assassins and covert operatives. This long period of exploitation shaped the species’ identity, producing a culture defined by honor, survival, and devotion to leaders they believed had saved them while remaining unaware of the true deception.

Honoghr’s environmental collapse forced the Noghri to become experts in preservation, hunting, and silent movement. Legends accounts emphasize their extraordinary sensory precision, acute olfactory awareness, and ability to read terrain with unparalleled skill. These adaptations helped them survive in harsh conditions where resources were scarce and every hunt required efficiency. Physical growth was similarly affected; the Noghri became compact and agile, capable of explosive bursts of speed and formidable close-quarters combat techniques.

Culturally, the Noghri developed a rigid system of honor built around clan identity, ancestral duty, and reverence for leaders they believed upheld the survival of their people. The arrival of Leia Organa—known to them as the “Malla Noghri”—transformed their destiny. When the truth of the Empire’s betrayal became known, the Noghri redirected their loyalty to Leia and the New Republic, playing pivotal roles in espionage, bodyguard work, and strategic operations. Their unwavering commitment underscores a defining cultural trait: once loyalty is earned, it becomes absolute.

Despite their martial reputation, Noghri society contains deep familial and communal bonds. Clans play a foundational role in upbringing, resource sharing, and leadership selection. Elders preserve oral traditions documenting their post-catastrophe history, passing survival techniques from generation to generation. Their villages blend stealthy architecture with natural camouflage, reflecting both necessity and cultural identity.

Legends narratives portray the Noghri as possessing an almost spiritual connection to their land, even in its devastated state. They consider the soil sacred and engage in rituals honoring their ancestors and the once-thriving ecosystem. Their yearning to restore Honoghr guided many political choices, contributing to their alliance with Leia and their role in rebuilding efforts after the fall of the Empire.

Noghri encountered offworld often appear as intensely focused, laconic individuals who speak little but observe everything. Their meticulous nature, combined with cultural pride and a preference for direct action, can intimidate outsiders. Yet they are capable of warmth, humor, and profound loyalty toward those they trust.

In SWURPG campaigns, Noghri characters excel as assassins, scouts, bodyguards, or investigators. Their cultural emphasis on honor and loyalty provides deep story potential involving duty, betrayal, restitution, and the long arc of planetary healing.

Home Planet: Honoghr
Physical Description: Noghri are short, wiry humanoids standing roughly one and a half meters tall, with compact musculature designed for speed and precision. Their gray or brown skin is tough and leathery, providing natural protection against harsh environmental conditions on Honoghr. Their limbs are long relative to their height, granting exceptional reach and agility in close combat. Fingers and toes are tipped with small but sharp claws that aid in climbing and silent movement.

Their faces are angular, featuring pronounced cheek structures, sharp teeth, and large dark eyes that reflect impressive night-vision capability. A series of bony ridges extends from their foreheads down the crown of the skull, giving them a distinctive silhouette. Their sense of smell is extraordinarily advanced, allowing them to track individuals or identify chemical traces with uncanny accuracy.

Noghri clothing tends toward minimal fabrics designed for stealth and mobility. Many wear simple wraps, fitted garments, or tribal decorations such as bone pieces or clan insignia. Armor, when used, is lightweight and often handmade to allow full movement. Their movements are smooth, silent, and deliberate, embodying their evolutionary adaptations.

Overall, the Noghri present a physically fearsome yet compact form, reflecting their specialization in ambush tactics, covert operations, and rapid-strike engagements.

Average Height: 1.3 meters
Average Weight: 80 kilograms
Age of Adulthood: 13 years

Personality & Customs: Noghri personalities are shaped by loyalty, discipline, and deep cultural pride. They tend to speak bluntly, act decisively, and interpret promises and oaths with utmost seriousness. Their sense of honor governs every major decision, and betrayal is considered among the gravest offenses. While their outward demeanor may seem stern, Noghri communities value camaraderie, storytelling, and strong family bonds.

Customs revolve around clan loyalty, the preservation of ancestral traditions, and reverence for the land. Even in its devastated state, Honoghr remains central to Noghri spiritual identity. Rituals often involve soil blessings, offerings to ancestors, and ceremonies marking hunts, marriages, and leadership transitions. Children are taught respect, discipline, and survival skills from a young age.

Interpersonal conflict among the Noghri is often resolved through structured combat demonstrations, elder mediation, or clan judgment. Hospitality toward allies is deeply sincere, but caution is exercised toward strangers. Once trust is established, however, Noghri friendships are among the most steadfast in the galaxy.

In SWURPG stories, Noghri customs offer dramatic opportunities for narratives involving loyalty, redemption, and planetary restoration. Their skills and cultural identity enrich roles centered on stealth, protection, or moral duty.

Languages: Honoghran (Noghrese), Basic

Example Names: Cakhmaim clan Eikh'mir, Ekhrikhor clan Bakh'tor, Khabarakh clan Kim'bar, Ovkhevam clan Bakh'tor, Ruhk clan Baikh'vair, Sakhisakh clan Tlakh'sar