Star Wars Universe Roleplaying Game

Twi'lek

From the harsh, twilight-scarred world of Ryloth, Twi'leks have spread across nearly every corner of the galaxy. Tall, slender, and instantly recognizable by the twin head-tails known as lekku, they are one of the most common near-human species encountered in spaceports, palace courts, criminal syndicates, and backwater cantinas. Their wide range of skin tones—spanning whites, blues, greens, reds, oranges, purples, and more—reflects numerous subcultures and regional lineages, but all share the same core physiology and lekku-based body language.

Twi'leks live at the intersection of survival and opportunity. For generations, Ryloth’s unstable climate, grinding poverty, and offworld exploitation have shaped a culture that prizes adaptability, subtlety, and behind-the-scenes influence. Many Twi'leks grow up under occupation, crime lords, or corrupt officials, learning early to read danger, keep their heads down, and strike only when the odds are in their favor. Others rise to prominence as savvy merchants, entertainers, diplomats, spymasters, or power brokers, wielding charm and information rather than brute strength.

Though the galaxy often reduces them to stereotypes—exotic dancers, slaves, or smooth-talking criminals—Twi'leks themselves are anything but simple. Ryloth has produced resistance leaders, Jedi Knights, senators, generals, and ruthless crime lords. The same talents that make Twi'leks vulnerable to exploitation also make them extraordinarily capable survivors and schemers when given the chance to act on their own terms.

Home Planet: Ryloth, a harsh, rocky world in the Outer Rim with extreme light and dark hemispheres.
Physical Description: Twi'leks are near-human in build, typically standing between 1.6 and 2 meters tall with slim, graceful frames and long limbs. Their most distinctive feature is the pair of fleshy head-tails—called lekku—that extend from the crown or back of the skull. Most Twi'leks have two lekku, though rare individuals possess four. These appendages are highly sensitive, capable of subtle prehensile movement and used for both expression and a specialized sign language. Damage to a lekku is extremely painful and can cause shock or lasting neurological harm.

Their skin spans a wide spectrum of solid or mottled colors, including white, blue, green, orange, yellow, red, purple, gray, and near-black. Facial features are broadly humanoid, though many males sharpen their teeth into points and some have cone-shaped ear structures rather than human-like lobes. Twi'leks are usually lean, though wealthy and powerful individuals sometimes become corpulent with age and excess. They tend to run slightly warmer than most humanoids, with body temperature spiking under fear or stress.

Although they can pass in most multi-species crowds without attracting undue attention, close observers quickly learn that Twi'leks rarely stand completely still. Small lekku twitches, shifts in posture, and micro-expressions constantly broadcast emotional cues, especially to others who understand Twi'lek body language.

Average Height: A typical Twi'lek male stands around 1.8 meters tall; females average about 1.6–1.7 meters.
Average Weight: Most adult Twi'leks weigh around 55 kilograms, remaining relatively slim even into later life.
Age of Adulthood: Twi'leks reach adulthood around 16 years of age and commonly live into their 80s or beyond.

Personality & Customs: Twi'leks are often pragmatic, cautious, and calculating—traits born from living in a galaxy that has repeatedly treated them as expendable labor or property. Many learn to avoid direct confrontation, preferring to watch from the margins, gather information, and act only when they can do so safely or profitably. This does not mean they lack courage; figures like Cham and Hera Syndulla show that when pushed far enough, Twi'leks can become fiercely committed freedom fighters. But even in open rebellion, they tend to value planning, leverage, and alliances over reckless heroics.

Twi'lek society is organized around clans and family lineages, each preserving its history through heirlooms such as the kalikori—intricate totems passed down and expanded from generation to generation. These objects are deeply personal; priceless to the family, meaningless to outsiders. Twi'leks speak both Ryl (often called Twi'leki) and Basic, and combine spoken language with an elaborate lekku-sign code capable of conveying nuance, secrecy, or emotion even in a crowded room. Among themselves, Twi'leks effortlessly blend verbal speech and lekku movement into a layered form of communication.

Culturally, the legacy of slavery and exploitation hangs over the species. Many Twi'leks grow up knowing someone who was taken, sold, or forced into service. This history has bred a deep wariness of authority and an instinct to hedge their bets—Twi'leks often keep escape routes, backup plans, and secret alliances close at hand. At the same time, their natural charisma and adaptability make them excellent negotiators, entertainers, and diplomats. They are quick to read a room, slow to fully trust, and expert at turning underestimation into advantage.

Languages: Twi'leks speak, read, and write Ryl (Twi'leki) and Basic, often with a distinctive accent. Many also learn Huttese, and most can communicate via lekku sign language.

Example Names: Bib Fortuna, Cham Syndulla, Hera Syndulla, Aayla Secura, Lyn Me, Oola, Tott Doneeta.