Orphne

"You can run but cannot walk;
"You have a mouth but cannot talk;
"You have a head but never weep;
"You have a bed but never sleep."

―Orphne's riddle^[2]

Orphne was a female being who resided in the Underworld of Aleen.

Biography

Early life

Orphne^[3] was a nymph^[1] who lived in the Underworld of Aleen, deep beneath the surface of the planet.^[2] The Kindalo species were neighbors of her.^[1] They knew of her wisdom, but also of her trickster nature.^[4] As above ground air was toxic to her,^[2] she knew of the delicate balance that had to be maintained between the surface and subsurface worlds.^[1] She presided over a fountain^[2] known as Orphne’s Fountain, a sophisticated device based on either unknown technology or on the Force itself.^[5]

The Aleena, unlike the Kindalo, were not known to have ever had direct contact with Orphne. While galactic records regarding Aleen were scant, Orphne had periodic encounters with visitors to the planet dating from the time of first contact. As result, several mentions existed about her, tougth they were frustratingly vague.^[5]

The Breach

In 20 BBY^[6] Orphne was witness to the upsetting of this balance when^[1] a seal separating the Underworld from the surface world was opened. As result, Orphne and the Kindalo began to suffer from the influx of above ground air. Orphene accused the surface-dwelling Aleena of causing their suffering and the Kindalo responded to the perceived wrong by causing severe groundquakes. The groundquakes caused the death of many Aleena and substantial damage to their infrastructure.^[2]

Shortly after C-3PO and R2-D2 arrived on the planet in company with a relief mission launched by the Grand Army of the Republic. They fell into the underworld due to one of the groundquakes. Orphne followed them in the form of sparkling dust, causing C-3PO to believe he was under attack. The duo then ran into the Kindalo, who directed them to Orphne after being convinced the two droids were there as friends. The Kindalo claimed that Orphne would help them escape from the Underworld.^[2]

When they arrived at a large circular chamber, it was revealed that she had been following them in the form of purple and white sparkles. She then attempted to eat C-3PO, but was unable. After her failed attempt at consuming C-3PO Orphne decided to explain to the droids that the Aleena and under-dwellers had made a covenant to separate the above and below ground, so that neither would have to breathe the poisonous air of the other. But somehow, the opening to the underworld had been breached, and the under-dwellers resorted to causing groundquakes in an attempt to resolve their dilemma. After giving a riddle to the two droids Orphne left the room, leaving the droids to their contemplation. R2-D2 quickly devised the answer to Orphne's riddle: river. R2-D2 sprayed water on the water elemental symbol imprinted on the floor, which caused a geyser of water to force the droids out the opening and back to the surface. The two droids then shifted the seal back onto the opening, ending the threat to the residents of the Underworld.^[2]

Legacy

The two droids later reported about their encounter with Orphne. They indicated that the Kindalo at least deferred to the riddle-speaking creature and may followed or even worshipped it. This same record also claimed that Orphne could dematerialize at will, taking the form of a shower of lights, so their data was considerated either corrupt or otherwise unreliable.^[5]

Personality and traits

Of reptilian descent with a quick tongue and a clever wit,^[1] Orphne was a sentient creature^[2] 1.75 meters tall^[1] with purple eyes and light green skin. She has three-fingered hands and feet.^[2] Neither Aleena nor Kindalo, she belonged to some other, unknown species.^[5] She could eject^[2] a frog-like^[3] tounge that could extend^[2] up to 10 feet.^[3] As a resident of the Underworld of Aleen, above ground air was toxic to her.^[2]

Orphne was wise to the ways of Aleen, and understood the importance of keeping both worlds apart.^[1]

Powers and abilities

Variously described as “sylphlike” and “magical,”^[5] Orphne had the Force ability to turn herself into a glowing, pink cloud. She could travel freely in this form, and seemed to "unravel" into separate orbs of these glowing particles when transforming into the cloud. This ability was a usage of the Force that was similar to Allyan Magic.^[2]