Roonan

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This article is about a species of Roona. You may be looking for the Roonian people of Roon.

"You know how particular the Roonan are."
―Padmé Amidala[2]

The Roonan were a sentient species that were native to Roona. The Roonan had blue or gray skin and they had a ridged forehead and cranium with large, almond-shaped blue eyes. Short in stature, they had big ideas and were notoriously easy to offend. They were known to take even the slightest slip-up as a deep insult. The Jedi Master Halsey was a member of this species, as were Senators Aang and Edcel Bar Gane. According to C-3PO, the Roonan had tiny teeth. They were reputed for being very picky and particular regarding details; the slightest error could be taken as a grievous insult.

Biology and appearance

The ears of a Roonan.

The ears of a Roonan.

Roonans were a bipedal species, possessing two arms and two legs. Their arms ended in hands similar in structure to those of Neimoidians. Their bodies were fairly humanoid in proportions. They had ridged heads with grooves extending along the cranium to the back of their head, one of which formed the structure of their ears. Their skin was blue-gray, and they had large, almond-shaped, bulging eyes. Their heads were completely hairless, and they lacked a visible nose. [1]

History

Roonans hailed from Roona,[1] an astronomical object in the Bes Ber Bikade sector of the Expansion Region[3] An entry on Roonans, featuring an image of a Roonan in blue clothing, was included in an artist’s journal, which was later restored, expanded, and displayed at the Graf Archive. It also noted that Roonans, while known to have big ideas, were known to be notoriously easy to defend. The entry also noted that Roonans possessed tiny teeth, although it cautioned that directly questioning a Roonan might be unwise.[1] This entry appeared at some point no earlier than 34 ABY.[4]

Roonan in the Galaxy

During the High Republic era in 382 BBY,[5] Goi Ganok was a Roonan male member of the Path of the Open Hand. He and Binnot Ullo were dispatched by the Mother to carry out a mission intended to reignite the war between Eiram and E'ronoh. Though he eventually killed himself by detonating a canister he was holding.[6] In 230 BBY,[7] a Roonan resident of Eiram tried to flee the world due to the groundquakes and storms on the planet. Jedi arrived to help the fleeing citizens including the Roonan.[8] During the late Republic Era, in 23 BBY,[9] two Roonan bartenders operated within a cantina on Ord Mantell when Jango Fett and a band of bounty hunters tracked down a Twi’lek woman who was meeting with a Falleen named Griph.[10]

Seles, a roonan youngling who as dropped off on Lotho Minor

Seles, a roonan youngling who as dropped off on Lotho Minor

During the Sith Lord Darth Maul's imprisonment on Lotho Minor, the droid pirate Captain Spikewheel dropped off younglings of various species, including the Roonan Seles, in an effort to test whether they were worthy to join his crew. As part of this trial, Spikewheel required that the younglings survive one night on Lotho Minro, believing that their survival would indicate potential for service in his operations.[11]

The Roonan Halsey was a male Jedi Master who served during the Clone Wars.[12] In 21 BBY,[13] Halsey was present in the Jedi Temple war room, observing a hologram depicting Jedi Master Eeth Koth being tortured by the Separatist General Grievous.[14] In 20 BBY,[15] Halsey and his Padawan Knox were sent to the Temple of Eedit on the planet Devaron to defend it from the Confederacy of Independent Systems’ Droid Army. During the battle, Count Dooku’s new apprentice, Savage Opress, arrived, slaughtering the Republic clone troopers defending the temple. With only Halsey and his Padawan Knox left, Halsey ordered his Padawan to stay back and engaged Opress directly. During the duel, Opress seized Halsey’s hand, causing him to drop his lightsaber. In the ensuing melee, Halsey was overpowered and ultimately struck down when Opress impaled him with his spear. Attempting to avenge his master, Knox charged at Opress, only to be thrown against the temple gates and killed on impact.[12]

Senator Edcel Bar Gane speaks with his aide

Senator Edcel Bar Gane speaks with his aide

Also during the Clone Wars, the Roonan senator Aang represented the planet Roona.[16] During the war, he served on the Military Oversight Committee and was persuaded by the Naboo senator Padmé Amidala to vote in favor of reducing funding for the Grand Army of the Republic.[2] Despite Aang’s support, the Senate ultimately approved an increase in military spending to provide the army with five million additional clone troopers.[17] Following the Conference on Alderaan, Senator Amidala hosted a party in his honor.[2] The Roonan senator Edcel Bar Gane also served during the Clone Wars. He was known for his striking ice-blue eyes.[18] He was accompanied by a Roonan aide during Padme Amidala's opposition speech to the senate on a bill to increase funding of the war.[19]

Behind the scenes

Roonans were first developed for George Lucas's 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. But were not seen in the film itself.[20]

Appearances

Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Star Wars: Alien Archive
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Evil Plans"
  3. ↑ StarWars.com Star Systems of the Galaxy on StarWars.com (current version) (backup link) (previous version)
  4. ↑ Star Wars: Alien Archive, which is presented as a restored in-universe journal, mentions Poe Dameron's mutiny against Amilyn Holdo, which Star Wars: Timelines dates to 34 ABY, meaning the document must have been published at some point no earlier than that year.
  5. ↑ Star Wars: The High Republic Character Encyclopedia dates the events of The High Republic: Cataclysm, including the death of Goi Ganok on Eirie, to 382 BBY.
  6. ↑ The High Republic: Cataclysm
  7. ↑ Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of The High Republic: The Battle for Starlight to 230 BBY.
  8. ↑ The High Republic: The Battle for Starlight
  9. ↑ Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of Age of Republic - Jango Fett 1 to 23 BBY.
  10. ↑ Age of Republic - Jango Fett 1
  11. ↑ Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader's Castle 1
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Monster"
  13. ↑ Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of "Grievous Intrigue" to 21 BBY.
  14. ↑ StarWars.com The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Grievous Intrigue on StarWars.com (original site is defunct)
  15. ↑ Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates the events of "Monster," which include the Devaron massacre and death of Halsey, to 20 BBY.
  16. ↑ "The Clone Wars Begin" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
  17. ↑ TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Senate Murders"
  18. ↑ Star Wars: Geektionary: The Galaxy from A - Z
  19. ↑ TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Pursuit of Peace"
  20. ↑ Star Wars Chronicles: The Prequels
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