Ganguls

The Ganguls, also known as the Gangul gang, were a pirate gang who operated in the Outer Rim within the Bri'ahl sector during the High Republic Era. Beginning as a biker gang on the planet Tenoo, the Ganguls further expanded with the aims of becoming the most feared pirates of the sector. The gang frequently fought against the Jedi younglings of Tenoo and Taborr's gang. The core members of the gang were the Trandoshan leader Sellaccc Orryak, the Quarren Jooro "Speeds" Jarrot" and the Anzellan Toda-Joh.

Description

The Ganguls, also known as the Gangul gang,^[4] was a biker gang turned pirates who often caused trouble in the Bri'ahl sector.^[1]

History

Tenoo biker gang

Formed and led by the Trandoshan Sellaccc Orryak, the Ganguls began as a biker gang on the planet Tenoo,^[1] named after the creature of the same name^[5] who took over the town of Aklyrr Bend, where they stole the locals' belongings and caused trouble. The gang was stopped by a trio of Jedi younglings from the Tenoo Jedi Temple, Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and Nubs, in the first of many run-ins with the trio.^[1]

Wanting to expand the gang's reach beyond Tenoo, Orryak set her sights on acquiring a starship.^[6] Their first attempt and first of multiple encounters with Taborr's gang was a briefly successful theft of the Taborr's ship, the Iron Talon.^[2] On one occasion, intercepting a caravan heading for the frontiers of Tenoo, the Ganguls stole a pod-wagon containing a well-maker drill, hoping to sell it for enough credits to obtain a ship. Unbeknownst to the bikers, the wagon also held the young Pooba Nubs as an occupant. Orryak attempted to manipulate the Jedi trainee into joining her gang, but he and the drill were later rescued by the other Jedi younglings.^[6]

Outer Rim terrors

Despite previous setbacks, the Ganguls eventually got off-world,^[7] acquiring the Rathtar's Revenge from "friends" as the group's new flagship. Orryak immediately set the gang's pursuit towards growing their fleet, first attempting to steal starships from Deppani following a storm. This raid was foiled by the Tenoo younglings accompanied by the Jedi Padawan Wes Vinik.^[8]

Beginning their spree in the Outer Rim, the Ganguls began a series of thefts throughout Bri'ahl sector, including rare diamonds and a pet Gotis from a senator. The criminals would auction off their steals in the Yarrum Tower marketplace. The Ganguls would frequently boast about their thefts, at one point inspiring Taborr Val-Dorn to attempt to tame a wild gangul.^[9] The boasting later came to fruition as the promises of free starships inspired a large number of the pirates of Yarrum Tower to join the ranks of the growing gang. After taking Vinik captive, Orryak led her new recruits on a raid to the Variax shipyard to acquire the ships. Vinik escaped in part due to the Tenoo younglings and the Abednedo Chigg acting as a double agent. Combat with the Jedi caused the Rathtar's Revenge to tilt on its side. Surrounded by Variax security, the Ganguls were forced to flee.^[10]

Regardless of the failure on Variax,^[10] the Ganguls' next attempt to grow in power was more successful. The original members of the gang attacked Hap's Sap Tap, kidnapping the local band for a trade on Yarrum. In need of entertainment, Bulcha the Hutt was open for the trade of the band in exchange for his security droids. Although the band was shortly freed from Bulcha by Hap and the younglings, the Ganguls successfully made away with a new security force of droids.^[11]

At one point during Life Day, Orryak,^[12] taking advantage of her species' poor history with the Wookiees of Kashyyyk,^[13] led the gang in an effort to steal food from the celebrating Wookiees as well as attempting to cut down the Tree of Life in a show of power. Orryak's plot was sabotaged by her cousin Daynaal, who helped the Wookiees and the Jedi younglings escape and brought reinforcements.^[12]

Power ambitions

In the group's largest grab for power, the Ganguls enacted a hostile takeover of Yarrum Tower, making the previously unaffiliated tower the gang's new headquarters and forcing every occupant within to join the ranks of the growing group. While taking control of the ships parked outside, the original trio of Ganguls briefly butted heads with Taborr and the Jedi. Although the Iron Talon escaped the clutches of the pirates, the group remained in control of the tower.^[3]

After establishing control over Yarrum Tower, the Ganguls made the other pirates in the sector submit tribute to them. The Comet Runners led by Corr Taldaan convinced Orryak to raid the royal palace on Vuundalla, which was the home of Prince Cyrus Vuundir. While the Yarrum Tower pirates attacked a nearby village, the Ganguls and their battle droids invaded the palace. The Jedi younglings Solay, Nubs and their friends Nash Durango and RJ-83 repelled the Yarrum pirates. However, the Ganguls were able to overpower Brightstar and Vuundir and plunder the royal family's jewels. As a result of the raid, the Jedi younglings, Durango and RJ-83 discovered Vuundir's pirate alter ego Taborr Val Dorn. Brightstar and Vuundir's friendship was strained after Vuundir refused to renounce his pirate identity.^[14]

Returning to Yarrum Tower, Orryak offered the Comet Runners a place among her crew, which they accepted. Vuundir confronted the Ganguls and Comet Runners at Yarrum Tower in an attempt to reclaim his family jewels but was outnumbered. The Jedi younglings came to his rescue but Vuundir refused to go with them, choosing to remain a pirate and escape Yarrum Tower on his own.^[14] Vuundir later reunited with his gang and resolved to protect his homeworld from the Ganguls. To advance his goals, he attempted to steal a thrust accelerator from the Deppani starship factory.^[15]

Later, the Ganguls attempted to steal Raxlo's harvester on the snowy planet of Andraven. However, they encountered opposition from Raxlo's Jedi youngling friends and the Andraven locals including Jam and Gumar Adraki, who drove them away. However, Raxlo's harvester was severely damaged during the raid. Out of gratitude, the Andravens offered to help Raxlo obtain a second harvesters.^[16]

Later, the Jedi younglings Brightstar, Solay and Nubs accidentally sent a crate to Yarrum Tower while helping the labor droid F-4RO. The three younglings traveled with Durango and RJ-83 to Yarrum Tower in order to recover the crate. However, they came into conflict with the Ganguls, who refused to return the crate. Following a skirmish, the Jedi younglings managed to recover the crate. In response, Orryak took offense that the Jedi had entered their home and vowed revenge.^[17]

Battle of Tenoo

Having assembled a coalition of pirates including the Comet Runners and Captain Blackbolt, the Ganguls launched a full-scale invasion of Tenoo, with the intention of expelling the Jedi sector. After capturing the Jedi trainees, Orryak attempted to destroy the Tenoo Jedi Temple. However, the Ganguls faced opposition from the residents of Tenoo, Jedi reinforcements and allies including Raxlo and Taborr's gang. The pirate Val Dorn and Padawan Wes Vinik destroyed the Ganguls' flagship Rathtar's Revenge while the Jedi initiates and Padawan Celesta Kami disarmed the Ganguls' bombs.^[18]

Enraged, Orryak fights off Kai and states that there will be other pirates like the Ganguls to attack the Jedi before being subdued by the Jedi Masters Zia Zaldor Zanna and Carver Drow. The Jedi arrested the Ganguls and most of their pirate vassals. However, the Comet Runners and Blackbolt managed to escape.^[18]

Membership

As a biker gang on Tenoo, the members of the group included Jooro "Speeds" Jarrot, Toda-Joh, and the gang's boss, Sellaccc Orryak. The human Ori also briefly worked for the Ganguls.^[1] Orryak later briefly allowed her nephew Daynaal to join the gang in an attempt to convince him to become a permanent member.^[12]

After traveling off-world, the gang acquired the Rathtar's Revenge from "friends," which later became the group's flagship, piloted by the droid NX-88.^[8] The gang had several failed attempts to expand their fleet with starfighters after the acquisition of their flagship.^[8][10]

The gang greatly expanded its membership after Orryak gave the promise of free starfighters to the pirates of Yarrum Tower.^[10] Although the Rathtar's Revenge already possessed droid security, the Ganguls further grew their ranks trading the captive Feb Rozo and the Sap Tap Trio for heavy security droids from Bulcha the Hutt.^[11]

Appearances

• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "The Ganguls" (First appearance)
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "The Talon Takeover"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Happy Trails, Nubs"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Heroes and Hotshots"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Firehawk Rescue"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "A Pirate's Pet"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "The Jedi Rescue"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Battle for the Band"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "The Missing Life Day Feast"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Tower Run"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Unmasked"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Raxlo to the Rescue"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Upgraded" (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "The Spaceport Setback"
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "The Battle of Tenoo"

Sources

• The Ganguls | Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures | @StarWarsKids x @disneyjr on the official Star Wars Kids YouTube channel (backup link)
• Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy (First identified as Gangul gang)

Notes and references