Tuk'ata/Legends
The Force-sensitive tuk'ata, or Sith hounds, were used for thousands of years to guard the tombs of the Dark Lords of the Sith on Korriban.
Biology and appearance
Sith hounds were oversized beasts that were bred to be both fearless and relentless where they were tasked with guarding the Sith tombs on Korriban. Their distinctive characteristics included sharp horns, long claws and savage teeth. Tuk'ata were unusually intelligent and were even able to communicate with one another through means unknown. It was claimed that originally the species were non-violent grazing animals before being corrupted by Sith alchemy experiments that awakened latent parts of their brain which transformed them into unnatural abominations. [source?]
History
Considering that many were sealed inside the tombs themselves, some believe that they were immortal or drew nourishment from the Force itself, the latter part of which is likely true. It is also possible that they survived by feeding on small vermin or other creatures that infested the tombs as decay and time created new openings in the stone walls. They were fearless guardians and would kill anything that entered the tombs. While on Korriban, Exar Kun was forced to fight several hounds as a test.
Behind the scenes
The tuk'ata were first seen in Tales of the Jedi – Dark Lords of the Sith 3 but would go unnamed until the publication of Daniel Wallace's The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons.
Appearances
- Tales of the Jedi – Dark Lords of the Sith 3 (First appearance)
Sources
- The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons (First identified as Tuk'ata)