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{{Update|{{WEGCite|book=Mos Eisley Adventure Set|story=The Passage From Perdition}}}}
{{Character
|type=Criminal
|image=[[File:LadyValarian1319.jpg]]
|name=Valarian
|homeworld=[[Toola/Legends|Toola]]<ref name="EGC">''[[The Essential Guide to Characters]]''</ref>
|birth=
|death=
|species=[[Whiphid/Legends|Whiphid]]<ref name="EGC" />
|gender=[[Gender/Legends|Female]]<ref name="EGC" />
|height=2.5 [[Imperial standard meter|meters]]<ref name="EGC" />
|mass=
|hair=[[Color/Legends|Golden]] and white, with red tints<ref name="EGC" />
|eyes=
|skin=
|cyber=
|affiliation=[[Valarian Syndicate]]<ref name="SWG">{{SWG|An Empire Divided}}</ref>
|masters=
|apprentices=}}
{{Quote|My goodness, stop blathering. I do not handle business like some other crime lords do. I think this can be settled quietly. I understand that the shipment was lost. Consider yourself on probation, and report for your next assignment. The value of the cargo will be deducted from your cut of this new shipment. This time.|Lady Valarian, to an employee|Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley}}
[[Lord/Legends|Lady]] '''Valarian''' was a [[Gender/Legends|female]] [[Whiphid/Legends|Whiphid]] from [[Toola/Legends|Toola]] who became a [[Crime lord/Legends|crime boss]] and [[Jabba Desilijic Tiure/Legends|Jabba Desilijic Tiure's]] main competitor on [[Tatooine/Legends|Tatooine]]. Her parents were both [[Gangster/Legends|gangsters]] on Toola, though when they were [[Prison/Legends|imprisoned]] for life she took up a criminal life of her own. She eventually traveled to [[Mos Eisley/Legends|Mos Eisley]] on Tatooine and purchased the ''[[Lucky Despot]]'', an old cargo hauler that had been refitted as a hotel and [[Cantina/Legends|cantina]]. She found stern opposition to her presence from Jabba the [[Hutt/Legends|Hutt]], but the two criminals eventually reached accords; privately, however, they still despised and sought to ruin each other.

In [[0 BBY/Legends|0 BBY]], Valarian arranged to wed famous Whiphid [[Bounty hunter/Legends|bounty hunter]] [[D'Wopp]], and organized an elaborate ceremony and reception in the ''Lucky Despot''. When D'Wopp accepted a [[Bounty/Legends|bounty]] on [[Han Solo/Legends|Han Solo]] posted by Jabba during the [[Wedding of Valarian and D'Wopp|wedding]], Valarian attacked and killed him, starting a massive brawl. [[Stormtrooper/Legends|Stormtroopers]] eventually arrived to raid the hotel; Valarian's illegal [[Gambling/Legends|gambling]] was discovered and her wedding, already a fiasco, was stopped. Valarian had D'Wopp shipped home in tiny pieces, though she was determined to continue her criminal operations and usurp Jabba. She had a former lover, [[J'Quille/Legends|J'Quille]], among others, infiltrate [[Jabba's Palace]] and attempt to kill the Hutt, though in the end he was killed by [[Leia Organa Solo|Leia Organa]] during the [[Battle of the Great Pit of Carkoon]]. Valarian attempted to take control of Jabba's organization, and although she encountered many difficulties, the Whiphid eventually seized command of Tatooine's criminal affairs. She made a pact with the [[New Republic/Legends|New Republic]], and was still active during the [[Yuuzhan Vong War]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
Valarian was born to two [[Whiphid/Legends|Whiphid]] [[Gangster/Legends|gangsters]] on the ice [[Planet/Legends|planet]] [[Toola/Legends|Toola]] during the waning years of the [[Galactic Republic/Legends|Old Republic]].<ref name="EGC" /> She was considered to be very attractive for a member of her [[Species/Legends|species]],<ref name="OldFriends">{{Shortstory|story=Old Friends: Ephant Mon's Tale|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}}</ref> with a thick pelt of golden and white fur, with numerous red tints. Valarian was brought up to view crime as a way of life, and from a very young age she had an illustrious criminal record. When her parents were put behind bars for committing a grievous crime,<ref name="EGC" /> Valarian fled Toola,<ref name="GG7">''[[Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley]]''</ref> struck out on her own, and began to establish a criminal empire of her own. A competent and wily businessbeing, her operation flourished and spread to several [[Star system/Legends|systems]]. Valarian, however, wanted more.<ref name="EGC" />

===The ''Lucky Despot''===
In the early years of the [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]],<ref name="SoT">''[[Secrets of Tatooine]]''</ref> Valarian, aged just over twenty standard years<ref name="EGC" />&mdash;young for a Whiphid&mdash;<ref name="UAA">''[[Ultimate Alien Anthology]]''</ref> arrived on the [[Outer Rim Territories/Legends|Outer Rim Territories]] world of [[Tatooine/Legends|Tatooine]], hoping to establish new business ventures. Styling herself "[[Lord/Legends|Lady]]" Valarian, she set her sights on a battered old cargo hauler that had previously been a hotel and [[Casino/Legends|casino]] named the ''[[Lucky Despot]]'', located in [[Mos Eisley/Legends|Mos Eisley]].<ref name="SoT" /> Valarian hoped to use it as a base in which to operate her growing criminal empire.<ref name="GG7" /> Although she knew that Tatooine already had one [[Crime lord/Legends|crime lord]], [[Jabba Desilijic Tiure/Legends|Jabba Desilijic Tiure]], Valarian decided to go ahead with her plans, and after a few well-placed bribes, obtained ownership of the vessel.<ref name="SoT" />

[[File:GG-MS_Valarian.jpg|thumb|left|140px|Lady Valarian.]]
To Valarian's immense surprise and frustration, however, Jabba the [[Hutt/Legends|Hutt]] did have qualms about her setting up shop on his planet.<ref name="SoT" /> Valarian discovered that the [[Starship/Legends|ship]] had never actually been decommissioned, so she had to pay exorbitant taxes on the property and apply for permits and licenses needed to operate a passenger liner. Jabba also used his influence to bar the Whiphid from obtaining [[Alcohol/Legends|liquor]] and [[Gambling/Legends|gambling]] licenses; though she did eventually manage to bribe officials into allowing her to sell alcohol, she never got a gambling license.<ref name="GG7" /> Instead, she used [[Hologram/Legends|holographic]] [[Sabacc/Legends|sabacc]] tables that were only activated at nighttime.<ref name="BandTale">''[[We Don't Do Weddings: The Band's Tale]]''</ref> Valarian did not care much for paperwork and formalities, so she decided to open her nightclub and casino despite Jabba's objections. The Hutt responded by ordering his underlings to attack the ''Lucky Despot'' and its patrons, and also attempted to derail Valarian's plans with legal wrangling. Eventually, however, the two criminals reached an agreement: Valarian would pay off Jabba to cease his attacks and would ensure that her operation remained too small to pose a serious threat to [[Jabba Desilijic Tiure's criminal empire|his]]. In return, the Hutt warned her in advance of any police raids to search for illegal gambling.<ref name="GG7" /> Valarian was extremely careful not to tie herself to any criminal deeds, so that the authorities would have nothing against her.<ref name="NEGAS">''[[The New Essential Guide to Alien Species]]''</ref>

While Jabba did uphold his agreement and forewarn Valarian of any planned raids,<ref name="GG7" /> he continued to bar her from procuring a gambling license.<ref name="EGC" /> The truce between the two was shaky at best, and they both continually plotted to eliminate the other, constantly testing each other's defenses.<ref name="SoT" /> Despite this, Valarian was always cautious in her plans, fearing retribution from Jabba and his associates.<ref name="swe">''[[Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''</ref> Valarian did plan to overthrow Jabba eventually, but was content to bide her time and wait for a suitable opportunity; being second best did not perturb her, because she knew that she would eventually take Jabba's throne. Valarian pumped little additional funds into her hotel casino, and as a result it became quite shabby and run down in appearance, though it did have a reputation for excellent food.<ref name="GG7" /> Most of Valarian's time was spent selling illicit goods, arms,<ref name="EGC" /> [[Slavery/Legends|slaves]],<ref name="Tatooine Ghost">''[[Tatooine Ghost]]''</ref> and information,<ref name="BandTale" /> though she also invested much resources into learning what Jabba was up to at all times<ref name="GG7" /> and in hassling him with her force of thugs. In response, Jabba tasked his chief of security, [[Ephant Mon/Legends|Ephant Mon]], with ruining Valarian.<ref name="SWG" />

[[File:Valarian_FFGCG.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Valarian]]
Because she was believed to be a fairer and more reasonable employer than Jabba, Valarian had no trouble finding thugs and [[Mercenary/Legends|mercenaries]] to work for her,<ref name="GG7" /> and by the time of the establishment of the [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Alliance to Restore the Republic]], she had many outposts dotted throughout Tatooine,<ref name="SWG" /> as well as a [[Lady Valarian's Palace|palace]] in [[Mos Entha/Legends|Mos Entha]].<ref name="SoT" /> In [[2 BBY/Legends|2 BBY]], when Jabba left Ephant Mon in charge of his operations while he attended to business on [[Nal Hutta/Legends|Nal Hutta]], Valarian attempted to take advantage and began encroaching on the Hutt's territory. Jabba eventually returned and put a stop to it, however.<ref name="Rebel Dawn">''[[Rebel Dawn]]''</ref> Around the same time, Valarian recovered a former [[Assassin droid/Legends|assassin droid]] of Jabba's, named [[E522 assassin droid/Legends|E522]], which had been smeared in meat and pitted against [[Jabba's rancor|his pet rancor]] after it had insulted one of his clients.<ref name="BandTale" /> Hoping to spite Jabba, Valarian had the [[Droid/Legends|droid]] rebuilt from its scrap, and although it lacked its original weaponry, it performed well as a bodyguard and errand runner.<ref name="SoT" /> Also to Jabba's consternation, she built a base in the [[Dragon's Spine (asteroid field)|Dragon's Spine asteroid field]] in the [[Tatoo system/Legends|Tatoo system]], where she kept a military presence.<ref name="SWG" /> The [[Kubaz/Legends|Kubaz]] [[Information broker/Legends|information broker]] [[Garindan]] sold his information to both Jabba and Valarian; the expert spy remained neutral by serving both equally&mdash;if he sold Valarian information on Jabba, he usually sold Jabba information on Valarian in exchange.<ref name="FF12">{{FFCite|11|GAR2, ''Garindan''}}</ref>

===Disastrous wedding===
{{Quote|My mate and I shall celebrate my glorious return. She is Whiphid. She will understand.|D'Wopp|We Don't Do Weddings: The Band's Tale}}
In [[0 BBY/Legends|0 BBY]], Valarian procured a mate from her [[Homeworld/Legends|homeworld]], a renowned Whiphid [[Hunting/Legends|hunter]] named [[D'Wopp]]. The two agreed to marry, and Valarian went about organizing a huge [[Wedding of Valarian and D'Wopp|wedding]] in the ''Lucky Despot''.<ref name="EGC" /> The pair planned to spend their honeymoon hunting [[Krayt dragon/Legends|Krayt dragons]], even though it meant crossing Jabba's territory.<ref name="BandTale audio drama">[[We Don't Do Weddings: The Band's Tale (audio)|''We Don't Do Weddings: The Band's Tale'' audio drama]]</ref> Valarian hired famed musician [[Max Rebo/Legends|Max Rebo]] and his [[Max Rebo Band/Legends|band]]&mdash;former players for Jabba the Hutt and Valarian's favorite musical group&mdash;to provide entertainment for the wedding. Days before the planned wedding, [[Kardue'sai'Malloc/Legends|Kardue'sai'Malloc]], a local [[Devaronian/Legends|Devaronian]] drunk, met with Valarian in her office to speak with her about her wedding music. A huge music enthusiast, Malloc hoped to trick Valarian into allowing him to see his favorite band, the [[Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes/Legends|Modal Nodes]]; he asked the Whiphid if she would let it be said that a band that Jabba fired played at her wedding, while the Hutt employed the best in the business. Furious at the thought of losing face to Jabba,<ref name="EmpireBlues">{{Shortstory|story=Empire Blues: The Devaronian's Tale|book=Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina}}</ref> Valarian sent E522 to the Hutt's [[Jabba's Palace|desert citadel]] to offer the Modal Nodes three thousand [[Galactic Credit Standard|credits]] to play at her wedding reception.<ref name="BandTale" /><ref name="Star Wars Blog">{{SW|url=news/slugthrowers-part-2|text=Slugthrowers: An Overview of Popular Music and Musicians in a Galaxy Far, Far Away, Part 2|int=Slugthrowers: An Overview of Popular Music and Musicians in a Galaxy Far, Far Away}}</ref>

[[Figrin D'an/Legends|Figrin D'an]], the lead musician in the band, agreed to Valarian's offer, and the Modal Nodes set up shop in the ''Lucky Despot'' a day before the wedding was planned to take place. Valarian's guests arrived the next day, including D'Wopp, who had never been to Mos Eisley previously.<ref name="BandTale" /> Among her guests were various criminals from throughout [[The galaxy/Legends|the galaxy]], Whiphid relatives, and other, more unwelcome guests: a group of Jabba's henchmen.<ref name="EmpireBlues" /> The wedding went as planned, and Valarian and D'Wopp tied the knot, before the reception began in the [[Star Chamber Café]]. The Modal Nodes proved immensely popular, and the two Whiphid lovers danced for a time, until Valarian left D'Wopp momentarily to conduct some business.<ref name="BandTale" />

Valarian had been played by Kardue'sai'Malloc, however. The Devaronian had contacted Jabba and told him of Valarian's theft of his band, and provided the Hutt with details on his competitor's wedding arrangements. Furious, Jabba sent an agent of his to try and break up the wedding, while also neglecting to inform Valarian of an impending Imperial raid.<ref name="EmpireBlues" /> While Valarian took a several minute break from the festivities to deal with business, a [[Duros/Legends|Duros]] under Jabba's employ approached D'Wopp and told him of the [[Bounty/Legends|bounty]] Jabba had placed on [[Corellian/Legends|Corellian]] [[Smuggler/Legends|smuggler]] [[Han Solo/Legends|Han Solo's]] head. D'Wopp, keen to prove his hunting prowess on his new planet of residence, decided to leave and search for Solo there and then; Valarian would understand, he told himself.<ref name="BandTale" />

[[File:Valarian's_wedding.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Lady Valarian's first and last argument with her husband.]]
Valarian was incensed that D'Wopp would accept a bounty on such an important occasion. When she learned what had happened as D'Wopp was about to depart, she began flinging insults at him. The two clashed and a massive brawl ensued right in front of Figrin D'an's bandstand; spurred on by Jabba's various henchmen, dozens of guests became embroiled in the fight. In the middle of the brawl, a squad of Imperial [[Stormtrooper/Legends|stormtroopers]] arrived to search the hotel for any illegal gambling. Valarian's employees were unable to deactivate the [[Holotable/Legends|holotables]] in time, and the Imperials discovered them.<ref name="BandTale" /> When many made a mad dash to escape, the stormtroopers began firing on Valarian's guests.<ref name="EmpireBlues" /> During the brawl, Valarian killed D'Wopp,<ref name="SoT" /> and she was eventually left without a husband,<ref name="EGC" /> band,<ref name="BandTale" /> or any method of gambling.<ref name="OldFriends" />

Later, Valarian had D'Wopp's body ground into little pieces and shipped back to Toola. Some parts of his body never made it back, though only Valarian and her chef knew exactly what became of them.<ref name="EGC" /> Valarian's hotel started to go downhill; the [[Fish/Legends|fish]] in the aquariums perished, and the place became less clean and more grubby as the [[Galactic Civil War/Legends|Galactic Civil War]] progressed. Valarian lusted for revenge against Jabba.<ref name="OldFriends" />

===Plotting against Jabba===
{{Quote|The Hutt blocks me at every move. He wrecks my operations, sics the law hounds on me, steals my business, sucks me dry with payoffs.|Valarian, to Ephant Mon|Old Friends: Ephant Mon's Tale}}

[[File:Valarian.png|thumb|right|200px|Valarian, during 1 ABY]]
Although she decided she had no use for men after her wedding fiasco,<ref name="EGC" /> Valarian acquired a new lover sometime prior to [[4 ABY/Legends|4 ABY]]: [[J'Quille/Legends|J'Quille]], another Whiphid hunter from Toola. Valarian never had any real affection for J'Quille, and only ever intended to use him as a pawn, but J'Quille loved her immensely. The two had a public "falling out," which was merely a ruse to get J'Quille inside Jabba's Palace. The plan worked, and J'Quille was able to infiltrate Jabba's den without arousing any suspicion, with the intention of finding a way to kill Jabba; he took with him one of Valarian's ornamental [[Vibroblade/Legends|vibroblades]], which was in truth a secret holographic communication device that allowed the two to converse. However, J'Quille was only able to use the communicator irregularly, for fear of being discovered. In the several months he was undercover, J'Quille did little to aid Valarian, aside from bribing one of Jabba's assistant cooks, [[Phlegmin]], to add slow-acting poison to the Hutt's food.<ref name="LetUsPrey">{{Shortstory|story=Let Us Prey: The Whiphid's Tale|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}}</ref>

J'Quille was not the only [[Spy/Legends|spy]] Valarian attempted to recruit; she also had at least one member of the [[B'omarr Order/Legends|B'omarr Order]],<ref name="LetUsPrey" /> a group of religious beings who had built Jabba's Palace seven hundred years prior,<ref name="SoT" /> acting as an informant, as well as numerous droids and other beings.<ref name="PlayedOn">{{Shortstory|story=And the Band Played On: The Band's Tale|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}}</ref> Valarian also made efforts to recruit Ephant Mon, Jabba's most trusted henchman, to her cause&mdash;she and the [[Chevin/Legends|Chevin]] had much in common, and both enjoyed each other's company. Despite Valarian's lucrative offers, however, Mon continually refused.<ref name="OldFriends" /> Around [[3 ABY/Legends|3 ABY]], Valarian acquired the spying services of [[Sy Snootles/Legends|Sy Snootles]], a member of the Max Rebo Band who had been rehired to play in Jabba's Court, though Snootles eventually reported Valarian's offer to Jabba.<ref name="PlayedOn" /> One successful spy Valarian had in Jabba's Palace was a [[U2-C1-series housekeeping droid]], which delivered covert messages for the Whiphid, using its vacuum arms to prevent eavesdropping.<ref>{{EGCite|D|U2C1 Housekeeping Droid}}</ref>

During the same time period, an employee of Jabba's&mdash;[[Malakili/Legends|Malakili]], the beast keeper&mdash;approached Valarian in the ''Lucky Despot''. Malakili had grown discontent with Jabba's treatment of him and the [[Rancor/Legends|rancor]], and offered Valarian insider knowledge on Jabba's dungeons and back passageways in exchange for passage off-world. The Whiphid was uninterested, though when Malakili mentioned that he was charged with looking after Jabba's rancor, she saw an opportunity to cause the Hutt great embarrassment. She agreed to Malakili's demand, and arranged for a [[Transport/Legends|transport]] to collect the [[Human/Legends|Human]] and the rancor from Jabba's Palace. She had Malakili insert a micro camera into Jabba's throne room so she could see her competitor's reaction when his rancor disappeared.<ref name="Rancor">{{Shortstory|story=A Boy and His Monster: The Rancor Keeper's Tale|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}}</ref> J'Quille was able to arrange the pickup and help Malakili set up the camera, one of his few endeavors while undercover in Jabba's Palace.<ref name="LetUsPrey" />

In [[4 ABY/Legends|4 ABY]], several months after his insertion into Jabba's Palace, J'Quille contacted Valarian to inform her of a problem in the palace. Someone had learned of his bribing Phlegmin and had begun to blackmail him; when Phlegmin was found dead, J'Quille became extremely worried and felt it prudent to contact Valarian. The female Whiphid was annoyed at her supposed former lover; communication was very risky, and she only wanted to hear about Jabba's [[Death/Legends|death]]. She also had another male companion with her at the time. Valarian was about to inform J'Quille of her B'omarr monk spy, who she suspected may have killed Phlegmin, but their call was interrupted by a disturbance in Jabba's throne room, and J'Quille had to leave.<ref name="LetUsPrey" />

Things went awry soon thereafter. Just minutes before the beast's planned escape, the rancor was killed by Rebel Alliance hero [[Luke Skywalker/Legends|Luke Skywalker]];<ref name="Rancor" /> around the same time, J'Quille killed Valarian's B'omarr spy, erroneously believing him to have been the blackmailer.<ref name="LetUsPrey" /> However, Skywalker and his [[Heroes of Yavin/Legends|allies]] were able to [[Battle of the Great Pit of Carkoon|kill]] Jabba, destroying his [[Khetanna/Legends|sail barge]] and taking many of his trusted lieutenants to the grave with him.<ref name="SoT" />

===Taking control===
[[File:Valarian_-_SWGTCG.jpg|thumb|left|Lady Valarian]]
Valarian wasted no time in capitalizing on Jabba's death. She quickly began to take over many of his previous operations, and attempted to hire many of his older smugglers; she was not without competition, however, and lost many potential customers and smugglers to [[Talon Karrde]],<ref name="SoT" /> [[Big Bunji/Legends|Big Bunji]], and others.<ref name="AoC">''[[The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial]]''</ref> Most of those who drifted into Karrde's employ left Tatooine, while other former Jabba employees traveled to [[Hutt Space/Legends|Hutt Space]] to work for the [[Desilijic/Legends|Desilijic]] Clan. After several years, Valarian was the only major crime lord remaining on Tatooine. She knew she had two options to lure criminals to choose her over other crime lords: she could keep them in fear as Jabba had, or become a far more benevolent employer. She opted for the latter route, awarding her smugglers with many rewards and arranging with the authorities to allow her employees to come and go as they pleased, buying their loyalty with currencies Jabba had never used.<ref name="SoT" />

Valarian proved extremely successful, and her influence reached far and wide. When the Rebel Alliance's successor, the [[New Republic/Legends|New Republic]], arrived on Tatooine hoping to establish their governance of the planet, Valarian made huge profit on [[Water/Legends|water]], power, land, and shipping rights, while also arranging tax-exempt status with the New Republic. The Whiphid also negotiated deals with them on her legal commerce; after several years, Valarian had become one of the richest individuals in the system. Part of her deal with the New Republic included that she be given a [[City/Legends|city]] council seat in Mos Entha, the new capital city, so that she would have a voice in the governing of Tatooine. Although most of the government was not happy with her presence, as long as she did not embarrass Mos Entha's mayor with any foiled criminal operations, she was allowed to keep her post. Valarian honored this agreement, and eventually became something of a celebrity on Tatooine, even though most knew of her illegal operations. Valarian relied on corruption and "looking the other way" to keep her criminal organization afloat, though scavenging what was left of Jabba's fortunes was another of her primary concerns: she had many of her thugs attempt to raid the treasures left in Jabba's dormant palace, though the B'omarr monks ensured they never returned from the palace.<ref name="SoT" />

While Valarian put great effort into ensuring she did not become what Jabba had, increasing pressure meant she was unable to stay as disassociated from her criminal deeds as she would have wished while she cracked down on her own people. Jabba's relatives were showing an increased interest in returning to Tatooine, and many of Valarian's employees who had previously worked for Jabba turned against her&mdash;several assassination attempts, many coming from within the ranks of her own organization, narrowly failed. Living in fear, the Whiphid had her palace in Mos Entha converted into a heavily fortified near-fortress. Valarian realized that she was living as Jabba had done in his final days: constantly fending off attacks, uncovering plots, and pitting conspirators against each other. Valarian was growing old, and wished to be less involved in her criminal affairs; she also knew that should she be killed before ensuring she had an able successor, her entire organization would be taken over by the Hutts and things would return to the way they had been under Jabba. Thus, she searched for a protégé to groom as her heir.<ref name="SoT" />

===Later life===
[[File:Shiri'ani.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Valarian with Shiri'ani.]]
Valarian found the protégé she had been looking for in [[Shiri'ani]], a young [[Twi'lek/Legends|Twi'lek]] female who had been left homeless after Jabba's death. Shiri'ani had been hired by Jabba's majordomo, Bib Fortuna, to serve as a dancer in the Hutt's palace, but Jabba had been killed and Fortuna had went missing before she arrived; Shiri'ani was able to escape and lived on the streets of Mos Eisley for a time. Believing that the Twi'lek might know of Jabba's hidden treasure vaults&mdash;which was not the case&mdash;Valarian hired Shiri'ani as a dancer in the ''Lucky Despot''. Shiri'ani quickly demonstrated her keen grasp of business, and before long she had been elevated to barmaid and later to assistant manager by an impressed Valarian.<ref name="SoT" />

Valarian took special interest in her Twi'lek assistant, and began training her to take over the Whiphid's operations when the time came for Valarian to retire. By the time Shiri'ani reached adulthood, Valarian had taught her the tools of the trade: manipulation, negotiation, and the ability to keep others eating out of her hands. After a time, Valarian decided that her protégé should establish a cantina of her own; Shiri'ani purchased a run down [[Bulk freighter/Legends|bulk freighter]]&mdash;practically a duplicate of the ''Lucky Despot''&mdash;in Mos Entha and converted it into a casino and hotel, just as Valarian had done over a decade beforehand. Named the [[Lucky Star (Elerion)|''Lucky Star'']], it was an immediate success as both a hotel and as Shiri'ani's headquarters for her various illegal ventures. But while Valarian trusted Shiri'ani and hoped she would become her heir, the Twi'lek had begun to plot against her. Shiri'ani's associate, [[Firith Olan]]&mdash;actually Bib Fortuna occupying Olan's body&mdash;managed to turn her against Valarian, and the Twi'lek began plotting how she would usurp the Whiphid.<ref name="SoT" />

Around the same time, a Hutt named [[Herogga]] rose to prominence in Mos Entha, and emerged as a serious rival to Valarian's criminal empire. Herogga was extremely secretive, so much so that even his most trusted lieutenants never saw him in the flesh. His operations were quite successful, and he and Valarian&mdash;with Shiri'ani at her side&mdash;became embroiled in an underground war, each side determined to wipe out the other. With the outbreak of the [[Yuuzhan Vong War]] in [[25 ABY/Legends|25 ABY]] and the ruination of the Hutt homeworld, Nal Hutta, [[28 ABY/Legends|three years later]], many Hutts fled to Tatooine to take up residence on the desert planet. Valarian was left with more competition than ever before, though she hoped to make a profit out of the [[Yuuzhan Vong]] invasion.<ref name="SoT" />

==Personality and traits==
Valarian liked to be seen as a fair and approachable employer, and she purposely treated her employees with great respect, giving them reason to stay working with and loyal to her. Her ethos was the opposite of her rival, Jabba's; he ruled through fear and oppression, while she ruled through esteem.<ref name="GG7" /> [[Thwim]], one of Valarian's security guards, viewed her as a great employer and a warm creature overall.<ref name="BandTale audio drama" /> She was extremely ambitious, resourceful, and persistent; while many would have packed up and left Tatooine in her place after Jabba's opposition to her presence, she carried on, eventually making a life for herself.<ref name="GG7" />

However, Valarian was also very aggressive and vengeful, and never let any acts against her go unpunished. When D'Wopp angered her at their wedding, she attacked him, ultimately killing him for one insignificant act.<ref name="BandTale" /> After that, she had no need for men, though she was not averse to seducing and using them when necessary.<ref name="LetUsPrey" /> Valarian's ultimate desire was money, and she cared little for how exactly she got her hands on it.<ref name="SoT" /> She was also known to be cautious in her initial dealings with Jabba, fearing retribution.<ref name="swe" /> Valarian was considered very beautiful on her homeworld,<ref name="BandTale audio drama" /> and she put great pride into her appearance. She was known to wear jewellery on her tusks, which she often painted in different colors. She also tinted her mane various shades and had it curled constantly,<ref name="swe" /> and used strong smelling perfumes.<ref name="LetUsPrey" />

==Behind the scenes==
[[File:ValarianBlue.jpg|thumb|left|Valarian with blue fur.]]
The character of Valarian was created by [[Martin Wixted]] and [[Bill Smith]], as part of the ''[[Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley]]'' sourcebook for ''[[Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game]]''. Some backstory was provided in the book, though Valarian mainly served as a character to be used by gamemasters. She went unused until [[Kathy Tyers]] featured her in a short story named ''[[We Don't Do Weddings: The Band's Tale]]'', which was collected in the ''[[Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina]]'' anthology. ''We Don't Do Weddings'' was one of the first of the short stories in ''Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina'' to be written, so [[Daniel Keys Moran]] based his own contribution, ''[[Empire Blues: The Devaronian's Tale]]'', which also featured Valarian, around Tyers's story.<ref name="Blog">[http://danielkeysmoran.blogspot.com/2007/06/protect-innocent-star-wars-lawrence.html Daniel Keys Moran's blog]</ref> Valarian has since been mentioned in several other sources, including several short stories compiled in ''[[Tales from Jabba's Palace]]'', the short story [[Spare Parts (short story)|''Spare Parts'']], ''[[Rebel Dawn]]'', and ''[[The New Essential Guide to Characters]]''. ''[[Secrets of Tatooine]]'', a sourcebook for the ''[[Star Wars Roleplaying Game]]'', provides much information on Valarian's later life after Jabba's death.

Although Valarian is described as having fur with golden and white color in ''[[The Essential Guide to Characters]]'', Valarian's card in the [[The Topps Company, Inc.|Topps]]' ''[[1996 Topps Star Wars Finest]]'' set shows Valarian with blue fur. However, the chrome covered version of the card has a gold tint to it.<ref name="Star Wars Finest">''[[1996 Topps Star Wars Finest]]'' card #54.</ref>

Valarian's name is similar to [[Wikipedia:Valerian (herb)|Valerian]], a type of herb, and [[Wikipedia:Valerian (emperor)|a Roman emperor named Valerian]].

==Appearances==
*''[[Rebel Dawn]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[We Don't Do Weddings: The Band's Tale]]'' {{1st}}
*[[We Don't Do Weddings: The Band's Tale (audio)|''We Don't Do Weddings: The Band's Tale'' audio drama]]
*{{Shortstory|story=Empire Blues: The Devaronian's Tale|book=Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina}}
*{{Shortstory|story=Play It Again, Figrin D'an: The Tale of Muftak and Kabe|book=Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina}} {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|11|Spare Parts (short story)|Spare Parts}} {{Mo}}
*{{Shortstory|story=Swap Meet: The Jawa's Tale|book=Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina}} {{Mo}}
*[[Nightlily: The Lovers' Tale (audio)|''Nightlily: The Lovers' Tale'' audio drama]] {{Mo}}
*{{Shortstory|story=A Boy and His Monster: The Rancor Keeper's Tale|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley|story=Spice Runner's Gamble}} {{Mo}}
*{{Shortstory|story=And the Band Played On: The Band's Tale|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}} {{Mo}}
*{{Shortstory|story=That's Entertainment: The Tale of Salacious Crumb|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}} {{Mo}}
*{{Shortstory|story=Of the Day's Annoyances: Bib Fortuna's Tale|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}} {{Mo}}
*{{Shortstory|story=Sleight of Hand: The Tale of Mara Jade|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}} {{Mo}}
*{{Shortstory|story=Out of the Closet: The Assassin's Tale|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}} {{Mo}}
*{{Shortstory|story=The Great God Quay: The Tale of Barada and the Weequays|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}} {{Mo}}
*{{Shortstory|story=Let Us Prey: The Whiphid's Tale|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}} {{Hologram}}
*{{Shortstory|story=A Free Quarren in the Palace: Tessek's Tale|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}} {{Mo}}
*{{Shortstory|story=Old Friends: Ephant Mon's Tale|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}}
*{{Shortstory|story=Epilogue: Whatever Became Of...?|book=Tales from Jabba's Palace}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Mos Eisley Adventure Set|story=The Passage From Perdition}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: Trouble on Cloud City]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
*''[[Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley]]'' {{1stm}}
*''[[The Essential Guide to Characters]]''
*''[[The Illustrated Star Wars Universe]]''
*{{CCG|set=Jabba's Palace Limited|cardname=J'Quille}}
*{{CCG|set=Jabba's Palace Limited|cardname=Malakili}}
*''[[Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook, Special Edition]]''
*''[[Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''
*{{EGCite|D|U2C1 Housekeeping Droid}}
*{{EGCite|D|E522 Assassin Droid}}

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Crime lords]]
[[Category:Females]]
[[Category:Tatooinians]]
[[Category:Whiphids]]
[[Category:Valarians]]