Yam'rii/Legends
The Yam'rii, also known as the Huk, were a sentient species of insects who hailed from the planet Huk. They had mantis-like bodies, with large, multifaceted eyes, thin torsos, knobby carapaces, and pointed feet. Some members of the species had large, clipper-like forelimbs that could be used as weapons, while others featured two fingers instead. They stood two meters or more in height and walked about on two legs. Members of the species were known as stealthy predators who were easily angered. They loved meat and eggs and had no compunctions about eating the eggs of other sentient species.
After gaining access to hyperspace technology, the Yam'rii began an aggressive expansionist phase during which they sought out valuable materials for trade on nearby worlds and founded colonies to exploit them. They eventually reached the nearby planet Kalee, where they enslaved the native Kaleesh. The reptilian captives fought back, and the two species were soon embroiled in a war. After years of fighting, the Kaleesh gained the upper hand under the leadership of a warrior named Qymaen jai Sheelal—who later rechristened himself Grievous. The Yam'rii were driven from their colonies and almost wiped out as the Kaleesh destroyed whole settlements and killed even civilian Yam'rii. The insectoids orchestrated several corrupt deals with members of the Galactic Republic to put a stop to the hostilities, and the Kaleesh were saddled with devastating punitive measures while the Yam'rii were portrayed as victims and thus faced no sanctions. Decades later, the Yam'rii were part of the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances. During the Swarm War, however, Yam'rii were among the insectoids who became Joiners and fought alongside the Killiks.
Biology and appearance
Yam'rii were sentient, bipedal[1] insects.[2] The Yam'rii had both male[9] and female sexes.[10]
Members of the species were considered strange-looking by many non-Yam'rii.[11] Their giant,[10] mantis-like bodies stood two meters[3] or more in height[4] and were divided into three major sections: head, thorax, and abdomen.[1] They were strong, burly creatures,[8] although they remained stealthy despite their size.[12] Yam'rii were carnivorous, subsisting on meat and eggs[8]—and, according to rumor, their own kind. Yam'rii blood was green in color.[5]
Large, multifaceted eyes dominated the beings' wedge-shaped heads.[3][1] These orbs could be either gray[5] or red. At least some members of the species had pupil-like spots on their eyes.[4] Nostrils lay below the eyes,[13] although in most Yam'rii these were imperceptible. A mass of bumplike protrusions at the front of the head acted as a mouth and taste organ,[1] known to shudder at the prospect of a meal.[3] In some specimens, the maw could be opened wide to reveal white teeth.[4] Dual knobby crests grew from the beings' heads with other bumps in between. A spiky ridge ran along the back of the head.[1]
A long, narrow neck supported the head on broad, rounded shoulders. In many Yam'rii, both the neck and thorax were diamond-shaped in cross-section, with the more acute edges toward the front and back.[1] Other members of the species had two rows of raised bumps on the front and back of the torso instead.[14] The midsection was dominated by two arms held before the body mantis-like, the first of the double padded joints bent upward and the second downward.[1] In most Yam'rii, these arms were shaped like giant clippers: the upper limb had a barbed,[6] serrated cutting edge on its underside, and the lower part of the limb narrowed to a point;[1] together, both halves acted like shears.[6] Other Yam'rii, however, had two fingers and a thumb instead, trading deadly, natural weapons for the ability to perform fine manipation.[4] Yam'rii forelimbs could grow so large as to drag the ground when the being walked.[9] The thorax tapered greatly at the waist, where the round, bulbous abdomen began. This posterior section came to a point in the back and featured striations along its length. The species' legs had a single knee joint and ended in jagged, pointed feet;[1] these were bifurcated into two digits in those Yam'rii with fine manipulator forelimbs.[4]
Yam'rii were encased in hard carapaces[15] that were knobby, striated,[5] and colored gray,[4] brown,[5] or green.[2] A lighter shade sometimes re of the and abdomen.[16] Members of the species wore minimal clothing, such as cloth skirts,[1] belts, or bandoleers with pockets for carrying possessions.[5]
Society and culture
The Yam'rii hailed from the planet Huk, a world near the Kalee system[7] just outside Bitthævrian space.[15] They were a technological culture with full access to hyperspace-capable spacecraft[5] and modern droids. In fact, the manufacturer Industrial Automaton gave its LOM-series protocol droid series insectoid features in the hopes of appealing to Yam'rii and other insectoid consumers.[17]
Members of the species were known for their quick tempers and lust for the property of others.[5] They showed little concern for non-Yam'rii; members of the species were known to eat the eggs of sentient species such as Quor'sav, for example, so mothers and caretakers of such creches had to keep careful watch when in a Yam'rii's company.[3] After years of war, the species came to be regarded as downright savage by their wartime enemies.[18] During these conflicts, the species was ruled by warlords.[19] Nevertheless, some Yam'rii did integrate into galactic society and form relationships with members of other species.[20]
History
Evolution and expansion
The Yam'rii descended from non-sentient insects. At some point in their evolutionary path, they split from the line that would eventually become their distant relatives, the Verpine.[8] The Yam'rii regarded the planet Huk, located in Wild Space, as their homeworld.[7][21]
Yam'rii in the galaxy
Yam'rii were aggressive expansionists who founded numerous colonies on disparate worlds, conquering any who stood in their way. Although many members of the species distinguished themselves in war,[5] a few earned a name for themselves in other pursuits.[3][22]
Kitik Keed'kak was one such being. She was a powerfully built,[11] sly, and stealthy member of her species.[3] Although she was handy with all sorts of technology, her love for eggs consumed her to the point that in 0 BBY, she was virtually stalking the Quor'sav mother Kal'Falnl C'ndros to eat the avian's brood.[3][23] Keed'kak had a penchant to upbraid and excoriate anyone who distracted her from her goal[1]—with the exception of her friend, the young Human thief Swilla Corey.[20] Keed'kak was drinking at the Mos Eisley Cantina on the planet Tatooine in 0 BBY on the same day that Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker were looking for passage to Alderaan.[24] At the moment Kenobi sliced up the Aqualish thug Ponda Baba, Keed'kak was directing Corey to a Pacithhip spacer in the cantina named Ketwol.[20] She later left the cantina as the stormtrooper Davin Felth entered the building.[25]
A Yam'rii of the fingered variety, Rek, was a majordomo and bodyguard who worked for the Black Sun gangster Grappa the Hutt in the days of the New Republic.[22] Rek was stationed at Grappa's base on the planet Genon. In 11 ABY, Rek was present when Grappa received the prisoner Forma from the pirate Sol Mon.[26] The Yam'rii later accompanied Grappa to the planet Smarck to meet the smuggler Macus Kayniph.[14] When Grappa later murdered Kayniph at his palace on Genon, Rek was among those gassed by his master to cover up the killing and make it appear to be part of a larger accident.[27]
Behind the scenes
- "This turned out to be one of my favorite Star Wars illustrations in a while. It's just appealing to me in a B-monster movie kind of way with the attacking Huk insectoids, creepy masks and green blood spattered swords."
- ―Joe Corroney
Stuart Freeborn designed the model that would become the Yam'rii in England during production of the cantina sequence of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, released in 1977. The actual prop used in the film was a puppet constructed by the special effects team in London and filmed on set as part of principal photography.[29] The character was referred to as the "Praying Mantis" during production.[3] An uncredited Jack Purvis, the same actor who portrayed the chief Jawa in the film,[29] hid under the alien's skirt[30] and operated it via strings attached to its limbs.[12] Despite being one of the most intricate and complex props created for the scene, the Praying Mantis is difficult to spot in the final film.[29]
The species was first identified as the Yam'rii—and the individual seen in A New Hope as Kitik Keed'kak—in Decipher's Star Wars Customizable Card Game in 1995. The card featuring the character established several key features of the species, such as their great strength and love for eggs. The card's statistics make Keed'kak one of the more physically powerful characters in the game, although she is immediately lost if the card representing the Quor'sav mother Kal'falnl C'ndros is present at the same location.[23]
Mantis-like aliens appear in a few sources but have not been specifically identified as Yam'rii. For example, a mantid bounty hunter with serrated arms is a member of the Guild Council, the leading body of the Bounty Hunters' Guild, in The Mandalorian Armor.[31]
Appearances
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope novelization (First appearance)
- Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
- A More Wretched Hive: The Mos Eisley Cantina
- "When the Desert Wind Turns: The Stormtrooper's Tale"—Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina
- Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood
Sources
Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Premiere Limited (Card: Kitik Keed'kak) (backup link) (First identified as Yam'rii)- Star Wars: Chronicles
- Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: Behind the Magic
- Star Wars: The Magic of Myth (book) (Concept design)
- The Essential Guide to Droids ("LOM Protocol Droid")
