INFO: The Talz (pronounced /tælz/) were a large furry race with two distinct sets of eyes: one for day vision, and one for night vision. Their homeworld was Alzoc III, a frozen world with much mineral wealth. They also established a colony on the world of Orto Plutonia. Talz were rarely seen in the galaxy away from their homeworld.
RACE: Talz
HEIGHT: 2 to 2.5 Meters Tall
SKIN (FUR): White to gray
DISTINCTION: Two pairs of eyes, thick white hair
LANGUAGE: Talzzi
HOMEWORLD:Alzoc III - See below post for more info on this planet
Orto Plutonia - See below post for more info on this planet
BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:Talz were large, bipedal creatures, averaging 2 to 2.5 meters tall. Bulky creatures, they were covered head to toe in thick white fur, which provided exceptional insulation against their frozen world. Talz had four eyes, which were also adaptations to their native environment. The larger set of eyes were shut during the day, when sunlight reflected off the snow with dazzling brightness—able to blind sensitive optical organs, leaving the smaller set to navigate with. Alternatively, during the deep darkness of their homeworld's moonless night, the larger pair were utilized to provide the Talz with adequate vision.
Talz used a small proboscis to eat and communicate, using a language of high-pitched chirps and buzzes, with variable pitch an essential feature. Their language was known alternatively as Talzzi.
Talz had extremely large hands, sporting a set of sharp-clawed talons, which tended to make others think twice before getting into a brawl with a Talz. Despite these fierce claws, most Talz were gentle and kind-hearted creatures. They were diligent and tireless workers. As a society, Talz were still a primitive species who had barely evolved sentience by the time the Galactic Empire discovered them. Talz were limited users of tools, constructing primitive shelters to further protect them from the icy cold climate though they still understood basic technological concepts like blaster fire and speeders. Their psychology and societal relationships, however, were very complex—based on clans and extended families—with sophisticated mechanisms for redistribution of resources to provide the greatest benefit for the species. The Talz had no concept of ownership, and instead "borrowed" objects from neighbors if needed, or gave away objects they did not own. Many non-Talz deemed them to be thieves as a result. For this reason, non-Talz who worked with them kept all objects and tools under lock and key. Many people who worked with Talz thought that trying to teach them the meaning of ownership was a wasted effort.
CULTURE AND HISTORY:The earliest recorded sightings of Talz dated back to the time of the Old Sith Wars. They indicate that at least some Talz had left their homeworld by 3,993 BBY. Despite their lack of hyperdrive technology, the Talz had established a colony on Orto Plutonia by the time of the Clone Wars.
At some point prior to the Battle of Coruscant, a Talz named Foul Moudama became a member of the Jedi Order. He lost his life protecting Supreme Chancellor Palpatine during that battle. Obi-Wan Kenobi already had knowledge of the Talz species, including their name, when he came across their colony on Orto Plutonia. After a very brief war with the Pantorans, the Talz of Orto Plutonia were once again left alone, being recognized as rightful rulers of that planet.
Imperial scouts found the Talz around 15 BBY as Emperor Palpatine's New Order was finishing off what remained of the Galactic Republic. The Empire recognized a species well built for manual labor and enslaved the Talz of Alzoc III, forcing them to work in the Empire's mining operations. The Imperial authorities decided to leave these events out of official records since it was easier for them to enslave a species that was not generally known to exist. As a result, very few Talz were seen outside of the Alzoc system. Those that were found offworld were considered escaped slaves, with a 5000 credit Imperial bounty payable for their recapture or termination.
Prior to his tour of duty on Bakura, Pter Thanas served as the commanding officer of a mining operation on Alzoc III which utilized the labor of enslaved Talz natives. Thanas gained the gratitude of the Talz workforce when he increased their food rations, claiming that better nutrition would increase work output. The Talz repaid him when they saved Thanas from falling down a mineshaft. When a less sympathetic Imperial colonel arrived six months later to replace Thanas, he immediately returned the Talz’s food rations to their previous levels. A Talz leader protested the change and the colonel ordered Thanas to destroy the Talz village as a demonstration of Imperial will. Thanas refused and was summarily reassigned to Bakura in 1 ABY.
A Talz named Muftak and his inseparable companion, a Chadra-Fan named Kabe, were in Chalmun's Cantina in Mos Eisley when Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker hired Han Solo. Talz were also seen on such diverse planets as Feriae Junction and Phaeda.
Throughout the Galactic Civil War, the Talz hoped in vain that the Empire would leave Alzoc III and allow their life to return to normal. The New Order never officially recognized the Talz as a sentient species, not wanting to be burdened by the Rights of Sentience. The fall of the Empire meant freedom for the Talz. Mining on the planet continued under New Republic supervision, allowing the Talz to trade and mingle with other species.
Even after the fall of the Empire, various warlords (most notably Warlord Zsinj) used Talz captives for scientific experimentation. When Zsinj invaded Alzoc III, his scientists tried to mutate the species into more "Human" beings.Among the projects that Warlord Zsinj may have used Talz for were Project Chubar and Project Minefield, headed by Dr. Edda Gast. When Wraith Squadron was invited aboard Zsinj's Executor-class Star Dreadnought Iron Fist, Flight Officer Castin Donn infiltrated a biomedical laboratory and freed a Talz captive. Donn died in the process, though the Talz he freed slaughtered several of Zsinj's personnel before finally being killed by a stormtrooper. Wraith Squadron's efforts were able to save the mutated Talz from Imperial experimentation.
In 23 ABY, a young Talz also trained at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Praxeum alongside Jacen and Jaina Solo.
Some Talz served as stormtroopers in the Empire-in-exile, circa 140 ABY.
APPEARANCES:"Shadows and Light" - Star Wars Tales 23
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 25: Vector, Part 1 (Appears in hologram)
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 31: Turnabout
Episode I Adventures 2: The Bartokk Assassins
Episode I Adventures 3: The Fury of Darth Maul
Starfighter: Crossbones
The Clone Wars: Cold Snap
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Trespass"
Labyrinth of Evil
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 23"
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 24"
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 25"
Evasive Action: Recruitment
"Stop That Jawa!" - Star Wars Tales 2
Smuggler's Blues (Ambiguously canonical source)
Star Wars: Empire at War (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption (Mentioned only)
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (First appearance)
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope junior novel
Play It Again, Figrin D'an: The Tale of Muftak and Kabe
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed game
'"The Emperor's Court" - Star Wars Tales 14 (Non-canonical appearance)
Star Wars 19: The Ultimate Gamble
Star Wars 23: Flight Into Fury
Star Wars 27: Return of the Hunter
The Star Wars Holiday Special
Star Wars Empire: Idiot's Array
The Game Chambers of Questal (Picture only)
Only Droids Serve the Maker (Mentioned only)
Galaxy of Fear: The Doomsday Ship
"Walking the Path That's Given" - Star Wars Tales 21
Star Wars Galaxies – An Empire Divided
The Return of Tag & Bink: Special Edition (Non-canonical appearance)
The Truce at Bakura (Mentioned only)
X-wing Rogue Squadron: Apple Jacks Special Bonus Story
X-wing Rogue Squadron: The Phantom Affair
X-wing Rogue Squadron: Battleground: Tatooine
X-wing: Iron Fist
Crimson Empire
Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood
Children of the Jedi
Young Jedi Knights: Heirs of the Force
Young Jedi Knights: Diversity Alliance (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: Chewbacca (Appears in flashback(s))
Dark Tide II: Ruin (Mentioned only)
Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial (Mentioned only)
Balance Point
Star Wars Legacy 2: Broken, Part 2
SOURCES:Galaxy Guide 1: A New Hope
Galaxy Guide 4: Alien Races
Heroes & Rogues
Star Wars Gamemaster Handbook, Second Edition
Star Wars Gamemaster Screen
Wretched Hives of Scum and Villainy
Mos Eisley Adventure Set
Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Premiere Limited (Card: Talz)
The Essential Guide to Alien Species
The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons
"Who Is That Alien? Wookiees & Talz" - Star Wars Kids 2
Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995)
Alien Anthology
Ultimate Alien Anthology
The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
Star Wars Kids 2
"Rogues Gallery: Fringers" - Star Wars Gamer 7 (Picture only)
"Reckonings" - Star Wars Gamer 7 (Picture only)
"The Vaynai Archipelago" - Star Wars Gamer 8 (Picture only)
The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide
Shaggy Slaves: The Gentle Talz on Wizards.com (article)
Star Wars: The Official Figurine Collection 57 (Gentle Beings: Talz)
Unknown Soldier: The Story of General Grievous
The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
Legacy Era Campaign Guide
Riyo Chuchi in the Databank
Chi Cho in the Databank
Kabe in the Databank
Foul Moudama in the Databank
Muftak in the Databank
Narglatch in the Databank
Orto Plutonia in the Databank
Pantoran in the Databank
Talz in the Databank
Thi-Sen in the Databank
I would like to thank Wookieepedia for this info.