INFO: The Nikto were a reptilian humanoid species from the planet Kintan in the Si'Klaata Cluster with many subspecies.
RACE: Nikto
HEIGHT: 1.6 to 1.9 Meters Tall
SKIN: Varied with subspecies
DISTINCTION: Varied with subspecies
LANGUAGE: Nikto, Huttese
HOMEWORLD:Kintan was the home world of the Niktos. After a supernova explosion near the system, evolution of the Nikto divided into five subspecies. Kintan was located within the Si'Klaata Cluster, on the Ac'fren Spur.
Kintan striders, also found around the galaxy as pets of Hutts, were originally from Kintan. However, they were driven to extinction on the planet itself.
In 26,000 BBY, the Cult of M'dweshuu formed on Kintan. This violent cult worshiped the nearby M'dweshuu supernova. Around 25,130 BBY, the Cult came to power, and the planet was plunged into four civil wars. In 25,100 BBY, under the terms of the Treaty of Vontor, the Niktos were permanently indentured to the Hutts. The Cult did briefly drive the Hutts offworld about 1,000 BBY. Kintan apparently did join the Galactic Republic at least two decades before the Clone Wars, having direct Senate representation. A new wave of Cult violence broke out in 22 BBY, making travel on the Sisar Run dangerous.
The Morgukai warrior tradition arose on the planet, elite and isolated from other Nikto. In 29 BBY, exiled Twi'lek Kh'aris Fenn took up residence in Fortress Kh'aris on Kintan, guarded by the last two Morgukai, Tsyr and Bok. The two Morgukai kidnapped the Twi'lek heir Nat Secura and brought him to the fortress, but the Jedi saved Nat and slew Tsyr. Bok died on Saleucami during the Outer Rim Sieges in 19 BBY, along with an army of his clones.
The planet was later taken over by the Yuuzhan Vong in 26 ABY.
BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:The Nikto species featured five distinct mutated sub-species due to a massive radiation from a dying nearby star M'dweshuu, which sped up the rate of mutation so that traits that normally took millions of years to occur instead took only thousands of years. The five sub-species inhabited different geographic areas of Kintan, developing unique adaptations to suit the different environments on the planet.
The varying appearance of the Nikto sub-species caused confusion amongst those who were unfamiliar with the Nikto, but all Nikto had certain similarities; leathery skin, sometimes covered with spikes or horns, as well as eyes that included a protective membrane to shield against Kintan's harsh environment. Lacking the musculature required for complex facial expressions, Nikto were often underestimated in assessments of their intelligence due to their 'staring' eyes and 'blank' expressions.
While each subspecies of the Nikto was physically distinct and originated from different parts of Kintan, Nikto from different subspecies could easily interbreed. 93% of the offspring from such unions ended up with the characteristics of only one parent's race, with the rest combining the traits of two subspecies.
Kajain'sa'NiktoThe most common subspecies, the Kajain'sa'Nikto or "Red Nikto", adapted to survive in the Wannschok, or "Endless Wastes", a desert region on Kintan. They had a series of forehead ridges and small facial horns surrounding their eyes and on the chin. Their noses were covered with a movable flap of skin and a semi-permeable membrane which allowed the Nikto to breathe without ingesting sand and grit. The Kajain'sa'Nikto also had a pair of breathing tubes on each side of the neck with openings covered by similar membranes. These membranes also trapped exhaled water vapor and sent it back into their system. Their equivalent of smiling was flattening their mouth flaps.
Most Morgukai warriors were of this race.
Kadas'sa'NiktoKadas'sa'Nikto, or "Green Nikto," originated in the milder climatic regions of Kintan, such as the forests and the seacoasts. Their scaly faces had small facial horns surrounding the eyes and on the chin. Their main distinguishing feature was the long climbing claws on their hands, which could also be used in combat.
Esral'sa'NiktoEsral'sa'Nikto, or "Mountain Nikto", adapted to the variable climate of the mountains of Kintan. They had large facial fins which were used for heat regulation. These fins also improved the Esral'sa'Nikto's hearing. Their skin was blue-gray, and they had neither horns nor breathing tubes, though they did have a covered nose similar to the Kajain'sa'Nikto.
Gluss'sa'NiktoGluss'sa'Nikto, or "Pale Nikto", came from the Gluss'elta Islands of Kintan, causing them to be natural sailors. They had white-gray skin, eye-horns like the Kadas'sa'Nikto, and fins similar to those of the Esral'sa'Nikto, but smaller. Xenobiologists believed the first Gluss'sa'Nikto to have been born of a Kadas'sa'Nikto who mated with an Esral'sa'Nikto.
M'shento'su'NiktoM'shento'su'Nikto, or "Southern Nikto", had no horns, a covered nose, and several pairs of breathing tubes. These tubes were larger than those of the Kajain'sa'Nikto, and also acted as primitive ultrasonic sensory organs. Their skin color varied from white to yellow or orange.
CULTURE AND HISTORY:Early in their development, tensions between the sub-species erupted into four bloody wars, although as their civilizations advanced, conquering the dangerous mutated flora and fauna of Kintan united them.
Allegiance to the HuttsAround 25,130 BBY, the Nikto were discovered by the Hutts during a high point in the Cult of M'dweshuu's reign of fear. The Hutts, led by Churabba the Hutt, crushed the cult, and the Nikto offered their allegiance to the Hutts in return. Shortly thereafter, the Nikto fought alongside other newly discovered Hutt-aligned species like the Klatooinians and the Vodrans against the forces of Xim the Despot during the Hutt-Xim conflict. Their fierce combat skills proved crucial at the Third Battle of Vontor when Xim the Despot was defeated.
Firmly placed under the control of the Hutts by the Treaty of Vontor, the Nikto served as bodyguards and soldiers for almost 25,000 years, and had limited independent involvement in most galactic events as a result. As late as 4 ABY, Jabba Desilijic Tiure had many Niktos in his crime organization as foot soldiers and bodyguards.
Days of the Old RepublicDuring the time of the Jedi Civil War, the rank-and-file membership of the Black Vulkars swoop gang on Taris was composed largely of Kadas'sa'Nikto.
The Nikto produced at least five Jedi during the waning days of the Galactic Republic: Fi-Ek Sirch, Bhat Jul, Ausar Auset, J'oopi Shé, and Ma'kis'shaalas.
Under the EmpireDuring the Galactic Civil War many Kajain'sa'Nikto and Kadas'sa'Nikto worked for Jabba Desilijic Tiure on Tatooine and took advantage of his demise in 4 ABY to become free beings.
THE CULT OF M'DWESHUU:Nikto civilization gradually developed to a pre-star travel level, when they gained an understanding of M'dweshuu's influence on their species and their world. Numerous cults and secret societies developed in praise of M'dweshuu, offering sacrifice through bloodshed. The most prominent of these was the Cult of M'dweshuu, which rose and fell several times through its history. Another secret society was the Morgukai.
The CultThe Cult of M'dweshuu was a brutal religious sect originating on the Nikto homeworld of Kintan.
This Cult, which predated the Republic, worshiped the nearby star M'dweshuu, whose radiation caused a high Nikto mutation rate. Followers of the Cult sought to appease the star through blood sacrifices. As such, its followers were common among violent or dangerous professions. The Hutts put down the M'dweshuu Cult "on numerous occasions", but never quite succeeded in eradicating it. The Cult once ruled Kintan, which necessitated the planet's brutal annexation by the Hutts centuries before the Clone Wars.
During the Great Sith War, the Cult briefly gained a resurgence as they attempted to kill Churabba the Hutt. Shortly before the Clone Wars commenced there was an outbreak of increased M'dweshuu Cult violence when adherents found their way off Kintan and plagued the Sisar Run area of the Periphery. As of 13:2:28, they had killed and ritually mutilated 27 travelers. At this point in time, the Cult was estimated to number less than 100 individuals. Dorosii the Hutt, Appointed Intermediate to the Galactic Senate, assured Republic officials that the Hutts did not require their intervention to resolve the situation. However the Jedi Council was reportedly looking into the matter.
Jasper McKnives was an adherent of this cult.
MORGUKAI:The Morgukai were one of several secret societies formed in the history of the Nikto people of Kintan. Little was known of the order, but its members (usually of the Kajain'sa'Nikto race) were renowned for their intense hatred of the Jedi and their strict code of honor. Morgukai followers used armor and staffs infused with cortosis alloy, which was resistant to the lightsabers used by their Jedi nemesis. To fight their sworn enemies, they developed mental exercises to resist the Jedi mind trick.
Their order bore some similarity to that of the Jedi. Fathers took their sons as apprentices, training them in the deadly arts. An example of this is the master-student bond between the Nikto Tsyr and Bok. Also, Morgukai initiates were required to build their own cortosis staffs as a test of their devotion to the order. Despite their violent ways, the Morgukai had a strong sense of honor.
The Morgukai were prominent during the days of the Galactic Republic. Sometime before the Clone Wars, the Devaronian, Vilmarh Grahrk, recruited a pair of Morgukai warriors Tsyr and Bok to help him in a plot against Clan Secura. However, the former was killed by Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos and the latter lost his hand to his apprentice, Aayla Secura.
During the Clone Wars, the Confederacy of Independent Systems offered to Bok the chance to resurrect his order. They cloned him, creating hundreds of new Morgukai, on Saleucami, intending to create their own clone army to use against the Republic. Their existence was discovered by Jedi Master Tholme, who informed the Republic, causing Saleucami to be blockaded. For five months, the Republic fought against the Morgukai legions. By the siege's end, all of the clones, including their progenitor were killed.
During the rise of the Galactic Empire, the Morgukai cult went into recession and virtually disappeared with the last known (former) Morgukai, the Jedi Ma'kis'shaalas, being killed by Darth Vader in the Conclave of Kessel. By the Legacy Era, a single Morgukai served as part of the pirate Rav's crew and went with him to Zeltros during a meeting to enlist Cade Skywalker's help. However, during the meeting, Skywalker insulted the Morgukai who went into a rage and attacked Cade only for him to be Force pushed into a waterfall.
APPEARANCES:Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic
Tales of the Jedi (audio)
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Nights of Anger
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II
Jedi vs. Sith
Darth Bane: Rule of Two (Mentioned only)
Jedi Council: Acts of War
Darth Maul: Saboteur
Cloak of Deception
Star Wars: Darth Maul 2
Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace / comic
Episode I: Queen Amidala
Episode I: Qui-Gon Jinn
Star Wars Republic: Outlander
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
Nomad
Star Wars Republic: Emissaries to Malastare
Star Wars Republic: Twilight
Heart of Fire (Appears in flashback(s))
Star Wars Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War (Appears in flashback(s))
Star Wars Republic 41: The Devaronian Version, Part 2
Star Wars Republic: Rite of Passage
Star Wars Republic 46: Honor and Duty, Part 1
Star Wars Republic 47: Honor and Duty, Part 2
Nikto Cultists Plague Sisar Run—HoloNet News Vol. 531 45
Dooku Spotted in Gree Enclave—HoloNet News Vol. 531 54
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones / comic
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 6"
"Old Scores" - Clone Wars Adventures: Volume 8
Star Wars Republic 54: Double Blind
Republic Commando: Triple Zero
Republic Commando: True Colors (Mentioned only)
Star Wars Republic: The Battle of Jabiim
Star Wars Republic 59: Enemy Lines
Star Wars Republic: Show of Force
"Means and Ends" - Clone Wars Adventures: Volume 6
MedStar I: Battle Surgeons
MedStar II: Jedi Healer
Star Wars: The Clone Wars film / novel
Star Wars The Clone Wars 5: Slaves of the Republic - Chapter 5: A Slave now, a Slave forever
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Volume 1: Shipyards of Doom
Star Wars The Clone Wars Volume 2: Crash Course
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Dooku Captured"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Mystery of a Thousand Moons"
Star Wars Republic: The Dreadnaughts of Rendili
"Life Below" - Clone Wars Adventures: Volume 9
Star Wars Republic: Trackdown
Star Wars Republic: The Siege of Saleucami
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Evasive Action: Prey
"The Order of Outcasts" - Clone Wars Adventures: Volume 5
Star Wars Republic 78: Loyalties
Star Wars Republic: Into the Unknown
Star Wars: Purge
Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows
A Hunter's Fate: Greedo's Tale
Star Wars Missions 13: Prisoner of the Nikto Pirates
Star Wars Missions 14: The Monsters of Dweem
Star Wars Missions 16: Imperial Jailbreak
Star Wars Empire 19: Target: Vader
Star Wars Rebellion 0: Crossroads
Star Wars Rebellion: The Ahakista Gambit
The Star Wars Holiday Special (First appearance)
Star Wars Galaxies – An Empire Divided
Star Wars Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine
Shadows of the Empire novel / comic / video game
"Fortune, Fate, and the Natural History of the Sarlacc" - Star Wars Tales 6
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi 1: In the Hands of Jabba the Hutt
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi 2: The Emperor Commands
Shadows of the Empire: Evolution
Three Against the Galaxy
X-wing Rogue Squadron: The Phantom Affair
Crimson Empire
The Bounty Hunters: Kenix Kil
Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood
Darksaber
Star Wars: Chewbacca
The Unifying Force
Tempest
Millennium Falcon
Star Wars Legacy: Broken
Star Wars Legacy: Trust Issues
Star Wars Legacy: Claws of the Dragon
Star Wars Legacy 26: The Hidden Temple, Part 2 (Cover only)
Star Wars Legacy 32: Fight Another Day, Part 1
Star Wars Legacy 36: Renegade
Star Wars Legacy 37: Tatooine, Part 1
Star Wars Legacy 42: Divided Loyalties
SOURCES:Star Wars: Return of the Jedi toy line
Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995)
Galaxy Guide 12: Aliens — Enemies and Allies
Star Wars: Behind the Magic
The Essential Guide to Alien Species
The Official Star Wars Fact File 125 (NIK1-2, Nikto)
The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
The New Essential Chronology
Power of the Jedi Sourcebook (Picture only)
Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Jabba's Palace (Card: Nikto)
Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Jabba's Palace (Card: Giran)
Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Jabba's Palace (Card: Nysad)
Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive
"A Mon Alone"
Star Wars Miniatures: Clone Strike
Star Wars Miniatures: Bounty Hunters
Race for the Tessent
"University of Sanbra Guide to Intelligent Life: The Nikto" - Star Wars Gamer 6
A Night at Tosche Station on Wizards.com (article)
"Race for the Tessent" - Star Wars Gamer 9
"Toy Wars" - Star Wars Insider 107
Barada in the Databank
Klatooinian in the Databank
Jasper McKnives in the Databank
Morgukai in the Databank
Nikto in the Databank
Quinlan Vos in the Databank
I would like to thank Wookieepedia for this info.
