Topic: The Ewoks

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INFO: Ewoks were sentient diminutive furry bipeds native to the forest moon of Endor. They were most notable for helping the Rebel Alliance defeat the forces of the Galactic Empire at the Battle of Endor, allowing the shield generator there to be destroyed, and in turn, the second Death Star.

Ewoks were curious individuals that stood about one meter tall; they were omnivorous and used spears, slings, and knives as weapons; they also used hang gliders, battle wagons, and bordoks as vehicles. Although extremely skilled in forest survival and the construction of primitive technology like gliders and catapults, the Ewoks had yet to progress past stone-level technology when discovered by the Empire. They were quick learners, however, when exposed to advanced technology with simple mechanical processes and concepts.

Some Ewoks were removed from their planet and taken as pets or slaves. Others left voluntarily out of a sense of curiosity, especially after the Battle of Endor led to the establishment of New Republic trading posts on the Forest Moon.


RACE: Ewok
HEIGHT: 1 Meter Tall
SKIN (FUR): Varies from Ewok to Ewok
DISTINCTION: Furry, short stature, acute sense of smell
LANGUAGE: Ewokese

HOMEWORLD:
Endor (also known as the Forest Moon of Endor and the Sanctuary Moon) was a small forested moon orbiting the gas giant planet of Endor. An enchanted world, Endor was notable for being the native home of the Ewoks, and being the location of the Battle of Endor, which would result in the downfall of the Empire and the first death of the Emperor Palpatine. Due to its proximity to the inhospitable Unknown Regions, Endor was a relatively quiet planetoid both prior to and after the battle.



Endor was also known for the vast amount of sentient species it supported, from baseline to exotic. This was largely due to the extremely large number of shipwrecks Endor experienced; it has been compared to a "desert island" in space. For further information see below post.

BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:
Ewoks were sentient humanoid mammals, averaging about one meter in height, which could provide an advantage when trying to hide. They were covered in fur from head to toe, with brown and black the most common colors. Other Ewoks had near-white[5] or reddish fur. Most Ewoks had solid-colored fur, though a few sported stripes. Ewoks had large, bright eyes, small black noses, and hands that possessed two fingers and an opposable thumb. Despite their small size, Ewoks were physically strong enough to overpower combat-trained Humans. The Human Mace Towani likened their appearance to "little bears".

CULTURE AND HISTORY:
Before the Galactic Empire arrived, visitors from other star systems were rare. Despite this, the Ewoks of Bright Tree Village led by Chief Chirpa and the medicine man Logray had surprisingly extensive contact with offworlders. These Ewoks helped the shipwrecked Humans Mace and Cindel Towani rescue their parents from a Gorax. Later, a group of Sanyassan Marauders who had crashed on the Forest Moon several decades earlier attacked the Ewoks, killing all of the Towani family except for Cindel, and taking several Ewoks prisoner. A young Ewok named Wicket W. Warrick helped Cindel and another shipwrecked Human (Noa Briqualon) defeat the Sanyassans, rescue the prisoners, and find the parts needed to repair Briqualon's ship. Finally, they helped stop an Imperial scientist named Dr. Raygar, who attempted to steal the sacred Sunstone and use it to take control of the Empire.

The Ewoks also had contact with the many other sentient species on the Forest Moon, such as the Yuzzums, Gupins, Lizard Warriors, and Teeks. Their cousins, the swamp-dwelling Duloks, were rivals of the Ewoks, and often made trouble for them.

Nor, it must be realized, were Ewoks totally unknown in the wider galaxy—on some planets, the phrase "a Rodian in Ewok's clothing" was proverbial to describe a duplicitously dangerous individual. Mon Mothma used the phrase in a speech she gave on Agamar before the Battle of Yavin.

Imperial Presence
When the Empire began operations on the moon of Endor, they dismissed the primitive species as harmless. However, a botched attempt at first contact with Ewoks by some Imperial soldiers resulted in Ewoks terrorizing Imperial positions. Imperial operations were situated around the area near Bright Tree Village. Princess Leia Organa, part of a Rebel strike team, met and befriended Wicket W. Warrick, who took her back to his village as an honored guest.

Meanwhile, another group of Ewoks had captured Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Han Solo, R2-D2, and C-3PO. When these Ewoks saw the protocol droid C-3PO, they identified him as a long-prophesied god called "The Golden One". Despite Wicket and Leia's protests, Logray would have sacrificed them as a feast in C-3PO's honor. Skywalker's use of the Force combined with C-3PO's warnings soon changed Chief Chirpa's mind, however.

That night, Threepio told the Council of Elders the adventures of the Rebel heroes. The Ewoks accepted the Rebels into their tribe, and allied themselves to their cause. The Ewoks helped in the ground battle to destroy the Imperial shield generator on the forest floor, and their primitive weapons felled the stormtroopers and the scout walkers of the Empire, although they took many losses to Imperial blaster fire. This assistance paved the way for the destruction of the second Death Star and the Rebel victory at the Battle of Endor. Later that night, the Ewoks held a huge celebration that could be heard throughout the forest.

After the Battle of Endor, some Imperial propaganda stated that the Ewoks were driven into extinction due to the after effects of the battle. The Endor Moon Hoax uncovered by Ebenn Q3 Baobab may have been connected with this Imperial propaganda. In fact, the Rebel forces managed to stop the debris from the Death Star II from having a serious environmental effect on the forest moon.

After the Rebellion reorganized into the Alliance of Free Planets, the Alliance used Bright Tree Village as their headquarters for a brief period of time. Even with the Imperial forces gone from Endor, it was a turbulent time for the Ewoks. The Hiromi instigated a conflict between the Lahsbee and the Ewoks, which was resolved through the Alliance's efforts. Soon afterwards, a second battle was fought in the skies above Endor when the Alliance was attacked by Nagai and Maccabree forces led by the self-proclaimed Dark Lady of the Sith Lumiya.

Though the Alliance forces left Endor soon after fighting off Lumiya's forces, the Ewoks had become part of the Galactic community. In the next few years, several Ewoks even found their way off Endor. Most Ewoks who traveled off-world were adventurous individuals, such as the smuggler Tarfang, or the Ewok soldiers who joined the New Republic forces at the Fourth Battle of Coruscant in 10 ABY. By 9 ABY, there was also a significant Ewok colony on the planet Svivren, although it is not known when or how they first settled there.

On Endor itself, the New Republic later set up semi-permanent outposts (such as Salfur's Trading Post) near Ewok villages. Through these seasonally staffed outposts, the Ewoks of Endor remained in intermittent contact with the outside galaxy as non-participating members of the New Republic.

FAMILY:
The tribal structure of the Ewoks had a Council of Elders ruling over each village, headed by a chief. A medicine man also lived in the Ewok village, a keeper of mystical lore, and a healer to the injured. The warriors of the different tribes wore raggedy garments on the head to signify the Ewok's tribe. The warriors also wore wooden chest shields, the jawbones of tiny animals, and sharp teeth. Some decorated themselves with ornaments such as feathers, necklaces, and pendants, making their body look like a clutter of trinkets.

Prominent members of Ewok tribes carried totems to symbolize their rank. The lead warrior wore a headdress made of feathers called the "white wings of hope". The eldest son of the tribal leader's family wore a headdress called the "red wings of courage". The second son wore the "blue wings of strength".

Unmarried male Ewoks spent much of their time living alone in the forest building their own small huts near enough to the tree city to assist the Ewoks in work. Unmarried females would leave gifts of food, clothing, or weaponry on the door-steps of unmarried males as a sign of their attraction and to tell how much the village missed them and wished they would come back as part of a family and as the female's mate.

If the male Ewok decided to take a mate, he had to build a family hut in the tree city where he and his mate could live. The construction of a new hut signaled that the male had decided to take a mate, at which point all of the unmarried females would try to woo him. Until his home was finished, the male did not decide whom he was taking. The chosen female had the right to refuse the male or the hut he had built.

Ewoks were very closely attached to their fuzzy children called woklings. An entire Ewok village fawned over newborn babies. They always gave the children much attention and they considered the care of their children a shared responsibility. Woklings had few rights and the children had to learn many rituals and legends that would serve as moral guides throughout their lives. When the Ewok came of age, he or she attended the Festival of Hoods. This festival marked the transition from wokling to Ewok.

VILLAGES:
Most Ewoks lived high among the trees of the forest moon, in villages built between the closely spaced trees. The basic design of a tree village had a "Central Village" of thatched-roof huts on the primary limbs. These huts were high enough above the ground to be out of reach from predators. Suspended bridges connected the gaps between trees, adjoining distant huts. Knotted rope ladders allowed access up or down.

In most tree cities, the village Elders ordered the largest huts built directly on the trunk of the tree. These central buildings belonged to the chief of the tribe. The chief used the largest open areas for village gatherings, meetings, council fires, and storytelling ceremonies. Family groups kept their own dwellings in clusters on the outlying trees. Separate huts were also built for unmarried females, elders, and visitors. A sealed building was also created higher than the rest of the tree city and was used as the communities' food storage.

Bright Tree Village, where the tribe ruled by Chief Chirpa lived, was a typical example of an Ewok tree village.

Ground Village
Some Ewoks of that Bright Tree Village tribe also at one time lived in isolated huts on the forest floor. They eventually moved back into the trees, however, because the ground villages left them open to attacks by the vicious Sanyassan Marauders.

Lake Village
Ewoks also built homes on shallow, placid lakes. The lake Ewoks built their villages on stilts out in the water. The surrounding water protected the Ewoks from large predators. These Ewoks got most of their food by setting wicker traps to catch fish in the lake. The older Ewoks spent their time harvesting marsh grasses and drying them in the sun. They then took these dry grasses and made them into mats, clothing, baskets, and decorative tapestries. The young Ewoks loved to splash in the water and dig in the mud for buried shellfish.

These Ewoks also built wooden sail boats and oars.

Cliff VIllage
Some tribes of Ewoks made their homes on a rock face beside a spraying waterfall. Ewok engineers created an intricate set of waterwheels, driven by the force of the waterfall. These waterwheels drove large wooden gears that rotated grindstones, operated conveyor belts from one side of the village to the other, and ran a set of wooden elevator platforms that moved up and down the cliff.

MUSIC:
The Ewoks enjoyed singing and playing music during celebrations, festivals, and rituals. Ewoks also believed that music enhanced their work. Ewoks were resourceful and tended to make use of everything they could get their hands on, so they used a variety of drums, horns, and other simple instruments in their music. During the Ewok and Rebel celebration after the destruction of the second Death Star, one Ewok used a series of Imperial stormtrooper and naval trooper helmets as drums, producing a variety of tones. Ewok music also used primitive harmony.

LANGUAGE:
The Ewok language was known as Ewokese. It was a relatively primitive tongue related to many others on Endor, including the Yuzzum language, which was recorded from off-world Yuzzum colonies and programmed into certain models of protocol droids. These relationships allowed Ewoks to communicate relatively easily with many other beings on Endor. Ewok physiology allowed them to learn and speak most other languages as well, including Galactic Basic Standard.

HUNTING AND TRAPPING:
Ewoks ventured to the forest floor to hunt, using stone-tipped arrows and spears as well as elaborate traps to catch their prey. Ewoks considered themselves to be great hunters.

A single hunter could snare small animals but an entire Ewok hunting party could catch animals as large as a boar-wolf. The Ewoks had created effective ways to hunt these monstrous animals using spears and poison darts. The Ewoks first set up a trap with scraps of bloody meat from a previous hunt and then they would set a vine net on the forest floor. When the wolf ran towards the meat, it would get caught in the net. Then, from the underbrush, the Ewok warriors charged at the trapped wolf. One of these boar-wolves would provide enough meat to feed an Ewok village for days.

Smaller game was killed with small sling nets. When a creature stepped into a loop it set off a pressure trap. A pinned sapling would break free and fling the animal into the nearest tree.

Tek swee was a trap translated into Basic as "head hitter". This trap was a common defense against the Gorax. When a Gorax attempted to raid a Ewok village, the Ewok warriors would let loose a massive log roped onto trees. The log would swing into the Gorax like a giant battering ram. Many of the various traps set for Goraxes were used against the Empire in the battle of Endor with great success.

Another food source for the Ewoks were mattberries that they squeezed for juice. These juices were mixed with water and fermented into a bitter brew.

RECREATION:
The "Tribal Games" were a series of games that Ewoks from scattered tribes came to play. There was much dancing and storytelling, but there were also far more dangerous events. Tree-jumping was a very popular game among young Ewoks. The Ewok would climb to the highest lifetree and leap off the highest limb. They had to catch themselves on the lower limbs until they descended all the way to the ground. If an Ewok missed, he could be seriously injured.

FESTIVALS:
Throughout the year, Ewoks hold extravagant festivals of the rain, the sun, springtime flowers, fruits and love. These involve tribe and family groups coming together to feast, sing, dance and generally have a good time. They also have certain 'Dark Rituals' involving bloody sacrifices. These are held at night under the light of smoky bonfires, into which the Ewok shamans toss the leaves of hallucinogenic herbs, to cause the Ewoks to have vivid dreams. Hallowe'en, where the Ewoks would dress up as ghosts, was generally considered by them to be the best celebration of the year.

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT:
The Ewoks used a variety of weapons that included knives, stone spears, slingshots, bow and arrows. During the Battle of Endor, they threw large rocks at stormtroopers, used ropes to dismount scout troopers from their 74-Z speeder bikes and for the larger AT-ST targets, they used logs to trip and crush the walkers.

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RELIGION:
For the forest dwellers, the surrounding giant trees played an important cultural role. These hunter-gatherers were a deeply spiritual people. They believed themselves to be descendants of the Great Tree, a sacred tree in the forests. The Ewok religion was based on nature worship. Many religious ceremonies were arranged to please various gods of weather, trees, the hunt, engineering prowess, and fertility. There were also darker spirits that symbolized the dangers of the forest. The Ewoks held magnificent festivals of rain, sun, spring flowers, and fruits. There were also "Dark Rituals" involving bloody sacrifices. The rituals were held at night under the light of burning bonfires. The shamans tossed the leaves of herbs into the fire that caused the Ewoks to have vivid dreams.

Shamans
Every village appointed its own male or female mystic or shaman. The shaman was sometimes simply the village con-artist, who made up answers about what the gods wanted and how they could be pleased. Others had genuine abilities, sometimes showing abilities similar to Force-sensitives. For the shaman's services, the village gave the shaman anything he or she may have wanted, including crystals, shells, polished skulls and other treasures the shaman found interesting. Many shamans wore large animal skulls on their heads.

Shamans were also the tribal healers, usually relying on vile-smelling herbal medicines. Many types of fungus, lichens, roots, berries, flowers, epiphytes, and bark were used, with varying medicinal effects.

Soul Trees
The massive coniferous trees that filled the forest moon were called "Soul Trees" or "Life Trees" by the Ewoks. The Ewoks had a deep religious connection with these trees. For every baby Ewok born, a new seedling was planted by the village. Throughout that Ewoks life, he or she was linked to their totem tree. When the Ewok died, it was believed their spirit would go to live inside their own totem tree.[24]

In times of crisis, the village shamans would attempt to contact the ancient spirits that lived within the oldest trees for advice and guidance. The shamans insisted that it was a private ritual. The Ewoks never questioned the sacred advice brought back by the shamans, though they had never heard these ancient voices before.

DEITIES:
The Ewoks worshiped a massive pantheon of gods and spirits, including the following:

Great Spirit of the Forest
The Great Spirit of the Forest was, according to Ewok legend, the spirit that controlled all life on the forest moon of Endor.

Light Spirit
The Light Spirit was the spirit of light who was worshiped by the Ewoks.

Night Spirit
The Night Spirit was an evil deity in the beliefs of various groups on the Forest Moon of Endor. It was worshiped by the Duloks but feared by the Ewoks.

According to Ewok belief, the Night Spirit came to Endor in a meteorite. The Ewoks of Bright Tree Village believed that the Spirit desired the Sunstar so that it could raise the spirits of evil beings on Endor. The Night Spirit sometimes appeared to believers in a ghostlike form. The deity feared the Ewoks' Tree of Light, which kept it at bay during daylight hours.

Ewoks believed the native dragon-like mantigrues served this evil deity.

Batcheela
Batcheela was, according to Ewok legend, a wind spirit who kept herself warm by moving into Ewok huts and sleeping beside the occupants. The Ewok Batcheela of Bright Tree Village was possibly named for this deity.

Boozie
Unknown

Brother Sky
Brother Sky was the name given by the Ewoks to the powerful being that controlled the sky.

Ceel
Ceel was an Ewok wind spirit and sister of Deej. She sang along with musicians who she found interesting.

Chituhr
Unknown

Deej
Deej was an Ewok wind spirit that gave her life to teach the Ewoks the secret of music.

Denlett
Denlett was an Ewok night spirit that often tricked Ewoks into walking off platforms in the dark.

Ephram
Erpham was an Ewok nature spirit that came every century to battle the Gorax.

Fashkaa
Fashkaa was an Ewok forest spirit that could move trees closer together to help Ewoks escape the Gorax.

Flitchee
Flitchee was an Ewok fire spirit that caused mischief by kicking embers out of burning fires.

Galeer
Galeer was an Ewok wind spirit that kept the air fresh for the Ewoks.

The Golden One
The Golden One was one of the many Ewok gods; it had long been prophesied that he would one day appear to the Ewoks in person.

Grael
Grael was a notable deity in Ewok legends, which told of a wind spirit that carried the scent of smoke to Ewoks, warning them of forest fires on the Endor moon.

Heesh
Heesh was a night spirit in Ewok belief known for trying to make its victims fall asleep.

Hexprax
Hexprak was an Ewok spirit who controlled the rising and setting of the sun and was the strongest of all spirits.

Ilbath
Ilbath was an Ewok rain spirit who sought to destroy all Ewok huts using heavy rains.

Jahjee
Jahjee was an Ewok night spirit who created realistic illusions to entertain Ewoks while they slept.

Kazak
Kazak was an Ewok nature spirit that gave magical weapons to those who could solve his complicated games.

Leeni
Leeni was an Ewok wind spirit who made Ewoks laugh so hard they could not breathe. It was believed that Leeni was not evil, but loved the sound of Ewok laughter.

Mopiee
Mopiee was an Ewok nature spirit who made crops grow.

Oosa
Oosa was an Ewok wind spirit who brought cool breezes to hot summer days.

Oshlin
Oshlin was an Ewok flower spirit who chased her love through the forest from dawn to dark.

Rabin
Rabin was an Ewok nature spirit who could take on the form of other animals.

Ralee
Unknown

Rillish
Rillish was an Ewok animal spirit who would sneak into Ewok villages to surprise Ewoks for her enjoyment. Rillish was also a common female Ewok name.

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HOMEWORLD:
Endor (also known as the Forest Moon of Endor and the Sanctuary Moon) was a small forested moon orbiting the gas giant planet of Endor. An enchanted world, Endor was notable for being the native home of the Ewoks, and being the location of the Battle of Endor, which would result in the downfall of the Empire and the first death of the Emperor Palpatine. Due to its proximity to the inhospitable Unknown Regions, Endor was a relatively quiet planetoid both prior to and after the battle.

Endor was also known for the vast amount of sentient species it supported, from baseline to exotic. This was largely due to the extremely large number of shipwrecks Endor experienced; it has been compared to a "desert island" in space.

GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES:
Endor's terrain was largely covered by massive, tightly-knit pine and redwood forests. However, the Forest Moon also contained vast dry deserts and grassy plains, small oceans, secluded lakes, and mountain ranges. The moon's low axial tilt and regular orbit of its gas giant primary helped ensure a comfortable climate. The Forest Moon was temperate and mild, with polar caps regulating the sea levels. Flora life included cambylictus trees and other large plants. Endor was the second moon of the gas giant it orbited.

Sentient Species
The forest moon was home to the Ewoks, famous for helping defeat the Empire at the Battle of Endor. The four other native sentient species were the tall and timid Yuzzums, the speedy Teeks, amphibious Gorphs, and the mischievous and treacherous genetic Ewok cousins, Duloks. The moon also boasted other slightly stranger beings, such as Mount Sorrow or the Sun King.

Semisentient
A number of semisentient species are also indigenous to the moon, including the winged Wisties, the predatory Grass Trekkers, the Gorax, and the plant-like beings known as Dandelion warriors.

Nonsentient
The following are just some of the indigenous creatures that make up the Forest Moon of Endor's wildlife:
Bark lizards, Blase tree goat, Blurrg, Boar-wolf, Bordok, Caranak, Chicken, Churi, Condor dragon, Ferret, Geejaw, Gib, Goats, Guapa (Ewok Pony), Gurreck, Korrina, Lantern bird, Llama, Mice, Munyip, Octucor, Owl, Pulga (Horse), Quarfs, Rabbit, Rakazzak, Rearing spider, Rugger
Sheep, Temptor, Vultures, Yayax.

Shipwrecked
In addition to the three sentient native species (Ewoks, Duloks, and Yuzzum), the forest moon was inhabited by many races descended from shipwreck survivors, including:
Bobog, Eodon, Fleebog, Frost Giant, Frost Sprite, Grudakk, Gupin, Human, Ice Demon, Icehead, Jitterbug, Jawas, Keet, Lizard Warrior, Luck Sprite, Mimph, Mudgub, Ogre, Underwater Dwellers, Phlog, Quork, Sanyassan, Shriek, Skandits, Strutter, Talking Trees, Teek, Trome, Tulgah, Zandor Rocker.

PRE-IMPERIAL:
The moon's history was constantly being shaped by starships crashing on the backwater satellite, introducing new species and technology which had to be integrated into the local politics and ecosystem. Known crashes included Sickly Tremor prior to 1100 BBY (introducing Phlogs and Gorax), a Starhunter menagerie ark in about 800 BBY (introducing Gupins, Teeks, and tree goat), the Free Enterprise in 130 BBY (introducing Jindas and Tulgahs), a stolen ship in 100 BBY (introducing Sanyassan Marauders and the witch Charal), Noa Briqualon's starship in 26 BBY (carrying Noa Briqualon and Salek Weet), and the Towani family's starcruiser in 3 ABY (carrying Cindel Towani and her family).

Endor was set aside as a protected nature reserve during the Galactic Republic, giving it the name Sanctuary Moon. Few spacers had ever heard of Endor, let alone visited the moon. Of those who had, there were two types: those who continued on their way, not wanting to waste their time on such an unimportant puffball of a moon and those who had crash-landed in the forests due to the stellar anomalies, such as the Endor Gate black hole, in the area. These travelers were forced to scrabble for food and shelter along with the natives.

As ships disappeared in the region, the Endor moon earned a reputation as a "desert island in space," and was usually given a wide berth.

The moon did have a Ffib outpost established before the Clone Wars.[8] During the Clone Wars, it had a Separatist base, discovered by Aayla Secura.

IMPERIAL SURVEY:
When thousands of survey teams were sent by the Emperor to scout locations for the new Death Star's construction site, Endor was one of the potential locations. The forest moon met the strict requirements demanded by no less a person than Darth Vader: the location must be remote, and must have a diverse geosphere capable of sustaining Human life. Endor's location was quite advantageous; the Moddell sector was far from most Imperial outposts. Lord Vader thought that the Rebellion wouldn't expect a new base to be hidden so far from the Empire's seat of power.

The first Imperial scouting expedition, Survey Team IX3244-B, was led by Captain Toss, who recommended the Endor moon even before his team had explored the surface. The native Ewoks led his team around in circles, and Lt. Kiviett recommended that the Ewoks be studied further. He felt they were a potential threat to the new base. Toss, wanting the credit for discovering the new Death Star construction site, ignored him.

The lack of a detail report displeased the Emperor who authorized the deployment of a second scouting expedition under Pfilbee Jhorn. Pfilbee Jhorn's team studied the Ewoks further and also discovered several other species including the Teeks, Goraxes, Yuzzums and the Sanyassan colony. In the end, only Pfilbee and two others survived the mission and went offworld.

By 3 ABY, the Empire had established a research outpost on Endor, to enable further study of it. The "harmless" Ewoks encountered there did not go unnoticed by others in the Imperial hierarchy. Dr. Raygar, a servant of the Emperor, believed that these Ewoks guarded a powerful artifact he had been seeking: the Sunstar. Though he had originally intended to present the Sunstar to Emperor Palpatine, Raygar decided that with such a powerful artifact in his possession, he could overthrow Palpatine and rule the galaxy himself. He used the Sunstar to construct a devastating weapon.

The incident ended disastrously for Raygar, as Ewoks boarded his ship, stole the Sunstar and escaped back to Endor. Admiral Kazz, who had never believed in the Sunstar's power to begin with, arrested Raygar for treason. The would-be-emperor was dragged kicking and screaming into the Emperor's shuttle for execution. Palpatine, for his part, was curious to learn more of this forest moon.

In retrospect, constructing an important secret installation on a planetoid already teeming with intelligent life may not have been the smartest decision the Empire ever made. There are over a dozen forms of sentient life on Endor, though only a small percentage of them are non-Ewoks, and many may have originated from offworld. The move was actually intentional on Palpatine's part: by placing the construction site over a protected sanctuary moon, he made the Alliance's decision to attack a devastatingly poignant one. In the end, of course, the Emperor's insidious nature proved his undoing: without the "wildlife" he threatened, the Rebels would never have won the Battle of Endor.

The Empire established an outpost on the Sanctuary Moon, and it was from here that preparations were made so that the construction site for the second Death Star could be moved there. When Imperial teams arrived to construct the shield generator complex and other installations, they discovered Alliance Captain Junas Turner, who had come to the moon to locate the new Death Star. He was taken captive and sent to the automated prison station Balis-Baurgh, along with an Ewok named Grael. They would later escape, but it was too late to inform the Rebellion of the threat.

Though the Sunstar was now safely returned to Bright Tree Village, its power had not prevented Raygar from stealing it, and so the Ewoks avoided the Empire whenever possible. They despised the crimes against nature perpetuated by the construction teams for the generator complex, but could see no way to fight against such powerful beings, particularly Darth Vader, who swept several Ewoks away on a wave of flame.

This attitude changed when Wicket W. Warrick spotted an AT-ST tumbling over the Yawari cliffs. This proved to the tribal elders that the invaders could be killed. On Wicket's recommendation, existing traps for the giant Gorax were modified to combat the Imperials.

BATTLE FOR ENDOR:
As the Galactic Civil War drew to a close in the years of 3-4 ABY, a Rebel Alliance strike team, led by Dash Rendar and Luke Skywalker, captured information from the cruiser Suprosa at Kothlis. It confirmed the existence of a second Death Star, being constructed over the moon of Endor. It was not realized then, but Emperor Palpatine had purposely allowed the plans to be captured, so that the Rebels could be coaxed into a trap.

The Rebel fleet amassed near Sullust and was addressed by Mon Mothma. She and Admiral Ackbar informed the battle-weary freedom fighters that the Emperor himself would be aboard the station, further emphasizing the need to win the battle, which would either way end the war. The entire operation was orchestrated to coordinate the fleet, commanded by Ackbar, and a substantial starfighter force, led by Lando Calrissian to jump to Endor through hyperspace and arrive to a shieldless, incomplete Death Star. A commando team would be sent on ahead in a coup-de-main (or, clandestine operation) and disable the shield generator and projector housed on the Endor moon.

The commando team, led by Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and Luke Skywalker, used the stolen Imperial shuttle Tydirium to slip past Imperial defenses and land on the moon. After speederbike chases, Leia going missing, and other confusions, the team fell into a primitive trap set by the main indigenous species, the Ewoks. At first they saw C-3PO as a deity, and prepared to sacrifice the main team in celebration to the droid. The Rebels were soon freed however after Luke Skywalker, using a few clever Force tricks, and with the help of C-3PO deceived the Ewoks into believing the droid possessed powerful magic he would use against them if his friends were not freed. Afterwards, Threepio captivated the Ewoks with an epic recounting on the events leading up to their arrival on the forest moon. The Ewoks then inducted the Rebels into their tribe with great enthusiasm, cementing their cooperation against the Imperials in the forthcoming battle in which the Ewoks would play a pivotal role.

The Rebel fleet jumped insystem, prepared to assault the Death Star. With the shield still up, a massive Imperial fleet revealed itself, pinning the Rebels between them and the shield, and the climactic battle began. Luke, who had voluntarily allowed his capture by Imperials to meet Darth Vader in hopes up turning him back to the light, watched from the Emperor's tower on the Death Star as Palpatine's trap unfolded. On the moon below, Han Solo and the team had been captured. Things looked grave as the shield remained up, and Ackbar ordered the only thing the fleet could do: attack the Imperial Fleet.

But Rebel fortunes changed. The Ewoks, thanks to an impromptu distraction from C-3PO and R2-D2, attacked the groundside Stormtrooper legions, and the Rebel commandos took advantage of the confusion. Despite early setbacks, the Ewoks and the commandos beat the Empire through guerilla tactics, but the Ewoks' presence was the catalyst needed. In space, the fleet succeeded beyond all odds in attacking the Imperial Fleet. Several vessels, including the Super Star Destroyer Executor, fell under the guns of the Alliance Fleet. Solo's team finally destroyed the shield generator; Lando Calrissian, Tycho Celchu, Wedge Antilles, and a handful of other pilots descended into the now shieldless battle-station's innards to destroy the core; and Luke Skywalker, who witnessed Anakin Skywalker redeem himself from the specter of Darth Vader and kill Emperor Palpatine, barely escaped with a father who did not survive long enough to get off the Death Star with him. It was a victorious day for the Alliance. Soon, races all over the galaxy from Tatooine to Coruscant would be celebrating, and soon afterwards the Rebel Alliance would evolve into the New Republic. However, to aid in this transition, the Alliance of Free Planets was created and Endor was established as it's temporary capital.

NAGAI INVASION:
Peace did not remain for long on Endor, due to the expansionist tactics of the Nagai. The Nagai were an alien race from the Unknown Regions and had encountered the Alliance of Free Planets on a number of occasions, but these were only minor missions to lay the groundwork for their invasion of the galaxy. In 4 ABY they made a major assault on Endor, to strike the Alliance at it's heart and mark the start of the new conflict.

The Nagai were aided by the Imperial forces of Lumiya and came close to victory, but the heroic actions of Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian helped to save the day and bring victory to the Alliance. However it was a hollow victory, as it had cost the Alliance many casualties and had began a new galactic conflict that threatened everything that the Alliance had gained.

GRAND ADMIRAL THRAWN CRISIS:
Following the Second Battle of Endor, the planet was left mostly alone by both New Republic and Imperial forces as they shifted their focus to other battles and areas of contention. Five years after the battle of Endor, Leia Organa Solo chose Endor as a rendezvous with Khabarakh. When Khabarakh arrived, she left the Millennium Falcon in orbit of Endor while she traveled with Khabarakh to Honoghr. Some time later, Grand Admiral Thrawn came to Endor and had the Falcon brought on board his ship upon discovering it in orbit. While at Endor, Thrawn met with Mara Jade, and after promising very favorable terms in exchange for the location of the Katana fleet, he followed her and was able to briefly capture Talon Kardde.

Even after five years, Force sensitive individuals were still able to feel the disruption to the Force caused by the first death of Emperor Palpatine, particularly when vessels passed through the spot where the second Death Star had exploded. While at Endor, both Leia Organa Solo and Mara Jade felt evidence of the Emperor's death, which Mara Jade termed as not being very pleasant.

UNIVERSITY OF SANBRA STUDIES:
In 12 ABY, biologists from the University of Sanbra studied and catalogued the many non-indigenous and lesser-known indigenous lifeforms of Endor to determine how they lived together. The study was headed by Professor Mankuskett. It focused on the Jindas, Gupins, Duloks, Phlogs, Grass Trekkers, Makants, Dandelion Warriors, Tree Goats, and Wisties. It was hoped the study would rectify the shortcomings of the incomplete surveys by Imperial scout troopers prior to the Battle of Endor.

SECOND GALACTIC CIVIL WAR:
In 40 ABY, a conflict between the Galactic Alliance and Corellia exploded into a full scale war. Jacen Solo fell to the dark side of the Force and took the name Darth Caedus. When Caedus tricked Ben Skywalker into killing former Galactic Alliance chief of state Cal Omas, the Jedi withdrew their support, despite the fact that Caedus had taken the students at the Jedi Praxeum on Ossus hostage. After a Galactic Alliance attack on Kashyyyk launched by Caedus had been driven off, the Jedi relocated to Endor.

The Jedi took up residence in former Imperial facilities still located on Endor. Many of their StealthX fighters were hidden in areas where debris from the exploding Death Star II had created burn zones on the surface of Endor. The surviving young students rescued from Ossus were hidden in a series of caverns on Endor, in order to protect them from Darth Caedus while many of the older Jedi and their allies moved to actively oppose Lord Caedus.

Tenel Ka traveled to Endor shortly after Caedus kidnapped Allana from her mother, and met with Grand Master Luke Skywalker. Luke informed Tenel Ka that the Jedi order would help rescue her daughter from the Anakin Solo.

General Tycho Celchu later traveled to Endor with Captain Syal Antilles to relay an official request from the Galactic Alliance government to the New Jedi Order to return to the service of the Galactic Alliance. Even though it was believed that the request was from Admiral Cha Niathal, or at the least factions of the Galactic Alliance loyal to her, Luke refused the offer as it could've left the order at the mercy of Darth Caedus. Realizing General Celchu would report the location of the Jedi base to his superiors and that Darth Caedus would sooner or later learn where the Jedi were hiding, Luke decided that the Jedi would leave Endor before the Caedus could act against the Jedi.

Before the Jedi abandoned their base on Endor for the Transitory Mists, Ben Skywalker met with his aunt Leia Organa Solo and his cousin Jaina Solo to talk over his conviction that Alema Rar had not been responsible for his mother's death.

[Cimter]

APPEARANCES:
Survivors
The Bounty Hunters: Aurra Sing
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter (Appears in hologram)
Star Wars The Clone Wars: Slaves of the Republic - Chapter 3: The Depths of Zygerria
What Goes Up...
What They Called Me (Appears in flashback(s))
Star Wars: Battlefront
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Spy Girls
Star Wars: Rebellion (Mentioned only)
The Farlander Papers (Mentioned only)
Underworld: The Yavin Vassilika (Mentioned only)
Being Boba Fett (Mentioned only)
Lucky Stars
Star Wars: Empire at War
Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
How the Ewoks Saved the Trees: An Old Ewok Legend
The Adventures of Teebo: A Tale of Magic and Suspense
The Ewok Who Was Afraid: An Ewok Adventure
Three Cheers for Kneesaa!: An Ewok Adventure
The Ewoks Hang-Gliding Adventure
The Baby Ewoks' Picnic Surprise
Wicket Finds a Way: An Ewok Adventure
Star Wars Droids 4: Lost in Time
Ewoks 1: The Rainbow Bridge
Ewoks 2: Rites of Power
Ewoks 3: Flight to Danger
Ewoks 4: Valley of Evil
Ewoks 5: The Terrible Machine
Ewoks 6: The Ice Demon
Ewoks 7: The Perilous Laughing Spell
Ewoks 8: Eye of the Kreegon
Ewoks 9: The Underwater Kingdom
Ewoks 10: The Demons of Endor
Ewoks 11: The Incredible Shrinking Princess
Ewoks 12: The Thorn Monster
Ewoks 13: The Black Cavern
Ewoks 14: King for a Day
Marvel Ewoks annual
          o "Chief Chirpa Kidnapped"
          o "Return of the Great One"
          o "The Ice Princess"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Cries of the Trees"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Haunted Village"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Rampage of the Phlogs"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "To Save Deej"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Travelling Jindas"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Tree of Light"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Curse of the Jindas"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Land of the Gupins"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Sunstar vs. Shadowstone"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Wicket's Wagon"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Three Lessons"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Blue Harvest"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Asha"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Crystal Cloak"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Wish Plant"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Home Is Where the Shrieks Are"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Princess Latara"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Raich"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Totem Master"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "A Gift for Shodu"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Night of the Stranger"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Gone with the Mimphs"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The First Apprentice"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Hard Sell"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "A Warrior and a Lurdo"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Season Scepter"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Prow Beaten"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Baga's Rival"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Horville's Hut of Horrors"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "The Tragic Flute"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Just My Luck"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Bringing Up Norky"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Party Ewok"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Malani the Warrior"
Star Wars: Ewoks - "Battle for the Sunstar"
Wicket and the Dandelion Warriors: An Ewok Adventure
The Shadow Stone: An Ewok Adventure
The Red Ghost: An Ewok Adventure
Wicket Goes Fishing: An Ewok Adventure
Fuzzy as an Ewok: An Ewok Adventure
Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader (Mentioned only)
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (First appearance) / radio drama / junior novelization
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi 3: Mission to Endor
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi 4: The Final Duel
Star Wars Manga: Return of the Jedi 3
Star Wars Manga: Return of the Jedi 4
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Escape from Balis-Baurgh
The Truce at Bakura
A Day in the Life (Mentioned only)
X-wing: Rogue Leader
Apocalypse Endor (Appears in flashback(s))
Star Wars 81: Jawas of Doom
Star Wars 85: The Hero
Star Wars 90: The Choice
Star Wars 92: The Dream
Star Wars 94: Small Wars
Star Wars 97: Escape
Star Wars 99: Touch of the Goddess
Star Wars 100: First Strike
X-wing Rogue Squadron: Mandatory Retirement (Mentioned only)
Marooned
Star Tours
The Lost City of the Jedi (Mentioned only)
Prophets of the Dark Side (Mentioned only)
X-wing: Wraith Squadron (Mentioned only)
X-wing: Iron Fist (Mentioned only)
X-wing: Solo Command
The Courtship of Princess Leia (Mentioned only)
Heir to the Empire (Mentioned only)
Dark Force Rising (Mentioned only)
The Last Command (Mentioned only)
X-wing: Isard's Revenge (Mentioned only)
X-wing: Starfighters of Adumar (Mentioned only)
Dark Empire
Dark Apprentice (Mentioned only)
Shield of Lies (Mentioned only)
Vision of the Future (Mentioned only)
The Crystal (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: Chewbacca (Appears in hologram)
Edge of Victory II: Rebirth (Mentioned only)
Dark Journey (Mentioned only)
Force Heretic II: Refugee (Mentioned only)
Star by Star (Mentioned only)
Dark Nest I: The Joiner King
Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
Inferno
Fury
Revelation
Star Wars Legacy: Broken (as doll)

SOURCES:
Star Wars: The Annotated Screenplays
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi toy line
Star Wars: Ewoks toy line
Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1985)
Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, First Edition
Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition
"New Character Templates: A Supplement to Star Wars' Mos Eisley Galaxy Guide" - Challenge 73 (Ambiguously canonical source)
X-wing: The Official Strategy Guide
Heroes & Rogues
Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1995)
The Essential Guide to Characters
The Last Command Sourcebook
The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook
Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded
Star Wars Gamemaster Screen, Revised
The Far Orbit Project
Classic Campaigns
Star Wars: Behind the Magic
Alien Encounters
Star Wars Customizable Card Game: Endor Limited
Star Wars: Power of the Jedi
Ultimate Alien Anthology
Geonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds
"Endor and the Moddell Sector" - Star Wars Gamer 9
"Rogues Gallery: Fringers" - Star Wars Gamer 7 (Picture only)
Star Wars Trading Card Game: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Miniatures: Alliance and Empire
Star Wars Miniatures: Rebel Storm
A Guide to the Star Wars Universe
The Illustrated Star Wars Universe
The New Essential Guide to Characters
The Essential Chronology
The New Essential Chronology
The Essential Guide to Alien Species
The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive
Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary
Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary
Inside the Worlds of Star Wars Trilogy
Star Wars: Complete Locations
Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide
Star Wars Chronicles
Star Wars Encyclopedia
"Meet Wicket!" - Star Wars Kids 6
"Who Is That Alien? Ewoks & Sullustans" - Star Wars Kids 6
"Star Wars Kids Feature Planet: Endor" - Star Wars Kids 6
The Official Star Wars Fact File 1
StarWars.com Classic Moments: Ewooks on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org)
You must be a member of Star Wars Hyperspace to view this linkDare to be Cute on Hyperspace
You must be a member of Star Wars Hyperspace to view this linkNo Nonsense Ewok on Hyperspace
Castaways of Endor
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Champions of the Force (Card: Ewok Vendor)
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Squadrons Over Corellia (Card: Ewok Holy One)
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Squadrons Over Corellia (Card: Ewok Greeter)
"A Long Time Ago...." - Star Wars Insider 107
"Toy Wars" - Star Wars Insider 107
The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
Rebellion Era Campaign Guide
The Return of the Galactic Moon Festival
The Forgotten War: The Nagai and the Tofs on Hyperspace (article)
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – The Shadow Syndicate (Card: Ewok Dancer)
Asha in the Databank
Blurrg in the Databank
Bozzie in the Databank
Noa Briqualon in the Databank
Chief Chirpa in the Databank
Chukha-Trok in the Databank
Endor in the Databank
Ewok in the Databank
Ewok village in the Databank
Horax in the Databank
Queen Izrina in the Databank
Kaink in the Databank
Leektar in the Databank
Logray in the Databank
Nippet in the Databank
Paploo in the Databank
Shodu in the Databank
Luke Skywalker in the Databank
Teek in the Databank
Cindel Towani in the Databank
Mace Towani in the Databank
Deej Warrick in the Databank
Weechee Warrick in the Databank
Wicket Wystri Warrick in the Databank
Willy in the Databank

I would like to thank Wookieepedia for this info.