INFO: Whiphids were tall, muscled, furred sentient beings from the planet Toola. They were notable for their great tusks. On Toola, Whiphids lived a primitive lifestyle, hunting caraboose and other large animals, such as the motmot, their favored prey. Their language consisted of approximately six thousand words. As Whiphids came into contact with more technically advanced races that came to Toola to buy ice, they began to show great curiosity about the rest of the galaxy. Many Whiphids left Toola, supporting themselves as big game hunters, mercenaries, or bounty hunters.
Famous Whiphids included the crime lord Lady Valarian, the Jedi Master K'Kruhk and the criminal spy J'Quille.
RACE: Whiphid
HEIGHT: 2 to 2.6 Meters Tall
SKIN: Brown
DISTINCTION: Large, tusked, cold-adapted
LANGUAGE: Toolian
HOMEWORLD:Toola was a planet located in the Toola system and the cold homeworld of the Whiphids. It was located in the Slice. Toola's wildlife included motmots, and snow demons. Temperatures on the planet rarely got above freezing, due to its thin atmosphere and distance from its sun, but did so only in the brief summer season when snow melted and plants grew. Whiphids based their entire lives on these seasons, such as the conceiving of children.
During the Jedi Civil War, Toola aligned with the Sith Empire, returning to the Republic after Darth Malak's death. In 19 BBY, the Battle of Toola was fought there. Ithaqua Station was a port on Toola well-known for holding Jedi fugitives after Order 66 was issued, including the Last Curator of Records. The Jedi K'Kruhk came from Toola, hiding there until the fall of the Galactic Empire.
In 8 ABY, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker visited Toola in search of information on past Jedi. However, all he found was a despoiled Jedi archive. In 11 ABY, Ch'unkk was head of Toola's largest clan.
Following the Massacre at Ossus, Jedi Master K'Kruhk once again went into hiding on the ice world, returning to Ossus seven years later.
BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:Whiphids averaged about 2.5 meters and could weigh up to 400 kilos. They were covered by long yellow-white or gold fur and had stubby fur-covered tails. Their faces were elongated, with prominent foreheads and long, bowed cheekbones. A Whiphid's face was furless apart from a few hairs on the lips and chin. Two large tusks protruded from the lower jaw, and their massive arms ended with thick three-fingered hands, the fingers ending in sharp claws. Female Whiphids tended to be slightly shorter and heavier than the males. Their eyes protruded slightly from their heads. Young Whiphids had shorter snouts and far less fur than adults.
Since their homeworld of Toola was a cold planet of ice and snow, the Whiphid's body maintained a thick layer of blubber, which acted to insulate and reduce heat loss. Their thick fur also helped to protect them from the harsh climate and was also covered with natural oil that repelled water and allowed them to swim in Toola's frigid oceans. In the warmer periods of the spring and summer on Toola, the Whiphids lost several centimeters of fur and burned off much of their fat reserves. Their hollow cheekbones also widened slightly, since a broader face helped to dissipate heat. These biological changes were induced by warmer temperatures rather than by the cycle of the seasons. Whiphids in the wider galaxy, therefore, were more likely to have less fur and be smaller in size than their counterparts on their homeworld in winter.
CULTURE AND HISTORY:On Toola, the Whiphids lived together in tribes of three to ten couples. In the winter the tribes were nomadic and traveled across the ice plains of the planet in search of prey. They camped near hunting grounds using round hide tents. In the summer the tribes moved to a permanent base that was constructed of stone and covered by animal hides and mud. A Whiphid tribe was led by an elder called a Spearmaster, who decided where the group should camp and what prey to hunt. Ch'unkk, a member of the Imperial Interim Ruling Council 11 ABY, was a Whiphid Spearmaster.
Whiphid tribes were loose associations of individuals, and they did not have attachments to the tribes of their parents. They were a survival necessity and not an ideological construct or family unit. A tribe stayed together as long as it was doing well, and individuals of unsuccessful tribes had no compunction against joining another tribe, nor did tribes have an issue with new members.
The tribes of Toola traveled across the planet on sleds and load-bearing sledges that were constructed of hide, horn, bone and leather thong. They were pulled by domesticated Tuggles, carnivorous animals native to Toola possessed of great stamina. Six Tuggles were capable of pulling a sledge all day with only a couple of breaks, if properly fed, for several days at a time. The design of the Whiphid sleds was such that they spread the load over a wide surface area and therefore allowed for safe gliding over the icy plains.
Tribes on Toola typically met at hot springs, where they would trade and cooperate in big hunts. Whiphid tribes did not make war with each other or participate in skirmishes or raids against other tribes. In the mind of the Whiphids, this would reduce the number of hunters capable of hunting motmots and bring bad luck against the aggressive tribe. Individual Whiphids did have disagreements that could last for years and that often resulted in violent confrontations, but they were personal matters that did not involve others. Bullies in Whiphid society were rare, and an elder would take such an individual on a long hunt to sort them out. Those that did not learn the ways of the elder often did not return. Individuals within Whiphid society were not allowed to undermine its functioning.
IN THE GALAXY:During the time of the Galactic Empire, Whiphids had widespread employment as bodyguards and enforcers for ranking Imperials. This came to an end in 11 ABY when, following the death of Ch'unkk, all Whiphids left Imperial service.
Several Whiphids entered the Jedi Order. K'Kruhk was a Jedi who fought in the Clone Wars and survived the initial Jedi Purge that followed. A Whiphid youngling called Jempa was also in Master Yoda's Bear Clan during the Clone Wars and the Padawan Tak-tak was captured by General Grievous in 20 BBY.
APPEARANCES:Jedi Apprentice: The Rising Force
Jedi Council: Acts of War
Star Wars: Darth Maul 2
Star Wars: Darth Maul 3
Star Wars Republic: Twilight
Star Wars Republic: Darkness
Star Wars Republic: The Devaronian Version (Appears in flashback(s))
Star Wars: Jango Fett
Jedi Quest: The Shadow Trap
Dooku Spotted in Gree Enclave—HoloNet News Vol. 531 54
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Jedi: Mace Windu
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 20"
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 21"
Star Wars: Battle for the Republic
Star Wars Republic 63: Striking from the Shadows
Star Wars Republic 65: Show of Force, Part 1
MedStar II: Jedi Healer (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: General Grievous
Star Wars Republic: Trackdown (Vision to Quinlan Vos)
Star Wars Republic: The Siege of Saleucami
Star Wars Republic: Into the Unknown
Star Wars Dark Times: The Path to Nowhere (Appears in hologram)
Star Wars Dark Times: Parallels
Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
The Last of the Jedi: Underworld
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed game
Death Star (Mentioned only)
Ghost (Non-canonical appearance)
The Paradise Snare
"Spare Parts" - Star Wars Adventure Journal 11
The Emperor's Court (Non-canonical appearance)
Galaxywide NewsNets
Star Wars Missions 5: The Hunt for Han Solo
Galaxy of Fear: The Brain Spiders
Child of Light
Star Wars Galaxies
To Fight Another Day (Mentioned only)
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (First appearance)
Let Us Prey: The Whiphid's Tale
Mara Jade: By the Emperor's Hand
X-wing Rogue Squadron: Battleground: Tatooine
The Courtship of Princess Leia
Hutt and Seek
Champions of the Force
Crimson Empire
The Bounty Hunters: Kenix Kil
Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood
Children of the Jedi
Star Wars: Chewbacca
Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial
Balance Point
Force Heretic III: Reunion
The Unifying Force (Mentioned only)
Star Wars Legacy: Ghosts
Star Wars Legacy 14: Claws of the Dragon, Part 1
Star Wars Legacy 26: The Hidden Temple, Part 2
SOURCES:The Essential Guide to Alien Species
The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
The Essential Guide to Characters
The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
Galaxy Guide 4: Alien Races
The Truce at Bakura Sourcebook
Ultimate Alien Anthology
"A Free-Trader's Guide to the Planets" - Star Wars Adventure Journal 10
The Black Sands of Socorro
Alliance Intelligence Reports
Rules of Engagement: The Rebel SpecForce Handbook
Heroes & Rogues
Handbook 2: Crimson Empire
Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive (Picture only)
"Secrets of Mos Eisley" - Star Wars Gamer 7
Platt's Starport Guide (Picture only)
"The Vaynai Archipelago" - Star Wars Gamer 8 (Picture only)
Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Jabba's Palace Limited (Card: Whiphid)
Sora Bulq in the Databank (Indirect mention only)
K'Kruhk in the Databank
R2-D2 in the Databank
Whiphid in the Databank
I would like to thank Wookieepedia for this info.
