Wookiee

Infobox StarWarsSpecies | name = Wookiee
sample

homeworld = Kashyyyk
language = Shyriiwook
height = 2.1 meters
skincolor = White with brown mixed fur, sometimes black or really dark red
distinctions = Brown, grey, or black fur
weapon = Wookiee Bowcaster
races = None known
famousmembers = Chewbacca, Tarfful, Lowbacca Tyvokka, Zaalbar, Chuundar, Hanharr, Attichitcuk, Srotac

Wookiees are a race of hirsute bipeds in the fictional "Star Wars" universe. The most notable Wookiee is Chewbacca, a companion to Han Solo.

Inspiration

In an interview given by creator George Lucas, inspiration is taken from Lucas's dog, Indiana (whose name is used in the Lucas-inspired movies Indiana Jones). "He was the prototype for the Wookiee. He always sat beside me in the car. He was big, a big bear of a dog."

Depiction

Physical characteristics

Adult Wookiees are typically taller than most humans, averaging 2.1 meters (6'11"). [cite web
url= http://www.starwars.com/databank/species/wookiee/index.html
title= Star Wars: Databank|Wookies
accessdate=2007-11-11
work=Lucasfilm ] They are physically strong, said to be one of the strongest in the galaxy (as suits an arboreal species), have extremely thick hair, and have high endurance. In addition, Wookiees have an excellent sense of smell. Also, Wookiees have retractable claws on their hands and feet that are used almost exclusively for climbing. Using the claws for hand-to-hand combat is forbidden, and is viewed as disgraceful or even insane behavior.

They are fully covered with hair. Chewbacca is shown in such diverse environments as Hoth, Tatooine and Endor, never requiring any type of protective clothing.

Wookiees are known to have a lifespan of several hundred years. [ cite web
url= http://www.starwars.com/databank/species/wookiee/?id=eu
title= Star Wars: Databank|Wookiee
accessdate=2007-11-11
work=Lucasfilm Ltd.]

Behavior

Wookiees are extremely intelligent and loyal, but may have a short temper. [cite web
url= http://www.starwars.com/databank/species/wookiee/?id=eu
title= Star Wars: Databank|Wookiee
accessdate=2007-11-11
work= Lucasfilm Ltd.]
Life debts, which are held to be sacred in Wookiee culture, suggest that friendship with a Wookiee is a lifetime commitment.

In spite of a fearsome appearance and temperamental disposition, Wookiees are shown to be very intelligent and technologically proficient, as shown in , Chewbacca is capable of performing maintenance on the starship Millennium Falcon, as well as being able to repair C-3PO. The Wookiee diet consists of native fish and game species.

Language

The Wookiee language is Shyriiwook. Wookiees are capable of understanding Galactic Basic, but generally none are able to speak it due to the structure of Wookiee vocal cords. In the Star Wars Original Trilogy, Han Solo shows a knowledge of Shyriiwook, or can at least understand his companion.

Some Wookiees are sensitive to the "Force". One such Wookiee is Lowbacca, Chewbacca's nephew, from the book series "Young Jedi Knights".

Bowcasters

Bowcasters are weapons developed and used by Wookiees.cite book|title=Star Wars Roleplaying Game|edition=Second Edition, Expanded & Revised|publisher=West End Games|year=1996|isbn=0874314356] Bowcasters launch "quarrels", which are energized crossbow bolts. The quarrels are surrounded by an energy cocoon that gives them an extremely high stopping power. Wookiees can load their bowcasters with both standard and explosive-tipped quarrels.Fact|date=July 2008 The spring that powers the bowcaster is extremely hard to pull back; humans are generally incapable of cocking a bowcaster. Some Wookiees were known to have added extra springs for multiple shots, and during the Imperial occupation of Kashyyyk, Wookiees bolted on E-11 blaster rifles to the bottom of the bowcaster for extra firepower.Fact|date=July 2008

Home world

In "" the Wookiees live in the lush forests and giant jungles on the planet of Kashyyyk, where they originated. They live in villages among the giant wroshyr trees. George Lucas has said that he originally planned Endor to be the Wookiee home planet, but at the time the technology needed to make a fit Kashyyyk did not exist, so instead Kashyyyk was used as a battleground in "Episode III". [ [http://www.starwars.com/databank/location/kashyyyk/?id=eu Star Wars: Databank|Kashyyyk] ] In Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic the video game, Kashyyyk is one of the planets which may be traveled to. It shows the Wookies' homes in the treetops while the ground level is filled with deadly creatures and mysteries.

External links

* [http://www.starwars.com/databank/species/wookiee/ The Wookiee Species] from official Star Wars web site.
*sww|Wookiee

References