Weequay

The Weequay were a race of humanoid aliens, native to the planet Sriluur, characterized by their weathered skin and the topknot of hair that sprouted from their heads. Each individual Weequay kept their topknow tied in a number of braids, known as seclusion braids. These braids seemed to indicate rank, although many xenosocialogists claimed the number of strands was meant to indicate the number of Sriluur years a Weequay had been away from his homeworld. This theory was later proved true, when it was discovered that Weequay individuals shaved off their topknots when they returned to Sriluur.

Weequay have gnarled, coarse skin that allowed them to blend in with the deserts of their homeworld. Because it was thick and tough, the skin of the Weequay also provided an measuer of protection against the elements.

Weequays communicated with each other through pheromonal discharges, but these exchanges only seemed to work within individual Weequay clans. To other races, they were simply smelly beings.

In general, Weequays do not have individual names, as the concept of individuality was not present in their civilziation. Only a handful of Weequay were known have adopted a name, most often those that had traveled offplanet.

As a people, the Weequay were quiet and dangerously violent by nature, and often found employment as soldiers, guards and mercenaries for the Hutts. They were, for the most part, nomadic, moving across the surface of Sriluur in search of food and water. Some clan units managed to establish settlements on the coastlines, where they erected religious shrines to honor their gods.

The Weequay preferred to remain low on the technological scale, and worshipped the moon which orbits Sriluur and its god, Quay. The name "Weequay" literally meant "follower of Quay." The Weequay appease the god Quay by sacrificing a large beast after battling it. The beast most often sacrificed was the Bantha. In order to ensure that they remained in Quay's good graces, each Weequay carried a small sphere that was believed to contain Quay's essence. This sphere was common throughout the galaxy as a random-outcome generator used as a toy, but the Weequay regarded its ability to answer questions as a sign of Quay's existence.

One of the most interesting things about the Weequay was their written language, which was formed from stones that were woven into long braids of hair to create symbols and characters.

The Weequay lived in relative peace with their planetary neighbors, the Houk, for many years, but the racial tensions between the two races have erupted several times into all-out war. The last of these wars was resolved just prior to the Battle of Yavin.