Star Wars_ Edge of the Empire Rule Book

RYLOTH

Astronavigation Data: Ryloth sys-
tem, Caulus Sector, Outer Rim region
Orbital Metrics: 305 days per
year / 30 hours per day

Government: feudalism

Population: 1.5 billion (Twi'leks

76V other 24°o)

Languages: Twi'lek), Lekku (non-

verbal head-tail cornmunication),

Basic, Huttese

Major Terrain: caves, deserts,

mountains, plains

Major Cities: Lessu (capital),

Kala'uun. Roancu

Areas of Interest: ryll spice mines. Float-

ing Rock Gardens

Major Exports: slaves, ryll spice

Major Imports: consumables, luxury goods, medi-

cines, technology

Trade Routes: Corellian Run. Death Wind Corridor

(for spice runs)

Special Conditions: none

Background: For millennia, the Twi'leks of Ryloth have

managed to navigate the gray areas of galactic law and

structure their economy around two commodities for

which there is always a demand; slavery and spice.

Experts at negotiation. Twi'leks clan lords skirt anti-

slavery legislation by indenturing lower caste Twi'leks

through "free:will" contracts, slavery in all but name.

While such habits skirt galactic law, many otherwise

law-abiding cultures are only too happy to turn a blind

eye to this practice in order to obtain Twi'lek slaves.

Spice saved the Twi'Jeks from becoming a permanent

underclass to other species. Thousands of years ago,

vast deposits of ryll spice were discovered on Ryloth.

Mined from blooms below the surface, ryll could be

used as the active agent in both medicines and narcot-

ics. Suddenly, Ryloth had another resource valuable to

the galaxy. The clans exploited the spice themselves

rather than outsourcing the labor. As a result, Twi'lek

slaves became a much rarer commodity, and fetched

higher prices without depleting Ryloth's population.

• Visitors to the planet find it a world of harsh condi-
  tions. Much of the terrain is rocky and barren, blighted
  by Ryloth's sun. Tremendous heat storms roll across
  the surface without warning, allowing only the hardi-
  est of creatures, like the armored lylek, to survive.
  The weather is more temperate around the equator,
  where most Twi'lek settlements are located, including

the capital city of

Lessu. Those Twi'leks who choose to live elsewhere find

shelter either below-the surface or shielded behind moun-

tain rock, in cavernous cities like Kala'uunand Roancu.

As Ryloth's economy is primarily based on exports

there is little indigenous industry, and almost all tech-

nology is imported. However, the Twi'leks are not tech-

nophobes; they prefer to maintain their position in the

galactic community through bargaining and trade.

As anti-alien prejudice grows in the galaxy, the

Twi'leks. given their similarities to humans, manage to

dilute its impact on Ryloth by ingratiating themselves

with Imperial officials. One executive of Sienar Fleet

Systems found himself visiting Ryloth so frequently he

built corporate offices in Kala'uun's caves.

RYLL SPICE

Though weaker than glitterstim, ryll can still be

I a dangerous and addictive substance, causing

hallucinations and memory loss. Both the Repub-

lic and the Empire placed restrictions on its use,

licensing it only to pharmaceutical companies

for the production of painkillers and anesthetics.

The Twi'lek clans claim they mine ryll for legally

approved entities, but that does not explain the

millions of shipments that go missing every year.

The clans keep the pharmaceutical companies

happy by either offering cut-rate prices or add-

ing "a little extra" to the orders.

362 THE GALAXY

EDCE OF THE EMPIRE