Sluissi

Last Updated: 12/5/2023

Name: Sluissi

Humanoid: No

Classification: Serpentine

Homeworld: Sluis Van

Coloration: Green or Brown

Biology: The Sluissi were a rather unique species, being an amalgamation of serpentine and humanoid features. Their bodies were covered in a layer of scales ranging from light brown to dark green in coloration. These scales were so small, however, that they were indistinguishable from a distance. The lower half of their body resembled that of a snake, lacking any legs, and being able to coil and propel the body by slithering. Some of their tails tapered off like normal, while others possessed serpentine rattles, although this is most likely attributed to a case of undocumented subspecies.

The Sluissi were naturally very lean and muscular, with their multiple rows of abdominal muscles sometimes visible under their lighter stomach scales. Their arms and fingers were long, having four-fingered hands and fins extending from their wrist to their elbows. They had long necks and often times ill-defined chins. Their faces. Again, possibly due to differing subspecies, some Sluissi had visible nostrils while others did not. Either way, they didn’t actually possess a nose. Their mouths had flat lips, and they sported a forked tongue, as is expected from a serpentine creature. Their eyes were solid black, and their scaly brows were usually vert defined. They also had a long fin-like appendage extending from the top/back of their heads that mimicked hair and was sometimes one interconnected array, while other times it was split into two segments. Their ear cavities were located beneath this head flap.

Depending on the induvial, they sometimes had short spikes protruding from nearly anywhere on their bodies. This seemed to be unique to each Sluissi, although most didn’t have any spikes at all. Similarly, it was technically possible for a Sluissi to be nearly any color, including blue, yellow, and cream. This was incredibly uncommon, however. When “standing up” straight, the average Sluissi was around 1.7 meters tall. However, from head to tail, they were actually around 3 full meters in length. Their average lifespan was slightly shorter than the average species, at around 76 years. They also weighed much less than many species of their size, with an average adult-sized Sluissi only weighing as much as an average preteen human. And they could speak Basic, and often did. But because of their forked tongues, they had a hard time pronouncing it, usually speaking with a slur or just opting to speak their own language, Sluissese. While this tongue limited their speech, it did increase their senses, giving them a fantastic sense of smell and even allowed them to detect minor changes in temperature.

Society: Originating on Sluis Van in the large Sluis Sector, the Sluissi were known for being one of the most technologically advanced species in the galaxy. Being an ancient race, they were one of the first species to help form the Galactic Republic, as well as one of the first species to develop efficient interstellar travel and hyperspace technology. Because of this, they helped shape the Old Republic into the massive entity it eventually became. Throughout the years, the Sluissi remained closely allied with the Republic until around 22 B.B.Y. At this point they had grown tired of the corruption they had seen plaguing their once glorious Republic, to the point where it was nearly unrecognizable.

The Sluis Sector was one of the first to succeed from the Republic and form the Confederacy of Independent Systems. They supplied many of the vehicles for the Separatist army, although they did not actually become involved with the combat itself and no battle was ever fought near Sluis Van as far as we are aware. Even though their planetary government sided with the CIS, there were still many Republic sympathizers among the general populous. When the Galactic Empire rose to power, their sector fell under an Imperial jurisdiction and they allowed the occupation without resistance. During the Galactic Civil War they begrudgingly served the Empire, producing warships and other technology. There are no accounts of the Sluissi ever fighting with or for the Rebel Alliance, and their people were not liberated until after the Battle of Endor. They then joined the New Republic and became an invaluable asset.

Being as advanced as they were, the Sluissi were generally pacifists unless their hand was absolutely forced. They were well acquainted with the galaxy, and were found on many words. Still, the majority were located in the Sluis Sector, where they set up a vast number of shipyards. Although they did contribute to some war fleets, they generally tried to use their skills and advanced technology for the betterment of the galaxy. Sluissi were natural tinkerers, and loved playing with technology every chance they got. They specialized in upgrading outdated tech and putting their own personal spin on existing mechanisms. They were also very slow, methodical designers and builders. This never seemed to have any ill effect on their economy, but it did frustrate most other species who were used to rushing assembly and getting products out on the market. The Empire even tried expediting the Sluissi’s manufacturing processes and forcing them to work faster, which apparently had disastrous results.

As mentioned above, they were very calm by nature, and were almost never provoked to anger or violence. Possibly a result of millennium of societal molding, the Sluissi were always calm, relaxed, and analytical, never rushing into decisions and believing patience was the key to all good things. They were seemingly unaffected by stress or pressure, and their inability to become angry ironically angered other species who just wanted to see them express a negative emotion. They were efficient, intelligent, patient, kind, and overall were fantastic with customer service, a role that many filled when they weren’t out being mechanics or engineers.

Legends/Canon: The Sluissi only currently exist within Star Wars Legends. The information above, however, does not clash with the current Star Wars Canon, and could be easily canonized. The only aspect of their history that is not as easily adapted into Canon is the fact that in 9 A.B.Y., the Imperial Remnant went to war with the New Republic over the Sluis Sector and their resources. Many Sluissi perished at the hands of the Empire, and it was almost a major loss for the New Republic. This event would go on to be called the “Battle of Sluis Van.”

Unexplored: As always, I feel the need to repeat the fact that when a species like this exists only in Legends, they can be taken and explored any which way in Canon with no contradictions. However, they hold a fairly unique place in the Star Wars universe, so if you want to keep their history and mannerisms consistent with what has already been established, here are some examples:

What kinds of vessels did they create and what did those vessels look like? What would it take to make one aggravated or upset? What happens when you try to rush a Sluissi? What was their homeworld like? Were their cities technological marvels or did they live simple, relaxed lives in simple, relaxed architecture? Were they a rich species, and was their economy solely based on their spaceworks industries? How many of the worlds in the Sluis Sector did they colonize aside from Sluis Van? Were there any other local species? And where did they get all of the resources needed to supply their multiple shipyards? How would they react to the events of the Resistance/First Order conflict? And lastly, did/would he Battle of Sluis Van still take place?

Additional Notes: The Sluissi have stuck with me long after I learned about them, and I really do hope they are Canonized soon. It’s always nice to learn about another member of the CIS. Design wise they are similar to the Thisspiasian, and lore wise they are reminiscent of the Givin and even the Mon Calamari. Yet somehow, they still maintain an identity of their own. Whether it’s their perpetually positive demeanor, or their close involvement with the Galactic Republic and subsequent factions since the very beginning, they have made their mark of the Star Wars galaxy. And I can only hope they will be able to make that same mark in the current Star Wars Canon. (Regardless, they will definitely be making an appearance in one of my upcoming works.)

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