Fftssfft

Last Updated: 11/10/2023

Name: Fftssfft (Dandelion Warriors)

Humanoid: Yes

Classification: Plant

Homeworld: Endor

Coloration: Blue, Green, Yellow, & Orange

Biology: The Fftssfft were one of the strangest sentient aliens in the known Star Wars galaxy. They stood approximately one meter tall, although their plumes could increase their height by a fair amount. Their bodies were incredibly thin and segmented on the torso and at the joints. They possessed very few internal organs as less were needed to survive than most species. Their body was essentially the same texture and consistency as grass, albeit rounder. And they were usually bright green or blue in coloration.

Fftssfft had no skeletal structure, their plant bodies being more than enough to support them. This also meant that Fftssfft were incredibly flexible, could fold and contort their bodies without breaking anything, and were still surprisingly strong and agile. The feet of an Fftssfft were root-like in nature and could extend themselves into the ground to draw nutrients from the soil. In fact, Fftssfft did not need to eat to survive, as long as they rooted themselves often and remained exposed to water and sunlight.

Their legs were spindly, with extended hip joints. They also may have possessed more humanoid-like reproductive organs, although it hasn’t been 100% confirmed. Their bodies themselves allowed them to experience a form of photosynthesis. Their arms were also long and thin, ending in three-fingered hands that were sharp enough to slice things open with a slash. They seemed to have the ability to temporarily extend their limbs as well, although to what extent and how taxing it was on the body is unknown.

Fftssfft heads were flat, sporting beak-like mouths, jagged, sharp lips, and a fleshy pink interior. Their eyes were bioluminescent, often a solid red, pink, or purple in coloration. The top of their heads were covered in a large yellow plume that could take one of two shapes. One resembled that of a dandelion, while the other was much more reminiscent of mushrooms. These plumes actually consisted of millions of small needle-like petals, and one one hundredth of them were actually unique, known as “Star Urchin Quills.” The interspersed quills were highly venomous and could be shot at high speeds out of the Fftssffts’ head, blooming open upon impaling flesh and releasing high quantities of a toxin that could paralyze, or in some cases, even kill smaller species.

Interestingly, this species rarely engaged in any sort of social interactions. They would form into colonies, plant themselves in the ground, and immediately into a hibernation-like state where they would spend much of their lives. Occasionally they would gather to perform rituals or craft clothing or tools, but the only other time they would come to life is when they were approached or threatened by a non-Fftssfft. They would grow agitated and violent when disturbed from their slumber, and attacked any who approached through biting, impaling, and poisoning.

The Fftssfft could survive outside of the lush environments they called home, but grew extensively more agitated the longer they went without water, soil, and sunlight. Their immense strength was uncharacteristic of a being their size, although they were noticeably slow and often sluggish. Fftssfft had underdeveloped brains, meaning they were incapable of processing high concepts, and most often simply desired to rest or kill, although they performed other, almost instinctual rituals as well. They also communicated via screeches and movements, unable to speak any other language, including Ewokese and Basic. When in their motionless state, they could blend in with the mushrooms and flowers of Endor, offering them a fair amount of protection. 

Lore: The Fftssfft were found on the Endor, the Forest Moon of Endor, and were one of many sentient species to coinhabit the moon. Unlike the other natives, however, they rarely socialized, interacted, or messed with their neighboring species. Fftssfft usually lived a simple life in the few open meadows dotting the Endor’s surface. Most of their life was spent hibernating in clusters, although we do not know what they did during these times or what benefit this stasis brought them. We do know that they would awaken on their own every once in a while to craft their very basic “underwear,” as well as rudimentary objects such as clubs or rope.

They usually only awakened when attacked or stumbled upon by travelers. There were very few species on Endor that the Fftssfft could not kill, and they often attacked intruders in swarms, slicing them apart or peppering them with quill-like projectiles and killing them with venom. This made many Endor natives scared of the Fftssfft, with the Ewoks in particular being terrified of even stumbling upon their territory. They were also the ones who named the Fftssfft, based off of the noises that the species made, but being difficult to pronounce, the Ewoks more commonly referred to them as the “Dandelion Warriors.”

Despite all of this, the Fftssfft were still outclassed by a few neighboring species such as the Grass Trekkers, Hanadaks, and Goraxs who would often hunt and kill the Fftssfft, either to eat or sometimes just due to pure maliciousness. They Fftssfft were also discovered by offowlrders sometime prior to the Galactic Civil War, and were sometimes poached or captured. Being taken off of Endor, these perpetually agitated Fftssfft would no longer enter into their resting phase, and were popular as combatants in gladiatrial arenas. They even earned a reputation as some of the most brutal pit fighters in the entirety of the Outer Rim, often going toe-to-toe or even overpowering other infamous species such as the Trandoshans or the Wookiees.

Legends/Canon: The Fftssfft are currently exclusive to Star Wars Legends, and appear to be one of the species that are far less likely to be Canonized than most, although they do still stand a chance after the recent Canonization of both the Wisties and Jindas.

Unexplored: As a whole, the Fftssfft have already been explored more than many, however, compared to many of the other races found in the Ewoks animated series (or on Endor in general), they’re still a tad mysterious. If the Fftssfft are canonized with most of their original lore intact, then some questions we can ask to further explore them as a species include: When did the Fftssfft first develop awareness? Did they evolve from a plant, or simply an insectoid species that used plant-like camouflage? When were the Fftssfft first discovered by the other inhabitants of Endor, what led the Ewoks to fear them as much as they did, and when were they introduced to the outside galaxy?

To what extent could the Fftssfft process information, and what was their level of awareness? Were they acting more on instinct, or were they in control of their every action? Did the Fftssfft value anything such as community or land? Were they a naturally aggressive species, or were they violent primarily out of fear? Could they distinguish different species or intentions? And were they capable of compromising or establishing peace? What happened to the Fftssfft during their hibernation states, and why did they spend most of their lives immobile? Did it restore them, did they think or communicate during this time, or did they simply shut down as they had nothing better to do?

How many Fftssfft were taken offworld and when did they first begin to appear in the outside galaxy? Who exactly transported them off of Endor, and was it always with the intent to turn them into gladiators? What did the Fftssfft think about leaving their home and the rest of their species? Could they process separation or loneliness, or did they simply feel pure, unadulterated aggressiveness? How far did their reputation as warriors spread, and were any steps taken by organizations to study or free them? And were the Fftssfft at all involved in the Battle of Endor during the Galactic Civil War?

Additional Notes: I know it’s an older species, but it checks out. I would love some updated illustrations or even a live action adaptation, but for the time being, I still really like the Fftssfft. They are really unique, have some memorable and complex lore, and only add to the horrors that is the Forest Moon of Endor. Hopefully, despite all odds, they do eventually make their way into Canon. Because as far as the Star Wars universe goes, they are surprisingly brutal, and the underwear just completes them in my opinion.

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