Livorno

Last Updated: 1/15/2024

Name: Livorno

Humanoid: No

Classification: Avian

Homeworld: Livorno

Coloration: Green, White, Blue, & Orange

Biology: The Livorno were a tall race of avian sentients who used to be found quite frequently within the Star Wars universe. They were lanky, standing somewhere between 2.3 and 2.7 meters in height when fully grown. Being bipedal, they had two legs, as well as two wing-like arms. Their bodies were covered in feathers of various sizes, most of them taking on an aquamarine color, while a few on their chest, fingertips, and various portions of their face were white, while a handful around their neck, cheeks, and forearms also sported thin, ornate blue stripes.

The species presumably had clawed feet, possibly an orange coloration matching their beaks, while their hands featured five long, prehensile, feather-like fingers. Their underarms also possessed a row of pointed feathers that extended downwards. Livorno possessed noticeably elongated necks, indicative of ratite-like species. Their heads were small and rounded, with squinted eyes that had yellow sclera, blue irises, and black pupils, all tucked underneath defined brows. Their beaks were large and orange, with an enlarged maxilla that also featured their small nostril openings. The species had a mane of feathers that hung back and down over their heads, potentially covering their ears/aural cavities.

From what we can tell, despite being winged avians, the Livorno were a flightless species, although we cannot confirm this for sure. They had the capacity to speak Galactic Basic Standard with seemingly no issue, despite the nontraditional shape of their mouths. Female Livorno laid eggs that were whitish with blue speckles in coloration and appeared to be slightly larger than a balled Human fist. These eggs appeared to be rather robust, with an elongated incubation period that didn’t necessarily require the constant need for heat. We are unsure how long it took for Livorno eggs to hatch, nor how big their young were or how quickly they matured.

Lore: The Livorno of Livorno were a matriarchal society, ruled by a prominent queen, at least by the height of the Galactic Civil War. They seemed to be a rather wealthy species, wearing colorful clothing in the form of draping robes and suspended hoods. The species had developed some sort of galactic reputation by sometime prior to approximately 0 ABY, eventually gaining the attention of the Galactic Empire. For a reason yet to be revealed, the Empire enacted a genocidal campaign against the Livorno, leaving the species on the brink of extinction. The current matriarch, Queen Prizzi, was one of the species’ only survivors. Fleeing Livorno with six fertile Livorno eggs, she sought out the only individual she knew of who might help, the Alderaanian Princess Leia Organa, General of the Rebel Alliance.

To transport her eggs to the safety Leia offered, however, Queen Prizzi was forced to turn to the infamous smuggler Jaxxon T. Tumperakki and his then associate Amaiza Foxtrain. The two reluctantly agreed, before realizing the Empire was hot on their tail, their bloodlust seemingly not quenched until the species was entirely extinct. After various hijinks and shenanigans, Tumperakki’s “Rabbit’s Foot” was able to unite the Queen and her eggs with the Rebel fleet. The Livorno, despite how few there were, became official allies of the Rebellion, specifically coming under their protection until the Empire was defeated. Although, given how many known Livorno (both mature and embryonic) the future of the species remained shaky at best, and next to doomed at worst…

Continuity: The Livorno only exist within Star Wars Canon, although they do bear some resemblance to a number of similar EU species like the Calibops!

Unexplored: We get an interesting glimpse into a single snapshot of this species’ history, and although it’s definitely a major turning point, to leave their past and future unexplored would be a shame, so I have included a few questions that, if answered, would help us much better understand the Livorno! First off, when did the Livorno gain sentience, what sort of creature might they have evolved from, when were they first discovered and introduced into the greater galaxy, and by whom? What was the planet Livorno like and where in the galaxy was it located? Why was the species and/or planet so wealthy, and did they bear any unique resources, exports, or services that the galaxy greatly valued? What sort of influence might the species have held, what sort of reputation could they have accrued, and were they members of the Galactic Republic, thus holding a seat on the Republic Senate?

What reason(s) might the Galactic Empire have had for purging the Livorno? Was it simply a show of power used against Jedi or Rebel sympathizers, a discriminatory act as retribution for an offense, or might they have been taking their resources or harvesting something from the species themselves, such as their feathers or eggs? We know the last few eggs were incredibly valuable, in part, due to their rarity, but were there other reasons why non-Livorno might have sought out these young avians before they’ve even hatched? What did the rest of the galaxy think of the Livorno extermination, were they even aware it was happening, and if so, what excuses or propaganda might they have been fed? Were the Livorno already allied with the Rebel Alliance, or was the Queen’s meeting with the Princess their first interaction? What happened to the Queen and the six potential young following the collapse of the Empire? Were there other members of the species who came together to rebuild, either on or off of Livorno, were these seven truly the last members of the species, and is it possible they still died out not long after? Exploring the answers to these questions, as well as the usual lengthy list of general worldbuilding concepts, will really help the Livorno’s lore stand out as much as their appearance!

Additional Notes: I like the design, and I especially like what’s been set up, but I definitely also need more. For starters, I want to see them in another art style or medium. The exaggerated, cartoony version we’ve been shown so far doesn’t give us a clear picture of how this species should generally be depicted, and, of course, their lore leaves a lot of gaps. I kept thinking I had missed a piece of dialog in the comic that is their only current appearance, “The Lost Eggs of Livorno,” which revealed why the Empire had it out for the Livorno, but after a few rereads I just think that info doesn’t exist and I really wish we knew. Any motive would be better than no motive, so I suppose this gives me a strong reason to wish for this species to reappear in something else someday soon!

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