Fairfolk

Last Updated: 2/1/2024

Name: Fairfolk

Humanoid: Unknown

Classification: Teacup/Energy

Homeworld: Dantooine

Coloration: Unknown

Biology: The Fairfolk were a mysterious species, both in biology and history. They were described as being very similar in appearance to tiny Jawas, at least on a surface level, with both races almost exclusively wearing small hooded robes that obscured their entire bodies, however, there is no known relation outside of this similar manner of cultural dress. “Standing” somewhere between approximately .3 and .5 meters tall, the species actually possessed no visible legs, and instead floated and flew at all times. This was possible due to their incredibly strong natural connection to the Force, specifically the Dark Side it would seem, which also granted them the capacity to communicate telepathically (specifically in broken Basic), as well as establish telepathic links and mental projections between multiple non-Fairfolk individuals.

Based on their clothing, it would appear that the Fairfolk had thin arms ending in what appeared to be four or five-fingered hands. However, given the nature of their existence and the fact that we never see any actual parts of their bodies (aside from the occasional pair of glowing eyes), it is highly likely the species has no corporeal form at all, instead being a race of ethereal manifestations that simply take the form of physical beings due to what they’ve observed (specifically apparently Jawas) and obscure their potentially incomprehensible visage behind simple clothing. This would especially make sense given their questionable origins as the native sentient race of the powerful vergence of the Force that was the planet Dantooine. They seemed startled by electricity, with shock technologies able to drive them back in fear.

Lore: Little is known about the Fairfolk, aside from the fact that they were only ever found on Dantooine, which has since been attributed as their homeworld. They had a strong bond with the Force which seemed to dominate their entire existence, amplified only further by Dantooine’s status as a Force Nexus, as well as its massive deposits of unique Kyber crystals. Specifically they seemed fascinated by the Dark Side of the Force, enough to form a pact with Darth Vader when approached, becoming his tentative servants in an attempt to secretly prod Luke Skywalker to leave the Light. They seemed to have great knowledge of the Force, enough that Luke saw they could be worthy teachers in his path to becoming a Jedi Master, although their tactics may have all been a well-practiced ploy used to lure in Force Sensitives for some sort of insidious ritual, potentially draining them of their life or powers. They were extremely antagonistic in their antics, continually putting Luke down and badgering him about every little thing.

Continuity: The Fairfolk currently only exist within Star Wars Legends, where there’s a pretty good chance they’ll indefinitely remain.

Unexplored: There’s… a lot here that’s left to the imagination, which is definitely not a bad thing, although for the sake of the purpose of this article, I will be exploring some questions here that, if answered, would help us better understand and utilize the Fairfolk. That doesn’t mean these questions ever need to be answered in-universe, but it would be beneficial for authors and illustrators going forward should anyone ever choose to include them in something in the future! First of all, what is the true nature of the Fairfolk? Did they possess a physical form, or were they a race of immortal spirits? Were they drawn to Dantooine because of its strong connection to the Force, or was that truly their birthplace, and if the former is true, is it possible they could be found on other words as well? Was “Fairfolk” a title they chose for themselves due to its unassuming and whimsical connotations, and if so, what might their real name have been?

What were the Fairfolk up to during various eras, and were they ever possibly involved in galactic conflicts? Is it possible they were recruited by the Jedi, Sith, or some other Force-based faction at some point in their history? How did they attain so much knowledge? Why did they wear little cloaks? Was it to obscure an  imperceptible appearance, due to copying the Jawas’ manner of dress, just for fun, or was there another reason? On that note, were they actually distantly related to Jawas, or was the “resemblance” superficial? Were all Fairfolk specifically connected to and interested in the Dark Side of the Force, or was it possible they were split into two different factions, with benevolent members of their kind found elsewhere? And how did they first come across Darth Vader, why did they choose to serve him or even offer their services, did they have some ulterior motive or were they possibly long-allied with the Sith, and did they suffer at his hands after their failure to convert his son? Given their bizarre existence, I don’t know how many of our other general worldbuilding traits would apply to the Fairfolk…

Additional Notes: Such a fascinating species here that I am both equally grateful and disappointed wasn’t utilized outside of their initial appearance. That being said, the fact that they came from the 1988 three-issue miniseries “Star Wars 3-D” makes them incredibly unique as they’re the only new named species to be introduced in that entire comic. Overall, I do think it would be fun to at least reference them in Canon someday as Dantooine remains an iconic yet overall unexplored world that I could see becoming much more prominent in the future of the franchise!

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