Dybrinthe

Last Updated: 6/12/2024

Name: Dybrinthe

Humanoid: Yes

Classification: Alternative

Homeworld: Dybrin 12

Coloration: Unclear

Biology: We currently know nothing about the Dybrinthe’s physical appearance as, while off of their homeworld, their bodies need to be completely covered with a unique protective suit. They had the same general height, weight, frame, and build as the average Human, being bipedal, with two arms and two legs, as well as five-fingered hands. Underneath their masks the species was described as having large eyes, “bright skin,” and a gill-like system used for breathing. Their suits had a special built-in filtration system, with tubes connecting their head to modules on both their front and back, constantly pumping processed (and toxic) air suitable for their survival directly into their gills. In addition, the suits were also pressure controlled and temperature regulated, able to simulate the intense pressure and heat of their home moon. The species had the capacity to both speak Galactic Basic and be Force Sensitive.

Lore: The Dybrinthe were a species originally native to Dybrin 12, a small moon found orbiting the planet Dybrin, nestled within the galaxy’s Deep Core. As of the “modern age,” the Dybrinthe were a relatively advanced people, having developed enormous mobile cities which doubled as fuel refineries, constantly moving around Dybrin 12’s barren surface and harvesting the natural gasses that seeped out from bubbling oceans and pools. The moon itself was considered to have an incredibly hostile landscape and environment by galactic standards, with high atmospheric pressures and dense gravity, scorching temperatures, and a cloak of poisonous gas that made it nigh impossible for almost any outside being to breathe. Yet, despite this unwelcoming mix of detrimental factors, Dybrin 12 was still home to a vibrant ecosystem of various native organisms and creatures, most prominent of which, of course, were the Dybrinthe.

Discovered some time prior to the High Republic era, potentially within the early days of the Old Republic given their proximity to the Core, the Dybrinthe had long been major suppliers of unique fuels to various intergalactic clients, with this export seemingly being rather lucrative. The species was broken up into a traditional clan system, with each clan owning one of the floating mobile refinery-cities, though it’s unclear whether or not conflict broke out between these roaming communities. Since offworlders could not tolerate the surface without intense protection, a number of space stations were constructed around the moon instead to host visitors and clients. Many of the species had left their homeworld by the High Republic, taking up residence on worlds like Coruscant and Jakku. There, they could be distinguished by their distinct, full-body coverings, as well as unique masks with rounded faceplates full of holes, large right eye lens, and large tubes extending from the upper sides, connecting to units attached to the Dybrinthe’s chest and upper back.

Continuity: The Dybrinthe are a species exclusive to Star Wars Canon, being one of the first, in fact, used in promotional materials for Episode VII: The Force Awakens!

Unexplored: Quite a bit goes unexplored in all aspects of the Dybrinthe, so we’re going to cover some questions here that, if answered, would fill in some of those holes. Of course, sometimes having no answers can be good for a species, and they definitely have a Jawa/Tusken-esque mystery to their appearance (at least before we sort of saw too much of the Jawas and Sand People in the EU), so keep that in mind as we proceed. Of course, we need to begin by asking more about the species origins! When did they first develop sentience, what sorts of creatures did they evolve from, and what caused them to develop on such a hostile world in the first place. What exactly do the species faces look like, why do they have one large and one small lens on their masks, why do their breather tubes seem to be attached to the upper sides of their head, and did they possess any other unique anatomical or biological traits we have yet to learn about?

Was the species one of the first discovered by the Galactic Republic given their proximity to the Core, or were they overlooked due to being native to a moon and not the primary planet of Dybrin? If the former is true, were they early denizens of the galactic landscape, and were they ever members of the Republic and represented on the Senate, or simply allowed to operate their industries within the Republic’s jurisdiction? Did wars break out among the moving refinery cities on Dybrin 12, or were the clans amicable or even generally united? What did these moving cities look like? We know they scoured the oceans, so did they sail or hover, and were there treaded cities who traveled the solid surface as well? What did Dybrin 12 look like? Was it a vibrant world covered in colorful gasses, seas, and geysers? Or was it foggy and dark, a direct representation of the harsh poisons and heat?

What sorts of political affiliations did the Dybrinthe have throughout history, and were they pulled into any major intergalactic conflicts due to the valuable fuels they produced? What did the Dyrbinthe think of outsiders, and were they generally welcoming given the orbital platforms they constructed to accommodate them, or did they see them as no more than a means to a lucrative end? Why did members leave the world, and what led them to the various worlds they settled such as Jakku? Did the species ever lose any major clients or sources of incomes with the collapse of the Republic and later Empire? And what were they up to during the “modern age” and subsequent eras in the future? Receiving answers to these questions, as well as thoroughly exploring our usual list of other general worldbuilding traits, would probably prove helpful in the long run for the identity and popularity of this species!

Additional Notes: There’s definitely a basis for a fantastic species here, both in biology and lore, they just need that one big shove to finally push them into the limelight! Additionally, any species who has been represented on the Jedi High Council automatically moves up a rung in my eyes, and recently we have seen just that with Master Dijuka and the Dybrinthe within the Canon Yoda comic run! I think this species served as a fairly good first impression for the droves of new alien races brought in with  pseudo-reboot of the Star Wars franchise during the transition into the current Canon, and I can’t wait to continue to see more of them in upcoming media across all corners of the Star Wars universe!

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