Shorwilt

Last Updated: 5/27/2025

Name: Shorwilt

Humanoid: Yes

Classification: Alternative

Homeworld: Unknown

Coloration: Blue and Tan

Biology: Shorwilts were a large bulky humanoid with a relatively unassuming appearance but a surprising hidden anatomical feature. Being bipedal, they stood around 2 meters in height, with wide frames, large stomachs, and thick limbs, possessing two arms and two legs. They had coarse, hairless skin that was primarily dark blue in coloration, though tan around their face and front of their body, featuring scale-like patches on certain parts of their bodies such as the tops of their heads. Their feet were similar to those of an elephant, rounded, however, seeming to lack any visible nails. Their hands were stubby, featuring at least 3, potentially 4 wide fingers.

Their necks were wide, displaying multiple rolls, giving way to a lack of visible chin. Their mouths were wide, with dark lips. They also possessed small, dark, sunken eyes, set on the sides of their heads and potentially granting them a forward blindspot. Similarly, their exposed vertical nostril slits were also wideset. Though normally blended in, the top portion of their head could actually peel back, revealing a prehensile tentacle that seemed to extend down their back, though could stretch far further than their body would seemingly allow. When revealed, a deep fleshy groove of lighter coloration was left on the Shorwilts’ bodies, filled with a slimy, sticky mucus.

The underside of their tentacles also sported an assortment of small white spikes, seemingly able to dig into prey or targets to deal increased damage or grip. The species seemed quite strong, both in the general musculature, as well as with their tentacle. They trade this strength for speed, however, appearing to be rather lumbering and slow when attempting to move with haste. They had the capacity to speak Galactic Basic Standard, and breathe oxygen without assistance like the majority of galactic denizens. The species had a generally intimidating appearance and demeanor, and may have had an irritable disposition to match, though we’ve yet to see enough instances of this species to confirm or deny.

Lore: We know very little about the Shorwilts at the moment, aside from the fact that they had been discovered by the height of the High Republic Era, with at least one serving as a violent convict in the custody of the Galactic Republic. It seems their hidden tentacles were seldom understood, as the Republic security guarding this prisoner were unaware of it and did not address it properly, leading to a breakout. It’s possible they rarely used these abilities, at least outside of their homeworld or communities, to prevent the greater galaxy from knowing about it and giving them a natural advantage.

Continuity: Originating from the television series “The Acolyte” and identified in the accompanying Visual Guide, the Shorwilt are exclusively a part of the current Canon.

Unexplored: As with a lot of these recent live action species, as it stands, I can currently pretty much just put “everything” in this section and call it a day. Of course, the key components we want to know the most about are their homeworld (name, location, environment(s)), origins (when they developed sentience, what they evolved from, who first discovered them), and relationships (species, governments, factions, companies). Getting some more anatomical info, especially about the tentacle, would be great. And I’d love to just see more depictions, particularly across other mediums and art styles (comic artists, I’m looking at you)!

Additional Notes: I was so glad to see this one (and a couple others I’ll eventually write about) be identified in previews for the 2025 The Acolyte Visual Guide, it’s so good to finally get an encyclopedia that’s not afraid to just name absolutely everything. The Shorwilts are probably a top 3 TA-original species for me, and as I stated above, I do really want to see more of them! They’re a fun brutish design that would make for cool bounty hunters or bodyguards, and I think they’d fit right at home in an animated project. If that ends up happening, I’ll make sure to come back and update this article with whatever they reveal, so stay tuned!

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