Nuiwit

Last Updated: 01/30/2026

Name: Nuiwit

Humanoid: Yes/No

Classification: Lizard/Diminutive

Homeworld: Altor 14

Coloration: Brown, green, gray, and/or gold

Biology: It would seem that two distinct variants of the Nuiwit existed. Both are reptilian species covered in scales that ranged from metallic gold to dark brown to pale green. They were all cold-blooded in nature, with flickering tongues that ended in what appeared to be spiky barbs. The species also all had detachable tails that could be removed if faced with danger, taking approximately four galactic standard weeks to fully regrow. Nuiwits could move both bipedally and quadrupedally, seemingly swapping between both modes with little issue. When standing on their hind legs, they were usually between 1.3 and 1.5 meters in height. They were also all exclusively herbivorous vegetarians, despite their razor sharp teeth. They seemingly evolved from a nearly identical non-sentient type of quadrupedal lizard, though it was theorized that they may have stemmed from a common ancestor as Altor 14’s other native species, the avian Avogwi. The only shared features were their scales and nearly identical tongues.

The two distinct appearances of this species may have been determined by those dwelling among dangerous locations on their homeworld, Altor 14, versus those who did not, though this is unconfirmed. The variant confirmed to dwell specifically on Altor 14 preferred to move quadrupedally, only standing on their back legs with assistance from their tails, and possessing large clawed four-fingered appendages with great grip strength. They possessed a row of spiky scales going down their back, seemingly making them unable or unwilling to wear clothing, with large lips on their faces and eyestalks which granted them 360°, perfect for detecting aerial predators. According, at least, to the Avogwi, Nuiwits were both edible and delicious.

The second variant has been primarily observed traveling upright, with shorter limbs and smaller appendages, as well as less prominent tails. These Nuiwits had ribbed heads with shorter heads and smaller lips, possessing large brows and sunken eyes, as opposed to the eyestalks of their brethren. The Nuiwits of this variety seemed to be the only ones confirmed to be able to speak Galactic Basic Standard, with the others presumably only speaking their native tongue. It would seem that naturally Nuiwits were very sensitive to temperatures, detecting sharp changes, and only being active within a certain parameter, sunrise to sunset on Altor 14, though its unclear how their bodies functioned within offworld environments.

Lore: The Nuiwits originated from the planet Altor 14, an arid planet found within the Roti-Ow System of the Zoraster Sector housed within the infamous part of the Outer Rim Territories known as “The Slice.” The planet was known for its relatively hot climate, baking under the light of its two suns, Roti and Ow. The surface of Altor 14 was comprised almost entirely of plainlands and deserts, with sparse vegetation and even sparser sources of water. The two main lifeforms on the planet were a species or avians and a species of lizards, with the former being the predators of the latter. At some point both species developed sentience, becoming known as the Avogwi and the Nuiwits, though they would continue their one-sided persecution, seemingly under the collective title of Altorian (at least following their discovery).

Having developed the ability to walk upright and hold tools, the Nuiwits would actually advance fairly quickly as a society, developing structures and eventually technologies possibly just shy of flying vehicles, all the while, the avian bodies of the Avogwi forced them to remain much more primitive. However, their threat did not end, as the Nuiwits refused to fight back, taking a pacifistic stance early on into their existence as a sapient people, refusing to even hurt the local wildlife and subsisting only on a diet of plants. As the years waned on and the climate grew harsher, both populations began to dwindle, what few bodies of water available to them continuing to diminish. By 15 BBY, when they were formally discovered, the combined population of both races on Altor 14 numbered less than one million.

The Nuiwits made first contact with the outside galaxy when delegates from the “Rego Mineral Company” arrived on Altor 14 only a few years after the fall of the Galactic Republic. The world had previously been uncharted, being on the edge of colonized space within the Outer Rim. These miners were rather surprised to encounter not one but two distinct sentient civilizations, one of which so advanced they possessed both automated mining equipment and unique types of droids. Because of their status compared to their neighbors, the Rego Mineral Company first met with the Nuiwits, convening with their “Councils of Elders,” a collective of the various “Council of Elders” that oversaw their various populaces, which were not actually comprised of “elders” but simply well respected members of the community of any age.

This council of councils seemed to have assembled for the special occasion, in an urgent attempt to do what they do best, reach a peaceful conclusion to any potential conflict. The convocation went surprisingly well, with both parties appearing to be satisfied with the outcomes of their agreement. On paper, the Rego Mineral Company gained exclusive mining rights to Altor 14, though what the traded for it remains unclear, potentially monetary reimbursement or possibly simply granting the native reptilians the ability to leave their planet. They made this decision, of course, without consulting the Avogwi, who didn’t necessarily approve of the deal but were in no place to formally interject given their much less developed status.

The avians did, however, view the Nuiwits as complete fools for agreeing to what they believed may have been an unfair agreement so quickly, though some of their apprehension seemed to come from a place of fear over losing their place as the “apex” species of the world. And it seems that’s exactly what happened, as with newfound wealth, the Nuiwits experienced a population boom, expanding their civilizations and agricultural practices further across the planet, though ceasing all attempts at mining. Fortunately, despite now having access to more than the means to wipe their persecutors of the face of the planet, they chose to simply ignore the Avogwi, hoping that, now that they were losing what few resources they had left, the species would leave the abandon the planet entirely.

This, apparently, would more-or-less come to pass, with many Avogwi finding passage offworld, pursuing lives elsewhere, though more often-than-not turning to lives of crime. Some Nuiwits too would begin to leave their homeworld, as they were quickly developing connections across the galaxy. This was due in part to their affiliation with Rego, but also because their unique droid models and other technologies were actually highly sought after, given they were developed away from galaxy standards, and seeming to work particularly well in the fields of mining and agriculture. Some Nuiwits would leave Altor 14 in search of business opportunities, some to find themselves and seek out pleasures, and, as with the Avogwi, some, now exposed to the corruptions of the greater galaxy, would also turn to crime.

Most Nuiwits would never leave their homeworld, however, and, unfortunately, something they had failed to comprehend was that the Rego Mineral Company was affiliated directly with the Galactic Empire, and thus, Altor 14 also became an Imperial territory. As with many worlds who had plentiful mineral and ore resources, the Empire themselves would arrived, establishing a military presence and placing the locals under their jurisdiction. The results of this event seem to remain unknown, though given similar events, the occupation was probably not present and there’s a high likelihood the planet was ravaged to at least some degree. It is known that, following the collapse of the Galactic Empire, the Hutt Empire would take their place as the official owners of Altor 14, though what came of this is also unclear. It was, however, still considered a rare site to encounter a Nuiwit out among the galaxy, and as far as we know, their population still stayed relatively small.

Continuity: The Nuiwits currently remain a species exclusive to the Star Wars Expanded Universe, as do the Avogwi and their shared homeworld.

Unexplored: We honestly know quite a bit about this particular species, despite their limited appearances across the EU. Leave it to the old RPG magazines/guides to rapidly flesh out a bunch of new species over a limited amount of time. As such, a lot of the general worldbuilding concepts I generally talk about in this section have actually been covered, that is, at least if you choose to accept their Legends tale as how they would be in Canon. I guess canonically they’d still be a blank slate, though I do hope at least some of their lore, especially in regards to the Avogwi, remain intact, as that’s part of what makes them unique.

There are still at least a few questions we can pose, however, including: Which of the two species developed sentience first? How large did the Nuiwit population get at their peak, and how long did it take them to reach each age of a developing civilization? What sorts of equipment and droids did they make exactly, what did they look like, and what made them so special? What was the rare mineral found on the planet, and how did it benefit the Empire? What happened during the Imperial occupation, and what about the Hutts, how did that situation play out? What exactly were the Nuiwits traded for in exchange for mining rights, and did the councils ever regret their decisions? Finally, it would be nice to have a better in-universe explanation for their varying appearances, right now it could easily just come down to a difference in artists vision/interpretation, but I really feel there’s an easy way to make it a lore thing. And just having some more depictions in general, especially ones in color, regardless of the medium, would really go a long way!

Additional Notes: I actually kind of dig this species, even among a sea of other somewhat similar Star Wars reptilian sentients. The eyestalk version especially has a standout design, though the other is a bit more generic, even having more-or-less the exact same possible colorations as Trandoshans. They’d definitely need something else to stand out among the modern Star Wars Canon landscape, and their relationship with the Avogwi really is a fun bit of worldbuilding. We can only hope they’re adapted at least semi-faithfully in some work that can properly give them room to fully be established. It’s only a matter of waiting for so many of these old RPG, black-and-white exclusive species to get a modern shoutout, or in seldom few cases, a bit more meat in their appearance.

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