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Tusken Raiders
Aggressive, violent and unscrupulous. Those are the main characteristics of the Tusken Raiders, a race of desert savages from Tatooine, Luke Skywalker's native planet.
- By Orus Villacorta, Gulf News Report
- Published: 00:00 May 6, 2007
- The Tusken Raiders are covered with bandages and masks that protect them from the extreme heat on their two-sun desert planet, Tatooine. According to their religious beliefs, it is prohibited to show one's skin.
- Image Credit: Nino Jose Heredia/Gulf News
Aggressive, violent and unscrupulous. Those are the main characteristics of the Tusken Raiders, a race of desert savages from Tatooine, Luke Skywalker's native planet. They played an important role in Star Wars, although the impact is as a group, rather than as individuals.
Click here to download Tusken artwork (pdf)
Why are they so relevant? The Tusken Raiders seem to pop up at random moments, ready to cause mischief and mayhem: They attacked podracers during the Boonta Eve Classic in Episode I; they kidnapped (and killed) Shmi Skywalker, the mother of Anakin Skywalker, in Episode II; finally they attacked Luke Skywalker and tried to rob him in Episode IV. These acts triggered effects that had a huge impact in the development of the Star Wars sequence.
The Tusken Raiders are covered with bandages and masks that protect them from the extreme heat on their two-sun desert planet, Tatooine. According to their religious beliefs, it is prohibited to show one's skin. These violent nomads hide in isolated areas such as the Dune Sea or the hidden deserts of Jundland.
Usually they stay away from populated areas. Once the twin suns set, however, they rise from the desert floor to search the wastes and rob the colonies.
Their transport through the extensive dunes of their planet are creatures called Banthas. They have developed a close relationship with the Banthas, and the loss of one can affect the life of another. After losing its rider, the Bantha becomes uncontrollable and suicidal; after the loss of a Bantha, the Tusken Raider loses all sense of life.
Although they operated and are known as a group, there are some notable Tusken Raiders, including A'Sharad Hett (a Clone Wars era Jedi), Hoar (the only known Tusken to master the ancient art of Teräs Kási, a weaponless martial art), and finally Raito (a Tusken known for his ability to hunt Jedis during the Great Sith War).
Tusken raiders:
Homeworld: Tatooine
Species: Tusken
Diet: Omnivorous
Height: 1.8 to 1.9 metres
Weapon: Gaderffii
Vehicle: Bantha
Famous members: A-Zulmun, Hoar, Sliven Associations: Gaderffii (Gaffi Stick)
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