 |
|
| Nikto | |
|---|---|
| Homeworld | |
| Language | |
| Average height |
1.6 to 1.9 meters[1] |
| Skin color |
Varied with subspecies |
| Distinctions |
Varied with subspecies |
| Races |
Kajain'sa'Nikto, Kadas'sa'Nikto, Esral'sa'Nikto, Gluss'sa'Nikto, M'shento'su'Nikto |
| Famous members |
Bok, Giran, Klaatu, Ma'kis'shaalas, Jasper McKnives, Nysad, Royce, Fi-Ek Sirch, Tsyr, Wooof |
The Nikto were a reptilian humanoid species from the planet Kintan in the Si'Klaata Cluster with many subspecies.
Contents |
The Nikto species featured five distinct mutated sub-species due to a massive radiation from a dying nearby star M'dweshuu, which sped up the rate of mutation so that traits that normally took millions of years to occur instead took only thousands of years. The five sub-species inhabited different geographic areas of Kintan, developing unique adaptations to suit the different environments on the planet.
The varying appearance of the Nikto sub-species caused confusion amongst those who were unfamiliar with the Nikto, but all Nikto had certain similarities; leathery skin, sometimes covered with spikes or horns, as well as eyes that included a protective membrane to shield against Kintan's harsh environment. Lacking the musculature required for complex facial expressions, Nikto were often underestimated in assessments of their intelligence due to their 'staring' eyes and 'blank' expressions.
While each subspecies of the Nikto was physically distinct and originated from different parts of Kintan, Nikto from different subspecies could easily interbreed. 93% of the offspring from such unions ended up with the characteristics of only one parent's race, with the rest combining the traits of two subspecies.
The most common subspecies, the Kajain'sa'Nikto or "Red Nikto", adapted to survive in the Wannschok, or "Endless Wastes", a desert region on Kintan. They had a series of forehead ridges and small facial horns surrounding their eyes and on the chin. Their noses were covered with a movable flap of skin and a semi-permeable membrane which allowed the Nikto to breathe without ingesting sand and grit. The Kajain'sa'Nikto also had a pair of breathing tubes on each side of the neck with openings covered by similar membranes. These membranes also trapped exhaled water vapor and sent it back into their system. Their equivalent of smiling was flattening their mouth flaps.
Most Morgukai warriors were of this race.
Kadas'sa'Nikto, or "Green Nikto," originated in the milder climatic regions of Kintan, such as the forests and the seacoasts. Their scaly faces had small facial horns surrounding the eyes and on the chin. Their main distinguishing feature was the long climbing claws on their hands, which could also be used in combat.
Esral'sa'Nikto, or "Mountain Nikto", adapted to the variable climate of the mountains of Kintan. They had large facial fins which were used for heat regulation. These fins also improved the Esral'sa'Nikto's hearing. Their skin was blue-gray, and they had neither horns nor breathing tubes, though they did have a covered nose similar to the Kajain'sa'Nikto.
Gluss'sa'Nikto, or "Pale Nikto", came from the Gluss'elta Islands of Kintan, causing them to be natural sailors. They had white-gray skin, eye-horns like the Kadas'sa'Nikto, and fins similar to those of the Esral'sa'Nikto, but smaller. Xenobiologists believed the first Gluss'sa'Nikto to have been born of a Kadas'sa'Nikto who mated with an Esral'sa'Nikto.
M'shento'su'Nikto, or "Southern Nikto", had no horns, a covered nose, and several pairs of breathing tubes. These tubes were larger than those of the Kajain'sa'Nikto, and also acted as primitive ultrasonic sensory organs. Their skin color varied from white to yellow or orange.
Early in their development, tensions between the sub-species erupted into four bloody wars, although as their civilizations advanced, conquering the dangerous mutated flora and fauna of Kintan united them.
Nikto civilization gradually developed to a pre-star travel level, when they gained an understanding of M'dweshuu's influence on their species and their world. Numerous cults and secret societies developed in praise of M'dweshuu, offering sacrifice through bloodshed. The most prominent of these was the Cult of M'dweshuu, which rose and fell several times through its history. Another secret society was the Morgukai.
Around 25,130 BBY, the Nikto were discovered by the Hutts during a high point in the Cult of M'dweshuu's reign of fear. The Hutts, led by Churabba the Hutt, crushed the cult, and the Nikto offered their allegiance to the Hutts in return. Shortly thereafter, the Nikto fought alongside other newly discovered Hutt-aligned species like the Klatooinians and the Vodrans against the forces of Xim the Despot during the Hutt-Xim conflict. Their fierce combat skills proved crucial at the Third Battle of Vontor when Xim the Despot was defeated.
Firmly placed under the control of the Hutts by the Treaty of Vontor, the Nikto served as bodyguards and soldiers for almost 25,000 years, and had limited independent involvement in most galactic events as a result. As late as 4 ABY, Jabba Desilijic Tiure had many Niktos in his crime organization as foot soldiers and bodyguards.
During the time of the Jedi Civil War, the rank-and-file membership of the Black Vulkars swoop gang on Taris was composed largely of Kadas'sa'Nikto.
The Nikto produced at least five Jedi during the waning days of the Galactic Republic: Fi-Ek Sirch, Bhat Jul, Ausar Auset, J'oopi Shé, and Ma'kis'shaalas.
During the Galactic Civil War many Kajain'sa'Nikto and Kadas'sa'Nikto worked for Jabba Desilijic Tiure on Tatooine and took advantage of his demise in 4 ABY to become free beings.
In 26 ABY, the Yuuzhan Vong conquered Kintan. Over the course of the Vong occupation, 75% of the planet's Nikto population were either killed or enslaved (more often the former, due to the combative nature of the Nikto people). The remaining 25% either went into hiding in Kintan's more inhospitable areas or fled the planet altogether. The population began increasing after the war, eventually returning to prewar levels.
The names Nikto and Klaatu is a reference to Klaatu barada nikto, a famous quote from the classic science-fiction film The Day The Earth Stood Still. The same quote was the source of the character names Klaatu, Barada, and the name of Barada's species, the Klatooinians.
In Darksaber, they are called Niktus.
Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic mistakenly identifies the Kadas'sa'Nikto as the "Klaatu", implying they were a different species than the Nikto.
In Russian and Polish the word "Nikto" means "Nobody".
In Star Wars: Roleplaying Game published by Wizards of the Coast, Gluss'sa'Niktos have specific rules for a natural armor and hold breath. However, the Gluss'sa'Niktos in the adventure A Mon Alone are listed with an unexplained feature, really ugly, instead of the previously-mentioned ones.
|
Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Jabba's Palace (Card: Nikto) Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Jabba's Palace (Card: Giran) Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Jabba's Palace (Card: Nysad)
"A Mon Alone"
"University of Sanbra Guide to Intelligent Life: The Nikto" - Star Wars Gamer 6
A Night at Tosche Station on Wizards.com (article) "Race for the Tessent" - Star Wars Gamer 9
"Toy Wars" - Star Wars Insider 107
Xim Week: The Despotica (Part I) on Hyperspace (article)
Barada in the Databank Klatooinian in the Databank Jasper McKnives in the Databank Morgukai in the Databank Nikto in the Databank Quinlan Vos in the Databank
The humanoid species known as the Nikto have tan, leathery skin and flat faces with multiple breathing holes on their cheeks and jawbones. Four small horns protrude from the Nikto's forehead.
Nikto can be found throughout the galaxy, often involved with shady activities in the galaxy's fringe. That said, at least one member of this species had ascended to the rank of Jedi Knight during the waning days of the Republic.
From the Expanded Universe
Of all the "client species" of the Hutt criminal empire, the Nikto are regarded as the most dangerous, especially due to the actions of a fanatical and fatalistic cult that has long plagued the Nikto people.
The Nikto hail from Kintan, an ancient planet in the Si'klaata cluster. Radiation from a nearby nova is believed to have sparked rampant mutation among the animal life of Kintan, and has resulted in the Nikto species encompassing a number of distinct sub-races.
The Kajain'sa'Nikto, or "Red Nikto" are probably the most common. These desert dwellers are characterized by reddish pigmentation, small horns along the forehead and orbits of the eyes, noseless faces, and neck-based breathing tubes.
The Kadas'sa'Nikto, or "Green Nikto," have scaley hides, large obsidian eyes surrounded by a ridge of small horns, and visible noses. They are found in the milder forest and coastal regions of Kintan.
The Esral'sa'Nikto, or "Mountain Nikto," are hornless, have blue-gray skin, and thermoregulating fins growing from their cheeks. Their native mountain environment experiences temperatures from sweltering summers to bone-chilling winters, and they are well-equipped to survive such extremes.
The Gluss'sa'Nikto are the "Pale Nikto," island inhabitants with the horns of the Red Nikto, the smaller facial fins evocative of the Mountain Nikto, but with white-gray skin.
Finally, the M'shento'su'Nikto are the "Southern Nikto," yellow to orange-skinned representatives that lack horns but have a multitude of neck breather tubes.
Though the Nikto may have warred because of their differences in their early history, the harsh task of surviving their planet's dangers united them as a people. They conquered a wilderness full of mutant beasts to arrive at the top of their food chain.
When the Nikto developed technology enough to understand the stars around them, they discovered the nova responsible for the mutations on their world. This stellar phenomenon, called the M'dweshuu, became the centerpoint of a bizarre deadly blood cult that grew to rule the planet through fear.
It was the ancient pre-Republic Hutts that delivered the Nikto salvation from the cult. For this, the Nikto were grateful, and readily agreed to join the growing community of Hutt-controlled worlds. Alongside such ancient species as the Klatooinians and the Vodrans, the Nikto joined in battle under the Hutt banner, defeating the pre-Republic tyrant Xim the Despot at the Third Battle of Vontor. This decisive victory placed the Hutts at the top of a millennia-spanning criminal empire.
Since that time, the blood cult has arisen anew on several occasions, each time being put down by the Nikto, the Jedi, the Hutts or others. For this reason, Nikto carry with them a reputation for danger, though their species is varied, and have the capacity for warmth and compassion as well as violence.
Behind the Scenes
The Nikto were designed by Creature Supervisor Phil Tippett, first as a maquette, and then as a slip-on mask for a number of background alien extras in Return of the Jedi. The Nikto character, like fellow characters Barada and Klaatu, were named after the 1951 science fiction classic, The Day the Earth Stood Still. In that film, Klaatu, the man from outer space, says the cryptic alien phrase, "Klaatu, Barada, Nikto" in order to control the giant robot, Gort.
During production, Nikto doubled as both a character and species name. It wasn't until later, through Expanded Universe publishing, that it was revealed that Nikto was the species, that Klaatu was a representative of a different Nikto sub-race, and that Barada was a Klatooinian.
The Nikto design was reused for Episodes I and II, this time with new masks. The hand design changed, though, perhaps suggesting yet another Nikto sub-race not yet accounted for.
source:
|
|
Wikis
Misc
Search
Main article: 
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "
