Kwenn was once rich in precious gemstones. Mining companies destroyed much of the planet's mountains and plains, and relocated oceans in order to extract these precious minerals. As a result of excessive mining, the planet's manufacturing centers were surrounding with large artificial mountains of tailings, slag and rubbish. During the High Republic Era, these mountains were reshaped into artificial islands known as the Gem Cities of Kwenn as part of the Grand Renewal. The planet's oceans and atmosphere were also purified as part of the Grand Renewal.
Following the Great Renewal, the Gem Cities' taller landforms were ringed by populated terraces while lower-elevation keys served as parklands. Bridges connected the artificial straits between the Gem Cities. The planet's spaceports and cities were reoriented towards preserving the planet's restored natural environment. The planet was also home to a Kwenn Jedi outpost, which was situated on a promontory known as Sanctuary Mount above the mound city of Capital Key. The planet had numerous mound cities, with Capital Key being the tallest one.
Prior to the High Republic Era, Kwenn was exploited by mining companies since its surface was covered in precious gemstones. These companies leveled mountains, tore up the plains and relocated oceans. These mining activities created massive piles of tailings and slag around the planet's manufacturing centers. After exhausting Kwenn's resources, the mining companies abandoned the planet. The mining and pollution disrupted the planet's climate and natural environment, flooding the low areas with toxic chemicals.
During the High Republic Era, Jedi Master Oppo Rancisis led a major program known as the Grand Renewal to save Kwenn's remaining population and restore its natural environment. The Jedi Order also collaborated with responsible Galactic Republic financiers to search for answers. During the Great Renewal, colossal machines purified the seas and skies while the mountains of rubbish were decontaminated and terraformed into clusters of artificial islands known as the Gem Cities of Kwenn. The economy and technologies such as spaceports and transportation were also reoriented towards protecting the planet's environment. To limit pollution and overcrowding, the use of airspeeders was limited to a few centimeters off the ground.
The Grand Renewal of Kwenn was regarded as one of the Great Works of the High Republic era. While Master Rancisis felt that Kwenn had received a disproportionate amount of attention compared to other worlds, he regarded the Grand Renewal as a success story for the Jedi and the corporate world. The Jedi also established an outpost called Sanctuary Mount, which remained open for the next 200 years until 33 BBY.
In 33 BBY, the Jedi High Council made plans to hold a on Kwenn to mark the bicentenary of the Grand Renewal. The celebration was intended as a prelude to final decision to disestablish the Kwenn Jedi outpost. The Jedi outpost was maintained by Seneschal Voh, who secretly stole documents and material from the outpost's library and sold them to Senator Palpatine.
By 33 BBY, Kwenn was experienced socio-economic hardship, which had been caused by several companies withdrawing from the planet and other worlds along the Ootmian Pabol route. This socio-economic hardship allowed several criminal gangs including the Riftwalkers, Staved Skulls, Poisoned Blades, the Filthy Credits and The Vile to expand their operations on Kwenn and other worlds on the Slice. In addition, Kwenn's schools experienced high truancy rates. The Kwikhaul Livery Corporation also replaced its organic workforce of drivers with droids, resulting in unemployment and social unrest. Pollution also resurfaced on Kwenn while teal oroko eggs were poached.
Prior to the bicentennial celebration on Kwenn, 11 members of the Jedi Council (Jedi Masters Mace Windu, Yoda, Yaddle, Plo Koon, Oppo Rancisis, Yarael Poof, Eeth Koth, Even Piell, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Adi Gallia, and Saesee Tiin) visited Kwenn where they helped the local population address their various problems. The Jedi Masters also launched a public relations campaign with the help of the Remember Kwenn current affairs program to promote the bicentennial celebration. This attracted the attention of the Riftwalkers' leader Zilastra, who hated the Jedi after Master Sifo Dyas abandoned her at an orphanage, causing her to fall into a life of crime. After assassinating the leaders of the Staved Skulls, Poisoned Blades, Filthy Credits and The Vile with bomb-rigged Regal Voyager suitcases, Zilastra convinced the surviving gang members to rally around her for an attack on the Jedi bicentennial celebration.
Though the undercover Jedi Master Depa Billaba, who had infiltrated the Riftwalkers, was captured, she managed to befriend a child member of the Riftwalkers named Kylah Lohmata. Kylah alerted the Jedi Order and Judicial Forces to the location of the on Keldooine. Though the Jedi managed to rescue Billaba with the help of Captain Pell Baylo, the Riftwalkers escaped with a captive Kylah. Billaba informed the Jedi Council about Zilastra's plan. The Council proceeded with the celebration but made plans to counter the pirates' plans with the help of local authorities and the population.
Zilastra attempted to use her last remaining suitcase to bomb the Gala Key Arena where the celebration was being held. However, the Jedi discovered the bomb and relocated it to their outpost. Since the bomb was rigged to explode when the phrase "The Jedi stand with you" was uttered, Master Yoda instead rephrased the sentence. The disaffected Poisoned Blade member Inisa also alerted the Jedi and Kwenn authorities to the crime syndicates' plot to undermine the planetary defenses by poisoning the Kwenn Space Station's crew and exposing the police to paralytic gas. Acting on Inisa's information, the authorities and Jedi were able to foil these preemptive attacks, allowing them to respond swiftly to the combined pirates' space, air and land attacks.
With the civilian population safely indoors, Masters Koth and Piell battled several insurgents from the Tasty Comet Frozen Confection Company, a Filthy Credits front company. Numerous pirate airspeeders were downed by a storm and Tiin's borrowed ARC-8 starfighter. Master Rancisis and a pod of oroko disabled the pirate's luxury cruiser Pelagic, which doubled as their ground command center. In space, Captain Baylo's CR56 corvette Assurance and Kwenn Space Station battled a pirate armada led by Zilastra's flagship Randomizer. Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi infiltrated the Randomizer and took over the ship with the help of the "would-be" pirates Lobber, Ghor and Wungo.
With her forces routed on land, air and space, Zilastra and Burlug traveled with an unwilling Kylah to the Kwenn Jedi outpost using a skiff. Master Billaba managed to rescue Kylah but were unable to stop Zilastra from detonating the suitcase bomb, which destroyed the Jedi outpost. Billaba and Kylah escaped using an improvised cart and were rescued by Windu and Kenobi. Burlug fell to his death but Zilastra managed to survive falling into the ocean. Zilastra was subsequently arrested by the Jedi and imprisoned at Capital Key's .
Following the defeat of the pirate insurrection, the Jedi made plans to replace the Kwenn Jedi outpost with a memorial reminding the local population of their relationship with the Jedi. The Jedi departed on friendly terms with the local population, having restored law and order and social cohesion.
The planet Kwenn was first mentioned in the Legends RPG adventure book 'Tatooine Manhunt', published by West End Games in 1988. Described then as a world on the edge of a major space lane, its orbital station served as the last fuel and supply point before the Outer Rim Territories.