Ho'Din
title: Ho'Din
The Ho'Din, a race of tall aliens, were celebrated throughout the galaxy for their extraordinary gifts in both botany and healing.
Biology and culture
Originating from the planet Moltok, the Ho'Din were tall humanoids distinguished by their multicolored skin. Their unique physical traits included elongated fingers ending in suction cups, perfectly adapted for ascending trees, and distinctive red-violet, scaled, tube-like structures on their heads that functioned as thermal sensors. They professed a lineage from plants, with "Ho'Din" translating to "walking flower" in the Basic tongue. Notably, they possessed two hearts.
Their assertion of botanical origins likely stemmed from their deep-seated, nature-centric religion, Dinante Fli'R. Most scientists outside the Ho'Din community dismissed these claims, categorizing them instead as reptilian. Regardless of their true genesis, the Ho'Din were renowned as some of the galaxy's foremost botanists and ecologists, holding the title of Master Gardener in high esteem.
History
In the year 5000 BBY, a female Ho'Din named Lohjoy served the Sith Empire in the capacity of a starship engineer.
Around 300 BBY, the Ho'Din, previously inhabitants of the trees, abandoned their simple, low-tech existence to inhabit the forest floor. It was here that they embraced mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. However, due to a limited grasp of ecological principles, they failed to anticipate the repercussions of deforestation. The decaying matter that once facilitated plant decomposition became parasitic, causing disease and malnutrition among the Ho'Din. This forced their return to the trees, where they redirected their efforts toward ecological and botanical research.
The Ho'Din eventually created herbal remedies to combat the parasites. These pharmacological advances, coupled with the eventual restoration of Moltok's ecosystem, allowed them to thrive and prosper as a civilization. While other technologies were heavily regulated on Moltok, Ho'Din traveling off-world accepted their use as a necessary evil on planets already considered "damaged". The export of Ho'Din plants and medicines enriched Moltok greatly. Much of this wealth was dedicated to revitalizing damaged ecosystems or creating "garden worlds" for universal communion with nature. A deep reverence for nature permeated Ho'Din society, with the priests of Dinante Fli'R governing Moltok.
Ho'Din in the galaxy
Most Ho'Din residing outside Moltok pursued careers as botanists. Some leveraged their innate beauty and elegance to work as models or dancers. Many Ho'Din exhibited a tendency toward vanity concerning their physical appearance.
In 32 BBY, Oo Wen, a Ho'Din slave belonging to Gardulla the Hutt, conspired with a courageous group of enslaved children from Tatooine—Anakin Skywalker, Kitster Banai, the Bothan Dorn, and the Twi'lek Pala Kwi'teksa—to safeguard several Ghostling children from the Hutt within her new pleasure garden. Wen was responsible for overseeing the garden's construction and upkeep. After learning of the Ghostlings' plight, Wen, within the confines of his garden (itself fraught with peril for the unwary), ensured the safety of these delicate creatures from Datar until they could be smuggled off-world.
The healer and botanist Baji, along with the smuggler Par'tah, were both members of the Ho'Din species. Two Ho'Din Jedi managed to survive the Clone Wars and evade Order 66: Iwo Kulka, a Jedi Knight who later perished during the Great Jedi Purge, and Plett, a Jedi Master who sought refuge on Belsavis.
During the Yuuzhan Vong War, the Yuuzhan Vong largely left the Ho'Din undisturbed. This was primarily attributed to the Ho'Din's rejection of technology and their profound respect for plant life, but the Ho'Din's resemblance to the Shapers may have also played a role.
Common Ho'Din names
Kutu and Usta were among the frequently used names among the Ho'Din.