Ludlo Lebauer, a Jenet casino proprietor on Pavo Prime, possessed a gruff attitude, a penchant for the flamboyant, and a deep appreciation for the finer things in life: art, beautiful women, and extravagant living. Born into a prosperous clan that controlled both gambling establishments and a clandestine criminal organization known as the Invisible Shell, Lebauer ascended through its ranks, yet remained perpetually overshadowed by his uncle, Lorimar Lebauer, a wanted bacta counterfeiter.
While the Shell and Ludlo Lebauer engaged in a covert competition to secure salvage rights from the battlefields of the New Republic, the nephew betrayed his own kin, informing Thyferran authorities, leading to his uncle's apprehension. Subsequently, Ludlo Lebauer was officially appointed as the head of the Shell's board; however, the other members denied him any substantial authority beyond a mere figurehead role. Concurrently, the organization became deeply involved in a scheme involving the exchange of priceless artworks for Imperial intelligence. Lebauer's attempt to eliminate the intermediaries, a trio of Squibs, was met with resistance when they refused to reveal their contacts. As a disciplinary measure, he encased one of them in carbonite.
The Squibs, however, would ultimately orchestrate his downfall. When Lebauer extended an invitation to Leia Organa Solo and Han Solo to Pavo Prime, aiming to negotiate the sale of some Alderaanian boasa statues in his possession, the Jenet anticipated securing a lucrative salvage contract. Instead, he unwittingly became a pawn in the Squibs' plot to liberate their frozen companion. Upon the Solos' revelation that they were aware of his betrayal of his uncle, Lebauer was compelled to relinquish not only the boasas but also his cherished Squib carbonite "art" piece, which he had christened the Second Mistake.
Ludlo Lebauer's origins lay within a Jenet clan deeply entrenched in the ownership of numerous casinos scattered across Pavo Prime. His formative years were spent under the shadow of his uncle, Lorimar Lebauer, the leader of the Invisible Shell, a merciless criminal enterprise comprised of members of his own family.
Ludlo Lebauer also pursued his own entrepreneurial endeavors, acquiring ownership of the Pearl Island Casino located on Pavo Prime. He meticulously cultivated a favorable public image, managing the casino openly and participating in the Pavo Prime Visitor's Board as a facade for his more clandestine activities. The casino served as his operational headquarters.
In the aftermath of the Battle of Endor, the Invisible Shell initiated discussions with the newly formed New Republic regarding an exclusive salvage agreement for New Republic battle zones. Simultaneously, Ludlo Lebauer secretly engaged in his own parallel negotiations. Nevertheless, the nascent government declined both offers.
Lorimar Lebauer's notoriety stemmed from his involvement in bacta counterfeiting, resulting in the deaths of countless individuals due to his substandard products. Ludlo Lebauer discreetly alerted the Thyferran authorities, leading to his uncle's capture and arrest. With the founder absent, the Invisible Shell's direction fell to its board, with Ludlo Lebauer at its helm. However, the board never granted their leader's nephew any genuine authority over the organization's affairs.
Ludlo Lebauer remained determined. He conceived a strategy to pressure Leia Organa Solo into facilitating the desired salvage contract. He orchestrated the Shell's participation in an arrangement where they supplied rare artworks to a trio of Squibs named Emala, Grees, and Sligh. In exchange, the Squibs furnished the Shell with Imperial secrets. The Shell then traded these secrets to New Republic Intelligence (NRI), while the Squibs provided the art to an Imperial collector. This arrangement generated revenue for the organization and enhanced its standing with the galactic government. Eventually, Lebauer attempted to cut out the Squibs from the arrangement by coercing them to reveal their source. Their refusal (as they possessed numerous sources) led Lebauer to believe he needed to teach them a lesson. He froze Grees in carbonite, creating what he considered a work of art, which he named the Second Mistake.
He acquired 10 Alderaanian boasa statues from Threkin Horm, the president of the Alderaanian Council. The price was steep—Horm was heavily indebted across Pavo Prime—but the statues, which had been off-world during Alderaan's destruction by the Death Star, served as an irresistible lure for Organa Solo, who sought to preserve them for posterity. With this information leaked to the NRI, Organa Solo arranged a meeting at the Pearl Island Casino. Lebauer's favorable standing with the NRI prevented them from disclosing his more illicit activities to Organa Solo.
Organa Solo arrived accompanied by her husband, Han Solo, the Wookiee Chewbacca, and her droid C-3PO. She argued that the statues were part of Alderaan's cultural heritage and that returning them would generate positive publicity for the casino. Lebauer countered that the Pearl was exclusive and had no need for publicity.
Then Organa Solo surprised the Jenet by requesting to purchase the Second Mistake. Seeing no harm in showing them his favorite piece of art, he led them to its hiding place, where their reactions revealed that they were unaware that it was the Squib Grees encased in carbonite. Regardless, he refused to sell, and the Solos departed. He had not anticipated this turn of events, but remained unconcerned, confident that they would return for the boasas. Unfortunately, members of the Invisible Shell made a counteroffer behind his back: the statues in exchange for the salvage rights the organization had been pursuing. Again, the New Republic representatives declined.
Lebauer retreated to a luxurious lounge with his bodyguards and assistants. They were later interrupted by the Solos, their Wookiee, and, strangely, the two Squib associates of the carbonite-frozen Grees, who fought their way past Lebauer's guards. Something had clearly shifted, as the Solos presented a new offer. They revealed their knowledge of the Invisible Shell. They then unilaterally declared that the salvage contract was off the table, expressing their unwillingness to see New Republic scrap refurbished and sold to the Empire. Instead, they proposed trading the statues and the Second Mistake for their exerting pressure on the Thyferrans to release Lorimar Lebauer from prison. The Squib Emala even sweetened the deal with a credit chip worth 10,000 credits, while her associate Sligh issued a clumsy threat: Ludlo Lebauer likely had no desire to see his uncle released, given his supposed role in his imprisonment.
Lebauer knew he could not allow his uncle's release, but feigned agreement with the offer. When Organa Solo stated that she would need to return to Coruscant to influence the Thyferrans, Lebauer knew he could not permit that to happen. He staged a show of handing over the artworks to the Solos, even ordering the boasas boxed up for transport to the Millennium Falcon. However, he then led the "guests" into an ambush by some blaster rifle-wielding Jenet underlings. The Squibs offered 5 million credits for the Second Mistake and their lives, but Lebauer deemed even that too risky—his clan might discover his treachery if they found the statues anywhere. Better to melt them down and kill everyone.
Then events took a turn for the worse. The Solos revealed that Organa Solo had been wearing a comlink, and that her droid had recorded Lebauer's orders to kill them. Their droid would release the recording if they were executed. Desperate, Lebauer decided to kill the offworlders himself; he was doomed either way, so he might as well eliminate them while he had the chance. Organa made a final offer: she would keep the recording private and would not attempt to free Lorimar Lebauer. In return, Ludlo Lebauer would hand over the boasas and the Second Mistake. Lebauer conceded.
Ultimately, Lebauer had the last laugh. The Squibs had apparently convinced the Solos that the Invisible Shell possessed the control codes for the Empire's MS-19. Lebauer revealed that this particular piece of intel was entirely false, as the Imperials had been disseminating false information for a month after uncovering the Squibs' scheme. Meanwhile, the Squibs slipped away before anyone could confront them. Lebauer could only warn the Solos to never trust a Squib.
With a stout physique and a predilection for the flamboyant, Ludlo Lebauer was a Jenet who commanded attention. His large, pink body was adorned with sparse, white fur. His red eyes maintained a perpetual poker face, revealing nothing of his intentions—a cold sweat was a more reliable indicator of his distress. Lebauer favored clothing designed to be conspicuous. When he met Leia Organa Solo in 8 ABY, he sported a gaudy tunic-doublet ensemble crafted from noron and a pinky ring embellished with a massive Corusca gem. Beneath his doublet, he concealed a large blaster.
Lebauer's brusque and severe demeanor belied his connoisseurship of unique and valuable art. The Jenet amassed such pieces and displayed them in his casino to enhance the atmosphere of elitism enjoyed by its patrons. Like other Jenets, Lebauer possessed an eidetic memory. Nevertheless, he feigned ignorance of the galaxy beyond Pavo Prime, questioning, for instance, whether Coruscant had trees. Perhaps Lebauer's greatest asset was his innate ability to weather adversity and safeguard his own interests. When challenged, he denied the existence of the Invisible Shell and his own clandestine dealings, asserting the legitimacy of his operations.
The role of a casino boss came with certain accoutrements. For one, a multitude of bellhops, clerks, dealers, and pit bosses of various species attended to him. Even more of his entourage were fellow Jenets, the males outfitted to match their boss's style and the females in provocative attire. A significant number of these were actually personal bodyguards operating incognito to avoid attracting undue attention. One of these was a Jenet named Verm. Perhaps his most crucial "employee" was a culkuda that he housed in the casino's power plant to dispose of any uncooperative "clients". Lebauer spent much of his time relaxing in the Pearl's opulent lounges and suites, isolated from the patrons who frequented the casino.
Ludlo Lebauer serves as the primary antagonist in the short story "The Trouble with Squibs" penned by Troy Denning (2003). He is also featured in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia.