The P'w'ecks were warm-blooded, saurian creatures from the tropical planet of Lwhekk, situated within the Ssi-ruuk Star Cluster located far into the Unknown Regions. Their physical appearance bore similarities to the Ssi-ruuk, classifying them as a species. The Ssi-ruuk, considering them of lesser status, exploited them as slaves.
Despite sharing physical traits with the Ssi-ruuk, the P'w'ecks were distinguishable. They were believed to be less intelligent, smaller, had three-lidded eyes, shorter tails, and their eyes drooped. It was widely thought that the P'w'ecks descended from brown-scale Ssi-Ruuk outcasts. Like their Ssi-ruuvi overlords, the P'w'ecks lacked the physiological capacity to articulate Galactic Basic Standard, communicating instead in Ssi-ruuvi.
For millennia, the P'w'ecks were under the oppressive rule of the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium, who enslaved and exerted complete control over their lives. The Ssi-ruuk viewed P'w'ecks as utterly disposable, utilizing them as slaves, guards, ship crews, and beasts of burden to undertake the most menial tasks within their society.
At the age of 15, P'w'ecks underwent entechment by their Ssi-ruuvi masters. This process involved the electronic transference of an individual's life-energy into a power source for mechanical constructs like battle droid. It was gradually discovered that prolonged containment of these 'souls' resulted in insanity. By 28 ABY, the Ssi-ruuk developed methods to sustain the enteched souls. Life energy, extracted from concentrated sources of algae and other microscopic life, could prevent the decay of enteched souls and alleviate their suffering, reducing the need for frequent replenishment. However, this advancement had minimal impact on the treatment of P'we'cks within Ssi-ruuvi society, where they remained inferior to all sentient species, including Humans.
Ssi-ruuvi religion, particularly its sacred text, the G'nnoch, provided justification for the Ssi-ruuk's discriminatory treatment of the P'w'ecks. According to the G'nnoch, the universe's creation involved the formation of four eggs. The legendary Ssi and P'w'itthki hatched from the first egg. Ssi's offspring emerged from the second egg, while P'w'itthki's children hatched from the third. The fourth egg was reserved for Ssi-ruuk who earned a place in the afterlife. Ssi eventually engaged in battle with P'w'itthki, ultimately defeating him. Following his defeat, Ssi permitted P'w'itthki's offspring to live, contingent upon their eternal servitude to Ssi's descendants. This myth served as an explanation for the relationship between the Ssi-ruuk (Ssi's offspring) and the P'w'ecks (P'w'itthki's offspring), as well as the Ssi-ruuk's perceived divine superiority over all other sentient beings.
The known galaxy first encountered the P'w'ecks and their Ssi-ruuvi overlords during an attack on Bakura, a remote Outer Rim world, in 4 ABY. Following the Ssi-ruuk's defeat at Bakura, and later at the hands of the Chiss Ascendancy, the weakened Imperium witnessed the birth of a multi-colored Ssi-ruu known as the Keeramak, an event that Ssi-ruuvi religion considered prophetic. Prophecy foretold that the Keeramak would lead the P'w'eck masses to overthrow the ruling class, bringing justice and peace to Ssi-ruuvi society.
The Ssi-ruuvi Elders' Council and the Conclave exploited this prophecy by orchestrating a fabricated P'w'eck uprising led by the P'w'eck Emancipation Movement, spearheaded by the Keeramak and Lwothin, an exceptionally intelligent P'w'eck leader. Disguised as the new P'weck regime, the Imperium initiated peace negotiations with the Bakurans and arranged for the planet's takeover with the help of the corrupt Bakuran Prime Minister Molierre Cundertol. In 28 ABY, the Ssi-ruuk launched a second invasion of Bakura following a "consecration ceremony," swiftly overwhelming the Bakuran Defense Fleet and the minimal Galactic Alliance presence.
Ultimately, the Ssi-ruuk were defeated by a genuine P'w'eck uprising under Lwothin, who personally eliminated the Keeramak. The Ssi-ruuk were further weakened by a Yuuzhan Vong invasion, coordinated with their attacks on the main Galaxy, effectively crippling the Imperium. Following the victory, the P'w'eck Emancipation Movement signed a mutual treaty of allegiance with Bakura. Subsequently, those P'w'ecks settled on Bakura, embracing a life of peace and freedom. Some individuals, including Leia Organa Solo, speculated that this would lead to a surge of P'w'ecks fleeing the Imperium to seek refuge on Bakura.