Rugosa, also known as the Coral Moon of Rugosa, was a moon possessing a temperate climate. It resided in the Outer Rim Territories of the galaxy, in close proximity to the planet Toydaria. Originally, Rugosa's surface was dominated by expansive oceans, but these eventually evaporated, resulting in a landscape characterized by extensive coral forests and rocky, cavernous regions. During the Clone Wars period, this celestial body was designated as neutral ground. It was selected as the clandestine meeting place for Jedi Grand Master Yoda and King Katuunko of the Toydarian people to meet and discuss a potential alliance between Toydaria and the Galactic Republic. The Confederacy of Independent Systems disrupted this meeting, hoping to secure the Toydarians' allegiance for themselves. However, after Yoda's victory over a small Separatist force on Rugosa, Katuunko chose to align with the Republic.
Situated in the Outer Rim Territories of the galaxy, the moon Rugosa was not far from Toydaria, a planet within Hutt Space. Toydaria served as the homeworld for the Toydarian species. Prior to the [Clone Wars](/article/clone_wars], a significant event caused Rugosa's oceans to vanish, leaving behind the massive skeletal structures of coral.
The climate on the moon was temperate. Its surface was partially covered by extensive coral forests, where the coral varied greatly in size, with some specimens large enough to support smaller starships. The moon also featured cavernous valley regions.
During the Clone Wars, which pitted the Galactic Republic against the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Rugosa was designated as a neutral zone. It was selected as the site for a secret meeting between King Katuunko, the leader of the Toydarians, and Grand Master Yoda, the leader of the Jedi Order. Yoda was there to represent the Galactic Republic in discussions aimed at securing an alliance with the Toydarians and establishing a supply base on their homeworld. The Toydarians, in turn, sought protection from the Republic for the remainder of the conflict. However, the Confederacy of Independent Systems became aware of this clandestine meeting, and Asajj Ventress, a Sith apprentice, was dispatched to disrupt the negotiations and convey a message from Count Dooku.
Katuunko and his security detail were the first to arrive on the moon, soon followed by Ventress, who activated a hologram allowing Dooku to communicate with the King. Simultaneously, Yoda and Republic forces arrived in orbit aboard a Republic frigate, only to find their communications blocked by the Separatists. Subsequently, two Munificent-class star frigates entered the system, compelling the cruiser to deploy Yoda and three clone troopers in an escape pod before retreating. Despite this show of force, Katuunko refused to agree to an alliance with the Separatists. Upon Yoda's contact with the King, revealing his presence on the moon, an agreement was made: if Yoda could reach the King before sunset, the Republic would secure the alliance; otherwise, the Toydarians would side with the Separatists if the Separatist Droid Army stopped the Jedi.
As Yoda and his soldiers started their journey to the rendezvous point, a C-9979 landing craft landed a battalion of battle droids led by a droid known as 224, which Ventress tasked with hunting down Yoda. The droids moved into the moon's coral forests and soon found the Republic forces. However, the coral prevented their Armored Assault Tanks from getting within firing range, so 224 ordered the ground troops to advance alone. Yoda managed to destroy one patrol of B1-series battle droids, and his troops eliminated another. Then, B2-series super battle droids pushed back the clones, before Yoda employed the Force to defeat them. A group of Droidekas then forced the entire Republic group to retreat and take cover in a cave.
While Yoda delivered an encouraging speech to the three troopers, 224 and its tanks advanced into the valley where the Republic forces had taken shelter. The Grand Master then revealed himself alone and destroyed the tanks and droid accompanying them. Following this, the troopers destroyed a group of droideka reinforcements by using a rocket launcher to collapse a rock outcrop on top of them. Having observed the battle from a distance, Katuunko rejected Dooku's offer of allegiance, prompting the Count to order Ventress to kill the King. However, before the apprentice could strike the Toydarian down, Yoda arrived and prevented the assassination. Ventress created a small avalanche to distract the Toydarians and Republic forces, allowing her to escape in her solar sailer. Katuunko, grateful to the Jedi for saving his life, offered his sword in allegiance to the Republic. Subsequently, the Toydarians, clones, and Yoda were picked up by a Republic gunship deployed from a Venator-class Star Destroyer that had arrived in orbit.
During the Clone Wars, Rugosa served as a habitat for young neebray creatures, who used the moon as a nursery before embarking on a lengthy migration across space.
Rugosa's inaugural appearance was in "Ambush," the debut episode of the first season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series, broadcast in 2008.