The Troxans were a sentient species that originated on the planet of Troxar, found within the Expansion Region. A notable feature was the presence of gills on their necks; these organs fluttered and vibrated, serving as a means of expressing emotion. The patterns of these gills were unique to each individual, so much so that Troxan security systems, like those used for incendiary packets, employed these patterns as a form of identification. A portion of the Troxan governing body was known as the Benevolence of Troxar, a bureaucratic entity that housed departments such as the Bureau of Patriotic Defense and positions like the under-palatine for patriotic liaisons and the first diplomatic legatee.
During the period of the Clone Wars, the Troxans allied themselves with the Confederacy of Independent Systems. However, as the Grand Army of the Republic gained the advantage and inflicted significant damage upon the Troxans' homeworld, the Troxans began to contemplate seeking peace. A delegation was dispatched to the Republic, but their pleas were rejected. Subsequently, they devised a scheme: feigning surrender, with the intention of initiating an uprising once the Republic withdrew the majority of its troops. However, during a meeting on the planet Vjun with the Separatist Head of State Count Dooku—who was secretly the Sith Darth Tyranus—the Count subtly suggested that the Troxans continue their fight. Unbeknownst to them, Darth Sidious, the mastermind behind the war and Dooku's Sith Master, desired the ongoing conflict on their world as a means to deplete the Republic's army resources.
Troxans were a sentient species distinguished by their gill-based respiratory system located in their throats. These respiratory organs exhibited patterns unique to each Troxan, analogous to the unique fingerprints of individual Humans. In a state of calmness, the gills of a Troxan appeared moist and displayed a pinkish hue. Conversely, when agitated or excited, the gills would shift to a purplish coloration. The Troxan face was also characterized by a nose, which varied in size and prominence among individuals, as well as cheeks and purple-toned skin. Troxans possessed hands that facilitated interaction with their environment. Some individuals were prone to weight gain, resulting in a swollen appearance of their hands. The species exhibited distinct male and female sexes.
The planet Troxar, situated within the Expansion Region of the galaxy, served as the homeworld of the Troxan species. By the time of the Clone Wars, the Troxans had achieved a technological level comparable to that of most galactically integrated worlds. Their society included experts in areas such as demolitions, poisons, surveillance, and other technologically advanced fields. Troxan security systems relied on the identification of gill patterns and retinal scans to differentiate between individuals. An example of a device employing this technology was the incendiary packet, a container designed to plasmate if opened by anyone other than the intended recipient.
The Troxan government operated as a bureaucratic entity, with a portion known as the Benevolence of Troxar. Diplomatic functions were carried out by the Bureau of Diplomatic Liaison. Within this department, positions such as the under-palatine for patriotic liaisons existed, and individual delegations were led by the first diplomatic legatee. The Troxan armed forces received support from the Bureau of Patriotic Defense, which also had an under-palatine.
The Troxans communicated using a language known as Troxan, which had a written form. Members of the species were also capable of speaking Basic. In addition to spoken language, Troxans utilized gill movements to convey emotions and states of mind. For instance, flapping gills indicated befuddlement, while rippling gills expressed derision. Rapid, forceful gill vibrations signified anger, and motionless gills denoted calmness. Gill color also played a role in expressing emotion, with pink indicating a peaceful state and purple conveying agitation. Cheek movements were also used, such as sucking them in when flustered.
Prior to the [Clone Wars](/article/clone_wars-legends], the Troxans achieved technological advancements and established relations with the Galactic Republic. Following the Battle of Geonosis in 22 BBY, which marked the beginning of the Clone Wars, the Troxans aligned themselves with the Republic's adversary, the Confederacy of Independent Systems. As a result, troops from the Grand Army of the Republic invaded Troxar. Despite the Troxan forces' resistance, their world suffered significant damage, and the conflict turned against them.
Faced with what they perceived as inevitable defeat, the Troxans engaged in two rounds of diplomatic negotiations with the Republic. Ultimately, the Republic's legislative body, the Galactic Senate, rejected a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, leading the Troxans to believe that the Republic was solely interested in using force or threats. However, during the latter conference, Senator Padmé Amidala presented the Troxan first diplomatic legatee with a black box intended for Count Dooku, the leader of the Separatists. Troxan experts examined the supposed gift for explosives, listening devices, or poison, but found nothing suspicious.
The Troxans considered surrendering to the Republic, anticipating that the majority of Republic clone troopers would be withdrawn, at which point they could launch an asymmetrical insurgency to continue the fight. The species dispatched a delegation to meet with Dooku at Château Malreaux on the planet Vjun to discuss the plan and request Separatist reinforcements. The delegation included the under-palatine for patriotic liaisons—the same individual who had served as the first diplomatic legatee in talks with the Republic—his assistant, and the under-palatine for the Bureau of Patriotic Defense. Unbeknownst to the Troxan envoys, Darth Sidious, master of Dooku, who was secretly a Sith Lord, considered Troxar expendable due to the damage it had sustained. However, he still believed it could serve the Separatist cause by forcing the Republic to expend resources and personnel fighting the Troxans. Sidious instructed Dooku to persuade the Troxans to continue their conflict by assuring them that Separatist reinforcements would arrive within the month—a false promise.
Dooku complied, mentioning the arrival of new battle droids from Separatist factories and using the persuasive ability of the Force to plant the idea that the droids would be sent to the Troxar system. Through the Force, Dooku suppressed the realization that continuing the fight would result in the slaughter of Troxans, instead emphasizing ideas of egotism and heroism. Before the Troxan envoys departed, they presented Dooku with Amidala's gift. Inside, Dooku found a black, wax candle, a reminder of his former home at the Jedi Temple, where he trained under the Jedi Grand Master Yoda.
On Coruscant, a Troxan diplomat visited the Jedi Temple to deliver an incendiary packet, addressed to Yoda, which contained a holoprojector with a message inviting Yoda to visit the Count. The Troxan was greeted by a youngling, which he considered a slight, as he wished to speak only to a full-fledged Jedi. The boy, a Padawan named Whie Malreaux, was soon joined by his superior, Jedi Master Maks Leem, who used the Force to calm the Troxan envoy. She promised to deliver the package to Yoda, and the Troxan handed it over before departing in a flier.
Over a century later, in 137 ABY, the Troxan homeworld fell under the control of Darth Krayt as part of his Sith Empire.
The Troxans were introduced by author Sean Stewart in his novel Yoda: Dark Rendezvous, published by Del Rey in 2004. Although their role in the story is limited, it is significant, as the packages they deliver between Republic and Separatist operatives set the stage for the book's main plot, an encounter between Jedi Master Yoda and his former apprentice, Dooku. The incendiary package delivered to the Jedi Temple scans for the recipient's gills, fingerprints, and retinal pattern. However, as it is intended for Yoda, a member of another species, the book leaves it ambiguous whether Troxans also possess fingerprints and retinas.