Orobird

The Resilient and Unpleasant Orobirds

Orobirds are a peculiar and often baffling species of tall, flightless avians that have managed to thrive across multiple worlds, despite their seemingly disadvantageous traits. Known for their striking and colorful plumage, these creatures stand out with their vibrant feathers, ranging from deep purples to vivid oranges, and their large, intimidating beaks. Their loud, squawking calls echo across the lands they inhabit, a sound that many find grating and obnoxious.

At first glance, it seems improbable that orobirds would survive in a galaxy full of predators and poachers. Their slow movements, bright colors, and loud calls make them easy targets. Yet, these birds persist, often thriving where other species struggle. The key to their survival lies not in agility or intelligence, but in their brute resilience and unpleasant nature. Their meat, described by many as foul-tasting, has earned them a reputation that discourages most would-be hunters. The strong, gamey flavor is said to be an acquired taste, one that few are willing to develop.

Despite their seemingly “dumb” behavior, orobirds have become a symbol of unexpected survival, defying nature's expectations with their loud presence and repulsive flavor. Some theorize that their resilience lies in their brash demeanor, which intimidates many potential predators. Additionally, their rapid breeding and adaptability in various environments have allowed them to spread across the galaxy, defying the odds and continuing to be a nuisance to those who cross their path.

While orobirds may never win any awards for intelligence or grace, their place in the galaxy is secured—through their foul nature, unrelenting persistence, and an uncanny ability to survive where they don’t belong

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Orobirds are a species of tall, flightless avians noted for their distinctive plumage and loud, squawking calls. Their very existence baffles scientists: colorful, loud and dumb, orobirds should be easy prey for predators and poachers, yet they can be found thriving on a multitude of worlds. Many attribute the orobirds’ continued survival to their brutish temperament and odious flavor; orobird meat is generally considered one of the foulest in the galaxy, though some wealthy highbrows insist the taste is an acquired one. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic / SWTOR)

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Nerf

Nerfs are large, shaggy pack animals raised for their meat, fur and hides, primarily characterized by their horns, surly disposition and horrid stench. Their tendency to spit on people has only cemented their reputation for being particularly unpleasant animals to handle; it’s no surprise that nerf-herding is regarded as one of the less glamorous professions in the galaxy. 

Although they are native to Alderaan, the nerfs’ hardiness has allowed them to adapt to a variety of climates on other planets. Nerfs are common livestock on many Core and Inner Rim planets, though most ranchers beyond the Mid Rim prefer to breed less unruly animals. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic / SWTOR)

List of The Old Republic Bestiary

Wampa

Jungle Wampa

The fearsome wampa is Hoth’s apex predator. These surprisingly intelligent beasts pose a major hazard to unwary travelers, especially those wandering near unexplored caves. More than one combat patrol has vanished after seeking shelter in a seemingly unoccupied ice cavern. Among fresh arrivals to the planet, horror stories circulate of men swallowed whole by these towering creatures.

The more terrifying truth is that wampas prefer fresh meat and rarely kill a victim outright, instead stunning or incapacitating prey. Future meals are dragged back to a wampa’s lair and suspended immobilized from the cave’s ceiling. Wampa victims may have hours or even days to contemplate their eventual fates. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

Skar’kla

An innocuous trip to the beach for fun in the sun can quickly become a living nightmare wherever skar’klas are known to roam. These semiaquatic, carnivorous reptiles thrive in wet, tropical climes, and are strong, fast, and deadly. Their scaly hides and plated manes offer protection from other predators while their sharp teeth and powerful jaws allow them to quickly devour their prey. A legend persists that skar’klas find relief in having the undersides of their mane plates scratched, but so far no one has been known to dare attempt to confirm it.  (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

Shore Crab

Southern Shore Crab on Rishi

Nekghoul

Rakghouls evolve with incredible speed, but until recently, they had never shown signs of intelligence. Larger and far smarter than their rakghoul cousins, nekghouls may qualify as a new species in their own right–they appear unable to infect and transform their victims, but instead possess sensitivity to the Force and violent, untrained talent in its use.

Although nekghouls are capable of speech, they have no known history or record of their origins. Are they the result of a Jedi or Sith being infected with the rakghoul virus? A mutation caused by radiation from Taris’s shattered reactors? Studies may have to wait–for now, merely surviving the presence of these horrific beings is difficult enough. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

Monolith

Given enough intellect, knowledge, fortitude and power, Sith alchemy can be used to achieve the seemingly impossible, such as transforming flesh and bone to form vicious Sithspawn such as the imposing Massassi and the unstoppable Terentatek. But Monoliths are something beyond Sithspawn: they are everlasting monstrosities built not on a foundation of living tissue but of dark side energy itself. Enduring and merciless and quite possibly unkillable, Monoliths plainly illustrate the immeasurable power of their creator and are best avoided at all costs. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

Vorantikus

Sitting undisputed atop the Voss food chain is the terrifying vorantikus, the largest and deadliest predator on the planet--if not the entire sector. Heavily muscled and perpetually hungry, vorantiki are lone hunters that stalk the wilds in an endless search for their next meal.

Revered by the Gormak for their power and fearlessness, vorantiki are often depicted in crudely scrawled pictures found inside Gormak domiciles. Typically the scenes depict a vorantikus devouring a Voss Mystic, or laying wasted to the mountaintop city of Voss-Ka itself, though there is no historical account of any such attack upon the Voss capital.

Understanding the vorantikus may be key to understanding the evolutionary "arms race" occurring amongst Voss's fauna. The planet's wildlife is far larger, heartier and more aggressive than that of most comparable worlds, and the vorantikus represents an amazingly precise set of "alpha predator" traits. What sort of environment--or unnatural intervention--creates a vorantikus, and what effect does such a creature have on the world around it? (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

Mawvorr

Carnivorous beasts that stalk the wilderness outside Voss-Ka, mawvorrs are generally considered opportunistic hunters. They prefer striking at whatever wounded predators or wandering humanoids they come across to carefully hunting and stalking their food, though in packs they exhibit increased aggression and have been known to attack even the mighty vorantikus.

Mawvorrs also typically attack Gormak on sight, though they refuse to eat the bodies afterwards. This odd behavior has led the Voss to perceive mawvorrs as guardians or protectors who abhor the Gormak. Because of this, the Voss take steps to maintain the mawvorr population around Voss-Ka.

This symbiotic relationship can be taken to extremes during times when the mawvorr food supply is low. There is a historical account of a Mystic’s vision resulting in unarmed Voss wandering out into the wilderness and allowing themselves to be devoured by mawvorr packs. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

List of The Old Republic Bestiary

Manka Cat

Fierce feline hunters, manka cats are believed to have originated on Alderaan but can now be found on a number of different worlds due to their desirability as exotic pets or trained guardians. It is no surprise that these accomplished hunters have thrived in virtually every ecosystem into which they have been introduced. Sleek and powerful, they have the speed to run down smaller prey, while their massive protruding tusks and claws also allow them to tackle much larger targets. Often traveling in prides, even a lone manka cat can be dangerous, and extreme caution should be exercised when in their territory. Despite the risks, manka cats are sometimes hunted for sport and for their tusks and teeth, which are said to possess healing properties. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

Makrin Creeper

Travelers in Makeb’s wilderness may be tempted to make camp on small, inviting hillocks, not realizing that they are actually the backs of makrin creepers. These enormous beasts possess bark-like skin–actually cords of muscle–and grass-like nerve-rich tissues that blend in perfectly with their environment. Normally docile, makrin creepers can lash out with thick claws if attacked, disabling their attackers before crushing them to death.

Many tourists to Makeb are fascinated by makrin creepers. Some unscrupulous souvenir vendors have been caught selling tree branches as “creeper trophies.” (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

Lurker

Lean, amphibious bipeds with a tendency to travel in packs, lurkers are carrion eaters most comfortable in tropical environments. Alone, they usually avoid confronting danger, crawling into tight spaces and observing potential threats from a distance. In numbers, they can strike with a rabid, frenzied intensity, happily downing prey for later consumption. 

Biologists serving the Hutt Cartel believe that lurkers originated on a nameless jungle world on the edges of the Torch Nebula. They were first identified in the wider galaxy two hundred years ago, and have begun appearing on more and more worlds ever since. No convincing explanation for the lurkers’ spread has been offered, leaving the creatures a disturbing mystery. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

List of The Old Republic Bestiary

Lisk

Ravenous Lisk

Despite its bipedal shape, the lisk is actually a carnivorous species of warm-blooded reptile suited to cold-weather climates. The “hairs” on its head and torso are in fact sharp, fibrous scales that help protect it from low temperatures and larger creatures. Sentient species are often surprised at how vicious a lisk can be, as its wide eyes and childlike grin give it a harmless appearance.

The lisk’s two pairs of eyes are operated by different hemispheres of its brain, and are integral to its survival while sleeping. Only half of the lisk’s body falls asleep at one time, allowing each pair of eyes to keep watch during half of its sleep cycle. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

Jungle Lisk