Pau'an

When Obi-Wan Kenobi landed on Utapau hunting General Grievous, it was Port Administrator Tion Medon who leaned in close and whispered the warning that gave away the cyborg general's hiding place, and that gaunt, towering figure is the face most of the galaxy attaches to the Pau'ans. They are the tall, gray-skinned administrators of a sinkhole world, a quiet species whose lifespans run into centuries and whose stillness reads as menace to anyone who doesn't know them.

A Pau'an cuts an unmistakable silhouette: well over two meters of lean, narrow frame (Tion Medon stood around 2.06 meters), with skin the color of cold ash, deeply furrowed and creasing further with each passing decade rather than sagging. Their eyes sit sunken in reddened sockets, and their mouths open on rows of small, jagged, fang-like teeth, the dentition of a carnivore that prefers its meat raw. They carry two stomachs, and their hearing is acute to the point of being a liability, sharp enough that many wear coverings over their ears to blunt the noise of a busy port.

Utapau, in the galaxy's Outer Rim, is a windswept world of arid plateaus pocked with enormous sinkholes, and the Pau'ans share it with the Utai, a shorter, stockier species. Together the two peoples are sometimes called Utapauns. The Pau'ans were once a surface-dwelling folk while the Utai kept to the caves below, but as hyperwind storms grew fiercer and more frequent across the planet, the Pau'ans were driven underground. The two societies merged in the descent, and from that came the sinkhole cities, layered settlements like Pau City built straight into the chasm walls.

Pau'ans handle nearly all of the governing and administrative work on Utapau, an arrangement that suits the Utai, who prefer labor to bureaucracy. Most Pau'ans take up leadership young, often overseeing teams of Utai workers, and each city answers to a single figure who holds the title Master of Port Administration, supported by an advisory council. Above the cities sits the Utapauan Committee, drawn from representatives across the settlements. Their centuries of life have earned them the nickname "Ancients," and that long horizon shows in a culture built on patience, continuity, and careful negotiation rather than force.

Tion Medon remains the species' defining moment on screen. As Port Administrator of Pau City during the Clone Wars, he was caught between Grievous's occupying droid army and his duty to his people, and he chose the risk of cooperation, quietly steering Obi-Wan toward the general and the Separatist fleet hidden on his world. (Behind the scenes, the Pau'an design was originally drawn up for the natives of Mustafar before it was reassigned to Utapau for Revenge of the Sith.) That single whispered exchange turned a remote mining world into one of the last battlegrounds of the war.

In SWURPG, a Pau'an plays to the mind and the room rather than the muscle. The ability spread (STR -2, INT +2, WIS +2) and their Persuasion training make them natural diplomats, administrators, and political operators, while Subterranean Vision reflects a lifetime in the dim sinkholes. Unsettling Presence turns their gaunt, looming appearance into an edge at the negotiating table, and Fragile Frame is the honest cost of that lean build, leaving them poorly suited to brawling and easy to bruise. Lean into the patience and the long memory: a Pau'an is the character who outwaits the room and reads the politics three moves ahead.

Pau’ans are tall, slender humanoids standing well over two meters in height, with elongated limbs, narrow shoulders, and long fingers that give them their colloquial name. Their skin is pale and textured with subtle ridges, often featuring deep lines that become more prominent with age. This wrinkled appearance, especially around the face, contributes to their austere and dignified look.

Their eyes are dark and slightly recessed, framed by angular facial bones that create a distinctive silhouette. Their teeth are small and sharp, visible when speaking, further adding to their unique visual profile. Pau’ans possess long lifespans, and their skin continues to crease and refine rather than sag with age, lending them an appearance equal parts ancient and elegant.

Clothing among Pau’ans is formal and finely detailed, often incorporating flowing robes, tailored tunics, or layered garments suited for Utapau’s climate and sinkhole architecture. Their attire frequently includes muted colors—grays, browns, blacks—that reflect their preference for dignified presentation.

Their overall physical presence communicates a blend of intellectual authority, calm, and ancient lineage, making them instantly recognizable among galactic species.

Pau’ans are diplomatic, observant, and contemplative. Their long lifespans encourage introspection and strategic patience. They tend to speak carefully, choosing words that promote stability and mutual understanding. This creates an impression of wisdom that often earns them respect in political or academic environments.

Customs on Utapau include structured civic rituals, governance councils, and collaborative decision-making with the Utai. Pau’ans value cooperation, seeing themselves as stewards of the sinkhole cities rather than rulers through force. Celebrations often involve storytelling, procession, and ritual recognition of historical events that shaped their society.

Conflicts are typically resolved through mediation or council arbitration, with violence regarded as a last resort. Hospitality is formal but sincere; visitors are treated with respect but expected to follow local customs and heed civic authority. Their long memories influence social norms, and many Pau’ans take great care to maintain continuity with ancestral wisdom.

In SWURPG narratives, Pau’an customs offer fertile ground for characters driven by diplomacy, historical knowledge, or civic responsibility. Their perspective enriches political thrillers, long-form mysteries, or plots revolving around ancient planetary governance and interspecies cooperation.