How do I write for Noghri?

For an upcoming fic of mine, I intend to have the Noghri featured at Darth Vader's side.

My main question is: How do you create Noghri names?

Any other suggestions would be great.

The story would take place not more than a year or two after the Noghri have sworn their alligences to Vader, so take that into consideration as well.

 

Hmmm, as far as names go, most Noghri names sound like someone clearing their throat. Very rough sounding. Something along the lines of Bakhranah or Khareklam (Those are completley made up) might work. Also, they always refer to their clan when they say their names, for example, Khabarak clan Khim'bar or some such nonsense.

And if their going to be around Vader they are going to need to be subserviant, really subserviant. He's practically a god to them.

I'm not sure how much you know or don't know about Noghri so I'll leave it at that for now. I Hope that helped a little.

 

Yep, that helps some, Robiwan. I've been a fan of the Noghri since the Thrawn Trilogy, so I do know a lot about them, but I can use the occasional memory jog every once in a while. I'd forgotten about the refering to the clans thing, for example.

I've got another question to pose: How eager would the Noghri be to face-off with a Jedi in Vader's presence? Would it be like an honor sort of thing, or something?

Anybody else got any good hints?

 

In one of my fics not archived here, I have a scene with Rukh meeting an old friend of Vader's on the Chimaera five years after Endor. For what it's worth, I'm pasting it below. I made up the stuff about Noghri society, but you're welcome to it if you'd like.

"This is the Overlord's personal command room," Rukh mewled from the doorway. "The private quarters are behind these doors. Droids will take your orders, my lady."

She walked to the center of the room, examining with interest Thrawn's double circle of holographic displays, but at that she spun round: "Rukh, don't go. You're the only other person I know here. And I don't know how you have been doing these past five years."

The gray-skinned alien came back into the room. His dark, liquid eyes were unblinking. "I have seen many star systems, my lady," he said.

"You always wanted to do that," she said.

He inclined his oblong head, and she remembered that the gesture indicated reticence in Noghri body language. "Azrhakhim. Your clan-brother. Is he also on this ship?"

His head bobbed up, dark eyes staring gravely at her, and she understood at once. "He is dead, my lady."

"I am so sorry."

Azrhakhim had been the other bodyguard who never left her. She had liked him immensely--inasmuch as a Noghri could be said to have a facetious character, it applied to Azrhakhim. How this civilization of fierce clan warriors, with their complicated honor code, rituals, blood brotherhoods, and lethal vendettas, could have produced such a light-hearted being was a complete mystery to her. She had shared jokes with Azrhakhim, which Rukh had watched in puzzlement; Rukh was the earnest, prickly one. Rukh however was ready to accept anything from his "otherself"--the best translation, they had told her, of the Noghri word for clan-brothers: Rukh and Azrhakhim were more closely-bonded than twins. Impulsively, she extended her hand to Rukh, remembering as she did that the gesture meant nothing in Noghri body-language. He surprised her by taking it and holding it gingerly. It flashed through her mind that he must have lived alone among humans for several years now.

"You were always good to him, my lady."

"He was always good to me, Rukh. And you, too. What--how did he..."

"He died in battle, my lady. He was part of one of our elite commandos."

They had been separated. She bit her lip. It had to be Thrawn's doing--and a terribly cruel decision; but it would be a mistake to say so. "I am sorry," she repeated. "I shall miss him greatly."

Rukh made a move towards the entrance. "I have to go back to the Overlord, my lady."

"Yes, of course. I understand."

 

Thanks, Shezan. I'll keep it in mind.

 

KA, from what i have learned about them, the moment their "master" is attacked they will attack, unless Vader for example tells them not to. Thats at least how Leia's Noghri work, or at least they way i see them work.

Hope i didn't confuse you.

 

Here is all the stuff on them in the Unofficial Encyclopedia.

The stuff from the Guide to the Star Wars Universe describes the sharp protruding teeth, the slightly hunched back, the reptile like feet, and the skin that becomes blacker as they get older.

You've reviewed on my story, so I guess you know the interpretation I have of them. There is an upcoming Jedi battle, because Senika is forced to capture a couple of Jedi by the Emperor, along with Ichebar, Beytakilena, etc..

And here's and excerpt on Senika's thoughts on Basic vs. Honoghran that come later on:

Basic was such a disgustly soft language, she reflected, it bent willingly to whatever its speaker wished. Not like Honoghran, where one could articulate precisely what one wished to get across. It was a hard, metallic language, but tempered with tone that sounded wild and loose, complementing the harsh v's and k's and r's.

Why so much emphasis on language you ask? Well, Senika has some lingustic difficulties with Basic later on.

Oh yes, and "Sha'vah!" is a command for silence in their language.

 

Thanks, TK I'll keep your advice in mind.

Gosh, I've forgotten all about your story, but I've also fallen behind on reading a bunch of other stories, too. I must get back to it.

 

You know, a question that's never been answered to my satisfaction is this: Why did the Noghri have it in for Thrawn, but not for Vader? Thrawn wasn't the one who started the poisoning of their planet; it happened from the beginning, 44 "Noghri years" before. (Zahn has admitted getting the timline wrong in his initial trilogy in several interviews.) So why all the "Lady Vader" stuff? I can see why Noghri bodyguards would be cool for the Skywalkers, but the truth is that Vader was the first to enslave the Noghri...

 

Psst, Shezan, haven't you heard? That's the plan for after the NJO!

The Noghri Strike Back!!!!

 

Well, here's one: Why the Noghri at all? Why not use the Imperial Guards? (you know, the ones that look cool, but never get to do anything?) LOL

-Tim

 

Darth Tim - Because they are the Emperor's Imperial Guard. I'll see if I can think of a way to explain why Vader would prefer the Noghri over the Imperial Guard in my story. Thanks for the idea.

Shezan - Why did the Noghri have it in for Thrawn, but not for Vader? Good question. I'm thinking that maybe because Thrawn prolonged their suffering, or that Noghri don't hold a grudge against a person's family. The fact of the matter is, Leia solved the mystery of why their planet wasn't being "healed" the way it should have been, thus she earned their respect by backing-up her promise to fix Honoghr. If that makes sense.

Also, Lady Vader may be easier for the Noghri to say than Lady Skywalker-Organa-Solo.

TK - Oooo! Hope the NJO ends soon. Can't wait to read that story arch.

 

Shezan - Why did the Noghri have it in for Thrawn, but not for Vader?Good question. I'm thinking that maybe because Thrawn prolonged their suffering, or that Noghri don't hold a grudge against a person's family. The fact of the matter is, Leia solved the mystery of why their planet wasn't being "healed" the way it should have been, thus she earned their respect by backing-up her promise to fix Honoghr. If that makes sense.

Er... no. Khabarakh recognizes Leia as the Vader heir by smell long before she solves anything, and immediately gives her obeisance. And not holding a grudge against a family might be okay, but singling Leia out as someone to whom infinite respect is due because she is Vader's heir doesn't cut mustard for me.

 

Well, yeah, that's true, too. I guess your questions is one of those little puzzles I make a fool out of myself trying to figure out. I've got a couple of Rubik's Cubes around here to prove it.

 

I don't know about that Shezan, some people give a lot of respect to a son, daughter, etc., for the sole reason of being related to someone else. ie: nepitism.

I mean, in Canada all these people give Pierre Trudeau's son respect mostly because he's Trudeau's son and only partly because of his own talents.

 

UP! Looking for more help if it is out there.

 

Anybody else with any ideas?