Nagai The Nagai , ( ) also called the N ' Gai and the Knives , were a species from the planet Nagi , a planet in the Unknown Regions , located in the dwarf galaxy known as Firefist that orbited the known galaxy . Biology and appearance . The Nagai were tall and thin near - Human s with pale skin , jet - black hair , gray eyes , and angular features . Considered attractive , yet gaunt and frail looking by galactic standards , they were aware of the effect their appearance had on others , and often allowed others to see them as weak until the time was right to reveal their true skills . Possessing lightning fast reflexes , the Nagai were known for their speed and agility in and out of combat , with much of their clothing , like traditional Electromesh armor , being tailored around their natural dexterity . Nagai are noted as being especially charismatic ; a quality that is by and large the product of their enhanced vocal range , allowing them to modulate and tailor their speech . Described as incredibly soothing , a Nagai can use their voice to influence other sentient beings - provided their voice can be heard , and their words understood . Despite their ubiquitous reputation as pale specters , Nagai were well known for their individualistic expression , with clothing and hair styles varying wildly from individual to individual depending on personal tastes and the image that a Nagai wanted to convey . Society and culture . Intense , focused , and highly disciplined warriors , they were known to kill without hesitation if it suited them , particularly if honor demanded it ; and were known to fear nothing , aside from losing their own freedom . If there was no honor in killing , or if their foe was weak , they took no pleasure in the victory . Honor was everything to a Nagai ; if a Nagai ' s honor was stripped away , whether forcefully or unknowingly , the Nagai had to take his own life . If the Nagai failed to do so , then it was the duty of others to fulfill that honor . As passionate in loving as they were in killing , a Nagai ' s honor told them that devotion to one ' s lover was the most important devotion one could ever offer ; even if that devotion is unreturned . Beyond this devotion , however , Nagai had little concern for individuals outside of their own families ; only aiding others when bound by honor or seeking personal gain . Despite the high esteem that honor held in their daily lives , Nagai could be found in a broad range of professions across the galaxy , ranging from traditional roles such as nobles and soldiers , to the more streetwise vocations of scoundrel s and thieves . Highly competent duelists , melee combat - especially the use of edged weaponry - is highly integrated into Nagai culture , with it being rare for a Nagai to not display expert use in blades of all sizes . Particularly , skill with traditional Tehk ' la blade s , longsword s , and Swiftcut foil s were prized - the weapons being employed in a number of fighting exercises that were daily customs in Nagai society . These exercises were both a form of meditation and a sign of social status ; success and skill in wielding them in duels was the primary means of ascension through societal ranks , though many customs of daily life involved exercises with these weapons . In addition to martial ability , Nagai possessed a bizarre - and some would say cruel - sense of humor borne from generations of adversity under the Tof . Nagai duelists would often employ this wit in battle , which , when coupled with their charisma , often set opponents off - balance . Technology . Nagai technology was advanced . While their ships defied common design sense , they were nonetheless capable of far greater speed and efficiency than most New Republic vessels . Nagai weapons technology , especially sonic weapon ry was highly advanced , with the Nagai sonic blaster being able to rend flesh at the molecular level , though many Nagai officers felt it to be a dishonorable weapon to use in a fight . Nagai also made extensive use of Electromesh armor , improving on its basic design , and made significant advances in cloaking technology . Politics . Before the Tof s invaded , Nagai society was comprised of a caste system consisting series of Circles , which were broken down into a series of sub - circles . An individual ' s place in the Circles was determined by birth , but it was possible to move up the ranks through tests of physical prowess . During the Tof invasions , this system broke down as Circles intermeshed for survival purposes . With many Sub - circles eradicated by the Tof s , many lower levels moved up by default , and began mating with those previously above them ; as a result , the entire system of Circles was no longer considered the solid institution it once was , with some radical thinkers urging its abandonment . History . The Nagai were just developing superluminal travel when they encountered the Tof s , who followed Nagai scoutships to their home system and promptly began an invasion . The Nagai fought back , waging guerrilla wars against their conquerors over centuries . To aid in their fight against the Tofs , the Nagai allied with a neighboring species , the Maccabree , outfitting them with mechanical limbs for ground fighting . They also allied with the Faruun shipwrights for vessels of war . Slowly a pathological hatred and fear of the Tofs developed , intensified by the Tof conquest of their homeworld Nagi . This drove the Nagai and Maccabrees outward into the nearby galaxy , which they referred to as the " Skyriver " . With the assistance of the Dark Lady Lumiya , a plan was developed to use the resources of the " Skyriver " to mount a liberation of their homeworld , and shortly after the Galactic Civil War had exhausted both sides , the Nagai struck . The Nagai attempted to restart the Wookiee slave trade on Kashyyyk . They were originally known to the Alliance as " Knives " , due to the Wookiee mispronunciation of an individual Nagai encountered there . As a result , they were encountered by the Alliance of Free Planets in 4 ABY to stop their actions . After being stopped by Han Solo , Lando Calrissian , and Chewbacca , they regrouped with Lumiya and her faction of the Imperial Remnant in an attempt to destroy the Rebel Alliance and gain territory to re - establish themselves . After various skirmishes on Kabray , Kinooine , and Mandalore , they attacked Endor . With the aid of an inside agent , they learned all of the Alliance dogfighting maneuvers and were able to easily outfight them at first . Once the Rebels caught on , though , the tables turned , and they were driven off the moon . The Nagai continued invading a number of other planets with their allies , such as Iskalon . Discovering a Tof force on the planet Trenwyth , they attempted to wipe them out but were defeated there . Launching an attack on Zeltros , the Tof s made themselves known . The Nagai ' s fear and hatred of the Tofs enabled them to form an unlikely alliance with the Rebels and Imperials to combat them . Repelling the Tofs from Zeltros , they signed a treaty with the Alliance and later ambushed the Tof crown prince at the planet Saijo and forced the Tofs to surrender , thus ending the Nagai / Tof threat to the galaxy . After the surrender , the Nagai were given Saijo to settle on . Only a few did so , joining the Alliance ; the others ( accompanied by the Mandalorians ) went to liberate Nagi from the Tofs . Their attempt to free the planet was ultimately successful . Nagai in the galaxy . Gharn was a male Nagai Padawan who served the Jedi Order on Taris during the Mandalorian Wars . Behind the scenes . The Nagai were created by writer Mary Jo Duffy and artist Cynthia Martin . Martin came up with the visual design by looking at anime , and also drew inspiration from a Japanese comic about a tragic vampire - which , according to Martin , had a strong influence on her concept drawings .