Riileb ( species ) The Riilebs were a sentient species of humanoid insectoids that were indigenous to the planet of Riileb . Members of the species were relatively tall , with gray , knobbly skin and two antennae , which were capable of detecting changes in the biorhythms of other organisms . Using their antennae , the species could detect the mood of those around them , which made them good at setting others at ease and so resulted in others perceiving the Riilebs as a likable people . They also possessed four nostrils on a nose that was much flatter than a Human ' s ; two nostrils were for inhaling and two were for exhaling . The Riileb homeworld was within Hutt Space ; however , after its discovery by Nimbanese scouts working for the Hutts , the Riilebs refused to bow down to the Hutts and serve them . Following several attempted invasions of Riileb by the Hutts , the slug - like species relented and the Riilebs retained their independence , making them one of the few species in Hutt Space to do so . Riileb society was controlled by the individual in possession of a piece of jewelry known as the ClanRing , which traditionally belonged to the eldest member of the motherclan , descendants of a mythical first Riileb , who was believed to have created the ring . The Riileb Tere Metallo was an agent of the Rebellion and the New Republic . Biology and appearance . Riilebs were a sentient species of tall , lithe , insectoid humanoids , who stood taller on average than Humans and just shorter than Wookiees at between 2 . 00 and 2 . 75 meters in height . Members of the species shared a number of characteristics with Humans , including two arms each ending in a hand with four fingers and a thumb , and two legs , as well as having two sexes : male and female . Riileb possessed a mouth , which contained teeth , and they had a nose and a pair of eyes on the head . Hair grew from the pate , although nowhere else on the body . Unlike Humans , Riilebs possessed a pair of stamen - like antennae atop the skull , which were remnants of their insectoid ancestry , and capable of detecting changes in other beings ' biorhythms . Such detection was capable of reading the pulse rate and blood pressure of Humans . The Riileb nose was flatter than a Human ' s and had four nostrils , two of which were for inhalation and the remaining two for exhalation . The species had ear flaps as opposed to ears , and fingers that were generally more slender than those of a Human . Riilebs ' skin was knobbly and gray in color , while their eyes could be pink and their hair silver . They possessed a digestive system able to tolerate ale and tea . Society and culture . As a people , Riilebs were generally calm and collected , although they usually were determined to succeed in any task they undertook . They were tolerant of the cultures of other species , partially due to the Riileb ability to determine the moods of other using their antennae , including how stressed or nervous an individual was . Some Riilebs used this talent to their advantage in games such as sabacc , although no such games were played on their homeworld . The Riileb ability to sense others ' moods also made the species skilled at setting other beings at ease ; thus , many saw them as a personable people . Riilebs spoke a language also known as Riileb , but they were capable of speaking Galactic Basic Standard , as well as one of the native languages of the Wookiee species . While speaking Basic , some Riileb reverted back to their native language if shocked or angry , although sometimes for only as little as a single word of their native tongue . Some members of the insectoid species frowned when serious , gave a shrill screech when pleased and gulped down a lump in their throat if worried . The concept of marriage was a part of Riileb culture , and females who were not married traditionally did not grow a full head of hair ; instead , they were allowed to have at least a single braid , which some individuals grew up to a meter in length and sometimes entwined with a silky , black tie . Male Riilebs , meanwhile , always had a full head of hair . Riilebs wore clothing similar to many other sentient beings in the galaxy , including boots , pants and shirts . Riileb society maintained many aspects of its insectoid heritage . Their cities were built on the same islands that their ancestors inhabited , consisting of complex and twisted alleys and passages similar to the labyrinthine mounds the ancients once built . The society was controlled by the individual who held an item known the ClanRing , a piece of jewelry believed to have been crafted by the first Riileb , a mythical figure among the species . The ring could rightfully be held only by the eldest member of a group named the motherclan , who were believed to be direct descendants of the first Riileb . The eldest member of the group received the ring once they reached the age of 30 local Riileb years , which was the equivalent of 21 standard years of age . Political intrigue , deceit , and infighting were common among the motherclan , however , and those further down the line of inheritance often arranged for the heir of the ring to be removed , with at least one individual being sold into slavery . History . The Riilebs evolved from a species of social insects on the swampy planet that shared the name Riileb , within the Riileb system . Their ancestors possessed antennae and lived on the few small islands of dry land found on their hot and humid homeworld , where they built complex , maze - like mounds . At some point after the Riileb developed a feudal level of technology , their star system came to be considered as within the region of the galaxy known as Hutt Space , where it was located as early as 4000 BBY . The species had its first contact from off - worlders when a group of Nimbanese scouts , serving the regionally dominant Hutt species , arrived on Riileb . The Nimabanese attempted to persuade the Riilebs to agree to voluntary servitude to the Hutts , but the insectoids rejected the idea . Following the refusal , several attempts were made by the Hutts to take control of Riileb by force and enslave its people , but the Hutt forces , which were controlled by a Hutt named Velrugha , were successfully repelled by the natives each time . The Hutts gave up and began searching for less - resistant worlds to conquer , leaving the Riilebs as one of the few independent species in Hutt Space , along with the Sakiyan species of Sakiya . Following the discovery of the Riilebs by the rest of the galaxy , they gained access to the standard levels of technology available throughout known space , which they implemented on their homeworld . Due to its independence , Riileb became known as a haven within Hutt Space for those wishing to avoid the Hutts . Nonetheless , the planet saw little interstellar traffic , bar those looking to trade in heklu — amphibious animals native to the planet — which were eaten and considered a delicacy within the Core Worlds . Riilebs in the galaxy . Riilebs were not a common sight in the galaxy , although not unknown . Many left their homeworld to become traders or to use their mood detection abilities to excel at careers in bar - tending , psychiatry or as physicians . Tere Metallo was a female Riileb who was born to the motherclan and stood to inherit leadership at the age of 30 . At the age of 25 , however , she was sold into slavery by a jealous sister . Metallo was rescued from slavery by a Corellian smuggler named Bek Nataal , who taught her a large amount about smuggling and piloting before he was killed during an unexpected inspection by officials of the Galactic Empire . The Riileb was captured by the Imperials and imprisoned and tortured before escaping to Corellia , where she took up work repairing starships . When she earned enough credits , she bought her own ship , a Suwantek Systems TL - 1800 freighter that she named " Star Quest " . For several years , she made legitimate runs in the Mid Rim . During this time , she took on a Human co - pilot named Matt Turhaya . During a stop on the planet of Kabaira , the pair aided members of a cell of the Alliance to Restore the Republic , as one member was an old acquaintance of Metallo . The pair then began running supplies for the Rebel Alliance , although Turhaya was killed while doing so . Metallo eventually accepted a commission in Alliance Intelligence after the Battle of Yavin and used her work as a free trader to slip onto Imperial - controlled worlds and provide intelligence from them . After the transition of the Rebel Alliance into the New Republic , Metallo continued working for the organization ; in 9 ABY , she took up a mission to destroy a secret Imperial research facility on the planet of Sarahwiee . She and her crew took a job from Imperials on the planet of Garos IV to ship supplies to the facility , planning to destroy the base with explosives . During their flight to Sarahwiee , Metallo discovered that a member of the resistance against the Imperials on Garos IV had stowed away on their ship in hope of rescuing a friend who was being held on Sarahwiee . The Riileb agreed to transport the Human , Alexandra Winger , to the planet and on the surface helped save her friend , a Human scientist named Carl Barzon . Once at the facility , the group planted explosives and escaped after a short firefight with Imperial stormtroopers . Behind the scenes . The Riilebs first appeared in the short story " Rendezvous with Destiny , " authored by Charlene Newcomb and published in the sixth issue of the " Star Wars Adventure Journal " in 1995 . Newcomb created the species via the character Tere Metallo , who appeared in the prequel short story named " Passages , " published in 1996 as part of the seventh issue of the Adventure Journal . In 1997 , the Riileb species was fleshed out by Brian Smithson in the article " Alien Encounters , " found in the thirteenth issue of the Adventure Journal . The article was partially reprinted in March 1998 in the role - playing sourcebook also named " Alien Encounters " , a collection compiled by Paul Sudlow that included information from all of the " Alien Encounters " articles . Both instances presented Riileb stats that favored perception and mechanics . The Riilebs received an entry in the " Star Wars Encyclopedia " written by Stephen J . Sansweet in June of the same year . The Riilebs would not be mentioned again until 2008 when they received an entry in the " The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia " written again by Sansweet , this time with aid from Pablo Hidalgo . The species were also mentioned in the 2009 reference book " The Essential Atlas " by Jason Fry and Daniel Wallace and the 2012 reference book " The Essential Reader ' s Companion " by Hidalgo .