Pyke

The **Pykes** were a species of sentient humanoids native to the planet Oba Diah. The species was distinguished by their unsettlingly large heads and undersized faces. A notable group of Pykes was the Pyke Syndicate, the galaxy's preeminent suppliers of spice, a narcotic substance mined by slaves on the planet Kessel.

## Characteristics

A sentient species, the Pykes were humanoid, although most were slimmer and taller than most humans. They had two long, lanky legs, and two arms that ended in three-fingered hands. Their heads were large and elongated, with a tapered skull and a proportionately undersized face, a feature which some other species found unsettling. Pykes had two narrow, almond-shaped eyes which could be blue, magenta, purple, or black in color. Their heads rested upon elongated, sinuous necks. The species had two sexes, male and female. Pykes had yellow or green blood. Some Pykes had smaller craniums than others of the species, as well as short bloated necks, and five fingers. Whereas others of the species had a range skin tones including grey and green, these individuals only possessed teal skin with pink accents. Beneath the masks frequently worn by the species, the short-necked Pykes' faces resembled fish. The atmosphere of the planet Kessel could provoke lethal allergic reactions in Pykes if they were exposed to it for too long, necessitating the wearing of special protective gear if they remained there long-term.

## History

In 9 ABY, a train of Pykes regularly terrorized a Tusken tribe that Boba Fett resided in, before Fett and several of the Tuskens captured the Pykes on the train and made them walk to Anchorhead and fly off Tatooine.

Shortly after this incident, Fett went to the Pykes' headquarters on Tatooine and spoke to the leader of the Pykes in the area. Fett asked the Pyke boss to pay protection money to the Tusken tribe as promised. The Pyke boss said that he could not pay protection money to two groups, according to his superiors on Oba Diah, and informed Fett that the Kintan Striders were already being paid protection money.

Soon, it was revealed that Jabba's former holdings on Tatooine had been promised to the Pykes by mayor Mok Shaiz. Then, a number of Pykes arrived on Tatooine from a starliner. They continued to establish themselves as a dominating presence on the planet, including in the cities of Mos Espa and Mos Eisley. Law enforcement refused to interfere with them.

Later, marshal Cobb Vanth interrupted a Pykes spice trade in Freetown territory, and told the Pykes that he wouldn't tolerate the spice trade in the town. The Pykes tried to kill him due to his meddling, but Vanth drew his blaster faster and killed all but one who backed out of the fight. Vanth told him to go back and inform the syndicate of his ban, but not without taking the spice and throwing it away. To solve the problem, the Pyke Syndicate sent bounty hunter Cad Bane. When Bane was unable to convince Vanth to change his mind, the two had a duel that ended with Bane injuring Vanth and killing Scott, the marshal's deputy. Later, they bombed the Sanctuary, killing many who were inside. After a battle that took place in the streets of Mos Espa, the Pykes decided to leave the world due to the numerous losses caused by the battle, although Master Assassin Fennec Shand assassinated the Pyke leaders on Tatooine before they could leave.