Rukh

Rukh
General information
Designation:	Nonsentient
Planet of origin:	Ryloth
Physical characteristics
Average height:	2 – 3 meters (While standing)
Average wingspan:	4 meters
Skin Color:	Brown
Eye Color:	Black
Feather color:	Brown
[ Source ]

The Rukh was a colossal bird of prey exclusive to Mount Chir’Lekki, a giant mountain on Ryloth.

Physical Description and Abilities

The average rukh stands at a fearsome 3 meters tall from feet to beak, but looks a lot larger due it it’s huge wings. Blessed with a skeleton strong as durasteel, a rukh can withstand powerful attacks, and survive for a remarkably long time in the scorching Ryloth Bright lands.

It’s skin and feathers are a deep wood brown colour, slightly camouflaged with the rocky and dusty terrain in which it lives.

The wings of a rukh are exceptionally powerful, as is obviously needed to keep a bird of this size in flight, with no wind, a rukh can fly at speeds of up to 30 mph. The wings can also be used in combat, a flap of this bird’s wings can generate small gusts of wind, and break the average human’s bones on physical contact. The wings of the Rukh are made of the strongest bones on it’s body, and folding them across itself forms an excellent defensive shield.

The claws of a rukh are a deep stained yellow colour. They are long, flexible, sharp, and strong, capable of piercing the flesh of most animals, and they have been known to be strong enough to lift twi’lek climbers who venture too far into their territory.

Their eyes, small and black, are incredibly sharp, almost telescopic, and able to scan large areas of open space without moving.

Behaviour

Rukh are scavengers and hunters. Their primary pray is the rycrit, a quadruped native to Ryloth. Extremely volatile, a rukh will often attack a lone traveller for food. This is one of the more common demises of climbers on Mount Chir’Lekki.

Generally, rather than staying on the mountain to hunt, a rukh will fly out down to the dusty surface of Ryloth, where it’s prey has no-where to hide. They tend to roost higher up the mountainside, where they can scan further for food.

Naturally they live in flocks, usually of about 4 – 5. As they live only on Mount Chir’Lekki, despite the size of the great mountain, it severely limits their population size, and it is approximated that less than 1000 still live.

Generally, a female rukh will lay one egg every five standard years. The mother will generally keep guard over the child for a further years before allowing it to venture off on it’s own, although it doesn’t reach full maturity until about 14 years. The average lifespan of a rukh is approximately 150 years.

The White Rukh

The mythical and rare White Rukh subspecies

Physical Differences

Due to a mutation sometime in the genes, a subspecies of the rukh exists in very small quantities. The white rukh is stunningly beautiful, with slightly more streamlined feathers and a smoother body shape. While ever so slightly smaller than the standard rukh, a white rukh can fly significantly faster, and is notably more agile, although a little frailer.

Behavioural Differences

Contrast to the brown rukh, a white rukh doesn’t hunt for pleasure, and has been known to help lone travellers, and guide them back to the correct path. Seeing a white Rukh while climbing Mount Chir’Lekki is said to be a sign of exceptional luck.

White and brown rukh rarely live side by side, due to their contrasting behavioural patterns. Often, a white rukh will attempt to defend a sentient under unprovoked attack from a brown one. Generally, in combat, the white rukh are the stronger fighters.

Force Ability?

Some Force Sensitives, notably Twi’lek Jedi Zentu’la and his daughter Impetus, have noticed a Force presence in the white rukh different to that of the brown ones. Due to her training in Animalism, Impetus has found she could establish telepathic communication with white rukh, and found them oddly respectful of her, a respect she returned. She has not yet attempted to command one, but it is likely it would comply.

It is unknown whether the white rukh can employ the Force in any other way, or even if they do it consciously.

Trivia

• The Rukh, also spelled Roc, is a Persian mythological bird.
• The assassin that murdered Thrawn Grand Admiral was named Rukh
• A Rukh plays a huge part in a future chapter of Impetus’ history.