Free Ryloth Movement

The freedom fighter Cham Syndulla came to prominence on Ryloth during the Clone Wars, after the Separatists invaded his homeworld. A dedicated fighter with no tolerance for corruption or dishonesty, Syndulla forged an alliance with Mace Windu that brought liberty to his fellow Twi'leks. Syndulla resisted the Empire after its rise to power, hatching a plot to ambush Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader on Ryloth. Although he hoped his sacrifices would mean his daughter, Hera, wouldn't have to spend her life fighting, the young woman would grow up to continue his campaign to undermine Imperial power through the time of the Galactic Civil War.

Ryloth is the principal planet in the Ryloth system located in the Outer Rim near Tatooine. It is home to the Twi'leks, a humanoid species with two large, fleshy head-tails growing from their skulls. The Twi'leks call these prehensile appendages lekku and can communicate through subtle lekku gestures, although they also speak Twi'leki. During the Clone Wars, scheming Separatist warlords blockaded and invaded Ryloth, hoping to steal its riches. But after the war, dreams of a free Ryloth evaporated under the iron fist of Imperial occupation.

A corpulent, corrupt Twi'lek Senator from Ryloth, Orn Free Taa was disliked on his homeworld for enriching himself on Coruscant and enmeshing himself in politics, becoming a leading power broker in the Senate. Free Taa was one of the Republic's leading Loyalists and a strong backer of the military, but his indulgences made him a symbol of everything the Separatists considered rotten about the Republic. At the dawn of the Empire, Free Taa continues to put his own ambitions ahead of the good of his people, but the Imperial elite are more interested in making him an example than an ally.

Once the heroic Jedi Knight named Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force. Forever scarred by his defeat on Mustafar, Vader was transformed into a cybernetically-enhanced Sith Lord. At the dawn of the Empire, Vader led the Empire’s eradication of the Jedi Order and the search for survivors. He remained in service of the Emperor -- the evil Darth Sidious -- for decades, enforcing his Master’s will and seeking to crush the Rebel Alliance and other detractors. But there was still good in him…

The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural, and Sheev Palpatine is the most infamous follower of its doctrines. Scheming, powerful, and evil to the core, Darth Sidious restored the Sith and destroyed the Jedi Order. Living a double life, he was also Palpatine, a Naboo Senator and phantom menace. He manipulated the political system of the Galactic Republic until he was named Supreme Chancellor -- and eventually Emperor – and ruled the galaxy through fear and tyranny. The galaxy rejoiced when he died at the Battle of Endor, but Sidious had cheated death and patiently plotted a return to power.

The Galactic Empire ruled for years through fear, intimidation, and tyranny. With a mighty military force including stormtroopers, spy technology like probe droids, and the planet-destroying Death Star, Emperor Palpatine’s regime seemed unstoppable and permanent. But some dared to strike back…