Kalee

"[…] the planet Kalee, from which the warlike Kaleesh species originated."

Kalee was a planet within the Kalee system, a star system in Wild Space that was the homeworld of the Kaleesh species. Grievous, a male Kaleesh warlord, was from this world.

Description

Kalee was a planet^[5] located in the Kalee system of the galaxy's Wild Space, in grid square J-4 on the Standard Galactic Grid.^[1]

History

Republic Era

"Taken from the wilds of Kalee, your body turned into a living weapon, you are the master of your own destiny."

―Dooku, to Grievous^[7]

The overburdened Old Republic overlooked crimes committed on the distant worlds, Kalee being one of them, and unintentionally caused injustice. The Yam'rii had brutally overran many worlds in their sector, plundering their resources and enslaving their populations, and when the planet Kalee, homeworld of the reptilian Kaleesh species, became the center of the Yam'rii's attention, the results were horrifying: they conquered its people. The struggle between the Kaleesh and the Yam'rii devolved into an ongoing war.^[8]

A Kaleesh named Qymaen jai Sheelal,^[9] who later became known as Grievous,^[10] became a warlord^[11] and led his people^[4] in a ruthless all-war against the Yam'rii^[12] with increased vigor and determination while on the offensive. In time, the Kaleesh forces successfully push the Yam'rii from their world.^[8] Then, Grievous launched a series of devastating campaigns on the desolate planet Huk,^[13] homeworld of the Yam'rii, and eventually, their enemies unexpectedly sought the Galactic Republic for assistance.^[8] Then, the Republic^[12] and the Jedi Order intervened in the disastrous conflict,^[4] supporting the Yam'rii^[12] against the invader. The Kaleesh were condemned, embargoes and fines were imposed, and hundreds of thousands of them died of starvation,^[8] causing Grievous to pursue a personal vengeance against them.^[12]

Imperial Era and Age of the Resistance

The Delphidian pirate Sidon Ithano^[2] was raised on Kalee^[14] but was from the Delphidian Cluster^[15] and indoctrinated by the Kaleesh elders in the warru'zan, the planet's bloodhalls. There, he read about creatures like Starweird, a species of semi-corporeal spirits rumored to haunt the hyperspace lanes. The sacred rituals were performed, the stormtroopers arrived, and he donned the crimson mask of the trickster god Ithano.^[2]

During a culinary tour of the galaxy that he took^[16] between 34 ABY and 35 ABY,^[17] the adventurous chef Strono "Cookie" Tuggs traveled to Kalee and traded Kaleesh warriors some bantha cuts for minced karabbac and unearthed the ingredients necessary to cook Karabbac Skewers. Tuggs would later include the recipe for the Skewers, as well as a retelling of his journey to Kalee, in his cookbook, The Ultimate Cookbook,^[16] published in 35 ABY.^[17]

Inhabitants

Main article: Kaleesh

Kalee was the homeworld^[5] of the sentient^[18] humanoid^[19] reptilian^[20] Kaleesh^[5] species.^[18]

Behind the scenes

Kalee was first mentioned in the current Star Wars canon in a featurette^[21] included in Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Complete Season One, a box set available on Blu-ray or DVD that included the entire first season of the canon animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars^[22] that was released on November 3, 2009.^[23]

Kalee first originated in the Star Wars Legends continuity, where the planet was first mentioned in Labyrinth of Evil, written by James Luceno, released on January 25, 2005,^[24] and first appeared in "The Eyes of Revolution," a comic story written and illustrated by Warren Fu, published in the Dark Horse Comics anthology Star Wars: Visionaries, released on April 2, 2005.^[25]

Contradictions

The reference booklet "The Separatists" described Huk and Kalee as being located in the "Huk sector,"^[8] but author Jason Fry has indicated this is an error.^[26]