The Khetanna, commonly known as Jabba’s sail barge, has been a regular item in the news lately. Not because its wreck was uncovered by a clan of Jawas, but because Hasbro might make this vehicle in their line of 3.75” action figures. Skiff Guards, employed by Jabba the Hutt, either accompanied the Khetanna on a Bantha II-cargo Skiff or guarded their master on the sail barge itself. Let’s find out who all those skiff guards are. (1)
Cargo Skiff 1: The first skiff carried Luke, Han and Chewie. Who else was on that vehicle?
Kithaba: This Klatooinian slave wore a yellow shirt and a red bandana. He was eventually grabbed by the Sarlacc’s tentacles. Kithaba was made by Kenner in 1985 (as ‘Barada’) and by Hasbro in 2012.
Pagetti Rook: Rook was the Weequay who pushed Luke onto the plank of the skiff. You can’t really see in the movie what happens to him. Kenner made him in 1983 as ‘Weequay’. Hasbro released differently sculpted figures of Rook in 1997 and in 2012.
Tamtel Skreej: This was one of Lando Calrissian’s aliases and the one he used to pose as a skiff guard. His helmet was decorated by gondar teeth. Kenner made Skreej in 1983 (‘Lando Calrissian in Skiff Guard Disguise’). Hasbro released a newly sculpted figure of Lando in disguise in 1997, 2004, 2012 (sandstorm outfit) and 2014. Strangely enough, the newest release is the only figure without a removable helmet.
Vedain: Was the Kajain’sa’Nikto who piloted the first skiff. When Luke got hold of his saber, Lando revealed his identity and attacked Vedain. He was knocked into the Sarlacc. Vedain hasn’t yet been made into a 3.75” action figure.
Velken Tezeri: This human arms dealer was the first guard to be knocked into the Sarlacc by Luke’s lightsaber. His outfit is similar to that of Nizuc Bek. Tezeri hasn’t been made into a 3.75” action figure.
“Weequay Skiff Master”: This character hasn’t gotten a proper name yet. He fell into the Sarlacc while uttering the Wilhelm scream. Hasbro made a figure of him in 2011.
Cargo Skiff 2: The characters on the second skiff have enjoyed less screen time than their counterparts on the first one. Alas, they were just as unfortunate when Luke reached their skiff during the battle.
Barada: This Klatooinian slave was responsible for Jabba’s repulsorlift vehicles. He wore a white shirt and an orange bandana. Barada attempted to strike at Luke’s legs, but this would cost his life. Kenner used a photo of Barada on the card of their figure in 1985, but the figure was actually Kithaba. Hasbro made this figure in 1999 and 2006 (paint update).
Brock Starsher: This guard was the first one to fall into the Sarlacc on the second skiff. He had a similar helmet to Captain Doallyn and has been mistaken for Doallyn numerous times before he finally got his name in 2013. The reason for his identity crisis was the erroneously chosen photo of Sharsher for Doallyn’s Decipher card. An Imperial Biker Scout knee guard was used as the helmet’s faceplate. Hasbro (surprisingly) made this figure in 2014.
Gailid: Was a human who sported a golden like jumpsuit and a leather headdress. He used a DL-18 blaster pistol.
Lathe: This Kajain’sa’Nikto can be recognized by his turquoise shirt. Kenner made this figure in 1983 and Hasbro in 2012. Since he received his name in 2013, both figures were simply named ‘Nikto’.
Pote Snitkin: The Skrilling weapon smuggler piloted the second skiff. He also became one of Luke’s victims during the battle. Hasbro made Snitkin in 1999.
Unnamed human 1: The first unnamed human carried a DL-18 blaster and wore a black helmet and tan outfit. He got kicked into the Sarlacc by Luke.
Unnamed human 2: The second unnamed human wore a metal breastplate and headgear. His fall into the Sarlacc was edited incorrectly into the movie. It was added when Velken Tezeri fell into the Sarlacc, but you can notice that it’s a different character. He was armed with a DL-18 blaster.
Yotts Orren: This Kadas’sa’Nikto dressed in gray and can be recognized by his ammunition bandoleers across his chest. Orren also used a DL-18 blaster. Luke ended Orren’s life and he fell into the Sarlacc. Kenner or Hasbro never made a figure of Orren, by Sigma did make a porcelain figurine of him in 1983 (named ‘Klaatu’).
Khetanna: A lot more characters of Jabba’s entourage ware present on the Khetanna and some of them even dared to face Luke on the deck, but not all of them were Skiff Guards. Wooof was among the characters who confronted Luke, but he wasn’t a Skiff Guard. He was one of the Jabba’s pilots and a smuggler.
Klaatu: This Kadas’sa’Nikto attacked Luke on the Khetanna. He liked to gamble and often repaired the skiffs of Jabba. Kenner made Klaatu in 1983 (as ‘Klaatu Skiff Guard Outfit’), Hasbro in 1999. A new figure of Klaatu was recently announced for the Vintage Collection.
Nysad: This Kajain’sa’Nikto tried to surprise Luke by appearing through the hatch of the Khetanna‘s deck. Luke managed to deflect his shot before killing him. Hasbro made a figure of Nysad in 2009. He was named Nikto Gunner, though he never used a large cannon in the movie.
Unnamed human 3: This guy confronted Luke right before Klaatu did. He wore a helmet and used a vibro-ax.
Unnamed human 4: This human was a gunner at the Khetanna. He wore a hat with fuzzy flaps and a gray outfit. Though not seen in the movie, there are stills where you can see Leia overpowering this guard.
Taym Dren-garen: This human managed to shoot Luke in his cybernetic hand. He wore a pretty cool helmet and used a DL-18. He has never been made into an action figure, which is a bit surprising, considering his role in the film.
Vizam: This Kajain’sa’Nikto was the first to open fire on the skiff with the heroes. His blast stunned Boba Fett for a few seconds. He was a weapons’ master, but was eventually overpowered by Luke. Hasbro made Vizam in 1999 and in 2013.
“Weequay Guard”: This unnamed Weequay tried to attack Luke when he jumped on the Khetanna. But Luke pulled the Weequay out of the barge himself. He used a DL-18. He hasn’t been made into a figure yet.
“Weequay Marksman”: This unnamed Weequay attacked Luke with a DL-18 blaster on the Khetanna, but was killed instead. He seems to wear the same outfit as the ‘Weequay Guard’.
Though the Skiff Guards were probably nothing more than a snack for the Sarlacc, they remain an interesting and diverse lot. Let’s hope we’ll learn the names of the unnamed guards one day.
(1) Both canon and legends names were used. Some background characters might never be named again in canon since it already took decades to name some of them. Chances are also small that any of the names that are still Legends would be named differently in canon.
Sources: Ultimate Star Wars, Star Wars Insider 143, Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded, Decipher’s CCG, Star Wars Force Attax (trading cards)
