Vakanem

Vakanem was a Wookiee warrior who was indebted to the bounty hunter, Ryluk Shouja.

In his early life, Vakanem gained distinction by venturing to the Shadowlands and fighting the wildlife to recover long lost treasures. It was on one of these journeys that he encountered an emissary of Gibranna the Hutt, who offered high pay in return for his services.

Vakanem accepted, and served the Hutt well for several months before being asked to carry out an assassination, finding out for the first time the real work he had been hired for. The Wookiee refused this assignment and earned the wrath of Gibranna, who ordered his Cathar Honor Guard to kill the "traitor," as the Hutt called him. This only resulted in the death of six Cathar, which Gibranna found humorous, and decided to spare Vakanem's life.

The warrior was locked up at a small supply base to spend his days living with the regret of what he had done as he rotten in his cell. Fifteen years later, Vakanem was rescued by a red-clad bounty hunter who spoke no Shyriiwook. Vakanem spoke no Aurebesh, but the bounty hunter was able to communicate his intent well enough without worrying about language barriers.

Together the two escaped the base after rescuing the bounty hunter's fiancée, and were able to make it out on the ship.

The bounty hunter, who Vakanem later found out was Ryluk Shouja, took the Wookiee to Kashyyyk, where a translator could be found to communicate Vakanem's life debt to Ryluk. Ryluk attempted to refuse, but accepted after realizing that once a life debt was declared, it could not be revoked.

Vakanem left with Ryluk and learned Basic, and Ryluk learned Shyriiwook, so that they could communicate at any time. The pair fought side by side for many years before Vakanem fell prey to the blaster bolt of a CIS battle droid during the Clone Wars. After identifying the body, the Separatists killed Vakanem's entire family as punishment for Vakanem's mission against the CIS.