Maz Kanata

Maz Kanata was a notorious pirate queen who owned a castle on Takodana. She associated with Han Solo and Chewbacca, and welcomed Solo prior to the Battle of Takodana that left her castle destroyed. Kanata vanished without a trace.

Biography
Kanata was a long-lived pirate queen who earned notoriety. She owned a castle on Takodana near Ponemah Terminal and Jakku, built on the site of a battle between Jedi and Sith during the Old Republic era. She was rumored to keep ancient Jedi relics in the catacombs, and some suggested she herself had been a Jedi Master in a past life. She ran her underworld gathering for a millennium before the era of the First Order.

During the Clone Wars, Maz's castle became a favorite of Ziro the Hutt and Hondo Ohnaka and his gang.

Resistance Era
"Your eyes... I've seen them before." "You wouldn't believe how often I've heard that."

- Maz and CT-6116

The castle was a place where underworld figures such as Rendar and Grummgar made black market deals, and was known for its lack of trustworthy people. She welcomed beings of any religion or political or criminal persuasion as as long as they respected the neutrality of her castle, and often played waitress to catch up with old favorites and take the measure of newcomers. She had a long history with Han Solo and Chewbacca, taking more than a shine to the latter, and her crew looked after starships belonging to castle visitors.

Maz greeted Sidon Ithano and the crew of the Meson Martinet when they visited Takodana en route to Glee Anselm, and briefly studied Kix before running off to greet Rosser Weno.

Battle of Takodana
Maz remained in her off-limits private quarters and business offices when Grummgar arrived in her castle and encountered Bazine Netal, though worked the floor while playing waitress after the pair returned from a heated tryst in the catacombs. She greeted Han Solo upon his arrival in the company of Finn, Rey, and BB-8, and entered into conversation with his group, letting Rey eat meiloorun and shurra fruit for the first time. Rey ventured into the catacombs, finding a lightsaber and hearing the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi during a vision. Maz told Rey that she didn't belong in the past, but rather to the future in which she'd meet Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and other figures.

The First Order later attacked the castle in search of Solo's group, and though Maz's guests weren't specifically targeted by the stormtroopers, some such as Grummgar fought back. The castle was leveled and utterly destroyed before a Resistance squadron drove the First Order away, though Kanata herself vanished without a trace.

Later exploits
"Meeting Luke, and the General, and Bee-Bee... and you, Chewie. I think Maz might have been right. I belong here, not in the past."

- Rey, to Chewbacca

During her duel with Kylo Ren on Starkiller Base, Rey heard Maz's voice telling her to let the Force in.

Physical appearance and biology
Maz wore goggles that magnified her eyes, and which she removed when studying individuals.

Personality and traits
Maz never seemed stumped by anything, no matter how esoteric, though had a short attention span. Kanata was notorious, though offered hospitality and a warm atmosphere to guests at her castle regardless of political or religious allegiances. She maintained a golden rule that her castle remained neutral, and she strictly enforced a no-violence rule. She also warned guests not to go upstairs to her private rooms, though not everybody followed this rule. Some saw her association with the likes of Han Solo as a critical weak softness.

She had an understanding of the Force though denied being a Jedi despite some connection to them. Rumors suggested she was a Jedi Master in a past life, or the Padawan of Cherff Maota, who died during the Battle of Takodana, and retired from the Jedi Order to build her castle over the site of his death.

Sexuality and orientation
"You flirt! But you forget, Captain, I have a boyfriend, and he's a Wookiee. I'm quite sure any competition between you for my hand would be quite amusing, however."

- Maz, to Sidon Ithano

According to rumor, Maz took more than a shine to the Wookiee Chewbacca, and may have been an item even before the birth of Han Solo. She considered him her boyfriend, though was open to competition from others to win her hand. She enjoyed flirting.