Orto is a desolate planet, found uncomfortable by most humanoids. A majority of the planet is covered in tundra, with a belt of forests along the equator. It was originally discovered several years after the Great Sith War, though none of the humans on the survey ship attempted to explore in the subzero temperatures. It took a group of Talz adventurers to explore the planet during the Third Galactic Survey, towards the end of the reign of the Old Republic.

The Talz mentioned the planet was unremarkable on the surface, though complex communities of natives were found. Deep holes were dug near the equator, and small villages of Ortolans resided on the bottom of these shafts. The Ortolans are large, pudgy creatures with long trunks, and come in a variety of shades, similar to Twi`leks. However, the color of their skin denotes their job or role in society: orange is a political career, green is a military career, red is a domestic job such as a doctor or a keeper of the peace, and blue is an entertainer, such as a musician or an actor. Many Ortolans left their planet with the Talz expedition, a majority of them being entertainers. Quickly establishing themselves, Ortolan entertainers became known as the best of the best.

Orto is rarely visited by others and is known to be a peaceful home to the Ortolan species. It is generally considered to be of little importance on a galactic scale, and the Ortolans are confident that by spreading their music and entertainment, they are making the galaxy a more aesthetic place that hopefully will not cast its eye upon their homeworld.