Darth Hater

Star Wars: The Old Republic News, Interviews, Media & Podcast

Lore Update: Selkath



The Selkath are an amphibious humanoid species that can survive both in water and on land without the aid of survival equipment. They possess elongated heads that feature a set of lobes which frame their mouths. Selkath skin color ranges from blue to green to grey and displays a pattern similar to that of sunlight refracting on water. These properties help to camouflage the Selkath from potential predators in their aquatic environment. Beyond passive measures, the Selkath also possess a set of retractable poisonous claws, however, the Selkath consider their use barbaric. Their language, Selkatha, produces gurgling, guttural sounds, but non-Selkath are still capable of learning it.

History of the Selkath


The Selkath homeworld of Manaan has a long history of interaction with other factions and governments. During the reign of the Rakatan Infinite Empire, the Rakata invaded Manaan and enslaved its Selkath population, forcing the Selkath to construct various structures both off world and on Manaan itself. During the Jedi Civil War, Revan and Malak eventually used a Star Map on Manaan constructed by these Selkath slaves.

After the fall of the Infinite Empire, the Galactic Republic rediscovered Manaan around 16,000 Before the Treaty of Coruscant (BTC). Instead of joining the Republic, the Selkath chose to maintain a position of neutrality. Millennia later, the Great Sith War, Mandalorian Wars and Jedi Civil War helped establish the Selkath economy through their distribution of Kolto, and led to the construction of Ahto City on the surface of Manaan to accommodate off-world visitors. Due to its scale, observers can see Ahto City from orbit.

The Selkath and Revan


A redeemed Revan visited Ahto City for a second time in search of the Star Map he and Malak had visited previously. During his stay, tensions between Sith and Republic were high as each faction attempted to court the Selkath's favor, and their kolto supplies along with it. While searching for the Star Map, a Selkath man named Shaelas approached Revan regarding the disappearance of many Selkath youths. Shaelas believed that the Sith were somehow responsible. Upon further investigation by Revan, it was discovered that the Sith were indeed behind the abductions. Intending to spread their influence to the Selkath government, the Sith were abducting and training Selkath youth in the ways of the dark side. During this time, disaster struck a secret kolto mining operation established by Selkath officials sympathetic to the Republic.



The Selkath worship a monstrous firaxan shark they refer to as the Progenitor. In the presence of the Progenitor, the Selkath become feral, using their venomous claws to attack any threat to themselves, the Progenitor or their kolto. The secret mining operation disturbed the Progenitor, and as a result, the Selkath in the mining facility turned on the rest of the staff. Revan investigated the mining facility to determine the cause of the Selkath's madness. Upon finding that the Progenitor and kolto harvester were to blame, Revan destroyed the device in order to calm the Progenitor and restore the Selkath to their former selves. Those involved managed to keep the operation a secret, and the Sith's abduction of Selkath youth eventually led to a ban on kolto distribution to the Sith Empire.

However, the abducted Selkath did not forget their Sith training. Shaela's daughter, Shasa, was one of the youths abducted, and took it upon herself to train other Selkath sensitive in the Force. Uninterested in aligning themselves with either Sith or Jedi, the Order of Shasa struck a balance between the light and dark sides of the Force, though some Force sensitive Selkath did choose to join the Jedi Order. Establishing their training facility in the recently abandoned mining facility, Shasa and her followers developed a significant Force wielding presence on Manaan. Instead of lightsabers, the Order of Shasa used cortosis alloy blades known as Fira. Thousands of years later, Darth Vader would visit Manaan and manipulate the Order of Shasa to work with himself and Emperor Palpatine.

Selkath Society


Strangely, Selkath society seems to hinge directly on the presence of other galactic civilizations. During the Old Republic era, when kolto demand and interest in Manaan was high, the Selkath were highly organized and followed a strict set of laws governed by the Ahto High Court. However, as use of kolto waned due to the emergence and effectiveness of bacta, the Selkath withdrew from Ahto City and returned to their pods below the surface of Manaan's oceans. There, the Selkath reverted back to a primitive state -- losing or forgetting the technology and developmental sophistication they previously possessed.

Selkath in the Expanded Universe


During the Clone Wars, a few notable Selkath ventured beyond the oceans of Manaan. There are records of an unnamed Selkath Jedi who eventually rose to the rank of Jedi General. This Selkath Jedi served the order as a Jedi Artisan -- a highly specialized Jedi Consular who focuses on the creative will of the Force. Artisans strive for creativity, especially in their lightsaber crafting, and this particular Jedi used a retrosaber -- a lightsaber requiring an external power source and cord.



Count Dooku hired a Selkath bounty hunter during this period as well named Chata Hyoki. He wore custom armor to fit the unusual shape of the Selkath form. His equipment included blaster-equipped gauntlets and a grappling spike launcher, which he used during an assassination attempt on Padme Amidala. The assassination attempt failed, eventually leading to Chata's apprehension.

When the Galactic Empire returned to Manaan 3,000 years later, they enslaved the Selkath easily; due to the primitive state they had reverted to, and made to serve Imperial guests and tourists visiting Ahto City. Eventually, Darth Vader discovered the force sensitive Order of Shasa, and secretly encouraged them to rebel against Imperial forces on Manaan. After the Order of Shasa successfully liberated themselves, the Selkath population went into a murderous rage and killed all non-Selkath left in Ahto City. Vader then revealed his true identity and intent, informing the Order of Shasa that they now serve Emperor Palpatine.

Selkath in SWTOR


Although swimming will not be an available mechanic in SWTOR at launch, that did not stop the original KoTOR from including both the Selkath and Manaan. It is possible, even likely, that BioWare will introduce Manaan at some point. There is not a great deal of information regarding the state of Selkath society after Revan's last visit, but kolto is prominently in use during this period. Ahto City, the High Court, the Progenitor and the Order of Shasa all provide a rich environment for players who hope to visit Manaan at some point in SWTOR's future.

Sources:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Kolto
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Manaan
http://darthhater.com/2011/10/18/lore-update-the-infinite-empire
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Rakata
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ahto_City
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Shaelas
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Progenitor
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Shasa
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Order_of_Shasa
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ahto_High_Court
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Unidentified_Selkath_Jedi_(Clone_Wars)
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Chata_Hyoki
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Grappling_spike_launcher

Images courtesy of Wookieepedia

Comments

Most Commented Articles

Go to Articles

Tag Cloud

More