Arkania/Legends

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"I wouldn't miss this for all the diamonds in Arkania!"
―Common spacer saying[10]

Arkania was the adopted homeworld of the Arkanian species. It was covered with tundra and rich in diamonds and other precious minerals, which the Arkanians mined to further their offworld connections and master their technology. Arkanian cities were designed to keep the cold out and were mostly completely enclosed. Off-world visitors rarely had to deal with the frigid conditions of the planet. Many citizens were miners.

Description

A harsh world of tundra and ice, Arkania was able to sustain life and civilization despite the harsh climate. Deep underground, the planet was filled with diamond stores considered extremely valuable by those on the surface, resulting in the excavation of extensive mines across the world.[6]

History

Early mining operations and the Sith Empire

Arkania in 4000 BBY

Discovered by scouts from the Galactic Republic sometime between 25,000 and 20,000 BBY, the frozen world of Arkania was home to a population of white-eyed humanoids called the Arkanians. Home to massive diamond stores, Arkania opened these hidden vaults to mining industries associated with the Republic. The rich gem mines on their planet led to its great development and the construction of elaborate trade cities on Arkania.[12] This was the reason why Arkanian culture largely flourished as a result of off-world contact.[4] They were well known throughout the galaxy for their extremely reclusive scientists and rumors soon abounded that these geneticists were not above experimentation on sentients. Indeed, one of their earliest known endeavors was the creation of the Quermian species from the Xexto[13] around 17,000 BBY while the Republic was cutoff from the world by the tumultuous Alsakan Conflicts.[14] Though they abandoned their clandestine experiments, fearing legal action from the Republic, the Quermians resurfaced millennium later.[6]

The ancient capital Adascopolis served as the home of The Adasca BioMechanical Corporation of Arkania, a corporation with a controlling interest in the planet and run by the House of Adasca. At this point in Arkania's history, the Sith Empire enveloped the planet in their iron-clad grip and established a massive library called Veeshas Tuwan circa 6900 BBY. Drawing Sith Lords from across the Empire, the library grew over the centuries as scientists would draw upon dark side magics to conduct their experiments. As the structure became so cavernous that no one could find what they were looking for; still Lords would practice their dark arts in hidden chambers far from the control of the Republic or the Jedi Order. The growth of the great library came to a fiery end at the conclusion of the Great Hyperspace War however. Following the exile of Sith Lord Naga Sadow, the Jedi Order learned of the library's location and deemed it a threat to the stability of the Order and the Republic. Dispatched by the Jedi High Council, a team of several Jedi Masters descended upon Arkania and destroyed Veeshas Tuwan, wiping out the Sith population and returning power to the Arkanians.[4]

Old Sith Wars

Arca Jeth's praxeum on Arkania.

By the time of the Great Sith War, the world was inhabited by not only pure-blood Arkanians, but genetically-engineered offshoots. Inhabiting cities constructed over large stretches of frozen wastes, the pure-blooded Arkanians held great contempt for the offshoots and sent them into ghettos.[5] Despite the adversity faced by many offshoots, the Force-sensitive Arca Jeth, whose blood was mixed with the Sephi race, rose to great prominence in the Jedi Order and attained the rank of Jedi Master. As the High Council became concerned with the re-emergence of the Sith, Master Jeth was dispatched to his homeworld to ensure that it did not fall back into the hands of the Order's sworn enemies. Establishing a praxeum in the wilderness of the planet not far from a small city, Jeth cleansed the world of the remaining taint of the dark side and began training such famed Jedi as Ulic Qel-Droma, Cay Qel-Droma, and Tott Doneeta. Jeth fought in numerous campaigns ranging from the defeat of the Lorell Raiders, the Freedon Nadd Uprising and finally defending the Republic against the rise of the Krath cult.[3]

The Arkanian Revolution

Former Arkanian mining camp as of 3963 BBY

Following the Cold War Arkania remained deeply in the fold of the Republic, and despite the chaos and anarchy of the New Sith Wars, the planet did not return to the Sith thrall. As the Republic grew stronger, the Arkanian Dominion also grew in power on Arkania and experimentation expanded almost unfettered. Developing a reputation as a species made up entirely of mad scientists, Arkanian society was greatly threatened by the discovery of the experiments being conducted on the neighboring Yaka species. The culmination of the social outrage plaguing Arkania came to fruition in 50 BBY when a group of scientists known as the Arkanian Renegades attempted a coup against the Dominion in what came to be known as the Arkanian Revolution. Funded and supplied by Jabba the Hutt by smuggling weapons and ammunition from the planet Dreddon, these scientists designed cybernetic warriors to wage war against the Dominion and put an end to the lawlessness of the scientific engine on the planet. When the coup failed, a brutal civil war erupted on the planet and the Dominion was forced to call upon the Jedi Order for assistance in ending it. In response, the Jedi High Council dispatched Masters Mace Windu and Aqinos, the latter considered a rogue among the Order for the training of his so-called Iron Knights. Aided by the droid-Jedi, Master Windu was able to defeat the famed warrior Gorm the Dissolver in a savage duel. As the war ended, the Dominion remained in power and the Renegades were all executed leaving Jabba with a surplus of weapons. Gorm survived his duel with Windu and escaped execution, and the Jedi suffered minor losses. Returning to Coruscant, the Iron Knights were made High Marshals of the Republic by Supreme Chancellor Frix, while being excommunicated by the Jedi Order for their straying from the Jedi Code.[8]

Behind the scenes

The PC game Star Wars: Rebellion mistakenly places Arkania in the Glythe sector of the Mid Rim.

Appearances

Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The Essential Atlas
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Tales of the Jedi Companion
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 The Essential Guide to Alien Species
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Knights of the Old Republic 16
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Ultimate Alien Anthology
  7. ↑ Tales of the Jedi – The Freedon Nadd Uprising 2
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The New Essential Guide to Droids
  9. ↑ Tales of the Jedi 1
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons
  11. ↑ Brawl at Regional Dejarik Tournament — HoloNet News Vol. 531 #51 (content now obsolete; backup link)
  12. ↑ Arkanian Chill
  13. ↑ Alien Anthology
  14. ↑ The Essential Guide to Warfare
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