View source for Cult of The One and The All

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[[File:Exultation-ERC.jpg|thumb|300px|Han Solo observes the cult on Ylesia.]]
The '''Cult of the One and the All''' was a gigantic scam designed by the [[Besadii/Legends|Besadii]] [[Hutt/Legends|Hutts]] during the [[Time/Legends|time]] of the [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Empire]].

==History==
===Background===
This idea, born in the mind of [[Aruk Besadii Aora|Aruk]] the [[Hutt/Legends|Hutt]], was to build a religious retreat on the [[Planet/Legends|planet]] of [[Ylesia/Legends|Ylesia]], to which he would draw thousands of [[Humanoid/Legends|humanoid]] pilgrims suffering under [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Imperial]] rule and yearning for a better life. Once there, the pilgrims were forced to prepare [[Spice/Legends|spice]] for the rest of their lives, supposedly to improve themselves through hard work. The spice was then exported by [[Besadii/Legends|Besadii]] throughout the [[The galaxy/Legends|galaxy]], and accounted for most of the [[Kajidic/Legends|kajidic's]] income in the [[Standard year/Legends|years]] leading up to the [[Battle of Yavin/Legends|Battle of Yavin]]. Pilgrims could also be sold into [[Slavery/Legends|slavery]], especially to the Galactic Empire.

The centerpiece of the religion was a phenomenon known as [[Exultation]]. This was originally a biological feature used by [[Gender/Legends|male]] [[t'landa Til]]&mdash;a [[Sentience/Legends|sentient]] [[Species/Legends|species]] distantly related to the Hutts and which lived on the same homeworld&mdash;to attract females as a mating ritual. However, Aruk discovered that many humanoids were extremely sensitive to this as well, reacting to it as to a narcotic. Realizing the full potential of the Exultation, he sent a number of t'landa Til throughout the galaxy as "missionaries"; they would then reveal the power of Exultation as a "divine gift," and invite people to come to Ylesia as "pilgrims." Thousands of humanoids were duped and drawn into voluntary slavery in the spice [[Mining/Legends|mines]].

The exact teachings of the religion are unclear, vaguely referencing "the One and the All," perhaps referring to the spiritual unity of the galaxy. However, the beliefs matter little; by Aruk's own admission, all he did was "make up some doctrine, compose a few hymns, write up several chants and litanies" and combine them with the Exultation to give it the appearance of a legitimate religion.

===A sticky end===
The scam of Ylesia was first discovered by [[Han Solo/Legends|Han Solo]] in [[10 BBY/Legends|10 BBY]], when he briefly worked as a [[Pilot/Legends|pilot]] for the t'landa Til. Believing him to be a strong individual, above petty concerns for the welfare of the pilgrims, high [[Priest/Legends|priest]] [[Teroenza]] revealed the big lie to his new pilot himself, bragging about his brilliance and mocking the stupidity of his congregations. Solo, however, was horrified, especially since he had developed a romantic attraction to one of the pilgrims, a fellow [[Corellian/Legends|Corellian]] named [[Bria Tharen]]; he revealed the truth to Tharen and the two of them escaped Ylesia, stealing Teroenza's [[Yacht/Legends|yacht]] and his antiquities collection and killing [[Zavval]] the Hutt&mdash;Aruk's envoy&mdash;in the process.

Though it took her years to overcome the addictive effects of Exultation, Tharen was determined to do so, and just as determined to see the Ylesian spice operation shut down for good. Starting in [[5 BBY/Legends|5 BBY]], Bria Tharen, now a commander in the [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Rebel Alliance]], directed several [[Raid on Colony Three|operations]] against Besadii slave shipments, [[Capture of the Helot's Shackle|freeing]] a number of "pilgrims" and taking them to rehabilitation centers. Then, in [[0 BBY/Legends|0 BBY]], she led a Rebel commando [[Battle of Ylesia|strike]]&mdash;flown in by Han and other [[Smuggler/Legends|smugglers]], and financed in part by the [[Desilijic/Legends|Desilijic]] kajidic, Besadii's bitter rivals&mdash;to Ylesia, [[Death/Legends|killing]] the t'landa Til priests and destroying the entire operation.

==Appearances==
*''[[The Paradise Snare]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[The Hutt Gambit]]''
*''[[Rebel Dawn]]''

==Sources==
*[[The Essential Chronology (real-world book)|''The Essential Chronology'']]
*''[[The New Essential Chronology]]''
*''[[Lords of Nal Hutta]]''

[[Category:Hutt culture]]
[[Category:Religions]]