B'omarr Order/Legends

"You have progressed rapidly on your spiritual path, Brother Fortuna. Prepare yourself for enlightenment."

- B'omarr Monk to Bib Fortuna

The B'omarr Order, also known as the B'omarr Monks, was a mysterious religious order that moved to the planet Tatooine around 700 BBY.

Practices and beliefs
The B'omarr centered their religion around isolating themselves from all feeling and emotion, so they could focus and enhance the power of their minds. They embarked on mental journeys that were impossible to comprehend while one was focused on the real world. The B'omarr cared little for personal comforts, and wore the simplest of garments; as a monk became closer and closer to enlightenment, he began to shed the use of speech, preferring to communicate either with single, solitary words or images, which the monks alone could fully understand. Other B'omarr were able to telepathically communicate, speaking directly into the subject's mind. Eventually, a monk would require none of his senses, at which point he was said to have achieved enlightenment. The Order originally consisted only of Humans, though in time it encompassed a great many species. The monks were also adept healers, and offered aid to any who stumbled upon any of their outposts on Tatooine.

There were several stages that marked the spiritual growth of a B'omarr monk; after each stage, a monk was given a test to check his knowledge of the subject. The tests varied, with some related to logic, others to knowledge of sacred texts and others to physical tasks, to test if a monk could use his mind to block out pain. Eventually, after many years of study and practicing distancing himself from reality, as well as successfully completing each stage's test, a monk would become enlightened; he had pure mental power, and was at peace with the cosmos. As enlightened monks no longer required their bodies, lesser monks would help them shed their body through surgical means. After their enlightened brain was carefully removed, the monks were transfered into a nutrient filled jar, freed from the distractions of life. The process of removing a monk's brain was very delicate, and the surgeons had to be extremely well trained and careful when performing the transplant. They made use of reliable anesthesia to ensure the process was painless, and through experience, as well as various forms of apparatuses developed over the centuries, the monks were able to keep the brain functioning and alive for long enough to transfer it into a nutrient jar. One small mistake and the brain was lost; they were usually discarded along with the lifeless body, before being eventually disposed of.

Occasionally, however, a monk's brain would be removed before he had truly achieved enlightenment. Assuming the operation went well, the monk would survive, though their were several side effects. The separation of the body and the brain could often induce psychosis, and the brain would then mentally scream, something they would usually do for days on end, without the need to pause for breath. Monks going through this transition were generally kept separately from the other disembodied monks, whom they usually disturbed. Eventually, in most cases, the brain would cease to scream, and could be returned to where the rest of the brains were located. Although incredibly rare, a brain could be transplanted back into a body, be it the monk's original body or that or someone or something else. However, the B'omarr had little technology to aid this procedure, so it was considerably more dangerous than the original process. For this reason, as well as the fact that the majority of monks were at peace when separated from their bodies, this was not widely practiced by the B'omarr.

After a successful operations, brains were transfered to the Great Room of the Enlightened, where they sat on shelves, meditating and pondering the infinite for millenia. The names of the enlightened ones were documented in the B'omarr Registry, which included some of their philosophical ideas, ponderings and musings. With their every need catered to by the embodied monks, the enlightened brains rarely had use for moving around the Palace, though the did have means to do when necessary: BT-16 perimeter droids. The BT-16 droids possessed only the simplest of processors and technology; their main function was the react to the enlightened monks telepathic messages. The droids would travel to the Great Room of the Enlightened at a monk's request, and transfer a monk's brain-jar into a brain support unit, which was at the center of four spindly black legs. The brain support unit allowed the monks to survive without being connected to the special equipment in the deepest parts of the monastery, though they were initially difficult to use, and most monks preferred not to. Towards the time of the Galactic Civil War, embodied monks began to experiment with the walkers, resulting in several of the newer models bearing five or six legs, as opposed to the traditional four.

The B'omarr acolytes rarely congregated and spoke to each other, though they occasionally gathered in tea rooms, where they consumed their only form of nourishment whatsoever&mdash;potent teas made from strong herbs. These meetings rarely lasted long, and the monks soon left to further their studies and understanding of the mind. Although part of the teaching of the B'omarr stated that possessions and comforts were unnecessary distractions, many monks veered from the Order's way, accepting bribes to spy on the palace's criminal occupants. During Jabba Desilijic Tiure's time in their monastery, many B'omarr acted as spies, while some were even on the pay-roll of his greatest rival, Lady Valarian.

History
The details surrounding the founding of the B'omarr were largely unknown, though their practices did change throughout the centuries. They had sought a world where they would be met with little distraction from any settlers, eventually choosing the desert world of Tatooine in Outer Rim Territories to build a monastery. Tatooine was inhabited by none by primitive salvagers, and was forgotten by the records of the Galactic Republic. The leaders of the order relocated their followers to Tatooine, arriving in about half a dozen cargo ships, which were the basis for the colossal structure they built in the planet's Dune Sea. Their structure slowly adapted to the planet's climate; the monks built a roof after the first windstorm since they arrived on Tatooine, while the building was enclosed after their first encounter with the Tusken Raiders. Many rumors surrounded the citadel; it was even said that the monks recieved help from the Tusken Radiers when building it, though these were simply unproved legends.

The B'omarr kept to themselves for the next few centuries, though civilization began to grow on Tatooine, with several small towns being established. Eventually, the Palace became a haven for a small number of bandits and criminals, who used it as both a hideout and a shelter in the middle of the barren desert. The monks were happy to accommodated the bandits, though ensured the deepest parts of the citadel were reserved for housing the brains of the enlightened monks. Around one hundred and fifty years after they moved to Tatooine, the period of B'omarr isolation ended. A well-known pirate named Alkhara, who had incurred the wrath of both the local Tusken population and the Human authorities, and sought refuge in the B'omarr's monastery. Alkara and his followers were welcomed with open arms by the monks, and quickly made the building their base of operations.



Eventually, a Hutt crimelord named Jabba Desilijic Tiure came into possession of the B'omarr's temple, bringing with him a motley crew of gamblers, bounty hunters and other criminally active individuals. The B'omarr were un-fazed at this development, and continued to live out their lives as before. The presence of Jabba and his henchmen, however, would make the B'omarr far more involved with the other occupants of their monastery. While many feared the eerie spider droids and gave them a wide berth, some of Jabba's men took an interest in the B'omarr, and learned and took advice fro both the embodied and the disembodied monks who frequented the palace.

Yet although many sought to learn more from the B'omarr, others saw the potential for exploitation, and hired many of the B'omarr as spies. Jabba's period on Tatooine saw many monks abandon their principles and engage in unsavory activities. Some worked for Jabba himself, such as the corrupt monk named Grimpen, who transfered wanted criminal's brains into other bodies, usually unsuspecting monks or any of Jabba's captives. Jabba also forced the monks to remove the brains of those who had failed him; they wandered the corridors of the palace aimlessly for years after. The majority of monks who found themselves working with the palace's criminally minded occupants acted as spies or informants; Jabba's main rival, the Whiphid Lady Valarian, had at least one B'omarr spy stationed in the Palace, while others acted as informants for Ephant Mon and Bib Fortuna, two of the most prominent members in the Hutt's court.

Much of the information on the B'omarr available to the galaxy at large was compiled by Shi'ido Senior Anthropologist Mammon Hoole during Jabba's stay in the B'omarr's domain. On his first visit to the palace, Hoole mingled and interacted with the monks, learning of their beliefs and customs. Hoole, however, left the monks when they offered to guide him to enlightenment. On his second visit studying the monks, Hoole brought his two surrogate children, Tash and Zak Arranda. Jabba had Hoole translate an ancient book he had taken from the B'omarr monks, though the visit to the palace was far more eventful than Hoole's first. Tash Arranda's brain was swapped with a criminal's by a corrupt monk, though it was eventually restored to her body, and Hoole managed to escape with his two surrogate children.

Occasionally, Jabba interacted with the monks, allowing them access to prisoners they dubbed "interesting." One such event occurred when Han Solo was imprisoned following his release from carbonite, and he consented to tell his story to a young monk there.

In 4 ABY, Jabba Desilijic Tiure was killed by Princess Leia Organa aboard his Sail barge above the Pit of Carkoon, with most of his henchmen dieing in the destruction of the Khetanna. Many of Jabba's former allies scrambling to pick up the pieces of the Hutt's criminal empire and claim it for themselves; the B'omarr took this oppurtunity to emerge from the shadows of their monastery, recruiting many new members by force, and killing those that resisted. Among the new "initiates" was Bib Fortuna, Jabba's former majordomo. The B'omarr remained in the Palace, and although several attempts to make use of the vast building were made, the monks remained mostly in solace for many years.

The B'omarr Monastery


The palace which was later known as Jabba's Palace was built by the B'omarr approxametly seven hundred years before the Battle of Yavin. Located in the Dune Sea, the Palace was originally simple construction made out of the chassis of several freighters, though after attacks by the vicious natives, the monks decided to build a more secure place for their studies. They built a huge round palace, which stood for several centuries, with many types of criminals and bandits occupying it, though the B'omarr always remained, lurking in the deepest and darkest portions of the citadel. Whenever a new band of mercenaries took over the Monastery, they added to the complex building, constructing an observation tower, sewerage systems and even a series of subterranean tunnels. Eventually, the Palace came into the possession of Jabba the Hutt, who had his main architect tweak it to suit his needs.

Jabba had his architect, Derren Flet, make many adjustments, though he was ultimately unhappy with the lack of prison space, and had Flet killed. The Hutt gangster had had a vast hangar and garage&mdash;used to house his many pleasure yachts and sail barges&mdash;beside the original palace, as well as stables used to keep his many vicious pets, which included the fearsome rancor. Jabba also installed a vigorous security system, and could locate any potential visitors from up to ten kilometers away. The hub of the Palace during Jabba's time was his massive throne room, which housed his accountants, assassins, bounty hunters and various other unsavory individuals.

After Jabba's death, the palace was turned into the Tatooine Retirement Home for Aged Aliens, though a shortage of government funds allowed the B'omarr to remain alone in the Palace once again. Jabba's father Zorba became the owner, though it is unknown if he ever utilized the Palace.

Other locations
The B'omarr had several other places of worship on Tatooine, though none were as famous or well used as Jabba's Palace. The B'omarr outpost was situated very near to Jabba's Palace, and was the home of the Most Perfect Order of K'vin. Another location was the Citadel of B'omarr; similar in design to the B'omarr Monastery, the Citadel was the home of both embodied and enlightened monks. The citadel was also an outpost for those needing medical attention, who would always be treated by the embodied B'omarr healers. The healers made no distinction between patients who had been injured in the line of illegal activities and those who were not, offering their help and expertise to all who sought it. Although the connection between it and the monastery is unknown, the B'omarr Flats were a large expanse of land, located near the Great Mesra Plateau. The Great Pit of Carkoon was located in the flats.

Notable members
Evilo Nailati was a B'omarr monk who had had his brain removed some time before or during the reign of the Galactic Empire. He was extremely different to most other members of the B'omarr, in that he did not seek abstract concepts such as "truth" and "enlightenment," but rather, he longed to amass as much knowledge as possible. Knowing his efforts would not last long in his original body, he joined the monks, eventually being deemed "enlightened" by the senior monks. After then, he took a Frog-Dog named Buboicullaar as an underling of sorts, teaching him of the galaxy. Bubo's species were thought brutish and unintelligent, though in truth they were capable of extraordinary intellect, though they kept it a secret. For years before he winded up on Tatooine, Bubo was a spy and assassin, and was eventually part of a plot on Jabba's life. He took an interest in the B'omarr, and after the Hutt's death, willingly allowed them to transfer his brain into a jar.

Sai'da was a keen B'omarr historian, with a particular interest for information from the outside world. This isolated him from the other monks, who felt that his time would be better spent contemplating the infinite. Nevertheless, he continued studying as a historian, and became very knowledgable in the Galactic Civil War. When one of the most prominent players in that war, Han Solo, found himself locked up in Jabba's dungeon, Sai'da could not resist the temptation to speak with him. Sai'da acquired entry into Solo's cell; in return for the Rebel's lifestory, Sai'da would have to ensure that his companion, Leia Organa, was safe. He agreed, and left their meeting thinking of concepts like companionship, bravery and humor, which he offered little though previously.

Bib Fortuna was always interested by the B'omarr, and used them as informants during his time in Jabba's Palace. He was not ready to have his brain removed after his master's death, though the B'omarr monks did so regardless; Fortuna's brain screamed for days, though eventually he adjusted. Fortuna longed to escape, as did his friend and fellow B'omarr, Nat Secura. Nat had been sentenced to death by Jabba the Hutt; desperate to save his friend, Bib had the B'omarr remove Nat's brain. Eventually, Fortuna had his brain transplanted into the body of Firith Olan, and escaped the monastery.

Jabba's Quarren accountant Tessek had no interest in joining the B'omarr, though he was forced to when they recaptured their palace. Tessek was transfered to a brain walker, though he found that he had far more freedom in his new life. J'Quille was another of Jabba's henchmen that joined the Order, though he did so by his own choice. A former lover of Lady Valarian, J'Quille had been sent to Jabba's Palace to assassinate the Hutt, though he soon found himself without the means to do so. After Jabba's death, Valarian was furious at J'Quille, and promised him she would put a bounty on his head if he ever left Tatooine. Confined to a life of misery under Tatooine's hot suns, J'Quille opted to join the B'omarr, knowing he would not survive long if he attempted to flee Tatooine.

Appearances

 * Episode I: The Phantom Menace ½
 * Star Wars Republic: Outlander
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns
 * Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire
 * Star Wars Missions 5: The Hunt for Han Solo
 * Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
 * Galaxy of Fear: The Brain Spiders
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * Star Wars Journal: Hero for Hire
 * Tales from Jabba's Palace
 * The Jabba Tape
 * X-wing Rogue Squadron: Battleground: Tatooine
 * Darksaber

Notes and references
B'omarr-Mönche