Sharu/Legends

The Sharu were an ancient humanoid species that built the colossal plastic pyramids on the worlds of the Rafa system and the Mindharp of Sharu. The Mindharp was a strange object that constantly changed form as it shifted through dimensions. In ancient times, the Sharu had been threatened by a mysterious alien entity. To protect themselves, the Sharu had gone underground and hid their cities beneath the plastic pyramids. The Sharu created the Mindharp so that when another civilization was able to activate it, the species would know it was safe to come out. They also used crystalline life-orchards to temporarily drain their intelligence, becoming the primitive Toka, or "Broken People".

They were exploited by the Human colonists as slaves. In 4 BBY, Lando Calrissian discovered the Mindharp. Rafa IV's governor inadvertently activated the Mindharp and its subharmonic emanations started a reversal of the social order in the Rafa system. The Toka were restored into the legendary Sharu and the pyramids crumbled, with strange, new cities emerging. This also created an interdiction field which prevented hyperspace travel into and out of the system for weeks. Many of the Human settlements had also been destroyed, and the surviving settlers fled. Trade with the Rafa system also collapsed overnight.

However, this event brought countless scientists and researchers to the Rafa system. Calrissian was also considered a hero by many for his role in the event. Though the Sharu did prevent the scientist from doing their work, neither did they cooperate with what they perceived as "lesser sentients". As a result, little is known on Sharu history and technology. Even the Galactic Emperor Palpatine himself felt threatened enough by the species to install a permenant military garrison in the Rafa system. However, his forces did not make any military move against the Sharu. Later, the New Republic had a five-hundred member research team staffed by the Obroan Institute for Archaeology assigned to research the species.

Appearances

 * Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu