B'rknaa

"Like most rock-based creatures, this species from the moon Indobok can be particularly inscrutable since their microscopic structures are so different from midi-chlorian-infused organic cells."

- Jedi Master Bowspritz

The B'rknaa were a mineral-based sentient species native to Indobok, a moon orbiting the planet Kalarba in the Mid Rim region of the galaxy. In actuality, the moon was itself an enormous member of the species. The B'rknaa's true appearance was that of crystalline clusters, but their inner energy could induce "life" into inanimate matter. When they were deemed old enough to take up a host body, the B'rknaa crystals would animate huge stone husks in which they could move about. These sentients were considered unusual by Humans, and they were known to Jedi biologists for their resistance to Force abilities. The B'rknaa were also capable of merging together several stone bodies in order to form a much larger unit.

Despite their bulky appearance, the B'rknaa were usually friendly to strangers, with the notable exception of those who tried to steal their crystals. Compared to the civilized worlds of the Galactic community, their technology level was very low. The B'rknaa did not build any cities and wore no clothing at all, but they had developed a language of their own.

The B'rknaa of Indobok were known to the wider galactic community since at least the first millennium before the Battle of Yavin. They received a mention in The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force, a guidebook intended for use by members of the Jedi Order that was released in 990 BBY. Around 6 BBY, the protocol droid C-3PO encountered the B'rknaa when he briefly was abandoned on Indobok by Captain Jace Forno, who intended to steal their crystals so she could supply a black market. Thanks to the intervention of the Pitareeze family from Kalarba, Forno's henchmen were driven off, and her plan to start an illegal trade in sentient crystals was thwarted. Twenty years later, during the Great War, the B'rknaa were put in jeopardy when the Yuuzhan Vong, a species of extra-galactic invaders, destroyed Kalarba, distributing radioactive material across the system in the process.

Biology and appearance
"It's rather difficult to explain in Basic, but these crystals are the B'rknaa, or at least will be when they are old enough."

- C-3PO

The B'rknaa hailed from Indobok, a heavily cratered moon orbiting the planet Kalarba, near Hosk Station in the Mid Rim region. In their purest form, the B'rknaa appeared as blueish, irregularly faceted and roughly cylindrical crystals, which gathered in clusters on the surface of Indobok. Their crystalline nature made their biology similar to that of the Shards from Orax or the Tsil of Nam Chorios.

The B'rknaa prisms were able to channel vast amounts of complex energy; in fact, one large B'rknaa specimen was enough to handle all the systems power of a planetoid. For this reason, the non-B'rknaa who knew of the crystals considered them precious commodities. Jace Forno, a Human female from Corellia, once sold a single crystal for fifty thousand credits. Forno intended to steal as many clusters as she could and sell them on the open market in order to gain substantial income.

B'rknaa had the power to animate inert materials, which they then used as host bodies. When they were considered old enough, a B'rknaa took control of an enormous, bulky form made of rock&mdash;the only substance available in sufficient quantities on the moon. In fact, the moon of Indobok itself was a single, massive, adult B'rknaa. All other B'rknaa on its surface were its "offspring", in that all B'rknaa were controlled by one shared mind. Brown or grey, their bulky host shells appeared humanoid in shape, with two legs and two arms ending with four-fingered hands. Their legs were roughly shaped like pillars, and their feet were almost round. A typical B'rknaa body featured an ashen, expressionless face with a gaping mouth and two forward-facing, white eyes. Several units were able to join their bodies to form larger and more threatening beings. The stone beings from Indobok were also immune to every direct application of the Force thanks to their mineral-based structure and their hive mind. Scientists of the Jedi Order theorized that the Force itself allowed species to develop barriers that could redirect its flow.

Society and culture
"Yes. These charming creatures you see around us are actually quite gentle."

- C-3PO

On Indobok, the B'rknaa who took stone bodies led a simple lifestyle, considered archaic by galactic standards. They did not build cities or communal habitats, living in the open air and wore no clothing. Despite their brutish and frightening appearance, the B'rknaa usually were peaceful and welcoming. They only showed signs of aggression toward those who wanted to steal their precious crystals, which were not mere commodities, but were in fact their "younglings".

When they were considered old enough, the B'rknaa prisms were given a humanoid stone husk that was animated simply by putting the crystal cluster inside of it. While moving around in their stone shells, B'rknaa were capable of speech. Their language consisted of creaking and cracking sounds. Although it was possible, at least for a protocol droid, to learn the basics of the B'rknaa language in a few days, some of its concepts were difficult to translate in Galactic Basic Standard.

Like the Killiks the Taurill, and many other species, the B'rknaa didn't recognize individuality, due to their shared mind. Indeed, there was no word for I in their language. When a single stone giant spoke, it voiced the opinion of the whole species.

History
"I don't understand&hellip;Living stone? How is this possible?"

- Baron Pitareeze

The crystalline B'rknaa and their rock bodies were known to the Jedi Order by at least 1,000 BBY. The Jedi noted that the B'rknaa were difficult to affect with mind-based Force powers, and the rock beings were resistant to all direct applications of the Force. Following the Ruusan Reformation, the Jenet Grand Master of the Order, Fae Coven, created The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force. In this guidebook, the Tynnan biologist Bowspritz mentioned the B'rknaa in a chapter entitled "Advanced Cultures and Politics in the Republic", listing them among other species resistant to the Force.

Outside scientific circles, the stone giants of Indobok remained largely unknown. Even the Pitareeze, a Human family from Kalarba, did not know of the species before they encountered mobile B'rknaa in 6 BBY. That year, the Corellian thief Jace Forno intended to visit Indobok and steal a bag of crystals. Forno rented two droids from the Pitareezes&mdash;the protocol droid C-3PO and the astromech droid R2-D2&mdash;so they could accompany her to the cratered moon. The Corellian pirate ordered the droids to find crystal clusters and take as many as they could while she would take care of the "locals". C-3PO successfuly stole a single large crystal, but Forno and the droids were attacked by several B'rknaa in stone form. The party then ran to their starship for safety, but C-3PO could not make it in time because his joints had frozen. Forno abandoned the gold-colored protocol droid on Indobok, intending to come back later with more men and weapons.

While abandoned on the moon, C-3PO came to know the B'rknaa, discovering their gentle nature and the truth about the sentient crystals. Eventually, the Baron Pitareeze, headed for Indobok, along with his son Jarth, her daughter-in-law Meg and his grandson Nak, to rescue C-3PO. Much to their amazement, the Kalarbans made their first contact with the B'rknaa. The Baron first reacted with disbelief when he discovered the stone sentients, but his grandson reminded him of the existence of the stone eels of Storthus&mdash;a better known example of mineral lifeforms. C-3PO then spoke of how he had become familiar with the mineral sentients. Through the golden droid, the Humans befriended the B'rknaa and spent the night on the moon. Suddenly, Jace Forno and her minions landed on Indobok, ready to do battle against the stone giants. The B'rknaa put up a valiant defense with the help of their new Pitareeze allies. The stone giants fought their enemies with their fists, eventually merging together into a single, colossal entity. The united B'rknaa shattered one of Forno's armed vehicle on the ground. The Corellian thief's henchmen were no match for the mineral titan, and they beat a hasty retreat. The precious B'rknaa crystals were thus restored to safety.

Nearly twenty years later, in 26 ABY, the B'rknaa were endangered by the Yuuzhan Vong, a species of technophobic invaders from another galaxy. In the assault against Kalarba and its moon, the Vong used the Yo'gand's Core, a battle tactic they had employed earlier on the moon of Sernpidal. Hosk Station, Kalarba's other moon, was drawn in, and both the planet and its station were destroyed in the process. A consequence of the impact, radioactive material was spread across the whole Kalarba system, rendering it uninhabitable for centuries.

Behind the scenes
"P. 86: Here's a quick overview of the galaxy's most important species circa 1000 BBY. I like the stylized portraits, particularly the Squib, which were done by Derek Thompson."

- Daniel Wallace

The B'rknaa first appeared in July 1994, in the fourth issue of the Star Wars Droids: The Kalarba Adventures comic book series. The story was written by Dan Thorsland and pencilled by Bill Hughes. As Indobok itself is a member of the species, the list of appearances below includes the works in which the moon was featured.

After a sixteen-year hiatus, the B'rknaa were mentioned in The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force, a reference book written by Daniel Wallace and published on September 28, 2010. The species had its own entry in a guide to important or unusual alien races, complete with a stylized illustration by Derek Thompson. In the book, B'rknaa were described as "rock-based creatures." This description apparently is talking about their mobile bodies, since the beings themselves are crystalline in nature. The words "rock" and "crystal" cannot be used interchangeably. A crystal is a pure mineral, meaning it has an exact chemical composition, while a rock is an aggregate of two or more minerals.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Droids Special
 * Star Wars Droids: The Kalarba Adventures 4
 * Star Wars Droids: Rebellion 1
 * Star Wars Droids: Rebellion 2