Rakghoul

Rakghouls were deformed mutants living in the Undercity of the Outer Rim world of Taris. Rakghouls travelled in packs of between four and eight charging towards anything that looked or smelt like food.

History
Long ago, the Sith Lord Karness Muur crafted a device known as the Muur Talisman to turn others into mindless thralls he could command. But it had no effect on Force-sensitives and many non-human species, so he engineered an infection to further control them. The Jedi Covenant theorized that the Talisman had a connection to the Rakghoul Plague. Muur intended for the rakghouls to be his army.

Rakghouls plagued the Outcasts&mdash;the inhabitants of the Undercity&mdash;with their bites, which transmitted rakghoul disease. Individuals infected with this disease would later transform into rakghouls themselves. After contact with a rakghoul infection with the disease was a rapid and painful experience. The victim was transformed into a rakghoul within 6 to 48 hours. Bodies would become twisted, skin pigmentation would drain and the victim would turn attain a whitened corpse-like state.

The rakghouls' true purpose would eventually come to fruition, when an excavation team of Mandalorians, lead by Pulsipher, located the Talisman in the Undercity and took it to Jebble to unlock its power. Unfortunately, the Talisman wrapped around his right arm, which in turn, spread the Rakghoul Plague throughout the base. But these rakghouls were different, they could tap into their learned skills to use weapons and vehicles. Fugitive Padawan Zayne Carrick was able to warn the approaching Mandalorian force prepared to make an attack on Alderaan. When the talisman left Pulsipher for a Force-sensitive master, they also changed their allegiance. Celeste Morne commanded them for a short time, but the effects of the talisman were lost when she willingly entered Dreypa's Oubliette. In the brief moment that they were left without a master, the Mandalorians began a nuclear bombardment, wiping them from the face of the planet.

Rakghoul Disease had been present on Taris for over a hundred years before the Jedi Civil War. By this time it was estimated that up to 60 million people had been infected.

Although no cure for the disease was available to civilians, Tarisian scientists were able to synthesize a serum shortly before the Sith occupation of the planet in 3,956 BBY.



However, once the occupation was underway, the Sith restricted access to the serum to the Sith troopers sent down to the Undercity sent to look for crashed escape pods. Revan later found a vial of the serum on the body of a dead trooper, and used it to heal several Outcasts infected with the rakghoul disease before giving it to Upper City doctor Zelka Forn. Forn was able to use this sample to produce a serum that he shipped to the Outcasts and sold at a low price to all Tarisians.

Unfortunately, Taris was subjected to an orbital bombardment by the Sith forces of Darth Malak shortly after this event, and the eventual effects of the serum on combating the disease, as well as the fates of the rakghouls and Outcasts, are unknown.

The rakghouls were eventually wiped out by an undisclosed time. Unfortunately, they were revived on Aridus. When Fane Peturri tricked Schurk-Heren, the captain of the Uhumele, into handing over Dreypa's Oubliette to Darth Vader, they were surprised to see a dormant Celeste Morne inside. After Vader unsealed it, looking for a new apprentice, a fierce duel begun between the Dark Lord and the Knight of the Old Republic. When the duel came to a halt, Peturri tried to run off, but was grabbed by Vader in the process, who figured out that this was another test from his master. Fane's special suit did not shield him from the effects of sith magic, so he transformed into a rakghoul and was cut off in the air, as he tried to attack the Sith Lord.

Moments after his death, a desperate Celeste Mourne made a choice and unleashed the power of the talisman, turning Vader's troopers into rakghouls and against him. Realizing he could't stand a chance, he fled the battle and returned to his transport, cutting his rakghoul-turned ship guards in the process.

Unfortunately, the sith magic's effects also affected the only human member of the Uhumele crew. In that short period, the captain made an inevitable decision and had to shoot her before she could turn against them.

Celeste Morne remained strandeed on the desolate world, with her mindlessly loyal band of rakghouls and the spirit of Karness Muur, hoping someone will one day rescue her

Types of rakghoul
There were different types of rakghoul.

Lower rakghoul
Lower rakghouls were the most common type of rakghoul, as the term was used with reference to the normal non-sentient type of rakghoul.

Rakghoul Fiends
There was no hierarchy as such among these creatures, but some rakghouls exhibited some kind of influence over normal rakghouls. These hardy and vicious beasts were known as rakghoul fiends. Fiends are generally thought to be Humans who were able to somehow maintain some of their former skills and features. Rakghoul fiends sometimes displayed some intelligence, as they would direct lower rakghouls to ambush or trap new victims. Some were even known to use weapons.

Muur Talisman Rakghouls
These "Mando-Raks", were created by the Muur Talisman and were first seen in a Force Vision by the Jedi Covenant. Many of the Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders on Jebble were turned into this kind of rakghoul when Pulsipher brought the Muur Talisman to the Mandalorian base.

More intelligent than the typical rakghoul, these rakghouls were apparently even able to pilot ships and use weapons. Apparently, once a Sentient had been in contact with the talisman after its activation, it left a red marking and the subject would mutate into a rakghoul more quickly than usual.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 3: Commencement, Part 3
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 22: Knights of Suffering, Part 1
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Vector
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars Dark Times 11: Vector, Part 5
 * Star Wars Dark Times 12: Vector, Part 6
 * Bloodlines
 * Star Wars Legacy 28: Vector, Part 9