Utapau/Legends

Utapau was a sinkhole world in the Utapau system of the Tarabba Sector in the Outer Rim Territories. Orbited by nine moons, Utapau was the adopted homeworld of the Pau'ans and the Utai, more commonly referred to collectively as Utapauns. These species lived in the many sinkholes, caused by erosion from an underground sea, that littered the planet's scrub-covered surface.

History


Utapau was a peaceful, arid world that attempted to remain neutral in times of galactic conflict. The sinkhole world was shared by two symbiotic near-human races whose ancestors settled the planet in 57,019 BBY. The languid, grey-skinned Pau'ans comprised only thirty percent of the planetary population, but served as the port masters, bureaucrats and patricians of the world. The stubby, humble Utai comprised the Utapaun labor class, maintaining the windmills of their sinkhole cities and serving as handlers for the native varactyl and dactillion dragonmounts.

Originally, the Pau'ans and the Utai lived separate lives; the former on the unremarkable surface, the Utai deep underground. However, thanks to the efforts of Utapaun nobles such as Timon Medon and the Fey family - in conjunction with a natural climate change - the two species were united. The Pau'ans moved underground, and added their own, unique touch to the Utai cities. The sinkhole communities soon became a mix of Pau'an and Utai architecture. One type of architecture was Ossic. These cities were built into the crevasses and rocky ledges that lined the edges of the sinkholes. In 50 BBY, offworld water-miners discovered supposed healing elements in the water of Utapau; the export of this water brought Utapau into the galactic community. The planet was headquarters of Buuper Torsckil Abbey Devices.

During the Clone Wars, Utapau remained neutral, but allegiance was forced upon the current Master of Port Administration, Tion Medon, when General Grievous and the Separatist Council took the world as their own, at the command of Darth Sidious. Grievous threatened to destroy Pau City should Tion attempt to call for help, though luckily, Jaing and Kom'rk located Grievous on the planet. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi landed in Pau City, and was greeted by Tion Medon, who secretly gave Kenobi the location of Grievous's hideout. With the help of Commander Cody's forces, including a detachment of the 501st, and local Utapaun warriors and pilots, Obi-Wan defeated Grievous and the droids.

Sadly, trouble on Utapau was not ended. The clone troopers, following Order 66 and the Declaration of the New Order, turned on Obi-Wan, forcing the Jedi Master to flee Utapau. The clone troopers then rounded up members of the resistance movement including Tion Medon and deported them to Byss, where they would be used as slaves in the "recolonization efforts". The fates of the Pau'ans and Utai are unknown though they may have been enslaved like many non-human species. The Empire established a secret storehouse on Utapau, holding artifacts such as the remains of Grievous' body and his starfighter.

Interestingly, certain texts speculate that Utapau may have been one of the birthplaces of the Jedi Order.

Behind the scenes
Utapau was the original name for Tatooine in the early drafts of Star Wars and the original name for Naboo in the early drafts of The Phantom Menace.

Appearances

 * Republic Commando: Triple Zero
 * Star Wars Battlefront II
 * Reversal of Fortune
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

External link

 * Utapau on Wikipedia