Manaan/Legends

"Manaan's an unusual place. Not for its water, mind you... it's the kolto. Healing juice. Only place where it occurs in the galaxy."

- Jolee Bindo

Manaan was an aquatic planet in the Pyrshak system. It was home to the Selkath, an amphibious species with intersting facial figures, similar to that of a sting ray. It was completely covered in water and was the only known source of the healing liquid, kolto. Kolto was so important to the galaxy, that the Selkath were able to use it to enforce their neutrality policy. The only above-surface settlement on Manaan was the floating city of Ahto. During the Jedi Civil War, both the Sith and the Republic attempted to get an upper hand in the war by creating secret deals that would give them more kolto. In the end, the Selkath banned the Sith from Manaan for trying to overthrow the government. When kolto was replaced in favor of bacta, the Republic abandoned Manaan, and the Selkath left Ahto City for their ancient cities in the depths of their oceans. Manaan did not have contact with the galaxy until the Selkath were enslaved by the Empire. The Order of Shasa later overthrew their Imperial masters, and Manaan joined the New Republic in 9 ABY.

Geography
The lunar pull of Manaan's two moons constantly ensured that the entire surface was covered with water. Ahto City was the only surface city and spaceport. Since it was the only settlement accessible to off-worlders, the only way to the true surface of the planet was in a submersible kept in Ahto City.

Canyons lined the ocean floor, and atop the canyons lay long rifts that were lined with numerous deposits of kolto. One of these rifts, the Hrakert Rift, was home to a giant firaxan shark known as the Progenitor. The Progenitor was the guardian of an ancient Star Map on the ocean floor, a relic of the Infinite Empire. The dark side energies emitted from the Star Map contributed to the Progenitor's tremendous size. The Progenitor was also somehow connected with the flow of kolto. It in turn fed on the kolto, further increasing the creature's size. It's offspring, the firaxan sharks, protected their mother and inhabited the rift, attacking anything that attempted to endanger the reef.

Deep undersea caverns served as homes to the native aquatic species, and the sentient Selkath built their cities, deep-sea pods, far beneath the surface. The closest pod to Ahto City was the Umber Pod.

Manaan had one sun, and its skies were as blue as the oceans. The planet was home to at least a few avian species, flocks of which could usually be seen flying over Ahto City. The Selkath protected their oceans and their skies with as much integrity as anything they did. If the enviornment was harmed, the parties responsibles could be banned, imprisoned, or executed, if the crime was severe enough. Luckily, few dared to tamper with the ecosystem, and if they did, they would be met with the wrath of the Progenitor.

Infinite Empire
"All slaves were terminated upon the completion of the project."

- Ancient Droid on Dantooine

Manaan was once a prominent member of the Infinite Empire, thousands of years before the creation of the Republic. The Selkath were among many species enslaved by the Rakata, and their language was among several spoken by an ancient droid that Revan encountered many millennia later. The Selkath slaves were used to construct marvellous structures across the Empire.

When their empire began to collapse the Rakata abandoned the planet, leaving behind only an incomplete Star Map on the ocean floor. The Star Map held powerful Force energy which attracted the Progenitor. The energy radiated by the Star Map kept her alive for thousands of years and contributed to her immense size. She became a legend to the Selkath, who believed her to be not only the source of the kolto, but perhaps even the origin of their species. She also gave birth to many smaller firaxan sharks, who helped her to protect the rift and its hidden treasures. The Selkath that had been transported as slaves across the galaxy eventually returned to their homeworld where they began to rebuild their civilization.

Galactic Republic
"I believe that the Republic respects the laws of our people, unlike the Sith."

- Jhosa

By the time of the Jedi Civil War, Manaan had established itself as the sole provider of kolto in the galaxy. In order to serve the needs of non-Selkath visitors, the Selkath built the huge Ahto City. The city was so large, it could be seen from orbit. Kolto was in high demand during the war due to its powerful healing properties. In fact Manaan's entire economy evolved around its exportation. During the years prior to the Mandalorian Wars, Manaan's main client was the Galactic Republic, though Manaan itself was not a member of the Republic. Instead, Manaan adopted a state of neutrality. As the Jedi Civil War went underway, the Selkath established a series of laws to preserve their neutrality, sovereignty, and protection. Both the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire had to abide by these laws, or risk full kolto sanctions. If any faction decided to invade the planet, the Selkath threatened to destroy the kolto supply.



Despite the laws, both groups were constantly looking for ways to gain the advantage. A few of the Selkath recognized the potential consequences of a Sith victory and made a secret deal with the Republic, allowing them to build their own kolto harvesting base on the ocean floor. Unfortunately, the location chosen for the station was the Hrakert Rift, and the Progenitor was none too pleased by the invasion of her territory. Somehow she drove the Selkath in the base and the firaxen sharks outside the base insane, and they attacked and killed all of the other personnel. The operation was a disaster, and for some time the Republic Embassy didn't know what had happened.

When Revan arrived in Ahto City in search of the ancient Star Map, he was asked by Roland Wann to investigate the facility. In his exploration of the station Revan discovered that the kolto harvesters were what had disturbed the giant firaxa. He needed to get past the Progenitor if he planned to uncover the Star Map, so he weighed his options. He decided to destroy the harvesters, rather than risk tainting the kolto by trying to poison the creature. This plan worked and the Progenitor swam aside, allowing Revan to pass. The Republic lost its harvesters, but the kolto supply was safe and the Selkath commended Revan for his actions.

As the Jedi Civil War ended, Ahto City opened up to the galactic-wide movement to open refuge to those displaced by the war. With sporadic wars and conflict, the Selkath established the Order of Shasa, a Force-sensitive cult, to protect them from invasion. The Selkath were naturally strong in the Force, and many Selkath joined the Jedi Order. By a century after the Jedi Civil War, at least two Selkath had sat on the Jedi Council.

Manaan continued to extract kolto, but the supply mysteriously started to decline. As a result, the price of kolto skyroketed and the galaxy abandoned kolto and Manaan in favor of a new healing agent, bacta. Forced to lower their prices, the Selkath lost their greatest bargaining chip. The Selkath attempted to join the Galactic Republic at this time, but corruption and complex interests barred the aquatic world from entering the interstellar union. WIth no other options, Ahto City was abandoned the Selkath some time after the New Sith Wars, and they returned to their underwater cities beneath the surface. Due to Manaan's isolation, the Selkath began to grow primitive, warring with rival cities.

Galactic Empire
When the Galactic Empire was formed, Emperor Palpatine remembered Manaan, and sent an assualt force conquer the planet. The assualt force comprised of thousands of aquatic assault stormtroopers, two star destroyers came down to Manaan's surface. Many Selkath were frightened by the massive force and surrendered themselves. Just to be on the "safe" side, the Imperial forces released a huge deposit of orbital depth charges, which destroyed numerous undersea cities forcing the Selkath to the surface. Once in Ahto City, the Empire enslaved the Selkath, and crushed any hope of resistance.

It was rumored that Palpatine had a host of Selkath slaves in his household on Coruscant. The Empire built a huge luxury resort in Ahto City and the Selkath were made servants to serve the rich human guests. The kolto was harshly exploited by the Empire, and when the Empire withdrew, most of the kolto had been devoured by the Imperial Army. Industrial pollution also tainted Manaan's blue skies and clear waters. Finally, the Order of Shasa could not hide any longer. The Order was secretly manipulated by Darth Vader and under his guidance, overthrew the Empire's forces. In return for his help, Vader commanded the Shasans to swear loyalty to him and Palpatine. Vader instructed several Selkath in the ways of the dark side of the Force.

Manaan was eventually captured in 5 ABY by Admiral Ackbar. With the crash of the kolto market, the Selkath worked hard to reestablish themselves in the galactic arena. The Selkath voted to join the New Republic in 9 ABY, and Mon Mothma willingly accepted their application.

Fauna
"The Progenitor?! The mother of our species!"

- Kota memeber of the Ahto High Court

Manaan, being an oceanic planet, hosted numerous aquatic species in its vast seas. The Selkath were originally aquatic beings, having lived in the oceans in their earlier, prehistoric eras. As the Selkath developed and evolved the ability to live outside of water, various other species prospered in the depths of the Manaan oceans. The firaxan shark became the prominent species, though several other aquatic animals and plants could be found within the ocean. The Progenitor seems to be the basis of life on Manaan, being the "mother" of evolution on Manaan. The Selkath believe the Progenitor to be the mother of their species and regard her with much respect, not only for being the protecter of their kolto, but for guarding the ecosystem as well. If this is true, then the Selkath are also related to the Firaxan sharks. This is further supported by the fact that when the Progenitor screamed, it drove both the firaxan sharks and the Selkath insane.

Culture
"The swoop racing here has been falling apart, ever since the Sith bombed Taris."

- Human traveller

Ever since recorded history began on Manaan, the Selkath were known to be pacifists, refusing to condone violence of any sort. This resulted in the birth of their long-lived and brutally enforced, neutrality policy. Their settlements were protected by Mark IV Assault droids. The Ahto City Civil Authority, ruled the planet, and employed War-droids to enforce their laws. Competition, however, was not eliminated. The Selkath enjoyed swoop racing and various aquatic sports. Swoop racing was conducted in the large, open center of the city, that was filled with water.

Government
"If you have any further grievances, please do not hesitate to report them to us."

- Shelkar, Chief Justice of the Ahto High Court

Manaan was governed by the Ahto City Civil Authority. At the time of the Jedi Civil War, the Ahto City Civil Authority was controlled by the Ahto High Court, which consisted of twelve justices (five chief justices, five associate justices, and two alternate justices). Shelkar was the presiding chief justice at the time, and as such, had a large proportion of control over Manaan. This made him the defacto leader of Manaan; very important if one considers his alleged alliance with the Republic. The Auto High Court tried to remain impartial to all cases that came their way. They issued orders to the Ahto City Civil Authority, and kept the peace on Manaan. Disturbing the peace or commiting acts of violence, usually rendered someone imprisoned, or executed. The Ahto High Court banished the Sith off Manaan, for kidnapping Selkath youth, and training them to overthrow the government. This left the Republic with an upper hand for the small remainder of the war. After Manaan became isolated, it possessed no centralized government.

Behind the scenes
The name "Manaan" may have been derived from "Manannán mac Lir", the god of the sea in Irish and Manx mythology.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
 * Star Wars: Empire at War