Tahv

"You told us about Tahv, your town&mdash;it sounds a good size."

- Yaru Korsin, to Adari Vaal

Tahv was the capital city of the Outer Rim world of Kesh. It was built around 5,000 BBY by the planet's native sentient species, the Keshiri; Tahv's walls originally served the purpose of keeping the Keshiri safe from the planet's many dangerous creatures. Shortly thereafter, during the Great Hyperspace War, a group of Sith were forced to crash-land on the planet in their starship, the Omen. The Lost Tribe of Sith, as the survivors of the accident became known, befriended the Keshiri, and helped them to drive away and domesticate Kesh's native beasts. Tahv then became a decorative city, focusing mainly on workings of art, often created by Sith artists using the Force.

The Lost Tribe of Sith quickly took command of Tahv and the planet's government, and often forced the native Keshiri to work for them. By 41 ABY, however, the class difference between the two groups had narrowed. By that time, the Tribe's ruling body, the Circle of Lords, held their council in the Circle Chambers in central Tahv. In 43 ABY, after Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker was revealed to the Tribe as a threat, they held an emergency meeting in the Chambers.

Description
The city of Tahv was located on the remote Outer Rim Territories world of Kesh. Tahv's walls were large, originally built for defense against the planet's many dangerous animals; however, they were later used more for display than protection. The city itself was decorated with various workings of art, created through the Force by Sith artists, including levitating fountains, trees sculpted and shaped by the Force, and glass sculptures.

The outer edges of the city, nearest the walls, were the home of the more impoverished inhabitants&mdash;mainly members of the indigenous Keshiri species. Toward the center of the city, the area known as the Circle, Tahv grew more appealing and luxurious. Within the Circle was the capitol building and the Circle Chambers, in which the Circle of Lords, the planet's governing body, convened.

History
The city was first built by the Keshiri people sometime before 5,000 BBY. The walls of the city served mainly as protection for its inhabitants from the many dangerous animals that roamed the planet. In 5,000 BBY, during the Great Hyperspace War, the Omen&mdash;a Sith starship carrying a shipment of Lignan crystals to Sith Lord Naga Sadow&mdash;was knocked off-course while attempting to execute a hyperspace jump, and it crash-landed on Kesh in the Takara Mountains. The survivors of the crash made contact with a Keshiri woman, Adari Vaal, who told them of the city of Tahv. The Keshiri believed the Sith to be their gods, the Skyborn, and befriended them. Shortly after the Sith arrival, it was decided by the councilor Izri Dazh, leader of the Neshtovar, the Keshiri uvak-riders; and the city's governing body, that all of the Keshiri in Tahv would be moved to humbler homes. That way, the "Skyborn" could live in luxury, and the Keshiri could serve them.

With the help of the Sith&mdash;who eventually reorganized themselves into the Lost Tribe of Sith&mdash;and their superior technology, the Keshiri were able to drive off and domesticate many of the planet's predatory creatures. With the threat of danger removed, the walls of Tahv became more decorative than functional, and the city itself became more focused on art and beauty, rather than protection and practicality. Sith artists began to influence the city, using the Force to shape trees and create impressive sculptures of glass formed from the planet's lavender sand. Windows, jewelry, domes, spires, and even weapons were fashioned with great care and sophistication. The Sith eventually formed three rival guilds that competed mercilessly for control of the craft of shaping sand into glass. It was not uncommon for such artisans to employ bodyguards to protect themselves from assassination attempts. The shikkar, a delicately crafted knife made from glass, was often used by the guilds to murder rival guild members. Meanwhile, the Keshiri became second-class citizens, and were even occasionally employed as servants and slaves of the Sith.

By 41 ABY, the class differences between the Keshiri and the Sith had begun to narrow, and several Keshiri held high positions in the Lost Tribe of Sith&mdash;at least one was a member of the Circle of Lords. In that year, Ship, a Sith Meditation Sphere, arrived on Kesh to assist in the training of the Tribe's Sith apprentices. It also helped the Tribe begin to form its own armada, with the intent of waging war on the galaxy. Two years later, Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker touched an Aing-Tii relic known as the Codex, causing his presence to be magnified and his name called through the Force to members of the Tribe. In response, the Tribe recalled their armada back to Kesh, and held an emergency meeting at the Circle Chambers in Tahv. It was during this meeting that Ship abruptly left Kesh, to follow the call Skywalker created through the Force.

Inhabitants
The city of Tahv was originally occupied only by the indigenous Keshiri people. When the Sith arrived on the planet, they discovered the Keshiri and allied themselves with the native species, and the population of Tahv grew to include these newcomers as well. The Sith quickly became dominant over the Keshiri; and, eventually taking control of the planet's government itself, they became the first-class citizens, with the native species dropping to a lower social status. By 41 ABY, however, the status differential had begun to close.

Circle
The Circle was an area of Tahv that lay in the center of the city. It was known for its many artistic landmarks, as well as being very luxurious. Far more appealing than the outer areas of the city, where the poorer inhabitants lived, the Circle was the home of the wealthier citizens. It was in the Circle that the capitol building stood, and the planet's seat of government, the Circle of Lords, ruled from the Circle Chambers there.

Capitol building
The capitol building was a large, glass-domed building located in the center of a cluster of buildings in the Circle. The capitol's interior was dim and cool; and it had stone floors as well as a fountain of water. The building was several stories high, and the Circle Chambers were located in the upper levels. They were accessible via several flights of winding stone stairs.

Circle Chambers
The Circle Chambers, made of glass, was located in the highest levels of the capitol building in Tahv. The ceiling of the hall was composed of a stained-glass dome. It was in this chamber that the Circle of Lords held council. The Lords were seated upon a raised dais, with the Grand Lord, who presided over the Circle of Lords' meetings, sitting on a throne made from metal and glass. Seated beside the throne were the High Lords, and beneath them were the Lords and masters.

Circle Eternal
The Circle Eternal was a plaza in Tahv where a council of Neshtovar&mdash;Keshiri uvak-riders, and the planet's governing body before the arrival of the Sith&mdash;held council. Located in the Circle Eternal was a tall column that served as a sundial. A meeting was being held in this plaza when the Omen crashed in the nearby mountains. A later meeting was held with the newly-arrived Sith, still believed to be the Skyborn, during which it was decided for a temple to be built in the Takara Mountains.

Behind the scenes
The city of Tahv was created by author Christie Golden for her first Star Wars novel, Omen, the second novel in the nine-part Fate of the Jedi series.

Appearances

 * Lost Tribe of the Sith: Skyborn
 * Omen