Manaan/Legends

"Obey the laws here on Manaan, human."

- Security droid

Manaan was an aquatic planet that was home to the indigenous Selkath, and is perhaps famous for its greatest export: kolto.

Geographic features
Manaan was perhaps well known for being completely oceanic. The lunar pull of Manaan's two moons constantly ensured that the entire surface was covered with water. Under the seas, numerous deposits of kolto lined various rifts.

Fauna
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.

Culture
The Selkath, being the only sentient species on Manaan, quickly developed and created a vast floating city, named Ahto City. Ever since recorded history began on Manaan, the Selkath have been pacifists, refusing to condone violence of any sort. Competition, however, was not eliminated. The Selkath enjoyed swoop racing and various aquatic sports.

History
Manaan was once a prominent member of the Infinite Empire, thousands of years before the creation of the Galactic Republic. A Star Map located within the Hrakert Rift serves as a legacy of the Infinite Empire's reign on Manaan.

During the period of the Jedi Civil War, Manaan's economy revolved around kolto, a plant with natural healing properties. Galactic-wide shipping of kolto was centered in Ahto City, the only above-water settlement of the Selkath. 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. As the Jedi Civil War went underway, the Selkath established a series of neutrality laws to preserve their neutrality, sovereignty, and protection. Both the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire affirmed the neutrality laws, making violations by either side punishable by full kolto sanctions.

Late in the Jedi Civil War, Revan returned to Manaan to locate the Star Map. Revan's visit to Manaan would change the course of Selkath history. Not only did Revan establish himself as a swoop racing champion, but also as an arbiter of the Ahto City Civil Authority, an esteemed negotiator, and a cunning warrior.

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 use of kolto dwindled with the rise of bacta some time after the New Sith Wars. Forced to lower their prices, the Selkath lost their greatest bargaining chip. The Selkath attempted to join the Galactic Republic, but corruption and complex interests barred the aquatic world from entering the interstellar union.

With the rise of the Galactic Empire, conflict ensued in Ahto City. Thousands of aquatic assault stormtroopers, two star destroyers, and a mass of orbitally-dropepd depth charges destroyed numerous undersea villages and any hope of resistance.



The Imperial forces destroyed the Order of Shasa and instructed several Selkath in the ways of the dark side of the Force. The Selkath were declared a slave race, and it is even rumored that Emperor Palpatine had a host of Selkath slaves in his household on Coruscant. The Empire built a luxury resort on the world. The kolto was harshly exploited by the Empire, and when the Empire withdrew, most of the kolto had been devoured by the Imperial Army.

Manaan was eventually liberated by the New Republic 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.

It is unknown what became of Manaan during the Yuuzhan Vong War.

Government
Manaan is governed by the Ahto City Civil Authority. At the time of Revan, the Ahto City Civil Authority was controlled by the Selkath Court of Justice (also called 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.

During the New Republic era, the Selkath Court of Justice lost their influence to a high council of seven Selkath officers.

Appearances

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