- "Look around you. Zakuul is poised to become the greatest civilization in the history of the galaxy. I have forged this empire to surmount all of my previous works. To span eternity."
- ―Valkorion, to the Outlander
Zakuul was a planet located in Wild Space that served as the capital planet of the Eternal Empire.
Description[]
Zakuul with its moons.
Zakuul was a world with a significant southern ocean[1] and swamps that cover the planet's surface such as the Endless Swamp, a semi-solid area filled with massive, overgrown trees.[2] Forests and fields were also present on the surface.[5][4] The planet had a unique connection to the Force being balanced between the light and dark sides of the Force, similar to Odessen.[11] Zakuul was home to an immigrated Human population[7] along with the native Iknayid creatures, but other animals were also present and even adapted to their environment such as the swamp rancor.[2] The planet possessed advanced technology with several cities spread throughout the world branching off from the Spire that were tall enough to breach the atmosphere.[1]
History[]
Ancient Iokath influence[]
The Endless Swamp
Located within Wild Space, Zakuul used to be a backwater planet that possessed almost no contact with the rest of the galaxy due to its remote position.[12] The early Zakuulans immigrated to the planet and settled there in swamps and bogs. They lived as a superstitious people in tribes led by three Force-sensitive leaders known as Matriarch, High Shaman and Champion.[13] In those early days, Zakuul was targeted by superweapon from Iokath, whose masters were conducting live weapon tests on unsuspecting planets across Wild Space.[14]
The arachnid Iknayid were native to Zakuul's swamps.
The primitive Zakuulans experienced contact with planet destroyer Zildrog and worshipped it a deity, believing him to be a mentor and guide to warriors who could gift unto them the Breath of the Dragon, a spiritual boon.[15] Many years later the Iokathi returned and unleashed six colossal droids - Izax, Scyva, Tyth, Aivela, Esne, and Nahut - on Zakuul, each one with potential to destroy civilizations. The casualties were countless, but Zakuulans avoided extinction, and the survivors would go on to worship the Six Gods as a pantheon, interpreting Izax and Scyva as patriarch and matriarch, and the rest as their children.[14] Zildrog eventually became conflated with Izax and was treated as another aspect of him.[15]
The legendary Gravestone became lost on Zakuul.
The fates of Zakuulans continued to be influenced by technology from the remote Iokath of whom none of them knew about. The massive Eternal Fleet sought the annihilation of all life in Wild Space.[16] Without opposition, it conquered almost every inhabited world within the region, including Zakuul,[17] before it was finally defeated by a mysterious vessel known as the Gravestone, a massive warship that countered the Eternal Fleet's might. Outfitted with specialized weapons designed to take out multiple targets at once, the Gravestone destroyed whole sections of the fleet with a single shot. The Eternal Fleet was finally defeated in a massive battle over Zakuul, after which was deactivated and hidden. The Gravestone was believed to be lost, but had in fact landed in the swamps of Zakuul by means and motive unknown.[18]
Valkorion, Champion of Zakuul
These collective events shaped Zakuulans into a nihilistic people who believed that the chief of their gods expressed his power through the pain and suffering of his followers. These beliefs, which later were called the Old Ways, stated that their fate was tied to the Old Gods and those who thought against this were branded as demons and exiled from society to the Endless Swamp alone as outcasts. But a prophecy was made that said that a Demon Savior would rise above the pantheon and slay Izax bringing about a new era.[12] In one tribe lived a great Champion called Valkorion, a warrior of ancient Zakuul. This was the state in which Vitiate found find the planet.[19]
Valkorion's rise[]
The Sith Pureblood Tenebrae possessed the human Valkorion.
Far away from Zakuul, in the galaxy that emerged from the Great Galactic War, the Sith Emperor Vitiate heard rumors of the Eternal Fleet[20] and of the Gravestone[18]. Seeking to recover both, Vitiate chose Zakuul as the world upon which he would build a new Eternal Empire.[20] Vitiate found Valkorion and took him as a new Voice.[21] The mind of Valkorion was completely suppressed,[22] and his identity was used by Vitiate to rule over Zakuul.[1] "Valkorion" claimed to be the very Demon Savior who would topple Izax the Ultimate Devourer and the rest of the Old Gods, and thus usher in a new age.[12] Sustained by Vitiate's immense power, Valkorion's body lived on for centuries, earning him the title of "Immortal Emperor."[1]
The Spire was powered by multiple Sun Generators.
Uniting the nomadic tribes of Zakuul, Valkorion declared himself the Emperor of a new Eternal Empire,[13] and established a city amid the swamps as he accelerated the Zakuulans' technological advancement. The city was not grand enough for Valkorion, and his rapidly growing civilization became based in the Spire, a golden metropolis that sprawled outwards from atop the Old World, as the first city became known.[23] Valkorion developed Zakuulan sociology and purpose for generations, allowing them to become people of science rather than of brutal warriors that they had been prior to his arrival,[24] while also phasing out the prominence of the Old Ways.[12] Valkorion repurposed the old tribal leadership roles into the Knights of Zakuul, an order of Force users who were considered protectors of the people and were fanatical in their devotion to their Immortal Emperor.[13]
The Eternal Fleet became the source of Zakuul's power.
A subgroup of the Knights, the Scions of Zakuul, specialized in seeing the future and were obsessed with the idea of fate.[25] Valkorion used this to his advantage, using the Scions' Force visions to locate the dormant Eternal Fleet.[20] To reactivate and control the fleet, he gathered Zakuul's greatest minds and set them to work building the Eternal Throne: a throne in the starscraper that topped the Spire whose technology gave the Immortal Emperor control over[26] the GEMINI units that operated the fleet.[20] The throne took generations to complete, finishing around two centuries after the Jedi Civil War.[26]
The Golden Age of the Eternal Empire[]
Spire cities tower above Zakuul's atmospere.
To finance his project, Valkorion secretly funneled wealth from his Sith Empire into Zakuul, uplifting its society from oppressive tribalism into a utopia for its citizens. After the Eternal Fleet was brought under Valkorion's control, the Empire expanded outwards and began conquering nearby worlds. Many planets were taken over by the nascent Eternal Empire expanding its influence to a sizable portion of Wild Space. An almost limitless amount of resources began entering into Zakuul, including credits and raw materials needed to expand it further and develop its military technology which in many aspects sas based off the Eternal Fleet.[24] Zakuulans were able to focus on higher learning and finer aspects of society, becoming a collective of scientists, artists and philosophers.[27] The Old Ways were no loger followed, but the Old Gods remained a permanent fixture of Zakuulan culture and speech.[12]
Zakuulans cheering and gambling on gladiators in the Old World.
Each citizen of Zakuul wanted for nothing, given a monthly stipend of credits that would make them among the elite class of any core world.[27] Food, shelter, clothing, and education were all provided by the grace of the Emperor.[28] Almost all menial labor was done by droids, for whom Zakuulans relied on for everything from large-scale construction and maintenance of the Spire to childcare and personal errands. The control over the droids was maintained through the central hub called the Overwatch.[29] Meanwhile, the Old World turned into a place where Zakuulans could live out their more darker fantasies of violence and various other suitable things that they craved before returning to the Spire.[30]
Valkorion's sons play in the fields on Zakuul.
During this time, a young Knight named Senya Tirall joined Valkorion's elite guard, at the time when the Immortal Emperor had begun to phase out Humans from the Eternal Empire military in favor of droids such as the new Skytroopers. Tirall spoke out against the change, catching Valkorion's attention. Her willingness to speak her mind earned her a permanent posting to Valkorion's elite guard, and the two began a secret affair two years later. They were happy for a time until Tirall bore twin sons, Arcann and Thexan. Valkorion grew increasingly distant and barely acknowledged the presence of his family for weeks at a time as he concentrated his power and focus elsewhere.[23]
Valkorion's daughter in a forest on Zakuul.
Tirall also gave birth to a daughter she named Vaylin, and the child inherited her father's immense power—she made furniture move while still in the womb, and tore apart droids as a toddler.[23] Though distracted, Valkorion had been paying some attention to his children, and the similarities between himself and his favorite child both pleased and frightened the Emperor.[31] Tirall was horrified when her daughter crippled a guard after dropping a ball she had tossed, and went to Valkorion for help. Valkorion's "solution" was to send Vaylin away to Nathema to install mental blocks that separated Vaylin from most of her powers and suppressed her violent and sociopathic tendencies, but also damaged her personality.[23]
Senya Tirall was forced to leave her children with Valkorion.
Tirall attempted to flee with her children, but they rejected her concerns and scorned her affections, so a broken-hearted Tirall returned to service in the enforcement division of the Knights on the outer fringes of the Empire, never to speak with Valkorion again.[23] In her absence, Valkorion remained emotionally distant from his children, teaching them his philosophy that one could achieve anything if they were willing to sacrifice, and changing their guards regularly to prevent them from becoming attached. Doing so reminded his children that while the Knights of Zakuul served his children, the Knights considered the three of them to be merely extensions of Valkorion's will.[32]
The Golden Age ends[]
Arcann and Thexan set out to test Zakuul's enemies.
The Eternal Empire remained hidden until around 3636 BBY,[33] when twin Princes Arcann and Thexan proposed a plan to test the capabilities of the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire in combat. Valkorion agreed but held back the Eternal Fleet,[34] and his sons fought on many worlds before finally striking at Korriban where Arcann was grievously wounded and had been fitted with a replacement cybernetic arm and eye.[5]
Valkorion receives his sons with silence.
The princes returned to Zakuul to present the lightsabers of fallen Jedi and Sith as trophies from the battle to their father, but Valkorion merely turned his back on them in silence. This infuriated Arcann, and overcome by the dark side of the Force he attempted to attack the Emperor, but Thexan pulled his brother back. Arcann turned his attention to his brother and lashed out at him, but their brief duel ended when Thexan was struck down by his brother with a cut across the stomach, killing him.[5] Thexan's death was covered up, and a funeral was held saying that he was killed while fighting in the Core Worlds.[11]
Valkorion receives Darth Marr, his former subject.
The task force of the Sith Dark Council member Darth Marr breached the borders of the Eternal Empire, and Valkorion sent the Eternal Fleet to openly face the galactic powers for the first time. The task force was destroyed, while Darth Marr and his ally, called the Outlander by Zakuulans, were captured by Prince Arcann and taken to Zakuul before the Immortal Emperor. Darth Marr immediately recognized him as just another host body of Sith Emperor Vitiate, who in turn bluntly stated that the fate of galactic Core Worlds and people on them did not concern him.[1]
Arcann used the Outlander to seize the throne from his father.
Darth Marr was enraged by the indifference of his former Emperor and proceeded to attack him. Valkorion killed the Sith Lord with a powerful blast of concentrated lighting, at which point his daughter High Justice Vaylin ordered all Knights and Scions of Zakuul to clear the room. Arcann used Valkorion's preoccupation with the Outlander to once again attempt to strike his father down, and in the resulting confrontation Valkorion's physical body received a mortal wound,[1] while his spirit refused to surrender to mortality and entered the Outlander's body in search of a new host.[10] Arcann sensed that his father's spirit was still present inside a new host body and ordered the Outlander to be immediately frozen in carbonite.[1]
A New Power in the Galaxy[]
- "You're a long way from home."
"Zakuul is the center of the galaxy now. That makes it home." - ―The Outlander and Thea
As the new Emperor of Zakuul, Arcann became the most powerful figure in the galaxy.
Arcann immediately assumed the Eternal Throne and proclaimed himself the new Eternal Emperor. He claimed that the Outlander had assassinated Valkorion for seeking to destroy Zakuul society and promised revenge on the Core Worlds,[1] launching a full-scale conquest in retaliation. His war was swift and brutal, and within a year Republic Senate had sued for peace, while the Minister of Logistics did the same for the Sith Empire.[2] Both sides sent emissaries to Zakuul, where they were brought before Arcann.[36] The Emperor agreed to a ceasefire, provided that the Republic and the Empire pay heavy tribute to Zakuul and submit to armament restrictions.[2] Between the tribute and resources from the conquered worlds, Zakuul acquired the greatest riches in the entire galaxy.[24]
The massacre of Scions caused Senya Tirall to turn against her children.
Not long after his coronation, Arcann ordered the Knights of Zakuul to wipe out the Scions of Zakuul whom he detested for believing in prophecies and pre-ordained order of things.[37] A number of Scions, led by Heskal, managed to survive and escaped into hiding.[38] This formed the first cracks in the foundation of the Eternal Empire, creating a rift among the previously loyal Knights of Zakuul,[39] some of whom began working with the enemies of the regime, including even Arcann's own mother Senya.[23]
As the High Justice, Vaylin hunted her brother's enemies.
A resistance movement formed around them, but was tightly monitored by High Justice Vaylin.[39] The prominent figures who spoke against Arcann, such as the holostar Malita Tal, were exiled off-world,[40] while more common people fled into the Endless Swamp to escape the persecution.[6] Arcann also made a deal with Heralds of Zildrog, cultists who believed that Zildrog's second coming was imminent and were considered heretical by mainline Zakuulans. Arcann gave the Heralds jurisdiction over keeping the peace in the Old World of Zakuul, excluding the area from the jurisdiction of the Knights of Zakuul who usually handled the law enforcement.[15]
SCORPIO operated on Zakuul as "the Lady of Sorrows".
Zakuul had become the new seat of power in the galaxy,[36] and many foreigners flocked to it from across the galaxy.[23] SCORPIO, another creation of the masters of Iokath with no memory of her origin,[16] arrived to Zakuul seeking its technology in pursuit of self-evolution. She became an information broker known as "the Lady of Sorrows", communicating primarily through proxies and was never apprehended by Zakuul authorities. Notorious for murder and theft of state secrets among other things, "the Lady of Sorrows" became a big player in Zakuulan underworld, making a truce with the Heralds of Zildrog.[23]
Zakuulans knew the anarchist Kaliyo Djannis as "Firebrand".
In 3632 BBY the anarchist Kaliyo Djannis arrived on Zakuul and began bombing civilian and military targets. Djannis sought to ruin Zakuulan's "perfect society", but for many Zakuulans, sheltered from dangers their entire life, those acts of destruction were less of a terrorism and more a source of thrills, which led Kaliyo to attract a significant following among the locals. Calling themselves Flamechasers, Kaliyo's idolizing fans called her "Firebrand" and kept up with her exploits, creating elements of art in her honor and trading gray-market holos taken at the bombing sites. No matter how much damage she caused, the droids that serviced the Spire always repaired the damage, and Kaliyo over time became disillusioned and lazy. Eventually the Overwatch administrator Tayvor Slen was able to convince Kaliyo to sell out and bomb only unmanned targets in exchange for providing her lodgings and protection from skytroopers. Kaliyo, depressed by her inability to truly shock Zakuulans, agreed and even started an affair with Tayvor.[9]
The Outlander[]
Vaylin discovers that the Outlander had escaped.
In 3631 BBY,[41] five years after assassination of Valkorion, Lana Beniko led a mission to rescue the Outlander from their carbonite prison. With her droid T7-O1, she infiltrated the Spire while her allies Koth Vortena and HK-55 waited in their escape shuttle. Beniko located the Outlander inside Arcann's personal vault and unfroze them, but they were attacked by skytroopers. Beniko escorted the Outlander to the extraction point, pursued by High Justice Vaylin. Attempting to cut off their escape route, Vaylin destabilized a Sun Generator, which threatened to overload and explode, taking many lives. The Outlander took a detour to disable it before it went critical, but they and Beniko were eventually cornered by Vailyn.[3]
Beniko's bodyguard droid HK-55 guards the entrance to the Gravestone.
Vortena's shuttle arrived and opened fire. Vaylin shielded herself with a piece of debris before throwing it at the shuttle and damaging it. The Outlander and Beniko got aboard, and the shuttle fled the scene[3] before crashing in the Endless Swamp. The Outlander and HK-55 discovered a large technological object which Vortena quickly identified it as the Gravestone, the legendary starship that single-handedly took down the Eternal Fleet. The team began repairing the Gravestone, and Beniko sent a message to Senya Tirall asking her to join them. The Outlander also came across dissidents hiding from Arcann's reprisal in the swamp and agreed to take them onboard. Meanwhile, Arcann determined that the shuttle could only have landed in the Endless Swamp, and ordered the skytroopers to sweep the region.[2] Arcann's forces soon located the Gravestone, which was attacked by Skytroopers and Knights of Zakuul.[42]
Lana Beniko and Senya Tirall raise Gravestone from the swamp.
Senya Tirall arrived to help Vortena and HK-55 finish off Zakuulan forces, but more reinforcements were on their way. Force-users worked together to raise the ancient starship from the swamp before everyone got onboard and the ship left the atmosphere. The Eternal Fleet appeared to intercept them, but the Outlander fired the Gravestone's omnicannon, destroying more than twenty Eternal Fleet warships in a single shot, and enabling the Gravestone to jump into hyperspace.[42] This was observed and noted by "the Lady of Sorrows" who wished to communicate with Gravestone ship computers, aware that they may rival her own. She relayed an invitation to the current crew of the Gravestone through T7-O1.[23]
Arcann branded the Outlander and his mother as dangerous fugitives.
The Outlander, Senya Tirall, and Koth Vortena soon returned to Zakuul in secret. Senya went to meet with her contact Reg at the Platform 6 cantina, even though the Knights were not welcome in the Old World. Reg pointed Senya and the Outlander to Mona Gale, just as a public broadcast from Arcann labeled them as dangerous fugitives. Gale didn't know how to contact the Lady, but suggested they go to the Heralds in Breaktown. The Outlander went to meet with the Exalted, who refused to cooperate but was interrupted by a holocall from Lady's aide Thea. Thea told that the Lady wished to meet the Outlander unharmed and invited everyone to the Razor. The Outlander finally met SCORPIO who agreed to accompany them, departing Zakuul alongside Koth and Senya.[23]
Alliance operations on Zakuul[]
The Outlander and Lana Beniko formed an Alliance to oppose Arcann's rule, uniting individuals from the Sith Empire, the Galactic Republic and the criminal underworld.[11] The Outlander subsequently made more secret trips to Zakuul's Old World, recruiting Gand findsman Yuun,[43] legendary smuggler Nico Okarr,[44] and Wookiee gladiator Bowdaar,[45] all of whom found themselves on Zakuul in the years since the conquest.
The Firebrand and the Outlander join forces.
Inspired by the fear that spread in the wake of the Outlander, Kaliyo Djannis resumed her terrorist activities. She began planting bombs throughout the Spire, while also obtaining the Overwatch access data though Tayvor Slen's daughter Alianna. While picking up explosives ordered from the Lady of Sorrows, she was attacked by skytroopers and was only rescued by the arrival of the Outlander. Kaliyo agreed to consider the offer to join the Alliance if the Outlander would aid in her sabotage. Together, Kaliyo and the Outlander rigged ion grenades into Old World and Breaktown Power Junctions and detonated them at once during the power grid cycle, which knocked down the Overwatch security.[9]
Emperor Arcann reacts to the news of sabotage within his city.
The two then stormed the Overwatch facility and reached the droid control room, where Kaliyo planted explosives at the controls. Kaliyo revealed that she intended to not only shut down the droids, but also set off dozens of explosives around the Spire that would cause a mass panic but was persuaded by the Outlander to withold that. She still destroyed the controls for the droids that maintained the Spire, plunging it into chaos. Arcann used this attack as an excuse for reprisal bombardments of five random inhabited worlds, claiming that the attacks were retaliation for the acts of terrorism on Zakuul.[9]
Emperor Arcann grew increasingly frustrated at his inability to catch his enemies.
The stolen Spire schematics were passed over to the Republic Strategic Information Service, who convinced Republic Special Forces Division Havoc Squad, led by Major Aric Jorgan, to undertake an unsanctioned mission to Zakuul in order to wiretap a Knights of Zakuul listening outpost and gain access to the Eternal Empire communications. Havoc Squad established a camp in the Endless Swamp, and the Outlander traveled to Zakuul with Theron Shan to meet them. Jorgan noticed several civilians fleeing from skytroopers and rescued them, which led to meeting their leader Pashna Veyaad. Unwilling to leave the civilians behind, Jorgan took them to the Havoc Squad camp.[6]
Vaylin assures Arcann of her loyalty.
Jorgan presented his plan, which required a big distraction. The Alliance forces executed one, while Havoc Squad and the Outlander went to the listening post. Jorgan and the Outlander disabled the outpost's security and successfully planted the wiretap, but their presence was discovered and Zakuulan forces rushed back to the outpost. The rest of Havoc Squad fell back to their position, which came under heavy fire. Zakuulan exiles led by Pashna Veyaad came to their rescue, taking down several Eternal Empire shuttles with missile launchers. Havoc Squad and the Outlander returned to camp, where Jorgan expressed a desire to train the exiles into a proper resistance force.[6]
SCORPIO pushed Outlander's allies to for more information on the GEMINI frequency.
Comparing the data from the two sources reveal the existence of the GEMINI frequency, by the means of which Emperor Arcann controlled the Eternal Fleet. The frequency originated from the hyperwave relay station hidden ten kilometers beneath the Spire. Powered by two hundred reactors, the station transmitted signals to and from the Eternal Throne to thousands of Eternal Fleet warships across the galaxy. The Alliance planned an attack on the station which was executed by Kaliyo and Jorgan's Havoc Squad, with one side providing the diversion for the other. The infiltration team was cornered by a superior force, and the diversion team attempted a rescue. At that point, the Spire went into full lockdown with no transmissions coming in or out.[46] A tense firefight erupted, in which four of six Havoc Squad members were killed and the rest were forced to retreat.[47]
The New Empress[]
SCORPIO installs herself on the Eternal Throne.
When both Arcann and Vaylin departed Zakuul in an attempt to intercept the Alliance's attempt to seize an Eternal Fleet warship, SCORPIO saw the opportunity to take the Eternal Throne from under then. She transferred her consciousness into the GEMINI frequency and through it took control of the skytrooper forces stationed outside the Eternal Throne room. SCORPIO used those skytroopers to dispose of the Knights of Zakuul protecting the Throne and assembled herself a new body, installing herself directly onto the Eternal Throne.[48] SCORPIO then manipulated her enemies to destroy each other, revealing the Alliance base location on Odessen to Arcann, while also warning the Alliance of his arrival. During the ensuing Battle of Odessen Arcann was gravely injured and taken by his mother Senya Tirall to heal and recuperate.[49]
SCORPIO uses the Eternal Throne to grant GEMINI droids free will.
Vaylin returned to Zakuul, where SCORPIO welcomed her and explained that she only took the Eternal Throne to grant free will to the GEMINI droids. SCORPIO then willingly surrendered the Eternal Throne to Vaylin, offering to stay and advise the new Empress of Zakuul on how to destroy their enemies.[49] As the new Eternal Empress, Vaylin quickly proved herself an even more brutal leader than Arcann.[50] Having purged the entire cadre of Arcann's guards, Vaylin replaced them with an elite unit handpicked from the remaining ranks of the Knights of Zakuul, which she called the Horizon Guard.[51]
Vaylin, the new Eternal Empress
On the eve of her coronation Zakuulan rebels, having grown in both numbers and resolve, attempted to assassinate Vaylin with a long-prepared plan executed by hundreds of cells. But Vaylin was well-aware of the plan as the High Justice and ordered the Horizon Guard to ambush the traitors and thwart their plans, killing many rebels but capturing the majority of them alive.[39] During her coronation, Vaylin publicly executed a dozen Knights of Zakuul for failing to protect her brother after personally congratulating each victim on the great honor of dying at her hand, an act of cruelty that shocked Zakuul's citizens.[50]
SCORPIO served as Vaylin's advisor only to betray the Empress for her own goals.
SCORPIO stayed at Vaylin's side, but only to advance her own goals. She pushed Vaylin to seize the Gravestone from the Alliance, but after unlocking its full secrets she took both Gravestone and the Eternal Fleet[52] to Iokath where they were made. During the conflict that took place there, Vaylin reprogrammed the GEMINI droids back into serving her without question, while SCORPIO betrayed Vaylin and ended up uploading her consciousness into the planetary network, becoming one with Iokath herself.[16]
After returning from Iokath, Empress Vaylin regained full control of the GEMINI droids and the Eternal Fleet.
To celebrate her victory, Vaylin ordered her Magistrate of Revelry Indo Zal to organize a Grand Festival at the Palace of the Eternal Dragon in her honor. During the party, Vaylin planned to execute the captured Zakuulan rebels by feeding them to wild beasts. However, Indo contacted the Alliance and offered them a way to strike at Vaylin at the party by providing disguises and security clearances. Wearing Knights of Zakuul uniforms, Theron Shan and the Outlander entered the Palace, where Indo provided them with Ion charges. The infiltrators attached the charges to security relays throughout the Palace, while Indo returned to Vaylin's side but was caught spying on her and was fitted a shock collar.[53]
Empress Vaylin made a speech during the party in her honor.
The party was impressive, with Zakuulan socialite gathering in the Palace of Eternal Dragon and toasting in Vaylin's name. Vaylin made a public address to the holocameras about Zakuul's glory and her enemies' torment, when the Outlander publicly mocked her in front of the cameras. Vaylin dropped Indo and the prisoners inside the beast den, but then the Outlander triggered her mental conditioning, causing Vaylin to lose control of her powers in front of everyone. The Outlander then detonated all ion charges at once, disabling the prisoners' shock collars but also the locks that kept the wild beasts in place, releasing them into the crowd of civilians and the Knights of Zakuul.[53]
Arcann tried to reach out to his sister, to no avail.
Vaylin prepared to face the Outlander in combat, when former Emperor Arcann arrived with his loyalists, launching at attack on the palace. Vaylin retreated from the main palace room to the balcony where Arcann approached and tried to talk her down peacefully, but Vaylin attacked him in a fit of rage. The two were interrupted by the arrival of the Outlander and Theron Shan, and Vaylin escaped to her flagship. From there, she witnessed a galaxy-wide broadcast of Arcann swearing his loyalty to the Outlander's Alliance. Enraged, Vaylin ordered the Eternal Fleet to bomb the entire Palace to rubble, regardless of her supporters still inside. The ships opened fire, and while Arcann escaped with the Alliance, the Palace soon collapsed from the sustained fire.[53]
Fall of Eternal Empire[]
The death of Empiress Vaylin on Odessen spelled the collapse of the Eternal Empire.
Vaylin's act of turning on her loyal supporters resulted in her being hated by half of Zakuul's population. Determined to rid of her mental bonds at any cost, Vaylin departed Zakuul to Nathema.[53] She never came back, and was soon killed the by Outlander during the assault on Odessen. After her death left the Eternal Throne empty, the Eternal Fleet's GEMINI captains went rogue and reverted to their most primal function - exterminating all complex life in the galaxy. Eternal Fleet warships began bombarding heavily populated worlds including and Zakuul itself.[54] The Eternal Fleet also established a blockade around Zakuul, blasting any ships that attempted to land or leave, and protecting the Eternal Throne in a ray shield. All the whoile it reigned fire at the Spire itself, where entire buildings were collapsing while bodies were lying in the streets.[10]
Arcann and Senya join the Outlander in the battle for the fate of Zakuul.
The people of Zakuul had not yet received news of the Empress' death, with some speculating that she was the one who ordered the slaughter, while others correctly assumed that Vaylin was dead and the Eternal Fleet had gone mad. Since claiming the Eternal Throne was the only way to stop the destruction, the Alliance leadership departed for Zakuul aboard the Gravestone.[54] Protected by the Alliance fleet, it dropped out of hyperspace in orbit of Zakuul, which was completely blockaded by the Eternal Fleet. The Gravestone had an advantage of upgrades that were installed based on schematics from Iokath and provided a boost to the vessel's shields, allowing them to withstand a concentrated fire from the Eternal Fleet and break the blockade.[10]
Arcann fights skytroopers in his former Throne Room.
The Gravestone began firing the omnicannon at the Eternal Fleet, while the Outlander headed down to the surface with former Emperor Arcann and Senya Tirall. From the Garden of Izax, they made their way towards the Spire where Knights of Zakuul blocked their path, but Indo Zal and Zakuulan rebels unexpectedly showed up to provide support. The Outlander, Senya and Arcann eventually reached the Eternal Throne where, feeling the need to atone for his past crimes, Arcann offered it to the Outlander. They claimed the Throne, and the Eternal Fleet immediately went silent. However, the spirit of Valkorion then revealed his true goal: to eradicate the Outlander's mind and take possession of their body.[10]
Valkorion had always planned to forge the Outlander into a body worthy to house his spirit.
The Outlander was trapped in the abyss of their own psyche where they came across Valkorion, who summoned Vaylin's enslaved spirit. Dominating her will, Valkorion commanded his daughter to destroy the Outlander, but the Outlander used Dramath's holocron to free Vaylin from her father's mind control. Arcann joined them and convinced Vaylin to stand against Valkorion. Since his spirit was now bound to Vaylin's and shared her weakness, the Outlander used Vaylin's mental conditioning to turn the tables on Valkorion and rob him of his strength. Senya joined her children, and together the family watched the Immortal Emperor's final words and moments, until the Outlander put a final end to his millennia-long existence.[10]
Arcann and Senya congratulate the Outlander after vanquishing Valkorion.
Back in the Eternal Throne room, Senya opened a system-wide holochannel for the new owner of the Eternal Throne, who made an address towards the galaxy and proclaimed an age of the Eternal Alliance. In the following days, the Alliance had established complete control over the Eternal Fleet and what remained of Zakuulan military, appropriating its assets into the new Eternal Alliance. The Alliance relocated the Eternal Throne from the Spire to Odessen, where it was installed in the Alliance base.[10] The Eternal Empire was dissolved and replaced with an elected Zakuulan government, becoming part of the Eternal Alliance.[55]
A New Path[]
Vinn Atrius sought revenge on the Outlander for ending centuries of Zakuul's prosperity.
The new status quo did not last long, as in 3628 BBY[56] the Alliance lost both the Eternal Fleet and the Gravestone in the campaign by the former Horizon Guard Vinn Atrius.[55] Axion, the newly elected Consul of Zakuul, condemned Atrius' actions, and assured the Outlander that they did not represent the Zakuulan government. However, Axion also expressed that many Zakuulans felt the same desperation and resentment that Atrius had towards the Alliance, and announced that Zakuul would be renouncing its status as a member of the Eternal Alliance and would become an independent world.[57]
With the destruction of the Gravestone, Zakuul was able to break from Eternal Alliance and achieve independence.
The Consul expected that Zakuul would have to relinquish control holdings and colonies established under the Eternal Empire and seek alliances with other worlds instead. Axion ended the message by saying that he hoped that the Alliance and Zakuul could negotiate a trade agreement beneficial to both governments.[57] According to Alliance Intelligence Summary 495-22, Zakuul's efforts to establish diplomatic ties with the Core Worlds proved unsuccessful, and the only trading partner they could find was a small consortium of corporations. Lana Beniko suspicted tha these corporations were fronts for the Exchange criminal syndicate.[58]
Locations[]
Endless Swamp[]
Endless Swamp
Named for their sheer size, the Endless Swamps were the original home of Zakuulan natives. It was a perilous place, filled with sinkholes, disease-ridden pests, and dangerous predators.[59] After the establishment of the Eternal Empire, the swamps became a scarcely populated place devoid of any technology.[2] During Arcann's rule the swamps became the home for many political dissidents fleeing from his regime's wrath.[6]
Old World[]
The Old World
The first city on Zakuul build by Valkorion, the Old World was built amid the swamps and was deemded a success, but was not grand enough for the Immortal Emperor. Valkorion continued to build the Spire atop the Old World, but its sections around the Spire's base remained intact and inhabited.[23] Eternal Empire security forces were virtually absent from the area, and so an alternative economy prospered that was largely controlled by criminals. The Old World acquired a nefarious reputation and became a place to visit for the privileged Zakuulans who were fascinated by suffering[28] and wanted to experience the red light district or the gladiator pits.[30]
The Spire[]
The Spire at night
A shining golden metropolis that sprawled outwards from the central tower, the Spire was a vertical city, with skyscrapers and pyramid-shaped buildings suspended above each other[3] in a climb nearly to the edge of atmosphere.[1] It was divived into vertically stacked numbered districts, each of them designed for identical living conditions and for maximum enjoyment[60] while still possessing a unique personality.[7] The topmost District 52 housed the Overwatch command center and contained the point of entry to the very peak of the Spire that reached out past the planet's atmosphere. It contained the Emperor's throne room, where the Eternal Throne was located.[60]
Appearances[]
- Star Wars: The Old Republic Cartel Market
- Star Wars: The Old Republic: Galactic Strongholds (Mentioned only)
"Sacrifice" on The Old Republic's official website (article) (backup link) (First appearance)- "Brothers" on The Old Republic's official website (article) (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire
- Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne
- Jedi Under Siege: State of the Galaxy on The Old Republic's official website (backup link) (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: The Old Republic: Onslaught (Mentioned only) (Codex entry)
- Star Wars: The Old Republic: Legacy of the Sith
Sources[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16
Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter I: The Hunt
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter IV: The Gravestone
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter III: Outlander
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Betrayed" on The Old Republic's official website (article) (backup link)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Sacrifice" on The Old Republic's official website (article) (backup link)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter XI: Disavowed
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "Zakuul"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jedi Under Siege: State of the Galaxy on The Old Republic's official website (backup link)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter X: Anarchy In Paradise
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne — Chapter IX: The Eternal Throne
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter IX: The Alliance
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "The Old Ways of Zakuul"
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "Knights of Zakuul"
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne — Codex: "The Six Gods"
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "Heralds of Zildrog"
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne — Chapter V: Ascension
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "The Gravestone's Creators"
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "The Gravestone"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne — Chapter II: Run for the Shadows
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "The Eternal Fleet"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "Valkorion"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic — Codex: "The Voice of the Emperor (Warrior)"
- ↑ 23.00 23.01 23.02 23.03 23.04 23.05 23.06 23.07 23.08 23.09 23.10 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter VII: The Lady of Sorrows
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "Zakuulan Wealth"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "Scions of Zakuul"
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "The Eternal Throne"
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "The Eternal Empire"
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "The Old World"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "Overwatch"
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "Zakuul Society: Thrillseeking"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "Vaylin"
- ↑ "Brothers" on The Old Republic's official website (article) (backup link)
- ↑ According to Forums: Dear Story Team, What Year Are We Currently In? on The Old Republic's official website (backup link), Star Wars: The Old Republic: Rise of the Hutt Cartel takes place from early to mid 3638 BBY, and further Game Updates that were released in 2013 take place in the latter half of that year. The post also states that Game Updates released in 2014 can be placed in early and mid 3637 BBY, Shadow of Revan takes place near the end of that year, and that the events of Game Updates 3.1 through 3.3 can be placed in early and mid 3636 BBY. Therefore, the events of Game Update 3.0 and the Digital Expansion Shadow of Revan can be placed near the end of 3637 BBY.
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "Arcann"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter VII: The Lady of Sorrows
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter II: A Dream of Empire
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter VIII: Taking Flight
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter VI: Asylum
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne — Codex: "Zakuulan Rebels"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "Malita Tal"
- ↑ According to Forums: Dear Story Team, What Year Are We Currently In? on The Old Republic's official website (backup link), the first chapter of Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire takes place in 3636 BBY and the ninth chapter in 3630 BBY. The expansion states that the Outlander woke up five years after the events of the first chapter, placing Chapters II through VIII in 3631 BBY.
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter V: From the Grave
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Mission: "To Find A Findsman" on Zakuul
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Mission: "Mixological Profiling" on Zakuul
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Mission: "Freedom Fight" on Zakuul
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter XII: Visions in the Dark
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter XIII: Profit and Plunder
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter XV: The GEMINI Deception
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Chapter XVI: The Battle of Odessen
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne — Codex: "Vaylin: Empress of Zakuul"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne — Codex: "Horizon Guard"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne — Chapter III: Dark Reunions
- ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne — Chapter VI: The Dragon's Maw
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne — Chapter VIII: End Times
- ↑ 55.0 55.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne — Flashpoint: "The Nathema Conspiracy"
- ↑ According to Forums: Dear Story Team, What Year Are We Currently In? on The Old Republic's official website (backup link) the events of Game Updates released in 2017 can be placed in 3629 BBY and the events from Game Update 5.9 through 5.10.3 can be placed in 3628 BBY. Therefore, the events of Game Update 5.9: The Nathema Conspiracy can be placed in 3628 BBY.
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne — The message The future from Consul Axion
- ↑ Jedi Under Siege: State of the Galaxy on The Old Republic's official website (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "The Endless Swamps"
- ↑ 60.0 60.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Fallen Empire — Codex: "The Spire"
External links[]
- Zakuul on Star Wars: The Old Republic Wiki
- SWTOR_Zakuul Eternal Throne on Anna Inkyung Lee's profile on ArtStation (backup link)
- star wars the old republic on Bill Yi's profile on ArtStation (backup link)
- Planet Zakuul – Home of Sith Emperor Valkorian on Chris Anderson's profile on ArtStation (backup link)
- Surface of planet Zakuul – Thematic concept illustration on Chris Anderson's profile on ArtStation (backup link)
- SWTOR - Cinematic Environments on Jason Moulton's profile on ArtStation (June 19, 2021) (backup link)
- SWTOR - Zakuul on Jason Moulton's profile on ArtStation (backup link)
- Knights of the Fallen Empire -- SWTOR 4.0 on John Morris's profile on ArtStation (backup link)
- Knights of The Eternal Throne -- Chapter 9 -- The Eternal Throne on John Morris's profile on ArtStation (backup link)
