Post by Darth Kairos on Apr 23, 2015 13:57:40 GMT
((Written by Darths Amorata and Ares. Fanonical ideas and editing by Darth Amorata.))
The Miraluka are a Force-sensitive, near-Human race, descended from a human colony that migrated to Alpheridies following the loss of their original homeworld more than six thousand years ago. Naturally a thoughtful, deliberative species, they have culturally preferred a policy of isolation – though numerous Miraluka have served in the ranks of both the Jedi and Sith throughout history. A bilingual race, Miraluka verbally communicate in Galactic Basic, but also communicate through a unique written language perceptible only through Force Sight known as Miralukese.
Due to the radiation emitted by Alpheridies’ star Abron being primarily of the infrared spectrum, the Miraluka gradually lost the ability to perceive light in the visible spectrum, and gained a natural ability to see using a potent version of Force Sight. As a result, they lack eyes, possessing only vestigial eye sockets covered by a thin patch of skin which is usually covered by their signature eye-coverings; blindfolds, hoods, are veils being the most common types.
Biology and Appearance
Being descended from baseline human colonists, Miraluka are extremely similar in biology and appearance to normal humans, to the extent they are capable of interbreeding with humans, as well as with several of the other Near-human groups such as the Kiffar, Mirialans, and Arkanians. Whilst it is commonly believed that such interbreeding could cause unknown complications for the off-spring, the majority of recorded cases displayed no such issues, and further exhibited a dominance of Miralukan genes over the genes of the other race.
The primary difference between normal humans and the Miraluka are the lack of eyes in the latter species, who possess only vestigial eye sockets covered by a thin layer of skin. Whilst originally completely human, the loss of their original homeworld spurred them to move to the planet Alpheridies, the sun of which emitted very little light in the visible spectrum. This lead to a species-wide evolution of a natural ability to use Force Sight, which in turn lead to the near-universal presence of Force-sensitivity among the Miraluka.
The precise developmental cycle of a Miralukan’s Force Sight remains a matter of intense study. It is, however, accepted as scientific fact that the development of this ability begins in the womb; numerous examinations have shown that a foetus’ Force Sight begins manifesting as early as the tenth week of pregnancy, with near universal agreement that the ability has manifested by the twenty-third week. The ability continues manifestation from this point and through childbirth; within a month of birth, a Miralukan child gains the ability to distinguish distinct objects and features. The end of this developmental stage varies by individual, but nearly all Miralukan children have successfully realised their ability by the end of their fifth month.
This Force Sight is even more potent than the Sight employed by most capable Force users throughout the galaxy. In addition to viewing the world at a constant light level (and consequent lack of impairment due to sudden bright lights or low-light conditions), the Miraluka have developed a curious, species-wide condition of synesthesia. This condition allows them to know, inherently, the colour of an object. Neurological studies have been performed almost since the Miraluka's emergence into the galaxy, but most have been unsuccessful in analyising the condition. This is predominantly due to a lack of homogeneity between the Miraluka with regards to which sense processes the colours; many prominent neurologists have attempted to determine the most common sense used among the population, but even the most prodigal have had to admit an involvement by the Force which they simply cannot quantify scientifically.
Further, this Sight grants them the capacity to see through thin doors and walls and perceive the individuals on the other side, and the capability to sense an individual’s immersion in the Dark or Light Side of the Force through literal ‘waves’ radiating from the person in question. Consequently Miralukan brains have evolved to process greater amounts of sensory information received as a result of their Force Sight. Whilst under normal circumstances the Miraluka field of vision is identical to that of a human, they are capable of expanding this field of view to a full 360-degrees. Whilst this enhanced vision can be sustained without effort for moderate lengths of time, sustaining it for too long carries a risk of exposing the Miraluka brain to sensory overload.
They are, in turn, capable of ‘shutting-off’ their vision, allowing for rest, concentration, visualization, and meditation, in a manner and at speeds nearly identical to those of the opening and closing of the human eye. As an extremely Force-sensitive race, cutting a Miraluka off from the Force not only renders them blind, but also results in extreme distress and the possibility of lasting psychological damage. Life without the Force is almost impossible for them to conceive, and it is typically extremely difficult for a Miraluka to perceive individuals wholly cut-off from the Force – such as, most notably, the Yuuzhan Vong.
In addition to greater observational and information processing abilities, their natural Force Sight has also granted the Miraluka greatly enhanced reflexes. It did, however, come with several disadvantages; the most notable of which was a lack of ability for some Miraluka to see holograms. Ongoing studies into the matter have yet to yield conclusive results; whilst some Miraluka are completely unable to perceive them, others are aware of their existence, and others still are capable of viewing them as a human would. It is theorized by some Miralukan scholars that the ability to perceive holograms is caused by both the natural strength in the Force of the individual in terms of sensory capabilities, and the level of time they have spent among the other cultures of the galaxy.
History
Originally, the Miraluka were conventional humans, who are believed to have colonised their original homeworld sometime during the early Expansionist era. Shortly after the Subterra Period, the world ended a period of geophysical and geochemical instability, and the planet’s atmosphere began to vent into space. In a mass exodus, the Miraluka evacuated their homeworld, and resettled in Alpheridies, sharing the planet with the native Alpheridians. Due to their nature of the planet’s sun emitting light waves predominantly in the infrared spectrum, the Miraluka gradually lost the ability to ‘see’ in the physical sense, and instead evolved a natural ability to utilize Force Sight.
At some point between the settlement of Alpheridies and the Jedi Civil War, the Miraluka would establish their own formal Force organization, the Luka Sene. Unlike other Force groups in the galaxy, the Luke Sene would come to focus on improving a Miraluka’s sensory abilities, and operated in a manner similar to a university rather than a religious order.
During the Jedi Civil War, Alpheridies was conquered by the Sith Empire. A number of Miraluka would become indoctrinated by Sith teachings and become Dark Jedi during this time before the world’s liberation after the Battle of Rakata Prime and the destruction of the Star Forge.
At some point prior to approximately 4000 BBY, the Miraluka established a single colony, Katarr. All life on the planet was devoured by the Sith Lord Darth Nihilus in response to a Conclave of the Jedi who remained after the Jedi Civil War. A single Miraluka survived – a woman named Visas Marr, who become Nihilus’ apprentice before later joining the Jedi Exile and helping them to bring about the destruction of the Sith Triumvirate.
Following the end of the Old Sith Wars and the success of the Telos Restoration Project, large-scale regenerative efforts, backed by the rebuilt Jedi Order, brought Katarr back to life over the course of centuries. A number of orbiting space stations were placed in the planet’s orbit for use by the regeneration effort, which remain operational even in the modern era. Miralukan history until the modern era is, primarily, one of isolationism and conservatism; the race never established another colony beyond Katarr and, whilst many Miraluka throughout history ventured forth from their homeworld, becoming Jedi Knights or Sith, the majority were content to remain on Alpheridies or Katarr.
During the Galactic Empire Era, the Miraluka Jerec, formerly of the Jedi Order, went on to become an Inquisitor in the service of Emperor Palpatine. After the Emperor’s death, Jerec attempted to locate the fabled Valley of the Jedi and seize its power, but was thwarted by Rebel Operative and Jedi Knight Kyle Katarn.
Despite their isolationist policies, the Miraluka were forced to confront the wider galaxy when Alpheridies was invaded by the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong in the early years of the cataclysmic Yuuzhan Vong War. As the Yuuzhan Vong had been disconnected from the Force by their living home planet because of their warlike ways, the majority of Miraluka were literally unable to perceive them, and the planet had no choice but to surrender. Because of the race’s natural Force-sensitivity, they were heavily associated with the hated Jedi; a problem exacerbated by the actions of the Peace Brigade, who informed the Yuuzhan Vong of the Species’ predisposition towards the Jedi ways throughout history. In response, the Yuuzhan Vong began large-scale extermination of the species; tens of millions of Miraluka out of the planet’s five hundred-million strong population were believed to have been murdered by the end of the war.
Since the end of the Yuuzhan Vong War, the future of the Miraluka is uncertain. Many Miraluka have emigrated to Katarr, which was left untouched during the Yuuzhan Vong War. Alpheridies, though rebuilt, carries the scars of the Yuuzhan Vong’s brutal conquest, echoes, audible to all the Miraluka on the planet, a metaphysical eulogy to the dead. Several Miraluka have joined the ranks of the New Sith Brotherhood and rising Obsidian Union, whilst others still are embracing their ancestors’ legacy and becoming protectors of the galaxy in Luke Skywalker’s New Jedi Order.
Society and Culture
By and large, the Miraluka are a thoughtful, cautious, and deliberative species, who focus more on philosophical pursuits over the development of technology. This, in addition to isolationist policies, has lead to a generally conservative attitude among the race’s members. Most are content with the peaceful lives they lead, and have no desire to upset the species-wide status quo. Wanderlust is, however, common among many young Miraluka, and numerous youths leave the planet at some point in their life. Whilst most return, a number fall into nomadic lives, or eventually settle down among the other races. Many Miraluka throughout history have become Jedi, which is aided by the general philosophical views of the Miraluka being quite similar to those practiced by the Jedi Order.
A key factor in Miraluka society is a sense of universal Brotherhood. Very much united by race, the Miraluka consider themselves to be part of a single, great family, referring to each other as brothers and sisters. Crime is rare, though local constables ensure that the laws are kept, and armed conflict is non-existent; as a result, the Miraluka have never possessed a military of any kind.
As they are deeply connected to the Force, the Miraluka are a very spiritual race, and worship two gods: Ashla, and Bogan – representations of both the Light and Dark Side of the Force. They practice a belief in the Force very similar to that of the Unifying Force, known as the philosophy of the Greater Force, and reject good and evil as absolute concepts. Within this framework, they have come to accept both life and death, believing both to be a part of the Force, and often look onwards towards the future rather than focusing on the here and now.
This philosophy is watched over by the race’s own Force organization: the Luke Sene. Unlike other organizations, such as the Baran Do sages or the Jedi Order itself, the Luke Sene emphasise the Force as a religion. Rather, they operate in a similar manner to an educational institute, and are highly respected on all levels of Miralukan society. Miraluka with above-average Force-senses are encouraged to join the Luka Sene, who help them to refine these abilities. Members of the Luka Sene permeate all levels of Miralukan society; though most possess only slightly increased metaphyiscal-sensory abilities, all work towards the betterment of themselves, their lifestyles, and Miralukan society as a whole. In addition, the Luka Sene act as a guiding hand for the entire race, acting as guardians to ensure the Miraluka do not begin to drift towards the Dark Side and serve the light.
Another core aspect of Miraluka society is the ritual surrounding their eyecoverings. What began as a measure of politeness towards other species – the lack of eyes is often seen as shocking or unsettling by other races, humans in particular – and simple practicality – the skin covering the vestigial sockets of a Miraluka is quite sensitive – has grown into a deeply ingrained part of Miraluka society. Eyecoverings are an essential part of a Miraluka’s appearance and identity; a lack of one is considered taboo, comparable to a complete lack of clothing. Removal of a Miraluka’s eyecoverings is seen as a gesture of true intimacy, love, and trust, and is reserved for the closest of friends, family members, and lovers.
Though ritual surrounding eyecoverings tends to vary by province, large sections of Miralukan society practice a type of baptism; children, when born, do not immediately receive names. Instead, the child bears only their family name, until the end of their fifth month. By this point in time, they can be assured to have manifested their ability to see through the Force, and the parents undertake a ceremony, where their child receives both their given name and their first eyecovering at the same time. Culturally, a Miraluka who has not undergone this ceremony is seen by most of the populace as an outsider rather than a true Miraluka. Such cases have occurred frequently enough historically to prompt the development of a second ceremony, which an adult may choose to undertake in order to be ‘reborn’ as a true Miraluka.
There is no universal design for eyecoverings, and they are as much indicative of their wearer’s personality as their choice in clothes. Blindfolds and veils are easily the two most common types of eyecovering, but there are many others, from full-head shawls, to tinted glasses, to full-face masks; many individuals take joy in personalizing their eyecoverings, and use them to make fashion statements.
Of further note is the Miraluka approach to language. Verbally, the race as a whole speaks Galactic Basic, and the ability to read and write it is taught from a very young age. However, Basic is not the primary written language of the species: that place is instead taken by the truly unique language of Miralukese.
Unlike every other language, Miralukese exists solely within the Force, and requires the use of Force Sight to perceive. There is no spoken component to the language; time, and the adoption of Galactic Basic, has robbed the Miraluka of their memories of its pronunciation. The language itself is believed to be a descendent of the High Galactic spoken by the original colonists of the Miraluka’s lost homeworld, and exhibits the same core syntax and structure – as well as superficial resemblance to Galactic Basic, itself descended from High Galactic. Time has further shifted the language; in its current state, it is best described as a mixture of both conventional alphabetical linguistics, and pictography. Letters and words are woven into pictures themselves, becoming indecipherable to those who are unfamiliar with the language and unable to read the arrangements in the correct manner.
Body language is also an integral part of Miralukan communication. Because of their greatly enhanced observation and information processing abilities, Miraluka are acutely capable of recognizing and analysing body language. This trait is, however, primarily sociological rather than physiological; on the whole, Miraluka move much less than most species in the course of regular conversation. The standard human level of activity and body movement, for example, would be construed as loud shouting by a Miraluka. By contrast, the Miralukan equivalent to regular human levels of movement would make a human believe them to be quite stoic and unemotive. This approach causes young Miraluka to develop their body-language-reading skills early, and in turn adopt the minimal-movement customs of their parents; very young Miralukan children, or Miraluka who have lived away from their race for a lengthy period of time, or who simply never learned to read body language for one reason or another, are much less adept at reading body language, and often come to exhibit the more physically active body language of other species in the galaxy.
As it exists within the Force, no writing utensils, flimsi, or datapads are required to write Miralukese; rather, it is imprinted directly onto an object. Rather than appearing as a singular colour, it instead takes on characteristics of its writer, mirroring the colour of the writer’s alignment within the Force (usually a light shade of blue) and appearing nebulous and glowing. Advanced Force users are capable of imprinting Miralukese letters directly into the air – which in turn has resulted in a curious phenomenon where, rather than facing a singular direction, the letters always face whoever is looking at them, despite looking two-dimensional, and even when multiple individuals are looking at the same letters from different angles.
Technology on Alpheridies and Katarr is present, but rare. Throughout history, the Miraluka have focused on peaceful agriculture, ensuring self-sufficiency. Off-world imports are uncommon, and whilst repulsorlift vehicles are the primary mode of transport, technology typically only extends to computers, farming equipment, and a few types of manufacturing machines in the rare – and small – industrial centers of the planet. Spaceports exist on both Alpheridies and Katarr, but few Miraluka own starships; even the nomads prefer to barter passage with others rather than purchase their own. Even the space stations orbiting Katarr, gateways to the planet below, are mostly crewed by non-Miraluka, overseen by Miralukan officials.
Finally, Miralukan government is built around an oligarchic model. Twenty-three oligarchs, representing the twenty-three provinces, form the ruling council of Alpheridies. Katarr, with a much smaller population, possesses a council of only eight oligarchs, along with a representative of each station. Though nominally part of the Galactic Alliance, both planets remain firmly out of Alliance affairs – including the Union War – and no Senator represents the planet on Coruscant.
Miraluka in the Galaxy
Miraluka are uncommon in the galaxy; few in number, and with fewer leaving their homeworlds, most spacers have heard plenty about the race without ever meeting one. Their cultural views, universal Force-sensitivity, and their lack of eyes (and subsequent adoption of eyecoverings), has lead to a near-universal stereotyping of members of the race as ‘blind seers’. Those few spacers who do encounter a Miraluka are typically disappointed they cannot see into the future and tell them the winning numbers of their next local lottery.
Notable Miraluka throughout history include Jerec, a former Jedi and member of the Imperial Inquisitorius, Lucien and Krynda Draay, humans with Miralukan heritage (notably, Krynda possessed both physical sight and the normally unique Force Sight of the Miraluka), Q’Anilia, a Jedi Master who lived around the time of the Jedi Civil War, and Visas Marr, a companion of the Jedi Exile and one of the Lost Jedi who rebuilt the Jedi Order after the First Great Jedi Purge.
Marr is only one instance of a Miralukan Jedi; throughout history, the Miraluka have been drawn to the Jedi Order, an organisation espousing similar values to their own. In the days of the Old Republic, many who did not become fully-fledged Jedi Knights served instead as teachers, mentors, and educators, establishing historical ties between the Luka Sene and the Jedi Order.
The New Jedi Order, by contrast, has few Miraluka serving the Alliance in any capacity; its most notable Miraluka member, Lamiya Meir, went missing several years ago, and several of the remaining Miraluka have returned to Alpheridies to help rebuild. Conversely, four Miraluka stand out in the ranks of the Obsidian Union; the Sith Lord Darth Ares, the Union’s High Marshall, his apprentice Darth Amorata, Darth Sai, apprentice to the Union’s Overseer, and Darth Kree.
The Miraluka are a Force-sensitive, near-Human race, descended from a human colony that migrated to Alpheridies following the loss of their original homeworld more than six thousand years ago. Naturally a thoughtful, deliberative species, they have culturally preferred a policy of isolation – though numerous Miraluka have served in the ranks of both the Jedi and Sith throughout history. A bilingual race, Miraluka verbally communicate in Galactic Basic, but also communicate through a unique written language perceptible only through Force Sight known as Miralukese.
Due to the radiation emitted by Alpheridies’ star Abron being primarily of the infrared spectrum, the Miraluka gradually lost the ability to perceive light in the visible spectrum, and gained a natural ability to see using a potent version of Force Sight. As a result, they lack eyes, possessing only vestigial eye sockets covered by a thin patch of skin which is usually covered by their signature eye-coverings; blindfolds, hoods, are veils being the most common types.
Biology and Appearance
Being descended from baseline human colonists, Miraluka are extremely similar in biology and appearance to normal humans, to the extent they are capable of interbreeding with humans, as well as with several of the other Near-human groups such as the Kiffar, Mirialans, and Arkanians. Whilst it is commonly believed that such interbreeding could cause unknown complications for the off-spring, the majority of recorded cases displayed no such issues, and further exhibited a dominance of Miralukan genes over the genes of the other race.
The primary difference between normal humans and the Miraluka are the lack of eyes in the latter species, who possess only vestigial eye sockets covered by a thin layer of skin. Whilst originally completely human, the loss of their original homeworld spurred them to move to the planet Alpheridies, the sun of which emitted very little light in the visible spectrum. This lead to a species-wide evolution of a natural ability to use Force Sight, which in turn lead to the near-universal presence of Force-sensitivity among the Miraluka.
The precise developmental cycle of a Miralukan’s Force Sight remains a matter of intense study. It is, however, accepted as scientific fact that the development of this ability begins in the womb; numerous examinations have shown that a foetus’ Force Sight begins manifesting as early as the tenth week of pregnancy, with near universal agreement that the ability has manifested by the twenty-third week. The ability continues manifestation from this point and through childbirth; within a month of birth, a Miralukan child gains the ability to distinguish distinct objects and features. The end of this developmental stage varies by individual, but nearly all Miralukan children have successfully realised their ability by the end of their fifth month.
This Force Sight is even more potent than the Sight employed by most capable Force users throughout the galaxy. In addition to viewing the world at a constant light level (and consequent lack of impairment due to sudden bright lights or low-light conditions), the Miraluka have developed a curious, species-wide condition of synesthesia. This condition allows them to know, inherently, the colour of an object. Neurological studies have been performed almost since the Miraluka's emergence into the galaxy, but most have been unsuccessful in analyising the condition. This is predominantly due to a lack of homogeneity between the Miraluka with regards to which sense processes the colours; many prominent neurologists have attempted to determine the most common sense used among the population, but even the most prodigal have had to admit an involvement by the Force which they simply cannot quantify scientifically.
Further, this Sight grants them the capacity to see through thin doors and walls and perceive the individuals on the other side, and the capability to sense an individual’s immersion in the Dark or Light Side of the Force through literal ‘waves’ radiating from the person in question. Consequently Miralukan brains have evolved to process greater amounts of sensory information received as a result of their Force Sight. Whilst under normal circumstances the Miraluka field of vision is identical to that of a human, they are capable of expanding this field of view to a full 360-degrees. Whilst this enhanced vision can be sustained without effort for moderate lengths of time, sustaining it for too long carries a risk of exposing the Miraluka brain to sensory overload.
They are, in turn, capable of ‘shutting-off’ their vision, allowing for rest, concentration, visualization, and meditation, in a manner and at speeds nearly identical to those of the opening and closing of the human eye. As an extremely Force-sensitive race, cutting a Miraluka off from the Force not only renders them blind, but also results in extreme distress and the possibility of lasting psychological damage. Life without the Force is almost impossible for them to conceive, and it is typically extremely difficult for a Miraluka to perceive individuals wholly cut-off from the Force – such as, most notably, the Yuuzhan Vong.
In addition to greater observational and information processing abilities, their natural Force Sight has also granted the Miraluka greatly enhanced reflexes. It did, however, come with several disadvantages; the most notable of which was a lack of ability for some Miraluka to see holograms. Ongoing studies into the matter have yet to yield conclusive results; whilst some Miraluka are completely unable to perceive them, others are aware of their existence, and others still are capable of viewing them as a human would. It is theorized by some Miralukan scholars that the ability to perceive holograms is caused by both the natural strength in the Force of the individual in terms of sensory capabilities, and the level of time they have spent among the other cultures of the galaxy.
History
Originally, the Miraluka were conventional humans, who are believed to have colonised their original homeworld sometime during the early Expansionist era. Shortly after the Subterra Period, the world ended a period of geophysical and geochemical instability, and the planet’s atmosphere began to vent into space. In a mass exodus, the Miraluka evacuated their homeworld, and resettled in Alpheridies, sharing the planet with the native Alpheridians. Due to their nature of the planet’s sun emitting light waves predominantly in the infrared spectrum, the Miraluka gradually lost the ability to ‘see’ in the physical sense, and instead evolved a natural ability to utilize Force Sight.
At some point between the settlement of Alpheridies and the Jedi Civil War, the Miraluka would establish their own formal Force organization, the Luka Sene. Unlike other Force groups in the galaxy, the Luke Sene would come to focus on improving a Miraluka’s sensory abilities, and operated in a manner similar to a university rather than a religious order.
During the Jedi Civil War, Alpheridies was conquered by the Sith Empire. A number of Miraluka would become indoctrinated by Sith teachings and become Dark Jedi during this time before the world’s liberation after the Battle of Rakata Prime and the destruction of the Star Forge.
At some point prior to approximately 4000 BBY, the Miraluka established a single colony, Katarr. All life on the planet was devoured by the Sith Lord Darth Nihilus in response to a Conclave of the Jedi who remained after the Jedi Civil War. A single Miraluka survived – a woman named Visas Marr, who become Nihilus’ apprentice before later joining the Jedi Exile and helping them to bring about the destruction of the Sith Triumvirate.
Following the end of the Old Sith Wars and the success of the Telos Restoration Project, large-scale regenerative efforts, backed by the rebuilt Jedi Order, brought Katarr back to life over the course of centuries. A number of orbiting space stations were placed in the planet’s orbit for use by the regeneration effort, which remain operational even in the modern era. Miralukan history until the modern era is, primarily, one of isolationism and conservatism; the race never established another colony beyond Katarr and, whilst many Miraluka throughout history ventured forth from their homeworld, becoming Jedi Knights or Sith, the majority were content to remain on Alpheridies or Katarr.
During the Galactic Empire Era, the Miraluka Jerec, formerly of the Jedi Order, went on to become an Inquisitor in the service of Emperor Palpatine. After the Emperor’s death, Jerec attempted to locate the fabled Valley of the Jedi and seize its power, but was thwarted by Rebel Operative and Jedi Knight Kyle Katarn.
Despite their isolationist policies, the Miraluka were forced to confront the wider galaxy when Alpheridies was invaded by the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong in the early years of the cataclysmic Yuuzhan Vong War. As the Yuuzhan Vong had been disconnected from the Force by their living home planet because of their warlike ways, the majority of Miraluka were literally unable to perceive them, and the planet had no choice but to surrender. Because of the race’s natural Force-sensitivity, they were heavily associated with the hated Jedi; a problem exacerbated by the actions of the Peace Brigade, who informed the Yuuzhan Vong of the Species’ predisposition towards the Jedi ways throughout history. In response, the Yuuzhan Vong began large-scale extermination of the species; tens of millions of Miraluka out of the planet’s five hundred-million strong population were believed to have been murdered by the end of the war.
Since the end of the Yuuzhan Vong War, the future of the Miraluka is uncertain. Many Miraluka have emigrated to Katarr, which was left untouched during the Yuuzhan Vong War. Alpheridies, though rebuilt, carries the scars of the Yuuzhan Vong’s brutal conquest, echoes, audible to all the Miraluka on the planet, a metaphysical eulogy to the dead. Several Miraluka have joined the ranks of the New Sith Brotherhood and rising Obsidian Union, whilst others still are embracing their ancestors’ legacy and becoming protectors of the galaxy in Luke Skywalker’s New Jedi Order.
Society and Culture
By and large, the Miraluka are a thoughtful, cautious, and deliberative species, who focus more on philosophical pursuits over the development of technology. This, in addition to isolationist policies, has lead to a generally conservative attitude among the race’s members. Most are content with the peaceful lives they lead, and have no desire to upset the species-wide status quo. Wanderlust is, however, common among many young Miraluka, and numerous youths leave the planet at some point in their life. Whilst most return, a number fall into nomadic lives, or eventually settle down among the other races. Many Miraluka throughout history have become Jedi, which is aided by the general philosophical views of the Miraluka being quite similar to those practiced by the Jedi Order.
A key factor in Miraluka society is a sense of universal Brotherhood. Very much united by race, the Miraluka consider themselves to be part of a single, great family, referring to each other as brothers and sisters. Crime is rare, though local constables ensure that the laws are kept, and armed conflict is non-existent; as a result, the Miraluka have never possessed a military of any kind.
As they are deeply connected to the Force, the Miraluka are a very spiritual race, and worship two gods: Ashla, and Bogan – representations of both the Light and Dark Side of the Force. They practice a belief in the Force very similar to that of the Unifying Force, known as the philosophy of the Greater Force, and reject good and evil as absolute concepts. Within this framework, they have come to accept both life and death, believing both to be a part of the Force, and often look onwards towards the future rather than focusing on the here and now.
This philosophy is watched over by the race’s own Force organization: the Luke Sene. Unlike other organizations, such as the Baran Do sages or the Jedi Order itself, the Luke Sene emphasise the Force as a religion. Rather, they operate in a similar manner to an educational institute, and are highly respected on all levels of Miralukan society. Miraluka with above-average Force-senses are encouraged to join the Luka Sene, who help them to refine these abilities. Members of the Luka Sene permeate all levels of Miralukan society; though most possess only slightly increased metaphyiscal-sensory abilities, all work towards the betterment of themselves, their lifestyles, and Miralukan society as a whole. In addition, the Luka Sene act as a guiding hand for the entire race, acting as guardians to ensure the Miraluka do not begin to drift towards the Dark Side and serve the light.
Another core aspect of Miraluka society is the ritual surrounding their eyecoverings. What began as a measure of politeness towards other species – the lack of eyes is often seen as shocking or unsettling by other races, humans in particular – and simple practicality – the skin covering the vestigial sockets of a Miraluka is quite sensitive – has grown into a deeply ingrained part of Miraluka society. Eyecoverings are an essential part of a Miraluka’s appearance and identity; a lack of one is considered taboo, comparable to a complete lack of clothing. Removal of a Miraluka’s eyecoverings is seen as a gesture of true intimacy, love, and trust, and is reserved for the closest of friends, family members, and lovers.
Though ritual surrounding eyecoverings tends to vary by province, large sections of Miralukan society practice a type of baptism; children, when born, do not immediately receive names. Instead, the child bears only their family name, until the end of their fifth month. By this point in time, they can be assured to have manifested their ability to see through the Force, and the parents undertake a ceremony, where their child receives both their given name and their first eyecovering at the same time. Culturally, a Miraluka who has not undergone this ceremony is seen by most of the populace as an outsider rather than a true Miraluka. Such cases have occurred frequently enough historically to prompt the development of a second ceremony, which an adult may choose to undertake in order to be ‘reborn’ as a true Miraluka.
There is no universal design for eyecoverings, and they are as much indicative of their wearer’s personality as their choice in clothes. Blindfolds and veils are easily the two most common types of eyecovering, but there are many others, from full-head shawls, to tinted glasses, to full-face masks; many individuals take joy in personalizing their eyecoverings, and use them to make fashion statements.
Of further note is the Miraluka approach to language. Verbally, the race as a whole speaks Galactic Basic, and the ability to read and write it is taught from a very young age. However, Basic is not the primary written language of the species: that place is instead taken by the truly unique language of Miralukese.
Unlike every other language, Miralukese exists solely within the Force, and requires the use of Force Sight to perceive. There is no spoken component to the language; time, and the adoption of Galactic Basic, has robbed the Miraluka of their memories of its pronunciation. The language itself is believed to be a descendent of the High Galactic spoken by the original colonists of the Miraluka’s lost homeworld, and exhibits the same core syntax and structure – as well as superficial resemblance to Galactic Basic, itself descended from High Galactic. Time has further shifted the language; in its current state, it is best described as a mixture of both conventional alphabetical linguistics, and pictography. Letters and words are woven into pictures themselves, becoming indecipherable to those who are unfamiliar with the language and unable to read the arrangements in the correct manner.
Body language is also an integral part of Miralukan communication. Because of their greatly enhanced observation and information processing abilities, Miraluka are acutely capable of recognizing and analysing body language. This trait is, however, primarily sociological rather than physiological; on the whole, Miraluka move much less than most species in the course of regular conversation. The standard human level of activity and body movement, for example, would be construed as loud shouting by a Miraluka. By contrast, the Miralukan equivalent to regular human levels of movement would make a human believe them to be quite stoic and unemotive. This approach causes young Miraluka to develop their body-language-reading skills early, and in turn adopt the minimal-movement customs of their parents; very young Miralukan children, or Miraluka who have lived away from their race for a lengthy period of time, or who simply never learned to read body language for one reason or another, are much less adept at reading body language, and often come to exhibit the more physically active body language of other species in the galaxy.
As it exists within the Force, no writing utensils, flimsi, or datapads are required to write Miralukese; rather, it is imprinted directly onto an object. Rather than appearing as a singular colour, it instead takes on characteristics of its writer, mirroring the colour of the writer’s alignment within the Force (usually a light shade of blue) and appearing nebulous and glowing. Advanced Force users are capable of imprinting Miralukese letters directly into the air – which in turn has resulted in a curious phenomenon where, rather than facing a singular direction, the letters always face whoever is looking at them, despite looking two-dimensional, and even when multiple individuals are looking at the same letters from different angles.
Technology on Alpheridies and Katarr is present, but rare. Throughout history, the Miraluka have focused on peaceful agriculture, ensuring self-sufficiency. Off-world imports are uncommon, and whilst repulsorlift vehicles are the primary mode of transport, technology typically only extends to computers, farming equipment, and a few types of manufacturing machines in the rare – and small – industrial centers of the planet. Spaceports exist on both Alpheridies and Katarr, but few Miraluka own starships; even the nomads prefer to barter passage with others rather than purchase their own. Even the space stations orbiting Katarr, gateways to the planet below, are mostly crewed by non-Miraluka, overseen by Miralukan officials.
Finally, Miralukan government is built around an oligarchic model. Twenty-three oligarchs, representing the twenty-three provinces, form the ruling council of Alpheridies. Katarr, with a much smaller population, possesses a council of only eight oligarchs, along with a representative of each station. Though nominally part of the Galactic Alliance, both planets remain firmly out of Alliance affairs – including the Union War – and no Senator represents the planet on Coruscant.
Miraluka in the Galaxy
Miraluka are uncommon in the galaxy; few in number, and with fewer leaving their homeworlds, most spacers have heard plenty about the race without ever meeting one. Their cultural views, universal Force-sensitivity, and their lack of eyes (and subsequent adoption of eyecoverings), has lead to a near-universal stereotyping of members of the race as ‘blind seers’. Those few spacers who do encounter a Miraluka are typically disappointed they cannot see into the future and tell them the winning numbers of their next local lottery.
Notable Miraluka throughout history include Jerec, a former Jedi and member of the Imperial Inquisitorius, Lucien and Krynda Draay, humans with Miralukan heritage (notably, Krynda possessed both physical sight and the normally unique Force Sight of the Miraluka), Q’Anilia, a Jedi Master who lived around the time of the Jedi Civil War, and Visas Marr, a companion of the Jedi Exile and one of the Lost Jedi who rebuilt the Jedi Order after the First Great Jedi Purge.
Marr is only one instance of a Miralukan Jedi; throughout history, the Miraluka have been drawn to the Jedi Order, an organisation espousing similar values to their own. In the days of the Old Republic, many who did not become fully-fledged Jedi Knights served instead as teachers, mentors, and educators, establishing historical ties between the Luka Sene and the Jedi Order.
The New Jedi Order, by contrast, has few Miraluka serving the Alliance in any capacity; its most notable Miraluka member, Lamiya Meir, went missing several years ago, and several of the remaining Miraluka have returned to Alpheridies to help rebuild. Conversely, four Miraluka stand out in the ranks of the Obsidian Union; the Sith Lord Darth Ares, the Union’s High Marshall, his apprentice Darth Amorata, Darth Sai, apprentice to the Union’s Overseer, and Darth Kree.