Lao-mon

Lao-mon was the tropical homeworld of the shape-shifting Shi'ido species, it was known in their language as Sh'shuun. Their world remained isolated, its exact location unknown to any outlanders.

History

Lao-mon (or Sh'shuun in the native language)^[3] was an isolated world^[2] within the Colonies region,^[1] although some sources place it in the Unknown Regions.^[4] This planet was the homeworld of the Shi'ido, a sentient species of shapeshifters.^[2]^[5]^[3]^[6] Shi'ido physiology is extremely flexible. In natural form, Shi'ido are roughly humanoid, with large craniums, thick limbs, and no hair. Their thin bones are very dense, allowing support even in the most awkward mass configurations. Their physiology includes a series of tendons that can release and reattach themselves in different formations. They also have a great deal of hidden fleshy mass that they can access and use to enlarge their shapes. Shi'ido transformations are made complete by the use of telepathic suggestions imposed upon viewers, painting the image of what they want the observers to see in their minds. This helps cover over any inaccuracies in the Shi'ido's transformation, but it is extremely difficult to maintain.^[3]

Lao-mon was home to the sentient Shi'ido species

The Shi'ido are a rare species; therefore, galaxy-wide society knows little about them and their homeworld.^[1]^[2]^[5] Their planet, when the Shi'ido speak of it, is referred to as a garden world ravaged by disease,^[1]^[2] but no other information is ever offered.^[1] The governments of the Old Republic and Empire have never located Lao-mon^[2] and neither state has any corresponding planet listed in its records.^[1] The Shi'ido went to great lengths, short of violence, to guard their species' secrets. They were curious, shy, and secretive. They preferred to avoid confrontations, especially on their homeworld, where they would pretend to be innocuous aliens, harmless creatures, boulders, or trees to avoid outlanders. Lao-mon was a tropical world populated by large predators. No expedition to Lao-mon ever yielded evidence that the Shi'ido – or any other sentient species – had ever lived there. It was assumed that the species’ ability to change shape had protected them from both discovery and predators.^[5]

Shi'ido are a long-lived species: some of the oldest members of the race are five hundred standard years old. For this reason, they've developed an acute interest in learning about the universe and all the people in it-learning something new makes traveling from their solitary world worthwhile.^[3] Mammon Hoole the Shi'ido was born on Sh'shuun, where he became an excellent student. Eventually, he left his homeworld to study at the Galactic Research Academy, where he was appointed professor of anthropology.^[7]

Lao-mon slider was added to the menu at Dex's Diner on the planet Coruscant. Dexter Jettster, the host of the diner, chose this name in reference to the Shi'ido's ability to take on any humanoid form.^[8]