Miraluka

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"They claim to see on a higher plane than we do. You know, the whole Force thing? Makes me nervous."

―Atton Rand^[3]

The Miraluka, or Miralukans, were a Near-Human, Force-sensitive species. Their language was Miralukese, although some, like Visas Marr and the Dark Jedi Jerec, preferred Basic.

Biology and appearance

"Her species does not see as we do."

―Kreia^[3]

The female Miraluka displaying her vestigial eye sockets — The female Miraluka Visas Marr displaying her vestigial eye sockets

The Miraluka were a Near-Human^[2]species who primarily differed from baseline Humans as they lacked eyes, only retaining vestigial eye sockets.^[4] As a result of this, they perceived the environment around them through Force sight instead of ocular vision.^[2] This form of vision was so powerful that if a Miraluka looked upon a Jedi or Sith, they could "see" the Force radiating off them. The strength of a Miraluka's connection to the Force varied by individual. The Miraluka that lived on the Mid Rim planet of Katarr, prior to its destruction, were strong enough that they were able to feel the Battle of Malachor V in the Outer Rim.

Miraluka, as Near-Humans, could interbreed with baseline humanity. Humans with Miraluka blood included Krynda and Lucien Draay.^[5] It was said that such mating would result in difficulties for the offspring.^[3]

History

The Miraluka species originally evolved and lived upon an unknown planet within an unspecified segment of the Galaxy. At some point in time, however, their homeworld began experiencing deep instability, resulting in its atmosphere being lost into space, leaving it uninhabitable. As a result of the cataclysm, the species was forced to flee the planet, ultimately immigrating upon Alpheridies, a moonless world within the Abron system of the Expansion Region, orbiting the red dwarf Aber, where they came to coexist alongside the native Alpheridian species. Over the generations, however, due to the light emitted by Aber being in the infrared spectrum, the Miraluka underwent a period of mutation that caused them to increasingly lose their capacity to see and process visible light waves. During this time, the species’ long dormant ability to “see” the Force grew stronger, until they relied on the Force sight ability without conscious effort, resulting in the evolutionary removal of their eyes, while only retaining their vestigial eye sockets.

Later on, a population of Miraluka colonists had situated themselves on the Mid Rim planet of Katarr before it was stripped of all life by the Sith Lord Darth Nihilus in approximately 3952 BBY, during a Jedi convocation.^[3]

In the many years after the Jedi Civil War, an uncountable number of Miraluka had joined the Jedi Order, participating in most of their major battles. Scores of Miraluka commoners with little or no formal training also assisted the Order in administrative or teaching positions. When the Galactic Empire arose from the ashes of the Old Republic, the Miraluka suffered tremendously under Imperial rule, with the species being heavily persecuted by the humancentric ideology of the New Order. The Great Jedi Purge at the end of the Clone Wars wiped out thousands of Miraluka; as a result, thousands of members of the species were inspired to join the Rebel Alliance during the Galactic Civil War. While a troubled few were pressed into service as pawns and spies for the Empire, these few either fell to the dark side or destroyed themselves.^[6]

By the time of the New Jedi Order and New Republic, the Miraluka had only just begun to rejoin galactic society following the fall of the Empire. Because of the threat posed by the Yuuzhan Vong forces during their invasion of the galaxy, many Miraluka were forced to travel incognito, especially following the extragalactic invaders' attack on their homeworld.^[6]

Society and culture

The Miraluka were a thoughtful, cautious, and deliberate species, known for their lack of greed and having little interest in personal gain or glory.^[6] Being a generally peaceful people, the Miraluka sought to resolve issues without conflict, and only utilized violence if given no other choice. Once they had become committed to a plan or course of action, however, they would rarely change their minds. Due to their lack of ambition, most Miraluka were satisfied with living simple lives, with most on their adopted homeworld living as farmers. This trait also caused them to have little interest in technological advancement, resulting in their adopted home-planet possessing very few industrial centers and their most advanced technologies being comprised of small computers, repulsorlift parts, and basic farming equipment.^[7]

Being content with their lives on Alpheridies, many Miraluka had little interest in leaving their adopted homeworld and interacting with the wider galaxy. Despite this, the Miraluka were not unwelcoming towards outsiders and maintained a peaceful coexistence with the Alpheridians, the original native species of the planet, despite the Miraluka accounting for 90% of the planet’s sentient population.^[7] As a Force-using species, however, the Miraluka were often shocked if 'shown' life not connected to the Force, though such sentiment was not intended to be prejudicial. Over the generations, several younger members of the species developed an unquenchable wanderlust that drove them to experience life beyond Alpheridies. Those who resided away from Abron often lived a nomadic lifestyle, settling in one area for only brief period of time before moving elsewhere after growing tired of the sights and routines of a particular area.

A female Miraluka with her vestigial eye sockets concealed

In line with their naturally thoughtful and cautious nature, the Miraluka sought to avoid drawing attention to themselves when traveling through the galaxy. Thus, for social reasons, most tended to cover their vestigial eye sockets by wearing various forms of concealing headwear such as headbands, visors, or masks, which often resulted in them being mistaken for baseline humans, though it was extremely rare for them to take offence to such mistakes. In addition, all members of the species were very united by race, with individuals considering each other as respective members of a greater family. As such, when interacting with their own kind, it was a common tendency for Miraluka to address one another as “brothers” and “sisters”. Because of their strong sense of familial connection to one another, Miraluka laws and customs heavily emphasized moral notions of compassion, mercy, and redemption. Much like the Chiss, the Miraluka did not believe in executions and instead focused on the rehabilitation of those who violated their laws, with lethal force being utilized only if there were no other alternatives.

Due to their natural connection to the Force, the Miraluka were a deeply spiritual people, who possessed a unique understanding of the Force and its nature. Like the Baran Do of the Kel Dor and the Dagoyan Masters of the Bardottans, the Miraluka had their own order of Force-sensitives, the Luka Sene, which were present in all aspects and fields of their society, primarily serving as administrators and educators. Through their philosophy of the Greater Force, many members of the species worshiped two gods, "Ashla", who represented the light side of the Force, and "Bogan", who represented the dark side of the Force. Uniquely, they did not believe in the notions of good or evil, but were taught to accept the realities of both life and death. By this, in a strong resemblance to the philosophy of the Jedi, the Miraluka were taught and trained to accept that change and the constant flow of time are fundamental characteristics of existence, that death is inevitable and a natural part of life, and that acknowledging these truths would prevent unnecessary suffering. Thus, because of its corrupting influence, the Miraluka held a strong aversion of the dark side, with succumbing to its influence being considered a major taboo within their society. From an early age, Miraluka were trained to embrace the light side through meditation and education. However, as with all who felt the Force, a fall to the dark side was possible for the Miraluka. If a Miraluka was suspected of having fallen to the dark side, the Luka Sene would dispatch members known as Sene Seekers to attempt to redeem the individual or, if proven to be beyond redemption, attempt a live capture, with the target’s elimination being considered only as a last resort.^[7]

One of the leading aspects of Miraluka culture was its strong emphasis on education and learning. Within several parts of the Galaxy, Miraluka were well-known and respected for their capacity as administrators and teachers, especially those who were members of the Luka Sene, with most off-worlders considering the order akin to a Force-user university with some off-world families petitioning the order for assistance in how to manage their Force-sensitive children.^[7] Indeed, the adeptness of the Miraluka for academic learning and management was highly valued by the Jedi Order, with many Miraluka among its ranks primarily serving in teaching and administrative roles following the end of the New Sith Wars.^[6]

Miraluka in the galaxy

A Miraluka Jedi utilizing in battle — A Miraluka Jedi utilizing Farsight in battle

For much of their early history, most Miraluka chose to remain on their adopted homeworld of Alpheridies. Over the centuries, however, more Miraluka would come to leave their homeworld and establish deeper interactions with the rest of the galaxy. Prior to the First Jedi Purge, the species had colonized at least one planet, Katarr, before it was devastated and its population massacred by the Sith Lord Darth Nihilus.^[3]

Because of their naturally strong connection to the Force, many Miraluka were drawn to the Jedi Order and helped shape the Jedi Order for centuries to come. Numerous Miraluka Jedi fought in a number of great wars against the Sith Order and their empires including the Great Sith War, Great Galactic War, and the subsequent Cold War. One such member of the species was Shol Bestros, who, by the end of the Great Galactic War, became a leading member of the Jedi High Council.^[8] Additionally, during the Cold War, another Miraluka Jedi, Galen Besk, retired from the Order to aid and protect local settlers in the city of Anchorhead on the desert planet of Tatooine from both local raiders and the encroaching Sith Empire, eventually becoming the leader of the community.^[9]

, an infamous Miraluka and Imperial — Jerec, an infamous Miraluka Dark Jedi and Imperial High Inquisitor

In the waning days of the Galactic Republic, however, there were few remaining Miraluka Jedi, but many of the species, unsuited to becoming full-fledged Jedi, served the Order as teachers and administrators.^[10] Though not unheard of, Miraluka Sith were extremely rare, as the species' own outlooks on life and the Force were largely incompatible with Sith teachings. Despite this, during the Cold War between the Galactic Republic and the resurgent Sith Empire, at least two Miraluka, known as Yenoa and Vang, served in the Empire’s ranks as a Sith Inquisitor and warrior respectively, despite the dark side regime’s vehement speciesism towards non-humans and Sith Purebloods.

Amongst the most notable Miraluka in galactic history were Visas Marr, the only survivor of the Devastation of Katarr and the companion of Meetra Surik,^[3] Shoaneb Culu, a student of Vodo-Siosk Baas,^[11] Darth Nul, a Sith Lord of the Reconstituted Sith Empire,^[12] and the Dark Jedi Jerec, a member of the Galactic Empire’s Inquisitorius.^[13]

Behind the scenes

The Miraluka are featured in Star Wars: The Old Republic as a playable species that can select any of the four Jedi paths (Shadow, Sage, Guardian, or Sentinel) by default. With the introduction of the legacy system, the species can also be unlocked for any other class in the game.