Umbaran

"I can't even see the enemy!"
"That's why they're called the Shadow People, Tup!"

―Clone troopers during the Battle of Umbara^[4]

Umbarans, culturally known as the Shadow People, resided on the dark world of Umbara deep within the Ghost Nebula. Umbarans could see in ultraviolet (below 300 nanometers) and had the ability to read, subtly influence, and sometimes control the will of others.

Biology and appearance

Umbarans were gaunt, frighteningly pale near-Humans with achromatic sunken eyes. Male Umbarans stand between 1.7 to 2.0 meters tall.^[2] Due to Umbara's eternal twilight, their eyes were well adjusted to the dark, but they were easily disoriented when exposed to sudden bright flashes of light.^[3]

Society and Culture

Umbarans spoke the language Umbarese^[2] which was written using the Umbaran alphabet.^[5] Umbarans were highly isolated and manipulative. Many had a darker sense of humor than the average Human, which would manifest in social interactions. Masters of misdirection, Umbarans almost never revealed their true thoughts or intentions.^[3]

Umbaran society was built on a finely detailed caste system comprising almost one hundred levels. Only those in the top ten caste levels were given the opportunity to leave their homeworld, explaining their rarity outside the Ghost Nebula.^[6] The primary ambition of the average Umbaran was to ascend through the caste levels, using tactics from blackmail and subterfuge to assassination. Assassination was attempted quite often and was done through sublte methods such as microscopic poison darts, nanotechnology, undetectable poisons, and small, stylish stiletto-like knives called vootkar. Shadowcloaks could be worn to further assist in these assassinations. These more subtle methods were seen as being more refined than blasters and vibroblades which were thought to be messy. Failed plots to ascend the ranks of society were met harshly with the attempted perpetrator imprisoned and their family dropped to one of the lower caste levels. Dependent upon the rank of the targeted individual, the perpetrator risked a death sentence for themselves and their entire family. Successful maneuvering, however, was rewarded with prestige, making Umbarans view such attempts as being worth the risk.^[1]

The highest caste level, known as Rootai, comprised a council that ruled Umbara, and its members were considered royalty.^[1] The Umbarans had their own military known as the Umbaran militia, which protected Umbara and the Umbarans from invasions.^[7]

History

Umbarans maintained a political presence starting with the dawn of the Old Republic, and during the era, they drifted like specters through Senate Corridors and various chambers of power.^[3] They became objects of fear and suspicion because of their subtle ability to influence others.^[1]

During the waning years of the Old Republic, Umbarans used their natural mental sway to secure positions of power. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine selected an Umbaran by the name of Sly Moore to be his Staff Aide. Moore was entrusted with some of the soon-to-be Emperor's darker secrets.^[3]

During the Clone Wars, the Umbarans seceded to the Confederacy of Independent Systems following the murder of Umbaran Senator Mee Deechi.^[5]

During the Great Jedi Purge, Umbarans were used as spies and thought police, with the main objective of weeding out rogue Jedi who escaped the onslaught.^[3]

During the Galactic Civil War, Umbarans led efforts to roots out anyone who is not loyal to Emperor. Their effectiveness led even the Emperor's most dedicated followers grow to fear them, that strengthens the xenophobic sentiment among many of his closest advisors. They assisted the Emperor in finding Rebel sympathizers hiding within the ranks of the Imperial government and military.^[3] The Umbarans were particularly disliked by officers of Imperial Intelligence, who resented the fact that they are subject to Umbaran scrutiny-a resentment that grows every time they unmask a Rebel double agent in their ranks.^[2]

The death of the Emperor at the Battle of Endor caught many Umbarans by surprise. Even before the fall of the Empire, Umbarans had already begun their retreat from the galaxy. Fearing retribution from both the Imperial Remnant and the New Republic, the Umbarans fled civilized space back to the Ghost Nebula.^[3] With time, as memories of the Empire started to fade in the minds of the galaxy's beings, the Umbarans began to filter back into the galaxy, though in the low numbers typical of their off-world presence during the Old Republic.^[2]

Umbarans often wore Shadowcloaks.^[3]