Unidentified squid-like creature

A species squid-like creatures lived deep within the oceans of the planet Mon Cala. The creatures were believed to be as old as the planet itself, and many avoided delving into the Great Ungeness Trench for which it resided. Shortly after the Battle of Dac City, one of these creature came into conflict with the Sith Lord Darth Vader. The Dark Lord used the Force to propel both himself and the creature upwards into a higher depth of the ocean, which caused the creature to rapidly depressurize and die.

Biology and appearance

A species of squid-like creatures were native to the planet Mon Cala. They were colossal in size and were considered to be ancient, having lifespans longer than most other creatures on the planet. They lived in the depth of the oceans and hibernated for long periods of time.^[2] They had multiple tentacles with tooth like protrusions on them^[1] and could grow large enough to level an entire city with one lash. They had a large single eye in the center of their body that emitted a glow that could be seen from a significant distance away. It was covered by an eyelid that could be encrusted in rock. They had a maw with rows of serrated teeth.^[2] They were known to grab prey with their tentacles to eat them^[1] or to open their maw, creating a swirling current that would draw prey into its mouth and belly.^[2] They could not survive at higher depths, as its body was held together by the pressure of the ocean.^[1]

History

A creature of legend

According to the myths of the Mon Calamari people, a species of squid-like creatures existed for as long as the planet itself, slumbering in dreamy hibernation at the unexplored depths of the planet, unconcerned with the short-lives of the creatures that lived above them.^[2]

By the time the Mon Calamari were just a fledgling species, many Mon Calamari had ventured close to the Great Ungeness Trench where the creatures lived and were seen again. According to one tale, there was once a boy by the name Carus who dreamed of becoming an intergalactic explorer. He delved into the depths of the waters surrounding the Mon Calamari city he lived in, despite the warnings from his parents. One day Carus, after being teased by his friends Athbrin and Surack, swam into the trench where one of the creatures lived, looking up at the boy from the bottom of the crevice. He was snared by a keelkana the first time, but the second time he came armed with a harpoon and successfully made it to the bottom of the trench. He unknowingly touched the glowing orb of light that was the creature's eye. The creature recoiled and swung one of it's massive tentacles at the boy. As Carus tried to escape, the creature opened its maw, creating a swirling current that drew the boy in. The creature swallowed the boy and slowly closed its eye and returned to sleep. The story of Carus' deadly ambition would go onto to be used by parents to warn their children of the dangers of going down into the Great Ungeness Trench, for fear that the beast might one day be awoken again.^[2]

Slain by a Dark Lord

In 18 BBY,^[3] following the Battle of Dac City, the Sith Lord Darth Vader fell to the depths of the Great Ungeness Trench before dropping his lightsaber and being grabbed by the creature. As it moved the Dark Lord to its maw, Vader used the Force to compel the creature to release him and give him his lightsaber. Vader then used the creature as vehicle to take towards the surface of the water. Because of the difference in pressure, the creature's eyeball popped out and it died, drifting lifelessly in the water.^[1]

By 34 ABY,^[4] the story of Carus and the giant squid-like creature lived on. It was sought out and carefully transcribed into the book Myths & Fables which was sold at Black Spire Outpost on Batuu.^[5]

Behind the scenes

The unidentified squid-like creature made its first appearance in Darth Vader (2017) 15 written by Charles Soule and released on April 25, 2018.^[6] It's lore was expanded on in the short story "The Leviathan" written by George Mann and released in the Target-exclusive edition of Myths & Fables on August 30, 2020.^[7]

Appearances

• "The Leviathan" — Myths & Fables
• Darth Vader (2017) 15 (First appearance)

Sources

• Star Wars: Timelines

Notes and references