The Eternal Empire

The Eternal Empire of Zakuul is a totalitarian dictatorship under the Immortal Emperor. Citizens don't merely obey the Emperor--they view him as their timeless guide and protector. By trusting him with all political and military power, they can focus on higher learning and the finer aspects of civilized society. All citizens receive a monthly stipend of credits and resources such as food and fuel. Compared to the rest of the galaxy, the average Zakuulan would be a member of the upper class and want for nothing. They are an idealistic people--scientists, artists and philosophers--who look down on the Sith Empire and Republic, disgusted by their warmongering ways. Instilled with Valkorion's arrogance, they believe it is their burden to bring enlightenment to the rest of the galaxy. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic / SWTOR)

Read also: The Eternal Throne | The Old Ways of Zakuul

The Old Ways of Zakuul

Before Valkorion's rise to power, Zakuul was a backwater planet in Wild Space with almost no contact with the rest of the galaxy. Forced to settle in bogs and swamps, early Zakuulans were a superstitious, nihilistic people who worshipped a pantheon of ruthless gods. These deities expressed their power through the pain and suffering of their followers. The pantheon's father was Izax, the god of death and the Ultimate Devourer. The ancient Zakuulans believed their fate was tied to the will of the gods and belonged to Izax. Those who challenged this view were considered demons. While most Demons were outcasts and expelled from society, a prophecy emerged claiming that one would climb beyond Izax's reach--an immortal god of gods who would topple the pantheon and usher in a new age for Zakuul. Claiming to be the Demon Savior of prophecy, Valkorion began his campaign against the Old Ways. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic / SWTOR)

Read more: Zakuul (Planet) | The Endless Swamps

The New Sith Empire

The Eternal Empire of Zakuul's emergence had grave consequences for the Sith Empire. Darth Marr's execution left the Sith leaderless as the armies of Zakuul ravaged their worlds. Most of the remaining Dark Council were slain or went into hiding, and the once proud Sith Empire was forced into a humiliating surrender.

As the new Sith Empress, Darth Acina swore fealty to the Eternal Throne. Under her rule, the Sith were allowed to maintain authority over most of the planets they had conquered, though each world paid a substantial monthly tribute to Zakuul.

Severe restrictions were also placed on the Sith military, with strict quotas imposed on the number of ships and troops allowed to remain in active service. However, there are rumors the Sith secretly--and rapidly--rebuilt their military since Vaylin came to power in anticipation of a renewed bid for independence. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic / SWTOR)

The Invasion of Ziost

"It is a decision I do not take lightly. Any incursion into Imperial space is fraught with the gravest of danger for every brave soldier who fights in our name. But there is a humanitarian crisis of the highest order on Ziost that demands our attention. When Imperial troops indiscriminately fire upon indentured slaves and helpless civilians, we cannot stand idly by. Those who cannot defend themselves--who have done no wrong yet find themselves under the thumb of the oppressive Sith Empire--must not be left to suffer.

"Someone must fight for them."

--Excerpted from the HoloNet address of the Galactic Republic's Supreme Chancellor Leontyne Saresh

The Sarlacc

The Sarlacc: A Galactic Enigma of Survival and Horror

The sarlacc, a bizarre and extraordinarily rare species, defies conventional classification in the field of xenobiology. Found on only a handful of planets across the galaxy, these creatures have fascinated and horrified explorers for centuries. Their semi-sentience and extreme longevity set them apart as one of the galaxy’s most enigmatic lifeforms.

A typical sarlacc is estimated to live for an astonishing 20,000 to 50,000 years, spending virtually all of its life in a single location. Once a sarlacc chooses a spot to inhabit, it buries itself deep beneath the ground, leaving only its massive, tooth-lined mouth exposed to the surface. This ambush predator’s sedentary nature makes it appear almost like a natural feature of the landscape—until it strikes.

The sarlacc’s mouth, resembling a gaping pit, is lined with sharp, spiny protrusions designed to trap prey. At the center, long, powerful tentacles lie in wait, ready to lash out and drag unsuspecting victims into the abyss. Once caught, the prey is swallowed into the creature’s stomach, where digestion begins—a process as unique as it is horrifying.

Unlike most predators, the sarlacc does not kill its prey immediately. Instead, its stomach fluids keep victims alive, prolonging their suffering for weeks, months, or even years as they are slowly digested. In some cases, digestion can take centuries, with the sarlacc absorbing not only the physical nutrients of its prey but potentially their memories and consciousness as well—a phenomenon whispered about in ancient legends and unconfirmed by science.

Sarlaccs are extremely resilient, their subterranean bulk making them virtually invulnerable to standard weapons. Attempts to destroy or extract a sarlacc have resulted in little more than wasted effort and, often, additional casualties. Their mysterious biology allows them to thrive in harsh environments, such as the deserts of Tatooine, where the infamous Great Pit of Carkoon serves as a grisly reminder of the sarlacc’s terrifying reputation.

For many sentients across the galaxy, the sarlacc is more than just a predator—it is the stuff of nightmares. Its ability to trap its victims in an agonizing limbo between life and death has inspired countless tales of horror. To the unlucky souls who find themselves near its maw, the sarlacc represents an inescapable fate, one that lingers long after the victim has been swallowed into the darkness.

Despite its fearsome nature, the sarlacc remains a topic of scientific curiosity and cultural lore. What role does it play in its ecosystems? How did it evolve to such a strange and specific existence? And what secrets might its millennia-old digestive processes hold? For now, the sarlacc continues to guard its mysteries, lying in wait beneath the sands, its legend growing with every generation that dares to tread too close.

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Extremely rare creatures that defy classification, semi-sentient sarlaccs have been identified on a handful of worlds scattered across the galaxy. Xenobiologists estimate the lifespan of an average sarlacc to be anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 years, with virtually all of that time being spent at a single location.

Sarlaccs typically bury themselves deep below the ground so that only their great mouths are exposed, making them virtually invulnerable to standard weapons. The mouth resembles a massive pit lined with spiny protrusions. From the center, long tentacles can lash out to grasp prey near the edges of the pit, dragging it down into the creature’s stomach where the unfortunate victim is slowly digested. Victims may survive for a period of weeks or months, kept alive by the sarlacc’s unique stomach fluids, but total digestion can take centuries. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

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C-3PO: Oh, dear. His High Exaltedness, the great Jabba the Hutt, has decreed that you are to be terminated immediately.
Han Solo: Good. I hate long waits.
C-3PO: You will therefore be taken to the Dune Sea and cast into the Pit of Carkoon, the nesting place of the all-powerful Sarlacc.
Han Solo: Doesn't sound so bad.
C-3PO: In his belly, you will find a new definition of pain and suffering, as you are slowly digested over a thousand years. (from: Return of the Jedi)

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Sarlacc map codex location
The Dune Sea, The Sarlacc Pit

Sarlacc video codex location

Video

Hutt Cartel

Officially, the Hutt Cartel is a business alliance between several different Hutt clans, working together towards the common goals of wealth and prosperity. Between its members, the Hutt Cartel controls vast resources, countless credits and many independent worlds–not least among them Hutta, their adopted homeworld, and Nar Shaddaa, the crown jewel of the underworld. Although the Hutts have no formal government, the Hutt Cartel acts as a loose governing body on these worlds and others.

Unofficially, the Hutt Cartel is a ruthless crime syndicate whose goals are not always so united. Turf wars and clan infighting have often left the Cartel in splintered uproar. Personal grudges and cutthroat competition can result in two rival clans warring in the streets one day and feasting together the next.

While historically the Hutt Cartel has remained neutral in galactic affairs, both the Republic and the Empire have made recent attempts to secure the Hutts’ loyalty. It remains to be seen what the outcome of these attempts will be–and what effect the Hutt Cartel will have on the galaxy at large. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

Read more: The Hutt Cartel Alliance

 Hutt Cartel Codex map location
Lower Promenade, Nar Shaddaa (x: -977, y: -813)

 Hutt Cartel Codex video location

The Hutt Cartel Alliance

The Hutt Cartel’s wealthiest and most influential leaders were abandoned to die with the planet Makeb when their paranoid ally Toborro accused them of plotting behind his back. To save themselves, these Hutts signed a binding treaty that made them official Republic allies. The Hutt Cartel is now obligated to lend its considerable resources to the Republic’s cause.

This alliance has been met with skepticism and outright hostility by the Cartel’s lesser members, none of whom were endangered by events on Makeb and therefore had no reason to accept the treaty’s terms. How these rancorous Cartel members will respond to Republic demands remains to be seen. In the meantime, the famous Hutt scientist Doctor Oggurobb now works as an official liaison between the Republic and Cartel leaders–a position he finds annoying in the extreme. (Codex Text - Star Wars the Old Republic)

Read more: Hutt Cartel