Shoaneb Culu

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Shoaneb Culu was a female Miraluka who served as a Jedi Knight in the days of the Old Republic. She traveled from her homeworld of Alpheridies to seek out a Jedi who could train her in the ways of the Force, planning to return one day to her homeworld and establish a Jedi academy there. She wished to bring Jedi training to the already Force-sensitive Miraluka people, so that others of her kind would not have to travel from their homeworld to learn about the Force. Shoaneb eventually found her way to the Jedi library world of Ossus where she trained under the Jedi Master Vodo-Siosk Baas—she would ultimately become a very knowledgeable student of the history of the Jedi Order. Following the completion of her training, she was selected to be one of the few Jedi who were sent as reinforcements to help Ulic Qel-Droma during the Freedon Nadd Uprising on Onderon. The Naddist Revolt helped identify Shoaneb as an aspiring and deserving Jedi, and she would later participate in the Convocation at Mount Meru, as well as fight against the Krath during the Great Sith War.

She was an experienced and talented pilot, choosing to fly a S-100 Stinger-class starfighter in most conflicts. During the Great Sith War, she flew as Jedi Three against the Krath at Cinnagar. She was also one of a handful of Jedi who learned how to fly one of the Beast Riders' war beasts shortly after The Naddist Revolt.

Shoaneb Culu, along with fellow Jedi Qrrrl Toq and Dace Diath, was killed when Aleema Keto used Sith powers to destroy a star in the Cron Drift.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Jedi training 1.3 The Naddist Revolt 1.4 The Krath conflict 1.5 The First Sith War 1.6 Battle of Kemplex IX 2 Personality and traits 3 Powers and abilities 4 Behind the scenes 5 Appearances 6 Sources 7 Notes and references 8 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Against the wishes of her parents, Shoaneb Culu left Alpheridies at any early age to seek out members of the Jedi Order. However, before she left, Shoaneb vowed to one day return to her homeworld and establish a Jedi training center there, in an effort to train the already Force-sensitive Miraluka. Shoaneb looked at the lengthy journey that lay before her; she reasoned that founding a Jedi school on Alpheridies would provide other Miraluka the opportunity to have Jedi readily available to teach them the ways of the Force. To this end, she decided that, once she had begun her training as a Jedi, she would explore all the knowledge and lore available to her, so as to be better prepared for the teaching role she wished to pursue.^[1]

However, Shoaneb's travels became much more difficult than she had first anticipated. Throughout her childhood she had grown comfortable with how Alpheridies environment affected her natural Force awareness—so when she ventured outside of the boundaries of her homeworld, Shoaneb experienced an exceptionally different feeling through the Force, given off by her new, and ever changing surroundings. The Force vibrations that she felt started to become increasingly difficult to endure, and at times she became unbalanced as she attempted to adjust to the new environments she found herself in. Eventually, Shoaneb learned how to adjust to her new awarenesses and managed to decrease the time it took her to reestablish her bearings from days, to hours, to seconds.^[1]

[edit] Jedi training

Shoaneb's journey took more than a year before she finally reached the place where she could feel the Force calling her—the Jedi library world of Ossus. Once on the planet, she found herself drawn to Master Vodo-Siosk Baas, who eventually agreed to take her on as his apprentice. Shoaneb began her training immediately, and took an active interest in her studies of ancient Jedi lore. Due to her excitement about finally being able to train as a Jedi, and coupled with her naturally inquisitive nature, Shoaneb found herself in the Great Jedi Library studying ancient lore for long hours. Often times she could be found asking Vodo and other Masters a great many deep, thought provoking questions. Shoaneb's relentless line of questions troubled Master Vodo, and he mistook her curiosity for a thirst for quick power. However, when Master Vodo expressed his conceerns to Shoaneb, she told him of her desire to eventually return to Alpheridies and establish a Jedi training center there. She explained that it was not a lust for power, but a desire to help others; she hoped to learn all she could from the libraries and Jedi Masters, so that she could one day become a teacher herself. Hearing this, Master Vodo was greatly relieved and dedicated many hours each day to Shoaneb, helping her gain a deeper understanding of the Jedi Order, its history, and of the Force.^[1]

Shoaneb excelled at the academic portion of her studies, surpassing her peers in understanding the Force and assimilating Jedi lore, but the level of her natural Force abilities eventually fell below that of the other apprentices. As a result, she continually fell behind in her Force technique. The next several months saw Shoaneb become increasingly frustrated with her lack of progress—as time continued to pass, she began to fear that her dream of bringing Jedi teachings to her homeworld would not come to pass.^[1]

Master Vodo recognized the troubles that his young apprentice was going through, and decided to spend time with Shoaneb, showing her that she need not worry about the future, and that she should only trust in the Force. After several private sessions with Master Vodo, Shoaneb began to understand what he was telling her—that it was not her place to be concerned with things outside of her control, and that her expectations for her homeworld were hampering her training advancement. She began to see that what she planned may not be what the Force would produce, regardless of her actions. Following these sessions with Master Vodo, Shoaneb overcame her depression, and was able to continue her training with a different outlook on her future as a Jedi. Although she had developed a new attitude, Shoaneb still experienced difficulty with her training in Jedi techniques, especially when it came to constructing her own lightsaber. Even though she still had problems, she did not allow herself to become anxious over them. Instead, she accepted the fact that she had not yet reached her full potential in these problem areas, and decided to dedicate more time towards her Force training.^[1]

Near the end of Shoaneb's apprenticeship, Ulic Qel-Droma sent a request to the both the Jedi assembled on Ossus and the Galactic Senate on Coruscant for reinforcements while fighting in the Freedon Nadd Uprising. Shoaneb, as with many other Jedi present on Ossus, volunteered for service on Onderon. Upon hearing Shoaneb's request, Master Vodo pulled her aside from the assembly and offered his counsel on her offer. Vodo expressed that he did not feel Shoaneb yet possessed enough confidence in her own abilities to be an effective member of the task force. Shoaneb, however, did not become frustrated or agitated with her mentor's concerns—instead, she calmly replied that she understood his reluctance, and he had been a good teacher, but she had learned to place her trust completely in the Force. Shoaneb confessed that it was not for glory that she sought Onderon but that the Force was pulling her towards something important. Vodo was surprised by the calmness that he felt in her, and realized that he had misjudged his student. Vodo gave Shoaneb his blessing.^[1]

The morning following the assembly, Shoaneb joined her fellow Jedi Qrrrl Toq, Dace Diath, Kith Kark, and Nomi Sunrider on the task force headed to Onderon.^[1]

[edit] The Naddist Revolt

Ulic Qel-Droma and his brother Cay, Tott Doneeta, Oss Wilum, and Jedi Master Arca Jeth had originally been on Onderon tracking down and fighting the dark side energies that subdued the planet for centuries. Not long after defeating Queen Amanoa and driving back the spirit of the Sith Lord Freedon Nadd, Master Arca and the other Jedi were confronted by a new dark side power. A Sith cult known as the Naddists attacked the funeral procession of Amanoa and managed to steal the sarcophagi of both the fallen Queen and Freedon Nadd. Following this event, Master Arca was captured by the Sith sorcerer King Ommin, and subjected to prolonged torture. At the request of Ulic Qel-Droma, five Jedi, including Shoaneb Culu, were dispatched from Ossus to help contain the situation that was rapidly escalating on Onderon.^[3]

The five Jedi traveled to Onderon and made their way to the walled city of Iziz, the last reported location of Ulic and his team of Jedi. However, when Shoaneb and the others arrived at the city, they sensed through the Force that Ulic was no longer in Iziz, but rather somewhere nearby. They realized that he was held up in the Beast-Lord Oron Kira's fortress not far from the city. Rushing to Ulic's aid, Shoaneb and the other Jedi charged the more numerous enemy ranks, using the Force to project a shield around themselves, utilizing Force battle-techniques perfected by Jedi over many centuries. During the fight to reach Ulic, Shoaneb demonstrated a natural affinity with her lightsaber, often fighting separate from the other Jedi. Shoaneb and her Jedi comrades finally reached Ulic, and together, the combined Jedi force stormed King Ommin's stronghold and managed to free the imprisoned Arca Jeth as well.^[3]

Following King Ommin's defeat by the Jedi, the remains of Freedon Nadd, Ommin, and Amanoa were interred in a tomb on the jungle moon of Dxun, where it was hoped that Nadd's dark side taint would eventually fade.^[4] Shoaneb was among the Jedi present on Dxun during the interring ceremony.^[3]

[edit] The Krath conflict

Following the events of the Naddist Revolt, Shoaneb, and the other surviving Jedi who fought in the uprising, were afforded a short vacation, and were taught to fly drexls: famed beast mounts of Oron Kira and the Beast Riders. Before long, Master Arca informed Shoaneb and the other gathered Jedi on Onderon, about the coup that was recently staged in the Empress Teta system. Tott Doneeta also spoke of Aleema and Satal Keto, Tetan royals who were also recently on Onderon. Shoaneb deduced these two cousins must have learned Sith magic from King Ommin, and carried Sith teachings across the galaxy. This turn of events caused Master Arca much concern, and he therefore ordered Shoaneb, Dace Diath, Qrrrl Toq, and Oss Wilum to Ossus to report to the Jedi assembly what had transpired on Onderon. He also advised them to warn the Republic of the impending danger presented by the rise of the Satal and Aleema's Krath.^[5]

The information provided by Shoaneb and her fellow Jedi allowed the Republic to organize a joint Republic-Jedi fleet and set out for the Empress Teta System—more specifically to Koros Major. The combined fleet arrived in the system just in time to lend aid to the last remaining holdouts which were fighting against the Krath. However, the Krath commanders, Satal and Aleema Keto, used their Sith magic, conjuring illusions and causing the Krath forces to employ suicide tactics against the attacking Republic fleet.^[5] The Republic-Jedi fleet was severely defeated and forced to retreat to Republic space. Shoaneb Culu was among the few Jedi pilots to survive the attack on Koros Major.^[4]

The severity of the Krath coup, combined with their victory at Koros Major and subsequent incursions into Republic space, worried the Jedi leaders. As a result, a conclave was called on the planet of Deneba. The Conclave on Deneba was held on Mount Meru and saw thousands of Jedi Masters and Knights arrive to take part in the discussions—among the many Jedi Knights present,was Shoaneb Culu. During the assembly Ulic Qel-Droma presented a plan in which he would volunteer to infiltrate the Krath, and destroy the cult from within. However, Shoaneb was one of many Jedi, to openly speak out against Ulic's plan. While the assembly was debating the proposed strategy, they were suddenly attacked by the Krath and an army of their war droids. Shoaneb fought beside her fellow Jedi, and they were able to repel the attack, though Master Arca was killed during the fighting. Ulic was devastated by Arca's death, and used it as justification for implementing his infiltration plan.^[5]

Ulic's plan was successful, and he quickly rose through Krath ranks while unwittingly walking the path of the dark side. After several months of no contact with Ulic, the Jedi sent Nomi Sunrider to search for him. After an unsuccessful attempt by Sunrider to bring Qel-Droma back to Ossus, the Jedi felt it was time to extract Ulic from the Krath, forcefully or otherwise. The Jedi planned an all-out assault against the Krath forces on Cinnagar, involving a fleet of warships and a strike team of Jedi. Attached to the Republic fleet was a squadron of Jedi starfighters, consisting of Oss Wilum and Dace Diath flying the new Star Saber XC-01 fighters, and Shoaneb flying her personal S-100 Stinger-class starfighter—during the attack, Shoaneb's call sign was Jedi Three, while Oss and Dace were Jedi One and Jedi Two, respectively. For the most part, the attack went according to plan, and Shoaneb demonstrated her flying abilities by destroying several anti-aircraft emplacements. However, when the Jedi strike team confronted Ulic, he turned them away, instead choosing to stay with Aleema and the Krath.^[5]

[edit] The First Sith War

The events that transpired on Cinnagar forced Shoaneb and the other Jedi to retreat to Ossus and decide upon what their next course of action would be. In response, Master Vodo and a number of other Jedi, including Shoaneb, arrived on Coruscant to convene the Senate and advise them of the troubles ahead. While Shoaneb and the other Jedi were on Coruscant, Qel-Droma, who by this time had become a Sith Lord, led the Krath in a massive attack against the Republic capital. Shoaneb, along with Dace Diath and others, defended the city-world against the invading armies. The Krath were eventually repelled by the Republic and Jedi forces, and forced to retreat away from the planet. Due to the treachery of Aleema Keto, Ulic was left by himself to fight the combined might of several Jedi, including Nomi and Master Vodo—both of whom used a Force-blocking technique which had been taught by Master Odan-Urr. Shoaneb combined her Force powers with the other Jedi present and helped to temporarily imprison Ulic in the light side of the Force.^[2]

Even though the Jedi managed to temporarily capture Sith Lord Qel-Droma, he was soon rescued from captivity by his Sith Master, Exar Kun, and Mandalore the Indomitable. In the process, Shoaneb.s former Master, Vodo-siosk Baas was killed. Once Ulic was back in command of the Krath forces, he was informed by Mandalore that it was Aleema who been betrayed and abandoned him on Coruscant. Ulic considered what Mandalore told him, and found it to be true, sensing it through the Force. His revenge was quick and decisive—Ulic organized an attack fleet to head for Kemplex IX, and placed Aleema in command. Ulic knew that Aleema's attack on the Republic outpost would result in a deadly supernova, though he led her to believe that she would be perfectly safe. When word of an attack on Kemplex IX reached Jedi ears, Shoaneb, Dace Diath, and Qrrrl Toq volunteered to lead a Jedi force in response to the distress signals.^[2]

[edit] Battle of Kemplex IX

The Great Sith War had begun to take its toll on the Jedi ranks, and many Jedi were gathered on Ossus in response to the various attacks on Jedi Masters by agents of Exar Kun. During the gathering, the Jedi Knight Tott Doneeta announced that the Republic jump station at Kemplex IX was under attack by a mysterious Sith ship. The gathered Jedi expressed their concern over this, and Master Thon explained his beliefs that the enemy attack on Kemplex IX was actually a feint, reasoning that everything the Sith wanted was right there on Ossus.^[2]

Upon arriving at Kemplex IX, Shoaneb, Qrrrl, and Dace found the ancient Sith ship, which was under the command of the sorceress Aleema, orbiting the Republic jump station. Shoaneb followed her fellow Jedi on an attack run of the Sith ship, but she suddenly sensed a great disturbance in the Force. What she felt was the immense Force energies of the Sith ship as Aleema began to focus its power.^[2] Little did Shoaneb and the other Jedi realize that Aleema had activated the ancient weapons on the Sith ship to rip the core from the center of one of the stars in the Cron Cluster. The resulting supernova overcame Shoaneb's and the other Jedi's starfighters, killing the three Jedi instantly.^[4]

[edit] Personality and traits

Shoaneb Culu was a curious person by nature, and as a Jedi, had a natural interest in learning all possible knowledge from the Jedi Masters. During her training on Ossus under Master Vodo-Siosk Baas, her constant questions and inquisitive nature were mistaken for a thirst for quick power. However, once she explained her natural questioning nature, and also confided her hopes of one day becoming a Jedi teacher on her homeworld, Master Vodo realized that he had been wrong in his assumption. He then dedicated much of his free time in helping her find a deeper understanding of the history of the Jedi and Force.^[1]

[edit] Powers and abilities

Even though she initially had a troublesome time in progressing her Force techniques and with constructing her lightsaber, Shoaneb decided to focus on her problem areas, and eventually became a formidable duelist and Force user. During the Naddist Revolt on Onderon, Shoaneb demonstrated her skills with a lightsaber when she was one of only five Jedi fighting against a vastly numerically superior enemy. During this battle, Shoaneb was often seen fighting separate from the other Jedi, and demonstrated that she had indeed overcome her initial troubles with Foce techniques.^[3] During the Great Sith War, Shoaneb again demonstrated her skill with a lightsaber and Force proficiency while defending Coruscant from a Krath attack. During that battle she was one of the Jedi who helped defend against the Krath army. After the Krath were forced to retreat, she combined her Force powers with her Jedi comrades to capture the rogue Jedi Ulic Qel-Droma.^[5]

Shoaneb was also a skilled pilot, often choosing to fly her personal S-100 Stinger-class starfighter into combat. She was one of the Jedi who participated in the combined Republic-Jedi attack on Koros Major—and subsequently, was one of the few Jedi pilots to survive the battle.^[4] She again flew as part of a Jedi task force during the failed-rescue attempt of Ulic Qel-Droma from the Krath palace on Cinnagar. During that battle, she flew as Jedi Three and was responsible for destroying several dangerous anti-aircraft emplacements. She was also credited with having shot down several enemy fighters.^[5] Shoaneb was one of three Jedi pilots who responded to the Krath attack on Kemplex IX.^[2] Following the events of the Naddist Revolt, Shoaneb, along with several other Jedi who had fought in the uprising, were taught by the Beast Riders of Onderon to fly their war beasts.^[3]

[edit] Behind the scenes

In Shoaneb Culu's entry in the Tales of the Jedi Companion it is stated that she joined Kith Kark, Dace Diath, and Nomi Sunrider and that the four Jedi made up the task force which was headed to Onderon. However, as per the primary source Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising, the Nazzar Jedi Qrrrl Toq was also present on the task force. She also makes no appearance in neither the Tales of the Jedi or Dark Lords of the Sith audio dramas, respctively, despite playing significant roles in the comic versions of both storyarcs.

In the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Handbook there is a Jedi academy which is called the Culu Memorial Center. According to the story, it was built sometime after the Great Sith War, and some readers presume that it might have been named after Shoaneb Culu—it has not been officially stated in the Knights of the Old Republic Handbook, or elsewhere to date, if it was indeed named after Shoaneb Culu.

[edit] Appearances

• Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising (First appearance)
• Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith
• Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War

[edit] Sources

• Tales of the Jedi Companion
• Power of the Jedi Sourcebook
• The Official Star Wars Fact Files
• Star Wars Encyclopedia
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Handbook (Indirect mention only)
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
• Jedi Academy Training Manual

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] External links

•  Shoaneb Culu in the Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia