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Moltok
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Moltok was aplanet located in theAtrivis sector of theOuter Rim Territories.Orbiting close to itssun, the planet was quite warm, kept habitable only by the shielding action of active volcanoes. Beneath the ash they spewed forth, moist rain-forests covered the planet, home to a countless array of plantspecies. The planet was home to twosentient species, theHo'Din and theMakurth. The former were known throughoutthe galaxy for their botanical skills, while the latter often found employment as bodyguards in the criminal underworld.
The planet was part of galactic society from at least5000 BBY, with its natives participating in theGreat Hyperspace War,Mandalorian Wars and theNew Sith Wars. Moltok almost faced ecological disaster in300 BBY when the Ho'Din began clearing large swaths of land for new industry. That led to a plague that could have spelled the extinction of the Ho'Din, had they not created a herbal remedy.
Description[]
Moltok was one of the innerplanets of theDartibek system[2] located within theAtrivis sector of theOuter Rim Territories.[1] It had such a swiftorbit that on a planet of its proximity to astar, theatmospheric temperatures would typically be intolerable for life; however, Moltok had a number of active volcanoes that spewed ash into its skies. That layer of ash shielded the planet from a portion of the heat, bringing its temperatures within a comfortable range. The ash also caused diffraction at dawn and dusk, creating brilliant shades ofcrimson in the sky. In the lower latitudes of the planet, the temperature reached up to 113standard degrees during the day. There were occasional cold spells on Moltok, which caused the reptilianspecies on the planet to enter hibernation, and Moltok had such a high degree of axial tilt that the polar regions of the planet were significantly cooler than equatorial regions and inhospitable to theHo'Din.[2]
Theoxygen-rich world was covered in rain-forests of hugetrees, within which varying amounts of light produced distinct ecological layers. In the upper levels grew leafy greens—a staple diet for the native Ho'Din—and huge aerial vines that the arboreal sentients fashioned into walkways and structural supports. Enormous flowers up to several meters across also grew in that level, ranging in coloration from dark black to pale pink. On lower levels of the forests grew carnivorous plants, which were used by the Ho'Din as sentries to controlinsects and pests. Further down, the forest floor of Moltok teemed with organisms specializing in the breakdown of decaying matter. That activity replenished the soil, ensuring that the huge trees had adequate nourishment. Specific plants that grew on Moltok included thewuppa—its giant flowers of red and violet were reminiscent of Ho'Din tresses[2]—and theCamba-Fruit.[5]
History[]
Two reptilian sentient species evolved on Moltok: theMakurth[6] and the Ho'Din.[4] The space surrounding Moltok became integrated into thegreater galaxy at some point between15,000 and8000 BBY,[3] with the Ho'Din active in galactic society from as early as5000 BBY, whenLohjoy served as an engineer for theSith Empire during theGreat Hyperspace War.[8] Later, members of the Ho'Din also served theGalactic Republic, as in3964 BBY, whenOojoh trained as aJedi Knight on the Outer Rim worldTaris,[9] andLieutenantRutu served in theRepublic Navy during theMandalorian Wars.[10] Around3630 BBY,[11] a long-abandoned city was discovered in Moltok's forests, and the settlement was investigated by explorers shortly before it was buried under ash from nearby volcanoes.[12] Makurth were found offworld by1000 BBY when at least one participated in theNew Sith Wars on the side of theSithBrotherhood of Darkness,[13] despite Moltok owing its alleigance to the Republic. Thoroughout that period from 5000 to 1000 BBY, Moltok was a stopping point on ahyperlane running fromCoruscant, the capital of the galaxy, to distantDantooine.[3]
Master Gardener Spero, a native of Moltok living on Coruscant.
In300 BBY,[14] the arboreal Ho'Din began toshift to a more industrial society. That required widespread clearing of Moltok's forests to make way for factories, cities,[4]mines andfarms. As some species of flora became extinct, aggressive organisms on the forest floor were forced to adapt. Certain parasites from the lower levels found a new home within Ho'Din digestive tracts. The parasites took nourishment from the Ho'Din, causing them great suffering, eventually forcing the Ho'Din to withdraw back to the upper levels of the forests. After decades of research, the Ho'Din were able to overcome the parasite through herbal remedies; however, the experience had transformed the reptilian species. The Ho'Din subsequently worked hard to restore the natural habitats of their planet.[2]
That restoration was supported by their dominant religion,[Dinante Fli'R]. It described the Ho'Din evolving from mobile plants and later being transformed into animals as retribution for their sins against nature. Nature was considered a passive force known as[Dinegia]. The religion further taught that if the Ho'Din acted as good stewards of their environment they would fulfill[Flik'a kirki], or the "Virtuous Circle of Nature", and be reborn as plants. The priest of [Dinante Fli'R] became the main civic rulers of Moltok, and erased records of the advances in technology produced by Ho'Din in their strip-clearing years. They also ensured that what little technology was on the planet was strictly controlled.[2] Crumbling ruins of the old factories and cities were the only reminder of that time.[4] That repression led some Ho'Din to develop a fascination for technology.[15] Some decades later, during theClone Wars of22 to19 BBY, Moltok fell within territory controlled by theConfederacy of Independent Systems, which sought to secede from the Galactic Republic.[3]
The focus on botanical sciences bore fruit for the inhabitants of Moltok, as they were able to export their herbal medicines tothe galaxy.[2] Ho'Din products includedDistilled Water of Moltokian Camba-Fruit,[5]Ho'Din-style veggie omelets[16] andHo'Din herbal teas.[17] These strong exports, coupled with the minimal imports to the world, made it one of the richest planets in the galactic market. That wealth was frequently used to sponsor botanical projects on worlds struck by disasters, and toterraform other planets into "gardens" to enable other beings to commune with nature.[2] Moltok remained in control of successive factions of theGalactic Empire, including as part ofOversector Outer,Thrawn's confederation, thePentastar Alignment, andPellaeon's Empire.[3] Under the Empire, some Ho'Din transported rare plants back to Moltok for botanists to study in greenhouses.[7] TheNew Republic finally gained control of the space around Moltok in17 ABY,[3] Botanical studies continued under the New Republic, including a study simulating the life cycle of thewinged-stars ofCaluula.[18] In25 ABY, Moltok had a population of between one and ten million. However, the planet was soon a target for invasion by theYuuzhan Vong, an extra-galactic species, during their initial invasion of the Outer Rim Territories. Moltok wascaptured by the Yuuzhan Vong and remained occupied for the duration of the war. While liberated after the war, by40 ABY, Moltok had come under the control of a resurgentFel Empire.[3]
Inhabitants[]
Ho'Din[]
- "Ho'Din are not limited to their eyes and ears, princess. We never forget our friends."
- ―Spero[19]
The Ho'Din were bipedal reptilians of green and yellow coloration, averaging between 2.5 and 3 meters in height. They had a lipless mouth, two bulging dark eyes, and their heads were topped with red and violet tresses that functioned as thermographic sensors. Ho'Din had four-fingered hands with suction pads that aided the arboreal sentients in climbing. The average Ho'Din lifespan was 120 years, reaching sexual maturity at age 30.[2]
The [Dinante Fli'R] church was central to Ho'Din life. Its consent was required for Ho'Din marriage, and the priestesses played a key intermediary role in the reproductive process, transferring the "seed of life" from themale to the female in imitation of insect-facilitated pollination.Younglings produced outside that ceremony were drugged and sacrificed to the organisms of the forest floor.Dead of all ages were likewise deposited on the forest floor to nourish further life.[2]
AMakurth, a saurian species from Moltok.
Many Ho'Din became botanists renowned throughout the galaxy, such asMaster GardenerSpero[20] and theJedi MasterPlett, who settled onBelsavis.[5] However, a number became radical environmentalists, using their skills in acts of eco-terrorism. These includedOrt Hoogra-D'En,[21]Maki Salak,[22] andYansan.[23]
Makurth[]
The Makurth were bipedalsaurians, covered in green scales and with four prominent curved horns on their heads. They were nocturnal creatures, prone to snorting and flaring their nostrils in order to intimidate opponents.[13] The carnivores also had a terrifying scream that they uttered before entering combat. Makurth found frequent employment with the criminal syndicateBlack Sun as bodyguards.[6] A notable Makurth wasFohargh, who trained as aSith apprentice at theBrotherhood of DarknessAcademy onKorriban. He was killed in aduel with the futureDark Lord of the Sith,Darth Bane.[13]
Behind the scenes[]
Troy Denning created Moltok, and its sentient Ho'Din inhabitants, forGalaxy Guide 4: Alien Races, a sourcebook published byWest End Games1989. The planet received mentions in several other West End Games publications before appearing as a planet inStar Wars: Rebellion, aLucasArts strategy game released in1998. Later that same year,Decipher added the Makurth as a second sentient species to the planet with the release of itsSpecial Edition Limited set of theStar Wars Customizable Card Game. Several publications have subsequently mentioned the planet, withJason Fry andDaniel Wallace'sThe Essential Atlas, published in2009, providing details of the planet's history.
Appearances[]
- "The Admiral's List: Jimas Veltraa Memorial Edition" — Knights of the Old Republic 13(Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne(Mentioned only)
- Episode I Adventures 5: The Ghostling Children(Mentioned only)
"Gone To Ground" —No Disintegrations(Mentioned only)- Star Wars: Rebellion(First appearance)
- The Lost City of the Jedi(Mentioned only)
- Queen of the Empire(Mentioned only)
- Children of the Jedi(Mentioned only)
- The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force(Mentioned only)
