Oblee

Last Updated: 1/23/2024

Name: Oblee/Shadow Lurkers

Humanoid: Yes

Classification: Alternative/Energy

Homeworld: Unknown (Oblis)

Coloration: Pink, Tan, or White

Biology: The Oblee were a sentient race of bipedal humanoids who had made their way into the known Star Wars galaxy. They stood slightly shorter than the average Human, averaging out at around 1.6 meters in height, with two legs and three arms. Uniquely, the Oblee possessed a double shoulder on the left side of their body, the joints situated horizontally, meaning they had a front and back left arm/hand, each of their hands having four pointed fingers. The species had thick, wrinkled flesh that was completely hairless and described as pale and chalky, ranging in color from pink to white.

Oblee heads were elongated, with their necks slanted slightly forward, giving the species a sort of hunched appearance. They had large chins and pronounced jaws, a defined crease extending from between their lower and upper jaws, separating them into distinct segments. Said crease ran from the edges of their lips around and up to an ear-like growth consisting of an orb of flesh behind a slight, presumably aural, cavity. Oblees had large noses which had a prominent ridge ending in a protruding browline. Their upper lips sported vertical striations that ended at their nose or lower set of eyes.

One of the species most unique traits, aside from the trio of arms, were their eyes. Oblees had four eyes, situated in a sort of square like configuration on the front of their face. Each row of eyes could move independently, giving the species a fairly versatile sense of vision. These eyes were solid, and came in a wide range of darker colors. Each row of eyes could actually have their own distinctive coloration, meaning individual Oblees each had two different eye colors, a trait that was apparently not genetic. When Oblees were fatigued, the skin on their face, especially around their eyes, grew much more wrinkled than usual. Additionally, the species was capable of pronouncing Galactic Basic, although they preferred their native tongue, also known as “Oblee.”

Unfortunately, the information above is mostly outdated as, at one point, all known Oblee in the galaxy were the victims of a devastating Force attack from a malicious, sentient Sith artifact known as the Darkstaff, which devastated Oblis, wiped out much of the race, and “transformed” the survivors into something… else. The remainder of the Oblee were now known as “Shadow Lurkers,” darkness-infused ghost-like beings who had no corporeal form. Shadow Lurkers were nothing more than consciousnesses who sometimes manifested spiritual forms that, presumably, somewhat resembled how they had appeared in their original lives. Despite all of this, these ex-Oblee were not technically considered dead, but were, by all means, immortal.

Given their state, Shadow Lurkers could exist within any environment, and so traveled the galaxy, spending most of their time drifting across the void of space. While they did not need to feed, they had the capacity to drain the life force from other sentient beings. Once they had turned their prey into husks, they could then possess their bodies, living normal, albeit false, lives until their current host died and they were free to roam once again. Somehow, Shadow Lurkers still possessed their previous genetic code, and when breeding while possessing others bodies, could actually pass on their DNA, impregnating others with pure Oblee offspring. This ensured that the Oblee’s original state could live on in a sense, although we don’t know the details about this form of reproduction or how these new Oblee might have differed from the baseline.

Lore: The Oblee were apparently an ancient species, originating from somewhere within the depths of the Unknown Region or beyond. Some time long before 1,000 BBY the species settled on the world Oblis, the planet either named after the species or the species gaining a secondary name because of its existing name. They were an advanced people who built up a great and expansive civilization across Oblis said to be leagues ahead of most of the galaxy at the time in terms of technology and development. Much of their wealth seemingly stemmed from Oblis’ rich crystal deposits, leading to a flourishing mining industry on the world for a time. From what we know, the Oblee never allied themselves with anyone, let alone the Galactic Republic, and instead remained independent throughout their entire known history.

Some time after the peak of their existence on Oblis, between 3,600 and 1,000 BBY, an event occurred that would reshape the course of the Oblee forever. An ancient Sith artifact simply known as the Darkstaff, which had been passed around over the millennia, ended up on Oblis. This act was seemingly intentional, possibly a final whim from the rogue Sith faction known as “Dread Masters” before they were officially dissolved. With the Darkstaff now in the hands of the Oblee, its evil influence began to take effect. It turns out the staff was actually a sentient entity, presumably the preserved soul of a long-dead Sith Lord who had imbued his essence into the artifact, just as many other Sith had done in an attempt to cheat death. Seeking death and destruction, the Darkstaff made its power evident to the people before summoning a dark apparition to start consuming the world.

The Oblee quickly noticed some sort of horrifying entity entering Oblis’ atmosphere, unaware that it was actually the result of the Darkstaff. The energy-based entity began feeding on the world, specifically slowly draining the Oblee of their emotions, and thus inciting panic. Playing into the Sith spirit’s hands, the species rapidly constructed a superweapon that they believed could defeat or at least drive away the monster, requiring the immense energy emanating from the Darkstaff to power it. This sealed their fate, as the staff instead used the weapon and power it had collected to detonate the entire world, leaving Oblis nothing more than an asteroid field. The staff, of course, managed to preserve itself and was later recovered from among the rubble. However, the Oblee were nearly entirely driven to extinction, only a handful (possibly those closest to the Darkstaff when it activated) instead infused with the Dark Side of the Force, becoming incorporeal beings known Shadow Lurkers who bore noticeable traits to the creature that was supposedly going to consume their world.

Little is known about the Lurkers’ activities afterwards as they were rarely visible and took on a whole new mindset, driven primarily by their desire to once again interact with the physical world. We know they would travel across the expanse of space, seemingly in packs and in real-time, hoping to eventually come across an inhabited world. At some point they realized they had the capacity to drain sentient beings of their essence and subsequently possess their bodies, which gave them at least some satisfaction, although it still could not stand up to having a permanent, personal form. At some point their existence was discovered, presumably by a Force-using faction like the Jedi or the Sith, although there was apparently nothing that could be done to return them to their original state, nor to end their eternally void existence.

The remnants of Oblis were eventually overtaken by various other intergalactic mining corporations, and it’s possible some Shadow Lurkers still lingered in that area, willing to possess unsuspecting miners. Through mysterious means, the Lurkers were also able to produce genuine offspring, although these occasions were so rare and so far spread that these new Oblee often had no clue what species they were. Some were able to trace their roots to the now seemingly extinct Oblee, which only led to more confusion, as they were simply too rare to ever come across each other. There is also reason to believe that the Oblee living on Oblis did not make up the entire species’ population, and instead they were simply a colony extended from their mysterious planet-of-origin hidden away somewhere even further from the Core.

Continuity: Nothing surrounding or regarding the Oblee is Canon.

Unexplored: Within the confines of the EU, there’s still quite a bit left unexplained about the Oblee, although with Canon, they’re a blank slate. This is also one of those species that may benefit from their lore remaining obscured, although I’m not big on mysteries so I’ll pose some questions below that, if answered, would help us better understand, characterize, and write the Oblee. So first off, where did the Oblee originate? Were they truly from the Unknown Regions, or possibly further beyond, potentially even traveling from another galaxy entirely? Why did some end up on Oblis, and was the species always referred to as the “Oblee,” did they possibly refer to themselves by some other name back where they originally came from, or did they possibly name the world housing their newest civilization after their name?

Why did they arrive within the Expansion Region/Oblis? Were they seeking new resources, maybe splintering away from an overpopulated homeworld, could they have been fleeing from something, observing someone, or just for the heck of it? Was their entire population found on Oblis, or was that only a portion of their people, the remainders unaffected by the Darkstaff event wherever they came from? When were the Oblee first discovered by the rest of the galaxy, and was it explorers who came across them, or did they possibly reach out and introduce themselves to groups like the Galactic Republic? Was there ever a time they joined the Republic, or at least considered membership, or was there a reason why they always maintained independence? Is it possible they were ever secretly allied with the old Sith, and if not, why would the Darkstaff have been transported to Oblis in the first place?

What exactly happened during the events leading up to and during Oblis’ destruction? What was the true nature of the being that threatened the planet from above, and was it a real entity or only an extension and manifestation of the Darkstaff’s influence? What was the population thinking during this time, and what sort of dark tales might we find during their final hours? What were the details regarding the Oblee’s transformation into the Shadow Lurkers? What sort of existence did they lead, were they considered undead spirits or conscious energy or something else? How, when, and where did they travel? What did it look like when they drained and possessed a body? And how exactly might they have managed to spread their DNA leading to the resurgence of new Oblee? Finally, did these Oblee ever unite and begin to reform their society, did they ever manage to communicate with the Shadow Lurkers, and was a method ever discovered which granted the Lurkers a way to end their existence and finally achieve peace?

Additional Notes: Man I love this species right here! So many fantastic, fascinating aspects to both their lore and design! A three armed-species? I absolutely adore the idea! The whole Shadow Lurker thing is also incredibly fascinating, and the links to the Darkstaff, which itself was explored further within the SWTOR, are just the cherry on top. The only complaint I have is that they were so seldom utilized within the EU, and, of course, that they have yet to be mentioned within Canon. Of course, if that ever happens, certain Legends-exclusive elements will have to be omitted, but I’d still like to see some of what was established be adapted into Canon. Hopefully someday soon!

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