Uvak

Uvak were sizable, four-legged reptavians featuring expansive, leathery wings, prominent beaks, and substantial tails. Mirroring most predatory species, they possessed a pair of emerald eyes positioned at the front of their heads. An individual uvak surpassed the size of a fully grown Keshiri or Human. Their paws were equipped with four digits terminating in sharp claws. As a reptilian species, uvak bodies were entirely covered in scales and they reproduced by laying eggs. Their impressive strength and endurance made them suitable as mounts and transportation animals within Keshiri society.

Each uvak could support a maximum of two individuals of Human size. They could also fly across vast terrains and oceans by utilizing a jetstream present in Kesh's upper atmosphere. However, the Keshiri and Sith generally deemed long-distance travel between Keshtah Minor and the continents of Alanciar and Eshkrene as perilous, if not unachievable. While uvak populated Keshtah Minor and Alanciar, they were absent from the frozen, polar continent of Eshkrene in the planet's South Pole due to its severe climate.

Uvak were known for their unpredictable nature and often formed intense bonds with their riders. The demise of a rider frequently drove uvak to insanity. Consequently, they were typically housed with the relatives of the deceased to maintain their mental stability. Wild uvak, lacking riders, were notorious for their lethargy and aggression towards other living creatures. They also displayed notable intelligence and the capacity to develop distinct personalities. One uvak, named Nink, famously cast its rider, Zhari Vaal, into the sea as retribution for prolonged mistreatment. Nink subsequently cultivated a close and affectionate relationship with Vaal's widow, Adari Vaal. Within Keshiri society, uvaks were considered a symbol of status by ruling factions, including the Neshtovar and later the Lost Tribe of Sith.

Individuals sensitive to the Force could also communicate with their uvaks. During Dreypa's rebellion in 2975 BBY, Kaliska, leader of the Doomed, employed the Force power of animal friendship to persuade a herd of uvaks to journey from the port city of Eorm to Eshkrene at the south pole. By 37 ABY, aspiring Lost Tribe riders began manipulating the dark side of the Force to dominate infant uvaks still within their eggs. The aim was to induce the uvak to "imprint" upon the Force-user, allowing them to claim the creature. The Sith Vestara Khai forged a strong connection with her uvak Tikk through this process. Following their separation in 44 ABY, Tikk's grief was so profound that Vestara's father, Gavar Khai, had to euthanize the uvak to alleviate its suffering.

Uvak's evolutionary origins are traced to Kesh, a secluded planet situated in Wild Space. At some point, the Keshiri, a humanoid species with purple skin indigenous to Kesh, tamed and domesticated the uvaks. Subsequently, the uvak became beasts of burden and mounts in Keshiri society. By 5000 BBY, uvak had become a symbol of status and only members of the Neshtovar, an elite political and religious aristocracy, were permitted to ride them. Uvak occupied a significant role in Neshtovari religion. Nesthovari cosmology held that the Skyborn, a group of deities, had ridden gigantic crystal uvak during the "Great Battle" against the Otherside, malevolent entities associated with death, disease, fire, and rebellion.

The Neshtovar considered themselves "Sons of the Skyborn," responsible for conveying the knowledge of the Great Battle and Keshiri creation to the oceanside mountains of the continent Keshtah. The Nesthovar employed uvak steeds to unify the entire continent under their governance. Many Neshtovari developed lasting bonds with their uvak steeds. Zhari Vaal was known to mistreat his uvak steed Nink, who retaliated by throwing its rider into the sea, resulting in Vaal's drowning. His widow, Adari Vaal, a geologist, inherited Nink and developed a close and amicable relationship with the uvak.

In 5000 BBY, Adari Vaal's scientific research on tectonic plates contradicted the Neshtovar's teachings attributing Kesh's volcanic eruptions to the Skyborn. Harassed by the Neshtovar, Vaal and her uvak fled into the Takara Mountains. While flying over these mountains on Nink, Vaal discovered the stranded Sith Empire ship Omen. She and Nink witnessed Yaru Korsin pushing his brother Devore Korsin off a cliff into the Southern Ocean. During this incident, Vaal lost her balance and fell from Nink, managing to hang onto the uvak's foot until it landed on a seaside perch.

Later, Vaal found the offworlders' mountain encampment and met Yaru Korsin. She learned that the offworlders were primarily Human Sith stranded on Kesh after the Omen was attacked by a Jedi starfighter while transporting Lignan ore to Sith Empire forces during the Great Hyperspace War. There were also 55 Red Sith and a contingent of Massassi warriors, but these succumbed to Kesh's atmosphere or were killed during the Red Sith Purge in 4985 BBY. Korsin persuaded Vaal to help them escape their predicament. She agreed and led the Neshtovar to the Siths' mountain encampment. The Sith, posing as the Keshiri gods known as the "Skyborn," gained the allegiance of the Keshiri on Keshtah Minor.

The Sith then occupied the Neshtovar's homes in the capital Tahv. With the Neshtovar's decline, Vaal became an honored member of the new Sith government. Shortly after arriving, the Sith seized the strongest uvaks. A group of Sith riding enthusiasts formed an uvak-riding club called the Skyborn Rangers, which evolved into the Tribe's air force. However, the Keshiri retained most of the uvak population as domesticated animals. By 4985 BBY, uvak were also used to transport water throughout Keshiri settlements and operated the pulley system that fed Tahv's aqueduct.

Uvak also facilitated Sith administration of Keshtah. They transported Sith circuit riders to outlying settlements to consult with local bureaucracies staffed by former Neshtovar members. Neshtovar were permitted to fly uvak for work and visits to the Sith's mountain retreat. Following the lakes poisoning incident in 4985 BBY, the Sith banned Keshiri from riding uvak to control information flow on Keshtah. Many former Neshtovari became stable hands and policemen. Vaal was the sole exception, allowed to keep Nink to visit Korsin.

Eventually, many Keshiri, including Vaal and disaffected Neshtovari, opposed Sith rule and formed an underground resistance movement. Their goal was to undermine Sith rule, expel them from Kesh, and liberate the Keshiri species. By 4975 BBY, Vaal attempted to organize a strike against the Sith by stealing their uvaks. The Keshiri resistance amassed an army of over a thousand Keshiri and five thousand uvak. Vaal's uvak Nink, at forty years old, was the oldest uvak and considered their leader. However, the Keshiri resistance's plans were foiled when Vaal's son Tona Vaal betrayed them to Nida Korsin, Grand Lord Korsin's daughter.

Consequently, many Keshiri resistance members were forced into exile, while others were killed. Vaal, along with a thousand Keshiri riders and their uvak, fled across the ocean by utilizing a jetstream. Turbulent conditions reduced the survivors to three hundred riders and their uvak. They were stranded on an island but rescued by Alanciari sailors from the continent of Alanciar, which was home to another Keshiri civilization. Vaal and her allies warned the Alanciari Keshiri about the Sith threat on Keshtah. In response, the Alanciari Keshiri fortified their defenses and prepared for a potential Sith invasion.

Meanwhile, the Sith consolidated their rule over Keshtah. By 3960 BBY, several uvak were raised for rake-riding, a blood sport pitting flightless Keshiri against human wranglers. These uvak were deliberately made flightless as infants by clipping their wing muscles upon hatching and inserting grass prongs into their wing edges. From a young age, they were trained by their handlers to fight and kill to satisfy the Lost Tribe's bloodlust. During one such rake-riding event, Campion Dey, an uvak wrangler, unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate Grand Lord Lillia Venn. The attack failed, and Dey and his uvak were killed.

As a result, Dey's sponsors—High Lord Candra Kitai and her daughter Orielle Kitai—were blamed for the assassination attempt and reduced to slaves. Candra was forced to shovel manure at the Zoo, a facility housing uvaks and other wild beasts. Orielle and her uvak fled Shyn to the farm of Jelph Marrian, a stranded human Jedi who had ended up on Kesh during the Jedi Civil War. Later, members of the Lost Tribe caught up with Orielle, killed her uvak, and confiscated her lightsaber on the pretext that her family had conspired with the High Lords of the Gold and Red factions to assassinate Grand Lord Venn.

This led to Orielle attempting to regain their status by revealing the existence of Marrian's Aurek-class tactical strikefighter to the Tribe. Ultimately, Grand Lord Venn and several followers were killed during an attempt to seize Marrian's starfighter. This event, known as the Night of the Upside-Down Meteor, initiated a power struggle that lasted almost a millennium and devastated much of Keshtah. Orielle and Marrian survived the Night of the Upside-Down Meteor and lived in secrecy in the jungle highlands of Keshtah's interior.

In 3000 BBY, the reformist Grand Lord Varner Hilts restored order to Keshtah Minor, ending the civil conflict. After rebuilding Sith society, he initiated a program to explore the seas and lands beyond Keshtah. Following a visit to the ancient Sith ship Omen in the Kesh Sith Temple, Hilts learned of Alanciar, a second continent separated from Keshtah by a vast ocean. By 2975 BBY, Edell Vrai, one of Hilt's associates, had developed a fleet of airships for long-distance travel powered by uvak. These uvaks were harnessed to the airship and there was sufficient room on board the airships for the beasts to rest, eat, and sleep when their services were not needed. Despite the dangerous nature of these airships, the Sith were unable to develop sailing ships since Keshtah's hejarbo trees were unsuitable for building ships.

Uvak-powered airships were used during the Sith invasion of Alanciar. Vrai led a small expedition of three airships to explore Alanciar. However, they were attacked by Alanciari ballistae and an "air force" of uvak riders stationed at Garrow's Neck. During this skirmish, the uvak "Starboard," attached to the airship Candra, crashed on the Alanciari man Jogan Halder, wounding him. He and his lover Quarra Thayn, an officer in the Alanciari military, were captured by the Sith and later cooperated with them in return for Vrai sparing the life of her lover. Later, High Lord Korsin Bentado led a large invasion force of airships known as the Ebon Fleet to invade Alanciar. This breached an earlier agreement which he had made with Vrai to only attack after the latter had returned from his reconnaissance mission. These airships and their uvak were wiped out by Alanciari artillery defenses as well.

Despite these losses, Bentado's forces regrouped and infiltrated the Alanciari capital of Sus'mintri where they killed the War Cabinet, Alanciar's military leadership. Bentado then attempted to rebel against Grand Lord Hilts and create a "Second Tribe" on Alanciar. However, he was thwarted by Vrai, Quarra, and his Keshiri assistant Squab, who killed Bentado. Ultimately, the Lost Tribe took control of Alanciar peacefully after coercing Halder into convincing the Alanciari Keshiri that the Sith were not a threat. Halder claimed that Bentado and his followers were "servants" of the malevolent Destructors and that Hilt's supporters were actually the Protectors. As a result, the Lost Tribe were able to gain control of Alanciar by winning the support of its people.

Following the "conquest" of Alanciar, the Lost Tribe phased out its fleet of airships in favor of wooden ships. The Alanciari had been able to build large numbers of wooden sailing ships because Alanciar was home to large forests of trees with lumber strong enough to withstand the turbulent oceans. However, uvak were still used for transporting goods and people and relaying communications on both Keshtah and Alanciar. During Dreypa's rebellion, the Sith princess Takara Hilts, daughter of Lord Varner Hilts, and the Doomed leader Kaliska stole an entire herd of uvak from the port town of Eorm. They used the Force to convince the uvaks to fly to the southern continent of Eshkrene, which was home to the Doomed, the descendants of stranded Jedi and Dark Jedi from the Hundred-Year Darkness. These Force-users had made peace with each and had dedicated themselves to protecting the Keshiri from external threats.

During Dreypa's rebellion, uvak flown by the Sith's Skyborn Rangers played an important role in turning the tide of the Battle of the Marisota Floodplain against Baron Remulus Dreypa's rebels. Dreypa was an ancient Sith veteran of the Hundred-Year Darkness who had been imprisoned for four thousand years within an oubliette by the ancestors of the Doomed. He had been one of the most powerful Dark Jedi leaders and desired to return to the wider galaxy in order to seek vengeance against the Jedi and the Galactic Republic. Dreypa and his forces retreated to the volcano known as Sessal Spire where he unleashed Leviathans, ancient reptilian Sithspawn capable of draining the souls of other lifeforms, on both his pursuers and former allies. These Leviathans devoured everything that moved including several uvaks. The Doomed and their uvak steeds later arrived but proved no match for Dreypa's dark side powers and his Leviathan monsters.

Following the Battle of Sessal Spire, the Sith outcast Parlan Spinner, who had previously allied himself with Dreypa, changed sides and joined forces with his former enemies Takara and Kaliska in defeating Dreypa. Spinner used an uvak to ferry Takara's weakened mother Grand Consort Iliana Hilts back to the Sith capital Tahv. Following the death and defeat of Dreypa, an uvak and its rider were seen flying above Tahv during the reconstruction of the city. An important legacy of the Takara's contact with the Doomed was that the Lost Tribe learned the Force power known as animal friendship. Thus, the Sith on Kesh were able for the first time to use the Force to influence their uvak steeds. This brought relations between the uvaks and their Sith masters to a new level.

By 37 ABY, relations between uvak and their Sith masters had progressed to a new level. By then, prospective Lost Tribe riders had begun using the dark side of the Force to force their will on infant uvaks while they were still residing in their eggs. Their goal was to cause the uvak to "imprint" itself upon the Force-user, thus allowing the latter to claim the uvak for themselves. The Sith apprentice Vestara Khai developed a close bond with her uvak Tikk through this experience. After the two were separated in 44 ABY, Tikk was so driven to grief that Vestara's father Gavar Khai was forced to euthanize the uvak to put him out of his misery.

The Uvak were first introduced into the Expanded Universe by Christie Golden and first appeared in her novel Fate of the Jedi: Omen, the first book in the Fate of the Jedi series which was released on June 29, 2013. Their relations with their Sith masters were further explored in her novella Imprint which was released in July 2009. Uvak later appeared in Golden's third Star Wars novel Fate of the Jedi: Ascension. Their anatomy, physiology, behavior, and history was further developed by John Jackson Miller, who authored the Lost Tribe of the Sith novella series which ran from 2009 to 2012.

Uvak also appeared in Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith—Spiral, a comic spinoff of Miller's novellas which ran from August 8 to December 12, 2012. They were drawn by Andrea Mutti, inked by Pierluigi Baldassini, and colored by Michael Atiyeh. In addition, they were also illustrated by the cover artist Paul Renaud. According to Miller, the comics were faithful to the original description of the uvaks in Omen but were more svelte than he had imagined. He also commented that the first uvak he had written about, Nink, was a rather fat member of his species. Pablo Hidalgo's The Essential Reader's Companion, which was released on October 2, 2012, also included a painting depicting the Keshiri character Adari Vaal and her uvak steed. This painting was illustrated by Darren Tan.