Topic: The Cerean

[Cimter]

INFO: Cereans were a sophisticated and cultured humanoid mammalian species that hailed from the planet Cerea in the Mid Rim. They had tall tapering heads, which housed large binary brains, enabling them to focus on many things at the same time. Aside from this unique feature, Cereans were physically similar to Humans, although they possessed an extra heart, which supplied extra blood circulation to support their brains.

Cerean males aged more quickly than the females, who had similar lifespans to Humans. Thus, there were fewer males than females. Polygamous marriage was a necessity in order for the species to survive. Each male usually had one primary "bond-wife", and between four and ten "honor-wives".

Famous for their extraordinary thinking abilities, Cereans were often found among the ranks of the Jedi Knights, being exempt from the Jedi's vow of celibacy, due to their low birth rates. One such Jedi, Ki-Adi-Mundi, served the Jedi High Council during and prior to the outbreak of the Clone Wars.


RACE: Cerean
HEIGHT: 2 Meters Tall
SKIN: Pale pink
DISTINCTION: Cone-like skulls
LANGUAGE: Cerean

HOMEWORLD:
Cerea was a planet located in the Mid Rim region of the galaxy. The homeworld of the Cerean species, Cerea was notable for its inhabitants' harmonious relationship with nature. Technology and pollution were frowned upon by the conservative government, a major point in the planet's decision not to join the Galactic Republic. The Cerean population mainly lived in giant buildings that took up a minimum of space, allowing the remainder of the planet's area to be employed as farmland. Foreign immigrants and visitors were, with a few exceptions, only allowed in Cerea's Outsider Citadels, enormous buildings erected to let non-Cereans practice their technological ways. This ensured that the foreigners' technology did not contaminate Cerea's nature, but also led to a concentration of criminal elements within the Citadels.



Cerea was ruled by the Council of Elders, which in turn was led by a president. The planet was situated far away from any major hyperspace routes, and was for the most part ignored by the Republic until a few years prior to the Clone Wars. Cerea's seclusion caused a unique culture to develop, one that focused on other values than the mainstream galactic civilization. In 21 BBY, Cerea was the site of a battle between the Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems, which had an adverse effect on the planet's relatively untouched nature.  For further info please see the post below.

BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:
Their enlarged skulls, extending up to twenty centimeters above their foreheads, housed complex binary brains, provided with sufficient blood by an extra heart in their heads. The binary structure of Cerean thinking helped them to ponder two sides of an issue at once. It also enables them to process information and solve problems rapidly. Because of their thoughtful nature, they tended to be calm, rational, and analytical, preferring peaceful philosophies and a lifestyle which worked in harmony with nature. Though the quick-thinking Cereans had equally quick reflexes, they were commonly not as well coordinated as Humans. Because of the weight of their enlarged skulls, Cereans often had back problems.

CULTURE AND HISTORY:
Cereans developed a low-tech society on their homeworld, and preferred to live in isolation from the wider galaxy. However, during the years leading up to the Invasion of Naboo, a generational dispute erupted on Cerea when the younger generation took up a rebellious stance against their low-tech society. Many Cerean youths wished to own such technology as was commonplace in the Galactic Republic, like starships and speeder bikes. This unrest was ultimately quelled by Jedi Knight Ki-Adi-Mundi, who traced the instigator of the movement, Ephant Mon, to Tatooine.

Many Cereans used specially-forged Kasha crystals as a meditational tool. By focusing one's thoughts while in contact with such crystals, distractions were eliminated, creating an exceptional meditation environment. Cerean Jedi sometimes incorporated these crystals into their lightsabers, providing great focus, even during intense physical combat.

IN THE GALAXY:
Ki-Adi-Mundi served as Jedi Watchman for his home system, though he relinquished this post during the Clone Wars to fellow Cerean Tarr Seirr. When Seirr was also called away, the Cereans were left undefended, and their planet was attacked by the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The death toll of the Battle of Cerea reached over one million, and included the family of Ki-Adi-Mundi. This led to the Cereans becoming even more removed from galactic affairs with the rise of the Galactic Empire.

By the time of the Yuuzhan Vong War, the Cereans had developed a unique Force tradition, known as the Ner Yan. This group used the Force to link their minds, although in a haphazard manner. Ka-Tu-Un was an adept of this tradition and was mistaken for a Jedi by the Yuuzhan Vong.

APPEARANCES:
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: The Old Republic, Threat of Peace Act 1: Treaty of Coruscant
Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
Darth Bane: Rule of Two
Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil
Star Wars Republic: Vow of Justice
Jedi Apprentice: The Captive Temple
Jedi Apprentice Special Edition: The Followers
The Sith in the Shadow
Jedi Council: Acts of War
Star Wars Republic: Prelude to Rebellion (First appearance)
Cloak of Deception
Star Wars: Obi-Wan
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace novel
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace comic
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace junior novel
Episode I: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Appears in flashback(s))
Star Wars: Episode I Jedi Power Battles
Episode I Adventures Game Book 15: The Final Battle
"TopWorld"
"MidWorld"
Star Wars Republic: Outlander
Star Wars Republic: Emissaries to Malastare
Star Wars Republic: The Hunt for Aurra Sing
Star Wars Republic: The Devaronian Version (Appears in flashback(s))
Star Wars Republic: Rite of Passage
Jedi Quest comic
Star Wars: Zam Wesell
Jedi Quest: The Master of Disguise
Activists Deface Jedi Temple Lobby—HoloNet News Vol. 531 51
Ominaz Keeps Top Ranking—HoloNet News Vol. 531 54
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones novel
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones comic
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones junior novel
Machines of War
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns
Jedi: Mace Windu
Star Wars Republic 53: Blast Radius
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 20"
Star Wars: Clone Wars – "Chapter 21"
Star Wars: Battle for the Republic
Star Wars Republic 54: Double Blind
Star Wars Republic: The Battle of Jabiim
Star Wars Republic 59: Enemy Lines
Star Wars Republic 61: Dead Ends
Star Wars Republic 62: No Man's Land
Star Wars Republic 64: Bloodlines (Appears in flashback(s))
The Clone Wars: No Prisoners (Mentioned only)
Star Wars The Clone Wars Volume 2: Crash Course
Star Wars The Clone Wars 10: Hero of the Confederacy, Part 1
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Landing at Point Rain"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Weapons Factory" (Appears in flashback(s))
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Legacy of Terror"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Brain Invaders"
The Clone Wars: Act on Instinct
MedStar II: Jedi Healer (Mentioned only)
Secrets of the Jedi
Star Wars Republic: The Dreadnaughts of Rendili (Appears in hologram)
Star Wars: Obsession
"Chain of Command" - Clone Wars Adventures: Volume 10
Sithisis
Reversal of Fortune
Labyrinth of Evil
To the Vanishing Point
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith comic
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith junior novel (Appears in hologram)
Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight (Mentioned only)
Coruscant Nights III: Patterns of Force
Star Wars Adventures Volume 1: Han Solo and the Hollow Moon of Khorya
Death Star
Crosscurrent
Star Wars: Demolition (Loser footage for Lando Calrissian)

SOURCES:
Star Wars: Episode I toy line
Star Wars: Power of the Jedi
Star Wars: Episode I Insider's Guide
Star Wars Gamer 6
The Dark Side Sourcebook
Revised Core Rulebook
Ultimate Adversaries
The New Essential Chronology
The New Essential Guide to Alien Species
Ultimate Alien Anthology
"Eye of the Sun trilogy"
"Profile of an Assassin"
"Manifesto My Foot"
The Official Star Wars Fact File 135 (CER1-2, Cereans)
"Hive of the Infidel" - Star Wars Gamer 8
Sneak Preview: Miniatures on Wizards.com (article)
Unknown Soldier: The Story of General Grievous
Order 66: Destroy All Jedi
The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
Rebellion Era Campaign Guide
Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Champions of the Force (Card: Practiced Fluidity) (Picture only)
Ki-Adi-Mundi in the Databank
Tarr Seirr in the Databank

I would like to thank Wookieepedia for this info.

[Cimter]

DESCRIPTION:
Located in the Mid Rim region of the galaxy, Cerea's system was home to no less than three suns. Cerea was situated far away from other planets, which meant it was isolated from the galactic community for several millennia. The planet's remote location made it a relatively safe place; an invasion by any of the galaxy's factions was unlikely throughout its history due to the sheer cost of such a long-distance war. However, this also meant that interstellar trade was both laborious and expensive.

Cerea was a planet that went relatively untouched by pollution and advanced technology. This was due to the native Cerean species, who worked to preserve Cerean nature, even at the cost of both prosperity and technological advancement. As a result, Cerea was a lush, green world that was covered by vegetation, save for some mountainous regions and several large oceans. Cerea's vegetation consisted mostly of grass, bushes, and palm-like trees. The planet was home to an abundance of rivers, which were used for transportation.

Among the few sources of pollution on the planet were the enormous Outsider Citadels, built at the request of the Galactic Republic to house non-Cerean immigrants. Technology was allowed in these structures, which, despite the strict supervision of the Cerean government, were riddled with poverty and various forms of crime. The numerous plains of Cerea were the galaxy's only source of the organic matter malium, which was required in the growth cycle of the native tecave plant, which in turn produced the euphoria-inducing substance guilea. The effects of guilea made it a desirable trading commodity, particularly for crime lords such as Jabba Desilijic Tiure, who sought to synthesize malium to produce his own guilea.

EARLY HISTORY:
At some point in Cerea's history, the Cerean species, led by Bi-Dar Tyunda, founded a government that encompassed their entire planet. Although it is not known whether Tyunda's government originally included it, a Council of Elders came to be the governing body of Cerea.

Cerea was introduced to the rest of the galaxy around the time of the Mandalorian Wars, when it was discovered by Navigators' Guild scouts. Dubbing the planet "36-AFE-2C," these first visitors reported no sightings of intelligent life or useful resources. Shortly after its discovery, the Arkanian corporation Adascorp sent an expedition to Cerea. For reasons unknown, the native Cereans did not welcome these first extraterrestial guests, resulting in the Adascorp agents kidnapping an entire native village and leaving behind several damaged starships. This violent encounter, coupled with the pollution from the discarded Adascorp vessels, caused the Cerean people to adopt an isolationist and anti-technological mindset that would influence their culture for millennia.

Cerea remained fairly isolated over the next few thousand years; the only contact consisted by and large of Navigators' Guild survey ships passing by. It was not until a few years prior to 67 BBY that Cereans fully established contact with the Galactic Republic and the galaxy at large. Finding certain aspects of Republic politics disturbing, Cerea's government decided not to join the trans-galactic union. At least one rural community on Cerea was lorded over by bandits in the years leading up to the Clone Wars, but the Cerean Jedi Ki-Adi-Mundi ended their reign in 67 BBY.

PRO-TECH MOVEMENT:
In 33 BBY, the Galactic Republic dispatched several diplomats to convince Cerea to join their galactic government. The Republic was interested in modernizing the planet, particularly the way Cereans handled their plentiful natural resources. Some diplomats, such as Silais, unsuccessfully attempted to convince the Cerean Council of Elders. Others, such as the charismatic Bron, sought to appeal to Cerea's younger generations. Through huge political rallies, he gathered a large amount of supporters with fiery speeches that condemned Cerea's "antique" traditions as the laughing stock of the galaxy. Bron was not above employing illegal means to raise support for his pro-tech movement; his campaign was in part financed by the gangster Jabba Desilijic Tiure, who traded technology such as swoops for malium. Bron was also aligned with Dorr-Femi-Bonmi, a member of the Council of Elders who acted as the pro-tech movement's spy in the government's affairs, while profiting from their trading operations. After Ki-Adi-Mundi and his daughter, Sylvn, exposed the connection to Jabba, Bron and his movement died down, though Elder Nar-Somo-Dali suspected the lack of activity was only temporary.

CLONE WARS:
At the height of the Separatist Crisis, Cerea joined the Refugee Resettlement Coalition, a program run by the Refugee Relief Movement. In doing so, Cerea's government volunteered to allow vast amounts of displaced refugees to settle on the planet. However, the refugees were forbidden from bringing any vehicles or heavy machinery, in accordance with Cerean law.

During the Clone Wars, the Confederacy of Independent Systems secretly encouraged a tendency in the younger Cerean generation to seek out more technological ways of life. This culminated in the Separatist-aligned Trade Federation holding a number of young Cereans hostage, until Jedi intervention rescued the youths. The planet chose neutrality during the war, which caused both the Republic and the Confederacy to fear the planet would join the other faction's side. This led to the Battle of Cerea in 21 BBY, which resulted in an estimated 1,000,000 civilian casualties, the despoiling of much of the planet's pristine nature, as well as the assassination of the reigning planetary president, Bo-Ro-Tara.

ISOLATIONISM:
Following the Clone Wars, the Cerean government adopted an isolationist stance, choosing not to get involved in galactic politics. As a result, the planet remained secluded during the reign of the Galactic Empire, although at least a few Cereans found themselves working for the Imperial military. Although it is unknown if Cerea eventually joined the New Republic, a Cerean dignitary witnessed the signing of the Pellaeon-Gavrisom Treaty between the Republic and the Imperial Remnant in 19 ABY. Cerea maintained its isolationism even after the Yuuzhan Vong War.

Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire also had little interest in the planet and left it under only a light Imperial supervision. This allowed members of the Galactic Alliance Remnant, Jedi in exile and other dissidents to visit Cerea without risking being caught by the Sith. The Cereans, however, continued to view the outsiders as a trouble and were even known to hand those seeking refuge over to the Empire in order to avoid a larger Imperial presence on their world.

INHABITANTS:
The planet's dominant species were the native Cereans, a peaceful people with large, cone-shaped craniums. The Cereans were not very technologically advanced, instead preferring to rely on non-polluting tools and vehicles, as part of their philosophy that called for a harmonious relationship with nature. The species generally preferred to stay on Cerea, although the few individuals who left for the galaxy on occasion rose to prominent positions such as Jedi Master or neurosurgeon. The Cereans suffered from a low male-to-female birth ratio; females outnumbered the males twenty to one, which led to a culture of polygyny. By 22 BBY the Cerean population numbered 450 million.

Non-sentient species on Cerea included the aryx, an avian species that possessed great stamina and speed, that was domesticated by the Cereans for transportation. The rivers of Cerea were home to the crown of silk creature, a short-lived species that found nourishment in the brain energies of its victims.

TECAVE CITY:
Most of Cerea's inhabitants resided in large cities, allowing for much of the planet's area to be employed for farming purposes. This trend also applied to Tecave City, the planet's largest city and capital. Notable for its ornamented, architecturally distinctive buildings, Tecave City shared its name with the tecave plant. The one deviation from the semi-tall buildings that characterized the city was the structure that housed the Council of Elders—a massive, metallic edifice seemingly overgrown with vegetation.

OUTSIDER CITADELS:
As part of an agreement with the Galactic Republic, several Outsider Citadels were built to house non-Cerean immigrants and visitors. The Citadels were enormous buildings that each housed an entire city, and were among the few locations where non-Cerean technology was allowed. The concentration of polluting technology and the relative lack of space caused some Citadels to devolve into environmentally contaminating and overpopulated ghettos. Crime was rampant, despite the supervision of Cerean police forces.