SLotH4's Note: One day. That's how long it took Xabiar to write this. He did well.

Xabiar's Note: …Not counting a few days of editing.

SLotH4's 2nd Note: You know we don't count those! [slap]

SotP Addenda - Force-user Sects, the Unorthodox in Practice

THE FELLAN IMPERIUM

IMPERIAL INTELLIGENCE | IMPERIAL KNIGHTS

AUTHORIZED AND APPROVED BY SOVEREIGN PELLAEON

AUTHORIZATION COLOR: BLUE-2

ORGANIZATIONAL REPORT: F-O-QB-0004

THE QUABULAR

DOCUMENTATION INFORMATION

REPORT ID: F-O-QB-0003

REPORT AUTHOR(S):

- Intelligence Compiler Jorda Foll

- Technical Reviewer Charistishy

- Imperial Knight Grath von Olon

DOCUMENT TYPE(S):

- Historical

- Organization Overview

- Threat Analysis

DOCUMENT SUBJECT: The Quabular

DETAIL LEVEL: Comprehensive

SUPPLEMENTARY ATTACHMENTS:

- F-O-QB-0003M [Methodology Document]

- F-C-QB-0021 [Compiled Documents on the Quabular's Founding]

- F-D-QB-0002 [Dossiers on the Quabular Kaarnan]

- F-D-QB-0001 [Dossier on the Jur'bwar]

- H-O-QB-0012 [Quabular – Vigilantes of the Rim]

- I-O-MU-0192 [Darksaber – The Unknown Mandalorian Civil War]

- I-O-MU-0101 [The Reign of Mandalore the Butcher]

- F-D-GE-1822 [Dossier on Imperial Operative 'Starkiller']

- F-C-QB-0014 [Compilation of the Writings of Former Imperial Operative 'Starkiller']

- F-O-JO-0211 [Crossed Lines – A Rebuke of the Quabular]

EXECUTED BY IMPERIAL INSTITUTIONS:

- Imperial Intelligence

- Imperial Knights

ITERATION NUMBER: 18

METHODOLOGY DOCUMENT ID: [F-O-QB-0003M]

APPROVED FOR SUBMISSION:

- Fabian Dromund, Director of Imperial Intelligence [APPROVED]

- Reimunt Calliot, High Lord of the Imperial Council [APPROVED]

RECEIVED BY SOVEREIGN PELLAEON: RECEIVED AND READ

THE QUABULAR : OVERVIEW

The Quabular have what can be best described as a confusing reputation. Called 'heretics,' 'vigilantes,' 'heroes,' 'murderers,' 'mercenaries,' and 'spies,' there are many words that are ascribed to this small sect of Force-users, and much discussion revolves around what, exactly, they are. Those who have an opinion on them tend to fixate on one of these words.

The truth is that all of these labels are accurate.

The view that most people in the galaxy – the Imperium included – have of the Quabular is almost always incomplete. It is a mistake to think of the Quabular as a curious sect, a mercenary group, or something that is fundamentally organizational. The Quabular are more than a group – they are a society in and of themselves. They have their own culture, beliefs, norms, and history in a way that is equivalent to the Jedi, Mandalorians, or the Sith.

It is a society, a group which is significantly more widespread, fanatical, and hardline than even their staunchest critics believe. Few have bothered to investigate them closely, and those that have find themselves both intrigued and disturbed by what they find. The hand of the Quabular is long – this is not a sect that keeps to themselves.

They view themselves as carriers of a sacred, holy mission. The elimination of those who have 'perverted and corrupted the Force,' which in short, are those who practice the dark side. The bane of tyrants, criminals, and the evil. They who are the blades in the dark, and the promise of justice where the galaxy has failed. They who view themselves as fulfilling the mission that was abandoned by the Jedi. They are charged to carry this mission out.

By any means necessary.

THE QUABULAR : HISTORY

OVERVIEW: The history of the Quabular is born from the earliest days of the Mandalorians. This fact is one that is, surprisingly, unknown to many people. Most believe them as breakaways from the Jedi Order, or otherwise a natural sect which arose like many in the galaxy. The truth is nowhere near so simple.

Their history is deeply intertwined with that of the Mandalorians, and the earliest iteration of the Quabular only tangibly resembles what it has become. The Quabular have wholly remade themselves from what they once were, and while Mandalorian culture has survived to some degree within the Quabular, it no longer dominates as it once did.

There were a number of points where the Quabular should have died out, or been driven extinct. Yet they have persisted through the millennia, though it has only been within the last few centuries have they refined themselves into the force they are.

THE SCHISM: The story of the Quabular starts within that of the Dxun Jedi, the splinter sect that had been formed by Jedi Masters Revan Panlie and Dacen Vorsut, the latter more well-known as the 'Jedi Exile.' These Jedi were few in number and operated independent of the Jedi Order proper on Coruscant.

In many ways, they were similar and espoused many of the same intentions and goals as the Jedi proper, though they were both more militant and active than the Jedi. The Jedi never took action against this sect due to their limited numbers, and instead focused on rebuilding their own Order. It was likely that in time, the Jedi would have taken action to bring the Dxun Jedi into their fold.

However, they never got that chance.

The Dxun Jedi, centuries after the deaths of Panlie and Vorsut, were at a crossroads. Internal debates raged on what the purpose and role of their sect was, as there was continual dissatisfaction with confining themselves to Dxun and Onderon. The divisions could be broken into three distinct camps.

The first camp wanted to formally reintegrate with the Jedi Order, though this was a minority due to placing themselves back under the more stringent rules of the Order, especially those of love and family, which the Jedi refused to accommodate. The second camp wanted to formally align themselves with the Mandalorians – a popular position, as almost all of the Dxun Jedi were Mandalorians or had family who were part of the warrior culture.

The third position was the most radical one – those who wanted to leave and establish themselves independent of both factions, and make their own mark on the galaxy. This camp saw themselves as breaking not just from the Jedi, but the Mandalorian clans who they saw as too passive in establishing themselves. There were a number of oddities with this camp, many of which were found with their primary leader – more on him shortly.

The descendants of the two founders were almost all in favor of aligning with the Mandalorians, and the Dxun Council formally moved to open talks with the Mandalorians to do so. Only one of them refused. Xarlan'Vorsut, proponent of the breakaway camp declared that he would not go along with this decision, and declared his independence from Dxun, taking himself and his followers with him.

The Quabular were born.

THE MERCENARY ERA: Xarlan'Vorsut was not a stable individual.

He was unquestionably one of the most powerful of the Dxun Jedi – everything we know of this sect confirms this. They also claim that he was unhinged and experienced visions. He was a charismatic man, one who believed he was chosen by the Force itself. He believed that the Mandalorians would one day turn on them, and that he'd seen dead Jedi and the Dxun Temple set alight by Mandalorian crusaders.

That was not his most controversial belief – it was that it was they who were the true Mandalorians, and all others were pretenders. He claimed that they had been chosen by the Force to remake the Mandalorians in their image, one that was, in his words, unbound. The Jedi around Xarlan had an almost cult-like mentality to the cause, one with legitimate religious overtones.

It was perhaps one reason that the other Jedi did not push hard when Xarlan departed with his clique. The newly formed 'Cabuor' – the Mando'a word for 'protect' – established themselves in the Outer Rim, and organized themselves around Xarlan, and the preparation for the future. The Cabuor were to prepare for a future where Xarlan had stated that the true Mandalore would be born – it would not be him, nor any alive at the time.

"The Mand'alor will come from the most unlikely of places. Their skin will be vibrant and bright, their eyes will be like fire, and their voice ringing with the authority gifted to them by the Force itself. They will have no hesitation, they shall know the good from evil, and they will lead the Cabuor to prune those who sully the name 'Mando'ade.' "

So claimed Xarlan, and declared that the purpose of the Cabuor was to both search for, and prepare for this Mandalore. It was a prophecy that guided the young order for decades. And during this time, they became mercenaries. Released from the code of the Mandalorians, they saw little reason not to use their skills to prepare for this inevitability.

[NOTE: For the sake of consistency and to avoid confusion, we will be substituting 'Cabuor' with 'Quabular' moving forward. Though understand that their language did not evolve into the modern Mandalorian Creole they use until their isolation and restructuring during the Galactic Dark Age. -Compiler Foll]

The Quabular were extremely strict about who they worked with. There were those they judged as being worthy of their services, and they worked with them without hesitation – and there were those who were not. Usually they killed them, or their associates, out of sheer disdain.

While they claimed to have no longer been influenced by the old Mandalorian code, many of the values and morals did remain – which was why the Quabular, throughout this entire mercenary era, only did work that was fairly benign. Usually protection, escorts, shipping, and hunting in select cases. It was not glamorous work, and many felt it was beneath them – but it made them a small fortune, which they invested into recruitment, equipment, weapons, and starships.

All for the greater good. All for the promised Mandalore.

And one day, they found them.

THE SITH FROM THE EMPIRE: The man came to them from the Unknown Regions. A man who claimed to have fled from the Sith, from an Empire that was lying in wait. He had run into the Quabular, quite by chance, and sensing the Force in them, asked to be brought to their leader.

This was permitted by the Quabular Kaarnan, their ruling council which still exists today – though at the time it was called the 'Ka'ra,' a reference to an ancient Mandalorian myth involving a council of fallen kings. This man was strong in the Force, which all of the Quabular could sense, and so he told his story. It was difficult to believe, for the Sith had been gone for a very long time. Yet they sensed no deception from him, and they judged him to be reliable – he did not have the taint of the dark side within him.

That he was one of the sith species further confirmed his claims. With nowhere to go, and believing the Jedi would simply kill him, they agreed to let him join, with minders until he could be proven reliable. This was accepted, and the Quabular had a former Sith in their ranks. The man believed that war was coming, and calamity would follow.

Three days later, Korriban was attacked and recaptured by the resurgent Sith Empire. The Quabular prepared to go to war in response. As the Sith pushed through the galaxy, as they emerged into the Outer Rim, they found themselves met with Force-users who wore Mandalorian armor.

And they were relentless and ruthless.

This supposedly came as a shock to the Sith Empire, as they had made agreements with Mandalore the Bulwark, who represented a large portion of the Mandalorians during what is known as the 'Splintered Age,' where there were multiple Mandalores who claimed the mantle.

Mandalore the Bulwark, a woman who was widely believed to have been an Imperial Intelligence asset, fought on the side of the Empire. Charismatic and promising glory and revenge on the Republic, she gained a significant following among the Mandalorians, and was the culmination of fissures that had been building up in previous years.

Mandalore the Lesser retained control of the core Mandalorian worlds, though faced an exodus of warriors when he opted to remain neutral in the conflict. Despite his impotence, even the other Mandalores acknowledged his influence due to his bloodline tracing to Revan, and saw peace as necessary to prevent the Mandalorian Jedi – or 'Jetiib'tsad' in Mando'a – from directly intervening.

Mandalore the Righteous, who was a descendent of Dacen Vorsut, fought against the Sith Empire, sometimes working as a proxy for the Republic. Her warriors were far less than Mandalore the Bulwark, but she drained core Mandalorian Space significantly in her own crusade. There were at least two other Mandalores during this era, though notably, the Mandalorian Jedi did not involve themselves at all.

Nonetheless, the majority of Mandalorians fighting did so in service of the Sith, or at minimum against the Republic. Except the Quabular, who were starting to draw direct attention. The Sith defector was responsible for many of their victories, with his violet saber in hand, and armor of red and cape of black, he led the Quabular to victory after victory.

It reached the point where the Dark Council themselves intervened, and sent Darth Slorah to kill the traitorous sith, who they had discovered the identity of. The sith instead led the Quabular to storm Slorah's ship and slaughter all the inhabitants. The sith faced the Dark Councilor in single combat, destroying much of the ship.

With his armor torn to shreds, his red skin shining with power, while weeping blood, eyes that glowed brightly with the force, the sith declared with a voice that shook the bridge and reverberated in the minds of those who heard:

"I am here to purge the evil of this galaxy, and bring restoration for those who have been wronged. Tremble before me, pawn of darkness, for I am the chosen of the Force, and you are the first who shall be unmade."

And with that, he pulverized Darth Slorah with a blast of power that atomized her.

Or so the legend goes.

While likely exaggerated – significantly – it is confirmed that this man killed Slorah. And afterwards, the Quabular returned to the Kaarnan and shared what they saw. And that was when the Kaarnan knew who this man was. He was the one of the prophecy, and when he returned, the Kaarnan knelt before him.

And named him 'Mandalore the Prophesized.'

MANDALORE THE PROPHESIZED: To date, we believe this to have been the only sith Mandalorian who ever took the title of Mandalore. Ironically, he was also the first non-human Mandalore to claim the title since Mandalore the Ultimate. As one, the Quabular rallied around their Mandalore, and with renewed vigor, focused their efforts against Mandalore the Bulwark, who Mandalore the Prophesized declared as the first false Mandalore to fall.

It is said that Mandalorians are honorable when they fight, especially against each other. Mandalorians who fought for the Empire did indeed largely adhere to their code of honor, even as some were mercenaries. If these Mandalorians were expecting a similar treatment by the Quabular, they were sorely mistaken.

The Quabular were ruthless and merciless to the Sith they fought, but the Mandalorians were treated far worse. Those who were not killed on the battlefield underwent ritual executions, conducted by Mandalore the Prophesized and his Cirysuva, or 'Judges.' Each Mandalorian captured was brought before the Cirysuva, who had been imbued with the authority of Mandalore to determine who would live, and who would die.

Many Mandalorians were seen as misguided, and offered a chance to join and serve the true Mandalore. Others were put to death. The Quabular were fanatic in their disposal of what they viewed as tainted remnants, and destroyed any weapons, turned beskar to slag, and erased rival Mandalorian cultures and clans in any way they could, to further assist in the assimilation of the survivors.

The utter brutality of the Quabular was enough that Mandalore the Righteous disavowed them, declaring them 'unsanctioned pretenders,' even as Mandalore the Lesser remained silent. The Quabular ignored this, as their actions had been enough to splinter the tenuous hold Mandalore the Bulwark held over her followers. The miniature civil war resulted in factions returning to the other Mandalores – including those who joined the Quabular.

Only once Artus Lok – who would one day become Mandalore the Vindicated – slew Mandalore the Lesser did the civil war end. The Quabular held out some curiosity for the new Mandalore, though it was academic – no matter what would happen, they intended to subsume all Mandalores under the Quabular.

The warring continued even after the Treaty of Coruscant was signed, though at a lesser intensity. It allowed time for Mandalore the Vindicated to consolidate many of the rebellious clans under his control, and laid the stage for the later fighting once the war resumed. However, little of note happened until the Eternal Empire of Zakuul appeared, and when both the Sith and Republic fell, the war for the mantle of Mandalore began in earnest.

THE RULE AND WAR OF THE PROPHESIZED: One critical difference between the Quabular and the other Mandalorian factions was that the Quabular did not claim to have loyalty to Mandalore, but to the Force itself. Mandalore was believed to have been ordained by the Force, its avatar and embodiment, and thus, to oppose Mandalore the Prophesized was to oppose the Force itself.

The Quabular had no traditional Mandalorian code, but they had a creed nonetheless. Those who fell under their reign were subject to laws and diktats that were draconian in enforcement. Punishments and executions were ritualistic, and in the name of the Force. It was a religion of the Force, and the Quabular were its holy crusaders under the Prophesized.

The Quabular were fanatical in their war. They were fearless in a way that even Mandalorians were wary of. They were so convinced of their crusade that it was impossible to dissuade them. The other Mandalorian factions had not seen anything like it, something which took their name and claimed their leadership, but was so alien to Mandalorian culture they could not help but see it as bizarre.

Mandalorian Space had splintered following the death of Mandalore the Lesser, leading to a short time of peace before Mandalore the Vindicated began encroaching on core Mandalorian Space. This triggered a full civil war where the Mandalorian Jedi seized Planet Mandalore and other core Mandalorian worlds belonging to the founding clans as the rest of their space fell into conflict – the lesser clans fighting for supremacy.

Seizing their chance, the Quabular moved against Mandalore the Vindicated with the intent to shatter his rule once and for all. Ultimately, this succeeded, and Mandalore the Vindicated was captured, and his execution broadcast throughout Mandalorian Space.

The former Mandalore was subjugated to humiliation and torture before finally being killed personally by Mandalore the Prophesized in a ceremony which saw the entirety of Mandalore the Vindicated's bloodline executed, which included his wife and six children – some adopted, some not.

His closest allies, including Eridan Lok, Grand Champion of the Great Hunt, and Hand of the Vindicated, the most well-known bounty hunter and Mandalorian throughout Imperial and Republic Space, were also put before the Cirysuva, and underwent similar executions. With the fall of Mandalore the Vindicated, nearly twenty thousand Mandalorians and their families were executed by the Quabular in a display which shocked all of Mandalorian Space – and even some of the Quabular themselves.

There were two consequences to this.

The first was that it effectively ended the infighting between the various Mandalores. There was a genuine fear that if there was no action taken, the Quabular would wipe them out and impose an alien culture on them, which was a terrifying thought. It was enough to force the Holder of the Heart of the Guardian, Jondum'Panlie Ordo, to declare himself Mandalore the Purifier. While Jondum had already taken up the mantle of Mandalore after the death of his son, Mandalore the Lesser, he had yet to assume a proper title before this point. He then ordered all clans to subordinate themselves to the true Mandalore. It worked. The legitimacy of the Panlies and Clan Ordo was unquestioned, to say nothing of Jondum being the Holder of the Heart of the Guardian and the clear threat of the Quabular.

The second consequence was that it caused a deep schism in the Quabular itself, who were afraid that they were on a dangerous path that was no better than the Sith, in the name of purity to the Quabular creed. This was a minority view, and most Quabular remained fully loyal to Mandalore the Prophesized – though rumors that he had fallen to the dark side persisted in the ranks.

And so, the fighting continued. Jondum led the Mandalorians against the Quabular, and thousands upon thousands died as Mandalore the Prophesized cut a bloody swathe through Panlie's forces. However, the Quabular ran into a very simple problem almost immediately: namely, they didn't have the numbers to win a war of this scale. The vast majority of Mandalorians opposed them, as did the Alliance Against the Eternal Throne. It was a shrewd political quid pro quo on Panlie's part, offering his aid against the Eternals in exchange for aid against the Quabular.

The Quabular were pushed back, and more defeats were suffered. Whispers of resistance grew and Mandalore the Prophesized became even more brutal and repressive. All those who expressed doubt or insubordination were executed for 'defiance of the will of the Force.' Until finally, the armies of Panlie landed on the Quabular homeworld, and the final battle of Mandalores began.

Legend says that the battle lasted for over two days, as both Mandalore the Purifier and Mandalore the Prophesized crossed blades time and again – occasionally retreating and pursuing as the duel favored one over the other. As they fought, the rebellious Quabular turned on their fanatical brethren, and helped Panlie's Mandalorians end the conflict once and for all.

But in true Mandalorian fashion, the only one to defeat Mandalore the Prophesized was Panlie himself.

It is said that with a parry and a swing, the Holder of the Heart of the Guardian removed the head of the False Mandalore from his body, and brought the war to an end. At the fall of their prophet, the remaining Quabular unconditionally surrendered, and left their fate in the hands of the last standing Mandalore.

AFTER THE PROPHESIZED: What to do with the remainder of the Quabular was a matter of debate amongst the Mandalorians. Those who had fought with the Prophesized were executed to a man, but those who had ultimately turned against their Mandalore were a different story. Some wanted to execute them anyway for participating for so long, but many didn't believe that would be a just solution.

Panlie finally came to a judgment: the Quabular would be permanently exiled from Mandalorian Space. They could no longer claim any part of Mandalorian society or any Mandalorian titles upon pain of immediate retribution – though allowances were made for the continued use of Mando'a. Their helmets, armor, and weapons would be surrendered to the true Mandalorians, and they would never bear the armor again.

And so, the few Quabular that remained were packed into several ships and sent away, beaten and humiliated – but alive. They found a new planet to call home, which they fortunately reached before the Dark Age consumed the galaxy – though, the Quabular were survivors, and the isolation gave them time to think and reflect.

There was consensus that Mandalore the Prophesized, as well as many of their brethren, had fallen to the dark side. They did not believe it had been intentional, but that the circumstances had been ideal, and they had slipped naturally into it and become monsters. None felt that any good could come from looking to their Mandalorian heritage – so they instead looked to their Jedi heritage.

They did not believe they were truly of the Jedi – the cultural differences were too great, but they believed they should emulate them more. To synthesize a new hybrid order, one which honored who they had been while correcting the mistakes of the old. They believed that not all of the Quabular creed was irredeemable, particularly their staunch belief in justice and fighting evil.

However, there needed to be a way to ensure that their people would not fall to the darkness. The solution that they developed, however, was one that remains controversial to this day. To become inoculated to the lure of the dark side, they had to fall – and be able to bring themselves back to the light.

It was an extreme measure, but one they felt they had to do after the actions of Mandalore the Prophesized. A new structure and order were made, and over centuries, the Quabular mellowed and simply worked to survive for themselves. They adopted robes similar to the Jedi, maintained a warrior tradition of sorts, and staunchly policed themselves and the regions around them for darkness and evil.

Very little of note happened to the Quabular for many centuries. They did not participate in any other wars, believing it was not their place, nor having the numbers to do so. They instead used their people to protect others, and occasionally bring justice to what was largely a lawless region. However, that was usually happenstance – it would not become their mission until much later.

It is possible the Quabular would have continued as they were – if they had not received a surprising request for help.

THE MANDALORIAN CIVIL WAR: When the Quabular received a visit from the Mandalorians, it seemed like both parties were surprised to see the other. The Mandalorians saw a sect of Force-users that spoke a barely recognizable dialect of Mando'a, but for all intents and purposes, followed no other Mandalorian customs.

And the Quabular saw a Mandalorian who was asking for their help.

This was during the period of yet another Mandalorian Civil War, this one caused by Mandalore the Butcher, who was in the process of demanding fealty from the clans. Several clans had already been wiped out, and the remaining clans were mobilizing to fight her. The Mandalorian Jedi had ordered that all resources be brought to bear, and allies summoned to defeat her.

This appeared to include the Quabular.

The Quabular did not automatically agree to this, and there was debate over if they should bother getting involved in a war that didn't involve them, for a people who had exiled them and who they barely had a connection to any longer. The Mandalorians offered to rescind the exile, and while they would not be Mandalorians, they would be considered friends if they helped defeat Mandalore the Butcher.

The Quabular ultimately judged that they would help – not because the Mandalorians deserved their help, or because of shared heritage, but because the Butcher was an evil that could not be tolerated, and she and her followers must be destroyed.

While Mandalore the Butcher had once come from the Jedi Order, and embraced the Mandalorian ways, it was clear by this point she had fallen to the dark side. The weapon that she wielded, which is known as the 'Darksaber,' is similarly a weapon the Quabular believed was forged from evil. While we do not know the exact details of the original creation of the red and black blade, we believe that it was forged through some kind of ritual, one which the Mandalorians have never spoken of since.

We know that the Quabular wanted the weapon destroyed, but this was apparently overruled by the Holder of the Heart of the Guardian of the time. With this context, it may become clearer why the Quabular were willing to intervene so heavily – which led to the Quabular mobilizing for the first time in millennia and went to war.

Together with the Mandalorian Jedi, they fought against the Butcher and the clans she controlled. The war was bloody and resulted in the splintering of the Mandalorians afterwards, but they succeeded in helping kill Mandalore the Butcher, and breaking her hold over the remaining clans.

And with that, relations between the two factions were normalized. Now though, the Quabular had emerged, and there was a sense there was no going back – something that would not be fully realized for a few decades more.

THE TWILIGHT OF THE OLD REPUBLIC AND THE CLONE WARS: The years prior to the Clone Wars were ones that were crucial to the Quabular evolving into what they would become. The Quabular had begun turning their focus to the wider galaxy, where they saw rampant injustice. The Jedi appeared content to be assets of the Republic, and unable or unwilling to substantially take action outside it.

The Quabular did not have such restrictions.

Slowly, they began moving out into the Outer Rim, and working for people they wanted to help. Rarely did they ask for payment, instead just looking to those in need. They supplied themselves from the remains gathered from those they slew. Slavers, criminals, and other tyrants suddenly found themselves dealing with Force-users acting to protect the weak or less fortunate.

There were accusations of them being Jedi, and these complaints and fears eventually made their way to Coruscant to a very confused Jedi Order, who had no idea what they were, and disavowed any 'vigilante' actions. The Quabular were visited by several Masters who demanded answers, and were left highly dissatisfied when the Quabular refused to curtail their actions. They even accused the Jedi of abandoning their principles in favor of power.

The Jedi Order banned all contact with the Quabular after that, though did not take any additional action.

Despite the relatively small region they were working in, the Quabular had been gaining a reputation, and people began actively seeking them out. The Quabular started reorganizing themselves as they began to grow, to better serve their new mission, and to process the growing number of people who were interested in taking part.

When the Clone Wars ignited, the Quabular made an effort to stay neutral – there were overtures from the Separatists to entice them to join, but the Quabular refused, and saw both the Republic and Separatists as equivalent, and warned against provocation. It is unknown if they were aware of Sith involvement in the war, and it is uncertain if they would have intervened regardless, as they viewed the Republic as a weakened and corrupt institution, as well as the Jedi Order.

They continued their vigilante work in the Outer Rim, though near the end of the conflict they started paying closer attention, as there was a concern that the war would reach their controlled territory and involve worlds they had operated on. This ultimately did not come to pass, and it is during this time that something changed within the Quabular.

A change that happened to coincide with the final assault on Mustafar, and the establishment of the Galactic Empire.

THE IMPERIAL MARCH: The establishment of the Galactic Empire was extremely alarming for the Quabular, and it didn't appear to take them long to piece together that the Jedi disappearing from the galaxy was not a coincidence – one they believed was tied directly to the new Emperor.

It was during the Imperial era where the mission and what amounts to the modern Quabular doctrine became solidified and put into practice. It is unclear what caused this shift (though there are theories), but the Quabular reaffirmed their commitment to exacting justice, purging evil, and protecting the innocent.

Their philosophy and doctrine once more became uncompromising and rigid, and their mission expanded far beyond the small sector they had been operating in, now encompassing the whole of the galaxy. Those who served the Empire were evil, and evil was punishable by death. The Quabular – having modernized their gear, tactics, and doctrine in previous years and through the Clone Wars – spread throughout the galaxy.

Imperial officers assassinated. Moffs found dead. Collaborators left in pieces as a message – with the clean, cauterized lightsaber cuts becoming a calling card of sorts. The Quabular made their mark in ways the Empire could not ignore, and it was initially unknown who was behind this. It did not take the Empire long to realize who could be responsible, and a shadow conflict between the Empire and Quabular began.

During these efforts, the Quabular made contact with many resistance organizations, though were picky about who they worked with. They were close allies with Rahm Kota's Militia, and tentative supporters of Bail Organa's underground resistance, but refused to associate with Saw Gerrera's terror cells.

Unfortunately for the Quabular, it would only be a matter of time until they drew the eye of the Dark Lord of the Sith himself – Darth Vader.

STARKILLER AND THE FORMALIZING OF THE REBEL ALLIANCE: It began with the Invasion of Kashyyyk. Officially, it was to put down a wookiee rebellion, but that was only partially true. The real reason was because the Quabular had established a large cell on the world, and found a strong ally in the wookiees. Vader personally went and crushed the cell – which had been led by one Kento Marek. Two dozen Quabular died in that operation, the first of many Quabular who would be killed by Vader.

What was important here is that Marek's son was taken by Vader – not appearing again for many years. There remains an ongoing debate within Imperial academic circles on what Vader's actual intentions for the Imperial Operative 'Starkiller' were. The general consensus is that he was an analogue for the Emperor's Hands – a Force-sensitive operative to act directly for Vader, but who wasn't connected to the Inquisitorius.

However, there is a persistent argument that Vader intended for Starkiller to be a legitimate Apprentice, and this is supported by the fact that Vader had no other operative similar to Starkiller. What ultimately matters is that Starkiller becomes relevant after he was 'executed' by Vader following his discovery by Emperor Palpatine.

Prior to this point, Starkiller had been sent against rogue Jedi. Specifically General Rahm Kota (who actually survived the encounter), the insane Jedi Master Kazdan Paratus, and former Jedi Councilor Shaak Ti – the latter was what likely prompted Palpatine to order his execution. We believe that Vader had been preparing Starkiller to assist in his primary task – which was not killing Jedi, but the Quabular.

We don't know exactly what Vader told Starkiller after he was reactivated, but we believe he had revealed to him his true purpose, and sent him to infiltrate and destroy the Quabular, which Starkiller set out to do after rescuing his pilot and future lover Juno Eclipse. His reemergence began with finding Kota, who provided him with a contact in the Quabular.

The Quabular were suspicious of him, and sent him on a number of tasks to prove himself. It was over this period where Starkiller learned more about their philosophy and mission. It culminated in learning his father was one of the Quabular – and had been killed by Vader. It is accepted that Starkiller eventually questioned his mission for Vader, but investigation into the Quabular has revealed that this sect had a significantly larger role in it. Imperial records suggested Starkiller had embraced being a Jedi by the end – all the evidence now points to his embrace of the Quabular philosophy instead.

Starkiller played a large role in formally bringing the Rebel Alliance together, as well as accidentally almost wiping out the Quabular who finally agreed to meet him and put him through the trials to become one of their own. Vader appeared and attacked, capturing a number of Quabular, killing more, and leaving Starkiller for dead.

It is… unknown how Starkiller survived. Reports describe Vader stabbing Starkiller through the heart, crushing his body, and throwing him over the edge of a cliff. Simply put, he should not have survived this, which implies the reports were incorrect. This is because as the Quabular were taken to what would one day be the second Death Star for interrogation, Starkiller assaulted the station.

He was described as… vengeful. Imperial reports paint a being of power who cut through them without mercy. Slaves and captives were freed as the 'Death Star Rebellion' was kicked off in full force. He single-handedly staved off Vader, and later the Emperor, with the former noting in his own musings how Starkiller was somehow more dangerous after his death. The battle had been so fierce, that entire sections of the station were reduced to slag and the entire project was delayed by at least a decade – leaving it still unfinished when it was destroyed by the Rebellion.

More interesting is that following news of Starkiller's true death, the Quabular posthumously adopted him as one of their own – an honor they have only bestowed six times in their history. That they would do that for Starkiller of all people is odd, even if his father was one of their own, but that is how he is remembered nonetheless.

THE REMAINING YEARS OF THE CIVIL WAR: The Quabular went underground after Vader's attack and never formally allied themselves with the newly formalized Rebel Alliance. Despite this, they worked with them closely several years afterwards on a handful of occasions, preferring to use themselves as bait to draw the more powerful Imperial Force-users – Emperor's Hands, generally – away from the rebels who weren't able to defend themselves properly.

By the time Luke Skywalker had appeared, the Quabular had been significantly reduced, and many were in a contingency-mandated exile that was only to be executed if the Quabular were on the verge of extinction – so thorough was Vader's hunt for them.

As a result, they practically had no participation for the final six years of the Galactic Civil War, and only when the Second Death Star was destroyed and both Vader and the Emperor were dead did they end the contingency, and regroup – far reduced from what they had been, but they considered their mission a success.

STANDOFF WITH SKYWALKER: It did not take Skywalker long to eventually run into the Quabular – especially since he had heard the rumors of Force-sensitive vigilantes who had helped fight the Empire in the early days of the Rebellion. As the Quabular reconstituted and began rebuilding their numbers, Skywalker visited.

The visit did not go well from what we were able to find.

Skywalker was apparently alarmed at the methods the Quabular used, particularly their trials, and their militaristic application of the Force, as well as their own internal fervor. That they were not committed to the New Republic, and stated they would intervene wherever they felt it necessary, did not exactly engender trustworthy feelings.

However, Skywalker never took action against them, or went out of his way to antagonize them despite this, and it isn't especially clear why this was. This meeting did take place after the fall of Jaden Korr, so Skywalker was likely understandably suspicious of a sect that employed the trials they did – to say nothing of his own Order's diminished numbers. He did issue several advisories regarding the Quabular, which mostly warned the Jedi against associating with them. While he believed they were not corrupted, he warned they were not allies – and despite their trials, they were on a dangerous path that would need to be watched closely.

THE NEW REPUBLIC ERA: The Quabular did not make another significant impact until the Second Imperial Civil War. Prior to this, they had focused on replenishing their numbers, a slow process – especially when initiates failed their trials and had to be killed. They also returned their focus to the Outer Rim and hunting down the last strongholds of the Imperial Remnant.

They did participate in the Vong War, which was another conflict which reduced their number significantly. They developed a significant animosity towards the vong, viewing them as unnatural creatures that existed outside the Force. To this day, the vong are viewed as valid targets no matter the context, and they are fundamentally considered as 'not alive' by them – one of their lesser-known controversial views.

They also kill ysalamiri whenever they find them as well, though this is not related to the topic at hand.

When the One Sith emerged under Darth Krayt, the remaining Jedi reached out to the Quabular, asking for their assistance in destroying the Sith due to the threat they posed. The Quabular were more than willing to assist this time – as they viewed the Sith as an existential threat, and turned the full might of their order upon the One Sith.

When Krayt struck the Jedi on Ossus and Coruscant, it was the Quabular who were instrumental in hiding, sheltering, and connecting Jedi across the galaxy. The Quabular and the Jedi worked closely together as they planned Krayt's demise. This period is also notable because it was the first time the Quabular made contact with the Imperial Knights, and marked the first time where the Quabular and the Imperium, formerly the 'Imperial Remnant,' ceased hostilities, which had faded in recent years.

Once the Jedi were back on their feet and working with the Imperial Knights in tandem, the Quabular were instrumental in curbing the expansion and capability of the One Sith in the Outer Rim, and as the One Sith turned their focus inward due to the Jedi, the Quabular followed. Much like they had done during the Galactic Empire, the One Sith found themselves on the receiving end of assassinations against Sith Lords and important officers which directly impacted the war effort in a tangible way.

It did provoke responses from the One Sith, of course, and the Quabular were soon targeted and towards the end of the conflict, they were unable to operate with the efficiency they once possessed – but it had been enough to decisively shift the war in the favor of the Jedi. Their contributions are still remembered and honored by the Jedi and the Imperium to this day.

It was yet another conflict which cost their advancement and numbers, though one that they knew was necessary to preserve galactic stability and hunt the users of the dark side. It was also important in normalizing relations between the Quabular and Jedi Order – at least for a time.

EXPANSION AND ENTRENCHMENT: The Quabular were once more quiet for a few centuries, as they focused once more on growing their numbers and operatives. There was a distinct difference now – the structure, leadership, and philosophy of the Quabular was now firmly entrenched and the Quabular were finding themselves able to replenish their numbers faster and faster.

And soon they were able to grow them.

No more were they a mere sect on an undeveloped world, but controlled several worlds with a membership that boasted hundreds of Force-users, and thousands of operatives. They were as talented in the Force as any Jedi, and received training in guerilla warfare, cyberwarfare, and special forces training equivalent to anything in the Empire.

They are a society and culture now, which they have spent most of the past three centuries cultivating. The Quabular want to be more. It is for that reason they have not participated significantly in any of the recent major conflicts, instead focusing on their people – and on their mission.

Nearly a century ago, they began resuming their operations in the Outer Rim – though now there was a clearly more professional attitude around them. Quabular regularly encompass more than just Force-sensitives, but they nonetheless have a reputation. They are who people now look to for justice in the Outer Rim – and they have focused on spreading their reach.

As will be detailed shortly, we have vastly underestimated the will and reach of the Quabular. We have been under the impression that the Quabular are a people that prefer to keep to themselves, or at most, restrict their activities to the Outer Rim. This is an incorrect assessment, and a dangerous one.

The Quabular are not just Force-users. They are spies, assassins, killers, and adherents to a rigid philosophy that is ruthless against those who are deemed fallen, evil, or against the morality the Quabular adhere to religiously. There is no one the Quabular consider out of their reach, no one who they will not consider bringing to justice – or rather, what they consider justice.

At the end, there is a question to be asked if Skywalker was right to be wary of them. The Quabular have used the past centuries wisely, and we have to make an effort to understand their philosophies, beliefs, and norms – all of which significantly deviate from what is expected.

This will be covered in the next section.