Ufali

The Ufali (//) were a sentient, species from Ufalio. While not universally Force-sensitive like the, they nonetheless had a higher incidence of Force sensitivity than most known sentient species, leading to numerous Ufali joining the Order of Keltrayu.

Biology and appearance
The Ufali had yellow skin marked with red; markings were different from one Ufali to the next. The shades of both yellow and red varied, but often contrasted; bright yellow was often complemented by dark red and vice versa. The Ufali grew thin, barely visible hair on their bodies and more prominent hair on their heads.

While their bodies were relatively similar to those of other humanoids apart from their coloring, Ufali heads were clearly distinct. They had prominent, protrusive tendrils which anchored to their faces and swept up off the top of their heads. These "tendril brows" gave the Ufali permanent looks of aggression in the eyes of other species, particularly given their absence of actual eyebrows—their eyes closed on a semi-horizontal angle toward their brows, rather than the vertical closure seen in s and many other species. Ufali had no noses, but five nostrils grouped between their eyes and mouths. Their ears were large and drooped to either side of their heads.

All Ufali had a single tendril which projected from their chins. It allowed a limited form of species-specific telepathy; while Ufali could not communicate sentences with it, they could generally sense one another's feelings. This telepathic ability worked only with other Ufali who possessed the organ.

Ufali had a lifespan of roughly eighty-five standard years. Fetal Ufali could vaguely sense the emotions of others around them in the final stages of fetal development, provided the other Ufali possessed their telepathic organ. As a result, many Ufali mothers left work in the final two months of pregnancy to ensure a tranquil environment for their young. The total gestation period was approximately a standard year.

Society and culture
Creative and industrious, the Ufali were a multifaceted society with a variety of cultures. By the time Ufalio joined the Golden Empire, the majority of Ufali were neither particularly religious nor superstitious, being largely pragmatic. A notable exception was the Seers of Ufalio, a Force-sensitive group of philosophers and prophets. The Seers had fallen in public standing by the time the Empire arrived, though a confirmation of their supernatural abilities led to a renewed interest in their order.

History
Ufali evolved their bright skin colors to blend in with the equally bright flora of their homeworld. Successfully able to hide from predators, they began to develop hunting parties after evolving sentience. Using crude spears and other weapons, they tracked and ambushed prey animals, while also setting elaborate traps for their predators using Ufalio's own deadly plant life. Force-sensitive Ufali usually wound up as the leaders of tribes and communities, which also assisted attack plan and coordination.

When the Ufali began regular communication among different societies, they began to discover that the unusual gifts of a single leader were not unique, but that many Ufali shared similar talents. Moreover, the Ufali with such gifts could vaguely sense the same abilities in others. As soon as the reality of supernatural talents became common knowledge, royal houses began to claim the same talent, whether or not they actually had it. Several families which were demonstrated to lack Force powers were deposed and succeeded by new royals who truly had the power.

Ufali religions were divided on the subject; some considered such powers unnatural and evil, while others viewed them as blessings from deities. Nevertheless, nations led by Force-sensitives experienced greater success in battle and sometimes even better economic conditions. The more direct control a Forceful ruler had, the better a nation generally did. Some unscrupulous rulers tried to root out other Force-sensitives among their populations, killing them off to prevent competition.

The Seers of Ufalio emerged circa 1,400 BBY, during Ufalio's feudal period. The group was made up of Force-sensitives who had not descended from the various royal and noble houses, but simply been born into lower classes. The Seers began as a religious tradition, focused on meditation. They discovered that prolonged meditation allowed them glimpses of the future. When this discovery was made public, nations began to consult them for advice on everything from economic policy to military strategy.

Around 1,000 BBY, a breakaway sect of the Seers sought to exert their power as a form of rule. Taking command of nations, they used their prophetic powers to divine ways to defeat other countries, plundering resources and building up an enormous war machine. They were defeated in 943 BBY after several nations banded together to launch an unstoppable counter-invasion. Though the large majority of the Seers had not taken part in the conquests, the Seers' independent territory was confiscated and divided among other nations, and they were relegated to the margins of society.

Technological progress marched on, but Ufali were generally much more circumspect about their Force powers. Supernatural abilities had become a taboo, and Forceful Ufali were looked on with fear and mistrust. Those who experienced visions either kept their powers bottled up or quietly sought out the Seers on their own, trying to find a community of kindred spirits. Several religions launched persecutions and inquisitions against Forceful Ufali; the Seers themselves were always able to predict such attacks and keep one step ahead, but many independent Force users and hundreds of Ufali with no gifts at all were hanged. The persecutions led some states to ban outward religious movements, and others to restrict religious rights to only the right to worship. By the first century after the, Ufalio was a fully industrialized society in which religious beliefs were looked on, at best, with tolerance, but generally considered superstitious.

In 122 ABY, the Golden Empire arrived at Ufalio. While Ufali nations hurriedly assembled delegations to greet the alien arrivals, the Seers of Ufalio presented themselves, as well as an age-old prophecy which accurately described not only several of the Empire's emissaries, including Rin Sakaros, but even what they were wearing. The Ufali delegates were aghast and baffled at once, but Rin was bemused and easily identified the Seers as Force-adepts. After Ufalio agreed to join the Empire (as the Seers smugly pointed out they had expected), Rin invited many Ufali to join the Order of Keltrayu. Several Seers volunteered for service, and a few private citizens who had been concealing their gifts joined the Order as well.

In light of the new revelations about the Seers, the Ufali began to reexamine their traditions. Some remained obstinate in their purely scientific worldview, arguing that the Force itself, while it seemed to defy reality, could still be scientifically explained by the newly-revealed presence of s in the blood. Others countered that midi-chlorians and science could not fully embrace what the Force was, and that religious traditions also deserved to be reexamined.

In the galaxy
The Seers of Ufalio were not widely known off their homeworld, largely due to the efforts of the Empire itself to keep them secret; Rin Sakaros preferred to keep them as a personal think tank of sorts rather than risk their gifts being exploited. However, several Ufali distinguished themselves as Centurions of the Order of Keltrayu, including the Royal Guard Zeth Kezzerek.