Cilwelli (species)

"Three-eyed mutants can be quite handy, but only when kept in their place. Once they get out of hand they are very annoying."

- Muggera

The Cilwelli, also referred to as Cilwellians, were native to the planet Cilwelli. They were characterized by their distinct third eye. In some members of the species, this eye had hypnotic effects on the weak-minded. Because of the harsh conditions of their homeworld violence was an accepted part of life for the Cilwellians. To keep the war-like people from destroying each other, an Aulsur in the Pre-Republic era brought the various tribes under a single banner and established a strict code of conduct. This code was followed until well into the days of the New Republic.

Even after the Cilwelli came under Hutt rule they remained highly traditional. Because their laws deemed submissive serve to higher beings a great honor, they were often taekn advantage of by the Hutts and later the Galactic Empire. However, it was the same strict honor-code that would ultimately save them from their abusive masters. Under the command of the priest, Sincol, the Cilwelli fought back by joining the Rebel Alliance and freeing their homeworld.

From that point on, the Cilwelli would remain an active part of galactic politics. Thanks to a treaty signed by the New Republic, the Cilwelli were finally given their freedom after nearly 30,000 thousand years of Hutt domination. But tragically their liberation would short lived. The Vuuzhan Vong war saw the destruction of their homeworld and the near extinction of the Cilwelli race.

Biology and appearance
Cilwelli were set apart from other Near-Human races by their infamious third eye which was located on their forehead. This third eye was said to have remarkable abilities. Like Falleen and Zeltrons, Cilwelli could use this eyes to channel pheromones which could influence the behavior of other lifeforms. However, unlike their counterparts, the Cilwellians did not use this ability soully to attract a mate. Because this ability was feared by offworlders, many Cilwelli would conceal their "extra" eye when they travelled offworld. But it's believed that the third eye was little more than a channeling device, as Cilwelli who had lost their center like, such as magic. [[Image:Cilwelli&droid.jpg|thumb|left|148 px|A male Cilwelli is examined by a medical droid]] Compared to Humans, Cilwelli had a relatively short lifespan. The average female lived to about sixty-seven years old. Most males were only expected to live fifty-two years. Some contributed this to the harsh conditions of Cilwelli socity. However, it is likely that there was some biological reason for their limited life spans.

The skin color of various members differed greatly, ranging from pale white to dark black. Often skin color determined what clan the Cilwelli would be assigned. The Cilwelli had an average high of 1.8–1.9 meters, though their warriors were often larger.

Unlike other mammalian species, such as Wookiees or Ewoks, Cilwelli had only a light covering of body hair, with males being hairier than females. Most of their body hair was concentrated on the head and (in the case of adult males) face. This hair was grown, cut, and styled for aesthetic or ritualistic reasons, particularly among the priest and warrior casts. Older Ciwelli males often suffered from the loss of the hair on their head. The facial hair grown by adult males could be grown, styled, or shaved completely.

Despite overall physiological uniformity, baseline Cilwelli varied greatly in appearance. Their hair color ranged from blond to dark, sometimes with hues of red or brown, changing to gray or white as years passed. Their hair could be straight, wavy, or curly. Their eyes came in shades of blue, green, gray, red, yellow, or brown.

Government
The Cilwelli were ruled by a familial clan, which was ruled in turned by their patriarch, called a Aulsur. The Aulsur had direct control over his or her people. Despite the monarchy's total control, open rebellion would not take place until 30 BBY. This was largely due to the Cilwelli's religious beliefs which said that the Aulsur was a lesser god.

The Aulsur clan acted as the enforcers of their patriarch's laws. They had complete authority to punish traitors has they saw fit. Becasue of this the clan was feared and often hated, though no one would ever admit it.

Even though the Aulsur had completely control he was unoffically limited by the Cilwelli priests. This religious caste, called Vranga, were respouncable to make sure that the monarch did not defy the Cilwellian's sacred religious laws. This power would not be used until Sincol defied the Empire in 3 BBY. After the Hutt Empire took control of the Cilwelli, through sly negotiations on the part of the Hutts, the Delijiti were adopted into the Aulsur clan. This brought radical change to the Cilwellian government. Though the Hutts appeased the people by letting them keep their traditions, they made it clear that they were in charge.

After Orgo Delijiti became ruler of Cilwelli, his Aulsur "relitives" began to disappear. Soon only a few young clan members were left to keep the peace. Orgo, at the behaste of his son, Muggera, announced that the Aulsur clan was no longer capable to enforcing law and order. Therefore the Hutt Secret Police were created. This new organization were loyal to the Hutts and supressed the Cilwelli people.

After the Galactic Civil War the Cilwelli, like most of the Galaxy, adopted a more democractic form of government. Representatives from each clan were elected to serve in a plantary senate. This senate became the sole governing body of the planet.

Clans
"Every being and every creature is appointed to his proper place in life and time. This is the origin of order and structure."

- Cilwellian proverb

The clans of Cilwellian socity were often categorized as castes by offworlders. It seemed to many that that word better described the levels of cultural rank which had been established long before the Old Republic. However, there were distinct differences between the Cilwelli clans and tradition castes. Namely, a person's place in socity was determined by family origin. Likewise it was possible to move out of the lower clans through adoption.

Each clan was ruled by a patriarch. Usually an aged male, the patriarch was provide for the clan in exchange for their loyalty. The patriachs governed the clan until they died. After which a replacement would be choosen by the former patriach's children.

The clans were divided into three major groups, High Clans, Middle Clans and Low Clans. According to custome, clan members could mingle with seprate clans of the same group.

High Clans

Aulsur: As mentioned, the Aulsur was the ruling clan of the Cilwelli. It also served as the security force. Likewise their patriach acted as the planetary monarch. The name Aulsur meant Children of the Gods, for it was said that clan were the last mortal descendants of the deities. Therefore the Aulsur had complete authority over all othe clans, save the Vranga. After the Hutts captured Cilwelli, the Aulsur became deluted by new alien "brothers", whom the peace-seeking patriarchs adopted into their clan.

Vranga: As the religious clan the Vranga, or Seers, were extremely powerful in Cilwellian socity. Their word was regarded as the undeniable truth and the very group upon which they stepped was considered sacred. The Seers were often called warlocks becasue of their mystical beleifs and abilities. The clan was composed exclusively of Force-sensitives. Therefore when a child another clan was discovered to have a high midi-chlorian count, a witch (a female warlock) would take the child from its parents and raise it. At the same time a male Vranga would begin training the child in the ways of the Force and the Cilwelli faith.

Because of their religious beliefs most warlocks preferred the dark side. According their faith, the dark side was a gift from the god of darkness, Graef. The dark god expected the to "gifted" to use the ability to promote self-sacrife and physical pain in order to guaranty a place in the afterlife. Those who used the ligh side were said to gifted by Hayweh. Because Hayweh was the god of the afterlife the warlocks believed that Jedi and other light siders were zombies from the next life.

Zargi: Though they lacked the wealth of the other two High Clans, the Zargi, or Blood-soaked Ones, were still given the same respect and honor as their peers. As the warrior clan, the Zargi were counted among the greatest warriors in the Galaxy. Their training was intense and their vigor and zeal was unparallel.

Each Zargi child, regardless of gender, was trained in the art of combat from a very young age. Hardship was all they ever knew, and yet they took pride in their pain. The Blood-soaked Ones had no room for weaklings. Therefore weakness was beaten out of the children. These beatings also taught the young warriors to embrace anger so that they could tight with greater passion.

After the Hutt-Xim War the Zargi became the personal bodyguards of their new Hutt masters. However, as years progressed and the Cilwelli's loyalty to the Hutts began to faulter, many warriors forsook their previous overlords and took jobs as mercanaries.

Middle Clans

Hyt: Considered lesser warriors, the Hyt were hunters and animal slayers. They were the only clan allowed to hunt the sacred Kull. Like the Zargi, they were characterized for their bravery, but to a lesser extent. Many Hyt were later adopted into the Zargi family. The clan would trade their kills to the other Middle and Low Clans and give it as tribute to the High Clans.

The Hyt would ordain themselves in red and black pant. The red pant represented the blood of the animals they slew. The black symbolized their respect for the creatures they hunted. These marks made them instantly reconizable in Cilwellian culture.

Sevvel: The counterparts of the Hyt, the Sevvel were farmers and planters. They help tame the wild landscape of Cilwelli and grew all manner of fruits and vegtables. Like the Hyt they would sell their produce to their equals and give it to their superiors.

Of the Middle Clans, the Sevvel were probably the most well educated. They studied science and biology so that they could maximize their yield. Using a drop irrigation system, the farmers would collect water from the mountains in large tubes. The water would then flow down to the highly populated vallies were it filtered through ruber tubes which steady "leaked" in order to water the farms. The Sevvel prided themselves in "making the desert bloom."

Urr: The Urr were a clan of builders and masons. Charged with the secrets of the Fortress builders, they built grand cities and temples that were legendary for their time. Using tools that were generally considered primitive, the Urr, or Mound-makers, crafted huge structures, many of which lasted well into the Legecy era. They built the homes of the greatest kings and the lowest peasents.

Likely the numerically largest clan, the Urr were lived among the other clans, the homes they built. They were recognized by their abnormal physical striength, which was the result of many long hours of work. The Mound-makers took pride in their ability to work for hours on end without resting. Some would even work themselves literally to death in order to prove their striength.

Low Clans

Extor: This clan was where all non-Cilwellian individuals who imigrated to the planet were placed. This clan was unique because there was little bound between members. In fact, some aliens didn't even know they had been placed in the caste. There were some species, such as Hutts, Humans and Treme, that were adopted into higher clans and spared the shame of such a lowly title. The name Extor literally meant Outer-ones or Ones from the Outside.

Rayvex: The lowest of the free castes, the Rayvex were dung movers and harlots. Thier very name meant Those equal with earth. They were generally considered useless exept for the jobs that no others would take. They dwelt in small enclaves, beggin for work from any who would give it. However, according to their laws and faith the Rayvex were never to wallow in self pity. Their children were taught to do the hardest jobs with joy and happiness. Humility was the foremost virtue among the Rayvex.

Legally, the clan had almost no rights. The other castes could do as they pleased to them without any fear of getting the just deserts. The only right that they did have was the right ot freedom. A person could do just about anything to a Rayvex exept enslave him. Therefore the clan valued freedom above all else.

Vexhor: The lowest of all clans, the Vexhor, or Talking beasts, was the caste of slaves. Orginally this clan existed solely of Cilwellians who had been dubbed worthless and unworthy to even be a member of the Rayvex. But over time, more and more alien species became part of this clan as the Hutts brought in their own slaves. The official home of the Vexhor was Vextor-2, which meant Nest of the Slaves. However, most simply lived in what ever place their master commanded them to.

According to tradition, the Vexhor were to be loyal only to their own master. Treachery was not even to be considered an option. But as time progressed the slave became reckless and finally did rebel against their masters. To avoid bloodshed the Auslur signed a treaty which theoretically gave the Vexhor more rights. However, the treaty only limited the slave trade, at best.

Religion
"We are people built around faith. Take away our faith and we are nothing."

- Sincol

The Cilwelli culture revolved heavily around its religion. Their faith was an interpretation of the Force, or the Gift as they called it. They believed that the Force was the manifestation of powers given to certain individauls by the gods.

The Cilwellians were dualists, believing that there were two gods of equal power and authority. One of these gods was good and just and the other was vile and harsh. According to legend, these two gods, Hayweh and Graef, true lots to decide who would create the universe. Greaf won and formed a world of pain and cruelity. To that end the Vranga taught that in order to please the good of the current world then his followers must habitually suffer physical and emotional pain. However, Cilwelli myth states tht Hayweh was so troubled the universe his counterpart had created that he crafted another world, known as the Afterlife. Hayweh's world was pure and peaceful without any suffering or pain. It was said that Graef, fearing his followers would forsake him, threatened to mark war on Hayweh and destroy the Afterlife. But Hayweh was willing to negotiate. He wrote a holy pact which said that mortals must first serve Graef to the fullest before they could enter the Afterlife. Therefore the Cilwellians believed that if they had gone through enough suffering in the first life then they could enter the peaceful Afterlife. The Cilwelli sought to please Graef through several demonic means, including cutting themselves and even sacrifing the person closest to them. Devotes would conduct several rituals, which they felt would secure their place in paradise. The most famous of these rituals was the Trail of Tears, in which followers would have to preform a series of strinuating tasks as they traveled around Cilwelli's equator. For a non-Cilwellian to be accepted into the religion they had to go through this process. Dan Eardornn did was the most famous "walker" of the Trail. Even more important than physical suffering was emotional pain. Public humilation and shame were thought to purify a being from his or her weaker self.

The Cilwelli's views on the Force were effected by their faith. They believed that each god was represented through a side of the Force. The dark side was said to be a gift from Graef, and was the most commonly used among the Vranga. Those who used the ligh side were looked upon with suspicion and distrust. Because the ligh side was supposedly the power of Hayweh, the god of the Afterlife, the Cilwelli believed that anyone who used it was a ghoul. This belief led to an increasing fear, among the Cilwellians, of the Jedi. Though the Cilwellian distrusted ghouls they also respected them and desired to learn from them. When the Cilwelli first encountered the Jedi, the Knights told them of planets in the Core. The people assumed that the Jedi were telling them of paradise.

Though the core of this religion remained unchanged for a millennium, it was constantly being mutated by various followers. Sometimes this was done for power or because of a simple misunderstanding of holy texts. The most evident of these changes from of the original faith, was the divinity of the Kull. An unknown Vranga who lived around 30,000 BBY proclaimed that the native carnivores of Cilwelli were holy and divine. At first the Kull were simply respected but not worshipped. However, around the time of the Old Republic's formation, the people of Cilwelli began to worship the Kull. They built shrines in their honor and offered sacrifes to them. From that point on only the Zargi were allowed the hunt the sacred creatures. However, the beast worshipping had an unforseen side effect. With only the Zargi allowed to slay the Kull the creatures soon ran ramped, killing Cilwellians and slaughtering herbs of cattle. To counter this problem the Cilwelli began to corral the beasts into the small pits which dotted their homeworld's surface. The Aulsur would than cast suspected criminals into the pits. If the holy Kull devoured the suspect than the person was declared guilty. If the accused was spared than the Aulsur assumed he was innocent. Needless to say the majority of suspects were deemed guilty. The laws and doctrines of the Cilwelli religion were kept in a series of holy texts. These manustripts were carved on the walls of various caves all across the planet. The texts were first writen down around 43,000 BBY. Many years later the Vranga set about recording the texts in official documents. However, Cilwelli still made pilgrimiges to the caves in order to read the original writings.

Behind the Scenes

 * The Cilwelli were created by Red Head Rider.
 * Orginally the Cilwelli were suppose to look similar to Chiss.
 * The Cilwelli faith is based from several tribal religions.