Echani / Legends The Echani were a Near - Human species from the Inner Rim planet Eshan . The Sun Guard arose from the Thyrsian subspecies of the Echani . Biology and appearance . The Echani had similar anatomy to that of humans , but were physically distinct due to their light skin , white hair and silver eyes . They exhibited among themselves a remarkable similarity to each other in their body type and facial features , with close family members such as siblings often appearing indistinguishable to an outside observer . The Thyrsian subspecies of the Echani , in contrast , shared few of these traits , possessing dark hair and skin , rather than the white hair and silver eyes the Echani became known for . It was believed that the Echani were a result of Arkanian experimentation with the Human genome , a theory which could explain the resemblance among these members of the species . Due to the all - encompassing use of combat in all levels of their culture , Echani Generals were seen by others as having the ability to predict their opponent ' s next move . This was not a biological trait inherent to the Echani or their subspecies . Instead , it arose from a culture where combat was seen as the truest form of communication . Society and culture . The Echani were a matriarchal caste - based society originating from the Inner Rim world of Eshan that spread to worlds such as Bengali and Thyrsus to encompass a confederacy of six worlds known as the Six Sisters , governed by the all - female ruling council of the Echani Command . Communication through combat . Echani culture held the belief that to know one fully , you must fight them . Echani fighting was not only self - defense , but a form of self - expression , a means of communication similar to art . During the Old Republic era , Echani Firedancers combined Echani fighting techniques with exotic weapons such as ritual brands , blending the two together in a manner akin to a dance . For the Echani , it was not at all unusual for children of the same parents to be born so as to be completely indistinguishable from one another to outsiders . Thus , being able to distinguish between like individuals through reading of body movement became an essential requirement . The Echani were also known to be able to read feelings and emotion through combat . To an Echani , a combat between two people said more than hours of talking . They saw a certain purity in the way techniques were used in battle . The Maktite s learned this to their own sorrow circa 3951 BBY , when their stores of thermal weaponry were rendered ineffectual by relatively simple adjustments in the traditional Echani light armor . Combat Gear . The Echani were known to focus on unarmed combat and melee weapons . They were considered excellent craftsmen of these weapons , as common melee weapons throughout the galaxy before and during the Jedi Civil War such as vibrosword s were based on Echani designs . However , mass - produced Echani weapons such as the foils crafted in honor of Raskta Fenni rarely survived the crafting process due to difficulties in weaving them with cortosis . Echani - made double - bladed vibroblades were used by Palpatine ' s Royal Guard , influencing their appearance . Though their personal energy shields were popular during the period surrounding the Meetra Surik ' s travel through the galaxy , they gradually fell out of general use . The Echani largely eschewed the use of heavy armor , preferring to fight in light armor , whilst they trained in minimal clothing . Their fighting style focused more on agility and movement , and so anything that hampered their freedom of movement would be avoided . Ergeron , a Mandalorian mercenary , was disgusted at the Echani and their relatively " light " weapons . History . The Echani were a culture of respected warriors , with Echani such as Raskta Fenni , who lived years before the Jedi Civil War , and Raskta Lsu , Jedi Master in General Hoth ' s Army of Light , being known as the best duelists of their time . Echani held a long - standing rivalry with the Mandalorians , which led to the Echani entering the Mandalorian Wars on the side of the Republic . The Echani General Yusanis fought alongside the Exiled Jedi Arren Kae in the conflict until the Battle of Malachor V , which led to Yusanis returning from the war alone to become a Senator . Following the assassination of an Echani Senator on the orders of Darth Revan during the Jedi Civil War , Yusanis challenged Revan to a duel , and was defeated by the Sith . After the outbreak of the Jedi Civil War , the Echani engaged in battle against Revan , and were defeated . As with the Mandalorians upon their defeat by Revan , the Echani respected the combat skill of their enemy . By 1154 BBY , tensions between the ruling council of the Echani Command and the planets of Bengali and Thyrsus led to a revolt , beginning the Bengali Uprising . Though Bengali would rejoin Echani Command less than a century after the uprising , The Thyrsian s led a string of crusades against the Echani Command until the independence of Thyrsus was recognised with the Pact of Almera in 899 BBY . During this conflict , the Thyrsian special forces division evolved into the seminomadic mercenary group that became known as the Sun Guard . Echani fighting techniques remained in use by the Emperor ' s Royal Guard and Imperial Intelligence by the time of the Galactic Empire , while Echani - made double - bladed vibroblades were used by the Emperor ' s Royal Guard .