Vahla The Vahla were a nomadic , near - Human species who roamed the galaxy in search of their homeworld . They were tall and slender , and possessed cartilaginous skeletons , which gave them exceptional flexibility . All were Force - sensitive , and they were regarded as having a natural shrewdness about them . Many Vahla belonged to a dark side cult called the Ember of Vahl , and all Vahla were expected to heed the dictates of the cult ' s central coven . Biology and appearance . Vahla were tall , slightly - built near - Human s . The males averaged two meters in height , and females were slightly smaller . Their physiology was largely similar to baseline Humans , with the marked exception that their skeletons were mostly composed of thick cartilage rather than bone ; this unique adaptation gave the Vahla greater flexibility than baseline humanity . However , they were more physically frail than similar species . The color of Vahla skin varied , with dark gray and dusky brown marking the extremes . Their eyes were often pale blue , gray , or lavender , and their hair color ranged from black to gray to white , with both or all three colors sometimes being present simultaneously . Occasionally , Vahla were born with red hair ; those so endowed were often regarded as having been blessed by the goddess Vahl . Society and culture . The Vahla were a nomadic people who were forever in search of their lost homeworld . They were generally regarded as a naturally bright and shrewd people . Their small economy was stoked by petty theft and limited - scale piracy , and , following the Great Jedi Purge , by bounty hunting . All Vahla were Force - sensitive , and whether aware or not , had ties to the dark side of the Force . Most Vahla were members of the Ember of Vahl , a dark side cult that worshiped Vahl , a goddess of fire and destruction . Though not all Vahla were members , all were expected to follow the orders of a six - priest central coven believed to have been " chosen " by the goddess . To show their faith and devotion , those Chosen of Vahl would inflict scars upon themselves . The Chosen consulted with Vahl through use of Force - empowered farseeing . They also interpreted signs and portents , and made policy for the Vahla . History . The ancient Vahla were dedicated to serving Vahl , whom some believed to have been originally a Force Adept who led her people in the conquest of their now - lost homeworld . They were regarded as twisted and decadent , and several thousand years before the Sith – Imperial War the cult was decimated by the Jedi Knights in an attempt to quash their dark and destructive tendencies . Since then , the Vahla traveled the galaxy as nomads . Their bitterness and hatred toward the Jedi Order did not diminish with the millennia , and a number of Vahla helped the Galactic Empire hunt down the Jedi during Palpatine ' s purge of the Order . By 130 ABY , the Jedi - hunting tradition that began nearly a century and a half earlier continued as numerous Vahla served as independent bounty hunters . Vahla in the galaxy . The Vahla were vagabonds , constantly plying interstellar space in an ongoing quest to locate their homeworld . They could often be encountered engaged in small - scale acts of piracy , in petty thievery , or in bounty hunting . Ember of Vahl cultists were also known for kidnapping and sacrificing individuals to their destructive goddess . The cult did allow non - Vahla Force - sensitives to join , but only after passing a number of dangerous , fiery tests to prove their faith . Behind the scenes . The Vahla first appeared in the " Legacy Era Campaign Guide " in the context of the Ember of Vahl Force tradition . Though the guide is based on the " " comic series , many elements in it are new , including the Vahla and the Ember of Vahl .