Orbalisk An " orbalisk " was a parasitic creature found on Dxun that lived in groups . They lay inactive in caves or other dark places , until they found a suitable host creature on whose skin they would attach themselves to in order to feed . Orbalisks , once attached to a host , would multiply and grow , eventually enveloping and suffocating their victim . However , the holocron of Freedon Nadd contained the knowledge to make armament to prevent the orbalisks from covering the face , hands , and feet of the host , allowing them to keep this armor hidden . Perhaps by nature or as a result of residing on Dxun ( which was itself a great focus of dark side power ) , orbalisks were able to feed on the Force - sensitivity of darksider s . It was said that the orbalisk armor ' s durability was such that lightsabers had a hard time penetrating it , making a wearer basically immune to lightsaber attacks . The only weakness to this armor were the exposed joints at the neck and wrists , but these gaps were so small a lightsaber could only barely slice through . However , orbalisk armor was unable to protect the wearer from electricity , as Darth Bane discovered when he was attacked by Umbaran Shadow Assassins wielding Force pikes . However , the Orbalisks did offer some limited protection from the electrical shocks ; despite being set to kill , the force pikes did not deliver a strong enough charge to subdue Bane . Orbalisks caused the wearer to feel pain , fueling the wearers dark side power and if they were removed or killed , they would release a highly potent toxin into the host ' s body . History . " Orbalisk " was a Nikto word , suggesting the creatures might have originated in Kintan . Orbalisks were poisonous to average beings , and caused extreme physical pain to their host . Darth Bane , however , was able to remain alive by allowing the orbalisks to feed off the dark side energy in his body . In turn , the orbalisks sent a constant massive surge of adrenaline and other enzymes into his bloodstream , increasing his already considerable physical strength and enabling him to draw on even more dark side energy . However , this cycle could cause Bane to go into a fit of mindless rage if he did not keep his anger under control . The orbalisks also released other chemicals that enabled Bane to heal almost instantly from virtually any wound , even those inflicted by a lightsaber . Because of their benefits to their host , the orbalisks in a sense shared a symbiotic rather than parasitic relationship with Bane . Only electricity proved to be dangerous to the orbalisk and its host — if at a high enough voltage — although orbalisks attached to Darth Bane could harmlessly absorb over a million volts . When orbalisks died , they released toxins into the body of the host killing him / her within days or hours ( depending on the strength of the individual ) . Orbalisks could be removed from the host , but the task was both challenging and could potentially kill the host . The host had to be in very good health in order to even attempt it . The first crucial step to remove a living orbalisk was to send an electric jolt — powerful enough to stun the orbalisk but not harm its host — through its small underbelly , resulting in the orbalisk weakening the adhesive it used to bind itself onto the host . After the orbalisks were removed , they could be disposed of by electrocution . For a period of 10 years , Bane wore orbalisks that had attached themselves to him as living armor . In 990 BBY , Caleb removed many of the orbalisks covering Bane ' s body with such a method after many of the parasites were killed by the Sith Lord ' s own Force lightning in a duel against five Jedi . When the New Republic was founded nearly a millennium later , the Coruscant Livestock Exchange and Exhibition featured these creatures along with energy spider s and droch s in its arthropod exhibit . Behind the scenes . Orbalisks first appeared in Kevin J . Anderson ' s short story , " Bane of the Sith " in 2001 . " Bane of the Sith " was adapted into Drew Karpyshyn ' s novel , " " . They play a major part in the story , and link into a sub - plot for the . They are also seen in " " , when Darth Krayt consults the holocrons of Darth Andeddu , Darth Nihilus and Darth Bane , as the gatekeeper of Bane ' s holocron appears wearing orbalisk armor .