Essowyn Essowyn was the only planet in the Saurton system . The planet was located in the Trax sector , situated between the Kanawyn and Greawyn asteroid belt s . Description . The surface of Essowyn was mainly covered by a massive ocean , broken up by four large continents , called Sorontill , Baslar , Steltout , and Macor , and a smattering of hundreds of smaller islands . These islands were covered in plains , temperate forests , and small mountains , all of which were completely pock - marked by meteorites that fall in from the surrounding asteroid belts . These constant bombardments made Essowyn a hard place to live , and all structures were built completely underground . The atmosphere ' s temperature varied drastically , due mainly to the planet ' s erratic orbit around its sun , a yellow star called Saurton . These temperature fluctuations bred terrible storms at the equator that spread to the rest of the planet , dissipating before they reached the polar zones . History . Essowyn became a popular world when mining corporations discovered the valuable ferrous materials in the surrounding asteroid belts . The first of these companies was the massive Messert Mines Corporation ; their arrival split the Saurtons into warring factions . Messert quickly arranged to purchase from the Tresycht ( one of the local factions ) mining rights to the Thergum Pits , an area whose ownership was in dispute between the Tresycht and the neighboring Yistze . Messert sent in a mining expedition along with a few armed starfighter squadrons and subjugated the Yitsze in a matter of weeks . Eventually , all the other factions similarly succumbed to Messert ' s forces , until the entire planet was under the control of the Tresycht High Priest , Gellack . Gellack tried to forge a new government , but eventually decided that re - empowering the priests of the old nations to govern their own ' sectors ' would be the most efficient method . This evolved into the current Essowyn government , with the descendants of Gellack sitting on the Council of Elders . Mining companies flocked to the system , claiming parts of the belts as their own and setting up orbital platforms and even small bases on some of the larger asteroids . Inhabitants . Saurtons , a sentient species native to Essowyn , were a hearty reptilian race . Most were golden , or some combination of gold and brown , black , or green . Unlike most reptiles , they were warm blooded , though they reproduced by laying eggs . Their hearty immune system could tolerate a larger - than - usual amount of filth and as such it would usually accumulate in and around their cities . The more warlike tendencies of the native Saurton split the population into two factions ; the " Quenno " , those looking back to tradition , and the " Des ' mar " , those looking forward . The Quenno were conservative traditionalists . They believed that Essowyn , and the entire Saurton system , should be wrested from the control of the mining corporations and returned to the Saurton people . They espoused the belief that control of all resources should be given to the council of elders , just as it had been for centuries . The Des ' mar was the younger of the two groups , and its members were fewer in number , but they " did " have the full financial backing of the mining corporations . The Des ' mar wanted Essowyn to continue as it was , with the corporations bringing in galactic trade and culture . There were many smaller groups with more temperate ideals , but most believed that the Saurton government was not powerful enough to put down a revolution , should one actually arise . Many groups stockpiled weapons , and secret deals with the mining corporations and the Council of Elders were not uncommon . Locations . Cities . Cities on Essowyn were similar to those found on Sullust . Massive caverns were carved out of the planets crust , usually no less than one hundred meters from the surface . These caverns contained the rooms , buildings , city squares , markets , and other structures found on the planet . All of these cities had tunnels leading to the surface . After the advent of the hyperdrive , many cities under the surface of Essowyn chose to excavate large caverns to house starships . Dangerous and disease - causing bacteria were a mainstay of the underground cities of Essowyn , mainly due to the amount of squalor that the native Saurton could tolerate . Most Humans and other aliens had to take precautions in order to avoid contracting one of several communicable diseases found on the planet . Mining Corporations . Mining companies were granted charters to specific territories for a set number of years , and exercised complete authority in those areas , known as Corporate Complexes . In exchange , the Saurton government got a hefty percentage of the profit , which was due mostly to excavations of the metal quadrillium . Corporate Complexes were complete cities , and as such were completely autonomous . The actual mines themselves were very dangerous and cramped . There was little light or air , and caves collapsed all the time . Most of the work is done by droids , and what few living creatures ventured into the mines ddid it because the danger brought with it an increased level of compensation .