Ssi-ruuvi Imperium

The **Ssi-ruuvi Imperium** encompasses the vast territory controlled by the Ssi-ruuvi, extending across a significant portion of the Unknown Regions called the Ssi-ruuk Star Cluster. The Shreeftut, the elective monarch of this Imperium, holds authority from the central hub of Lwhekk, presiding over matters guided by the Conclave and the Elders' Council.

## History

### Early History

As the Ssi-ruuk ventured into space, they conquered numerous worlds, subjecting their mostly primitive inhabitants to enslavement. Over time, the Ssi-Ruuk delved into the art of entechment, initiating the practice of harnessing subjugated species. This method extended even to the P'w'eck, relatives of the Ssi-ruu. However, a realization emerged that prolonged containment of these “souls” led to madness. Consequently, the Imperium decided to expand its dominion once more, driven not only by the adverse effects of entechment but also by the depletion of resources in their secluded region of space.

### Exploration of the Galaxy

Before this expansion, the Imperium had refrained from venturing beyond its cluster, influenced by vast distances, the Ssi-ruuk's xenophobia, and a religious fear of traversing 'unconsecrated' worlds. In 2 BBY, the Shreeftut, the Ssi-ruuvi's supreme ruler, received Force visions of a hooded Human claiming to be Emperor Palpatine, the galaxy's ruler. Palpatine proposed a deal: dozens of worlds and millions of Humans for entechment in exchange for Ssi-ruuvi technology. Thus, the Imperium, enticed by this offer, set forth into Wild Space. They conquered the small Human colony of G'rho, enteching numerous residents. The Imperial leadership, bound by a secret agreement, concealed the incident, blaming the Alliance to Restore the Republic for the attack.

Among the captives was a Human boy, Dev Sibwarra, brainwashed by Elder Bluescale's mind manipulation. Remarkably, the boy possessed the ability to sense others. Admiral Ivpikkis, intrigued by Sibwarra's Force abilities, learned that Humans were the dominant species and had extended entechment viability. Using Sibwarra's skills, the Ssi-ruuk employed him to calm subjects during entechment.

In 4 ABY, Emperor Palpatine's demise during the Battle of Endor nullified his promise. The Ssi-ruuvi initiated an invasion of the galaxy's edge, targeting both the known Galaxy and the Chiss Ascendancy in the Unknown Regions. However, their expeditions faced setbacks; narrowly conquering Cattamascar, they suffered a decisive defeat at Bakura. Simultaneously, the Chiss retaliation, overwhelming and unexpected, laid waste to Lwhekk, the Ssi-ruuvi capital.

Following the Chiss raid, a Rebel Alliance task force entered Ssi-ruuvi Space, aiming to halt the Imperium's expansion. Witnessing the Imperium in ruins, the Rebel Alliance believed the Ssi-ruuk threat was extinguished.

### Resurgence and defeat

Many years passed before the Ssi-ruuvi could contemplate resuming their expansion. Two pivotal events marked this period. First, the birth of the Keeramak, a momentous occurrence in Ssi-ruuvi religion. The Keeramak, a mutant Ssi-ruu, emerged as a master strategist and politician. Simultaneously, the Imperium underwent a covert takeover by the Yuuzhan Vong, who discreetly installed E'thinaa, one of their own, as a ranking general. During these years, the Ssi-ruuk discovered innovative techniques for preserving enteched souls.

Collaborating, E'thinaa and the Keeramak crafted a new strategy for the invasion. Striking a secret deal with Bakura's Prime Minister, Molierre Cundertol, they orchestrated a faux P'w'eck slave uprising, presenting the Keeramak as its leader. Together, they succeeded in consecrating Bakura and launched a second invasion. However, when the P'w'eck revolted, killing the Keeramak, all was lost.

Meanwhile, the deceased Keeramak's body, aboard a P'w'eck shuttle bound for Lwhekk, was meant to appease the Conclave and arouse the Elders' Council. En route, Cundertol hijacked the shuttle but was slain by E'thinaa upon reaching a pre-scheduled asteroid location—revealing himself as a disguised Vong agent.

The Ssi-ruuvi's fate became one of subjugation by the Vong. Yet, in 29 ABY, when the Galactic Alliance defeated the Vong, the Ssi-ruuk managed to free themselves. Despite their newfound freedom, they remained too weakened to resume invasions. Instead, they chose isolation within their star cluster, the remnants of their once-potent Imperium.

### Galactic Legends

In the year 1005 ABY, the Sith Dominion, under the leadership of Darth Magice, uncovered the whereabouts of Lwhekk. Determined to strengthen their forces, Darth Magice set his sights on the worlds of the Ssi-ruuk, aiming to assimilate their numbers into the Sith Dominion's ranks.

## Government

At the helm of the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium stood the esteemed Shreeftut, a position of absolute authority granted to an elective monarch for life. Endowed with executive powers over the Imperium, the Shreeftut was elected by both the Conclave and the Elders' Council. The Conclave, presiding over religious affairs, was predominantly composed of the gold-scaled priestly caste. In contrast, the Elders' Council managed socio-economic aspects and was dominated by the blue-scaled aristocratic class.

These councils held judicial and legislative powers, engaging in a perpetual struggle for control over the empire. Only the Shreeftut's authority prevented the looming threat of civil war. The punitive attacks by the Chiss and the New Republic in 4 ABY decimated the empire's infrastructure and diminished the once-potent bureaucracy to a mere remnant of its former might. It was during this tumultuous period that the multi-colored Ssi-ruu known as the Keeramak emerged. Fulfilling an ancient prophecy foretelling the liberation of oppressed lower castes, particularly the brown-scaled Ssi-Ruuk, offspring of a union between two Ssi-Ruuk from different castes, and the humble P'w'ecks. The Keeramak was destined to lead the lower masses against their upper-class oppressors.

In 23 ABY, the Imperium orchestrated a faux coup through the P'w'eck Emancipation Movement, led by the Keeramak, who was then installed as a figurehead Shreeftut. However, this move was manipulated by General E'thinaa, a disguised Yuuzhan Vong agent. E'thinaa negotiated with Bakuran Prime Minister Molierre Cundertol, facilitating the entechment of his people and their enslavement in exchange for E'thinaa being installed in a Human replica droid body.

By 28 ABY, the Imperium employed a Consecration Ceremony as a smokescreen for an invasion. Yet, their plans were thwarted by a genuine P'w'eck uprising and a counter-attack by the Galactic Alliance.

## Military

The military might of the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium lay in the formidable red-hued warrior class, a dominant force in both the fleets of starships and ground forces. Renowned for their trichoid configuration and unwavering religious convictions, these warriors proved formidable adversaries when engaged in combat. However, their reluctance to venture beyond the consecrated home space stemmed from a deep fear of dying away from it.

To overcome this limitation, the Ssi-ruuk incorporated vast numbers of droids and P'w'ecks, a smaller enslaved species, into their fleets. Mastery of swift strikes defined their tactics, aiming to achieve rapid victories and secure captives for entechment, thereby augmenting their strength.

The Imperium's military excelled against technologically primitive adversaries, as demonstrated during the Invasion of Bakura, where Rebel Alliance reinforcements arrived after the Imperial garrison suffered considerable losses. However, when confronted by technologically advanced foes such as the New Republic, Chiss Ascendancy, and even the Yuuzhan Vong, the Imperium's military faltered. A punitive attack by the Chiss, following an invasion of their space, inflicted substantial damage on the Imperium's military power, with encounters between Chiss pilots and Ssi-ruuk-piloted V'sett-class fighters, noted by Jagged Fel.

Annexing planets outside their home space involved a meticulous process. Ssi-ruuk of the golden-hued priest caste conducted an hour-long consecration ceremony, essential to their religious beliefs. According to their doctrine, a Ssi-ruu's soul, if perishing away from their consecrated star cluster, would wander the universe for eternity, denied access to the fourth egg constituting the Ssi-ruuvi afterlife. At the ceremony's conclusion, the planet was dedicated to the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium, bestowed with a Ssi-Ruuvi name. An illustrative instance was the consecration of Bakura as Xwhee, serving as a prelude to the invasion in 28 ABY.

## Foreign relations

Throughout millennia, the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium refrained from venturing beyond its cluster, a choice influenced by considerable distances, inherent xenophobia, and a deep-seated religious fear of exploring 'unconsecrated' worlds. Consequently, their foreign relations with civilizations within the Unknown Regions and the broader galaxy were minimal, typically limited to interactions serving the Imperium's priorities.

Despite possessing hyperdrive technology enabling starship access to hyperspace, gravitational anomalies in their region rendered navigation hazardous, deterring space travel outside their star cluster. This limitation resulted in the Imperium having scant knowledge of other galactic powers. The sole recorded Ssi-ruuvi expedition into the known galaxy before 4 ABY occurred around 25,000 BBY, when an experimental hyperdrive vessel crashed on the Mid-Rim world of Garos IV.

Cultural xenophobia further constrained foreign relations for the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium. They viewed themselves as inherently superior to all species, even their P'w'eck relatives. In their mindset, encountering other species in the galaxy only meant potential enslavement and entechment, utilizing life energies for mechanical technology. This xenophobia manifested in the mistreatment of a diverse range of species, from their saurian P'w'eck cousins to advanced civilizations like Humans and Chiss. Consequently, the Ssi-ruuk sought conquest and subjugation to exploit labor and resources. Relations with neighboring powers like the Chiss Ascendancy, Galactic Alliance, and the Yuuzhan Vong were virtually non-existent as of 28 ABY.

The religious fear of dying in an 'unconsecrated' world away from their home space played a pivotal role. According to their beliefs, death outside Lwhekk condemned a Ssi-ruu's soul to wander the universe endlessly, denied access to the Ssi-ruuvi afterlife's fourth egg. To mitigate losses during expeditions, the Imperium utilized “disposable” P'w'eck slaves and droids on starships.

To counteract the fear, Ssi-ruuk priests conducted hour-long Consecration Ceremonies to consecrate planets. Afterward, the Ssi-Ruuk dedicated the planet to the Imperium, christening it with a Ssi-Ruuvi name. The sole witnessed consecration ceremony by non-Ssi-Ruuk occurred when Bakura was consecrated as Xwhee by the Keeramak, during the Ssi-Ruuvi attempt to re-conquer Bakura.

## Territory

* Lwhekk—a lush, jungle-covered homeworld, stands as the heart of the Ssi-ruuk in the Ssi'kaat system. At its political core is Cree'n'aak Palace, the eminent residence of the Shreeftut. Notable geographical features include Mount Skar'lak and the enigmatic Caves of Ss'laath, adding to the rich tapestry of this pivotal world in the Ssi-ruuk's territorial domain.
* Ferrandon—a temperate paradise, unfolds with unspoiled beauty and natural alcoves. Its serene landscape and sheltered harbors make it a celestial haven, inviting those who witness its grace to immerse themselves in its tranquil embrace.