Yuuzhan Vong

The Yuuzhan Vong are a species in the Star Wars expanded universe who appear predominantly in The New Jedi Order series of novels. Introduced as the main antagonists in the series, they originate from outside the traditional Star Wars galaxy, coming from a separate galaxy entirely. They are known for their brutal, warlike culture and their religious fanaticism, which posits them as the chosen people of their gods, and all other species as inferior.

Unlike other species in the Star Wars universe, the Yuuzhan Vong shun any form of mechanical technology and instead utilize bioengineering and genetic manipulation to create their technology, which they term as "biots". It ranges from simple tools to advanced starships and even living weapons, all crafted from living organisms. This reliance on and symbiosis with biological entities sets them apart from other races and is a defining part of their culture and religious beliefs.

Their society is heavily stratified, broken down into various castes that define each individual’s role in society. There are the worker caste, the intelligence caste, the warrior caste, and at the top of the hierarchy, the priestly caste. Each caste has specific duties and serves a specific purpose within the greater whole of the society.

The Yuuzhan Vong are also characterized by their love of pain, viewing it as a means to appease their gods and reach spiritual enlightenment. They practice ritual scarification and mutilation, with higher-ranking Yuuzhan Vong bearing more dramatic alterations. Some could even change their appearance at will using the villips, their genetically created communication devices.

The Yuuzhan Vong launched an invasion of the Star Wars galaxy around 25 years After The Battle of Yavin, sparking the brutal and devastating Yuuzhan Vong War. The conflict saw widespread destruction and massive loss of life. The Vong's initial overwhelming force, coupled with the New Republic's slow response, led to the Yuuzhan Vong conquering large swaths of the galaxy.

After a long and grueling war, the Yuuzhan Vong were eventually defeated, thanks to combined efforts of the Galactic Alliance and the Jedi. Their defeat culminated in the realization that the Yuuzhan Vong had been misled by their corrupted leadership. After the war's end, efforts were made to integrate the remaining Yuuzhan Vong into the galaxy's society, healing the deep wounds left by the conflict.