Difference between revisions 12331010 and 12925395 on enwiki

'''Shakuras''' is the [[homeworld]] of the [[Dark Templar]] in the [[StarCraft Universe]], a fictional universe in which a series of computer games and books are set. In contrast with [[Aiur]] (homeworld of the [[Protoss]]), Shakuras is a planet devoid of [[vegetation]]. It is also the homeworld of the [[Kakaru]], a flying reptilian creature similar to the [[pterosaur]]s. The planet was dark due to the curious "darkening" of the sun, probably due to engineering by the [[Xel'Naga]]. (There are several hypotheses concerning the strange darkness of Shakuras. One involves the "filtering" of sunlight due to a nexus of powerful psionic energies; another, more realistic theory, is that the world follows a slow rotation, keeping one half of the world darkened for very long periods of time.)  It is home to a [[Warp Gate]] and a [[Xel'Naga Temple]].


==History==
{{spoiler}}
When [[Khas]] created the [[Khala]] and enlightened the Protoss tribes, he united all but a few dissented Protoss tribes who refused to submit to the Khala.   [[Adun]], a young warrior, was sent to destroy them, but instead he tried to teach them psionics instead until they couldn't help but reveal themselves.   Because of this, these "Dark" Protoss were exhiled from Auir and sent to space in an abandoned but functional [[Xel'Naga]] freighter.

The Dark Templar travelled through space for centuries, finding many planets but never staying. Eventually they found a planet that gave them a good reason to remain ... it possessed a [[Xel'Naga Temple]]. It was a harsh desert, and the Dark Templar had to alter their own biology to adapt to the world.

These tribes eventually settled on Shakuras, expanded, and began life anew, but were forcibly reunited with their "light" counterparts by [[Zeratul]] and [[Aldaris]] when the decision was made to [[evacuate]] the remaining Protoss tribes on Aiur through the [[Warp Gate]] to a safer location. [[Fenix]] remained behind to guard the Warp Gate from the other side, assisted by [[Jim Raynor]].

On the other side, the Protoss found Shakuras. The planet was not fully occupied, and may not have been fully explored either. They did not immediately find [[Dark Templar]] waiting there to greet them, and indeed the other side of the [[Warp Gate]] was completely unguarded. The Protoss refugees, feeling they were under the proection of [[Zeratul]], established a new base camp called ''New Antioch'', which would enable them to remain somewhat apart from the Dark Templar.

Unfortunately for the Protoss, the [[Zerg]] took control of the [[Warp Gate]] after the Protoss fled and invaded Shakuras, and the Dark Templar rescued New Antioch from the Zerg. In order to defeat the Zerg completely, [[Matriarch Raszagal]] revealed the secret of the [[Xel'Naga Temple]] -— it was built on a nexus of cosmic energy, and could be activated to wipe out the Zerg on the planet. Unfortunately, it couldn't do so on it's own. It needed the power of the [[Uraj]] and [[Khalis]] crystals to do so. After slaying the [[Zerg Cerebrate|Cerebrates]] around the Temple, [[Sarah Kerrigan|Infested Kerrigan]] appeared, astonishing the Protoss, and offering alliance. She told them a new [[Zerg Overmind]] was growing on Char, and as long as the Overmind was immature, it could not control her. While the Protoss were uneasy, Raszagal immediately accepted her claims.

(contracted; show full)

[[Sarah Kerrigan|Kerrigan]] was not finished with Shakuras, however. She returned in order to "acquire" the Matriarch, who was hidden in the capital city of ''Talematros''. As a sign of cooperation between the two groups of Protoss, both groups lived there and both contributed to it
's defense. The city was guarded by, (in addition to the usual Protoss defenses,) special [[Khaydarin Crystal]] pylon clusters which generated a powerful energy field, preventing Zerg from maneuvering in the nearby atmosphere. However, Kerrigan's agent, [[Samir Duran]], was able to overload the Pylons through the use of explosives, destroying the entire city!. In the mass confusion, Kerrigan kidnapped Raszagal.

The Dark Templar were led by the [[Matriarch Raszagal]], who does the best she can to guide and protect her people.   After Raszagal's untimely death, [[Zeratul]] assumed control of the tribes.

==References==
* [http://www.blizzard.com/starcraft/ StarCraft homepage at Blizzard Entertainment]
* [http://www.battle.net/scc/ Battle.net StarCraft Compendium]
* [http://www.battle.net/scc/protoss/units/darkarchon.shtml Dark Archon and Shakuras history]

==External links==
* [http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/planet_index.php StarCraft Legacy Planets] - a fan site with information about every planet mentioned in StarCraft.

[[Category:StarCraft universe]]
[[Category:Locations in the StarCraft universe]]