Star Wars has revealed how the dark side creates werewolves. The Skywalker saga may be set in a galaxy far, far away, but naturally everybody involved tends to draw on real-world mythology, legends, and even some theology in order to tell their stories. When George Lucas created the Force, for example, he synthesized aspects of almost all religions in the world. The most visually striking Sith Lord, Darth Maul, is undeniably influenced by legends of devils and demons.

Given that's the case, it's no surprise Lucasfilm Publishing is enjoying incorporating more real-world myths into the Star Wars universe. They're doing this in a fascinating way, with George Mann writing a loose series of books that are supposed to be in-universe legends; they draw upon common tropes such as ghosts, demons, and even people transformed into statues. One of the more amusing, a tale told in Star Wars: Dark Legends, revealed a Sith Lord who's strikingly reminiscent of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. And here's the interesting thing; according to Lucasfilm, all of these in-universe myths contain a fragment of truth.

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Another tale in Star Wars: Dark Legends, called "Blood Moon," explains how werewolves can exist in a galaxy far, far away. It introduces readers to the moon of Lupal, which circles a dying star whose heart is formed fore a core of the purest kyber. The pressure of untold eons has caused the kyber to fracture, resulting vast solar flares - flickering, angry gouts of red, as if the damaged kyber itself is bleeding out into space. Lupal was a paradise during the age of the Old Republic, and an ancient civilization flourished upon its surface. But when the heart of the star broke, this civilization collapsed almost overnight. Now, it is only visited by archaeologists brave - or foolish - enough to venture into this system. "Blood Moon" reveals just why these expeditions tend to be ill-fated; the crimson light issuing forth from the dying sun tends to unleash brutal, animalistic urges within any who fall under its light. The impact is particularly pronounced for those races who are more feral, such as the wolflike Shistavanen or the Lasat.

Star Wars Shistavanen

No doubt readers familiar with the old Expanded Universe will be rather amused at this short story; the idea of a dying star whose heart is made of kyber is reminiscent of Vonda N. McIntyre's The Crystal Star, generally considered one of the weaker Star Wars novels. But, while that book has long since been dropped from the Disney canon, the idea some stars have hearts of kyber was suggested by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. In one early scene, Chirrut Imwe told Jyn Erso that "the strongest stars have hearts of kyber." While kyber is naturally pure, it can indeed be twisted and warped, turned to the dark side. This process is typically referred to as "bleeding," and it turns a kyber crystal red; it's the secret of a Sith Lord's crimson lightsaber blade. All this matches up perfectly with the tale told in Star Wars: Dark Legends, suggesting this narrative is actually possible.

This is a fascinating addition to Star Wars lore, and it will be interesting to see if Lucasfilm ever pick up on it. Another aspect of real-world mythology has just found its way into the Star Wars galaxy, adding a sinister and dark edge that is full of potential. Hopefully that potential will be realized.

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