Khalis

Khalis

Khalis is a khaydarin crystal shard. It is a light blue color and over time has become infused with Dark Templar energies. Its Khalai counterpart is the Uraj crystal.

History

Creation and Differentiation

The xel'naga cut the Khalis and Uraj crystals from a monolithic khaydarin crystal and gave them to the protoss. The Sargas Tribe was entrusted with Khalis and over time the crystal's properties diverged from those of Uraj. Most of the protoss rejecting the Khala, and who formed the Rogue Tribes, came from the Sargas. As a result Khalis took on the energies associated with the Rogues. When the Rogues were banished from Aiur and became the Dark Templar, they took Khalis with them. This appropriation was discovered only belatedly by the Khalai.

Khalis on Char

The Khalis

When the zerg arrived in the Koprulu Sector their probes were encountered by both the Dark Templar and the Khalai. The new arrivals were a cause for concern to both groups of protoss.

The Dark Templar tracked the zerg to Char and chose to test themselves against small groups of zerg. The zerg proved frighteningly resilient and numerous and the protoss brought Khalis to Char intending to wield the crystal's energies against the zerg. After some success the protoss were overwhelmed by the Overmind's massive counterattack and Khalis was lost to the zerg. The crystal was left behind on Char when the Swarm went to invade Aiur.

While on Char during the Great War, Zeratul detected the crystal but was unable to retrieve it.

Psionic Weapon

Khalis did not remain lost for long. The incentive to retrieve it followed the Khalai evacuation of Aiur. The zerg followed the refugees to Shakuras and to purge the infestation the protoss needed to activate the planet's xel'naga temple. To do this required the Khalis and Uraj crystals, both of which were lost to the protoss at the time. A force led by Artanis and Zeratul, and assisted by Infested Kerrigan, was dispatched to recover the artifacts.

After retrieving Uraj, the force arrived at Char to recover Khalis and discovered a significant zerg presence around it; the crystal's powerful psionic emanations encouraged the fledging second Overmind and its protective broods to nest nearby.

Kerrigan suggested striking directly for the crystal and escaping before the zerg could muster in strength. Artanis proffered a bold alternative whereas they would strike and weaken the Overmind, pacifying the local zerg long enough to extract the crystal. Either was feasible given the circumstances. The protoss struck into the nesting area and retrieved Khalis.

Zeratul with Khalis.

The protoss returned to Shakuras with the crystals. Zeratul carried Khalis into the xel'naga temple and inserted the crystal into the structure's mechanisms. The temple's activation created a giant energy burst that scoured the zerg from the planet.