Shakuras was the homeworld of the Nerazim.
It was home to a warp gate[2] and a xel'naga temple.[3] The capital was Talematros.[4] The city was destroyed during the Brood War[5] but was rebuilt by 2503.[4]
In 2506, Shakuras was invaded by Amon's corrupted zerg and hybrid forces after the warp gate on Aiur was activated, following the failed Reclamation of Aiur. After evacuating as many Nerazim as possible, Matriarch Vorazun and Hierarch Artanis worked together to defend the xel'naga temple until it was overloaded, destroying the planet and a sizeable portion of Amon's forces.[6][7]
Planetology[]
Shakuras
Shakuras possessed at least two moons of different sizes, the larger of which has the outermost orbital path and the smaller one being much closer.[8] Its star system also featured a gas giant.[3]
Shakuras was a desert planet with ebony rock, fixed in a state of perpetual twilight, although there were no clear differences between night and day.[4] In contrast with Aiur (homeworld of the Khalai protoss), regions of Shakuras were completely devoid of vegetation.[9] It was also the homeworld of the kakaru. The skeletons of previously-existing lifeforms could be found scattered over the planet.[2]
History[]
Early History[]
Nerazim society develops on Shakuras
The xel'naga constructed a temple above a nexus of powerful cosmic energies. When the Dark Templar found it, they decided to remain there to study it.[3] Shakuras was a harsh desert, and the Dark Templar had to alter their own biology to adapt to the world.[10]
Despite their isolation, Shakuras was not entirely unknown to the Khalai, the prophet Tenarsis receiving visions of the world and the conflict that would blight it long before the reunification of the protoss kindreds.[11]
The Brood War[]
The Stand[]
Shakuras
In 2500, the Khalai survivors from Aiur traveled to Shakuras through the warp gate.[12] The zerg took control of the gate and followed the protoss to Shakuras. The protoss were ambushed by hydralisks, but saved by dark templar.[2]
In the meanwhile two cerebrates took up station around the massive Xel'Naga temple. After welcoming the Khalai survivors to Shakuras, Matriarch Raszagal had them scour the temple grounds of the infestation. Once this was done, Sarah Kerrigan arrived and approached Raszagal, Judicator Aldaris and Dark Prelate Zeratul, asking to be escorted to their Citadel.[3]
Kerrigan offered to help find the Uraj and Khalis. She then departed with Artanis, Zeratul, the Executor and a protoss army to secure the crystals.[13]
In their absence, Aldaris and a legion of Khalai survivors began an open revolt against Raszagal. Upon the army's return, Raszagal ordered the Executor to terminate Aldaris and quell the uprising.[14] Artanis and Zeratul confronted Aldaris, but Kerrigan killed him before he could reveal that she had manipulated Raszagal. Zeratul banished Kerrigan from Shakuras for interfering in a protoss matter.[15]
Artanis carried the Uraj to the temple while Zeratul handled the Khalis. The zerg sent all their legions to destroy them, but the Executor prevented the zerg from destroying the temple while Artanis and Zeratul channeled the temple's energies. Once the channeling was complete, the protoss withdrew into the temple.[16] The resulting explosion obliterated the zerg on Shakuras[17] but left a wasteland of sand dunes and shattered ruins.[18]
Dark Vengeance[]
Shakuras' sunrise
A Dark Templar terrorist known as Ulrezaj tried to drive the Protoss of Aiur away from Shakuras. His plot involved using false khaydarin crystals to genetically enhance zerg to run amok on the planet, as these zerg were immune to the effects of the xel'naga temple, causing the Dark Templar to hide in their secret places and leave the other protoss to fend for themselves.[19] Fortunately Zeratul and Artanis were able to launch an expedition aimed at destroying the false crystals. A Dark Archon Hero and other protoss warriors infiltrated Schezar's Char base, destroying the crystals.[20]
Ulrezaj had hatched another plot, however. Working with terran mercenary commander Alan Schezar, they created an EMP Generator capable of weakening protoss psionic energy, granting an enormous combat advantage. However, Zeratul's forces were able to defeat Ulrezaj and save their planet.[21]
The Drawing of the Web[]
When Kerrigan returned to Shakuras, the pylon clusters generated an electromagnetic field that prevented her fliers from maneuvering. These clusters were infiltrated by Samir Duran, who caused a surge within them, resulting in an explosion which destroyed Talematros. During the confusion, Kerrigan's minions kidnapped Raszagal.[5]
Interbellum[]
The fleet returning to Shakuras
After retreating from Char Aleph, Artanis and the survivors of his fleet returned to Shakuras to rebuild their civilization.[22] For the next four years, the Khalai attempted to reunify their society with the Dark Templar. Interacting with them and the temple led to many new developments as the protoss prepared themselves for continuing the war with the zerg.[18]
A protoss settlement on Shakuras
In 2503,[23][24][25] protoss survivors from Aiur, accompanied by a terran named Rosemary Dahl, arrived on Shakuras. They had fled combat with the dark archon Ulrezaj, and wanted to recover a preserver, Zamara and her "host," Jake Ramsey. The Tal'darim had been subjected to a drug, Sundrop, which had cut them off from the Khala, but they eventually broke their addictions and reintegrated into protoss society.[4]
Legacy of the Void[]
Invasion of Shakuras[]
The zerg on Shakuras
During the End War, Shakuras was overrun by zerg and hybrid forces that poured onto the world via its warp gate, coming from Aiur. The Shadow Guard was decimated and its cities obliterated.[26] Most of the survivors gathered within Talematros.[27][28] By the time the Spear of Adun arrived, only southwest quadrant of Talematros remained in Nerazim hands, and even then, control was tenuous. Ground forces under Artanis cleared out the launch bays, allowing the remaining Nerazim transports to be evacuated.[1]
Shakuras overrun by Amon's forces
Amons' forces overran Talematros. As the zerg neared the Shrines of Lizul, Matriarch Vorazun reluctantly decided to destroy Shakuras rather than let it be a den for Amon's forces. Artanis protested at first, but was swayed by Vorazun's argument that their true home had always been Aiur. In the end, he made a bold plan to bleed Amon by destroying Shakuras only after luring as many of his hybrid and zerg onto Shakuras as possible.[29]
Destruction[]
- Vorazun on the destruction of Shakuras(src)
Shakuras is destroyed
In order to destroy the planet, the protoss overloaded the temple's phase prism, forcing a spike of energy into the planet's core and lured as many of the zerg and hybrids onto the planet as possible. The protoss once again defended the temple from the zerg until its overload could be activated. More than one billion of Amon's corrupted zerg forces were killed in this process, along with many of his hybrid.[6][7]
Locations[]
A Nerazim settlement on Shakuras
Landforms[]
- Isle of Razjan
- Katuul Province
- Kakaru Keys
- Naszar
- Rock Garden
- Shakuras Plateau
- Xel'naga Temple Grounds
Settlements[]
- New Antioch
- Shrines of Lizul
- Talematros (capital)
Structures[]
The xel'naga temple
- Alterzim Stronghold
- Shakuras Templar Proving Grounds
- Warp conduit (network hub)[30]
- Warp gate
- Xel'naga temple
Notes[]
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This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost, which has been declared non-canon. Elements may be taken as 'flavor lore' however.
The content may be significantly out of date. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details. |
Shakuras was planned to appear in StarCraft: Ghost, specifically the idea of an underground area in which Dark Templar resided. The idea never got off the ground however.[31]
References[]
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