Overview:

The Rakatans were a sophisticated species that created the largest empire of its time, known as the Rakatan Infinite Empire. Throughout their rule, they accomplished many things, in a quick pace. Despite all their achievements, they could not stop nature, who cursed the Rakatans with a virus that would leave them weak and defenseless. Over time, they would become nearly extinct.

The Beginnings: Naturally, the Rakatans did not start out as a superior race. Born on the planet Lehon in the Unknown Regions of the galaxy, the Rakatans were a cannibalistic species that were drawn to the Dark Side of the Force by genetics. Living in tribes across their homeworld, they were of virtually no galactic significance, until the Kwa arrived. Coming from the planet Dathomir, the Kwa were a species of force sensitives that brought their teachings to significantly less developed species. They would teach the Rakatans everything to know about the Force, however the Rakata would not abide by their ideology of balance in the Force, preferring to let the Dark Side dominate them, which made the Kwa highly fearful. When the Kwa refused to give the Rakatans the secret to their Infinity Gates, the Rakatans declared war, nearly extinguishing the Kwa species as a whole. Those that remained would devolve into the Kwi.

The Conquests: Forming the Rakatan Infinite Empire, the Rakatans set out on a massive conquest. They invented an early form of the hyperdrive, one that could travel to any force sensitive planet in the galaxy. They would pioneer an early type of the lightsaber as well, the Forcesaber. Wielding a Forcesaber would have an effect on the user, forcing them to shift ever so slightly to the dark side. Using the force as a weapon, they would enslave a majority of the early species in the galaxy. Those slaves would construct the massive projects the Rakatans pioneered, such as the Star Forge; a massive space station that could produce an endless supply of naval ships, drawing on energy from the sun.

The Collapse: Despite the Rakatans many conquests, the power of the dark side would corrupt them, which would result in civil wars between Rakatans and their slaves. Along with this, the Rakatans would develop a fatal disease, slowly crippling their connection with the Force. This would also have devastating effects on their technology, due to most of it relying on Force usage. Unable to determine why this was happening, the Rakatans would over a very extended amount of time, lose their grip. This was made worse by failed attempts to conquer both Tython, and Korriban. In 25,200 BBY the Infinite Empire would collapse, leaving only small pockets of Rakatans alive.

Caste System: At the top of the castes were the Priests, who led the Infinite Empire. Rakatan Warriors came next in the caste system. Below them, other Rakatans came in place. Force sensitive servants of the Rakatans, namely Force Hounds, came after the Rakatan species, and were the highest non-Rakatan rank one could achieve. After them were the Flesh Raiders, genetically modified Rakatans bred to be front line suicidal soldiers. At the lowest end of the caste system were the slaves. Making up the majority of the population, they would eventually overthrow the Rakatan Infinite Empire.

Appearance: The Rakatans were a humanoid species that contained some aquatic-like characteristics. As much of their homeworld was water, they evolved with a head stalk, and a pair of eyes horizontal to their head. Their eyes had a wide variety of colors, gray, to gold, to blue, to brown. Their skin existed in virtually every color, although the majority had grayish or yellowish shades.