Rakghoul Resurgence Event

Corellia

Speak to Tralie Masoon, near the Shipwright Auxilliary Spaceport. Speak to Doctor Ressel, near the Coronet Spaceport.

They'll tell you to travel to the Rakghoul Tunnels via a giant drill called The Spike near the Stardrive Construction Quarter of Labor Valley. Before you go, you can examine the nearby mission datapad to pick up the daily quest Quarantine: Blastfield Shipyards or Quarantine: Incorporation Islands. When you are ready, you can head to The Spike using the nearby THORN speeder and enter the Rakghoul Tunnels.

Once in the Contagion Zone, unlock the nearby quick travel point and then speak to the THORN Crisis Specialist to complete the quest.

Reward: THORN Booster Pin x1, Elite Commendation x1, and 10,410 credits.

Tatooine

Speak to Tralie Masoon, in Anchorhead. Speak to Doctor Ressel, in Mos Ila.

They'll tell you to travel to the Rakghoul Tunnels via a giant drill called The Spike in the Dune Sea. Before you go, you can examine the nearby mission datapad to pick up the daily quest Quarantine: Anchorhead or Quarantine: Mos Ila. When you are ready, you can head to The Spike using the nearby THORN speeder and enter the Rakghoul Tunnels.

Once in the Contagion Zone, unlock the nearby quick travel point and then speak to the THORN Crisis Specialist to complete the quest.

Reward: THORN Booster Pin x1, Elite Commendation x1, and 10,410 credits.

Missions

Missions

Corellia

Quarantine: Blastfield Shipyards / Quarantine: Incorporation Islands

Denizens of the Blastfield Shipyards and Shipwright Auxiliary Spaceport are displaying symptoms of early-stage rakghoul infection, and THORN relief workers are too overwhelmed to assist them.

Denizens of Corporate Arrivals Plaza are displaying symptoms of early-stage rakghoul infection, and THORN relief workers are too overwhelmed to assist them.

Tasks:

• Inoculate Infected Citizens and Soldiers
• Return to the Mission Dropbox

Look for 5 Infected Citizens and soldiers to inoculate using your Rakghoul Inoculation mission item.

Reward: THORN Booster Pin x1, Elite Commendation x1, and 10,410 credits.

Tatooine

Quarantine: Anchoread / Quarantine: Mos Ila

Denizens of Anchorhead are displaying symptoms of early-stage rakghoul infection, and THORN relief workers are too overwhelmed to assist them.

Denizens of Mos Ila are displaying symptoms of early-stage rakghoul infection, and THORN relief workers are too overwhelmed to assist them.

Tasks:

• Inoculate Infected Citizens and Soldiers
• Return to the Mission Dropbox

Look for 5 Infected Citizens and soldiers to inoculate using your Rakghoul Inoculation mission item.

Reward: THORN Booster Pin x1, Elite Commendation x1, and 10,410 credits.

Spreading Infection

This daily is obtained when you get infected, reach Stage 3 of the Rakghoul Infection, and then blow up next to a healthy player, infecting him or her. You will need to repeat this 3 times to complete the daily.

Reward: 1x THORN Booster Pin, 1x Rakghoul DNA Canister, and 10,410 credits.

Rounding Up Raklings / Collecting Raklings

THORN wishes to study the small "raklings" found in the rakghoul tunnels, and have sent out a request for volunteers to lure and secure live specimens.

Tasks:

• Inject Fungal Flora to Attract Raklings
• Escort Raklings to the Specimen Container

Look for three bulbous "Fungal Flora" to inject to summon three Alderaan Rakling followers. Once you have three, return to Crisis Command or Operations Hub and put them in the specimen container.

Note: After clicking the first group of eggs, you will have 5 minutes to locate two other eggs and return the mission terminal

Reward: THORN Booster Pin x1, Elite Commendation x1, and 10,410 credits.

Tracking the Plague / Dissecting the Plague

THORN hopes to find a way to revert those turned into rakghouls to their original state by studying a mutagen found in the recently infected and turning.

Tasks:

• Collect Mutagen Samples from the Infected
• Return to the Mission Dropbox

Kill Infected Joiners, Infected Kiliks, and Infected Kilik Protectors until you obtain 10 Rakghoul Mutagen Samples.

Reward: THORN Booster Pin x1, Elite Commendation x1, and 10,410 credits.

Navigating the Tunnels / The Tunnel Network

The Spike has fired navigational beacons into the rakghoul tunnels so that THORN volunteers can find their way through the complex network. However, manual scans of these beacons must be made to connect them to THORN data services.

Tasks:

• Locate and Scan Navigational Beacons
• Return to the Mission Dropbox

Go to one of the marked navigation beacon areas on your map, then use your Navigational Beacon Scanner in your mission inventory to scan the navigation beacons on the ceiling. Note: The exact locations of the navigation beacons within the search area varies.

Reward:

Reward: THORN Booster Pin x1, Elite Commendation x1, Rakghoul DNA Canister x1, and 10,410 credits.

A Grim Examination / All That Remains

THORN researchers are looking to determine why rakghouls consistently hoard skeletal remains in their makeshift tunnels, and what commonality these remains hold--if any.

Tasks:

• Scan Collections of Skeletal Remains
• Defeat Rakghouls
• Return to the Mission Dropbox

Look for piles of skulls stacked up in containers scattered around the tunnels. You will need to scan 5 of them, and then kill 25 of the nearby Rakghouls. When you attack a Rakghoul, several more will spawn.

Reward: THORN Booster Pin x1, Elite Commendation x1, and 10,410 credits.

[HEROIC 4] Flora and Fauna / [HEROIC 4] Fungal Corruption

THORN researchers would like to investigate the fungal growths that consistently recur in tunnels burrowed out by rakghouls, believing the fungi may shed some light into the rakghoul plague's makeup and propagation.

Tasks:

• Recover Fungal Samples
• Defeat Fungal Rakghouls
• Return to the Mission Dropbox

Click on the highlighted Fungal Growth on the ground to spawn a Rakghoul Blight champion. Each Rakghoul Blight will drop one Fungal Sample, so you will need to kill a total of three of them. Also nearby are Fungal Rakghouls, 25 of which you will need to kill as well to complete the quest.

Reward: Engraved Rakghoul Claw x1, Rakghoul DNA Canister x2, Elite Commendations x2, and 16,242 credits.

Reward: Engraved Rakghoul Claw x1, Rakghoul DNA Canister x2, Elite Commendation x2, and 16,242 credits.

[OPS] The Rakghoul Nightmare / [OPS] Heart of Infection

Addalar Hyland has asked for your assistance against a "rakghoul nightmare" located deep inside the rakghoul tunnels that threatens the entire THORN operation.

Tasks:

• Defeat the Rakghoul Designated "The Eyeless"
• Return to the Mission Dropbox

To obtain this mission, you will need a THORN Priority Authorization.

Reward: Engraved Rakghoul Claw x1, Rakghoul DNA Canister x1, Elite Commendation x4, and 20,302 credits.

Jeelvic's Datapad

Jeelvic's Datapad

There is a one-time quest you can complete on each of your characters to find Jeelvic, the Jawa vendor from previous iterations of the Rakghoul event. You can pick up the quest by examining Jeelvic's Datapad in the Contagion Zone of the Rakghoul Tunnels.

Jeelvic can be found in the heroic area of the Rakghoul Tunnels (The Epicenter) moving around the cliff walls in the middle of the map. Visit the Rewards section of the guide for a list of items available to purchase from Jeelvic.

Reward: Rakghoul DNA Canister x1, and 13,535 credits.

Unique Enemies

Unique Enemies

Corellia

Toxxun

Toxxun is the Rakghoul Resurgence world boss for Corellia and has a 100% chance of dropping a Plaguetooth Sleen pet and an Exotic Plague Specimen. Toxxun is located in Axial Park (X: 1218, Y: -1855).

Tatooine

Plaguehorn

Plaguehorn is the Rakghoul Resurgence world boss for Tatooine and has a 100% chance of dropping a Plaguehorn Reek pet and an Exotic Plague Specimen. Plaguehorn is located in Jundland (X: 1200, Y: -1350).

The Catalyst

The Catalyst is a champion level rare spawn that will randomly replace one of the Fungus Rakghoul spawns. It has a higher chance of dropping a Symbiotic Fungal Bloom.

The Eyeless

The Eyeless is a raid boss located within an instanced section of the rakghoul tunnels. He can be found on an 8 Man and 16 Man Normal and Hard mode difficulty. The loot he drops is noted below.

[OPS] The Rakghoul Nightmare / [OPS] Heart of Infection

Note: You will need a THORN Priority Authorization to enter the operation.

The same strategy can be used for both Story Mode and Hard Mode. Only one tank is needed, as there are no required tank swap mechanics.

• A green circle will appear on the ground. Get out of this immediately. Those that remain in the circle will receive a stacking debuff that will eventually kill you.
  In Story Mode, it takes 10 stacks. In Hard Mode, it takes 5 stacks.
• A purple circle will appear under the boss. Tank and melee DPS should move out immediately, or they will take high damage and get knocked back.
• Along with this purple circle, adds will appear. The DPS should switch and focus the adds down, and then return back to the boss.

Frenzied Plaguebearer

Plaguebearers will sometimes spawn and attack you when you exit the spaceports on Alderaan and when you are walking around the Rakhoul event area near House Organa and House Thul. On rare occasions, an elite Frenzied Plaguebearer will spawn instead, which has a chance of dropping a Pale Rakling pet.

Fungal Rakghouls

Fungal Rakghouls can be found in various spawn points in the Rakghoul Tunnels. They have a rare chance of dropping a Fungal Rakling pet.

The Midnight Rakghoul

The Midnight Rakghoul can be found in the Transit District of the Kaon Under Siege flashpoint. It is a level 60 champion that has a 100% chance of dropping a Midnight Rakling pet on both story mode and hard mode.

Tunnel Lurker

The Tunnel Lurker has a chance of dropping a Crimson Rakling pet. Killing the Tunnel Lurker while having a Rakling pet summoned will grant one of the pet achievements.

Rewards

Dark Vector

THORN Dark Vector

This set requires Champion reputation rank.

	Name	Bind Type	Cost
	THORN Dark Vector Belt	Bound to Legacy	Rakghoul DNA Canister x2
	THORN Dark Vector Boots	Bound to Legacy	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	THORN Dark Vector Bracers	Bound to Legacy	Rakghoul DNA Canister x2
	THORN Dark Vector Chestguard	Bound to Legacy	Rakghoul DNA Canister x6
	THORN Dark Vector Gloves	Bound to Legacy	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	THORN Dark Vector Pants	Bound to Legacy	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	THORN Dark Vector Rebreather	Bound to Legacy	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4

Containment

THORN Containment

	Name	Bind Type	Cost
	THORN Containment Belt	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440
	THORN Containment Boots	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440
	THORN Containment Bracers	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440
	THORN Containment Chestguard	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440
	THORN Containment Gloves	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440
	THORN Containment Pants	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440
	THORN Containment Rebreather	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440

Sanitation

THORN Sanitation

	Name	Bind Type	Cost
	THORN Sanitization Belt	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440
	THORN Sanitization Boots	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440
	THORN Sanitization Bracers	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440
	THORN Sanitization Chestguard	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440
	THORN Sanitization Gloves	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440
	THORN Sanitization Pants	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440
	THORN Sanitization Rebreather	Bind on Equip	Full Set: 1,440

THORN Armor Costs

	Epicenter	Dark Vector	Containment & Sanitation
Reputation / Location	Newcomer	Champion	Cartel Shop
Cost Entire Set	Rakghoul DNA Canister x7	Rakghoul DNA Canister x26	1,440
Boots	Rakghoul DNA Canister x1	Rakghoul DNA Canister x2	*
Bracer	Rakghoul DNA Canister x1	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4	*
Chestguard	Rakghoul DNA Canister x1	Rakghoul DNA Canister x2	*
Gauntlets	Rakghoul DNA Canister x1	Rakghoul DNA Canister x6	*
Greaves	Rakghoul DNA Canister x1	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4	*
Headgear	Rakghoul DNA Canister x1	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4	*
Utility Belt	Rakghoul DNA Canister x1	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4	*

Weapons

Rakghoul Weapons

All weapons require Hero reputation rank.

Image	Name	Cost
	Outbreak Response Assault Cannon	Rakghoul DNA Canister x6
	Outbreak Response Blaster	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Outbreak Response Blaster Rifle	Rakghoul DNA Canister x6
	Outbreak Response Lightsaber	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Outbreak Response Saberstaff	Rakghoul DNA Canister x6
	Outbreak Response Sniper Rifle	Rakghoul DNA Canister x6

Weapon Gallery

Mounts

Rakghoul Mounts

All mounts require Legend reputation rank.

	Name	Cost / Location
	Infected Dewback	Purchased from Jeelvic Rakghoul DNA Canister x50 Barnacle of the Eyeless x1 Exotic Plague Specimen x4 Symbiotic Fungal Bloom x1
	Infected Varactyl	Purchased from Jeelvic Rakghoul DNA Canister x25 Barnacle of the Eyeless x1 Exotic Plague Specimen x2 Symbiotic Fungal Bloom x1

Pets

Rakghoul Pets

	Name	Bind Type	Cost / Location
	Contaminated Rakling Requires Champion Reputation	Bind to Legacy	Purchased from Jeelvic Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Crimson Rakling	Bind on Pickup	Tunnel Lurker
	Fungal Rakling	Bind to Legacy	Fungus Rakghouls
	Infected Womp Weasel	Bind on Equip	120
	Irradiated Rakling Requires Newcomer Reputation	Bind to Legacy	Purchased from Jeelvic Rakghoul DNA Canister x2
	Midnight Rakling	Bind on Pickup	The Midnight Rakghoul
	Pale Rakling	Bind on Equip	Frenzied Plaguebearer
	Plaguehorn Reek	Bind to Legacy	Plaguehorn
	Plagueshard Lylek	Bind to Legacy	Shellshock
	Plaguetail Kowakian Monkey-lizard Requires Legend Reputation	Bind to Legacy	Purchased from Jeelvic Rakghoul DNA Canister x4 Barnacle of the Eyeless x1 Exotic Plague Specimen x1 Symbiotic Fungal Bloom x1
	Plaguetooth Sleen	Bind to Legacy	Toxxun
	Symbiote Rakling	Bind to Legacy	The Eyeless

Decorations

Rakghoul Decorations

Image	Name	Reputation	Cost / Location
	Planter: Glowing Cave Fern	Friend	Purchased from Jeelvic Rakghoul DNA Canister x5 Universal Prefab MK-2 x1
	Planter: Glowing Plague Bulbs	Friend	Purchased from Jeelvic Rakghoul DNA Canister x5 Universal Prefab MK-2 x1
	Art: Rakghoul Lurkers	Reputation	Purchased from Jeelvic Rakghoul DNA Canister x2
	Art: Rakhghoul Caverns	Reputation	Purchased from Jeelvic Rakghoul DNA Canister x2
	Art: Rakghouls	Reputation	Purchased from Jeelvic Rakghoul DNA Canister x2

Customizations

Rakghoul Customizations

Image	Name	Reputation	Cost
	Infected Andronikos Revel Customization	None	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Infected Corso Riggs Customization	None	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Infected Elara Dorne Customization	None	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Infected Kira Carsen Customization	None	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Infected Mako Customization	None	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Infected Malavai Quinn Customization	None	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Infected Tharan Cedrax Customization	None	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Infected Vector Customization	None	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Plagued Aric Jorgan Customization	Friend	Rakghoul DNA Canister x8
	Plagued Ashara Customization	Friend	Rakghoul DNA Canister x8
	Plagued Gault Customization	Friend	Rakghoul DNA Canister x8
	Plagued Guss Customization	Friend	Rakghoul DNA Canister x8
	Plagued Kaliyo Customization	Friend	Rakghoul DNA Canister x8
	Plagued Qyzen Customization	Friend	Rakghoul DNA Canister x8
	Plagued Rusk Customization	Friend	Rakghoul DNA Canister x8
	Plagued Skadge Customization	Friend	Rakghoul DNA Canister x8
	Plagued Tanno Vik Customization	Friend	Rakghoul DNA Canister x8
	Plagued Treek Customization	Hero	Rakghoul DNA Canister x12
	Plagued Vette Customization	Friend	Rakghoul DNA Canister x8
	Plagued Yuun Customization	Friend	Rakghoul DNA Canister x8
	Plagued Zenith Customization	Friend	Rakghoul DNA Canister x8

Customization Gallery

Crystals

Rakghoul Crystals

Image	Name	Cost
	Advanced Black-Green Centurion's Crystal	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Advanced Black-Green Eviscerating Crystal	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Advanced Black-Green Indestructible Crystal	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Advanced Black-Green Resistance Crystal	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Advanced Black-Green Savage Crystal	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Advanced Black-Green Vehemence Crystal	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4
	Advanced Black-Green War Hero's Crystal	Rakghoul DNA Canister x4

Achievements

Operations: The Eyeless

	Achievement	Requirement	Points	Reward
	Keeping an Eye Out	Defeated The Eyeless on 8-person story mode.	10	Trophy: The Eyeless (Story)
	Keeping an Eye Out (Hardmode)	Defeated The Eyeless on 8-person hard mode.	25	Trophy: The Eyeless (HM)
	Turning a Blind Eye	Defeated The Eyeless on 16-person story mode.	10	Trophy: The Eyeless (Story)
	Turning a Blind Eye (Hardmode)	Defeated The Eyeless on 16-person hard mode.	25	Trophy: The Eyeless (HM)
	Total		70

Defeating The Eyeless will grant your character the title of "Unseen Assailant".

Events: Rakghoul Resurgence - Beasts

	Achievement	Requirement	Points	Reward
	Establishing a Perimeter	Killed 50 Rakghouls in the infested tunnels.	10
	Tunnel Reinforcements	Killed 250 Rakghouls in the infested tunnels.	25
	Tunnel Vision	Killed 1000 Rakghouls in the infested tunnels.	25	Legacy Title: Rakghoul Ravager
	Isolating the Infection	Dispatched 50 infected creatures and humanoids in the infested tunnels.	10
	Stopping the Spread	Dispatched 250 infected creatures and humanoids in the infested tunnels.	25
	Enforcing the Quarantine	Dispatched 1000 infected creatures and humanoids in the infested tunnels.	50
	Hey! I'm a Fungi	Dispatch every fungus-harvesting Rakghoul symbiote in the Rakghoul Tunnels. 0/5 Fungus Breeder 0/5 Fungus Collector 0/5 Fungus Cultivator 0/5 Harvester 0/5 Fungus Planter The Catalyst	25
	Total		170

Events: Rakghoul Resurgence - General

	Achievement	Requirement	Points	Reward
	Tunnel Containment	Defeated 500 non-player opponents while in the plague-infested tunnels.	10
	Tunnel Annihilation	Defeated 1000 non-player opponents while in the plague-infested tunnels.	25
	Tunnel Eradication	Defeated 3000 non-player opponents while in the plague-infested tunnels.	50
	The Light at the End of the Tunnel	Completed all combat achievements for the plague-infested tunnels. 0/1 Enforcing the Quarantine 0/1 Establishing a Perimeter 0/1 Isolating the Infection 0/1 Stopping the Spread 0/1 Tunnel Annihilation 0/1 Tunnel Containment 0/1 Tunnel Eradication 0/1 Tunnel Reinforcements 0/1 Tunnel Vision	10	Legacy Title: Cure for the Plague
	Tunneling through the Mountains (hidden)	Participated in the rakghoul plague relief efforts on Alderaan.	25
	A Rocky Foundation (hidden)	Participated in the rakghoul plague relief efforts on Corellia.	25
	Buried in the Sand (hidden)	Participated in the rakghoul plague relief efforts on Tatooine.	25
	Raghouls, Raghouls Everywhere (hidden)	Participated in the rakghoul plague relief efforts on Alderaan, Corellia, and Tatooine.	50	Character Title: The Rakghoul Nightmare
	Total		235

Events: Rakghoul Resurgence - Player vs Player

	Achievement	Requirement	Points	Reward
	Novice Plague Research Defender	Defeated 10 players in the plague-infested tunnels.	10
	Plague Research Defender	Defeated 50 players in the plague-infested tunnels.	25
	Elite Plague Research Defender	Defeated 100 players in the plague-infested tunnels.	50
	Calling in Sick	Infected 5 players with the rakghoul plague.	10
	Breaking Quarantine	Infected 25 players with the rakghoul plague.	25
	An Infectious Personality	Infected 100 players with the rakghoul plague.	50
	Mobile Contagion (hidden)	Infected 1000 players with the rakghoul plague.	50
	Total		220

Events: Rakghoul Resurgence - Pets

	Achievement	Requirement	Points	Reward
	Lord of the Raklings	Completed all rakling achievements. 0/1 The Contaminated Rakling 0/1 The Crimson Rakling 0/1 The Fungal Rakling 0/1 The Irradiated Rakling 0/1 The Midnight Rakling 0/1 The Pale Rakling 0/1 The Symbiote Rakling	25	Legacy Title: Lord of the Raklings
	Galactic Veterinarian	Collected a menagerie of infected pets. 0/1 AH-hahahahaha! *cough* 0/1 Plaguehorn Reek 0/1 Plagueshard Lylek 0/1 Plaguetooth Sleen	25
	The Pale Rakling	Defeat The Tunnel Lurker with your Pale Rakling summoned.	10
	The Crimson Rakling	Defeat The Tunnel Lurker with your Crimson Rakling summoned.	10
	The Midnight Rakling	Defeat The Tunnel Lurker with your Midnight Rakling summoned.	10
	The Fungal Rakling	Defeat The Tunnel Lurker with your Fungal Rakling summoned.	10
	The Symbiote Rakling	Defeat The Tunnel Lurker with your Symbiote Rakling summoned.	10
	The Irradiated Rakling	Defeat The Tunnel Lurker with your Irradiated Rakling summoned.	10
	The Contaminated Rakling	Defeat The Tunnel Lurker with your Contaminated Rakling summoned.	10
	AH-hahahahaha! *cough*	Collected the Plaguetail Kowakian Monkey-lizard pet.	10
	Plagueshard Lylek	Collected the Plagueshard Lylek pet.	10
	Plaguehorn Reek	Collected the Plaguehorn Reek pet.	10
	Plaguetooth Sleen	Collected the Plaguetooth Sleen pet.	10
	Total		175

Codex

Codex Entries

The Eyeless

The exploration of subterranean rakghoul tunnels by THORN personnel has led to many chilling revelations about rakghoul biology and behavior--none more horrifying than the gargantuan creature known as "the Eyeless". Far larger than any rakghoul ever previously recorded, these creatures make their home near the very heart of the outbreak. Sensor probes and scouts have never found more than one such creature in each tunnel network.

No two THORN scientists can seem to agree on the role of the Eyeless in the rakghoul heirarchy. Some theorize that they are actually the source of the outbreaks, where others believe them to be a mere byproduct of the plague's progression. Until more detailed scans are made available, definitive answers on the nature of the Eyeless will likely remain out of reach.

THORN

Whenever an outbreak of the rakghoul virus surfaces anywhere in the galaxy, one of the first distress calls is made to The Hyland Organization for Rakghoul Neutralization (THORN). With its vast resources and singular mission--the permanent eradication of the rakghoul threat--THORN is a planet's best chance of avoiding a global pandemic.

To most citizens of the galaxy, this philanthropic organization created by entrepreneur Addalar Hyland is a welcome force for good. Few, however, are aware of the reason for Hyland's support of THORN as opposed to any other charitable cause. While he would never discuss it in public, it is a matter of record that Hyland lost two of his children to an outbreak of the rakghoul plague on Tatooine. Ever since that fateful day, he has diverted a great deal of his wealth earned from Galactic Solutions Industries to personally finance THORN.

The Spike

When a mining crew drilled into what they had thought was a prothium gas pocket, the first underground network of rakghoul tunnels was discovered. Since then, direct routes have not been found into these densely populated tunnels that happen to correspond with rakghoul outbreaks. To access such networks in an efficient and timely manner, THORN founder Addalar Hyland introduced The Spike: a massive, cylindrical pulse hammer that quickly displaces soil and rock to form a temporary turbolift shaft leading directly into the rakghouls' subterranean lairs.

Originally developed by Galactic Solutions Industries to fire troop deployments deep into sub-crustal enemy bunkers, the effects of The Spike's ground-busting payload were deemed too violent for those within to survive the turbulence, making the costly apparatus less than desirable to prospective buyers. In its new role as a facilitator between rakghouls and those who wish to dispose of them, The Spike has found great success.

Rakghoul Propagation

It has long been thought that the only way for the rakghoul virus to spread was by turning other beings into rakghouls through infection, but close studies of underground rakghoul habitats now point to a more complicated and unsettling reality: that rakghouls can propagate without the need for turning.

Located deep below the surface of infected planets, small rakghouls have been found roaming together in packs. These "raklings" appear to have been formed from luminescent spore sacs strung along the rakghoul tunnels, though it is not yet clear to biologists how this process works. They have learned, however, that the raklings are attracted to a particular pheromone emitted from certain flora found within the tunnels. Researchers have long wished to use this pheromone to lure raklings into captivity, but strict antiviral protocols enacted by THORN do not allow these proto-rakghouls to be taken aboveground. Until they can be tested in a proper laboratory setting, the truth of how rakghouls self-multiply may not be fully understood.

The Rakghoul Tunnels

While it's clear that the rakghoul virus initially spreads across the surface of a given planet, it has been difficult to determine the point of origin because the greatest density of rakghouls is not aboveground, but rather deep underground. Researchers attempting to understand why rakghouls congregate below a given planet's surface rather than above have developed a theory: that the subterranean tunnels in which the rakghouls gather are not found, but are actually created by the rakghouls themselves.

Careful study of the tunnels has revealed striking similarities in contour and dimension reminiscent of the natural algorithmic optimizations witnessed in the configuration of killik hives of Alderaan and in the formation of blood-ant mounds on Tatooine. Furthermore, the familiar distribution of spore sacs and unique flora suggest not only an attempt to create an environment conducive to their habitation, but also a robust fungal signature stored within the virus's genetic code. It is the hope of THORN researchers that unlocking the key to the creation of these tunnels will also provide insight into stopping the rakghoul menace for good.

Rakghouls on Alderaan

In the war for the hearts and minds of the masses, propaganda can be a powerful weapon. Since the rakghoul plague surfaced on Alderaan, theories surrounding its point of orign have spread wider and faster than the plague itself.

House Organa immediately cited the outbreak's epicenter near King's Pass as proof that House Thul and the Empire were conspiring to use the plague as a biological weapon, while House Thul countered that House Organa implemented the outbreak themselves so they could place the blame on their rivals to stir up sympathy. Yet another premise suggests that House Ulgo nurtured the plague in order to ratchet up hostilities between Organa and Thul and further weaken the rival houses for Ulgo's eventualy conquest.

While none of these accusations are likely to be revealed as true, one fact remains: Alderaan stands perilously close to the brink of a global rakghoul pandemic.

Rakghouls on Tatooine

The first time rakghouls threw Tatooine into Pandemonium, they came from the sky, spewing out from a wrecked ship called the Stardream. After the epidemic was believed to be contained, no one thought to check below the dunes of the desert planet for signs of the diseased beasts.

When a seasoned clan of Jawa scavengers stripping the Stardream's interior for parts found a hull breach, they uncovered a network of rakghoul-infested tunnels deep underground. Cobbling spare parts into traps, the clan methodically captured and exterminated every remaining rakghoul and then used detonate charges to collapse the tunnels.

Since that day, the clan have made the Stardream's husk into their home, seeing it as their solemn duty to keep watch over the hull breach, ever wary the rakghoul plague might return. Not having anticipated an entirely new infestation to rise up elsewhere in the DUne Sea, they are quite relieved for THORN's intervention and are more than content to let the organization's aid workers deal with the problem this time.

Rakghouls on Corellia

Life is strenuous in a world torn asunder by the throes of war, but when an emergency development like the rakghoul plague emerges, the citizens of Corellia have no choice but to summon up new levels of endurance and courage.

To avoid the constant threat of bombings and looters, Selonians on the outskirts of Coronet City have repositioned their den-style homes far underground, surfacing only when it became absolutely necessary to acquire provisions. In the earlies days of the plague, rakghouls seeking an ideal foundation for their distinctive tunnel networks quickly invaded the dens. Hardened by their survivalist turn, however, the Sleonians found they were enough of a match to hold the rakghouls off-though not without many heart-rending casualties along the way.

Eventually, the rakghouls found their way underground via Coronet City's sewage system, but the Selonians who protected their dens from the growing epidemic can take some measure of satisfaction. Sometimes that's all a survivor needs to keep hanging on.

About the Author

Autor: Hayward

Hayward founded TORCommunity in 2008 the day after SWTOR was announced. Engineer by day, software dev by night, he does his best to keep the site up to date.

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