The Black Vulkar band may be an insignificant Star Wars factor for many fans, but this organization has a quite big past even from the pre-KotOR times, and the the game Knights of the Old Republic they have an important role. For example it was the Vulkars who captured and enslaved Bastila Shan after her ship the Endar Spire was destroyed over Taris by the Sith. After the Endar crash landed, the Vulkars were so strong, (or just there were so many of them) that they defeated the Jedi girl. It is possible that Bastila was tired because she fought the Sith intruders previously, or during the crash she has been injured, or lost her conscious, but anyway, we can be sure that Bastila didn't let herself an easy prey, the Vulkars overwhelmed her. They were very proud of it, and they thought they have a glorious moment in the history, but in fact this event has changed their future, and even the existence of the whole planet, Taris. This was the main reason for the Sith occupation and quarantine, to prevent Shan from escaping. The former Sith Lord, Darth Revan and his fellow crewman and survivor from the Endar Spire, Carth Onasi an Old Republic officer, were pushed to find Shan as she was a highly important figure for the Galactic Republic, using her abilities in battle meditation to assist in the war effort. So keeping Bastila captive the Vulkars have been stuck between the two giants of the Galactic War, the Sith and the Old Republic. Of course the Old Republic wanted to rescue her, the Sith wanted to kill her, or prevent her escaping Taris, but anyway, for both of them the Vulkars were an obstruction. Revan managed to find Bastila, so the Sith had no other option than to prevent them escaping, so Malak ordered a planetary bombardment, which meant a sad end not only for the Vulkars, but the whole planet, Taris.

But let's get back to the beginning. Revan was confronted from the very beginning by the Vulkars, first as street attacks, and ambushes. So we can soon notice that the Vulkars are aggressive and eager for money, and terrorize the civil people. Their background story will be later revealed.  When Revan first visited Javyar's Cantina, he witnessed Calo Nord, a notorious bounty hunter who worked for Davik Kang in the Exchange on Taris, killing a trio of Black Vulkars, and then witnessed a group of Black Vulkars picking on Mission Vao, who were scared off by Mission's friend, Zaalbar. And many other incidents, the Vulkars dared to confront even Canderous Ordo, but when the situation got serious, they retreated. So all of these made it clear, the Vulkars are numerous and organized, so some help would be great. Revan and Carth Onasi, who were assigned to protect her, went to a rival swoop gang called the Hidden Beks for help. Revan was able to secure the aid of Gadon Thek (leader of the rival Hidden Bek gang) during his mission to rescue Bastila Shan, who was offered as the price of the coming swoop race. Revan had to infiltrate the Vulkars' base to steal back the Beks' prototype accelerator, and with that the Bek swoop could be fast enough to win the race, awarding the price without bloodshed, only by winning the race. Well, an easy task...

The base was located to the West of the Hidden Bek Base in the Lower City and was used primarily as their base of operations and the area for storing and maintaining their Lhosan swoop bikes. But the Lower City is forbidden to enter, and the elevator going down there was guarded by Sith troopers. Only personals with official authorization are permitted to use the elevator. Such authorization Gadon Thek has, and he is willing to help Revan, IF he gives his Sith uniform to him, and offers him some help of course against the Vulkars. The gang leader, Gadon Thek, told them first about Bastila's enslavement, and that Brejik, the Vulkar leader, was going to give Bastila to the winner. This Brejik was earlier a Hidden Bek member. Brejik, a former member of the Hidden Beks, had hoped to attain leadership of the gang after their current leader, Gadon Thek, lost his eyesight in a swoop bike accident, but Thek still believed that Brejik was not yet ready for such responsibility so he stayed on. Feeling enraged at not being promoted to the position he thought he was so close to claiming, Brejik, along with some of the younger Beks, left to take over the running of the Vulkars. Though already having a grim record, the gang became even more wanton in their violence under Brejik's control, becoming heavily involved in the illicit drug trade, as well as dabbling in interstellar slavery. They also took to open war against the Beks on the streets of the Lower City, and even attacked civilians and Sith troopers during the Sith occupation at the height of the Jedi Civil War. During his time in the Hidden Beks, Brejik was noted for being impulsive, misinterpreting Gadon's instructions and often going against his wishes as a result. He later became Gadon Thek's protege and expected to be made leader of the Beks after Thek was blinded in a swoop accident. Brejik left for the Vulkars after being deemed not ready by Thek. He easily managed to edge his way into leadership and vowed to destroy the Hidden Beks. A deadly band war erupted, which was started from the opposition of the two leaders, but evolved a war for monopoly. Knowing all of this Revan agreed to infiltrate the Vulkar base to find the swoop accelerator, which would help win the race, and thus free Bastila. Gadon Thek suggested Revan to find the young Mission Vao who could help them in the mission to get to the lower Taris secret Vulkar entrance, then gave them an elevator pass to the Undercity, and oh we go.

Once off the gates of the Outcast village of the Undercity, Revan ran into a very distressed Mission. She explained that her friend Zaalbar had been caught by Gamorrean slavers in the sewers and agreed to show Revan a secret entrance into the Vulkar Base if he helped her free the captive Wookiee. Revan saved Zaalbar from the slavers, and as customary to his people, the Wookiee swore a life debt to him. Mission was not about to part ways with the only family she had since her brother left, so she too joined Revan. So Mission helped them infiltrate the Black Vulkar Base. Mission managed to deactivate the force field in the Taris Sewers with a keycard that she had stolen from a drunken Vulkar at the cantina. Inside, Revan fought many Vulkars, freed a slave named Ada, and disabled turrets preventing him from entering the Vulkar Garage. The Black Vulkar base had a main floor and a garage. The Base had two entrances, one in the Lower City, which was locked when Revan was there; and a second via an elevator from the Sewers of Taris, which Revan was forced to use. Beneath the main floor was the garage. Inside the Garage Revan was confronted by a Black Vulkar named Kandon Ark, who tried to convince Revan to kill Gadon for the Vulkars. Kandon was a green skinned Twi'lek and one of Brejik's chief lieutenants. He was in charge of the swoop garage in the Vulkar base and when Revan infiltrated the base he was to be found guarding the prototype swoop accelerator, stolen from the Hidden Beks, with many of his own bodyguards. You have two choices: first you have to go back to the sender, and kill Thek, second you can finish your original quest, and kill the Vulkar, and gain the swoop part, the XPs, and the pretty good accessories and clothes of Kandon Ark looting his dead body, and his fellow band members. Revan refused the offer, quickly killed Kandon, took the accelerator, and gave it to Gadon Thek. Soon, Revan raced for the Beks to win Bastila's freedom. For example against Redros. Redros was respected as the Vulkars' best swoop rider, even by the Hidden Beks. The male Nikto made his best performance at the Tarisian Season Opener to beat Revan. (However, he was beaten by the former Sith Lord and was later killed during the fight that followed.)

Finally he won the race, but he did not won a laurel wreath, not to mention the pretty Bastila, as Brejik was "altering the deal, and Revan should pray he wouldn't alter it any further", as Darth Vader said. This means Brejik refused to give him the prize, claiming Revan was cheated. He wanted to keep Bastila, and to kill Revan instead. So Bastila used the Force to free herself Force Pulling a guard to her, and opening her cage, siding with Revan. As the guard tried to get up, she swiftly roundhouse kicked his head, killing him, and took his weapon, a vibro double-blade, to use in her own defense. Their first date was pretty memorable, as they beat up everybody there, - together they finished up Brejik's gang, and returned their hide-out.

A considerable number of Vulkars fled the skirmish too afraid to fight Revan and his party, or even from the now much more and stronger Hidden Bek gang. The gang was no more. Who stayed on Tarin, all died when the Sith planetary bombarded the planet. But those, who left Taris earlier, survived and we can even meet them in the KotOR games, even in the second sequel. This one is sitting in a pub, or a cantina, drinking alcoholic drinks and betting sport events. This guy is pretty that type I custom made. Others stuck together, and tried to survive in our ways. Obviously in the black sector, crime things, you know... For example attacking those adventurers who are living the old Dantooine Jedi Temple ruins packed up with artifacts, and other treasures. And on Manaan there is a similar guy called Jolan Aphett, who is like a Vulkar guard, but he is peaceful, only standing about, wishing a good pazaak play. He is a good player, but can be defeated.

The Vulkar band has many races among their members, not only the Niktos, but other species in the gang included Humans, Aqualish, Duros, and Rodians. But I prefer the Nikto race, their head and clothing are great. However they have many colors, red, blue, yellow, orange, and this purple that I selected and handmade, because I liked that so much. He is especially cool with a shock stick. The Vulkar Shock Stick is a basic stun baton, charged at a higher frequency to make it cause decent physical damage. It was carried primarily by members of the Black Vulkar gang on Taris around the time of the Jedi Civil War. It focused electrical pulses around the baton, thereby causing intense wounds. And it paralyses the enemy if a successful attack was made, leaving him unprotected for the next attacks, just standing there, unable to move. So this is a perfect weapon in the expert hands!