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"Proximity is the least of my concerns. Emotional closeness. Pride. Disappointment. We watch over them, yes--as we watch over many of the races of the galaxy. But we must not interfere. We must not direct their course. They are not our students. We are theirs."

- Templar Rihod commenting on tribal aliens(src)

Mothership SC-FL3 Comic1

A mothership keeping watch as per the Dae'Uhl's edicts

The Dae'Uhl, or "Great Stewardship," is one of the core principles of protoss society.

History[]

Background[]

The origins of the Dae'Uhl can be found in the coming of the xel'naga. Despite their good intentions, the race's nurturing for the protoss led them into the Aeon of Strife.[1] Because of this, turning on fellow protoss is abhorred and strictly forbidden, with the price being swift retribution bringing about the complete destruction of the offender.[2]

Following the Strife, the protoss began to explore space again. They conquered hundreds of worlds within their corner of the galaxy, spreading civilization to many of the more advanced races that they encountered. The protoss inadvertently succeeded in reclaiming an eighth of the worlds once presided over by the xel'naga.[1]

After emerging from this period and expanding beyond Aiur, the protoss took it upon themselves to follow the traditions of the xel'naga; protecting and safeguarding "lesser races" under their care. Unlike the xel'naga however, the protoss would rarely directly interfere,[1] especially after the Kalath Intercession.[3] As a general rule, the protoss would only make their presence known to a species when they were threatened by an outside source,[4] or if there was a direct threat to the Protoss Empire.[5][6] The end result was that the protoss maintained order and peace in their part of galaxy for thousands of years.[7]

Exceptions[]

"We protoss have appointed ourselves the sole arbiters of all that is right and just. Yet still we fear what we do not understand. Still we hate. And what we hate, we destroy. We call it justice. We call it honor. But those are just words."
MarineZealot SC1 Art1

Hostile relations with "lesser species"

The protoss observed the coming of humanity to the Koprulu sector, the Dae'Uhl putting the terrans under the guard of the Firstborn. Forbidden to directly interfere[1] due to the tightened restrictions that stemmed from the fallout of the Kalath Intercession,[3] the protoss were nonetheless concerned as to how quickly the terrans were able to access natural resources, paying little heed to effects on the natural environment. Although the Dae'Uhl forbid the protoss from direct action, the coming of the zerg led to a relaxation of the tenets, thus allowing the protoss to sterilize infested terran worlds, regardless of the presence of humans on them. Although Tassadar strove to uphold the Dae'Uhl's principles (prompted by his own moral center), the Conclave had essentially abandoned them.[1]

Status[]

Although the protoss do not possess the strength they once did, at least in some protoss, belief in the Dae'Uhl still remains.[8][9]

Notes[]

The Dae'uhl is similar to the Prime Directive concept, which has been mirrored in many other science fiction works.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  2. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations before: Forbidden Weapon (in English). 2015-11-10.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Chris Metzen, StarCraft Legacy staff. 2009-04-03. SC:L Metzen Interview - Lore Exclusive. StarCraft Legacy. Accessed 2009-05-18.
  4. 2009-09-08, Blizzplanet Live Chat with Tokyopop: Starcraft: Frontline Vol. 4. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2009-09-25.
  5. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Rohana (in English). 2015.
  6. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations after: Sky Shield (in English). 2015-11-10.
  7. Race: Protoss, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2010-12-12.
  8. Elder, Josh and Ramanda Kamarga. "Why We Fight." In StarCraft: Frontline: Volume 1, pp. 6–47. Tokyopop, August 1, 2008. ISBN 1427-80721-3.
  9. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, Carrier unit quotations. (Activision Blizzard) (in English). July 27, 2010.
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