PHYSIOLOGY:  The Minbari are a humanoid, mammalian race. One visible difference between human and Minbari physiology is their headbone. This "antler-like" structure creates a protective sheath around the back of the head to provide extra protection where the internal skull can be fragile. The head bone is not present at birth, but gradually grows out. They differ in size, configuration, and texture. The Minbari have elaborate rituals for the shaping, honing, and cutting of one's crest. The female headbone generally has a smooth curve on both sides ending in a singular point at the back. Male Minbari headbones tend to rise at several peaks on both sides, ending at a point in the back. Additionally, the crest is sometimes shaped in tune with one's caste. Thus a female Shi Alyt might wish to sculpt her headbone into a vicious spiky crown as warrior caste males do. Worker Minbari do not have much of a stylized manner of bone-carving as the other castes. The older a Minbari gets, the more the headbone creeps forward across the top of the head. Other differences with human physiology include a slightly more raised and obvious spinal structure and a different blood type. Minbari have remarkable constitution and strength, however, consumption of alcohol will make a Minbari paranoid and psychotically violent. Small differences aside, the Minbari are probably the most biologically similar to humans than any other galactic race.

• Male Minbari can only grow facial hair, which is traditionally shaved. There are those who are somewhat rebellious and cultivate well-trimmed beards.

 The average Minbari lifespan is 200 to 225 Earth years (or approximately 133 to 150 Minbari cycles). A Minbari aged 60 to 70 is considered roughly equal to a human in her 30's. The latter part of the Minbari lifetime is generally spent in a somewhat somnolent state.

 Their population has been declining slowly for the last two-thousand years. Though the Minbari claim it is the migration of souls, this could mean their genetic pool is stagnating.

 Female Minbari do not menstruate.

PSI ABILITY:  Psi ability is a rare gift that is highly regarded by the Minbari. Telepaths lead lives of public service. In return, other Minbari insure that the psi is adequately clothed and fed.

PSYCHOLOGY:  The Minbari live to attain perfection in themselves physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Their carefully preserved cities indicate a respect for the past. They emphasize the arts in society and are tolerant of cultural and religious differences among other cultures. Although they are and strive to be an advanced civilization, they do harbor a superiority complex over "inferior" races (though this is mostly evident with regard to members of the warrior caste), which stems from their belief in the advancement of souls. The Minbari view technology as a transitory means to an end and that no race can be truly intelligent without laughter. To other races, the Minbari are a prideful people. One might also call them zealots.

 There appears to be a dichotomy of demeanor between the religious caste and the warrior caste. While those of the religious caste are generally reflective and calm, those of the warrior caste are impulsive and ruthless. This is not to say the religious caste are above snobbing the warrior caste as brainless louts. This rivalry has contributed to an overall sense among the Minbari of anger and dissatisfaction. This division between the castes has only deepened since the Earth-Minbari War.

CULTURE: Minbari Castes: The core of Minbari society is its caste system. There are three castes: the religious, warrior, and worker. The warrior and religious caste have rarely agreed, until recently at the end of the Earth-Minbari War (and this has been viewed as a terrible thing). The worker caste is very different from the other two and is a less influential part of Minbari society. Sometimes it is not considered a caste at all. Minbari pilots and traders are of the worker caste.

 Caste membership is determined by one's calling, not birth or genetics. Usually a Minbari will sense a calling toward a certain caste early in life. The Minbari makes her choice known and is assigned a teacher from the caste she desires to join. The teacher guides the applicant and determines if the calling is true after a few cycles. If the calling is genuine, the applicant is accepted into her caste of choice. If the applicant does not seem to be suited to that caste, others will work with that Minbari to find what caste she is most suited for. Such a screening process is used to prevent a Minbari choosing the wrong caste due to others' expectations. Later in life, if a Minbari already in one caste feels a calling toward another, he can change castes if the belief is sincerely felt and if so, cannot be contravened. For example, The war hero Branmer was originally a member of the religious caste, but when the jihad against the Earthers began, he felt a call to the warrior caste and was accepted. Once membership is granted, obedience to one's caste superiors is expected.

 Minbari marriages are not arranged, like the Centauri. However, it is an unwritten rule that one should seek the blessings and consent of one's caste-leaders. Marriage is usually kept within each caste.

Minbari Clans: Minbari clans are similar to close-knit families. A Minbari is expected to surrender some of one's identity to the clan; in return for this, the clan, ideally, will assume responsibility for the one Minbari's actions. However, some clan leaders use this to their own advantage by following their own agendas without informing the clan members at large. It is believed by most Minbari that no single clan should dictate the policy of the caste to which it belongs or the Minbari people/

• Minbari Warrior Clans: The five primary clans of the warrior caste are:

 Star Riders - The oldest clan. The name refers to mounted soldiers who trained to use the stars for navigation.

 Moon Shields - A clan that traditionally rode to battle mounted.

 Wind Swords - A clan that traditionally rode to battle mounted. They are the most militant of the Warrior Clans.

 Night Walkers - The name refers to foot soldiers who were expert at night travelling.

 Fire Wings - The name refers to a clan who became the first to use flying machines in battle.

 Minbari Religious Clans:

 The House of Mir - one of several clans founded by Valen's offspring after his disappearance.

 The Third Fane (or House) of Chudomo - They have served with honor for 500 years.

Minbari Religious Orders:

• Sisters of Valerian - A devout order that values seclusion from all others in contemplation of the great mysteries of the universe.

• Minbari, at least those of the religious caste, are educated in a temple. One year of this education is dedicated to the appreciation of laughter. They are also given combat training, though not as extensive as that of the warrior caste.

 Since birth, Minbari are taught there is no greater goal or nobler duty than to serve others. They are raised to be totally self-sacrificing, thus it never occurs to many Minbari to do anything other than to serve. One of the lessons of service is that in times of suffering, those that are afflicted should be ministered to and comforted. This applies to all beings, not only the Minbari. Lately, this has been changing to "a self-involvement above the needs of others." Many Minbari are not pleased by this change.

 As a rule, Minbari do not lie. To maintain honor, they must tell the truth or keep silent. However, distortion of the truth is accepted if by doing so the Minbari allows another being or member of their clan to "save face."

 Though a rare occurrence, a Minbari may pledge him or herself to another's side. This is a very serious oath and carries great weight. Doing so means that the Minbari is bound to that person until that Minbari's death; further, that Minbari must defend that person with his or her life.

 The burial rites and ceremonies differs between the castes. When a Minbari dies, the burial rights are determined by one's parents. As a rule, the religious caste has precedence over the warrior caste. If one parent is of the warrior caste and the other is of the religious caste, their offspring will be buried in the manner of the religious caste.

 Minbari proverbs:

 "A darkness in the heart cannot be cured by moving the body to a different place."

 "Claim victory in your heart and the Universe will follow."

 "The only way to understand the battle is to understand the language; War is as much concept as execution."

 Warrior Caste Mantra: "A Warrior will fear not death as we are already dead. Only those of the living can fear."

 The second Minbari Principle of Sentient Life: "The capacity for self-sacrifice: the conscious ability to override evolution and self-preservation for a cause, a friend or a loved one."

 Minbari sleep at a forty-five degree angle. To sleep in the horizontal would be tempting death.

 Respect is shown to high ranking Minbari by looking down.

 When elder Minbari feel useless and wish to be of service to someone, they "go to the sea." By travelling into the sea of stars, the Minbari hopes to find meaning for his or her life.

 True Searchers are highly honored by the Minbari people. The Minbari feel that they are holy people who have dedicated themselves to a higher purpose to serve their people. When a true seeker dies, it is customary to crush a certain crystal over the seeker 's grave. The dust of the crystal will glow every night for one-hundred years.

 Tee'la is a form of Minbari poetry that attempt to recall old memories and prompt new ideas. Shaal Mayan is one of the few famous contemporary poem singers of Tee'la, or home songs.

 Those of the warrior caste rarely, if ever, carry a weapon of alien make, as it would be an affront to their pride.

 Minbari do not "accessorize." They prefer to express themselves, apparel-wise, with fabric of varying texture and color. They have a predeliction for triangles and the number three.

RELIGION: The Minbari do not believe in deities. The core of Minbari religious belief is that of the soul. A soul is defined by them as a non-localized phenomenon, meaning that a person's soul does not originate from within, but from the outside by a hidden source (the universe). To them, the universe is a conscious entity engaged in a search for meaning. It breaks itself apart and invests itself in every form of life. Thus, every being is a projection of a part of the universal soul. They believe that all sentients have immortal souls. However, there is more than one "universal soul" since breaking itself apart and only meeting identical versions of itself would be pointless and redundant. There are Soul Forms, one for each race. The soul form in Minbari differ from those in Drazi, Centauri, and Humans. Having been civilized longer than most races, the Minbari hold their soul form to be more elevated, evolved, and precious than those around them.

 When a Minbari dies, his soul merges with the souls of other dead Minbari. These souls form a "pool" from which new Minbari are formed. As an individual advances the state of his soul, he is also advancing the Minbari race, since the next Minbari to receive that soul will have a more advanced one. To remove a soul from this "pool" would be to diminish the whole race of Minbari. This is why Shagh-toth, or Soul Hunters, are so feared and hated.

 For the last two thousand years the greater Minbari souls have been migrating. Each succeeding generation of Minbari does not equal those of the previous generations. Through interrogations and triluminary probes, the Grey Council discovered at the end of the Earth-Minbari war that Minbari souls were being reborn in part, or in full, in humans. The war was stopped so no further harm would come to Minbari souls.

 Minbari believe that certain souls travel together. These groups of souls are drawn to each other in life to either relive good relationships from the past, or to make right the bad ones.

• When some great leaders die, a procession brings the casket to an area prepared for the placement of the body. A viewing ceremony is held to honor and remember that Minbari.

 There is a belief in miracles among the Minbari. Some include the transformation of a dead Minbari's body -- meaning the Minbari has taken his place among the "gods,' in this case, not worshipped deities, but higher beings, like Valerian.

 The predations of theShagh-toth have historically disrupted Minbari spiritual affairs. Because of this, the Minbari are reluctant to involve themselves in matters of the soul of others, for they have seen the effects of such interference on themselves.

The Minbari Rebirth Ceremony , called the Nafak'Cha, also doubles as a marriage ceremony. It is used to commemorate a great change that is coming or is already here. Participants are to contemplate what has gone before, what is, and what is ahead of them. As with many Minbari ceremonies, the Nafak'Cha must be completed before a certain amount of time has passed since preparation were begun. The most important part of the ceremony comes when each participant must tell another a secret that has never been told to anyone else and give away something that is of great value to him.

 The closing ceremony is a dramatic recreation of the forming of the Grey Council, one of the most significant changes in Minbari history. There are nine Minbari participants who stand around a triangular table and one leader. The instruments on the table are also triangular. All Minbari wear white cloaks. Here is a portion of the ceremony:

Leader: " Will you follow me into fire, into storm, into darkness, into death? And the Nine said, 'yes.' Then do it in testimony to the one who will follow, who will bring death, couched in the promise of new life, and renewal, disguised as defeat. "

A red fruit is then shared from a triangular crystal basket.

Leader: "From birth, through death and renewal, you must put aside old things, old fears, old lives, this is your death, the death of flesh, the death of pain, the death of yesterday. Taste of it, and be not afraid, for I am with you to the end of time. Taste of it. And so it begins."

 The mundane act of using a chemical compound to strip away the outermost layer of skin is ritually symbolic to the Minbari of rebirth.

The religious beliefs of the Minbari are loosely followed by the warrior caste.

CUISINE:  For honored guests, the Minbari have a ritual meal. Preparation for this meal lasts for two days, during which the cook does not sleep (which could lead to error) and eats only bread and water (to remain pure). There are fifteen stages of cooking the food, which must be blessed during each stage. The spices themselves must be blessed. Each spice is used once, and a specific prayer is spoken when they are used. If an error is made, the entire meal must be abandoned and the cook must begin again.

 Just as the there are rituals to be followed in cooking the meal, there are rituals in its consumption. Assuming there are three present, the meal ritual proceeds as so: All participants sit at a low square table. The preparer sits at the right-hand side of the honored guest. The host or hostess will sit across from the honored guest. There are place settings on all four sides of the table. The unused place setting is set aside for Valen.

 The meal begins when the hostess and the honored guest exchange bowls as a sign of welcoming. Then both the hostess and the honored guest offer a portion of their meal to the preparer as a sign of thankfulness. The guest sets aside one piece of flarn (a green food) "in the memory of Valen in the place that is set aside for his return." Then all participants are allowed to eat a portion. They all must then stop and meditate upon the food they have just consumed. As during the preparation phase, if a mistake is made in following the ritual, the meal must be started all over again.

 the Minbari and their allies. A Shadow assault on their command station left it in ruins. Soon after, the Minbari were summoned by the Vorlons to a remote sector of space. There, they were presented with a new hope: Babylon 4 (to act as a new base) and Valen. With a new command center in their hands, the Minbari and a confederation of other worlds drove the Shadows from their places of power.

 Before the coming of Valen, civil strife wracked Minbar and its colonies as Minbari killed Minbari. The three castes warred with each other, but Valen pulled them together. Once these sides were integrated, the warrior caste had to content itself with external threats since they were forbidden to kill any Minbari for fear of reducing the Minbari collective soul. The Grey Council was convened as Minbar's ruling body and the Anla-shok (or Rangers) were formed to combat the darkness.

 Aside from various civil wars and the Shadow Uprising, no other conflicts involving the Minbari are known about save a very brief Streib invasion and the madness of the Earth-Minbari war.

 After the Dilgar were defeated by an alliance of Earth and the League of Non-Aligned Worlds (2232 C.E.), the Wind Swords sheltered Warmaster Jha'Dur. Supported in her experiments by the Wind Swords, she developed for them a variety of lethal weapons. She also developed the anti-agapic serum while under their care. During the Earth-Minbari War, the Wind Swords petitioned the Grey Council to be allowed to use Jha'Dur's weapons. The Grey Council deemed them too atrocious to be used and rejected the Wind Swords' petition.

 When a small fleet of Minbari war cruisers encountered an Earth Alliance convoy, the Minbari Cruisers opened their gunports to show respect for this new race. Unfortunately, the humans mistook this form of First Contact as a sign of aggression and opened fire. In a highly dubious stroke of luck (or misfortune) the lead vessel took a critical hit, mortally wounding Dukhat, leader of the Grey Council and the most evolved and wise of the Minbari. As he lay dying, the Minbari piled up bodies around him to confuse and delay the soul hunters; allowing Dukhat to join the Minbari soul collective. Dukhat's death caused such outrage that the religious caste gave its full support for most of its duration. One of the greatest supporters of the war against the humans was a High Priest named Branmer. He felt this cause was just and became a member of the warrior caste. He quickly rose through the ranks by fighting with bravery, vision, and zeal.

 The war raged for nearly three years (2246 - 2248 C.E.). The human's only victory came when the Black Star, the Minbari flagship, and its support fleet entered the Sol System Asteroid Belt. Then-Commander John Sheridan mined several asteroids with fusion bombs and planted a distress beacon. Thinking they had an easy target, the Black Star entered the asteroid field. It and three war cruisers were annihilated in the blasts. Such a loss and insult would be met with severe punishment in what was to be called the Battle of the Line.

 Branmer had become a leader within the warrior caste. He personally planned and lead the assault on the human homeworld. Twenty thousand Terran ships surrounded the Earth in a desperate attempt to defend themselves. The Minbari armada took them down at their leisure. Victory was assured.

partially), the Grey Council ordered the Minbari forces to surrender and offered no explanation to the warrior caste.

 What the Council found truly frightening was that Sinclair appeared to bear a great Minbari soul -- their greatest. Most were unsure, some refused to accept the truth and wanted him dead to prevent him from being a false prophet, and some truly believed Sinclair was Valen. This disagreement and the consequences of the discovery began to unravel Minbari society.

 Many among the warrior caste disapproved of the surrender and wished to continue the genocide, including Branmer. Sineval, a warrior caste leader, Wind Swords Clan, committed suicide than surrender. He became a martyr to the warrior caste. The Trigati, Sineval's warcruiser, went into exile commanded by Kalain, Sineval's second-in-command, or Alyt. The terms of surrender to the Earthers were conditional; there was to be little Minbari reparation.

 The Minbari looked on Earth with interest when they began the Babylon Project. With the finalization of the fifth station, Satai Delenn chose to take on the role of Ambassador with the intent of studying Commander Sinclair (whose appointment to command the station was heavily encouraged by the Minbari) and others that appeared to be described in Valen's prophecy. Her confirmation of what they uncovered at the end of the Earth-Minbari War was necessary to convince many in the Council that did not believe in the prophecy or Sinclair's part in it. Those in the Council who were skeptical would rather kill Sinclair than have the true reason for the end of the Earth-Minbari War be made public; a truth that could, in their opinion, undermine Minbari society.

 In early 2257, a Minbari warrior (in all probability of the Wind Sword Clan) attempted to kill the Vorlon Ambassador Kosh Neranek by poisoning him in the "hand" as he arrived on Babylon 5. The clan hoped that by doing so, the Babylon Project would be stopped. Blame was pinned on Commander Jeffrey Sinclair, the commanding officer of the station, through the use of a Changeling Net. He was almost successful; but in the end the Vorlon was saved and the warrior committed suicide.

 The war hero Branmer died while in a diplomatic trip. His second, Neroon went against Branmer's wishes and displayed his body on Babylon 5 and was to continue at every Minbari enclave from there to Minbar. Satai Delenn kidnapped the body and secretly had it cremated, Branmer's ashes spread in space near Minbar, according to Branmer's wishes. Another war with the humans almost came of the disappearance until Delenn ordered Neroon to support her story that Branmer was transformed to allow him to take his place with the gods.

 The mourning period for Dukhat elapsed in 2258 and it came time for a new leader to be chosen. Satai Delenn, chosen successor by Dukhat, was chosen to be that new leader. She turned the position down on the excuse that she had not finished studying humanity, or more specifically, individuals that appeared to be described in Valen's prophecy. It was her opinion that the greater good would be served by growing closer to the Minbari's "other half." She was the first Minbari in a thousand years to turn down the offer to lead the Federation. By the end of 2258, she learned from Kosh that the Shadows were returning to their Realms. Against the overly cautious advice of the other members of the Grey Council, she activated her Chrysalis Device with a borrowed Triluminary.

The Trigati returned to Known Space in January 2259. It sought out Babylon 5 as a prime target with the installation of the new Earth captain, John Sheridan. Shi Alyt Kalain arrived on the station with the intent of being captured while attempting to kill Delenn (who at the time was still within the chrysalis). Once incarcerated he waited for the appearance of his ship and committed suicide. Alyt Deeron of the Trigati closed on the station and launched fighters; their stealth systems turned off. Realizing they were using his appointment as an excuse to start another Earth-Minbari War he refused to open fire first. The situation was diffused when another Minbari warcruiser (waiting in hyperspace for a report on the Trigati's location) disabled the Trigati. Rather than return to Minbar dishonored, Deeron ordered the fusion reactors to overload -- scattering their ashes among the stars. Back on Minbar, the new Minbari leader was installed. Transferred from Babylon 5, Jeffrey Sinclair, now an ambassador, was implicated in an assassination plot but was cleared when he earned the respect of the new leader.

 In June, 2259, Delenn, now a Human-Minbari halfbreed, was removed from the Grey Council because of widespread Minbari doubts about her "Minbari-ness." Her replacement was not from the religious caste, as it should be, but a member of the warrior caste, Neroon. The unbalanced Council succumbed to the Warrior Caste influence and refused to take steps to slow down the coming Great War. In April, Delenn returned to the Council chambers to chastise the lack of action taken by the Council. Invoking the prophesy of Valen, she broke to the Council, leaving only the four Warrior Caste Satai to their schemes; the rest following her. With a vacuum of power on Minbar, the system can only operate for a while and a solution will have to be resolved. Many in the Warrior Caste feel that Delenn's actions were a part of a secret agenda that would allow her to rise to sole leadership of the Minbari people.

The Centauri embassy on Minbar has been closed for several years due to a problem with its last envoy. The former ambassador "went native;" embracing the culture of the Minbari. He was recalled by a horrified Centauri government. In 2260, the Centauri embassy was reopened with the transfer and promotion of Vir Cotto, former attaché to the infamous Londo Mollari. It was closed soon after when it was discovered that he was "abusing" his post while "under the influence of the radical Minbari."

• In the few rare cases of a Minbari killing another, the murderer is judged temporarily insane and exiled to a small moon orbiting Minbar. The penal colony allows the Minbari to live out his life without harming anyone else.

 The Grey Council

“Summoned, I come. In Valen's name, I take the place that has been prepared for me. I am Grey. I stand between the candle and the star. We are Grey. We stand between the darkness and the light."

The Grey Council was convened by Valen over one thousand years ago to safeguard the Minbari. It is a body  composed of three members each from the three castes, whose declarations are considered law in an almost biblical sense. Their decisions are not to be questioned ("Understanding is not required, only obedience."). New members are approved by majority vote. Members of the Grey Council are given the title "Satai" and triluminary mark implants in the forehead. These implants are used to detect the presence of Shadows and their thralls among other functions. At certain times and under certain circumstances, the insignia can be used as proof of one's membership in the Grey Council. The title of Satai is granted for life. A Minbari may choose to leave only under extraordinary circumstances. Members may also be removed if their actions warrant it.

 Membership in the Grey Council is not generally known to the majority of Minbari. This is to prevent a cult of personality from forming. An extra precaution against this and also for the safety of the Council was removing the Council from Minbar and having them hold court in the Minbari War Cruiser designated Valen'tha. Its location is not easily known as it (in a seemingly random way) travels among Minbar and its Colonies. This gives the Council an exotic and distant feel to Federation citizens, knowing their leaders are among the stars, being a part of the universe. Council members stay on the cruiser for almost the entirety of their tenure. Members are allowed to leave for personal emergencies.

 In early June 2259, the Grey Council voted out one of their members, Delenn of the religious caste. She was chosen by Dukhat personally to replace him. Under the belief that she was fulfilling prophecy, she underwent a transformation without the consent of the other Grey Council members. She is viewed by some (mostly warrior caste) as a halfbreed freak. Most other Minbari believed that Delenn was fulfilling the prophesy of Valen. Her replacement was Neroon, leader of the Star Riders Clan. This made the Grey Council seriously unbalanced and contrary to Valen's wishes. Although the Chosen One, Jenimer, was of religious caste leanings, the warrior caste had an unprecedentedly strong voice in Minbari policy-making.  Delenn returned to the Grey Council chambers in April 2260. She chided them for their inaction against the Shadow movements on Earth and the Non-Aligned Worlds. She took the Council Staff and boke it, calling upon Valen's Prophecy that the Council must be broken should it become dysfunctional. Urging those in the Council who understood Valen's warning to follow her, she left the four Warrior Caste Satai with the Religious and Worker Caste behind her. With the Council broken, Minbar fell into a vacuum of power.

MILITARY:   While the Minbari Warrior Caste is dedicated to the defense of Minbar, all three castes take an active part in the Federation military. As per Valen's Covenant each caste controls one third of the total military force. This distribution of power prevents a single caste from overpowering the others and allows each caste to have a say in how the fleet is used through their respective Grey Council representative.

 The Minbari fleet is one of the most feared in Known Space. Fast, highly maneuverable, and able to evade sensors, Minbari ships are able to surprise any race they encounter with deadly force. Among Earth pilots the Minbari have earned the name "Ghosts in the Night."

• A starship captain's title is Shi Alyt. The second in command is simply Alyt.

 Those of the warrior caste honor a great military leader by flying their starships with gun ports open. It is also a sign of honor used in many circumstances; however, its use as part of First Contact protocol is less frequently used since the Earth-Minbari War, if not altogether abandoned.

TECHNOLOGY: Gravitic; The Minbari excel at crystal based technology: crystalline power sources, gravity manipulating rings, and charged crystal knife-gauntlets.

NOTES: A Minbari opinion of humanity:

"They do not seek conformity. They do not surrender. Out of their differences comes symmetry. Their unique capacity to fight against impossible odds. Hurt them, they only come back stronger. The passions we deplore have taken them to t heir place in the stars, and will propel them to a great destiny. Their only weakness is that they do not recognize their own greatness. They forget they have come to this place through two million years of evolution, struggle, and blood. They are better than they think and nobler than they know. They carry within them the capacity to walk among the stars as giants. They are the future. We have much to learn from them."

• 1 Minbari cycle = approximately 1.5 human years.
• Minbari usebase 11 , not base 10. This is derived from a Minbari's ten fingers and one head.
• Draal, a member of the Minbari religious caste, is the guardian of Epsilon 3. A planet that was settled byVarn's People .

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