The Chu'unthor (translated from Cerean as "academy") represented a praxeum ship concept, brought to life by the collaborative design efforts of Cerean Jedi Fin-So-Rowan and Human Jedi Ivixa Delbaeth. Constructed by Republic Fleet Systems in the orbit of the planet Abhean, its completion dates back to 400 BBY.
Serving primarily as a mobile educational institution for groups of Jedi apprentices, it functioned under the guidance of numerous Jedi Masters before its eventual crash on the planet Dathomir in 230 BBY. The Chu'unthor's onboard academy was responsible for the training of several formidable Jedi, including Easal Mar and Ainvar ul-Esca. The latter notably embarked on a diplomatic and exploratory mission, brokering peace on Qualtrough and establishing initial contact with the Elathan.
This vessel was notably spacious, stretching two kilometers in length, one kilometer in width, and reaching a height of at least forty meters. The central command pinnacle accommodated the majority of the non-Jedi crew, while the sublight and hyperdrive engine systems were situated directly at the rear. With the capacity to house 10,000 Jedi students, the Chu'unthor featured hundreds of training rooms for exercise and lightsaber combat, designed to refine each student's focus, technique, and physical prowess. Dedicated workshops facilitated the construction and upkeep of lightsabers, while meditation chambers offered both students and masters a sanctuary for contemplating the essence of the Force and enhancing their mental fortitude. The medical bay, equipped with hundreds of rooms, served as a training ground for young Jedi to learn healing practices, applicable both in the aftermath of conflict or accidents and in aiding those with physical or mental challenges. The ship also boasted an extensive library, housing texts encompassing a wide range of Jedi teachings, advanced scientific and theoretical works, historical records, literature from across the galaxy, and encyclopedias covering the galaxy's diverse languages, arts, and cultures.
Due to extensive automation and droid operation, the ship required a comparatively small crew, largely composed of veterans from the Republic Navy. Furthermore, several non-Jedi research organizations, including the University of Sanbra, maintained branches on the vessel.
To mitigate the feelings of confinement and monotony often associated with prolonged space travel, the Chu'unthor incorporated wide corridors with elevated ceilings, and many rooms featured transparisteel domes or expansive viewports. This design choice aimed to create an atmosphere akin to that of the Great Temple on Coruscant, rather than a typical starship. Classes were frequently conducted in these open, star-gazing spaces, reminding the Padawans of their duty to serve the galaxy as a whole, rather than pursuing selfish ambitions with their abilities.
The Chu'unthor's operational life met a tragic end in 230 BBY when it crashed onto Dathomir, a planet of exile inhabited by Force-sensitive "witches" descended from the fallen Jedi, Allya. Surrounded by the witches riding their rancor mounts, the damaged Chu'unthor became a point of contention. A Jedi team, including Yoda, Gra'aton, and Vulatan, was dispatched to rescue the crew and passengers, but their efforts were thwarted by the Dathomir witches. After Yoda intervened to save Rell, a young witch, they successfully negotiated a compromise. The Chu'unthor and its library would remain on Dathomir, but the Jedi were permitted to leave. Yoda entrusted Rell with hiding the ship's reader disks until a Jedi Knight arrived to liberate her world from the influence of the Nightsisters, the witches who had succumbed to the dark side of the Force.
During the era of the Clone Wars, another vessel named Chu'unthor functioned as a mobile academy under the leadership of Master Djinn Altis.
Centuries after the initial Chu'unthor met its end on Dathomir, in 8 ABY, Luke Skywalker journeyed to the planet, fulfilling Yoda's prophecy. His discovery of records detailing the earlier rescue mission during a visit to Toola led him to Dathomir, accompanied by Prince Isolder of the Hapes Consortium, who was in search of Han Solo and the abducted Princess Leia Organa Solo. Locating Leia through the Force, Luke and Isolder stumbled upon the Chu'unthor, gaining insight into the purpose of the rescue mission and noting the wreckage's surprisingly "neat" condition. Following their victory against the Nightsisters and Warlord Zsinj, Luke received records from the Chu'unthor, which he incorporated into his collection for the Jedi Praxeum he later established on Yavin 4.
Several years later, Imperial forces under the command of General [Vit] raided the Chu'unthor as part of Project Nightsaber.
During the Clone Wars, a second ship by the name Chu'unthor served as a mobile academy headed by Master Djinn Altis.
The data tapes recovered from the ship's wreckage contained valuable information regarding Jedi training methods. These tapes were subsequently transferred to the new Jedi library on Ossus. By 40 ABY, nearly all of the datatapes possessed by the New Jedi Order originated from the Chu'unthor.