The Umbarans, also called the Shadow People, were a species that was near-human and originated from the planet called Umbara. A defining characteristic was their light, bluish complexion, coupled with eyes lacking color. During the declining years of the Galactic Republic, Mee Deechi served as their representative in the galactic-spanning Senate. However, following Deechi's death at the hands of Lolo Purs, a senatorial assistant, during the Clone Wars, they aligned themselves with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, thus providing their highly developed technological advancements to the Republic's adversaries.
Possessing a light, bluish skin tone, the Umbarans were a species that was near-human and of slender build. They were tetrapodal, having two legs and two arms that ended in five-fingered hands. They were equipped with opposable thumbs, which were essential for tool usage, gripping, and throwing. The faces of Umbarans were gaunt and thin, with gray markings surrounding their colorless eyes sockets. They possessed a singular heart, and its puncture would result in a fatal wound. While Umbarans could have hair, some were naturally bald or chose to shave their heads. Rumors circulated regarding the species' purported capacity for mind control, stemming from their aptitude for manipulating others. Their colorless eyes allowed them to perceive the ultraviolet spectrum.
The Shadow People, residing on their dim homeworld of Umbara, had a structured society with caste divisions, always scheming to climb the social ladder. Their technological capabilities exceeded those of most of the galaxy. Though Umbarans could communicate in Galactic Basic Standard, they mainly used their own native language on Umbara, which included an alphabet composed of twenty-six letters. The voluminous shadow cloak was a traditional item of clothing for Umbarans.
The Umbarans came to be on Umbara, a misty and hazardous planet found within the eponymous solar system situated in the Ghost Nebula sector. They had been members of the Galactic Republic since its inception, a democratic governing body. Consequently, Mee Deechi represented them in the Galactic Senate. Sly Moore, an Umbaran woman, served as an aide to Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, the leader of the Republic's Galactic Senate, ten years following the Invasion of Naboo.
Around this time, the Sith Lord Dooku established the Confederacy of Independent Systems, an alliance of star systems that felt detached from the Republic. During the subsequent Clone Wars, the Umbarans initially remained loyal to the Republic. However, following the assassination of Deechi, they broke away from the Republic and joined the Separatist Alliance. The Umbaran militia's cutting-edge weaponry provided the Confederacy with an advantage on the battlefield as clone troopers from the Grand Army of the Republic were assigned to conquer Umbara. Despite the treachery of Jedi General Pong Krell, the Republic gained control when his Jedi colleague Obi-Wan Kenobi seized the capital city of Umbara. As the war drew to a close, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine declared himself Galactic Emperor. At the height of the First Galactic Empire, Umbaran technology was adopted for utilization by the Imperial Military.
The crime syndicate known as the Haxion Brood was under the leadership of the Umbaran Sorc Tormo five years after the Empire's formation. Due to Greez Dritus's debts to the syndicate, a bounty hunter working for the criminal organization captured Cal Kestis, a fellow Jedi of Dritus. Tormo forced Kestis to battle various wild creatures and the bounty hunter who had apprehended him in an arena as entertainment. After Kestis' colleagues stormed the arena to save him, Tormo threatened to pursue them across the galaxy if necessary.