Vorlon - Nature

Nature

While almost all the other species of First Ones left the galaxy, the Vorlons stayed behind to act as guardians for younger species. Vorlons shepherded these worlds and the inhabitants were enthralled by their appearance; some worshipped them as gods.

The Shadows took on the same mantle with an opposed philosophy. In this conflict, the Vorlons represent Order. They act as architects, building alliances, encouraging the rule of law and inspiring cooperation. In practice, Vorlons enforce adherence to their rules. Their philosophy is embodied by the question "Who are you?" Sometimes called "The Vorlon Question", it encourages introspection, patience and places identity over goals.

The Vorlons shown on the series tend to be enigmatic, usually speaking only brief, cryptic phrases to beings from the younger species. They also appear to take pride in their enigmatic nature (emphasis added):

• Sheridan: Well, as answers go, short, to the point, utterly useless, and totally consistent with what I've come to expect from a Vorlon.
• Kosh: Good.
• Sheridan: You know, as many times as you've come and gone from the Vorlon Homeworld, you could be anyone under there. How do I know you're the same Vorlon?
• Kosh: I have always been here.
• Sheridan: Oh yeah? You said that about me, too.
• Kosh: Yes

(Kosh turns his back on Sheridan and begins to walk away)

• Sheridan: I really hate it when you do that.
• Kosh: Good.

By the time of the series, the Vorlons and Shadows have long since lost sight of the original goal. The intent of both elder species was to encourage the growth of younger species through the competition of order and chaos. The conflict metamorphosed into a game for military (rather than ideological) dominion. The Vorlons began to treat the younger species as pawns. This outlook took an extreme shift following the death of the first Ambassador Kosh Naranek, ending with a move to eliminate all worlds touched by the Shadows by means of a planet killer, a huge ship that could reduce a planet to rubble with a single shot. With the Shadows soon reciprocating with a planet killer of their own, the younger species would have been exterminated had it not been for Sheridan's getting the truth out to them.