What is a Jaffa?

Jaffa are enslaved by the Goa'uld and serve both as warriors and incubators for their young. The Jaffa are humans from many different worlds, most of whom have been implanted with larval Goa'uld symbiotes. Jaffa have a great sense of honor and nobility backing their oppressed history. Due to their oppression by the Goa'uld, many have become strong and self-sufficient on the battlefield.

At the time of implantation (typically around 10 years of age), the Jaffa who are "honored" enough and possess a sufficient community status are granted the ceremony of the prim'tah, when the Goa'uld symbiote is implanted within a young warrior, granting him great strength and long life. Because of their genetic manipulation by the Goa'uld, Jaffa are forced to receive a symbiote upon reaching the Age of Prata (puberty), or die from a failing immune system. Without a symbiote, an adult Jaffa cannot survive more than a few hours.

In recent years, since the Jaffa Teal'c betrayed his master Apophis and became shol'vah, many Jaffa have begun to question their beliefs that the Goa'uld are gods. Many have been severely punished for going against the Goa'uld, but many have survived to continue to bring others to the rebel cause -- the Jaffa Resistance, and the Hak'tyl resistance. But the vast majority of Jaffa societies, scattered on different planets throughout the galaxy and in the service of different Goa'uld masters, refuse to question their Goa'uld-imposed religious beliefs.

Though they are not especially superstitious, Jaffa are governed by strong religious beliefs. All believe in some form of afterlife. Goa'uld-serving Jaffa believe they will be greatly honored for their deeds in the afterlife. Rebel Jaffa believe their souls will be sent to Kheb, far beyond Goa'uld oppression, where their kalach (souls) will live without the prim'tah.

But, unfortunately, the Jaffa cannot survive without Goa'uld symbiotes. It is a cruel and enslaving link that has yet to be broken. If the Jaffa will ever be free, they must first find a way to free themselves from the need of the larval symbiote.

In season 6, perhaps this link has been found -- a drug named tretonin. Tretonin was developed from larval Goa'uld dried and ground. Teal'c and Bra'tac were the first to test tretonin.

The "ground Goa'uld" elixir will keep Teal'c and Bra'tac well in the short run, but what about the future? If symbiotes are scarce now, where will the supply for the tretonin come from? Will it truly replace the Goa'uld, or may Teal'c become more vulnerable in the coming season? And if he no longer has to kelnoreem, of what do Jaffa dream?