The Nestmothers of the Shashay were the governing body of the planet Crytal Nest during the Galactic Civil War. As the Nestmothers feared the Galactic Empire could discover the exact coordinates of Crytal Nest, the Nestmothers forbid most Shashay from leaving the planet. They made an exception with Crying Dawn Singer, a famous artist, because his concerts would provide him with money that would help the other Shashay. When the Alliance to Restore the Republic asked the Nestmothers for permission to place a secret base on Crytal Nest, the Nestmothers initially refused, wanting to know if the Alliance could really defeat the Empire before making such a decision. Soon afterward, Crying Dawn Singer was kidnapped and the Nestmothers contacted the Alliance to ask for help.