The Essential Guide to Force Exile/S'vollke

S'vollke was a Whiphid and a member of the Jal Shey order. Born on Toola, S'vollke had not always desired a different life from the other Whiphids. For many years, he was content to However, after a tragic illness claimed the life of his beloved mate and son but left him behind, he turned moody and restless, as well as disconsolate. Boarding a spacecraft, S'vollke left Toola and wandered the spacelanes in search of answers. He found odd jobs here and there to get by, but viewed himself as a sort of pilgrim, searching for some kind of explanation for the loss of his family.

After years of searching, he happened to ship with a group of Jal Shey journeying to join the rest of their order on the barren world of Tokmia. During the trip, S'vollke was fascinated by their philosophy and discovered that he was somewhat Force-sensitive. With no other attachments to hold him back, he asked to join the Jal Shey. They considered his request and eventually assented after perceiving that he would be dedicated to their philosophy.

For the next ten years, S'vollke dedicated himself to Jal Shey precepts, meditation, and study, rising to the rank of advisor. Their teachings gave him peace of mind and allowed him to once again have a purpose in life by encouraging him in ways to do good for others. He had originally been a clerk on Toola, but now found himself more of a scholar than before&mdash;though a stint as a bouncer during his wanderings also made him one of the better fighters out of the Jal Shey. Eventually, he and a few others would be sent out on temporary missions to try and do what good they could in the galaxy, usually by acting as diplomats. However, with the rise of the Empire, the Jal Shey became increasingly isolated after a couple of these humanitarian teams met grisly ends at the hands of the Inquisitors. Guarded and hidden, they remained safe, and S'vollke served as the gatekeeper for their refuge.

One day, though, two Jedi made their way through a fierce snowstorm to the Jal Shey refuge. S'vollke met the two, Sarth Kraen and Cassi Trealus, and invited them in. He and other Jal Shey were soon informed by the two Jedi that the Empire was hunting for them, and would soon be on Tokmia. They also offered the Jal Shey a place at a new refuge that another Jedi, Selusda Kraen, was creating. The Jedi stayed there for several days while the Jal Shey contemplated the matter, and S'vollke served as their guide.

Eventually, the two Jedi were called before the assembly of all the Jal Shey, where they once again presented their case. After they did so, S'vollke made a motion to put the matter to a vote. As he heard their message and contemplated their proposal, the Whiphid was increasingly convinced that they spoke the truth. The result of the vote was to put the two Jedi to the test of the rite of Gnissom maze, a complicated viseospatial puzzle that they would have to solve in three days; it was an ancient tradition among the Jal Shey and had long been used as a deciding factor in important but close decisions. The two Jedi were successful and S'vollke joined with the other Jal Shey in loading their belongings onto an old GR-45 transport and following the Jedi to their new refuge.

Little did they know that they left only a few days ahead of the Empire's arrival on Tokmia, but S'vollke and the other Jal Shey had gotten away. With directions from the Jedi, their ship arrived on the world of Yanibar, where the new refuge was. There, they were greeted by another Force-sensitive group native to Yanibar, the Zeison Sha, and welcomed into founding a new colony. As one of the leading members of the Jal Shey, S'vollke became one of the Jal Shey representatives on the ruling council and worked hard to help the new refuge grow and thrive even in the midst of exile.

Behind the scenes
S'vollke was created to serve as a sympathetic Jal Shey for Force Exile III: Liberator. His character was partially influenced by images of the canonical Jedi Master K'kruhk, but also by the famous Badger of The Wind in the Willows, as well as the badgers of the Redwall series. His character was intended to be wise, a bit mystic, but also pragmatic, devoted, and loyal. S'vollke's role ended up being smaller than originally intended due to the fact that author Atarumaster88 shortened the scenes involving Sarth and Cassi on Tokmia due to pacing concerns. S'vollke has yet to be depicted in any Force Exile work.

Appearances

 * Force Exile III: Liberator