The Essential Guide to Force Exile/Jahlel Almani

Determining conclusive facts about Jahlel Almani’s life has been difficult due to the violence that surrounded his death, but recovered evidence has found some information about this Matukai. Almani’s homeworld is unknown; Arkanians were fairly common in the galaxy during that era and the Matukai did not keep records either on his homeworld or his parents. From a journal kept by his younger sister, Hasla Almani, we do know that he was orphaned at a young age and grew up on Darlyn Boda, living in the slums of the city of Darlyn Boda, begging for a few credcoins to survive. Eventually, he and his sister were discovered by a group of Matukai Adepts in the city on some errand, and, recognizing their Force-sensitivity, the Matukai took them in some time during their teen years.

Jahlel devoted his life to the Matukai lifestyle, feeling that he owed the Matukai and their leader, Bolfwé Grysloth, for their hospitality. The one exception to this was when his sister, frightened and having a hard time coping with the stringent discipline of the Matukai, ran away back to the city. When Hasla ran away, Jahlel requested permission to bring her back, but his trainer felt he wasn’t ready to do so. Feeling that his sole remaining family member was more important, he left the Matukai enclave in the wilderness of Darlyn Boda and sought out Hasla. After a week of searching, he found his sister, alone and hungry, and brought her back. It was not the last time Jahlel would make sacrifices for someone he cared about. Upon their return, Hasla was welcomed back, but Jahlel faced stern discipline for his disobedience, and he accepted the correction. He later told his sister that he would have done it again in an instant for her sake.

Jahlel continued his Matukai studies, and while records do not describe him as exceptionally talented in the Force, he did well enough to ascend to the rank of Matukai Adept. In this new role, he was assigned to help train other initiates, including his sister, Hasla Almani, and a Falleen female about Hasla’s age named Xlora. However, as Bolfwé Grysloth had come to trust Jahlel, the Matukai leader often sent him into the city of Darlyn Boda on missions or simply to learn of galactic happenings.

On one such trip to the city of Darlyn Boda, Jahlel was preparing to leave when he sensed the presence of a powerful Force-sensitive. Though the day was waning, he wandered the city, searching for the Force-sensitive individual. He finally found her in the evening, as she was being accosted by a street gang. Distracting the thugs so she could go for a weapon, he helped her defeat them in a quick fight and afterward she introduced herself a Milya Tayrce, a Jedi. He led her back through an all-night march back through the swamps of Darlyn Boda to the Matukai enclave. As it turned out, Milya was on a mission to the Matukai, bringing a message from her master, Selusda Kraen, warning the Matukai of the dangers of the newly arisen Galactic Empire and its Sith leadership, as well as an invitation to join the Jedi and several other groups of Force users in forming a refuge far from Imperial space. Bolfwé Grysloth agreed to consider her proposal, but as recompense, required Milya to stay with the Matukai and learn their ways and philosophies in the mean time. She agreed and Jahlel was pleased to add her to his training group. Jahlel put his trainees through grueling combinations of physical and mental exercise, seeking to hone their control over their bodies and encourage them to use their physical beings as channels to let the Force flow. Xlora and Milya didn’t always get along, but Jahlel did his best to keep the peace. On one occasion, when both Jahlel and Milya sensed a vision of the dark side, he took it upon himself to bring Milya before Grysloth so they could both present their findings. Grysloth initially dismissed their visions, saying he had sensed nothing, but Milya was not content with that answer. To Jahlel’s surprise and horror, she challenged Grysloth to a duel in an ancient Matukai custom used when one member believed another was endangering the entire community. Jahlel tried to tell her that her skill with the traditional Matukai weapon, the wan-shen, was nothing compared to Grysloth’s years of training, but she wouldn’t hear of it.

He was forced to stand by and watch as she engaged in combat with Grysloth, and the Matukai leader easily defeated the Jedi. She refused to give in, though, and Grysloth continued to attack her in an attempt to compel her surrender. Jahlel watched painfully as Milya was slammed into the ground repeatedly with telekinesis. He stepped into the dueling ring and confronted Grysloth, but was knocked to the ground in short order and had a blow from the shaft of Grysloth’s wan-shen delivered to his neck. Upon seeing that, Hasla also charged into the dueling ring, but Grysloth batted her aside as well. At that point, Milya made her reasoning behind the duel clear: only united could any of the three Matukai stood a chance against Grysloth, just as the Force exiles could only survive the Empire united. Grysloth saw her reasoning and ended the duel, and Jahlel was taken for medical treatment while the Matukai prepared to depart Darlyn Boda.

Before they could do so, Imperial troops attacked the Matukai enclave. Jahlel took part in the defense, though he was not fully recovered. He personally slew several Imperial soldiers, but he recognized that the compound was lost. When a ship flown by Selusda Kraen arrived to extract any remaining Matukai, Jahlel heeded the call to retreat and fell back, under Imperial fire. En route, Milya was knocked down by an explosion and Jahlel stopped to help her up. As he did so, he saw an Imperial trooper aiming a blaster at her and sensed she was too dazed to react. Pushing her aside, he took the energy bolt in the head, allowing Milya to escape. Few of the Matukai survived that day, but his sister Hasla was among them. He would later be remembered fondly by Milya, Hasla, Xlora, and the other surviving Matukai, as well as earning a place in the Hall of Heroes.

Appearances

 * Force Exile III: Liberator