Astaal Vilbum (Jedi Renaissance)

"Understand, please, as Caretaker of the Tower of First Knowledge, my responsibilities include all of the old lore."

- Astaal Vilbum to Mace Windu

Astaal Vilbum was a male Baragwin Jedi Master serving the Jedi Order throughout the century preceding the Golden Age of the Jedi. As the Caretaker of First Knowledge, Vilbum led the Council of First Knowledge and protected the Order's vast collection of holocrons and ancient scrolls safeguarded within the Coruscant Jedi Temple's many vaults.

Early life
Astaal Vilbum was a Force-sensitive Baragwin and a member of the Jedi Order.

Safeguarding the Order's treasures
Following this success, Vilbum was appointed the role of Caretaker of First Knowledge, replacing the recently deceased predecessor. Taking his seat on the Council of First Knowledge, Vilbum was eager to lead the five-member body and begin presiding over the Holocron Chamber within the Tower of First Knowledge. Acquainting himself with all of the holocrons within the Order's vaults took many years, and his meditations were known to last weeks at a time. During the first few years of his term as Caretaker, Vilbum would call upon the guidance of Grand Master Yoda to help him in his work.

In 30 BBY, Vilbum presided over the activation of the holocron of Dark Jedi Volfe Karkko, an event which had not occurred over the life-spans of the past thirteen Caretakers. Summoning High Council member and Master of the Order Mace Windu to the Holocron Chamber, Vilbum informed Windu of the details of the holocron and its potential ramifications toward Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos, who was undertaking a mission to Kiffex, the world upon which Karkko was imprisoned. The fact that these events coincided made Vilbum uneasy, and he feared that the young Knight would be ill prepared to face the horrors that awaited him. Windu disagreed, however, stating his faith in Vos and the other Jedi that would assist him.

Powers and abilities
Astaal Vilbum received his initial training at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, ensuring that he possessed a standard understanding of the Force, and its applications. Having achieved the rank of Knight, Vilbum was also proficient with a lightsaber, having crafted one himself and imbuing it with a green crystal discovered in the caves of Ilum. Despite this Vilbum never raised his weapon in battle, though he did maintain his lightsaber technique as a meditative exercise. Developing his skills as a Consular, Vilbum was a gifted scholar and had a near perfect recall on that which he studied.