The line between good and evil blurs in the darkest hour; in the black before the dawn, it's Jedi like me who are that line.
—Aarran Shan
Aarran Shan was a Human Jedi Master born on Brentaal IV in 3,670 BBY, the much-younger brother to Satele Shan.
In his early years, Aarran grew to be a strong Force-user, scaring his friends and teachers with the immense power he wielded. He was sent to the academy on Tython immediately to begin his training as a padawan.
He grew more and more over the years, showing a strong aptitude for lightsaber combat as well as potential with the Force. After a brief training his served in the Great Galactic War alongside his master. He mastered both the lightsaber form Ataru as well as the unorthodox Shien form during this time.
When he returned to Coruscant after Rhen Var's siege ended, Aarran began training with his new apprentice, having completed the Jedi Trials and more than proved himself worthy of becoming a Jedi Knight.
The two served together in the Great Galactic War and carrying into the Cold War, fighting in many of the proxy wars and eventually killing several important admirals. The two, working alongside other Jedi and troopers, fought against two dark lords and their forces. After gaining a rivalry with the stronger of the two Sith, Aarran found that the Second Great Galactic War was around the corner.
During the Battle of Balmorra, he found Darth Jethorr and dueled with him and his lackeys, his padawan aiding him. The two drove Jethorr off-world, but Aarran was blinded in the battle. Because of his talent, he was able to see through the Force, thanks to a Jedi Consular's teachings.
Unfortunately, the Sith Lords had a plan to dispose of the Jedi. Jethorr captured Aarran through the sacrifice of Poetuus, locking him in a carbonite-freezing chamber of massive proportions. He froze the Jedi, locking him away on his fortress in the Outer Rim for years.
During the Second Great Galactic War, the fortress was lost to time, overgrown, and the coordinates followed suit. Centuries later, soon after the New Jedi Order was founded, a Jedi strike team discovered the fortress. They freed Aarran, and he was welcomed into the new Order. After his past and strength was revealed, Grand Master Skywalker gave the last descendant of Revan a seat on the Council.
He met a young Jedi whom he fell in love with at the temple. Although he'd previously had an unsanctioned relationship with another Jedi, he was relieved to find that love was no longer something to warrant expulsion from the Order. The two married and each took on later padawans. Aarran became a lightsaber instructor at the Temple, mastering the forms of Makashi and Niman along with his personal variant of Ataru and Shien.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Satele Shan was born on Brentaal IV years before, the great descendent of Revan and Bastilla Shan. She went on to become a Jedi padawan and eventually a knight, believing she was the final descendant of Revan.
This was not the case. Her parents, in 3,670 BBY, contacted her with the news that she now had a younger brother, named Aarran. While the age gap was large, the two siblings functioned together well.
Jedi Training[]
Qillin Ekonani, Jedi watchman.
It was Brentaal's Jedi watchman, Qillin Ekonani who discovered his true strength in a training session. The wise Korun Jedi sensed the potential in the boy and took him to the temple on Tython. Satele vouched for her brother's skills, and the Council charged Ekonani with the boy as his padawan at the age of nine.
The watchman taught Aarran with his logical, grounded ways, although he inherited a sarcastic sort of wit that hadn't been seen in the Shan bloodline since Revan himself. He found that while he respected Ekonani, he preferred to think on his own, a fact that the watchman thoroughly basked in as an accomplishment.
The boy became stronger and stronger in the Force, learning some simple ways to focus his energy. At the padawan's sixteenth birthday, the local Jedi Healer reported that Aarran had a connection to the Force. The Council took note of this, beginning to realize that the young Jedi had an obviously important destiny, and informed Ekonani of this in order to continue his training accordingly.
Ekonani took the knowledge and ran with it, so to speak. The watchman knew that the Great Galactic War would need such powerful warriors, so he began to teach the Jedi how to build a lightsaber, however early it was. The two traveled out to Illum to collect a crystal after the rest of his hilt had been constructed. Little did Aarran know that the planet was close to what would be his long-term resting place for the years to come.
In the caves, Aarran entered alone and attempted to collect a crystal, but it was shattered when he was beset upon by Sith marauders. Defending himself with only a training blade, the padawan was able to hold his own until his master arrived, whence the two battled the Sith and pushed them out.
Aarran's saber, forged with Malthus' crystal.
Before he could collect a replacement, he encountered a vision of his ancestor, Revan. The apparition gave him a cryptic riddle to solve. In doing so, he located a secret chamber within the cave where he found the ancient blade of Malthus, Revan's padawan. Taking it, he disassembled it and rebuilt his own with Revan's. The apparition dissipated from the caverns, the torch effectively passed on.
Great Galactic War[]
Soon after their mission to Illum, Aarran and Ekonani were thrust into the heart of the war. The two fought at many of the larger battles, always at the eye of the storm in a whirlwind of destruction.
The most notable of these was Rhen Var. The two, along with Aarran's sister Satele and an Arkanian Jedi padawan, were there when Darth Mekhis thoroughly beat back the republic forces. The four Jedi rallied the remnants and began to fight back against Mekhis' army. Satele and Aarran separated from Ekonani and the padawan, the former attacking Mekhis herself. Satele was grievously injured, and Aarran was forced to fight against the Sith Lord himself. He was able to use the Force to incapacitate her just as Ekonani arrived.
Satele's injury had progressed during the duel. Luckily, Aarran, untrained in healing techniques, used his pure Force talent to heal her. Ekonani, witness to the whole scenario, congratulated his padawan and the four returned to Coruscant.
While Ekonani presented the situation to the Council, the padawan and Aarran discussed outside. He discovered that she'd lost her master on Rhen Var, and didn't know what she would do next.
When Ekonani called Revan's descendant into the chamber, the Council revealed that they had decided he had finished his training. Aarran became a Jedi Knight. His first statement was that he was taking the padawan, Duuk Jevv, as his own. While the Council balked for the most part,a few masters agreed with the decision, and Ekonani gave his former padawan a vote of confidence, becoming the youngest Jedi Knight of all time so far. He took on his first apprentice and began to instruct her.
Training Duuk[]
Duuk Jevv in torn robes.
The young Arkanian proved to be no better than average in the Force, but showed a knack for combat. While they still had a sturdy bond, Duuk didn't approve in the slightest of her master's casual and joking attitude, instead adhering very closely to the Jedi Code and causing Aarran to jab her often about 'loosening up'.
After her discovered talent with a training saber, he saw no reason in prolonging her training and took her to Illum. The two stuck together as the master had learned his lesson, and Duuk constructed a pair of blue lightsabers which she wielded in a traditional fashion. This was one of the most rushed trainings of the Jedi Order's history, taking course over a month; Duuk continued to learn more later on, albeit through their adventures. The speed at which she gained her lightsabers would cost Duuk, and the Arkanian never would reach her full potential.
The Sacking of Coruscant[]
Aarran and Duuk returned home just in time to see it be destroyed. The former held a brief meeting with Ven Zallow, a Jedi Master in the Temple on Coruscant, and he meditated with him per his request.
Through the Force bond Zallow had hastily and temporarily forged, the two discussed in a small world the wise master had constructed in their collective minds, resembling a field on Brentaal Aarran frequented to meditate. They spoke about Duuk, the War and the definition of the Light Side. Aarran was perplexed by the sense of calm he received during their conversation; a feeling he hadn't known for a long time. Zallow eventually brought up his lineage, and the Knight was unable to say more than that it had been confirmed he carried Revan's blood. Zallow mused on this comment and the two sat together in silence for a few more minutes of peace.
The two were knocked out of their concentration by Duuk and T7-01, Zallow's droid. A Sith Lord and his Twi'lek accomplice had entered the temple. Zallow grabbed Duuk and her master and the three headed to the entrance.
The sith forces disembarking.
Duuk, Aarran and Zallow, accompanied by three other knights, approached the temple Precinct, lightsabers drawn. A congregation of padawans and youths had formed overhead, watching as Zallow led them up to the Sith.
The lord, revealed as Darth Malgus, stared down Zallow. A stolen Republic shuttle crashed into the temple, skidding to a halt just behind Malgus. The door opened, revealing a cadre of Sith warriors.
The battle ensued, Zallow and Malgus dueling. Aarran and Duuk fought in tandem, the former fighting against Adraas and nearly winning if not for his padawan's defeat.
Duuk had injured Malgus' Twi'lek slave, and as a result the Sith lord had turned his wrath towards the Arkanian. Aarran leapt forward and protected his padawan, pushing Malgus back towards Zallow where the two continued to duel.
Eventually, Aarran watched Zallow lose the duel, impaled on the Sith Lord's blade. His heart sinking, he realized that they had to escape and he fled with Duuk.
The Cold War[]
The two retreated to Tython following the Treaty of Coruscant, continuing Duuk's training. Satele soon became the Grand Master of the Order, a fact that made Aarran simultaneously jealous and pleased.
Aarran continued his ways as a Gray Jedi, influenced heavily by both his ancestor, Revan, and his mentor, Jolee Bindo. Duuk often told him that his distance from the Council and unorthodox methods were the only things standing in the way between him and his own seat there. He disregarded this, dismissing the Arkanian padawan to 'worry too much' about him.
Discovery[]
The duo were contacted by Jedi Master Oteg. He specifically inquired about the two, and wanted them to join up with an elite strike team for a mission to Taral V. The team was sent to rescue a Jedi Master vital to the war effort; one quite important to Aarran himself.
Once they retrieved a Gree key and unlocked the master, it was revealed to be Revan. Nearly instantly, he could sense his personal connection to the young Jedi, and the two briefly (and cryptically, to the other team members) conversed about their shared blood. Revan returned to the Council, personally escorted by Aarran.
Kira and the Hero of Tython[]
Kisco Andraes, Jedi Guardian.
Master and padawan served on many fronts during the Cold War, working alongside the future Barsen'thor and another Jedi knight by the name of Kisco Andraes. Kisco and his companions, who had defeated the Sith Emperor, decided to stick around with them, and the three became a nigh-unstoppable force.
Kisco eventually introduced Aarran and Duuk to his padawan Kira Carsen. Aarran found himself immensely attracted to her, and the two had a small, hidden relationship. In the coming months, the two would sneak off to continue their forbidden involvement. Kira had to leave, saddening Aarran greatly, as she was called into service with Kisco across the galaxy. He wished her luck and, in private, gave her one more kiss.
Meeting Jethorr[]
The Sith Fortress on Bogden.
A year or so in to the war, they were sent to Bogden to investigate a supposed Sith disturbance. A quick scout of the ground coordinates showed an Imperial castle, far too fortified to be handled by the two of them.
Kisco met up with them in orbit, and they boarded his ship in order to strategize. They contacted Admiral Yharn, who offered some support from a nearby base—in time. Luckily, Kisco devised a strategy: Duuk, Kira and Aarran would enter the base from a hidden landing pad while the rest of Kisco's companions led a distraction assault on the front gate.
The plan worked well, until the trio ran into a pair of Sith lords in charge of the castle's operations. The two battled the three in a brutal combat, when the Inquistor realized the connection between Kira and Aarran, deciding to use it against them. Kira was hurled out of a window where she hung from the edge. Aarran was distracted in saving her and Duuk was defeated soundly, where the pair of Sith lords escaped.
The castle was destroyed thereafter by Yharn's bombers. The Inquisitor was called Darth Jethorr, and he, along with his partner Lord Poetuus, became Aarran's worst enemies.
They waged war against each other across the galaxy, each vying to get an advantage over the other. Jethorr was a merciless Inquisitor and ruthless backstabber, cunning and clever. Poetuus, on the other hand, was the brute force of the duo, not caring about tactics but being simply powerful enough to force his way through problems. This made Jethorr the more dangerous of the two by far.
In the second duel with Jethorr on Balmorra, Aarran found they hadn't been much more prepared. Duuk was quickly overwhelmed by his lightning, and Aarran engaged him in a brutal lightsaber match. Just as it seemed the gray Jedi was about to win, Jethorr used the Force to move a table slightly, distracting him long enough for the Inquisitor to slash across his eyes and escape, as Duuk attacked him brutally. She escorted her master to medical attention, where they discovered he'd been blinded.
Recovery[]
Garak Jodonias.
The road to recovery for Aarran was one not previously traversed. His confidence crushed, he sloped into depression. He sent Duuk out, now a full Knight, until he found a way to lead her against Jethorr. Without his intervention and his comrades' morale wavering, Jethorr was able to wreak havoc.
Luckily, someone was able to help, and in doing so, saved the lives of countless innocents. Jedi Consular Garak Jodonias, a Miraluka, was able to teach a being with as much of an innate Force talent as Aarran to see through the Force as his people do. Aarran soon regained his sight, donning a cloth over his eye sockets and thanking Garak profusely. The Consular thanked his temporary student for allowing him the privilege to teach once more. He decided to join in the fight against The Dark Army, no matter the cost.
The Dark Army Crisis[]
Aarran about to breach a Dark Army fort.
Duuk returned from a scouting mission on Sembla with urgent news. The Council called both Garak and his latest trainee into the chambers for a meeting of the utmost importance.
The Arkanian padawan had discovered Jethorr's mission: to target civilians in order to draw the Jedi away from the primary war. Satele tasked Aarran and his followers to staying away from him due to their history, and focusing on the greater threat presented by Malgus. Her brother, much to the Council's shock, questioned her authority openly, telling her - honestly, not arrogantly - that they were needed to defeat him. She shook off his brazen comments and ordered him to go.
As soon as they'd boarded Kisco's ship, Aarran explained that they were going to fight against Jethorr at all costs.
The Dark Army Crisis began on Taris. The Inquisitor planned on leading an attack against the restoration effort there, and in particular assassinate Governor Suresh. Gathering limited resources and his own forces, Aarran devised a strategy that allowed him to defend the compound and fend off the Dark Army forces.
Capture[]
The war against Jethorr continued, Duuk and the others following Aarran across the galaxy.
Unfortunately, the Sith had a plan to end their conflict. In the year 3,641 BBY, during a jump in between systems, Poetuus' flagship trapped Kisco's vessel in the tractor beam. The Sith Lord himself led a boarding party with one goal: the capture of Revan's descendant.
Realizing the futility of the situation, he ordered the others to escape while he held Poetuus at bay. Kisco, seeing the necessity, dragged Duuk with him to the escape pods. Kira had one last, passionate kiss with her lover, unhidden, before retreating. Garak refused to leave his latest student, claiming it was his destiny to stand at his side.
When Poetuus stormed through the door, the two Jedi engaged in a duel with the Sith. The juggernaut used a blast of lightning to knock Garak aside and grievously injure the Miraluka. Aarran, using the forms he'd mastered, brought the Sith Lord to his knees. He brought his blade down and killed the Sith Lord—just as Jethorr arrived.
Aarran had his back to the door. However, Garak's eyes met the Sith's, and he called up all of his willpower to fling himself at the Inquisitor long enough to save the Jedi Knight's life. Almost casually, the Inquisitor bisected the Miraluka, and Aarran rose up.
Jethorr, while regularly not a match for the Knight, defeated the exhausted Aarran with ease, taking the man captive.
Comatose[]
Aarran was brought to a secret facility on an uncharted planet near Illum, Poetuus and Jethorr's sanctum: the Dark Fortress. Keeping the powerful Jedi in binds, he was brought into a carbon-freezing chamber of gargantuan proportions.
Bidding his nemesis farewell, the Sith placed Revan's ancestor into the chamber, putting him into an eternal rest.
As the Second Galactic War waged on, the Dark Fortress was forgotten for years. It became overgrown, and eventually the Republic forgot the world ever existed. Aarran lay in his intended tomb for years, none the wiser to the goings-on around him.
Revival[]
Centuries passed, and eventually the New Jedi Order was formed. Grandmaster Luke Skywalker sent expeditions out to the forgotten planets to find new things in the time of peace a decade before the Yuuzhan Vong War.
One such team uncovered the Dark Fortress. The team fought their way through the ancient defenses laid in the way by Jethorr and uncovered the massive carbon freezing prison. Accidentally, they awoke Aarran, who emerged the same age he'd been going in.
He, startled and unsure of what was happening, engaged the other Jedi and defeated them with the Force, only stopped by Kyle Katarn's intervention. Katarn talked Aarran down and heard his side of the story, electing to bring him back before the new Council.
Aarran's arrival at the Temple had been anticipated weeks in advance. Skywalker himself escorted Revan's descendant off the shuttle and into the chambers. After a brief evaluation, Katarn vouched for his skills. Archivist Tionne Solusar verified the tale, and asked Aarran to help elaborate on some of the missing details of history. Skywalker offered the young man a seat on the Council, which he accepted without hesitation.
Unfortunately, Aarran's original lightsaber was missing when he awoke in the Dark Fortress, assumed to be lying with Jethorr. Instead of hunting for his former blade, he planned on forging a new, more unique weapon. Until he could do so, he was given an age-old blade, a purple saber used by Meetra Surik.
Marriage[]
So."
"Huh? Oh, it's you."
"Yes, don't think I've abandoned you, Aarran. Congratulations, but a word of advice? Don't ever let her go."
"Thanks, Rev. Means a lot.
—Revan's spirit and Aarran conversing outside of the wedding celebration on Taris
Aarran Shan, the Prodigal Knight.
Not long after, Aarran met a beautiful young woman by the name of Kylis. Almost immediately, he fell in love with her and sought advice from the other Council members. To his relief, Skywalker's new rules did not forbid marriage or love, and the young man made a move to get closer to the Jedi.
A year later, the two were married in the Jedi Temple, and Kylis picked up the Shan surname. The wedding was proceeded over by Jedi Master Dyl Krayt, one of Aarran's close friends. During the following celebration, Revan's force-ghost spoke his approval.
Jedi service[]
The Jedi've been through a lot over the years, Natasi. Can I call you Natasi? Well, I'm gonna. *pours a glass of Corellian Rum* Point is, you can't shut us down for long. You're only a small roadblock...ma'am.
—Aarran Shan to Chief of State Daala
Aarran continued to serve on the Council. He eventually picked up an apprentice, a Lorrdian named Lore Paradasca. The Lorrdian was not particularly strong, lagging behind other students but talented with negotiations. He became a jedi ambassador and a watchman of his homeworld.
Aarran befriended Vohr, the similarly fiery-spirited Whipid who had been apprenticed to Vec Andraes. The two fought together in many conflicts, particularly during the Yuuhzan Vong War.
Personality and traits[]
Aarran had a powerful sense of humor, which gave him many friends. He got along with almost everyone he met. He had a habit of not adhering to the strict Jedi Code, making him somewhat of a precursor to the modern gray jedi and a role model of Qui-Gon Jinn.
Aarran's greatest weakness was his inability to see a situation maturely, often overconfident in his abilities; sometimes rightfully so. Ironically, it was only after Jethorr blinded him that he was able to 'see' situations like someone his age should, and with maturity he became one of the younger Jedi Masters. Partly to be symbolic, Aarran often wore his blindfold given to him by Garak after his, though also to prove that he didn't need his eyes.
Aarran was under the firm belief that power should be used for good. This made him disagree with the Jedi Council on many occasions. This likely stemmed from Revan's similar way of thinking.
All habits and flaws aside, Aarran was a competent mentor, if not teacher. Duuk went on after the loss of her master to defeat most of Jethorr's forces, avenging Aarran's disappearance with the skills she was taught.
One of the traits that gave him the early Council seat was his strong sense of duty and honor, compassion and morals. In several duels, he allowed his opponent to escape, including a few with Poetuus. One of the things Skywalker truly lacked was a pure moral compass, someone who had seen the best and worst the galaxy has to offer and could clear the muddied waters when. Ironically, when Skywalker sent the strike team to the Dark Fortress, he went to Dagobah to meditate on it. Yoda's spirit spoke to him, telling him that 'his eyes would be blind'.
Skywalker returned home, confused until the strike team brought Aarran in. Immediately, he knew that his 'eyes', the man who would help him 'see', had come to him. Aarran had lived through enough to seem old, much as the Jedi Exile had been described by Mira, and was wise beyond his years when he wanted to be.
Powers and abilities[]
Aarran's second lightsaber, and his preferred.
Aarran showed an exceptional amount of prowess with both the Force and his unorthodox lightsaber form. The former is likely an inherent talent, for his great ancestors, but the latter comes from months of training. He felt calm and at peace when using his saber and customized his second blade to make it unique and represent him. His talents with the Force mostly ended with telekinesis and mind tricks, along with the inherent ability to read others' thoughts.
Aarran, in the New Jedi Order, became one of the Temple's finest swordsmen. While a master in Niman, Shien and Makashi, he preferred to use Ataru and incorporate acrobatics. With his ingenuity, he created his own personalized form of Ataru, using surprise among other things to defeat his enemies.
Behind the scenes[]
This article is a work in progress by Crispin Web. It will be finished over time, as well as other characters receiving their own pages.
Aarran Shan is a character created by Crispin Web to be able to continue 'his Revan's' story into The Old Republic. After creating the character after seeing the cinematic trailers, Web decided he liked Aarran so much he wanted to carry him to his favorite era, post-GCW New Republic, as well.
The original idea to explain his youth millennia later was that he was so strong in the Force, he was able to put himself into a sort of Force coma where he stayed alive and at a static age. Over time, the creator decided this was a poorly-written idea, and implemented Darth Jethorr's carbon freezing machination.