The galaxy is supposed to be full of differing opinions, pupil. The Jedi Code, for instance. I treat the Code as a lifestyle. Others, like Master Kace, think of it more as...guidelines. Note how neither is more powerful than the other because of that decision. My duty is not to imbue you with a belief; rather, teach you to find your own path in every argument, be proud of it, and gain strength from it.
—Qillin Ekonani to Aarran Shan
Qillin Ekonani was a Jedi Knight who trained Aarran Shan. Born on Harruun Kal, the Force-sensitive grew up in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He raised himself, focusing on his studies rather than social skills. He gained the attention of the Council through this, but it was believed that he would not pass the Trials, as Padawans akin to him had proven to be more dark-sided in recent years. Racca Kace took him under her wing, against the Council's wishes.
Knowing of how little the Council expected him to follow the light side, he dedicated his life to not only helping people but following the Jedi Code. The Korun was an expert with a blade by the time of the first throes of the Great Galactic War.
Ekonani fought throughout the Great Galactic War alongside Racca Kace, and he witnessed her death on Bothawui. After the battle, Ekonani survived in the wilderness on Bothawui for weeks, leading guerrilla skirmishes against the dwindling Sith forces with himself as the only attacker. Eventually, he was picked up by the Republic.
Elevated to Jedi Knight, Ekonani spent many more years in the war, earning his stripes as one of the Jedi Order's most seasoned members. When he took on a Padawan, it was years later, near the end of the war. Aarran Shan was hardly a young man when he went into apprenticeship.
The new master and apprentice fought across the galaxy in the war's final years. When Aarran was elevated to Knight, Ekonani returned to the training grounds, where he became a blademaster. Aarran later came back, now with an important mission, and once more he was tasked to work alongside his former pupil.
Biography[]
Early life[]
I was born on my homeworld, but raised on Coruscant. Harruun Kal is nothing but a distant memory...
—Qillin Ekonani to his padawan
The Force-sensitive Korun was born on Harruun Kal to a pair of tribesmen, who were both friends of Jedi Diplomat Racca Kace. The Quarren Jedi Master was present at the birth, and she could immediately feel the thrum of the Force in the boy. Reluctantly, his parents gave up their son to be trained as a Jedi.
Jedi training[]
He really is strong with a blade. Taking him under my wing would be the most efficient route to increasing that power.
—Racca Kace to the Council, on the topic of Ekonani's apprenticeship
Qillin was raised in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He grew up quiet and thoughtful, well-reserved from his fellow apprentices. The Masters assumed he would take up the title of Consular, but they would later be proven wrong.
When it came time to take on a Padawan, Master Kace selected Ekonani, who she had been watching grow for years. The young Korun decided immediately to become a Jedi Guardian, desiring nothing more than to dedicate his life to protecting others through the Order.
His training went well, and he took note of the low confidence the Masters had in him to stay by the light, as he reminded them of a recently fallen Sith Lord and former Jedi. To counteract this, Ekonani devoted his life to the Jedi Code and protecting others.
When it came time to join the Great Galactic War, the two often fought alongside Master Belth Allusis, an old friend of Kace's. They fought in the campaigns on Bothawui together, battling the Sith Empire.
This was where the Korun first witnessed what he called the evil of the Sith Empire, and where he learned how they needed to be stopped. He felt the need to purge the galaxy of them, and told Kace of it. She agreed, and smiled inwardly towards her apprentice's stance.
The Second Battle of Bothawui was brutal, and not a single one of their fighters expected to come out alive. At first, Kace and Ekonani battled on the front line of defense, but soon they had to fall back.
Eventually, the Quarren master was wounded grievously. The Korun picked up his master and charged back to the rearguard, where he set her down beside the generator.
The final battle raged on just outside, and Racca Kace knew it was over when the final men, led by Allusis, fell back into the generator's room. The master told her padawan to leave, and survive in the wild until the Republic arrived.
Seeing the logic, Ekonani agreed, bidding the fighters of Bothawui farewell and charging out, cutting down several Imperials and making their last stand that much easier.
For weeks, the Korun used guerrilla tactics to take down small patrols of Sith at a time. By the time the Republic showed up, the Sith forces were scattered and few. The Jedi picked him up, and the Council were on the bridge of the cruiser to greet and congratulate him.
The Senate's representative voiced his assent, as well as one small problem involving his survival. He believed it was a chance for good propaganda if they memorialized the "Heroes of Bothawui." To do that, there had to be no survivors. He proposed that they put him under the deceased listing, which would make it so he could not receive any formal events, including a public funeral. Realizing the logic of the plan, Ekonani complied, and was forever marked down as dead.
Life as a dead man[]
Ekonani returned to the Temple and served as a lightsaber instructor for years, not wishing to return to the horrors of war just yet. Years later, he selected an apprentice, coming to terms with his demons. The two left, and went off for training.
The Temple's healer noted Aarran Shan's strong connection to the Force, and the Council informed Ekonani that his Padawan had a vital destiny ahead of him. The Korun master took this in stride, and began to teach his padawan many important lessons that would help guide him.
The two went across many worlds, fighting the Sith. Eventually, they went to Illum to construct Aarran's lightsaber; while he was given the yellow crystal of a Sentinel, he stated to Ekonani that something felt 'wrong' at the prospect of using it.
When they entered the caves, immediately the Jedi could feel a dark presence. Knowing it was Sith, he told Aarran to be on his guard.
The two were engaged by a group of Marauders almost immediately. Sentinel and Guardian fended off the group, but the pair were soon separated. Left with only a training saber, Aarran went on alone to defeat several of the Marauders and solve a riddle, unlocking a secret crystal and revealing that he was the descendant of Revan.
They soon moved on to Rhen Var, where they were stationed for a time. Darth Mekhis attacked the planet soon, pushing back the Republic's soldiers. Rallying their men, Ekonani, his Padawan, an Arkaninan Padawan, and Aarran's sister Satele led an attack.
The battle was difficult, but the Jedi got separated on their way to Darth Mekhis, leaving Ekonani with the Padawan. While the two led the attack alongside the troopers, they eventually caught up with their comrades. They saw Aarran locked in a brutal duel with Mekhis, barely holding the Sith off as Ekonani threw her aside and subdued her.
Untrained in healing techniques, it was miraculous when Aarran healed Satele's near-fatal injuries. Ekonani congratulated his Padawan, and the four returned to the Temple.
Ekonani entered the Council chamber and informed the masters of this surprising turn of events. The Council Members agreed, and told Ekonani to continue the training. Perplexed, the Korun answered with a steady 'no'. The Council, shocked that their most loyal Knight would refuse an order, asked what he meant. He, with a hint of confusion in his serene tone, rattled off the Padawan's accomplishments, one by one. It was clear to Ekonani that he deserved to be a Knight; the obvious and most logical action. Instead of rebuking, the Council exchanged glances and agreed, calling Aarran in and knighting him, making him the youngest Knight in history.
The young human stated that he was taking the Arkanian, Duuk Jevv, in as his own Padawan. The Council, even more surprised at this, explained that it was not possible to take an apprentice that quickly. Aarran responded by asking the Masters why he could not, and Ekonani knew he had trained his Padawan well and fulfilled his part in the galaxy's saga.
While Aarran and his padawan went off, Ekonani remained at the Temple, continuing to train younglings. Eventually, Aarran returned and gained his assistance in one final conflict against Darth Jethorr, and the Korun joined willingly.
The Dark Army Crisis went much better with the powerful Jedi Guardian on their side, and soon Jethorr executed his final plan and captured Aarran. His followers and companions assumed he had been killed, so Duuk Jevv took up the mantle of their leader with Ekonani at her side.
After arduous battle, they eventually beat Darth Jethorr back and he was cornered by Duuk. In his final breaths, he taunted her about Aarran's death. She succumbed to the Dark Side and crushed his body with the Force, a smile plastered on his face.
Ekonani, witness to the entire scene, was horrified. Duuk, realizing what she'd done, went into self-exile on a remote world. Ekonani assisted the group's next leader, Kisco Andraes, as the group was led into the Second Great Galactic War. Later, it was uncovered that the 'Jethorr' they had killed was only a decoy, and the real Jethorr was hidden somewhere.
Ekonani died not long after, passing away in his sleep. Kisco continued the fight without the Korun master, but he was sorely missed.
Behind the scenes[]
Qillin Ekonani is a character created by Crispin Web. The character is currently a work in progress, and it will appear in the author's upcoming fan fiction story.