381 BBY, also known as 381 Before the Battle of Yavin, represents a specific year within the 'ABY-BBY' dating system and falls squarely within the period of the High Republic Era. During this particular year, the relationship between the Galactic Republic and the Togruta species was marked by lingering tensions, a direct consequence of the preceding Republic-Togruta conflict. Concurrently, around this time, Marda Ro, the Evereni individual who initiated the formation of a pirates group that would evolve into the Nihil, embarked on her search for other members of her own kind, leading her to visit the planet of Dantooine, where she eventually recruited the Twi'lek named Fori Nagor to join her band of raiders.
The year 381 BBY was first brought to light, though not explicitly, in Star Wars: The High Republic: Chronicles of the Jedi. This reference book, authored by Cole Horton, was released on February 28, 2023, as part of the broader Star Wars: The High Republic project involving multiple media formats. Subsequently, it was featured in a flashback sequence within the short story "A Closed Fist Has No Claws," penned by Tessa Gratton and included in the young-adult anthology The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life. This anthology was released on September 5, 2023, and also contributed to the overall multimedia project.