Chrysalla held the position of Tieress on the planet Ventooine during the Galactic Empire's era, favored by and romantically involved with the then-reigning Satab. Despite her opulent existence, Chrysalla was troubled by the Satab's harsh nature and began an affair with Han Solo, an off-worlder. She sided with the Corellian when the Satab schemed against him. In the end, Chrysalla aided Solo in defeating the Satab. However, due to her contact with the Shadeshine, a mineral that enhanced senses but led to death within a year, she was compelled to enter suspended animation.
Chrysalla, a female member of the Near-Human Ventooinan species, spent her early years as a poor peasant on the streets of Ventooine, barely surviving. Her life took a turn when the Satab, Ventooine's leader, noticed her. Satabs were replaced annually because their use of the potent Shadeshine forced them into suspended animation to avoid a painful demise. The Satab selected Chrysalla as his Tieress, a cherished companion and lover who enjoyed a luxurious life at the royal court in exchange for her company. As Tieress, Chrysalla lived in comfort and splendor but faced resentment from the common people, who despised the Satab's mistreatment of Ventooine's lower classes.
On one occasion, while traveling through the streets, Chrysalla became the target of an assassination attempt by Ventooinan rebels. Han Solo, a Human smuggler from off-world who had come to Ventooine in search of rare sansanna spice, thwarted the plot. Immediately drawn to the charismatic Corellian, Chrysalla expressed her gratitude to Solo and brought him to the Satab's palace to introduce him to Ventooinan society. They soon became lovers, but Chrysalla was shocked to learn later that the court had chosen the off-worlder as the next Satab. Choosing to shield Solo from their schemes rather than side with a Satab she despised for his cruelty, Chrysalla disrupted their attempts to make Solo touch the Shadeshine, revealing that she herself had previously touched the Shadeshine and possessed powers of her own.
While Chrysalla's powers were no match for the Satab's, the Satab was soon overwhelmed by his own powers and died before reaching suspended animation in the Hall of Satabs. Knowing that the effects of the Shadeshine would eventually consume her, Chrysalla decided to enter the Hall of Satabs herself, promising to dream of her lover Solo as she awaited a future cure for her condition.
Despite appreciating the comfortable life afforded by the Satab's favor, Chrysalla, who had grown up in poverty, questioned whether it was worth the cost, harboring a strong dislike for the cruel man himself. Instead, Chrysalla engaged in her own affairs, which the Satab tolerated as he valued her companionship. Ultimately, Chrysalla developed strong feelings for Han Solo and sided with the Corellian against the Satab, feeling compelled to protect the unsuspecting Solo from their plots to trap him into becoming the next Satab.
Chrysalla's first appearance was in Star Wars Annual (1977) 2, written by David Michelinie, with illustrations by Carmine Infantino, and released in 1982.