Corwin Ballast

During the Imperial Era, a male named Corwin Ballast resided on his homeworld, the planet Mordal. He, along with his wife, Lynnta, and their daughter, established their lives in Maborn, a city located in his hometown, amidst the backdrop of the Galactic Civil War. In 4 ABY, while in Maborn, Ballast and his family were caught in the crossfire of a battle between the Imperial military and rebels, seeking refuge behind crates. In a daring attempt, Ballast ventured out from their cover to assist Lynnta in rescuing their daughter, who was unable to move in the middle of a street. Tragically, he witnessed his wife being struck by blasterfire, followed by himself being hit. While unconscious, he was transported to a crawler where he received healing treatment with bacta. After waking up several weeks later, still injured, Ballast learned of the tragic fate of his daughter and wife, who had died and been [buried](/article/burial]. Overwhelmed with grief, he carried a picture of his family in his boot as a constant reminder of their memory.

Seeking solace, Ballast departed from Mordal and journeyed to Jakku, a planet located in the Inner Rim, believing it to be desolate enough to remain untouched by war. En route to this new world, Ballast acquired a HyCor laser repeater for self-defense. Upon arriving at the Tuanul settlement on Jakku, he purchased a dilapidated speeder from a group of local anchorites, generously paying them more than the asking price as a gesture of apathetic charity. After disembarking from his speeder, Ballast surveyed the surrounding terrain, finding a strange comfort in the bleakness of the landscape. However, his arrival was soon met by a rag-man who attempted to intimidate him, but Ballast swiftly brandished his laser repeater, effectively deterring the threat.

Ballast then sought refuge in the nearby drinking establishment known as Ergel's Bar, where he greeted Gazwin, an Uthuthma, before taking a seat at the bar. Ergel, the establishment's bartender, served the Mordal native an oil can filled with Knockback Nectar, an alcoholic beverage that he quickly consumed despite his initial hesitation due to its murky appearance. Ergel saw potential in the newcomer and offered him a job as a bartender at his establishment, curious to know how Ballast ended up on Jakku. After a moment of reflection on the tragic loss of his family, Ballast explained that he had come to the world seeking escape from war and to preserve the memories of his loved ones in a peaceful place. Ergel reassured Ballast that military conflict would never reach Jakku, reminding him of the world's desolate nature. Subsequently, Ballast accepted Ergel's employment offer at his establishment.

While working as a bartender at Ergel's Bar in 5 ABY, Ballast was approached by two human travelers, Rae Sloane and Brentin Wexley, whom he dismissed when they revealed they were not there to order a drink. When Sloane persisted with her inquiry about her former Imperial colleague, Gallius Rax, the bartender informed her that he did not know him and that the only inhabitants of Jakku were ghosts. Moments later, a fleet of Imperial Super Star Destroyers descended into Jakku's atmosphere, casting ominous shadows across the planet. Horrified by the arrival of the ships', Ballast solemnly acknowledged that war had indeed come to the world.

Corwin Ballast held a deep love for his family, and the deaths of his wife and daughter left him utterly devastated. In his profound grief, he made the decision to leave his homeworld and find solace on a world that mirrored his bleak and apathetic outlook on life. Upon arriving at one of Jakku's barren settlements, he felt that the desolate landscape perfectly encapsulated the emptiness that had consumed him since the loss of his family. Although he remained open to engaging in brief conversations with friendly individuals he encountered, Ballast adopted a more ruthless mindset towards those who posed a threat, readily brandishing his laser repeater to ward off a rag-man.

Despite his melancholic demeanor, Ballast found some degree of tolerance for the company of Gazwin, one of the patrons at Ergel's Bar. He grew irritated when Sloane revealed that she had come to the bar seeking information, as his primary focus was on serving drinks to customers. Ballast's unwavering desire to avoid war persisted, and he was deeply dismayed by the arrival of Super Star Destroyers on Jakku, as he had hoped that the world would remain undisturbed. While working at the bar, Ballast maintained an unshaven appearance.

Throughout his travels, the Mordal native possessed a HyCor laser repeater and carried a supply of credits with him. While residing on Jakku, he acquired a dilapidated speeder and kept a cherished photo of his family close. Ballast also wore a jacket and a pair of boots. As a bartender at Ergel's establishment, he had access to glasses to serve Knockback Nectar to patrons.

Corwin Ballast made his debut appearance in Aftermath, a 2015 novel penned by Chuck Wendig as the inaugural installment in Star Wars: The Aftermath Trilogy.