Elzar Mann

Born in the era of the High Republic, Elzar Mann was initiated into the Jedi Order at a young age and subsequently taken to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant for training in the ways of the Force. During his formative years as a youngling and later as a Padawan, he developed friendships with fellow apprentices Avar Kriss and Stellan Gios. These three Jedi maintained their bond for decades after their training concluded. As Padawans, the trio frequently indulged in pastries from Tal-Iree's, a Coruscant eatery, complementing their treats with diluted mead. The friendship between Mann and Kriss was especially profound, leading them to share an intimate relationship during their Padawan years. This connection fostered a bond that enabled them to perceive each other's emotions without verbal communication. Their relationship, characterized by a youthful inclination to break rules, progressed to the point where they spent at least one night together in Kriss's quarters. While both Kriss and Mann expressed flirtatious interest in Gios, he did not reciprocate. Jedi Emerick Caphtor speculated that Gios might have been involved in the friendship's intimate aspects.

In addition to their training at the Temple, Jedi apprentices of that period were deployed to serve in Jedi outposts located on the frontier, beyond the jurisdiction of the Galactic Republic. The Jedi played a crucial role in supporting exploration and settlement in this region. Upon completing his training, Mann attained the rank of Jedi Knight, at which point he and Kriss ended their romantic involvement, mutually agreeing to remain solely as friends, given their Jedi commitments. However, while Gios and Kriss eventually advanced to become Jedi Masters, Mann remained a Knight, despite his strong desire for Mastery. His experimentation with the Force had made him a controversial figure, and while these experiments led to the rediscovery of lost Force techniques, his approach alienated many. He was seen as unreliable and challenging to collaborate with, even among his fellow Jedi.

In 232 BBY, Mann was among the Jedi assigned to the dedication ceremony for Starlight Beacon, a massive station constructed as part of Chancellor Lina Soh's Great Works initiative. Its purpose was to facilitate travel in the Outer Rim, particularly in areas yet to be explored by Republic pioneers. When the Legacy Run was forcibly ejected from hyperspace, its debris began to materialize in realspace, posing a threat to star systems throughout the Outer Rim. This event became known as the Great Hyperspace Disaster. The majority of the Legacy Run appeared within the Hetzal system. The Jedi contingent, aboard their Vector starfighters, mobilized to provide assistance, connected through Master Avar Kriss's Force abilities. True to form, Mann piloted his Vector independently, heading to aid a medical site situated closer to the system's three suns.

When Kriss sensed a fragment of the Legacy Run containing liquid tibanna gas canisters heading towards the largest of Hetzal's three suns, she implored all Jedi involved in the rescue to use the Force to divert the fragment. This was a formidable task, even for numerous Jedi. Mann, positioned alone on a promontory overlooking a pharm containing a scarce miracle drug, bacta, joined Kriss's call. He endured the strain, combining his power with that of his fellow Jedi to shift the fragment's trajectory. After initially losing track of the tibanna's location, Jedi from across the galaxy, even as far as Coruscant, sensed the events unfolding in the Hetzal system and joined the effort. The strain of moving the tibanna proved fatal for some Jedi, such as Jedi Knight Rah Barocci, while others, like Master Te'Ami, fainted from exhaustion. Ultimately, Mann, Kriss, and the other Jedi succeeded in redirecting the tibanna away from the sun, preventing the complete annihilation of the Hetzal system.

Despite the Jedi and the Republic Defense Coalition's efforts to save the Hetzal system, the Great Disaster was far from over. Multiple additional Emergences threatened systems and ships throughout the outlying regions. Concurrently, the Jedi Council tasked Avar Kriss with investigating the origins of the Great Disaster, as well as identifying and preventing future Emergences. Kriss chose Mann as her partner for this mission. Although unspoken, Mann suspected that Kriss selected him partly to demonstrate to the Council that he was ready to ascend to the rank of Jedi Master, a position he had long desired, as it would grant him greater autonomy in his Force studies.

Mann and Kriss were present in the Hetzal system aboard the Third Horizon, an Emissary-class cruiser from the RDF peacekeeping fleet, as the wreckage of the Legacy Run was being collected to determine how much of the ship remained unaccounted for. By this point, eighteen Emergences had occurred around the Outer Rim, with the most recent near Dantooine. The sight of the Legacy Run in such disarray reminded Mann of a ghost ship, a sentiment he kept to himself out of respect for the numerous lives lost. The two Jedi met with Keven Tarr, a young slicer from the Hetzalian Ministry of Technology whose efforts during the Disaster had been recognized. Also present were Secretary of Transportation Jeffo Lorillia and Senator Izzet Noor, who were discussing Tarr's current findings. Senator Noor, who already opposed Soh's decision to close hyperspace lanes, expressed frustration at the limited data available. Kriss reassured him that the investigation was just beginning, but her words did little to assuage his concerns, as Noor revealed reports of hoarding on several worlds affected by the shipping lane closures. He criticized the Jedi for being in Hetzal instead of finding the cause of the Great Disaster.

When Mann inquired whether he believed someone was responsible for the disaster, rather than it being an accident, the senator directed his anger at him, demanding to know why he was present, given his absence from the initial meeting convened by the Chancellor. Kriss defended Mann's selection as her partner, highlighting his crucial role in preventing further losses on Hetzal, which did little to appease the senator. Mann, believing in the importance of remembering one's humanity regardless of status, silenced Noor by placing his hand over his mouth, an action that stunned those present. Kriss defended Mann's selection, noting that while she excelled at identifying problems, he was adept at finding unique solutions.

Tarr, who had successfully mapped the trajectory of several Legacy Run fragments during the Great Disaster, proposed replicating his achievement on a larger scale: creating a virtual map of the trajectory of every unaccounted piece of the freighter. Mann found this to be an impressive idea that should be pursued. Tarr clarified that it would be incredibly difficult, requiring thousands of navidroids to power the projection, more than he had available. While Tarr and Secretary Lorillia worked on securing sufficient droids, Kriss believed she and Mann should investigate whether the Great Disaster was caused by a problem in hyperspace. Noor suggested they meet with members of the San Tekka clan, a family of galactic explorers who had amassed wealth by prospecting uncharted areas and mapping hyperspace routes. Mann and Kriss departed for Naboo to meet with the family's leaders, Marlowe and Vellis.

By the time Mann and Kriss arrived on Naboo, another Emergence had occurred in the Ringlite system, and Chancellor Soh had expanded the hyperspace blockade to prevent further disasters, making it even more urgent to find a solution. In the Naboo Lake Country, Mann and Kriss visited the [San Tekka estate](/article/san_tekka_compound]. While waiting for their hosts, who were attending to urgent matters, they observed a nearby island. Mann informed Kriss that it was called Varykino and served as a retreat for artists, such as the poet Omar Berenko. While sampling the San Tekkas' attar of spinsilk, he mused that Varykino would be an ideal place for them to retire in quiet contemplation once they were too old for the Order, envisioning himself learning to catch fish with the Force.

After a lengthy wait, Marlowe San Tekka, the head of the clan, and his husband Vellis joined the Jedi on the patio. Mann and Kriss informed them of the Great Disaster's consequences and described Keven Tarr's idea, for which they agreed to provide the necessary navidroids. Seeking further insight, Mann asked if they had any theories about the disaster and provided a datachip containing the Republic Transport Bureau's primary theory, based on analysis of the Legacy Run's wreckage. The theory suggested the Legacy Run had collided with an object in hyperspace. Marlowe vehemently denied this possibility, citing the nature of hyperspace, on which the San Tekkas were the foremost experts. He proposed that the Legacy Run's destruction was due to mutiny or a malfunction. Mann, however, sensed that Marlowe was withholding information. He considered using the mind touch, a Force technique he preferred to call "the mind trick," but Kriss mentally stopped him, having sensed his deduction and intent through their Force bond. The meeting concluded shortly afterward. As the Jedi returned to their Longbeam cruiser, Mann expressed frustration at being unable to uncover the San Tekkas' secret. Kriss reassured him that they had still made progress and could return to uncover the secret if it proved relevant.

Sometime after meeting with the San Tekkas, Mann and Kriss returned to the Hetzal system to meet with Keven Tarr on a plateau of the Rooted Moon. Thanks to the San Tekkas' assistance (including navidroids and twelve navulators) and the efforts of Secretary Lorillia, Senator Noor, and specialists from as far as Byss and Kuat, Tarr had assembled 57,817 droids to power his Emergence projection. The atmosphere was tense, as the hyperspace blockade had sparked protests from Outer Rim worlds, despite Chancellor Soh's allowance of aid shipments.

More immediately, while Tarr's array was advanced enough to map future Emergences, he had failed to adequately address the heat generated by the thousands of navidroids. Despite the moon's cool temperatures, the air could not dissipate the heat fast enough to prevent overheating. Tarr deployed pill droids to cool the units, but it was insufficient to prevent fifty droids from sparking as they displayed the nineteenth Emergence. As Tarr panicked, Mann and Kriss approached him. Kriss tried to reassure the slicer while inquiring about the situation.

As more nodes failed, Kriss sought ideas from Mann to cool the array. The Jedi Knight, relying on an untested theory, said he had an idea. He told Kriss she would sense his intent and should assist if possible, as he doubted he could succeed alone. Mann sat on the ground and called on the Force. Kriss eventually sensed his plan and, despite thinking it impossible, sat beside him and combined her power with his. Mann began communing with the air, urging the hot air to rise faster to where the cold air was, preventing the navidroids from overheating. They created air currents to push the heated air into the cool atmosphere, where the moisture evaporated. The effort was difficult, but Mann felt it was easier with Kriss, as she understood him well enough to follow him without question. Nevertheless, the two Jedi pushed themselves to exhaustion, forming a single point of condensed moisture, hoping the moon's weather system would take over. They persisted, and eventually, their plan worked as a large dark cloud appeared above the plateau. Soon after, rain began, drenching the droids and cooling them enough for Tarr to finish the simulation. With the Jedi's help, a precise projection of the Emergences was drawn, bringing the Republic task force closer to solving the Great Disaster.

Thanks to information from one of the Legacy Run's survivors, combined with data from the ship's flight recorder, the Jedi and the Republic determined that the Great Disaster was caused by a collision with another ship. The Emergences task force convened on the Third Horizon to brief Chancellor Soh, along with the San Tekkas and Senator Noor. The San Tekkas again asserted that such a collision was impossible, and Mann again sensed they were withholding information. This time, Kriss sensed it too, and they confirmed their suspicions with a glance and a shrug. Despite their secrets, the San Tekkas had proven invaluable in determining the trajectory of the Emergences.

During the briefing, Kriss confirmed that the ship was identified as belonging to the Nihil marauders, who had exploited the Great Disaster to prey on the Outer Rim. When the chancellor asked if the Nihil had caused the cataclysm on purpose, Mann said it was unlikely, as the ship was armed and could have easily taken the Legacy Run rather than cause it to crash. Instead, the freighter had tried to evade the ship and had torn itself apart in the attempt. Despite the assumption that the Nihil were a small band of marauders, Mann insisted it was an accident. Regardless, it was decided that the Nihil would be brought to justice.

This led to a Republic fleet, led by Admiral Kronara, assembling in the Kur Nebula to await Nihil ships expected to arrive due to an upcoming emergence. Mann was on the Ataraxia, the Jedi's starship, awaiting to see if his assistance would be needed. Shortly after the battle began, Kronara requested Jedi assistance to gain an advantage. Mann joined the Vector Squadron, which included Stellan Gios, Nib Assek, Mikkel Sutmani, Sskeer, and Jora Malli. Kriss used the Force to connect with them as they entered their ships. Mann followed Malli in a Drift formation to engage the enemy ships. On the way, the Nihil repeatedly jumped in and out of hyperspace, causing chaos and the death of at least ten Jedi. Mann and the other vectors remained connected to Kriss and found their way through the Force. Mann followed Kriss's guidance throughout the battle, gaining a better understanding of how to destroy enemy ships. He also sensed the intense anger emanating from the Nihil ships, making them easier targets. In the end, they defeated the Nihil fleet in an event later known as the Battle of Kur.

Upon the completion of Starlight Beacon, Mann, Kriss, and Gios toured the facility. They wondered who would lead the station after Jora Malli's death but decided it was beneath them to gossip. Before the dedication ceremony, Mann learned that the Council intended to elevate him to Jedi Master. He was elated, finally free to explore the Force's potential without restriction. After the ceremony, Mann and Kriss took a private walk, where she told him the Jedi had asked her to be Starlight's marshal. They lamented that they would not see each other often, as Mann intended to stay on Coruscant, but agreed to stay in touch now that Chancellor Soh had improved communication with her comm relay project. Wanting to attend the reception, Kriss asked Mann to dance. He asked her to go ahead, as he wanted to enjoy the view of the facility. Alone, Mann was plagued by terrible visions of the future, seeing his friends mutilated and losing unwinnable battles. Horrified, he fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the visions. He did not understand what he saw but sensed that it was inevitable and centered on fear.

The rest of the evening was a blur for Mann. Unable to shake the horrifying images, he drank too much Kattadan rosé. While dancing with Kriss, he leaned in too closely, publicly. Kriss gently pushed him away, leading to a private argument about their relationship. Mann would not see Kriss often after this, and their interactions became distant.

Mann spent the next months meditating on the visions or researching the Archives in the Jedi Temple. Now a master, the Council assigned him to be marshal of the Jedi outpost on Valo on the edge of the Rseik system. Reluctant to go, Mann consulted the Ga'Garen Codex and learned about the Isle of Seclusion on Ashla, the primary moon of Tython. Feeling solitude would be beneficial, he traveled to the moon and spent time by its ocean. Wading into the water, Mann surrendered to the Force and allowed more visions to come. The visions remained frightful, but he was now visited by the face of a Tholothian with missing tendrils, leading him to wonder if it was Indeera Stokes. Mann asked the Force where he was meant to be and awoke from his vision, realizing the question had already been answered. Understanding he was meant to be at Valo, Elzar Mann traveled there, intending to correct whatever wrong would inevitably occur.

On Valo, Mann participated in the defense against the Nihil's assault on the Republic Fair with former Jedi Ty Yorrick, although he resorted to the dark side of the Force to achieve this. Alongside Yorrick, Mann domesticated a pair of sanvals that had broken free from the Lonisa City Zoo, utilizing them in the fight against the Nihil.

During the subsequent Battle of Grizal, Marchion Ro, the Eye of the Nihil, unleashed the Great Leveler. Its mere presence profoundly impacted Mann, filling him with horror, mirroring the visions he had previously experienced.

Before his assignment to strengthen his connection to the Force, Mann ensured that the logistics droid JJ-5145 would assist Stellan Gios in managing Starlight Beacon. Upon arriving on Ledalau, he commenced training with the Wayseeker Orla Jareni and reflected on his use of the Dark Side of the Force. He came to the conclusion that he was losing control of his emotions, potentially due to his feelings for Avar Kriss. Jareni instructed him to meditate in the ocean while performing a handstand. Through this exercise, Mann grasped the importance of equilibrium. He needed to align with the Force's flow without completely surrendering to it. Consequently, Mann resolved to limit his access to the Force until he could guarantee its safe usage.

When Jareni decided to depart, she instructed Mann to gather his belongings and follow her inland. While following the Wayseeker, he encountered Geode, initially mistaking him for a rock. The two Jedi proceeded to a clearing where Mann was introduced to Affie and Leox Gyasi, who offered to transport them back to Starlight Beacon aboard their ship, the Vessel. The crew informed him about the Nihil's attacks on several Republic worlds, and they embarked on their journey. As they exited hyperspace in the Echerta system to jump to Starlight Beacon, they were ambushed by the Nihil. During the attack, Mann suggested that Jareni utilize the Vessel's gun to repel the raiders, while he joined the crew in the cockpit. Employing the Force, Mann identified a clear path out of the system and into hyperspace, but Jareni was unwilling to abandon the other victims of the Nihil. She recognized that the Vessel was underestimated and could transmit a multi-frequency broadcast to disrupt communications, enabling others to escape. Mann was impressed by the strategy and wondered why he hadn't considered it himself.

After their escape, Mann meditated and then contacted Gios on Starlight Beacon. He informed his friend about the Nihil ambush and their ongoing journey to the station. Gios inquired about Mann's encounter with the dark side, and Mann assured him that Jareni had helped him develop a new perspective on the Force. He asked Gios how he had met the Wayseeker, but the Jedi Master declined to share the story. Upon docking with Starlight Beacon, Mann was surprised by the station's bustling activity and the numerous ships present. He was greeted by Burryaga and Bell Zettifar, who suggested he immediately see Gios. Arriving at Ops, he was shocked by Gios's condition. He asked his friend if he was alright, and Gios admitted to struggling with the Force due to a darkness he sensed. Gios explained that he was experiencing insomnia and nightmares, and Mann offered his assistance. Gios requested him to interrogate two prisoners.

Mann was present when Gios received news that several Jedi investigating the dread and fatigue affecting Force users had been attacked, resulting in Regald Coll's death. He realized that Gios was faltering and offered to take over so that his friend could rest. Mann proceeded to the main cargo bay, where he observed Indeera Stokes being taken to the medical bay and examined Regald Coll's remains. He wondered if his decision to disconnect from the Force was shielding him from the issues affecting other Jedi. He and Jareni transported Coll's corpse to a hazmat pod for examination. Jareni theorized that Mann's limited access to the Force might be the reason he was avoiding the negative effects plaguing the Jedi on Starlight Beacon. He left the medical tower and contemplated his next steps. While walking, he heard the announcement of the Ataraxia's arrival at the station. Unsure if he could face Avar Kriss due to his feelings, Mann resolved to avoid her if possible. Suddenly, a large explosion shook the station. He attempted to contact Gios in the quartermaster's office and Maru in the Hub, but was unable to reach them.

The Jedi met Gios and Nib Assek and attempted to reach the Hub. Finding all lifts blocked, Mann deduced that the station had been sabotaged. They attempted to use the maintenance shafts, but discovered they were blocked by radiation. He and the other Jedi returned to the quartermaster's office and sought as much information as possible. Realizing that evacuation might be necessary, Mann and Jareni were assigned to assist with the refugee ships' departure at the docking bay. Before leaving, Mann and the other Jedi analyzed the limited data and realized that Starlight Beacon was drifting out of orbit and would disintegrate in Eiram's atmosphere. Continuing to assess the situation, he found Bell Zettifar and Burryaga Agaburry, who had managed to climb from the medical tower to the main docking bay through maintenance tunnels. He explained the situation to the padawans and continued to examine the incoming data. He determined that Starlight Beacon's stability was deteriorating and it might break apart. The assembled Jedi convened to formulate a plan of action, and Mann argued that the structure's instability should be prioritized, but Gios decided that life support should take precedence. The Jedi dispersed to begin repair tasks, and Mann announced to the assembled refugees that they should return to their ships.

Mann entered a maintenance tube leading to a storage level with the intention of gathering independent power cells to power life support and other systems. After loading a pallet, he returned to the tube. Before he could reach the docking bay, the station broke in two. Mann activated a containment field and watched as the top section of Starlight Beacon drifted away. He returned to the docking bay with his supplies and reported to the quartermaster's office. Gios directed Mann to assist with restoring auxiliary life support. He collaborated with JJ-5145 and successfully restored partial functionality to the positional thrusters. He was interrupted by Gios's return, who had gone to the cargo bay to investigate the entity preying on the Jedi. Mann quickly assisted Gios, who was disoriented and weakened by an attack from the Nameless. When Zettifar and Agaburry returned and informed him of Jareni and Assek's deaths, Mann took over control from Gios. He resolved to inform the refugees about the situation and seek assistance from non-Force users in isolating the threat to the Jedi. Mann resumed working on the thrusters but stopped when he sensed the destruction of Starlight Beacon's top half as it burned up in Eiram's atmosphere. He returned to Gios and informed him of the station's upper section's destruction.

Mann relocated Gios to a quiet cargo hold on the Vessel and attempted to aid his friend's recovery from the attack. Employing techniques learned from Jareni, he and Gios meditated together. He managed to help Gios rest peacefully, and then reached out with the Force to connect with Kriss. Sensing her presence lifted his spirits. Continuing to search for a way to save the station, Mann brainstormed with JJ-5145 to find a way to activate the thrusters. He was alerted by Bell that they had inadvertently released rathtars in the cargo bay, but they were contained. Mann ordered Bell back to the medical tower to attend to the patients and explore evacuation options.

Mann devised a plan to utilize retrofitting subsystems to modify Starlight Beacon's configuration, allowing smaller ships to fly inside. This would enable them to move from the docking bay to the cargo bay, facilitating their departure from the station when the Jedi initiated explosive decompression of the bay. The reconfiguration would also allow Mann to use a repair pod to reach the positional thrusters and manually activate them. After explaining the plan to the assembled refugees, he guided them through the station and into the cargo bay. As the group arrived, he was attacked by rathtars. He and Agaburry fought them, but the Nameless's Force-dampening effects hindered Mann's effectiveness. When the Wookiee was captured by two rathtars, he attempted to assist him, but the padawan reminded him that Mann needed to open the cargo bay doors and to leave him. Once inside the bay, Mann donned an environmental suit and secured himself. Using the Force, he reached out to all the people gathered on the ships in the cargo bay and drew on their strength and will to open the cargo bay doors with the Force.

The Jedi master went back to the quartermaster's office and informed Gios that although the ships had managed to escape, Agaburry was ensnared by the rathtar's tentacles and likely ejected into space when the bay was depressurized. He proceeded with his plan to use a maintenance pod to reach the thrusters. He navigated through the station to the lower levels where the thruster controls were located, but encountered a Nameless. He managed to evade its effects and reached the level containing the positional thrusters. Mann approached the controls, but overheard several beings already in the room. He recognized Chancey Yarrow and Nan, whom he assumed were Nihil saboteurs. Enraged, he burst into the room, ignited his lightsaber, and bisected Yarrow. He was confronted by Nan, who explained that they had abandoned the Nihil and were working to save the station. Mann was horrified when he realized he had doomed the station, with the computer soon informing him that the structure was too low for the thrusters to be effective. Gios arrived and Mann confessed that he had killed in cold blood. Gios sent him back up to the docking bay to look for anybody left on the station.

He discovered an injured Sullustan and helped him into an escape pod. Mann then boarded another pod and departed the collapsing wreckage of Starlight Beacon, landing near the ocean on Eiram. He watched as the station crashed and then approached a group of survivors, including Kriss. JJ-5145 arrived and informed the group that Gios had perished with the station, and presented the Jedi's lightsaber to Mann. The surviving Jedi made their way to the desalination plant, which had been damaged by the crash of Starlight Beacon. Mann and the others used the Force to realign the plant's connections and restore its functionality. Mann vowed to become the best Jedi possible to honor Gios's legacy. At the end of the day, he worked to give first aid to injured survivors.

At some point in time, Mann paid a visit to the Living Sea located on Gazian. This resulted in a psychic echo of his mind being left behind. More than two centuries following the Nihil crisis, Luke Skywalker came into contact with this echo while he was scouring the galaxy in search of assistance regarding his Jedi training.

Elzar Mann was often seen as an unconventional and somewhat controversial Jedi, even by his closest associates. Avar Kriss, his close friend, referred to him as a "tinkerer" who found joy in experimenting with the Force and disliked using it the same way twice. However, this trait rendered him somewhat unreliable, and he typically worked alone, separate from the other Jedi. His passion for exploration and experimentation, combined with his reluctance to explain his plans, preferring action over endless theorizing, made him difficult to collaborate with. This contributed to his continued status as a Jedi Knight, while his close friends Avar Kriss and Stellan Gios had both achieved the rank of Master. Nevertheless, his explorations and experiments allowed the Jedi Order to rediscover lost abilities with the Force. Despite his preference for working alone, Mann possessed an uncanny ability to understand others. Mann was also remarkably perceptive at times and could identify things that others missed. On Naboo, he sensed that the San Tekkas were being dishonest with him and Kriss about something related to their family's past. Similarly, he was the first to recognize that Padawan Bell Zettifar, whom he had just met for the first time, was severing his connection to the Force to avoid feeling his fallen Master's absence.

Above all, Mann saw himself as a problem solver, a task he excelled at and enjoyed, as he was constantly devising ways to apply the Force to specific problems, both simple and complex. This characteristic also made him reluctant to seek help, even from the Jedi Masters or his close friends. He disliked boundaries and enjoyed pushing them to see how far they could bend, although he at times pushed them too far. After experiencing a disturbing Force vision at the dedication of Starlight Beacon, Mann made a pass at Kriss, who refused him as she wanted their past intimacy to remain in the past. This led to a straining of their friendship, one Mann blamed himself for.

In a similar vein to Kriss's perception of the Force as a song, Mann viewed it as an endless, bottomless sea that could never be depleted, regardless of its purpose or frequency of use. Consequently, he used the Force for what were sometimes dismissed as frivolous reasons, actions that were frowned upon by other Jedi. However, true to his nature, Mann never explained his reasons or his actions, preferring to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.

Nevertheless, despite his idiosyncrasies, Mann was deeply committed to the Jedi Order and its purpose. When the Jedi combined their abilities during the Great Hyperspace Disaster to move a cargo of tibanna gas away from an approaching sun, Mann joined the collective action of his fellow Jedi and helped them move the gas onto a new path. He was also held in high regard by his two closest friends in the Order. Avar Kriss described the success of the relationship as being rooted in her agreement never to ask him any questions about what he was doing or why. The two shared a deep connection, deep enough to have developed into a Force-bond by which they could communicate non-verbally.

Kriss and Mann were close enough that, even if they disagreed in opinion, they were free to disagree without fear of it jeopardizing their relationship. Mann also had a sense of humor, another reason Kriss enjoyed his company. During their time on Naboo, he joked about attempting to catch fish with the Force if he ever retired to a place like the Lake Country.

Having spent their formative years at the Jedi Temple together, Elzar Mann shared a strong connection with fellow Jedi Stellan Gios and Avar Kriss. The three were frequently inseparable, earning the nickname "Firebrands" early on, as they often trained together. However, it was not uncommon for them to find themselves in trouble, often due to Elzar's penchant for "tinkering" with the Force. Elzar's close friendship with Avar and Stellan endured into adulthood, and while his relationship with Avar waned and strained following the Great Disaster, and that of Stellan and Avar strained to near disrepair, Elzar remained loyal to his friends. He viewed them based on the way they each viewed the Force: Stellan as his polestar and Avar as his song.

Mann possessed expertise in various Force powers, including several obscure abilities such as the mind touch. Mann viewed this ability as a means of fostering greater honesty and transparency in conversations.

Mann shared a Force-bond with the Jedi Master Avar Kriss, enabling him to communicate with her across distances. Crucially, Mann utilized the Force-Bond to coordinate with Kriss during the nineteenth emergence.

Mann donned the typical Jedi robes of his era. Furthermore, he wielded his own lightsaber and was capable of piloting a Jedi Vector.

Elzar Mann was initially mentioned in an online preview for the reference book Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection. The High Republic: Light of the Jedi author Charles Soule confirmed in a Tweet that the human male Jedi on the cover of the novel was in fact Mann.