Jyl Somtay was a Jedi Knight of the Human female persuasion, who gave her service to the Jedi Order during the diminishing years of the Galactic Republic.
As a child, Jyl Somtay was found to have the gift of being Force-sensitive. The female Human then joined the academy located at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, and there she started her journey to understand the Force. Following her graduation from the academy, Somtay was chosen to be a Padawan by Jedi Master Lura Tranor, who would provide her with one-on-one training as they traveled across the galaxy. In the year 22 BBY, Somtay became well-acquainted with Jedi High Councilor Coleman Trebor. Somtay spent a number of years with Tranor, expanding her knowledge of the Force and constructing her own blue-bladed lightsaber, until she was prepared to undertake her Trials of Knighthood.
After completing her trials and rising to the rank of Jedi Knight, Somtay was not among the Jedi who went to Geonosis during the height of the Separatist Crisis between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, a mission that would trigger the devastating Clone Wars. Both Lura Tranor, Somtay's former master, and Master Coleman Trebor, a close friend, met their end on the battlefields of Geonosis.
Following the battle, Somtay took on a mission to the war-torn planet. She was given the rank of Commander within the Grand Army of the Republic and placed in command of several clone troopers. Somtay led a clone trooper occupation force on Geonosis, tasked with overseeing the local population's transition into a Republic-occupied society. During her time there, Somtay was approached by Doctor Frayne, a scientist studying the planet's culture, who requested to assist the Jedi in her work. Frayne volunteered to help Somtay locate and secure Geonosian war technology, but her true intention was to steal it and sell it on the black market. Upon meeting with Frayne, Somtay was knocked unconscious. She later awoke tied back-to-back with Naj Pandoor, Frayne's companion. After freeing themselves and fighting off a group of Geonosians, the two began searching for Frayne. Somtay and Pandoor soon discovered the doctor's severed head, revealing that she had been killed by a released nexu. Somtay was able to escape the nexu when it was attacked by a pack of rogas.
Sometime around 21 BBY, Somtay participated in an attack against a Separatist munitions factory. After Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker had their fleet of Venator-class destroyers destroyed by the Separatist battleship Starcrusher, Somtay rescued them. She piloted a T-6 shuttle into hyperspace past the Starcrusher. After they returned to Coruscant, the Jedi Council decided to dispatch a strike team to eliminate the Starcrusher. This team included Kenobi, Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Somtay, and Skywalker's Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. Palpatine, the Supreme Chancellor, sent Skywalker to the planet Daltarri.
The strike team, accompanied by three Venator-class Star Destroyers, launched an attack on a Separatist refueling ship in deep space. The Jedi team boarded a T-6 shuttle from one of the warships and Somtay flew them under the refueling ship's detection grid. When the Starcrusher arrived, the Republic ships departed. As Admiral Kirst launched reinforcements, the Jedi team snuck aboard the refueling ship. Captain Jorm of the refueling ship met the squad of B2 super battle droids as they came onboard. Once the droids were out of sight, the Jedi ambushed them and used their shells as disguises. The strike team then used the droid's Sheathipede-class shuttle to board the Starcrusher. Once aboard, the Jedi abandoned their disguises. The crew of the Separatist warship detected their presence, and Admiral Kirst ordered his crew to abandon ship, revealing that the ship the Jedi had boarded was a decoy. When the Jedi went back to the hangar, the shuttle exploded. The Jedi were trapped onboard with a failing life support system, and the decoy was heading into the nearby star.
Tano and Somtay separated from the others to explore the ship. They encountered Lieutenant Daan, a Separatist officer. Somtay attempted a mind trick on her, but the crew had been trained to resist such techniques. The two Jedi managed to convince her to assist them. Daan led the Jedi to a collection of space suits. Kenobi was then contacted by Skywalker, who had arrived after sensing danger on Dalltarri. At that moment, the real Starcrusher arrived. Kenobi devised a plan to escape. He instructed the strike team to pull up wire as Skywalker attacked the warship. Kenobi successfully magnetized the decoy's hull, drawing the real ship in. The strike team escaped from the decoy as both Separatist warships were drawn into the star, and the team was picked up by a tow cable from Skywalker's starfighter. Later, the team returned to the Jedi Temple, where Somtay and Tano planned to get caf and have "girl talk."
In 21 BBY, Yong Dolor, a Senator on Coruscant, was targeted for assassination by Aurra Sing, a notorious bounty hunter hired by Lorn, Dolor's aide, who sought to take his place as Senator. Somtay confronted Sing, informing her that she was the target and using her lightsaber to deflect Sing's weapon. Sing then drew a poisoned ryyk blade, but the Jedi managed to apprehend her. She attempted a mind trick to uncover the bounty hunter's employer, but Sing feigned compliance and was taken away by GU-series "Guardian" police droids.
Lorn and Dolor then expressed their gratitude to Somtay. Later, at the Temple, Master Windu offered his assistance to Somtay as she disguised herself as Sing to discover the Senator's enemies. Meanwhile, Sing escaped from confinement after faking a medical emergency. Somtay investigated a dive bar, claiming she was there to receive payment. The real Sing then arrived, and another fight ensued. During the struggle, a blade and a lightsaber were dropped. Ultimately, Somtay emerged victorious, knocking out the bounty hunter. She then insisted on receiving payment and met the client. When Lorn revealed himself, Somtay declared that he was under arrest. Lorn drew a spear, but she deflected it with her lightsaber, and the aide surrendered. Afterward, Windu debriefed her, noting that while Somtay's plan was unconventional, it was also effective.
Jyl Somtay was first introduced in the short story called "Death in the Catacombs," which appeared in Star Wars Insider 79.