K'Kruhk

Biography

Early life

K'Kruhk was born more than fifty years before the Battle of Yavin, and his upbringing as a Jedi was typical; after being identified as Force-sensitive in infancy, he was raised in the Order from a young age. He was brought up in the Jedi Temple located on Coruscant, and his true homeworld, Toola, was only a distant memory.

Yinchorri Uprising

Before reaching the age of thirteen, K'Kruhk was chosen by Lilit Twoseas to become her Padawan. K'Kruhk was likely her first Padawan, given Twoseas's apparent youth. As her apprentice, he fought alongside Micah Giiett, Plo Koon, and Qui-Gon Jinn during the Yinchorri Uprising. The Uprising was representative of the numerous isolated conflicts that occurred in the decades leading up to the Clone Wars—a minor, insignificant dispute fueled by shadowy manipulators. While the Jedi sought to maintain the crumbling Republic, the Sith secretly worked to destabilize them.

Alongside Jinn, Koon, Giiett, and Jinn's apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, the diplomatic group included notable figures such as Mace Windu, Tsui Choi, Adi Gallia, Eeth Koth, and Saesee Tiin. The Jedi Council, believing the Yinchorri were inherently cowardly bullies, thought that a suitable display of force would resolve the situation without needing military intervention. Unfortunately, agents of Darth Sidious were already provoking the Yinchorri into war, and they responded to the Jedi mission with unusual hostility, attacking the Jedi as soon as their consular ships entered the Yinchorri system.

Giiett performed a simple trick involving cups and balls to K'Kruhk and Obi-Wan Kenobi. This seemingly innocuous piece of entertainment was intended to teach the Padawans an important lesson: do not always rely on the Force, as there are far more mundane ways to confound and mislead one's enemies. K'Kruhk remembered this and used the concept to help the Jedi evade pursuing Yinchorri starfighters, by jettisoning a few empty escape pods, which the easily-fooled Yinchorri immediately chased, thinking their prey had abandoned ship. The Jedi were then able to crash-land on the planet, the Yinchorri believing their ship to be empty.

Once the Jedi arrived at their rendezvous locations, the situation escalated. Koth, Gallia, and Choi were ambushed by Yinchorri on Yitheeth while Windu, Jinn, and Tiin found no sign of the Yinchorri High Command on Yinchorr. K'Kruhk, a member of the group led by Koon and Giiett found himself fighting for his life on Yibikkoror, after their crash site was ambushed by Yinchorri warriors who had finally seen through K'Kruhk's ruse. In a brief moment of levity during the blaster-fire, K'Kruhk asked Masters Giiett and Koon why they claimed to be friends even though they bickered constantly. Koon gave a typically long-winded and philosophical response, whereas Giiett simply made another sarcastic remark. K'Kruhk and the others were eventually rescued by Adi Gallia's team, who arrived just in the nick of time, helping the stranded Jedi on to their still-functional ship. After their escape, K'Kruhk and the Jedi Masters at Yibikkoror reunited with Koth's team and set out to rescue Windu's squad, trapped by a large group of Yinchorri on Yinchorr.

It was in this rescue mission that his Master was killed, battling for her life on Yinchorr. As they attempted to escort Windu's strike team back to the ship, they were ambushed by hordes of Yinchorri. K'Kruhk was threatened by the weapon of a Yinchorri warrior; Twoseas leaped in to save her Padawan. Positioning herself between K'Kruhk and his assailant, she took the full force of the blow, dying at the hands of multiple Yinchorri in front of her stunned Padawan. Maddened by the loss, K'Kruhk went into a battle frenzy, not halting his slaughter of Yinchorri until he was able to recover his master's body. Although he would complete his training under another Jedi, the loss of his first mentor would haunt him for the remainder of his life.

Clone Wars

Certainties and doubts

Over the next ten years, K'Kruhk developed into a committed and skilled Jedi Knight. In 22 BBY, he became part of the task force dispatched to Geonosis with the mission of rescuing Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Senator Padmé Amidala.

When the request came for Jedi to take on command roles after the First Battle of Geonosis, K'Kruhk complied without hesitation. In the early phases of the Clone Wars, Jedi General K'Kruhk commanded the 416th Star Corps during the Battle of Teyr on the planet Teyr. The battle proved to be extremely costly. Numerous clones died under his leadership, despite K'Kruhk's best efforts, and the Whiphid considered stopping the attack to save lives. However, the troops under his command convinced him to continue. They believed they could still achieve their goals and that their lives were insignificant in the larger picture. They essentially believed they were created to die for the Republic.

Against his better judgment, he continued the attack. While the Republic's ultimate victory is uncertain, the high number of casualties deeply affected K'Kruhk, and he was so disturbed that he withdrew from the war entirely, leading many to assume he had died. It was later discovered that he had joined other Jedi who were uncertain about the war on Ruul, under the leadership of Master Sora Bulq. When their refusal to participate in the war became known, Mace Windu arrived to negotiate with them. Unlike other dissidents, such as Sian Jeisel and Rhad Tarn, K'Kruhk never questioned Windu's sincerity, but he greatly misjudged Bulq's motives.

In reality, the entire situation was a trap set by the Sith to either assassinate Windu or, failing that, to kill other Jedi and blame it on the Jedi Councilor. Asajj Ventress, an acolyte of Count Dooku, arrived at Ruul to execute the plan and engaged the Jedi in multiple lightsaber duels. After the deaths of Tarn and Mira, it became clear that Bulq was involved in the conspiracy. The Weequay had turned to the dark side and allied himself with Dooku. His duel with Ventress was a ruse to conceal their alliance.

Humbled, K'Kruhk rejoined the war effort, simply stating, "Evil must be opposed."

Hypori and later

Soon after, K'Kruhk was selected to be part of a strike team on Hypori, led by Jedi Masters Ki-Adi-Mundi and Shaak Ti. The mission was a failure from the beginning and turned into a Separatist trap. Orbital mines destroyed most of their fleet and the surviving troops and Jedi, including K'Kruhk, were stranded on Hypori's surface, forced to make a desperate last stand against the droid armies.

It was on Hypori that K'Kruhk became one of the first Jedi to confront General Grievous and survive to tell the story. Halting the advance of his droid legions, Grievous faced the surviving Jedi alone, demonstrating incredible skill with dual lightsabers. Tarr Seirr, Daakman Barrek, and Sha'a Gi were killed. When K'Kruhk charged Grievous and engaged him one-on-one, he briefly managed to disarm one of Grievous's lightsabers, but left himself vulnerable and was quickly struck down by a slash across the waist and a near-fatal overhand strike.

Critically injured and presumed dead, he was left behind by the rescue team that recovered Ki-Adi-Mundi, Shaak Ti, and Aayla Secura. In reality, K'Kruhk had entered a state of hibernation, allowing himself to heal his wounds while feigning death.

After Grievous left, K'Kruhk woke up and managed to escape Hypori, resuming his role as a General in the Grand Army of the Republic. However, Grievous did steal K'Kruhk's green lightsaber. The weapon became one of Grievous' favorites, and the cyborg kept it and used it until his final battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Utapau.

After recovering, K'Kruhk was reassigned to Coruscant and tasked with protecting Senator Viento. He quietly observed his ward as the Senator conducted his business in the Senate and at political events. At one such event, Viento was deep in conversation with the Supreme Chancellor when K'Kruhk noticed a mysterious Kiffar taking an unusual interest in the two politicians. The Kiffar was Quinlan Vos in disguise, and he managed to leave the premises before the Whiphid could uncover his plans. Later that evening, Vos bypassed K'Kruhk as the Whiphid guarded a sleeping Viento, and broke into the Senator's apartment, preparing to dispatch Viento there and then. The sound and smell of the ignited lightsaber alerted K'Kruhk to the crime, and the Whiphid was forced to battle the rogue Jedi to protect the Senator.

Unfortunately, K'Kruhk failed in his mission. Vos murdered Viento, and K'Kruhk burst in just as it happened. Attacking Vos, K'Kruhk suffered severe injuries in the ensuing battle after falling from an airspeeder. The physical injuries were significant, but perhaps less so than the enormous emotional trauma. Vos had been a childhood friend of K'Kruhk, and Vos's apparent betrayal of the Jedi deeply wounded the Whiphid. In anger, K'Kruhk declared Vos no better than Sora Bulq, Dooku, and the countless other traitors to the order.

Siege of Saleucami

After extensive bacta treatment and months of recovery, K'Kruhk returned to the front line during the Siege of Saleucami. Ironically, he would serve alongside Quinlan Vos, who had recently returned to the fold after the Rendili crisis.

To the surprise of other Jedi like Jeisel, K'Kruhk had apparently forgiven Vos, accepting that the Kiffar's actions had all been done with the sole intent of maintaining his cover and that no malice had been intended. By this stage, K'Kruhk's many injuries and brushes with death had given the Whiphid a developed sense of gallows humor, and he joked that he had learned to carry basic medical supplies with him at all times. He had witnessed many deaths within, and more was to come: in the early days of the siege, the Jedi Ausar Auset was vaporized before the stunned eyes of both K'Kruhk and A'Sharad Hett.

K'Kruhk trusted totally in the leadership of Oppo Rancisis and believed that with the Jedi Councilor's fine grasp of tactics and battle meditation, the battle would swing the Republic's way. Understandably, K'Kruhk was devastated when Rancisis was murdered by Sora Bulq and, though he believed Quinlan Vos to have good intentions, was horrified by the fellow Jedi's plan to "read" Rancisis's battle plan from the head of the Thisspiasian's corpse.

The next morning, K'Kruhk attended Rancisis's funeral presided over by A'Sharad Hett. There, the assembled Jedi remembered those who had already fallen on the fields of Saleucami. Hett began with the memory of Auset, a comrade-in-arms of A'Sharad's late father. Then, the others followed: Xiaan Amersu recalled Xeltek, Jeisel recalled Durnar, Aayla spoke the name of Master Tholme, and K'Kruhk himself honored the memory of T'Bolton. After the ceremony was complete, K'Kruhk and his compatriots prepared for the final battle against the Separatists.

Tholme, in fact, was not dead but had merely hidden his presence, hoping that his absence would help Quinlan Vos come to terms with his true beliefs. While the Jedi Master remained in the shadows, still presumed to be dead, the remaining Jedi launched their attack. Vos and Aayla Secura infiltrated the Separatist base and K'Kruhk and Jeisel led the ground assault, while A'Sharad Hett coordinated actions from the air. With help from Tholme, the Jedi were victorious, and Saleucami fell to the Republic. In the ensuing melee, the Separatist leaders were all defeated: Aayla Secura slew the Morgukai Bok, and Quinlan Vos finally ended the lives of Sora Bulq and his lackey Tol Skorr. Their task over, the Jedi were able to leave Saleucami. K'Kruhk prepared for departure and redeployment, but did so reluctantly. He believed it was shameful for Jedi to leave war-ravaged worlds so devastated when in the past, Jedi had assisted with reconstruction. Vos's assurances that it was merely the "way of war" did not assuage the Whiphid's doubts.

End of the war

After the end of the siege, K'Kruhk and Jeisel were scheduled to depart to Mygeeto to assist Ki-Adi-Mundi, but as they and their escort passed one of the moons of Saleucami, they were ambushed by a Separatist cruiser. Thinking quickly, K'Kruhk ordered the envoy to rush the cruiser, then jump to hyperspace at the last second. Remarking on their narrow escape, the Whiphid discovered to his dismay the ship had been damaged and would be unable to reach Mygeeto. K'Kruhk told the crew to instead plot a course for the Bogden system, where they could make repairs at the Jedi chapter house there.

Upon reaching Bogden 3, K'Kruhk and Jeisel were greeted by Master Du Mahn and the Soaring Hawkbat Clan. The new arrivals, still unsure whether or not the transport there was to take them to Coruscant, were surrounded by the excited younglings, who pressed the clones with all sorts of questions. Telling the younglings to leave the soldiers alone, Du Mahn asked the students to go help Padawan Chase Piru prepare the welcome meal for their guests. In the meantime, the repairs to the ship were begun by the soldiers.

Mahn informed K'Kruhk and Jeisel that the Jedi there, including the younglings, were supposed to have been brought back to Coruscant several days ago, but the attack on Coruscant had Yoda decide to keep them at the facility for their own safety.

During the meal, K'Kruhk discussed the war and its final days with one of his troopers. Their opinions diverged quite remarkably—while the trooper wanted to get back to the front lines as soon as possible, and not to miss the end, K'Kruhk was less enthusiastic. As he watched Master Mahn teach the younglings, K'Kruhk thought about how he would like nothing better than to never have to raise his saber again, and how he had forgotten that, despite all the suffering and carnage seen in the war, tender scenes like Master Mahn and the younglings still took place. K'Kruhk believed that helping and teaching young ones was the true duty, not war. The clone seemed to agree, but was still eager to "get back to work".

Then, with no warning, on Coruscant, the soon-to-be new Emperor issued Order 66.

Survival

K'Kruhk lunged ahead, cleaving the very clone he had just engaged in conversation from shoulder down to hip, while Piru and Jeisel acted as protectors for a group of younglings. Master Mahn, displaying remarkable skill, neutralized four troopers singlehandedly, ensuring the safety of the younglings under her care. As she guided them toward the exit, one of the troopers raised his weapon and shot her in the back. Collapsing forward, she urged the children to flee. Subsequently, the trooper committed a massacre, slaughtering several of the younglings. Utilizing a powerful Force Jump, K'Kruhk impaled the trooper, roaring as he entered a state of battle rage, swiftly eliminating two additional troopers.

K'Kruhk gave instructions to the remaining younglings to proceed towards the doorway, where Jeisel and Piru stood guard. Jeisel instructed K'Kruhk to take Piru with him, with the intention of holding off the clones to allow the other Jedi more time to escape with the younglings. K'Kruhk attempted to object, but Jeisel insisted that he was the superior pilot and commanded him to ensure the younglings' survival. Jeisel bravely made her last stand against the troopers, and, realizing that she would soon be overwhelmed, she detonated a thermal detonator that a trooper was carrying. The resulting explosion killed her and all the troopers, devastating the entire structure.

Piru was waiting at the base of the loading ramp, but K'Kruhk informed her that Jeisel would not be joining them. Piru questioned why the troops had attacked them, whether they would be pursued, and where the Jedi would seek refuge. K'Kruhk could only respond that he did not have the answers.

Dark times

Not long after Jeisel's ultimate sacrifice and his own terrifying escape, K'Kruhk's spacecraft experienced a crash landing on a remote, untouched moon. Initially, K'Kruhk yearned for solitude or to retaliate against the enemy, but gradually, he began to transition back into a teaching role. With Chase Piru, Kennan Taanzer, Seddwia, and the other younglings secure on a resource-rich planet, and with intercepted transmissions providing updates on recent events, K'Kruhk determined that it was preferable to embrace their current situation rather than dwell on the unchangeable past.

Later on, the pirate named Lumbra experienced a crash landing on the planet after absconding with a deceptive crate from his superior Haka Hai and the crew of the Uhumele, which turned out to be a bomb. K'Kruhk witnessed his ship plummeting and urgently returned to the younglings, but he arrived too late. Lumbra had managed to salvage their ship and had discovered the younglings were Jedi. The Jedi Master provided healing to Piru, who had been shot and left for dead, while the younglings were taken away as captives, and he learned that the rumors regarding the bounties on Jedi were indeed accurate. In order to rescue the others, they decided to separate.

Upon locating the pirate's encampment, K'Kruhk unleashed a thunderous roar, followed by a warning to release the younglings. The pirates responded with laughter at the warning, and K'Kruhk began to eliminate them one by one using a bow and large arrows, until Lumbra extinguished the camp's fire. Piru then utilized the Force from a closer vantage point to guide K'Kruhk's arrows to their intended targets. Once the pirates had been devastated, K'Kruhk advanced with his lightsaber activated to deal with the remaining ones. Lumbra seized Piru as a hostage and threatened to kill her and the younglings, but K'Kruhk swiftly disarmed him, then brutally slashed him into pieces.

He later expressed his regret to Piru for succumbing to un-Jedi-like behavior, and informed her that after they repaired the pirates' ship, he intended to drop them off in a safe location, not wanting the younglings to remember him as they had witnessed him that night. He mentioned that he would check in periodically, but would never remain for long.

At a later time, the group journeyed to the planet Arkinnea, where they initiated a descent that would end in a crash landing. The local militia issued threats to open fire, but K'Kruhk remained resolute that they needed to land first. As K'Kruhk prepared for landing, he instructed Piru to ensure that the younglings were securely strapped in, as the landing was anticipated to be rough. The militia attempted to fire on the ship, but their shots missed and struck a nearby command tower instead. The ship then crashed, and the militia ordered its occupants to exit with their hands raised. K'Kruhk and the younglings complied, although K'Kruhk momentarily slipped and referred to the younglings as such, before correcting himself and referring to them as orphans. The leader of the militia group, Captain Relik, presumed that K'Kruhk's group were refugees, and briefly threatened them before being interrupted by Commander Teron, who instructed Relik to proceed and bring them to the holding center.

Upon arrival at the refugee camp, K'Kruhk and the younglings were assigned to a family tent. The group entered, and K'Kruhk briefly instructed an enthusiastic Genel to calm down, before retrieving a lightsaber disguised as Piru's splint. Soon after, a skirmish erupted between two of the other refugees, and K'Kruhk swiftly intervened to break it up. Scolding the two men for not considering their families, K'Kruhk released them with a warning that he would report them if another fight occurred. When Piru questioned the wisdom of his actions, K'Kruhk acknowledged that it was likely not wise, but he had intervened to protect the younglings. He then reminded Piru that their primary objective was to protect the younglings and that they would not remain there for an extended period. Subsequently, he departed to search for food.

During his time away, K'Kruhk stumbled upon a propaganda recording of Darth Vader and concluded that it would be best to avoid the Empire if possible. He then returned to his unit, contemplating that it was likely a mistake to come to Arkinnea. Upon entering the tent, however, K'Kruhk discovered a cloaked figure inside. K'Kruhk prepared to attack, but the individual calmed him down and removed their cloak to reveal their identity as Master Zao, an old acquaintance of K'Kruhk. When K'Kruhk inquired as to why Zao was there, he simply replied that the Force had guided them to one another. After a brief discussion, Kennan asked K'Kruhk if Zao could provide instruction to them. Despite K'Kruhk's admonishment of Kennan, Zao agreed, stating that K'Kruhk would also benefit from relearning the lesson. Zao informed the group that it would serve them well to observe, but not assume, and he notably stated that he wished the lesson was not lost on K'Kruhk. When K'Kruhk asked what he meant, Zao responded that there was a present threat and that they needed to escape.

They fled from the camp, seeking a safer place to stay, and later discovered that the militia had slaughtered the refugees. After they were detected, K'Kruhk successfully halted the militia by destroying their main vessel and neutralizing their ground forces. In the aftermath, the Jedi master encountered Teron, with whom he had fought alongside on Saleucami. Teron informed K'Kruhk that he and other officers had not forgotten the good deeds of the Jedi and promised to provide him with supplies and everything he and the padawans needed to establish a new life on the planet. K'Kruhk accepted the offer, and some time later, he and Zao established a "Hidden Temple" on the planet.

While numerous other survivors of the initial purge were eventually hunted down, K'Kruhk survived the fall of the Empire and eventually joined the New Jedi Order established by Luke Skywalker, most likely sometime between the events of the Galactic Civil War and the Yuuzhan Vong War. He would remain a part of Luke's Jedi Order for the next century.

New Jedi Order

Second Imperial Civil War

K'Kruhk took up a position of authority at the Jedi Academy located on Ossus, even playing a role in the early training of Cade Skywalker. He was once again presumed dead during the Massacre at Ossus, but he survived once more, concealing himself on Toola until 137 ABY. At that time, he experienced a call through the Force to return to Ossus.

There, amidst the ruins of the Jedi Academy, K'Kruhk encountered Cade Skywalker, who was under the influence of death sticks. Cade exclaimed that he believed the Whiphid had perished there seven years prior, but K'Kruhk responded that he had died on numerous occasions, and that it was Cade's demise that concerned him; they were called death sticks for a reason. Utilizing the Force, the veteran Jedi began to mend the mental and spiritual wounds that Skywalker had sustained over the past several years. Skywalker chuckled at the notion that his own hallucination was healing him, but then realized that it was not a hallucination. Wolf Sazen and Shado Vao then appeared, having also sensed Cade's location through the Force.

After some persuasion, Cade consented to complete his training in order to gain a stronger foundation to oppose the Sith. Within the complex's underground ruins, K'Kruhk and Sazen would oversee the completion. K'Kruhk was wary of completing Cade's training, however; commenting that—much like Anakin Skywalker—Cade's future was uncertain, and the dark side exerted a strong pull on him. Recalling the previous fall of the Jedi, K'Kruhk pondered the possibility that by training Cade, they might be training the next Vader. Later, the Force ghost of Luke Skywalker appeared to Cade, requesting that he retrieve Hosk Trey'lis, whom Cade had betrayed to the Sith. As Cade prepared to depart for Coruscant, K'Kruhk provided him with R2-D2, an antique droid who had once been under the care of Anakin and later Luke Skywalker, to serve onboard his ship.

The three Jedi remained on Ossus. During Cade's infiltration of the Temple of the Sith, K'Kruhk, Sazen, and Vao all experienced a vision of Cade succumbing to the dark side while meditating in the Praxeum's meditation garden.

The Hidden Temple

In the meantime, an Imperial Pellaeon-class Star Destroyer arrived in orbit around Ossus, under the command of Darth Stryfe, head of the Imperial military. Rumors had circulated that surviving Jedi were concealed within the Academy, and the Sith were determined to eliminate all Jedi. Stryfe dispatched Joker Squad of the 407th Stormtrooper Division to conduct a search of the surface. The Jokers meticulously searched Ossus, but found nothing; the Jedi and Yuuzhan Vong present had gone into hiding. One of the Vong, Liaan Lah, suggested simply eliminating the stormtroopers, but K'Kruhk urged him to exercise patience, as they would soon depart and attacking would only confirm their presence. As the Imperials were about to call off the search, Stryfe commanded them to continue, as he could sense a whisper in the Force suggesting the presence of Jedi.

Instructed to continue searching for the Jedi, Sergeant Ran Harkas, Anson Trask, and Private [Orland], along with one other stormtrooper, continued their search among the remains of the Jedi Academy. Trask and a fellow stormtrooper reported that the Temple was empty after Shado used the Force to persuade them. The other of Nei Rin's Vong bodyguards, Choka Skell again advocated for simply dispatching them, but K'Kruhk continued to urge patience. However, K'Kruhk's strategy did not unfold exactly as he had envisioned. Stryfe nevertheless ordered Imperial Navy Captain Meeshal to destroy the Temple, as he still sensed the presence of the Jedi hiding on the planet. The Imperials proceeded to fire on the Academy, leveling it. The Jedi and Vong managed to survive the bombardment, and although the elderly Whiphid sustained severe injuries, K'Kruhk was able to lead Sazen, Vao, Rin, Lah, and Skell to the lower levels. There, he revealed the existence and location of a Hidden Temple, which had been ordered into creation by the Jedi High Council at the start of the Sith-Imperial War. Sazen and Vao transported him there, where he received healing and took a seat on the Jedi Council assembled in the Temple, alongside Masters T'ra Saa and Tili Qua.

K'Kruhk had served alongside Master Saa during the Clone Wars, well over a century prior. The Council listened to the delegation representing deposed Emperor Roan Fel, which advocated for an alliance between the Emperor and the Jedi Order. Furthermore, Masters K'Kruhk and Saa learned that their former friend and fellow Jedi, A'Sharad Hett, had turned to the dark side and become the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Krayt, who had orchestrated the destruction of the Jedi. The Council grew disturbed by Cade Skywalker's request for assistance in assassinating Krayt, as they deemed it an act of the dark side; as such, the Council decided against taking such action. They foresaw the worst-case scenario: a new Sith might assume Krayt's position, or the Sith would fragment into dark nexuses of power. They opted for the more passive approach of allowing the Force to weaken the Sith while the Jedi grew stronger. Nonetheless, Cade resolved to proceed with his plan without the Council's assistance.

Cade's plan culminated in Darth Krayt's death, although it was his most trusted advisor, Darth Wyyrlok III, who ultimately murdered and replaced him as the new Dark Lord. Subsequently, Cade instructed Shado Vao, who was returning to the Temple, to inform the Council that Krayt was dead.

Battles with the Sith

Later, K'Kruhk was accompanied by the Jedi Masters Rasi Tuum and Hira, and Shado Vao to Agamar for peace talks with Roan Fel and his Imperial Knights from the Empire-in-exile. On the evening before their meeting with Fel, K'Kruhk engaged in a discussion with his three companions regarding Fel and his Empire, with K'Kruhk emphasizing that the alliance was necessary for the time being.

The following day, Rasi Tuum, Hira, and Vao were present for the successful negotiations between K'Kruhk and Fel for an alliance between the two organizations. Shortly thereafter, Moff Nyna Calixte, who served in Krayt's Empire, betrayed the organization by arriving and warning the Jedi and Fel's Imperial Knight bodyguards that the Sith were aware of the meeting and were en route with a task force to capture or eliminate the Emperor.

K'Kruhk, his fellow Jedi, and the Imperial Knights prepared for battle as the Sith revealed themselves. The Whiphid Jedi Master instructed the other Jedi to defend the Emperor, believing that the fate of the galaxy hinged on Fel's survival. During the battle, K'Kruhk assisted Imperial Knight Treis Sinde in clearing a path to the Imperial delegation's shuttle, Defender One. K'Kruhk, Shado, the Emperor, and the majority of his Imperial Knights managed to board the shuttle, but an explosion resulting from a TIE Predator attack run incapacitated Rasi Tuum, Azlyn Rae, and Marasiah Fel, the Emperor's daughter. However, as Roan Fel's safety was the paramount concern, the shuttle was compelled to depart without them, allowing the Sith to capture Princess Fel.

The shuttle returned to Bastion. K'Kruhk eventually made his way back to the Hidden Temple and remained there until news of an imminent massive Sith attack arrived. K'Kruhk agreed, along with the rest of the Jedi Council, to permit the forces of the reborn Darth Krayt to attack the Hidden Temple in order to enable Admiral [Gar Stazi]'s fleet and Fel's fleet to ambush the Sith-Imperial fleet and inflict a devastating blow upon the Sith Empire. As Krayt's new fleet of dragon ships and Annihilator-class starfighters began to ravage the allied fleets, K'Kruhk and Master Qua evacuated a section of the Hidden Temple in a vessel carrying the Jedi younglings. As he took off, he wished good fortune to his old friend, T'ra Saa, who had remained behind to perform battle meditation, and ultimately sacrificed herself to create an escape route through the Sith fleet for the Jedi and their allies to escape.

With no alternative destination, the allied fleets returned to Bastion, K'Kruhk among them. There, the decision was made to launch an attack on the now vulnerable Coruscant in the hope of eliminating Krayt. It was determined that a small strike team would infiltrate the capital and disable the planet's orbital defenses. K'Kruhk decided to remain on Bastion as Cade Skywalker assembled a small strike team including Wolf Sazen, Shado Vao, Rasi Tuum, Morrigan Corde, and several Imperial Knights to Coruscant's defense systems and disable the computers there. They succeeded just as the Allied fleet emerged from hyperspace. The remaining Force-users then resolved to head for the Temple of the Sith, where Cade would confront Darth Krayt.

K'Kruhk accompanied the Allied fleet and served as commander onboard one of the capital ships, leading battle meditation with a group of senior Jedi. When Cade succeeded in killing Darth Krayt, K'Kruhk noted the change in behavior of Krayt's specially-bred Sith troopers and warned all ships in the fleet of possible suicide runs. With Krayt dead, the Sith forces descended into disarray, and Coruscant was reclaimed, albeit at the cost of Emperor Roan Fel, who was slain by his own Imperial Knights for attempting to purge the planet of all life during the battle.

Triumvirate

K'Kruhk was present later on at the ceremony commemorating Roan Fel's life. With Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire collapsing, Master K'Kruhk stepped into a leadership role, becoming one of the three new leaders, known as Triumvirs, within the Galactic Federation Triumvirate, working alongside Admiral Gar Stazi and Marasiah Fel. In the year 138 ABY, Empress Fel, still quite young, initiated an ambitious plan to construct a vast, galaxy-spanning G51 communications array that would connect the Outer Rim Territories to the core of the galaxy. Empress Fel delegated the supervision of building local communication array stations across the galaxy to several Imperial Knights, including Master Yalta Val. While en route to the distant Carreras system, located near the Surd Nebula, K'Kruhk, along with Admiral Stazi and Empress Fel, communicated with Master Val, wishing him success in his assignment. However, Master Val was unexpectedly attacked and abducted by a Sith who had gone rogue, known as Darth Wredd, who then impersonated the Imperial Knight and successfully seized control of the Carreras G51 communications array.

Later on, Master K'Kruhk accompanied Empress Fel and Admiral Stazi during a stroll. During this walk, Empress Fel defended the G51 communications array, emphasizing that it was an investment in the Galactic Triumvirate's future. However, Admiral Stazi viewed the entire endeavor as merely "window dressing" rather than "solid statecraft." Fel countered by saying that while Stazi was a brilliant tactician, he lacked experience in governing an empire. Fel's unintentional slip prompted K'Kruhk to remind the Empress that the Galactic Triumvirate was not an Empire. After apologizing for her mistake, Empress Fel reiterated that they could not maintain the Empire through force alone, and the communications array project would foster unity throughout the galaxy by enhancing communication between different regions. She then inquired whether Master K'Kruhk supported her initiative. After Empress Fel departed to be with her lover, Master Draco, who had ascended to the leadership of the Imperial Knights, K'Kruhk engaged in conversation with Stazi. When the former asked the latter if he agreed with the Empress' project, Stazi responded that he believed Fel had good intentions, but he preferred to rely on a strong fleet rather than perceived strength and promises.

Subsequently, Darth Wredd utilized the Carreras array to broadcast his manifesto to the entire galaxy, ridiculing the Galactic Triumvirate and portraying the Jedi as a mere shadow of their former power. Wredd then attempted to publicly execute Master Val before a live galactic audience, but his plan was thwarted by junk dealer Ania Solo, who successfully rescued Val before the Carreras array collided with the floating world of Mala. Following the "Carreras Incident," K'Kruhk attended a Triumvirate meeting where he received news that a young woman named Ania Solo had played a role in the destruction of the Carreras communications array. At a subsequent meeting, the Triumvirate addressed the emerging threat posed by the rogue Sith Darth Wredd, who had launched a campaign to hunt down and eliminate One Sith infiltrators throughout the galaxy. Before the meeting commenced, K'Kruhk instructed his stormtrooper bodyguards to remain outside. During the meeting, K'Kruhk reported that Wredd had already murdered a Snivvian Sith on Cadomai Prime and concluded that this was the same individual responsible for the Carreras Incident.

Empress Marasiah Fel added that Darth Wredd had also eliminated the Sith infiltrator stationed at the Triumvirate's legation on Ceitia Five. When Fel sought advice on how to address this new threat, Master K'Kruhk remarked that it was deeply concerning that the Sith were systematically infiltrating governments across the galaxy. Antares Draco, the leader of the Imperial Knights, argued that the authorities could not afford to lose focus on Wredd, given that he had publicly threatened them, destroyed the Carreras array, and attempted to assassinate Master Val. K'Kruhk posited that the rogue Sith was acting according to his own agenda. Ultimately, Admiral Gar Stazi successfully proposed that the Triumvirate allow Wredd to continue his mission of eliminating the Sith. Despite Draco's objections, Empress Fel agreed with Stazi's recommendation.

Later, Ania Solo and the young Imperial Knight Jao Assam embarked on a mission to track down Darth Wredd after receiving a Force vision indicating that the rogue Sith intended to assassinate Empress Fel. Their quest led them to the lawless Calamari system, where they discovered that another rogue Sith, Darth Luft, was enslaving Mon Calamari and Quarren refugees, forcing them to construct a pirate fleet. Jao dispatched a distress signal to Master Val. Master Val received Jao's message and interrupted a Triumvirate meeting to report the Sith presence in the Calamari system and the plight of the Mon Cal and Quarren slaves. During the meeting, Empress Fel opposed intervention, citing Jao's unreliability and the Triumvirate's preoccupation with other pressing matters. K'Kruhk likened the threat of the Sith to a hydra flower, known for its ability to regenerate its heads. Despite the Empress' objections, Admiral Stazi and Master Val led a successful mission to liberate the Mon Calamari Orbital Shipyards, bolstering the credibility of the newly formed Triumvirate government.

Personality and traits

K'Kruhk possessed a gentle and thoughtful nature, setting him apart from many of his species. He fully embraced the Jedi's pacifistic principles, rejecting the Whiphid's reputation for ferocity. This, along with his profound respect for life, caused him anxiety and introspection during the Clone Wars, ultimately leading him to abandon his military responsibilities and join Sora Bulq's dissidents.

K'Kruhk's dedication to justice and his desire to correct injustices ultimately led him to rejoin the Order. These experiences instilled in him a deep and enduring aversion to Jedi who strayed from the righteous path—such as Bulq, Quinlan Vos, and, presumably, Anakin Skywalker. However, he also possessed a very forgiving disposition and strongly advocated for giving Vos the benefit of the doubt upon his return to the Jedi Order.

The Great Jedi Purge prevented K'Kruhk from training Jedi himself in the Old Jedi Order, but decades later, he became a prominent teacher in the New Jedi Order, mentoring Padawans like Cade Skywalker on Ossus. K'Kruhk was frequently observed wearing a conical straw hat, particularly after the Clone Wars began. This may have been a simple quirk or idiosyncrasy, lacking any deeper meaning. Nevertheless, the Whiphid was rarely seen without it.

Following the defeat of the One Sith, K'Kruhk was chosen as the Jedi representative on the Galactic Federation Triumvirate due to his standing within the Order. He viewed the Triumvirate as a voluntary association between the Jedi, the Fel Empire, and the Galactic Alliance, opposing any notion that the Jedi should be subservient to the Empire. K'Kruhk was also disturbed by revelations that the defeated One Sith were systematically infiltrating governments throughout the galaxy to restore their "golden age." K'Kruhk likened the threat posed by the Sith to a hydra flower. He was also among the first senior Triumvirate policymakers to recognize that the rogue Sith Darth Wredd had his own distinct, independent agenda separate from the One Sith.

Powers and abilities

Despite his gentle nature, K'Kruhk was a formidable warrior, his large Whiphid frame providing him with an advantage over smaller opponents, and his Jedi abilities granting him speed and agility that few of his species could match. K'Kruhk's combat skills allowed him to hold his own against Asajj Ventress and General Grievous. Although he was unable to defeat them outright, he was one of the few Jedi who managed to survive encounters with them. He was also capable of holding his own against Quinlan Vos.

K'Kruhk possessed skill in using the Force to heal wounds, both his own and those of others, as demonstrated when he healed Chase Piru. He also attempted to use this ability to save Oppo Rancisis, but was unsuccessful. Furthermore, K'Kruhk possessed an exceptionally powerful Force Sense, being the only known Jedi besides Yoda who could sense the intentions of the clone troopers during Order 66. Further evidence of his exceptional Force Sense was his ability to detect Quinlan Vos, who was adept at concealing his presence even from other Force users.

K'Kruhk's most remarkable attribute was his ability to survive. Thanks to his species' natural resilience and innate "healing trance," he could survive injuries that would prove fatal to other Jedi. Left for dead on battlefields spanning Teyr, Hypori, and Ossus, K'Kruhk was notable for his ability to live to see another day. Even a fall from the heights of Coruscant could not end the mighty Whiphid's life, nor could the complete destruction of the Ossus temple by the new Sith Order.

Even as the Jedi Order and the Republic crumbled, K'Kruhk endured. The Empire rose, was defeated, and was succeeded by the New Republic, yet K'Kruhk persisted. Neither the Yuuzhan Vong nor the Sith of Darth Krayt could kill him. By 137 ABY, K'Kruhk was over one and a half centuries old, making him, along with Master T'ra Saa, the oldest known Jedi still alive by the end of the Imperial-Sith War.

Behind the scenes

Character origin

Randy Stradley created K'Kruhk, who made his first appearance in the comic series Jedi Council: Acts of War. However, it was his popular appearance in Jedi: Mace Windu that established the Whiphid as a recurring character.

In Star Wars: Clone Wars, Kevin Michael Richardson provided the voice for K'Kruhk. Along with Aayla Secura, he was one of only two original Expanded Universe characters (excluding those introduced within the series itself) to appear in the animated series. Unlike Aayla, however, K'Kruhk had not previously appeared in the films.

Lightsaber design

Interestingly, a fan actually created the design for K'Kruhk's lightsaber. Unable to find a clear official depiction of the saber in a comic, the fan created an original design to showcase on his own website. By chance, Jan Duursema consulted the website as a reference when illustrating Jedi: Mace Windu, believing the design was based on a canon source, and inadvertently canonized the depiction herself in the process.

Cult following

K'Kruhk has garnered a dedicated following among fans, particularly on online forums such as TheForce.Net's Jedi Council Forums. This is partly due to his repeated survival of near-death experiences.

This remarkable ability to evade death was seemingly alluded to in The Siege of Saleucami arc, where K'Kruhk mentions that he has learned to carry basic medical supplies with him.

K'Kruhk's hat

One aspect of K'Kruhk's popularity is a recurring joke about the conical straw hat he wears in several of his comic appearances.

In a forum thread on the Jedi Council Forums, his hat is credited with extraordinary powers, including being responsible for K'Kruhk's survival of numerous brushes with death, and is frequently described as "freakin' sweet"—a description originating from a forum user's signature that many fans view as a self-fulfilling prophecy, contributing to the character's popularity and long-term survival.

The hat's subsequent appearances seem to be a tribute to the fandom; it is even listed as part of K'Kruhk's equipment in the Saga Edition of the RPG. Randy Stradley acknowledged the "myth" of "The Hat" in Star Wars: Panel to Panel Volume 2: Expanding the Universe.