Merf was a Vorzydiak individual (of male gender) who belonged to the Freelies group on the planet Vorzyd V during the time period known as the Galactic Civil War. As a devoted member of the Freelies, Merf took part in a bold extortion plot during 1 ABY. In this scheme, his gang abducted the notable Rebel figure Leia Organa and tried to exchange her to the Alliance for a significant payment. However, a unit of stormtroopers soon raided the Freelies' secret base. During the resulting conflict, Organa managed to escape, and Merf along with his companions were left empty-handed.
Being a Vorzydiak male, Merf originated from the planet Vorzyd V located in the Outer Rim, which was famously called "the Gambler's World." By the year 1 ABY, Merf had become a member of the Freelies, which was a youthful gang of lawbreakers under the leadership of a Human named Jax. Merf and his associates were known for patrolling the run-down streets of Efavan, the capital city, in search of opportunities. One evening, they stumbled upon two seemingly valuable droids who were wandering alone. Although Merf and the gang attempted to seize C-3PO and R2-D2, for their own benefit, they quickly realized that they had forgotten the necessary tool to remove C-3PO's restraining bolt. This oversight provided R2-D2 with the crucial time needed to summon a police droid, which then forced the Freelies to flee.
Nevertheless, Merf and his comrades encountered the same droids once more after the Freelies entered a weapons store with the intent to commit a robbery. The droids were in the process of testing out automatic defensive weapons, which soon malfunctioned and caused damage to the store. This incident convinced the Freelies that it would be wiser to maintain their distance. Instead, they discreetly followed the droids to a starship belonging to Luke Skywalker, a celebrated Rebel hero. It was there that the Freelies deceived C-3PO into allowing them on board, where they proceeded to abduct Leia Organa, a prominent Rebel leader. They then transported her back to their hideout and demanded a ransom of five million credits in exchange for the Princess's safe return to the Alliance.
However, the Freelies' plans were significantly disrupted when Bemmie was captured by Imperial stormtroopers who were also searching for Organa. Skywalker rescued Bemmie from severe torture, and the grateful Vorzydiak then guided Skywalker back to the Freelie hideout. Despite Jax's reluctance to trust Skywalker, the two groups were briefly compelled to fight together when the hideout was stormed by a squad of stormtroopers. Jax intended to sell Skywalker and Organa as soon as he could contact the troops' commander, but Bemmie led the Rebels through a secret passage out of the hideout, thus foiling the schemes of Merf and the Freelies.
Merf was a devoted subordinate within the Freelies gang, faithfully adhering to Jax's directives and embracing the group's core belief that the Freelies should be left to govern themselves. Merf deeply desired to possess the two droids, C-3PO and R2-D2, and he struggled to comprehend the possibility of actually owning two droids.
Merf's sole appearance within the Star Wars Legends narrative occurred in Gambler's World, a comic strip story arc that was both written and illustrated by Russ Manning and released in 1979. Initially, Merf is mistakenly identified as Bemmie, another Vorzydiak, but this error is later corrected within the story.