Murk Lundi

Hailing from Ploo II, Murk Lundi, a male Quermian distinguished by his singular eye, sustained himself as a professor on Coruscant in the era preceding the Battle of Naboo. At the University of Coruscant, he imparted knowledge of history, specializing in obscure organizations and occurrences that had left their mark on the galaxy. His curriculum included figures such as Xim the Despot, a ruler who established a formidable empire over 25,000 years prior, and the Atrisian Empire, another dynasty of considerable power. Despite being regarded as a skilled educator, his research abilities were considered lacking, placing his position in jeopardy as other instructors began delving into subjects previously exclusive to Lundi's expertise. In desperation, he turned his attention to the enigmatic Sith, forging connections with various Sith cults. Consequently, his popularity surged, and his classes rapidly filled as students were captivated by his lectures, particularly his focus on Sith history. Lundi lectured extensively on the mythical group of dark-side Force users, elucidating their practices. Sith holocrons were a recurring topic in his discussions. Through his research, Lundi established contact with the Believers, a Sith cult based in the Cularin system, and played a role in their expansion.

In 39 BBY, the Jedi Kit Fisto and his Padawan, Bant Eerin, unearthed a collection of Sith artifacts on Korriban, the Sith homeworld. The discovery of an image depicting a Sith holocron alongside the inscription "location known. Follow the leader" further troubled the Jedi. Given Lundi's recent rise to prominence due to his popular teachings, the Jedi Council regarded him with suspicion, dispatching Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, to attend one of his lectures in an attempt to gather information and assess whether any of his students might have acquired the Sith artifacts.

Kenobi found Lundi to be a compelling speaker. As usual, Lundi's class was filled, and the apprentice was among those captivated by his lecture. Lundi's expertise on Sith holocrons, a subject with limited knowledge, impressed Kenobi. During the lecture, Lundi was interrupted by a student, Norval, who inquired about the power of the Sith compared to that of the Jedi. Lundi, initially displeased by the interruption, allowed Norval to proceed, replying that the Sith were more powerful, as he believed vengeance and power surpassed peace.

At the conclusion of the class, Lundi informed his students of his impending absence for several weeks, promising to return with something exciting. Jinn and Kenobi followed him to a starship bound for Lisal. Upon boarding, they were unable to locate Lundi, leading them to believe he had a private cabin. Just before takeoff, a young man, later identified as Norval, attempted to board, frantically calling for Professor Lundi. Lundi appeared at the door, instructing Norval to leave. Despite Norval's insistence on assisting him, Lundi refused, and Norval was forcibly removed from the ship. As Jinn and Kenobi suspected, Lundi was pursuing a Sith holocron.

Once Lundi was certain that the other passengers were asleep, he attempted to persuade the ship's captain to drop him off at Nolar. After initially refusing, the captain relented upon receiving valuable jewelry. As Lundi disembarked, the two Jedi, who had overheard the conversation, followed him to the capital city of Nolari. There, they observed him attempting to purchase a Nolarian 6000 drill. However, upon learning that the dealer did not have one, Lundi became enraged. Kenobi sensed his hatred and was taken aback when Lundi stormed off, declaring that he would soon no longer require such a machine. The dealer was left bewildered by the outburst.

Subsequently, Lundi stole a ship from a pilot he had hired to transport him to Kodai. Kodai's surface was dominated by a vast ocean that receded every decade, allowing the natives to explore the exposed seabed for a few hours. The Jedi followed him to the Outer Rim planet, securing a room in the same hotel as Lundi to monitor his movements.

In the dead of night, Lundi departed from the hotel and made his way to a dark chasm, the location of the holocron created millennia ago by the Sith Adas. However, before he could escape with the unearthed holocron, he was confronted by his power-hungry student, Norval, who had followed him to Kodai. Norval attacked Lundi, only to be interrupted by Omal, another student of Lundi's who believed Norval should not possess the power offered by the Sith object. During the ensuing scuffle, Lundi lost control of the holocron, which fell further into the pit. The two students then fled.

Meanwhile, the Jedi noticed Lundi's absence and, using the Force, tracked him to another chasm located on the now-exposed ocean floor. Within the pit, they sensed a dark presence. They also discovered Lundi, ranting about the holocron, claiming to have held it before losing it. The Jedi believed it had fallen deeper into the chasm. As the water began to rise, they were forced to retreat, taking Lundi with them. However, the holocron's power had seemingly driven the professor insane, as he continued to rant and attempted to harm the Jedi. They managed to subdue him and placed him in Republic custody upon their return to Coruscant.

During his trial, Lundi freely confessed to attempting to retrieve a Sith holocron for nefarious purposes, crimes that the Republic severely punished. Even his insanity did not spare him. He constantly raved about the holocron and cursed Kenobi whenever he saw him. Ultimately, Lundi was found guilty of attempting to recover a Sith holocron, deemed a highly dangerous object by the Jedi and the Republic, and imprisoned in a mental institution.

In 29 BBY, Kenobi, now a Jedi Knight following the death of Qui-Gon Jinn three years earlier, and his Padawan, Anakin Skywalker, orchestrated Lundi's release. The Jedi had received intelligence indicating a planned retrieval of the Sith holocron from Kodai, and Kenobi, familiar with the object, was dispatched with Skywalker to secure it first. Concerned about the Sith's resurgence and clandestine plotting, the Jedi were eager to locate the holocron before anyone else. Kenobi and Skywalker were authorized to free Lundi and bring him along, hoping that his desire to recover the holocron would outweigh his animosity towards the Jedi.

The Jedi confined Lundi in a cage aboard their rented ship, fearing he would harm himself or attempt to escape. Lundi subjected Kenobi to a barrage of insults, blaming the Jedi for his loss of the holocron. Following the Jedi's visit to Omal and Dedra, two of Lundi's former students, Kenobi questioned Lundi about the circumstances surrounding his loss of the holocron. He revealed that Norval's interference had caused him to drop it. After taunting the Jedi for their fear of the Sith, he agreed to assist them in locating the Sith holocron.

Upon arriving at Kodai, they traveled to the chasm on a gravsled, with Lundi still confined in his cage. As the waters had not yet receded, the Jedi dove down. However, they discovered only an empty box, realizing that someone, likely Norval, had already recovered the holocron. Lundi mocked them, declaring he would no longer assist them. However, Skywalker, exasperated with Lundi, retorted, warning that if the Sith returned, the Jedi would not be the only ones to perish.

This outburst silenced the professor, who agreed to once again aid them in finding the holocron and Norval. The Jedi learned that the only recently departed ship had traveled to Ploo II, and, employing a Jedi mind trick, they commandeered a ship. When Skywalker questioned Norval's destination, Lundi explained that he had been offered a substantial reward for finding the holocron, and the interested party was located on Ploo II, Lundi's homeworld. He also revealed that Norval's desire for power was surpassed only by his lust for wealth.

The trio hastened to Ploo II. Upon arrival, they were intercepted by another ship in space. Kenobi boarded the vessel, believing it to be Norval's. Indeed, it was, and Lundi's former student possessed the holocron. After a brief lightsaber duel, Kenobi defeated the aspiring Sith (in reality, merely a dark-side fanatic) and reclaimed the holocron, returning to their ship in a small shuttle. There, he found Skywalker comforting Lundi, who had grown increasingly frail throughout the journey. The elderly Quermian was dying, and Skywalker had released him from his cage for his final moments. With a few final words of regret for his actions in locating the holocron, he passed away. Norval's ship was destroyed by another mysterious vessel belonging to one of his ally's under secret employ, who had fired on the ship after learning that Norval no longer possessed the holocron. Kenobi and Skywalker returned to Coruscant, where Adas's holocron was safely secured in the archival vaults at the Jedi Temple.

Years later, when Luke Skywalker sought information on the Sith and the dark side, he relied heavily on Professor Lundi's texts. These texts contained information on the Sith, such as the fact that Darth Ruin, an ancient Dark Lord of the Sith, was originally a Jedi Master named Phanius. One of Skywalker's students, Tionne Solusar, consulted Lundi's texts when compiling records of the Old Republic.

Murk Lundi possessed a volatile temper, easily provoked by trivial matters such as interruptions during his lectures, as demonstrated by his outburst when he was unable to obtain a drill on Nolar. However, he also exhibited a softer side, particularly towards his favorite student, Norval. Following the discovery of the holocron on Kodai, he descended into insanity, undergoing a complete personality transformation. He became perpetually angry, especially towards the Jedi, whom he blamed for the loss of the holocron. Specifically, Lundi harbored animosity towards Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had intervened during his initial attempt to locate it on Kodai. However, on his deathbed, Lundi expressed remorse for his actions, conveying disappointment in himself and expressing hope that the Jedi would safeguard the holocron.

Lundi was captivated by the Sith, an interest that stemmed from a period of professional insecurity when he sought to learn enough about the enigmatic order to secure his job. His ultimate goal was to recover a Sith holocron, a feat he nearly accomplished. His extensive knowledge of the Sith earned him the reputation of an expert. Many found him to be a captivating speaker, resulting in packed classes and scarce textbooks. Lundi was recognized as an exceptional teacher but a mediocre researcher.

Like many Quermians, Lundi suffered from mental disorders, notably obsessive-compulsive disorder, which manifested as an unnatural obsession with locating a Sith holocron. This disorder was exacerbated by his confinement.

Murk Lundi was conceived by Jude Watson for the 2002 book The Followers, a special edition of the Jedi Apprentice series. He was later referenced in The New Essential Guide to Alien Species, the article Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties, and Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force, where The Lundi Series, texts authored by Lundi and utilized by Luke Skywalker for information on the Old Jedi Order, were introduced.

The holocron Lundi sought was retconned as the holocron of Adas, an ancient Sith, in Evil Never Dies, which also provided additional background information about Lundi.