The individual known as the Old One was a Human male shaman from the planet Aduba-3, existing during the Galactic Civil War period. This Force-sensitive figure was the last to maintain the legend of the Behemoth from the World Below, a creature thought to safeguard the small farming village of Onacra. An early encounter with the beast fueled his obsession, leading him to claim control over the Behemoth, a claim ridiculed by his community. In 0 ABY, when the Cloud-Riders threatened Onacra, the elderly shaman resolved to defend it himself. During a pitched gunfight between the Cloud-Riders and a militia defending the village, the Old One astonished everyone by summoning the Behemoth from the earth and psychically directing it against the Cloud-Riders. Tragically, the Old One perished when the Behemoth, in its attempt to eliminate the Cloud-Riders' leader, Serji-X Arrogantus, crushed him.
Living in the small farming village of Onacra on the Outer Rim world of Aduba-3, the man later known as the Old One was a Human male. He grew up immersed in the local legend of the Behemoth from the World Below, a mythical creature said to protect Onacra from beneath the earth. His childhood encounter with the monster intensified his interest, shaping his life profoundly. In his later years, living with his granddaughter Merri, he was recognized as a mystic and shaman. As the last keeper of the Behemoth's tale, the Force-sensitive Old One came to believe he could summon and control it, a belief that many dismissed as the ramblings of a fool. During the Galactic Civil War, the Cloud-Riders, a brutal gang led by the volatile Serji-X Arrogantus, brought violence to Onacra. They demanded annual tribute, causing destruction when the impoverished farmers couldn't pay.
By 0 ABY, the people of Onacra, having had enough, sought the help of Rebel hero Han Solo to gather a defense force. Upon Solo's arrival with his posse, the Star-Hoppers of Aduba-3, the Old One voiced his opposition to their plan. Instead of risking lives, he suggested summoning the Behemoth from the World Below to obliterate the attackers. Solo dismissed this as a "fairy tale," frustrating the mystic, who then instructed his granddaughter to hide while he took matters into his own hands. Shortly after, the Cloud-Riders attacked, leading to a pitched battle with the Star-Hoppers and resulting in numerous casualties. Amidst the fighting, the Old One, rather than wielding a blaster, focused his energy on summoning the Behemoth from its subterranean slumber. He let out a piercing cry and began to speak, declaring a mental link with the Behemoth and commanding it to emerge and destroy the invaders.
Up until that point, the Old One's claims of controlling the Behemoth had only garnered ridicule. However, the ground beneath him began to tremble, drawing the attention of both Cloud-Riders and Star-Hoppers. Suddenly, the massive creature erupted from the earth, validating the Old One's beliefs. With their minds connected, the Old One completely controlled the beast, directing it to decimate Arrogantus' gang while ignoring Solo's forces. However, his focus on controlling the Behemoth left him vulnerable on the battlefield. Arrogantus, with only a few men remaining, saw an opportunity to turn the tide by eliminating the one controlling the beast. He turned his skyspeeder towards the Old One, intending to crash into him. But just as he reached the elderly man, the Behemoth crushed both the Old One and Arrogantus with a massive stomp.
With the Old One dead, the psychic link to the Behemoth was severed, leaving the monster uncontrolled. The Behemoth then rampaged wildly, endangering the Star-Hoppers and the people of Onacra, until Solo finally killed it with a lightsaber.
The Old One, a serious and spiritual man, was deeply affected by his childhood encounter with the Behemoth from the World Below. By 0 ABY, he had lost almost all sense of humor, claiming to have not spoken frivolously in decades. His obsession with the Behemoth led him to believe he could summon and control it, a belief that, while ultimately proven true, caused many to see him as senile. He placed immense faith in this idea, believing it to be his village's only salvation, and was frustrated when others didn't share his conviction. However, when the moment arrived, he not only proved his claims correct but also demonstrated a remarkable ability to control the beast.
The character of the Old One debuted in Star Wars (1977) 9, written by Roy Thomas and published in 1977. During his appearances in Marvel's Star Wars comic series, the Old One's illustrations were created by Howard Chaykin, Tom Palmer and Alan Kupperberg.