Quist, a Human male of fair complexion, sported blond hair and a beard. The only visible sign of his actual years was the presence of white streaks in his hair. A knife blade had replaced his right hand. He typically concealed his hands within the folds of his lengthy cape, poised to ambush adversaries with his bladed limb. He perpetually had a plug of SoroSuub Chew in his mouth.
During the Clone Wars, Quist was once a member of the Galactic Republic's naval forces, enlisting with his comrade Adar Tallon. Quist ultimately departed from his service to pursue a more financially rewarding path, quickly establishing himself as a formidable pirate. Nevertheless, his connection with Tallon persisted, and he consented to orchestrate the commander's staged "demise". However, he was ultimately captured by Imperial operatives in 0 ABY. To secure his release, Quist divulged all the data in his possession – the real story of Tallon's death. He made his way to his former friend's secret base on Tatooine to double-cross Tallon, but he was ultimately discovered and thwarted by a squad of Rebel Intelligence operatives dispatched to save the former Admiral.