Reff was a figure familiar to Bartol, a boy of human descent residing in a colony situated on the planet Sedri Minor within the Outer Rim during the High Republic Era. In the year 232 BBY, Bartol and Reff were traversing a field filled with Vratixian barley, at which point Reff expressed his apprehension about their presence there, an emotion that Bartol clearly perceived.
Later, Jedi Knight Keeve Trennis, having navigated the same barley field in her search for the missing Jedi Knight Ceret, stumbled upon some decaying barley. Hearing a sound, she inquired about who was there. When Bartol emerged, the Jedi cautioned him against being in that location, a statement that prompted Bartol to remark that she sounded like Reff, and that Reff was afraid. Trennis responded by suggesting Reff possessed good sense. Subsequently, Bartol questioned the Jedi Knight about her own fear and then departed with the intention of locating both his missing friend, the Rodian named Julus, and Ceret.
The character of Reff was first referenced in the third issue of the Star Wars: The High Republic comic series from 2021, which was a component of the larger Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia initiative's Phase I. Cavan Scott was the writer of the issue, and Marvel Comics published it on March 3, 2021. Prior to the comic's release, a preview article mentioning Reff was featured on StarWars.com on February 24 of that same year.