The title of Tempest Runner, frequently shortened to Tempest, designated the leaders of the Nihil, a group of lawless marauders. These Nihil were structured into three primary divisions, each known as a Tempest, and each Tempest was governed absolutely by its own Runner. The Tempest Runners were tasked with commanding their respective Tempests and enriching the Nihil's coffers within their Tempest. However, during the High Republic Era, the Eye of the Nihil served as the organization's central figure. The Tempest Runner position was not subject to hostile takeover; if a Runner died without naming a successor, the Runner's Storms would jointly manage the Tempest. However, in the instance of the Tempest Runner Xanaven, who was suspected of betraying the Nihil, a replacement Tempest Runner was to be appointed. The Twi'lek Lourna Dee was soon selected as his replacement, sanctioned by the Eye of the Nihil, Asgar Ro. Each Tempest Runner held a vote on matters concerning the Nihil. After the Battle of Kur, the Eye, Marchion Ro, assumed complete control of the Nihil, although the Tempest Runner role continued to exist, but under his authority.
Around 247 BBY, the Nihil's three Tempest Runners consisted of Pan Eyta, Kassav Milliko, and Xanaven. These three conspired to assassinate the then-Eye of the Nihil, Asgar Ro, until the Nihil Lourna Dee intervened, killing Xanaven in Ro's defense. Subsequently, Dee was appointed as the new Tempest Runner to take Xanaven's place and proceeded to kill Ro himself, allowing his son Marchion Ro to ascend to the position of Eye. Marchion quickly initiated efforts to solidify the Tempest Runners' subservience to him and suspected that one of them was responsible for his father's demise. However, at the time of the Great Hyperspace Disaster in 232 BBY, the situation remained largely unchanged, with Eyta, Milliko, and Dee serving as Tempest Runners while Ro functioned as the Eye. As the Galactic Republic began to make significant inroads into the Outer Rim Territories, Ro determined that the time had come to fully transform the Nihil. Ro orchestrated the Battle of Kur to eliminate Milliko and his Tempest, turning them into martyrs for the Nihil cause. Invoking the memory of their supposed sacrifice and promising the Nihil control of the entire galaxy, Ro reorganized the Nihil under his absolute command, with the Tempest Runner existing under his control.
Following the death of Milliko, Ro installed Zeetar as the new third Tempest Runner. Approximately a year later, Eyta was presumed dead following the Second Battle of Cyclor, and Kara Xoo succeeded him. Following the Destruction of Starlight Beacon and the erection of the Stormwall, Ro appointed three new individuals to the Tempest Runner position, renaming it minister. These three figures, who effectively replaced the Tempest Runner position, were Baron Boolan, General Abediah Viess, and former Senator Ghirra Starros, who oversaw the new Ministry of Advancement, Ministry of Protection, and Ministry of Information, respectively. In Ro's view, however, they were simply new Tempest Runners and Tempest organizations. Despite this, the formal rank of Tempest Runner remained in place and was a coveted position within the Nihil. While plotting to capture Kitrep Soh—the son of Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh and a high-priority target for the Ministry of Information—Karnos and the Mon Calamari Tara imagined that such an achievement could elevate them to the rank of Tempest Runner.