Tobas Grell, a male Sarkhai Senator, represented his homeworld in the Galactic Senate of the Republic during the period known as the Cold War. He was the father of Jedi Nadia Grell. At the dawn of the Galactic War, as the Cold War ended, Grell was assassinated by agents working for the resurgent Sith Empire.
Born on his species' homeworld, Tobas Grell, a Sarkhai, spent his youth journeying across the isolated planet, exploring the remnants of ancient civilizations hidden within the dense jungles. After marrying a young woman named Maykia, Grell concluded his exploring career when his wife became pregnant with their daughter, Nadia. Following his wife's death during childbirth, Grell dedicated his life to his daughter and rose to a prominent position within the Sarkhai royal court, ensuring her well-being. During this period, Grell's daughter began exhibiting Force-sensitivity, leading him to defend her against the superstitions of his colleagues and peers.
Grell was designated as Senator for the Sarkhai planetary government when Sarkhai joined the Galactic Republic Senate. While on Coruscant, Grell and his delegation were approached by the Rift Alliance during the height of the Cold War with the Sith Empire. The Alliance, a coalition of worlds that had become disillusioned, successfully secured Grell's support and funding from Sarkhai. The Jedi Order, seeking to bridge the divide between the Alliance and the Republic, arranged a meeting with Alliance leaders, but they failed to anticipate an assassination attempt by the Sith Empire.
Although the assassins came close to succeeding, Grell and the other leaders were shielded by the Barsen'thor of the Jedi Order, with assistance from Grell's daughter, Nadia. Capitalizing on the Jedi Order's protection, the Alliance successfully liberated Balmorra. Following the triumphs on Balmorra, Grell confided in the Jedi Master about the situation on Attis Station, a clandestine installation belonging to the Alliance, despite the reservations of others. Revealing his daughter's Force-sensitivity to the Barsen'thor, Grell continued to aid the Jedi in his mission to solidify the Alliance and maintain their alignment with the Republic.
On the verge of a renewed conflict, Grell and the Rift Alliance were entrusted with the task of assembling an army to repel the Empire. After conducting extensive research, they journeyed to Belsavis to awaken the dormant army known as the Esh-kha. While the Barsen'thor was on the planet's surface awakening them, Grell was on the orbital station, where he was abducted. Pursued by the Barsen'thor and his daughter Nadia, the Sith Lord Stark murdered the Senator while extracting information about the Rift Alliance's strategies through torture.
Anticipating such an event, Senator Grell had left a will with the Jedi Order before his demise. One section pertained to the Institute of Xenozoology, while the final part concerned his daughter. Requesting that his ally, the Barsen'thor of the Jedi Order, take his daughter under his wing, Grell hoped that Nadia would mature into a Jedi Knight. In accordance with Sarkhai law, Nadia Grell also inherited her father's seat in the Senate.