Unidentified Keshiri actress

Biography

Early life

Prior to the Sith's "Unification" of Alanciar and Keshtah Minor in 2975 BBY, this Keshiri actress, whose name remains unknown, spent her formative years on Alanciar. Alanciar is a continent situated on the remote planet of Kesh within Wild Space. It's highly probable that she resided in Kerebba, a city located in Alanciar's southern region. Like all Keshiri residing on Alanciar, she was instilled with a deep-seated fear and hatred for the Lost Tribe of Sith from an early age. The Sith had seized control of the neighboring continent of Keshtah in 5000 BBY. This Keshiri actress was also likely familiar with the teachings of Adari Vaal, a Keshiri exile who had escaped Sith dominion in 4975 BBY and sought refuge on Alanciar. Vaal successfully alerted the Keshiri on Alanciar to the danger posed by the Sith. Consequently, Alanciar transformed into a highly militarized and centralized society over the subsequent two millennia. As with all Alanciari, this actress was expected to dedicate herself to the Great Cause. Due to her acting abilities, she was chosen to participate in the Observance Day theatrical productions, which commemorated Adari Vaal's secret ten-year resistance against the Lost Tribe.

The Sith Invasion

In 2975 BBY, a Lost Tribe exploratory force, comprised of airships and commanded by High Lord Edell Vrai, stumbled upon Alanciar. The Alanciari military forces annihilated the Sith expedition at the Six Claws frontier region. However, the Alanciari War Cabinet harbored concerns that this was merely a prelude to a full-scale invasion of their continent and placed Alanciari society on a war footing. Unbeknownst to the Alanciari authorities, a contingent of Sith led by High Lord Vrai had survived the initial encounter and captured the Wardmaster Quarra Thayn. Vrai compelled Thayn to serve as his guide on a reconnaissance mission deep into Alanciar. Their journey eventually led them to the city of Kerebba. Upon their arrival, it was nighttime, and the city's authorities were staging a play to commemorate that year's Observance Day, an event held every ten years. Thus, the Sith Edell would witness an Observance Day play for the first time. As part of the festivities, many Keshiri spectators had donned "Sith" costumes to align with the play's theme, enabling Edell to evade detection.

Observance Day

During that year's Observance Day play in Kerebba, the Keshiri actress was chosen to portray Adari Vaal, presumably due to her resemblance to the historical figure and her talent for oration. For the role, she wore leather armor and wielded a shining glass staff topped with a glowing globe. The Keshiri performance troupe had erected various props on the stage, including rocks, painted waves, and a large sailing ship. The prop ship initially "sailed" on the painted waves, only to be halted by the false rock. At that moment, the Keshiri actress emerged from behind it. The prop ship was then retracted to reveal a group of actors portraying Alanciari sailors. This scene was designed to commemorate Adari's initial encounter with the Alanciari Keshiri.

After identifying herself as "Adari Vaal," the Keshiri actress recounted the well-known tale of Adari's escape from Sith-dominated Keshtah, bringing news of the threat posed by the Lost Tribe. During a brief speech, the actress asserted that the Sith were the Destructors of Keshiri religion but assured her audience that the Alanciari were capable of defending their continent against these invaders. She extolled the superiority of Alanciar's natural resources, including its forests and beasts of burden, as well as the intelligence and industriousness of the Alanciari, which had enabled them to develop various technologies, including fireglobes and canals. The actress then recalled how Adari had taught the Alanciari about the language and Force powers of the Sith outsiders. She also noted that several Keshiri were Force-sensitive and designated them as the "Protectors of Kesh."

The Keshiri actress concluded her speech with a stirring patriotic declaration, emphasizing the Alanciaris' recent victory over the Sith. She vowed that her people would secure more victories against the invaders. Concluding the play, she declared the evening a Day of Observance and emphasized that her people would remain vigilant in anticipation of their ultimate victory over the Sith. Following her speech, the Mayor of Kerebba, an elderly man, stepped onto the stage and reminded the audience that they had witnessed this play before. He updated the assembled crowd with news that the Alanciari military was scouring the peninsulas of the Six Claws for any trace of the Sith invaders. While it was likely the Sith would return, he assured his people that the War Cabinet had ordered the deployment of anti-air forces in the west to counter the invaders.

The Keshiri actress' play and the Mayor's speech were well-received by the Alanciari crowd in Kerebba, igniting a patriotic fervor tinged with strong Sith undertones. In contrast, the Sith Edell Vrai was angered by the deeply Sith undertones of the Observance Day play but managed to control his anger. He also realized that the Alanciari were more advanced than the Sith and Keshiri on Keshtah. For Vrai, the play also confirmed that Adari Vaal had escaped and reached another continent. Vrai also considered the Alanciari outdoor theater troupe's acting and costumes amateurish compared to the Keshiri performance troupes that were a long-standing and vibrant tradition in Tahv.

The Unification

While her whereabouts and fate following the Sith invasion remain unknown, it can be inferred that the Keshiri actress was pressed into the service of the new Sith authorities. These authorities employed Alanciari performance troupes to sway the Alanciari population. Following the Sith annexation of Alanciar, the Observance Day plays were gradually replaced by newer productions that commemorated how the Alanciari soldier Jogan Halder had journeyed to the Sith homeland and "learned" that the Sith were actually benevolent. These plays utilized Alanciari actors, costumers, and storytellers but also brought in actors and songwriters from Keshtah. While the Sith encouraged the development of Alanciar's theater tradition, which had been hampered by the "long emergency," they sought to minimize Adari Vaal's influence and promote the notion that the past two millennia of Alanciar's history were a period of "collective madness" dominated by the fear of a "non-existent" Sith threat.

Personality and traits

Like many Alanciari Keshiri, this unidentified Keshiri actress was raised from an early age to perceive the Lost Tribe of Sith as a threat and to dedicate her life to the Great Cause of defending Alanciar from the Sith. Due to her acting skills, she was selected by the Alanciari authorities to work as an actress in a performance troupe. Since all aspects of pre-Unification Alanciari society revolved around the Great Cause, the actress was expected to propagate the teachings and messages of Adari Vaal, the "Rock of Kesh." Following the Sith Unification, it can be assumed that her talents and skills were put into the services of the Sith authorities.

Behind the scenes

The Keshiri actress was created by John Jackson Miller for Lost Tribe of the Sith: Pandemonium, the ninth novella and finale of the Lost Tribe of the Sith series. This marks her first and only known appearance in the Star Wars Legends body of literature.