Unidentified orange-skinned Nihil
An alien male individual functioned as a member within the Nihil marauders, specifically as part of the crew serving on Eye of the Nihil Marchion Ro's starship, known as the Gaze Electric. Back in 232 BBY, this alien played a role in the extraction of Elder Tromak from the planet Trymant IV when an impending Emergence from the Great Hyperspace Disaster put the planet in danger. Following Ro's directives, this alien engaged in combat against the Jedi who were attempting to seize the Nihil's Spider Cruiser, the Squall Spider, with the intention of preventing the vessel from being used for the evacuation of civilians.
Biography
During the High Republic Era, an alien male individual served as a member of the Nihil marauders. At some point, Eye of the Nihil Marchion Ro significantly reduced the size of the crew on his ship, the Gaze Electric, retaining only a small group, which included this particular alien. In 232 BBY, Ro masterminded a collision between the Byne Guild freighter Legacy Run and an obstacle, resulting in the Great Hyperspace Disaster. This disaster led to Emergences—fragments of hyperspace debris—appearing from space and colliding with celestial bodies across the galaxy. After receiving information that an Emergence would threaten multiple locations within the Trymant system, Ro decided to abduct Elder Tromak from the planet Trymant IV before its destruction. This was motivated by Tromak's knowledge of the location of a part of an ancient relic that the Eye was seeking. Ro, along with several other Nihil, including the alien, utilized the Spider Cruiser Squall Spider to reach the planet's surface.
As flaming pieces of debris began to fall upon Bralanak City, the alien, along with other Nihil, exited the cruiser, brandishing their blaster rifles. Tromak encountered the group, intending to willingly evacuate Trymant IV aboard the Squall Spider. When the young Disciples Krix Kamerat and Zeen Mrala attempted to accompany Tromak, the alien Nihil raised a hand and stopped them, indicating that the evacuation was exclusively for the Elder. After sarcastically wishing them well in the impending apocalypse, the children protested, prompting the alien to challenge them to attempt to bypass the Nihil. Tromak intervened on their behalf, pleading with the marauders to spare the children, although the alien Nihil hesitated, noting that Ro had instructed them to rescue only the former.
Shortly thereafter, a group of Jedi Padawans led by Padawan Lula Talisola requested that the Nihil allow them to use their Spider Cruiser to evacuate the civilians of Bralanak City. The alien Nihil expressed disgust at being asked to relinquish their ship to a group of children, with another Nihil adding that they were also Jedi. The alien and their companions began firing upon the Padawans as Kamerat and Mrala dove out of the way, initiating a skirmish. Amidst the firefight, Ro lowered the Squall Spider's boarding ramp and commanded his Nihil to kill all of the Jedi. The alien fought against the Padawans and Jedi Masters Yoda and Torban Buck, and despite being knocked to the ground at least once, they continued fighting afterward. Ultimately, the Spider Cruiser fled Trymant IV, evading the Jedi Vector blockade in the planet's skies.
Personality and traits
The Nihil demonstrated a willingness to strictly adhere to orders, desiring only to evacuate Tromak as per Ro's instructions and refusing to save any other individuals, even children. They further expressed disdain for the idea of giving the Squall Spider to Jedi Padawans for their use and was ready to follow Ro's commands to eliminate the group of Jedi. The Nihil was a humanoid alien characterized by orange skin.
Equipment
While on Trymant IV, the Nihil was attired in a long-sleeved green shirt, brown pants, and a green cloak. They also wore a red gas mask with brown tubing and white spikes, brown braces on their lower arms and legs, a grey bandolier, and a brown belt with a grey buckle and brown utility pouches. The Nihil carried a grey, long-barreled blaster rifle and completed their attire with spiked grey shoulder coverings.
Behind the scenes
The Nihil made its first appearance in the first issue of the 2021 comic series Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures, which was released as part of Phase I of the Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia project. The issue was penned by Daniel José Older, illustrated by Harvey Tolibao, and published by IDW Publishing on February 3, 2021. Panels showcasing the Nihil were featured in an uncolored preview of The High Republic Adventures 1, which was released in The High Republic Free Digital Sampler on December 12, 2020.