Vernestra Rwoh possessed a lightsaber with a purple blade, which is also referred to as the lightsaber of Vernestra Rwoh, or simply Vernestra's lightsaber. This weapon, a lightsaber with a purple blade, was wielded by Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh throughout the High Republic Era. Initially, it functioned as a standard single-bladed lightsaber. However, Rwoh modified it, enabling it to alternate between lightsaber and lightwhip configurations. This innovative design was inspired by a dream. She secretly honed her skills with the lightwhip for several weeks, keeping the modification a secret, until the group found themselves stranded on the jungle moon Wevo. To clear dense vegetation and escape the threat of acid rain, she revealed the weapon's unique capability. A ring located just below the blade emitter was twisted to switch between the blade modes.
The purple-bladed lightsaber of Vernestra Rwoh, also known as Vernestra Rwoh's lightsaber, or as Vernestra's lightsaber, was a single-bladed weapon with a cylindrical hilt utilized by the Mirialan Vernestra Rwoh. Its purple blade was powered by a [kyber crystal](/article/kyber_crystal]. Originally, it was a standard lightsaber, but Rwoh modified it to incorporate a lightwhip mode, which was activated by twisting the first ring on the hilt, an idea that came to her in a dream. When in whip mode, the blade became flexible and extended beyond its length in saber mode.
Long before achieving the rank of Jedi Knight, Vernestra Rwoh constructed her lightsaber. She wielded it during her time as the Padawan of Jedi Master Stellan Gios. At the young age of fifteen, she earned the title of Knight, becoming the youngest in her generation to do so. Following her promotion, she was assigned to Port Haileap, an outpost under the guidance of Jedi Master and marshal Douglas Sunvale. Her initial assignment involved supervising Avon Starros, an aspiring inventor. Avon's mother, Senator Ghirra Starros, had sent her away from Coruscant to prevent her from causing trouble.
One week after arriving at Port Haileap, Vernestra experienced a Force vision one night. This vision revealed how to modify her lightsaber, enabling it to transform into a lightwhip. She remained awake until she finalized the design. However, uncertain about how others would react to the modification, Vernestra kept the whip a secret, not informing Masters Sunvale or Gios of the change to her lightsaber. For several weeks, she practiced with the whip in secret, learning that she had to be aware of where the tendrils were lest she accidentally lose a limb. Vernestra and Avon were eventually asked to join a delegation travelling to the Starlight Beacon space station on the cruiser Steady Wing. Sunvale hoped that Avon would befriend Honesty Weft, the son of the Dalnan ambassador. However, the starship was bombed on route, stranding Vernestra, Avon, Sunvale's Padawan Imri Cantaros, Honesty and Avon's protocol droid J-6 on the jungle moon Wevo after they escaped in a shuttle.
Due to acid rain on the moon, the group needed to find shelter quickly, and dispatched scout droid SD-7 to locate a cave. As both she and Imri were growing tired, and they had drawn ahead of the children and J-6, who were sheltering under a force field umbrella, Vernestra reluctantly decided to reveal her lightsaber's whip mode to the Padawan, as it would allow her to clear brush faster. Imri pointed out that lightwhips were often used by the Nightsisters. Vernestra, feeling defensive, countered that the Jedi had also used them during the Sith Wars, and that the Force itself had led her to the design. By utilizing the whip, the two Jedi were able to traverse the brush more quickly, ultimately uncovering the cave that SD-7 had found, allowing the group to seek refuge.
During a rescue operation on the planet Khofar in 132 BBY, Vernestra employed her lightsaber's whip mode to eliminate an Umbramoth.
The lightsaber of Vernestra Rwoh made its first appearance in the novel The High Republic: A Test of Courage, penned by Justina Ireland. The author conceived of the weapon's unique lightwhip mode as a way to showcase the hidden depths of Vernestra's character, as on the surface she appears to be a fairly conventional Jedi.