Visas Marr

In 3952 BBY, a young female Miraluka named Visas Marr resided on Katarr, her homeworld and a Mid Rim Miraluka colony. This planet was chosen as the site for a clandestine Jedi conclave to address the hidden threats the Jedi had recently encountered. Seven years prior, Jedi Knight Revan, celebrated for his heroism in the Mandalorian Wars, had established a new Sith Empire and declared himself a Dark Lord of the Sith. Alongside his apprentice, Darth Malak, Revan initiated a conflict against the Republic and the Jedi Order.

In the years following the conclusion of the war, the Jedi had been systematically disappearing, hunted down individually. As a species, the Miraluka were naturally Force-sensitive, and the Jedi hoped that the intensified Force energy on Katarr would offer them greater clarity. Darth Nihilus, a Sith Lord and a leader of the Sith Triumvirate known for his insatiable hunger for the Force, was drawn to Katarr from beyond the Outer Rim by this gathering of Force-sensitive beings. Unable to resist the emanating pulse of Force power, he consumed all life on the planet, annihilating the assembled Jedi. Marr was the only one left alive to witness this devastation.

Miraluka generally felt uneasy around anything untouched by the Force. When Marr not only saw but also experienced the annihilation of life through the Force, the pain and shock from the severed connections rendered her unconscious and near death. After being taken aboard Nihilus's ship, she awoke to discover that the flesh where her eyes should have been had been removed. Distraught, she sought out the Dark Lord, questioning why she alone had been spared. Already broken and vulnerable, she was overwhelmed by the dark power surrounding him, and Nihilus took her as his own. In an attempt to indoctrinate her, Nihilus showed her a vision, forcing her to see the galaxy in a way her people never could: sentient beings on other planets, disconnected from the life around them and unable to feel the Force.

This vision severely damaged Marr's Force sight—her sole means of perception as a Miraluka without physical sight—leading her to believe that all life had to die. She became convinced that Nihilus fed on the galaxy's ugliness, leaving silence in its wake, and that the removal of this wretchedness brought stillness and order where chaos once reigned. Accepting Nihilus's unspoken invitation, Marr became his apprentice, receiving a meditation chamber and living quarters—which she referred to as her cell—aboard the Ravager. As Nihilus's Shadow Hand, Marr was compelled to obey her master's commands. About a year later, she sensed a growing disturbance in the Force, a faint echo rippling through the galaxy. She sought out her master to inform him of this, only to find that he had felt it as well. Intrigued and perhaps uneasy, Nihilus demanded to know if Marr could trace the anomaly's origin. Upon confirming that she could, he sent her to locate and bring the source to him.

Marr's search for the source of the echoes led her to Meetra Surik, a former Jedi General in the Mandalorian Wars who had severed her connection to the Force during the war's final battle at Malachor V. Surik alone returned to Coruscant to face the Jedi Council and defend her actions of disobeying them by joining Revan in his crusade against the Mandalorian threat. Consequently, she was exiled from the Jedi Order. After wandering the Outer Rim for nearly a decade, Surik returned to Republic space and was being hunted by Sith assassins who believed her to be the last Jedi Knight. In an effort to save the Jedi Order, Surik embarked on a mission to find the Lost Jedi who were absent from the conclave on Katarr. During her journey, Surik experienced a renewed connection to the Force, and her subsequent decisions sent tremors throughout the Force, enabling Marr to find her.

Marr infiltrated Surik's starship, the Ebon Hawk, incapacitated the crew, and engaged Surik in lightsaber combat, only to be defeated, wounded, and have her lightsaber broken. Convinced of Surik's superior strength, Marr yielded and begged Surik to end her life, as failure meant death at her master's hand. When Surik refused, Marr pledged her life to her, seemingly abandoning Nihilus before losing consciousness. Surik then took the unconscious woman to the ship's medical bay. This act of mercy surprised Surik's companion, Atton Rand, the Ebon Hawk's pilot, who was uneasy around powerful Force users, as the Miraluka were known to be. He also expressed amazement at seeing a Miraluka Sith, saying he had heard of Miraluka Jedi but never Sith, and speculated about how to kill one. Surik was incredulous at the idea of killing Marr, expressing regret for hurting the Miraluka during their duel. Rand reassured her that Marr's injuries would heal, noting that even though some wounds were severe, she looked like she had suffered many more in the past.

While Rand grudgingly accepted Marr, Kreia, Surik's informal master, greeted her arrival with barely concealed contempt. She believed that the Miraluka's ability to see through the Force was wasted on her people and that Marr should be considered a servant. Furthermore, Kreia reminded Surik that Sith were often betrayed by their apprentices and that even though Marr had pledged herself to Surik, she was bound to other masters, implying that Marr's loyalty would always be suspect. Wary of Kreia's attitude towards Marr, Surik sought her advice regarding the change Marr had brought about in her eyesight during their clash. While Kreia explained that this alteration of Surik's perception was nothing new, she expressed utter disdain for the forceful and "crude methods" that marked the Sith.

Marr's first genuine encounter with Surik left her unsettled. Unaccustomed to the mercy shown by Surik to her and others, Marr believed that this would weaken Surik against future enemies. Nevertheless, impressed by Surik's skills, Marr rediscovered hope and considered that the universe might not be as her master had shown her, and that Surik could stop him with her help. The fact that her master neither understood nor saw Surik as she did was comforting. However, Marr cautioned Surik that she needed to understand why this was so if she hoped to defeat Nihilus. Marr refused to guide Surik to him untested and without her potential realized, feeling that the Jedi was not yet ready to face such a threat, but foresaw that Surik and Nihilus would meet soon.

From that point on, Marr dedicated herself to the light side and the search for the remaining Jedi Masters. Her admiration for Surik grew, and Surik learned from her how to see through the Force as a Miraluka could. When the time came for Surik to confront Marr's former master aboard his flagship, the Ravager, following his attack on Telos IV, Marr insisted on going, sensing that her presence would be crucial in defeating Nihilus. Similarly, Mandalore the Preserver, who had been traveling with Surik to gather the scattered Mandalorian clans, insisted that he and his troops lead the charge into battle, claiming his warriors were best suited for the task.

Upon arriving on the ruined ship, Mandalore announced he would accompany Marr and Surik to the bridge, distrusting Surik's ability to complete the mission. However, his low opinion of Surik's capabilities stemmed from a general belief that anyone who was not a Mandalorian was ineffective. As they proceeded to the bridge, Marr, with Surik's permission, visited her meditation chamber one last time, finally coming to terms with the destruction of Katarr. Her newfound strength would guide her through the trial ahead, not for vengeance but for the sake of all life. In a final test of allegiance, Marr confronted Darth Nihilus, her fate resting solely on Surik, who gave her the chance to stand up to the one who had wounded her. Overwhelmed by the Sith Lord's powers, Nihilus stunned Surik, and Marr offered her life to spare Surik. This devotion distracted Nihilus long enough for Surik to recover. Surik realized that Marr was a link between Nihilus and the power bound within the Ravager. Struggling with the weight of that power, Marr exploited the bond to her former master and blocked his connection to the Force, momentarily stunning him. Together, Mandalore, Marr, and Surik defeated Nihilus. Before fleeing the ship's destruction, Marr felt compelled to look beneath Nihilus's death mask to sever the last remaining bond between them.

Soon after Darth Nihilus's death, Surik confronted and defeated the last two leaders of the Sith Triumvirate, Darth Sion and Surik's former teacher, Kreia, who had reassumed the title of Darth Traya. This final struggle occurred at the Triumvirate's headquarters, the ancient Trayus Academy, located deep within Malachor V's craggy surface. This final battle ended the shadow conflict that the Jedi had faced since the end of the Jedi Civil War, and Marr played a role in the subsequent restoration of the Jedi Order. Furthermore, according to Darth Traya's final predictions shortly before her death, Marr returned to her homeworld and, looking upon its surface, finally saw what she was meant to see.

The Miraluka were known as individuals strongly committed to their chosen path, as evidenced by Marr's dedication to helping Meetra Surik stop her former master. However, the trauma of witnessing her world's death through the Force left Marr shattered and vulnerable, damaging her Force Sight. Darth Nihilus exploited this, twisting her psyche until she became utterly subservient and hopeless, disconnected from herself and life, a mere shell of a being.

Marr's defeat at Surik's hands proved to be the catalyst that broke Nihilus's hold and restored her free will. She confessed to Surik that the very fact that Surik's nature had eluded her master gave her hope that he could be defeated. The search for the Jedi Masters reestablished Marr's connection to life, and believing Surik responsible, she vowed to protect her. Although she never completely lost her servile attitude, Marr's journey with Surik allowed her to gain the confidence and self-respect that ultimately severed the final bond to her former master and enabled her to rediscover herself.

Like all Miraluka, Marr was born physically blind and relied on Force sight to see the physical world, including seeing through walls. While this Force power was characteristic of the Miraluka, it was not species-specific, and Marr later taught it to Meetra Surik. Her sense of the Force was highly developed, as evidenced by her detection of Surik from across the galaxy during her time as Darth Nihilus's apprentice. The depth of her Force sensitivity granted Marr the ability to manipulate the Force to move or control objects through space, commonly known as "Jedi's object movement power" or telekinesis. This talent included pulling and pushing objects with minimal effort. She may also have practiced farsight, as she could 'see' the eventual showdown between her first and final master.

Furthermore, Marr was skilled in using what were considered dark side powers, such as grasping and choking enemies, and unleashing raw dark-side energy. Her connection to the dark side allowed her to use Dark Healing, an ability that fueled regenerative processes by draining another's life force. Marr's return to the light side after her defeat by Meetra Surik allowed her to continue training as a Jedi Sentinel. Because of her training as a Jedi Sentinel, Surik later gave her a yellow-bladed lightsaber, enhancing her knowledge of lightsaber combat.

Visas Marr was created by Obsidian Entertainment as a companion in the 2004 video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. Like most companions, she was written by Chris Avellone and voiced by American actress Kelly Hu. Brian Menze was one of her concept artists. Marr's story and background were further developed in the six-page comic "Unseen, Unheard," featured in Star Wars Tales 24, and the Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide. Additionally, the Jedi Sentinel miniature in Wizards of the Coast's Champions of the Force miniatures set resembles Visas Marr. A second miniature, explicitly labeled as Marr, was released in the Knights of the Old Republic set.

There was some initial confusion regarding Marr's actions aboard the Ravager and her role in Darth Nihilus's death. Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force, written as an in-universe historical account, suggested that it was unclear whether Marr had killed Nihilus, even implying that Nihilus might have killed her. This was clarified in the Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide, which stated that Marr led Surik to her former master and was crucial in restoring the Jedi Order. Additionally, the player could convince Marr to sacrifice herself to weaken Nihilus, but only if she was equipped with standard clothes and a melee weapon or lightsaber.

In Knights of the Old Republic II, the game's mechanics allowed players to select either the light or dark side for their character's path. The dialog between the player and their companions, as well as the companions' internal monologues, shifted based on this choice. Furthermore, the player's alignment affected the available side quests and certain action sequences within the game. For instance, if Surik followed the dark side path, Visas Marr's gameplay changed; she gradually forgot about Katarr and instead developed an overwhelming desire for revenge against anyone who had caused her pain. Additionally, Marr's experience in her meditation chamber on the Ravager was altered. Light side Surik caused Marr to hear whispers, while dark side Surik caused her to hear screams.

To unlock a prestige class, which is similar to becoming a Jedi Master in Knights of the Old Republic II, the game mechanics required Marr to join Surik's party. Moreover, Marr, along with Kreia, was one of the two female characters who refused to dance for Vogga the Hutt during the "Vogga's Dancers" quest. There was also an item named "Visas Marr's lightsaber," which could be obtained via a cheat code. However, it remained unclear whether this was the same lightsaber Marr wielded when she initially boarded the Ebon Hawk. This item was a slightly more effective red-bladed lightsaber with no special abilities beyond bearing Marr's name.

The New Essential Guide to Droids established canonicity by confirming Meetra Surik as female. The game mechanics permitted the player to choose either a male or female character. If a male character was chosen, Marr, along with Brianna (who was only available to male players), was intended as one of two potential romantic interests. However, due to game mechanics, a romance with either character was technically impossible. Unlike the original Knights of the Old Republic game, there was no dialog-driven romance system. Instead, the romance was hinted at through conversations and cutscenes. Near the game's conclusion, Marr confessed her love for the male Surik if he had gained sufficient influence with her, although the player character could not reciprocate those feelings.

Marr and Brianna saw each other as rivals for Surik's affection. A cutscene depicted Brianna confronting Marr out of jealousy, claiming that Marr would only bring harm to Surik. Marr responded that she only wanted to protect Surik and that Brianna knew this because she could sense it in Marr's actions, just as Marr could sense it in Brianna's. Marr then challenged Brianna to describe Surik's appearance, which Brianna failed to do adequately, stating that he looked like a man, but also something more. Another cutscene featured Mira, a bounty hunter and another of Surik's companions, expressing her confusion about Brianna and Marr's rivalry over Surik. She believed that since she had captured him—Mira initially tracked Surik for Zez-Kai Ell, one of the lost Jedi Masters Surik was searching for, on Nar Shaddaa—he belonged to her.

There were at least two conversations that focused on the physical aspects of a potential romance between Surik and Marr. Kreia voiced one of these conversations shortly after Marr joined the group on the Ebon Hawk. She cautioned Surik to control his desires and avoid mating with the seer, as it could lead to both physical and emotional complications. The player could respond negatively, stating that sparing her life did not imply romantic interest. Kreia remained skeptical, suggesting that Surik should have learned restraint and discipline during his exile. Another conversation occurred when Mira remarked that Surik seemed to have a strange peace after he initiated a conversation with her. When Surik explained that his peace came through the Force, Mira suggested that Surik and Visas might have "hooked up a power coupling," explaining, "You know, been intimate," when Surik expressed confusion. (Note: This latter dialogue also occurs if the player's love interest is the Handmaiden.)

After the deaths of the Jedi Masters at the Jedi Enclave and Surik's discovery that his ability to form strong Force bonds was the reason his companions followed him, Marr declared her love for him. She argued that the Masters were wrong; she chose to follow him and would sacrifice herself for him if necessary. She explained that she had loved him from the moment she first sensed him through the Force, recognizing someone who shared her sense of loss. She pleaded with Surik to stay with her, even though she knew he could not. Her final request was to have the opportunity to see him when they were alone, leading to a meditation where they looked at each other using Force Sight.

As with many characters, Marr's role was originally intended to be larger, but some details and scenes were ultimately cut from the final game. The majority of this cut content would have provided greater insight into the relationships between Marr and other characters. One such scene involved Surik having the option to spar with Marr under Kreia's supervision after Marr joined the party and acquired a lightsaber. According to developer comments in the game's conversation file, another scene depicted the initial battle between the player and Marr, during which she used her Force Sight to blind the player.

The Ravager was planned as a location that would have highlighted a stronger connection between Mandalore and Marr, in addition to player choices. At one point, Marr and Mandalore exchanged dialogue, warning each other against betrayal. Later, when Mandalore was injured, Marr healed him. In gratitude, he shared some of his history with Revan. The duel on the Ravager was expanded to include the option for the player to become Nihilus's new apprentice, which the player could have chosen truthfully or falsely. If chosen truthfully, the player character would have turned on Marr and killed her, prompting Mandalore to comment on the betrayal of allies. If chosen falsely, the player, Marr, and Mandalore would have attacked Nihilus together.

In a scene related to the endgame, Marr confronted Kreia at the Jedi Enclave. Kreia reiterated her disdain for the Miraluka and criticized Marr's weakness. In what was considered one of the most significant cuts from the endgame, Marr joined the other party members in confronting and attempting to kill Kreia in the Trayus Academy before Surik's arrival. However, they were incapacitated by Kreia's Force Crush and imprisoned by Darth Sion. Atton was the only one who managed to escape.

In at least one possible ending for a male player character, Brianna provoked Marr into a fight by claiming to have seduced Surik—triggered by previous dialogue options on the Ebon Hawk—once the player entered the Trayus Proving Grounds. Depending on the outcome of the fight and after Darth Traya's defeat, Surik would leave either Marr or Brianna in charge of the Trayus Academy, tasking them with training future Force-sensitives. The player character would then depart for the Unknown Regions in search of Revan.