Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh made her live-action debut in The Acolyte series. Master Sol has her in high regard and for good reason, but this series isn’t about “Vern” so anyone unfamiliar with the High Republic doesn’t know why she’s a big deal.
This article will tell you a little more about the life of the odd Mirialan Jedi who feels sick when traveling in hyperspace.
Vernestra’s early years
Vernestra is a Mirialan born in 248 BBY. She joined the Jedi Order almost immediately after her family realized her Force-sensitivity.
She was assigned as the Padawan of Jedi Master Stellan Gios, who happened to be stationed on Hynestia Prime. Along with Elzar Mann and Avar Kriss, Stellan Gios was seen as an incredibly skilled and powerful Jedi. The trio was highly revered even among other Jedi.
Hynestia Prime, situated in the Colonies region of the galaxy, was a tundra planet orbited by two moons. Only the equatorial zone supported human habitation due to its extreme cold. Beneath the surface, extensive cave systems and hot springs existed.
Stellan didn’t waste time and invited her new Padawan to a Force sparring session. To his surprise, the young Mirialan threw Gios to the other side of the room. She made quite an impression on her new master and the other Jedi who were watching.
Gios took Rwoh to a banquet that was being held for the purpose of a peace treaty between the royal family of Hynesia and the Hutts. The banquet was just an excuse for the Hutts to attack the Hynestians and the Jedi had to intervene.
You could say that this was her first official (and unplanned) mission as the Padawan of Stellan Gios. Despite working together for the first time, the two clicked instantly.
Vern’s whip: A unique weapon for a unique Jedi
Vernestra quickly became noticed by the higher-ranked Jedi of the Order. At the age of only fifteen, she was made a Jedi Knight. This is something that very few individuals have achieved.
The best example of her prowess is without a doubt her purple lightsaber/whip. The weapon was shown to her in a Force vision and not much later she created it by adjusting the containment field of the blade, this allowed the blade to be very flexible with the possibility of also functioning as a standard lightsaber.
A whip and a saber are two vastly different weapons with diverse uses, strengths, and weaknesses. Being able to use both at a Jedi level requires an immense amount of skill and commitment. In the current Star Wars canon, Vernestra Rwoh is the only person ever to use this type of weapon.
She was hesitant to mention her unique weapon to the other Jedi due to whips being often related to dark-side users like the Nightsisters of Dathomir. Non-canon of lightwip appearances include Star Wars Visions, and the 1977 Marvel Comics.
This weapon made its live-action debut in Episode 6 Teach/Corrupt of The Acolyte.
Getting experience
Vernestra might have been young and fairly inexperienced but her incredible skills combined with a strong devotion to the Force allowed her to endure many dangerous missions.
Rwoh was assigned to protect a young kid named Avon Starros, the daughter of Senator Ghirra Starros. Sometime after this, Jedi Master Sunvale requested both Starros and Rwoh to join him and other passengers on a ship called the Steady Wing.
The Steady Wing was headed to a ceremony dedicated to a brand new station, the Starlight Beacon. This station was built as a way to keep in touch and aid the people in the Outer Rim, the symbolic and tangible value for the people of the galaxy was immeasurable.
The importance of this station can’t be put into words. As you can imagine, a ceremony of such a thing would mean the attendance of many important figures including Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh, politicians, nobles, and many Jedi including members of the Council.
Vernestra and the other passengers went through a lot before being able to reach the iconic Starlight Beacon but after being attacked and ending up stranded they finally made it.
The Nihil conflict
Once there, the space station was attacked by pirates who called themselves The Nihil.
The Nihil were far from a common enemy. They possess strange technology that gives them access to previously unknown hyperspace routes. With the use of dark side monsters known as the Drengir and the Nameless, the Nihil could match even the most powerful members of the Jedi Order.
Inevitably, the Starlight Beacon was destroyed. Many Jedi, including Vernestra’s former master Stellan Gios, perished defending the station from the invaders.
This wasn’t the end of it, the Nihil raided countless planets in the following months and both the Jedi and Republic were actively trying to save as many people as possible while simultaneously trying to figure out a way to counter the ruthless Nihil pirates.
Journey from Jedi Knight to Wayseeker to Jedi Master
The Jedi’s efforts were immense but everything seemed futile when Marchion Ro, leader of the Nihil, created the Stormwall. This was an impenetrable barrier that devoured hundreds of systems that were left completely vulnerable to the Nihil.
Rwoh started to feel that her efforts were pointless and as a result, she became a Wayseeker Jedi. Wayseekers acted independently from the Jedi Order and didn’t answer to the High Council.
Instead, Wayseekers priority was to become more attuned to the Force. This doesn’t mean that they ignored the ever-going problems of the galaxy. Wayseekers regularly did solitary missions to help people in need, not because it was an order from the High Council but because they felt it was the will of the Force.
As shown in The Acolyte, Vernestra Rwoh became a Jedi Master and eventually returned to the Jedi Order. Her rank and experience puts her in more of a leading role rather than leading missions but as seen in The Acolyte, she will do things herself if it comes to it.
You can learn more about Vernestra Rwoh by reading Phases I and III of the High Republic. Phase III is continuing throughout 2024 and 2025 so you still have time to catch up.
We have a complete catalog of all books and comicbooks released from the beginning of The High Republic project accompanied with a recommended reading order. Take a look!
