Star Wars The High Republic Phase III Timeline Explained

Everything you need to know about the timeline of events and stories from The High Republic era of Star Wars included in Phase III of the multimedia project.

What is The High Republic Project

The High Republic is a multimedia project that officially began in 2021. The stories of this era are published in comics, novels for different ages, short stories, and even audio dramas. It covers from 382 BBY to 100 BBY.

More recently, it started spreading to video games with the Star Wars Jedi Survivor and The Acolyte TV Series.

There are three different Phases. The number of each phase represents the order in which they were released, but not the chronological order. The chronological order would be:

Phase II – Phase I – Phase III.

What this article covers

I recommend that you experience these stories first, but if that’s not possible, then this article summarizes and explains the most important events from Phase III for anyone who doesn’t want or can’t spend time and money consuming these stories.

The information included here is taken mostly from the Adult and Young Adult novels of Phase III:

• The Eye of Darkness
• Defy the Storm
• Temptation of the Force
• Tears of the Nameless
• Into the Light
• Trials of the Jedi

To put it into perspective, listening to all of them in audio format would take 83 hours at regular speed, assuming you never rewind.

About Phase III

This is where the entire High Republic culminates. All storylines converge in this final phase. Keeping track of everything can be overwhelming, but it’s worth it.

All of these characters were introduced in Phase I, and some sotries go all the way back to Phase II, which happened 150 years before.

To fully understand this article, you must be familiar with everything that happened in Phase I.

The final confrontation between the Jedi and the Nihil looms. The valiant Jedi are spread thin as they are put to the ultimate test on four separate fronts.

Some rally against the NIHIL MARAUDERS who plan to punish the planet ERIADU for its resistance to their rule. Others patrol the dangerous border of the OCCLUSION ZONE, protecting planets from vicious Nihil raids. A brave few struggle to stop the mysterious BLIGHT, an infection moving from planet to planet, draining worlds of life. Still others battle the sinister MARCHION RO and his monstrous NAMELESS CREATURES.

To save the Republic, the Jedi will face their fears in their most daunting challenges yet. If they fail on just one of these battlefronts, the wave of darkness will extinguish the light of the Jedi forever….

Catching up

It’s been a year since the tragic destruction of the Starlight Beacon, which has fractured the galaxy and the Republic. Marchion Ro and the Nihil have created an impenetrable barrier known as the Stormwall around a huge portion of the Outer Rim.

It is known as the Occlusion Zone, and its main purpose is to cut off hyperspace travel. It also prevents any communications to the systems trapped inside it. At this point, the Jedi and Republic are incapable of entering the Oclussion Zone. Many people, including Jedi, are tucked inside Nihil-controlled territory without any hope of being rescued soon.

The Jedi Order is at its lowest point. Protecting the Starlight Beacon and everyone aboard it was their responsibility, and they failed miserably. The loss of individuals like Jedi Master Stellan Gios still haunts everyone, especially Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann.

Jedi Master Avar Kriss is one of the many Jedi who are trapped behind the Stormwall. All the recent events have led the Jedi Master to doubt her worth and role as a Jedi. While the burden of failure is heavy, she also understands that if there’s someone capable of helping the people under Nihil rule, it’s definitely her.

Kriss quickly becomes a beacon of hope for everyone in the Oclussion Zone. She even manages to steal a Nihil ship and convince the pilot to help her deliver supplies to multiple worlds.

The doubt of the Jedi

On Republic space, Jedi and Republic scientists are trying to find a way to breach the barrier, but to no avail. There are multiple attempts to penetrate the stormwall with ships, but this only causes more losses.

Elzar Mann took the place of Stellan Gios in the Jedi Council temporarily, but his inability to do anything meaningful in the recent months and his brief reach to the dark side have reduced his confidence significantly.

To make things worse, Ghirra Starros, a former Republic Senator who is now the public face and voice of the Nihil, is trying for the Republic to recognize the Occlusion Zone as Nihil territory. Doing so would mean that they officially abandon every system and billions of lives that are now under Nihil rule.

Marchion Ro’s cruelty

While Ghirra Starros is trying to make this deal, Marchion Ro does something unforgivable. He broadcasts to the whole galaxy the execution of the Jedi Grandmaster Pra-Tre Veter at the hands (or claws) of a Nameless.

Everyone witnessed how one of the top members of the Order pleaded for his life after being imbued with the uncontrollable terror that a Nameless infuses in force-sensitives. The gruesome scene convinces everyone in the Republic that no deal can ever be achieved with someone as cruel and despicable as Marchion Ro.

It’s clear that, despite serving Marchion Ro, Ghirra Starros has a different vision for the Nihil. As smart and resourceful as Ghirra is, she’s still powerless compared to Marchion Ro.

Not only are their recently reorganized Nihil soldiers well armed and loyal, but the Stormwall and the Nameless have proven invincible against his sworn enemies. It’s sad and frustrating for them to admit, but during this moment, the Jedi and Republic are completely at the hands of the Nihil.

The Hero of Hetzal returns

Porter Engle finds Avar Kriss after learning that she was alive and also inside the Occlusion Zone. The two Jedi think of a plan to escape; all they need is to capture a Nihil ship equipped with a Path engine.

They end up attempting to steal the Cacophony, a Nihil Stormship. Before they take full control of the ship, General Viess arrives to join the fight. Viess is ruthless and arguably the most skilled warrior in the entire Nihil army.

A couple of setbacks delay their escape, so Porter Engle decides to engage General Viess in combat. This buys enough time for Avar Kriss to escape. After months away, she is finally back on Coruscant.

Kriss’s return to the Republic brings hope to everyone. The Hero of Hetzal is alive. This is massive not only because of what she represents to the people, but because she is the first person to cross the Stormwall.

Since she used a special EX droid memory bank instead of a regular Path engine, they now have a way to potentially repeat this process multiple times.

Such an event might appear small on the grand scale of things, but this step is incredibly important in beating one of the many obstacles Marchion Ro has placed before the Republic.

Starros and Rwoh team up

Avon Starros tries to persuade her mother, Ghirra Starros, to send her away from the Nihil. To the University of Coruscant, to be precise. Ghirra agrees with the condition that she attends an important celebration.

When heading to the celebration, Avon is attacked, but her bodyguard Lompop eats the assassin. Well, everything but the head.

Avon throws the head in front of her mother and Marchion Ro, stating that she intends to leave. This is amusement for the Eye of the Nihil, since he doesn’t care about the girl he doesn’t prevent her from leaving.

Xylan Graf has been forced to work for the Nihil. He answers directly to General Viess, who is still bitter about Avar Kriss’ escape from the occlusion zone. Graf isn’t the creator of the Stormwall, so he can only theorize how the Jedi Master was able to escape what everyone else thought to be impenetrable.

Avon arrives on Coruscant and quickly joins the university. She tries to find Vernestra Rwoh but is told by Reath Silas that Rwoh has gone missing after stepping away from the Jedi Order.

After acquiring the data through shady means, Avon locates Rwoh on Ibbe. The young inventor convinces her Jedi friend to team up and find Imri Cantaros, who was left behind by Starros when Nihil soldiers retrieved her. Imri is with J-6, Avon’s droid, but since they are in Nihil territory, their safety is anything but guaranteed.

At a party hosted by Ghirra Starros, Xylan Graf convinces Starros to share information that could be beneficial for both parties. The reason behind it is that none of them think the Nihil can continue to operate the same way if there’s any hope to establish an “empire”.

After a strange scheme, Lompop, Avon, Vernestra and Sparkburn, and Xylan Graf end up together. The group is planning to cross the Stormwall, but tensions are high when Sparkburn refuses to say her reasons to go with the group.

They arrive at Seswenna, where Vern feels the effects of a nearby Nameless. Thankfully, it wasn’t after her, but the exposure leaves the Jedi exhausted, and she is forced to sleep to recover.

We learn that Cair San Tekka and Xylan Graf are a couple, and one that no one knows about since both of their families own two massive corporations that are in direct competition with each other.

After his brief reunion with Cair, Xylan returns to the others. Avon puts an epitaxial discharger on Cairs wrist. If he doesn’t do as he’s told, the device will cut his hand. His current goal might be aligned with Avon’s, but his past has proven that he can’t be trusted.

Avon takes Graf, and the two sneak back to the ship without Rwoh or Lompop. They head to the coordinates Avon previously stole, but these are fake, as Avon realized the coordinates lead to a Nihil kill zone. Eventually, they reach the Lighting Crash, where Graf is able to recover his dog Plinka.

Rwoh has another hyperspace vision; this time, Mari San Tekka reveals that Lompop is the one who might answer some of her questions. This is because Lompop was born in what is commonly known as Wild Space. After waking up, Rwoh and Lompop get a message from Avon, stating that she is going to destroy the Stormwall while also telling Avon where to find her apprentice.

Vernestra Rwoh arrives at Arli, after a brief encounter with Nihil patrol ships, she and Lompop land on the moon. Shortly after, they break into a droid shop where she’s met by J-6.

The droid tells Rwoh how the Nihil are forcing people on the moon to harvest or process a highly valuable root. Because of this, J-6 and Imri are trying to form a small army. Though they are seriously outnumbered.

Sparkburn and San Tekka also arrive on Arli, but they notice that the surface is devastated. It’s hard to understand the reason behind it, but one thing is clear: the moon is dying. The worst thing is that this strange affliction affects living beings as well.

The raid of the Lightning Crash

Aboard the Lighting Crash space station, Graf and Avon confront the Nihil scientist Mkampa. The original plan was to destroy the station, but that would kill innocent people, so that idea was discarded. Before leaving, Graf hands Avon a disc that contains the codes of the Nihil path engines, hoping these codes can help Avon decipher a way to breach the Stormwall.

Meanwhile, on Arli’s moon, Rwoh, Imri, J-,6, and the small army made of civilians managed to defeat the Nihil slavers. However, the moon is collapsing, and they are all in imminent danger. Sparkburn tells them all to board the ship before it’s too late.

As everyone is discussing where to take the refugees, they notice that San Tekka’s hand has been infected. They cut it and put it inside a containment field. After doing so, Sparkburn realizes that this blight resembles the body of a Jedi who has been killed by a Nameless.

Vernestra Rwoh’s prowess

Rwoh and Cantaros finally get a moment to catch up. Rwoh offers her apprentice to bring him back to the Jedi Order, and even grants him the rank of Jedi Knight, but Cantaros refuses, as he doesn’t want to fight anymore.

Everyone managed to return to Seswenna, though some encountered more obstacles than others. It’s urgent that they return to the Republic so they can deliver San Tekka’s. They still don’t know it, but this blight is going to be the greatest threat the galaxy has ever met.

The Dreadful Day takes off with everyone but Graf on board, they attempt to cross the Stormwall, but the ship is thrown out of hyperspace, as the navicomputer can’t hold all the data. Instead, Vernestra Rwoh will manually input all the coordinates. This is something that only a Jedi can do.

After a brief stop on Takodana, they manage to return to Coruscant. With the help of other scientists from Coruscant University, Avon immediately starts working on a way to decipher the data of the Stormwall.

Rwoh reluctantly reports back to the Jedi Council and reports everything that happened both when she was away and inside the Occlusion Zone. Later, she meets Elzar Mann and shows him the recording of the Jedi Master killing Chancey Yarrow.

Hours later, Reath Silas meets with Azlin Rell. The Jedi tells Rell some of his findings regarding the Nameless creatures, and he also shows the strange calcified hand of Cair San Tekka. Rell doesn’t answer any of Reath’s questions. Instead, he just starts laughing.

Breaching the Stormwall

Avar Kriss attempts to convince Elzar Mann to join her in a mission that will attempt to breach the Stormwall. As much as he’d like to be in Avar’s company, Elzar is still struggling to trust himself.

With the help of the device created by Avon Starros, Kriss and Friielan are able to cross the Stormwall without issue. On the rendezvous point, they find a Nihil ship that turns out to be a disguised Republic vessel known as the Brightbird.

Aboard the Brightbird, she meets Rhil Dairo, Marlowe, Belin, and Vellis San Tekka. One of the missions of this group is to bring hope to those who are in Nihil space. It’s not much, but keeping morale up at times like this can be essential for survival. Avar agrees to record messages for this cause.

Burryaga and Bell Zettifar are on the planet Oanne, trying to convince the Elia-An species to leave their homeworld due to the threat of the Nihil. The Elia-An have a symbiotic relationship with their nativity trees; reason why they are refusing to leave.

It’s during this conversation that a message informs Burryaga and Bell that Drengir have been spotted in a neighboring system. The two Jedi decide to travel to Felne 6.

Marchion Ro visits a crystal farm located on Norisyn’s fifth moon that is being afflicted by a strange blight. During his visit, Ro sees the image of Marda Ro, his ancestor and founder of the Nihil. After throwing an animal into the blight, Ro realizes that its effect is very similar to what happens when a Force-user is attacked by a Nameless.

Porter Engle continues to hunt down General Viess. He attempts to place an ambush, but the presence of a Nameless prevents him from going further with his plan. Before retreating, he hears one of the messages recorded by Avar Kriss. The news of her survival brings joy and hope not only to the old Jedi Master but to everyone who hears it. The hero of Hetzal is alive and in Nihil space.

On the Gaze Electric, Marchion Ro asks his secretary Thaya Ferr to make a list of any other places that reported the same blight he saw on the crystal farm. After checking old family reports, he realizes that this isn’t the first time the blight has appeared.

Due to this discovery and more appearances of Marda Ro and even his father, Marchion is distracted during a meeting with his ministers. Ghirra Starros notices this. After the meeting, Ro sends Ghirra a message asking about the whereabouts of her daughter Avon Starros (who now goes under the name of Avon Sunvale).

Ghirra sees this as a threat, so she asks Xylan Graf, one of her spies, to leave the Lightning Crash space station. The reason behind this is that Avon and Xylan have crossed each other in the past. It wouldn’t take long for Marchion to get the information.

Xylan Graf’s change of attitude

Burryaga, Bell Zettifar, and Zettifar’s charhound, Ember, find the Drengir but notice there is something different with this one. Burryaga prevents Zettifar from attacking the carnivorous creature, as it’s dying.

The Jedi Council offers Elzar Mann a permanent seat in the Council. Elzar finally confesses how he touched the dark side right before killing Chancey Yarrow during the attack on the Starlight Beacon. However, the council doesn’t see this as something that would reverse their decision.

As Avar Kriss and Vernestra Rwoh prepare to breach the Stormwall aboard the Axiom, a Nihil ship emerges from the other side of the Stormwall. Aboard it is Xylan Graf, claiming he has intel on how to destroy the Stormwall.

Cair San Tekka returns to Naboo, where he has supposedly been for the past weeks. The San Tekka family has established itself as one of the most prominent groups on Naboo.

Sadly for him, General Viess is already waiting for him. Viess discovers that San Tekka and Graf are together because Plinka, Graf’s dog, is on the San Tekka compound. Both of them are now Viess’ prisoners.

When being interrogated by the Republic’s forces, Graf tells them how he was kidnapped by the Nihil and forced to work on the Stormwall. Destroying wasn’t a viable option, so he decided to take the home key and escape with it as a way to bargain.

In exchange, he wants a full pardon and for the Republic to free Naboo. Where both his dog and husband are currently at. Graf convinces Chancellor Lina Soh that his intel is useful, mainly because of the support of both Avon and Vernestra Rwoh.

Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann have a small talk about how much everything has changed since Stellan Gios’ death. Despite how hard everything is, they are once again hopeful that the light will triumph.

Ghirra Starros tries to reach Ro but is told by Nan that he is missing. This angers Starros, as Ro continues to disappear without informing anyone. She is contacted by Viess, who informs her about Cair San Tekka’s capture.

Starros warns Viess about a possible attack on the Lighting Crash, the station where the Nihil coordinates the Stormwall satellites. Viess disregards Starros’ concern.

The reason behind Ro’s absence is that he has been experimenting with the blight, exposing Nameless to it. While its effects aren’t as strong on them as on other beings, it’s clear that they are afraid of it. The idea of turning this blight into a weapon makes Ro very happy.

The Battle of Naboo

Two teams are created for different missions. Elzar Mann leads an attack on the Lighting Crash, while Avar Kriss takes Bell Zettifar, Vernestra Rwoh, Burryaga, and Republic forces to Naboo.

The attack on the Lighting Crash is simple but straightforward, a direct attack that the Nihil are unprepared for. This mission is a success; the Stormwall is down.

General Viess is having dinner with her hostage, Cair San Tekka, when she receives a message about the attack on the Lightning Crash. She isn’t too concerned about this, as the space station powers the Stormwall but does not control it. Shortly after, the Republic fleet arrived on Naboo.

Before she can do anything, Porter Engle enters the room. Cair leaves the room while Engle and Viess engage in a duel. A few Nameless are nearby, which affects Engle, but Viess orders her staff to take their creatures away.

Rwoh, Burry and Zettifar search for General Viess while Kriss engages the Nihil fleet. Before they can find Viess, the three Jedi stumble upon the Nameless. Thankfully, Cair San Tekka and some of the remaining staff prevent the Jedi from being eaten.

It’s important to point out that Burryaga manages to resist the terror and kills a Nameless with his lightsaber. This is the first time ever a Jedi has resisted the effects of a Nameless. Not even the Jedi High Council has managed to do it.

After dealing with the Nameless, they continue their search of General Viess but she escapes. However, the ship she took has a beacon that can be traced. Elzar Mann and his forces arrive on Naboo to ensure victory over the Nihil invaders.

The blight and the Drengir

Marchion Ro inspects a Drengir that was calcified by the blight. He realizes that the worlds where the blight have appear are also plecces where the Nihil seeded the Drengir. He receives news about Naboo and the Lighting Crash but he’s unfazed.

Cair, Xylan and Plinka are finally reunited. Porter Engle is happy about the victory but tells Kriss that he is leaving soon to hunt General Viess.

In a separate room, Kriss and Mann have a deep conversation about their emotions surrounding the past events, but most importantly, the feelings they have for each other.

They even kiss, which is obviously a very big deal because of how they are not supposed to develop such feelings for each other. Both state their love for each other, but decide to leave the conversation for later. It is dangerous to feed these feelings when the biggest battles are yet to come.

The communications across the Stormwall are no longer working. Marchion Ro managed to bring the Stormwall back. They need to send someone to see what is happening; the chosen ones for this task are Avar Kriss, Vernestra Rwoh, Cair San Tekka and Xylan Graf.

Marchion continues to research the blight, this time on a desert planet where he planted the Drengir. There are no Drengirs to be seen and it is also afflicted by the blight. He uses the Rod of Power to walk freely through the blight without getting infected.

After reporting their encounter with the Nameless to the council, Burryaga and Zettifar go Oanne. This planet is infected with the blight. The Wookiee tries to push it back with the Force, just like how he fought the Nameless. A good attempt, but futile in the end. The two Jedi leave Oanne temporarily to report to the Council.

Avar Kriss understands that where the Drengir have been, the blight follows. Though neither she nor the other Jedi can tell the relation between them. Their next destination is Vixoseph I. Before leaving, Kriss and Mann quickly address their “situationship” and both agree that it feels right. As long as it doesn’t turn into something selfish or dangerous.

General Viess lets Porter Engle track her. Just like him, she is eager to continue their duel. Engle boards a Nihil ship,and after taking a few of them down, they are dismissed by Viess, who wants to take care of this personally. Porter Engle corners the Nihil general, which leads to her fleeing.

As Kriss, Mann and the other Jedi reach Vixoseph I, they see the Gaze Electric leaving the planet. If Marchion Ro was here, they must be on the right track. What they didn’t know is that Ro is still on the planet, only his ship was sent away.

The Jedi are ambushed by both Nameless and Drengir. Burryaga, Avar, and Elzar attempt what Burry did on Naboo. While they try to hold against the Nameless, Vernestra follows an injured Drengir. She witnessed something odd: a Nameless attacking a Drengir.

The Nameless gets strangled by the Drengir’s vines, but the latter has been fatally wounded. Rwoh is about to put it out of its misery when Marchion Ro stops her with his own lightsaber. Vernestra attacks Marchion, but he defends easily; she is still recovering from the Nameless’ effects.

The Gaze Electric returns, but before leaving, Marchion throws a piece of the blight at the injured Drengir. As he retires, Vernestra sees how he walks through the blight without any issue.

Kriss, Man,n and Burryaga survive the encounter with the Nameless, but they are completely overwhelmed by the effort.

Marchion Ro contacts Ghirra Starros and tells her that he will address the Republic directly. He doesn’t mention what type of message it’s going to be, which isn’t uncharacteristic of him, but it still angers Starros.

After recovering from the battle, Burryaga is finally able to explain what he feels when connecting to both the blight and the Nameless: homesickness.

Marchion Ro arrives on Coruscant, who is met by Chancellor Lina Soh. Ro’s message is like everything he does, unpredictable. The Eye of the Nihil declares that he comes because of the blight. He is not only immune to it, but he also knows how to stop it. Marchion Ro claims to be the only hope of the Republic.

Terror on Coruscant

On Coruscant, Jedi Knight Reath Silas studies Cair San Tekka’s hand when he is interrupted by Padawan Amadeo Azzazzo. The young Padawan wants to help Silas in his search, especially after witnessing what the blight did to a planet named Cethis.

After many days in the lab, Silas concludes that the destruction created by the blight is identical to what the Nameless do to Force-sensitives. The Jedi Council decides that in order to test some of their theories, they have to capture a Nameless.

Jedi Master Cohmac Vitus finds a connection between an ancient civilization known as the Tolemites and the Nameless. Vitus used to be Reath Silas’ Master, but he abandoned his former Padawan and the Order after doubting himself.

Silas pays a short visit to Azlin Rell, who confirms the odd connection between the Nameless and the long-lost civilization.

Silas and Azzazzo work incredibly well as a team. They are both smart and insightful, while also sharing a perspective that differs from the rest of the Jedi.

Master Vitus investigates the Tolis, the Tolemite homeworld, searching for answers. A Nihil with three Nameless hunts him down in some ruins, but he manages to escape. Vitus decides that it’s time to return to Coruscant.

Baron Boolan, the Nihil’s Ministry of Advancement, continues his twisted experiments on both Nameless and Nihil soldiers.

Silas has a vision that suggests there is something wrong in the Shrine of the Depths. This Shrine is an ancient Sith shrine located inside the Jedi Temple, built many ages before the Republic existed.

Silas asks Vernestra Rwoh to go with him, and what they find leaves them speechless. It’s the blight, inside the Jedi Temple. The Council is informed. Silas goes back to his research. Right now, he’s the only one who has a chance of finding the solution to this problem.

Master Vitus returns, and after trying to apologize to Silas for abandoning him, the two agree to travel to Tolis. Hoping to find something that helps solve the problems related to the blight and the Nameless.

Travel to Tolis

Since the presence of Nameless is pretty much guaranteed, the team will be made up of both Jedi and Republic forces. Jedi Master Vitus, Jedi Knight Silas, Padawan Azzazzo, and Master Lox. Supported by Ashton Vol, L-77, and Dorian Innes.

When gearing up, Silas returns Vitus’ old lightsaber. In return, the former master gifts an ancient Jedi shield. They’ll need every tool and weapon available if they wish to succeed.

Azzazzo, Lox, and the Republic team discuss how to capture the Nameless on the Nihil base while Silas and Vitus explore the ruins on Tolis. Lox and Azzazzo distract the Nihil grunts while the RDC forces infiltrate the base. However, two Nameless avoid the RDC team and head toward the Jedi.

Both Jedi feel the effects immediately. Azzazzo is pulled away by a Republic soldier while the others help Master Lox subdue the Nameless. They manage to sedate the creature, though Master Lox is killed. Azzazzo faints shortly after.

Vitus and Silas use the Force to lift up a Repository that was sunk under the ocean. After recovering from the effort, they go inside the repository. They see something that could be described as oceanic mountains, but quickly realize these are massive hibernating animals.

On Coruscant, Vernestra Rwoh discovers that one of the Temple Guards guarding Azlin Rell’s cell has been making unauthorized transmissions. He confronts her, but the Temple Guard denies helping Rell. She feels sincerity in his words, but believes he might have been manipulated by Rell.

After waking up, Azzazzo is told that during his sleep, they found a message from Baron Boolan. He has sent a small group to eliminate Silas and Vitus. Vitus and Silas are probably unprepared for this, so they change their route to Tolis.

Vitus and Silas find a star map carved in multiple circles. This map represents nearby systems. After using the Force, three kyber crystal pillars are revealed. These serve as coffins for the Three Ancients, governing figures of the Tolemites.

Silas figures that the corpses of the Three Ancients have information accessible through the Force. By doing so, he sees multiple visions from the past. The Nameless were originally removed from their home planet by the Tolemites, which turned them into their current demon-like form.

In one final effort, the few remaining Tolemites create the three rods to guide the Nameless to their home. This is one of the rods that Marchion Ro uses to control them.

Sicarus, the Nihil sent by Baron Boolan, arrives on Tolis. He immediately sends the Nameless after the Jedi. They are able to find Vitus and Silas fairly quickly, but so does Azzazzo with the RDC reinforcements.

They defeat Sicarus and return to the ship. Unfortunately, it sustained heavy damage during the landing. Some members of the team are injured from the battle with the Nameless. Facing them head-on is out of discussion.

Vitus, Azzazzo, and Silas think of asking one of the dormant creatures for help. The three Jedi reach through the Force and successfully awaken one. The Leviathan crushes the Nameless. Everyone remaining reaches the ship.

On Coruscant, Chancellor Lina Soh sends another expedition to Tolis, this time without any Jedi. Reath Silas’ investigation is the best chance they have against Marchion Ro. After long time, many are feeling hopeful again.

Saving Kashyyyk

The blight continues to spread through the galaxy. The evacuation efforts have pushed the Republic to its logistical limits. Civilians and Jedi are often lost in these evacuations.

Marchion Ro decides to send his assistant Nan to work as his spy on Coruscant. Though it’s unclear if she’ll actually follow his orders.

On Kenari, the Czerka Corporation tries to break a deal with the locals, but things don’t work out. Not that it matters; everyone is devoured by multiple Drengir. Led by the Great Progenitor, these beings head to their next destination: Kashyyyk.

As soon as the news reached Coruscant, the Council put together two teams. One will go to Kashyyyk while the second follows rumours of Marchion Ro’s current location.

Silas, Burryaga, Kelnacca, Rydan, Vitus, Azzazzo, Nan, Avon Starros, the Vessel’s crew, and even Azlin Rell are heading to the Wookiee homeworld. As soon as they arrive, the Jedi feel darkness within the planet. Oddly enough, it’s not related to the blight or the Drengir. It’s something else.

They are greeted by three Wookiees; Pruzalla, Nevakka and Lohgarra. Another Jedi team is already on the planet trying to contain the blight.

At night, the Drengir attack the Wookiee village during where everyone is staying, but they manage to defend the place without losing anyone. Nan convinces that Mkampa, a Nihil scientist is influencing the Drengir.

A team made of Silas, Nan, Avon, Affie Hollow, Rydan and Lohgarra heads into the jungle searching for Mkampa. They are ambushed by droids and Mkampa’s Spider Squall, a giant spider-like war machine. The Nihil scientist is almost killed by Nan but manages to escape.

After returning to the village, they discover that the blight has expanded towards a very specific part of the Wookiee forest. The Wookiees are very hesitant to tell anyone what’s in that area, but after the blight continues expanding they reveal that it’s the last of the white wroshyr trees.

These trees are sapient and are believed to be extinct. Meryx, the most valuable gemstone in the galaxy, is the fossilized amber of the tree. You can imagine why it went extinct. Aside from this fact, they are deemed sacred by the Wookiees.

The white wroshyr trees also contain the darkness that the Jedi felt when they arrived. With the exception of Nan and Azlin Rell, the group quickly travels to the trees’ location, where they find a Thornseed. This ancient Sith artifact can turn plant life to the dark side of the Force. It’s this artifact that Mkampa is after.

They return to the village, and after Avon’s analysis, she discovers that the Thornseed is a derivation of Drengir’s fluids. Another group of Drengir attacks the village. This isn’t something they would do normally, which leads them to believe that Mkampa is trying to keep them from returning to the Thornseed’s location.

This time, the whole party boards the ship and returns to the wrorshyr grove. Mkampa attacks them once again, but this time with a swarm of Drengir. The enemy numbers are too great. It’s time to return to the wroshyr grove, the trees can hold the Drengir temporarily.

They reach the conclusion that Mkampa activated the Thornseed. The only solution is to destroy it, but all of their weapons prove ineffective. Geode manages to find a way to heat enough to explode, destroying the Thornseed but sacrificing itself.

Since the Thornseed is gone, the white wroshyr trees can focus their power somewhere else. The Drengir are converted into creatures of light. After returning to the village, they learn that the blight has also been eradicated from the planet.

Everyone reunites to celebrate. Kashyyyk has been saved, the Drengir are no longer a threat, and even Geode is showing signs of regeneration. But as good as this victory is, the truth is that this isn’t replicable anywhere else. They still need to find a solution for all the other planets infected with the blight. And they better do it soon.

The Luminous Nine

The Great Hyperspace Disaster, the Destruction of the Starlight Beacon, and the Stormwall have proven to be incredibly tough challenges for the Republic and the Jedi Order. While they have managed to overcome them, they still haven’t figured out a way to deal with Marchion Ro, the Nameless, and the unstoppable blight.

With the blight under the Jedi Temple growing stronger every day, the Council needs as many Jedi as possible to hold it. Master Yoda is leading that effort, but not even him can withstand the task forever.

A final plan is devised, some could even say that it’s desperate and that would be a correct assesment. This is it, if it fails, everything will be lost.

Despite losing most of his army, Marchion Ro is far from desperate. He has a new plan: to kill the Nameless and unleash the blight to its full potential. In order to do this, he must travel to the Nameless homeworld, Sophros, often referred to as Planet X.

After Reath Silas’ discovery on Tolis, the Jedi Order concludes that in order to remove the blight, they have to take the Nameless back to their home. The confrontation between Marchion and the Jedi is inevitable.

With so many daily appearances of the blight, there are very few resources available. The Council decides that a team of nine will travel to Planet X in this final mission.

The people selected for this task are Jedi Master Avar Kriss, Jedi Master Elzar Mann, Jedi Master Torban Buck, Jedi Knight Reath Silas, Jedi Knight Bell Zettifar (with Ember, his Charhound), Jedi Knight Burryaga, Jedi Knight Terec, former Jedi Ty Yorrick, and fallen Jedi Azlin Rell. This team is known as the Luminous Nine.

Since all of them are vulnerable to the Nameless effects, a special armor is forged to protect them. The key element of the armor is the Tolisian ore that prevents the calcifying effect from both the Nameless and the blight. It also shields against the terror infused by the creatures.

Vernestra Rwoh wanted to join this task Force, but because of how hard it is to get to Planet X, they might need someone to rescue them. Rwoh is frustrated about this, but she is the only one capable of doing so.

Once again, Porter Engle tracks General Viess to confront her. This is the last encounter between the Blade of Bardotta and his Nihil nemesis. The only difference is that this time, Porter Engle makes a quick dispatch of Viess. The truth is that she was never on his level. General Viess is dead, and with that, there is no one else to rally what is left of the Nihil forces.

Mission on Sophros

All the events that happened since the Path of the Open Hand appeared on Dalna, 150 years before these events, have led to this moment. All the Jedi, Republic forces, and innocents killed by the Nihil now give strength and courage to the nine individuals chosen to end Marchion Ro’s madness.

Marchion Ro arrives on Sophros shortly after the Luminous Nine. He brings a huge number of Nameless with him. A battle immediately breaks out between the Nameless and the Jedi, who aren’t actively trying to kill them.

In response, Marchion uses the Rod of Ages and orders the Nameless to kill each other. There’s nothing the Jedi can do to stop the massacre.

In the chaos of the battle, they get scattered into different groups. Sadly, Torban Buck is the first casualty. Terec stays with him until his last moments.

Sophros is incredibly strong in the Force, with both the light and dark. Despite being apart from each other, all members of the team feel the call of the Force. They all have a role to play, even if it deviates from the original plan.

Reath Silas and Ty Yorrick follow Azlin Rell, who recovered the Rod of Ages. Rell has been engulfed in the dark side of the Force for over a century; being in this place fuels his darkness. The fallen Jedi manages to escape after a confrontation with Silas and Yorrick.

Bell Zettifar, Ember, and Burryaga follow Marchion Ro to a cliff, where they attack him. Marchion throws Ember off the cliff, Burryaga jumps after it, and prevents both of their deaths, but such effort leaves him exhausted.

Bell Zettifar manages not only to stand his ground against Marchion Ro in single combat, but to defeat and capture him alive. The Eye of the Nihil will be taken back to the Republic to answer for his crimes against the galaxy.

Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann enter a very strange place, where both the light and darkness converge with each other. It’s actually possible to see the physical place where they are. That’s how incredible this place is.

There are creatures that look similar to the Nameless, with the big difference that they aren’t corrupted. In fact, they can communicate with Kriss and Mann.

They tell them that after the killing of so many of their species, it’s impossible to stop the blight. The balance has been broken; while it would be possible to restore it with more of them, that process takes years.

Avar and Elzar decide that they will be the ones to maintain the balance until more Nameless are born. To do so, Avar will embrace the light side, and Elzar the dark side. This means that they’ll never see each other, or anyone else, again.

This ultimate sacrifice shall ensure the survival of the galaxy, but at least they’ll be with each other. At least, technically speaking.

What remains of the Luminous Nine regroups on their ship. Avar and Elzar say goodbye to their friends before heading to their meditation spots. Everyone is sad, but there’s no other way.

Since their ship was heavily damaged during the landing, it’s impossible to return on their own. Luckily, Vernestra arrives right on time to take everyone home.

The aftermath

The blight is gone, and the galaxy is saved, but there’s much to heal and repair. Vernestra Rwoh is conflicted about how the Jedi basically turned into military leaders during the Nihil conflict. She decides to follow her own path away from the Jedi Order.

Azlin Rell is free of the Nameless nightmares. Instead of coming back to the light, he only embraced the dark side of the Force. His intentions are yet to be revealed, though someone as dangerous, smart, and unstable is anything but good news.

Ghirra Starros agrees to surrender and order all Nihil forces to cease hostilities, as well as to return all the systems in the Occlusion Zone to the Republic’s control. In exchange, she asks for a full pardon and a fairly important position.

She claimed to be one of the many who were deceived by Marchion Ro and truly regretted her decisions. The only thing she actually lamented was siding with the losing side. Lina Soh didn’t believe her charade, but understood how much she was offering. Soh accepted Starros’ terms.

To prevent the blight from appearing ever again, the Jedi Council decides that information about the Nameless or Sophoros should not be included in the archives.

As for Marchion Ro, he was sent to a secret prison built especially for him. This prison is run by droids who are programmed to do only the most basic things. Marchion Ro would never again hear a word. He’d be in permanent silence until his final moments.

As it’s usual with Star Wars, we’re not given all the answers. Leaving a possibility of getting more stories expanded in the future. Hopefully, we get to know what happened to some of these characters in future books.