Jedi of Yavin Academy Part V: Kam Solusar

 

      Name: Kam Solusar
       Species: Human
       Lightsaber Color: Purple
       Created by: Tom Veitch
       First Appearance: Dark Apprentice (1994)

Kam Solusar trained as a Dark Jedi under Emperor Palpatine. He was one of Palpatine's elite warriors when Luke Skywalker first encountered him on planet Nespiss VIII.

Luke and Kam both had fathers who served as Jedi in the Old Republic. During their first meeting, Luke faced off against Kam not using weapons, but in a board game called "Lightsider" where the two men tried to convince the other that their perspective was the correct one. Ultimately Luke convinced Kam to turn away from the Dark Side.

Whilst on Yavin IV, Kam became on of Luke's most promising students. He also met and fell in love with Tionne, another Jedi hopefull. The two were married and eventually served as masters of the Jedi Praxeum.

During the Yuuzhan Vong War Kam and Tionne moved the academy to the deep core planet of Eclipse. 



Behind the Scenes:

Kam Solusar was created by Tom Veitch for a planned comic series called "Lightsider". However, this project was cancelled and Kam's first comic appearance became Dark Empire II, where his backstory was left unexplained. 

Jedi of Yavin Academy Part IV: Gantoris

 

Name: Gantoris
Species: Human (Eol Sha)
Lightsaber Color: Purple
Created by: Kevin J. Anderson
First Appearance: Jedi Search (1994)

Gantoris had dreams that a dark man would come for him, teach him magical powers and then the dark man would kill him. When Luke Skywalker came to planet Eol Sha, Gantoris assumed that Luke was the dark man from his dreams. Gantoris gave Skywalker two tests (escaping a volcano and battling a fireworm). When Luke did not perish Gantoris agreed to go with the Jedi. Gantoris thus became Luke's very first student of his Jedi Praxeum.

At Yavin, Gantoris did meet his "Dark Man", but it was not Luke Skywalker. The ghost of Exar-Kun, a Sith Lord, whispered to Gantoris in his dreams. Kun convinced the apprentice that Skywalker was withholding powerful secrets and the Sith instructed Gantoris on how to build a lightsaber. 

Weapon in hand, Gantoris challenged Skywalker to a duel. Luke's other students watched as Gantoris lashed out with his anger in an attempt to defeat the Jedi instructor. Luke countered with defensive techniques and was able to force-pull the lightsaber from the mutinous apprentice. To the surprise of his other students Luke chose not to punish or berate Gantoris for his actions.

Kun approached Gantoris that night with terrible visions of Gantoris' tribe being wiped out by Imperial forces. Gantoris attempted to attack the Sith with his lightsaber but Exar-Kun incinerated the Jedi apprentice on the spot.

His remains were discovered the next morning. Luke's faith in his ability to teach a new generation of Jedi was shook. Gantoris would be Luke's first failed student, but not his last. 

Behind the Scenes

Gantoris was instructed by Exar Kun to build a duel-phase lightsaber. These lightsabers had multiple Kyber crystals, which allowed sabers to quickly change length and even color.

The 2015 reference book "Ultimate Star Wars" confirmed that Darth Vader's lightsaber in canonically a duel-phase lightsaber.

Jedi of Yavin Academy Part III: Streen

Name: Streen
Species: Human (Bespin)
Lightsaber Color: Blue
Created by: Kevin J. Anderson
First Appearance: Jedi Search (1994)

When Luke Skywalker was looking for candidates for his Jedi Academy, he heard rumours of a tibanna gas prospector who could detect eruptions of gas clouds, preempting even the abilities of droids. Luke sought out Streen on the planet Bespin where the man had been living in seclusion. Streen's uncontrolled power to detect the thoughts and feelings of those around him had driven him away from society. Streen agreed to accept Skywalker's offer to train him, so long as Luke could teach him to block the emotions of others. 

On Yavin IV, Streen learned the arts of telekinesis, Force illusions, and Jedi battle techniques, however Streen was strongest at manipulating the air around him. Whilst training, a dark presence lurked nearby. The ancient ghost of the Sith Exar Kun sought to destroy Skywalker and his trainees. Kun, in his efforts to defeat Skywalker, tricked Streen. Kun conjured an image of a Dark Man and Streen created a Force Storm to defeat this Dark Man. However Streen was actually attacking Master Skywalker. Later Streen and his fellow students were able to defeat Exar Kun, banishing Kun's spirit from Yavin IV, forever.

As time passed Streen became a Jedi Knight and eventually a Jedi Master. Eventually, Luke entrusted Streen to run his Jedi Academy. Streen would later fight in the Yuuzhan Vong war. He also attended the funeral of Mara Jade Skywalker in the year 40 ABY.

Behind the Scenes:

Though created by Kevin J. Anderson for his Jedi Academy trilogy, Streen would feature in many books by various authors including the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy by Michael P. Kube-McDowell (1996), "I, Jedi" by Michael A Stackpole (1998), Agents of Chaos I and II by James Luceno (2000), "Star by Star" by Troy Denning (2001), and others.

The final appearance of Streen in canon was his attendance at Mara Jade's funeral which was depicted in the 2007 sourcebook "Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force".

Jedi of Yavin Academy Part II: Kirana Ti

Name: Kirana Ti
Species: Human (Dathomir)
Lightsaber Color: Yellow
Created by: Dave Wolverton
First Appearance: The Courtship of Princess Leia (1994)

Kirana Ti was born into the Singing Mountain Clan on planet Dathomir. She fought with her clan against the evil Nightsisters. Though the witches of Dathomir were all force users, Kirana Ti was the first to leave the planet in order to study the ways of the Jedi. 

Kirana Ti was one of Luke Skywalker's original 12 students on Yavin IV. After a year at the academy she was promoted to Jedi Knight. Over the next several decades Ti would serve the New Republic in the Yuuzhan Vong War (25 ABY), the Dark Nest Crisis (36 ABY) and the Second Galactic Civil War (40 ABY).

Kirana's niece Sanola Ti eventually joined the Jedi order representing a new generation of Dathomir witches to convert to the ways of the Jedi.

Behind the Scenes

Though Kirana Ti does not feature in current Star Wars canon, many witches of Dathomir are important to the ongoing narrative. Asajj Ventress, Mother Talzin, and Morgan Elsbeth all carry on the mantel of Dave Wolverton's original Dathomir witches.

Jedi of Yavin Academy Part I: Dorsk 81

Name: Dorsk 81
Species: Khommite
Lightsaber Color: Blue
Created by: Kevin J. Anderson

First Appearance: Dark Apprentice (1994)

The Jedi Praxeum was founded 7 years after the destruction of the second Death Star on the planet Yavin. Yavin itself was the site of the Rebel base during the first Death Star's destruction.

At the behest of Mom Mothma and the New Republic, Luke Skywalker was tasked in finding new Jedi candidates that could defend the New Republic in the same manner that the Jedi served the Old Republic.

Dorsk 81 was one of the first 12 students at Luke Skywalker's academy. He hailed from planet Khomm where the native race had perfected cloning and believed it was the best way to preserve their genetic lineage. Dorsk 81 was the 81st of 83 clones of the original Dorsk.

Admiral Daala of the Galactic Empire was determined to wipe out the Jedi of the new academy and targeted the planet Khomm as well as the academy itself. On Yavin, Dorsk bravely used the force in an attempt to thwart the incoming Imperial fleet but was killed by this effort.

Later another clone Dorsk 82, travelled to Yavin IV and studied under Master Skywalker in place of his fallen brother.

Behind the Scenes: 

Dorsk 81's death is recounted in the 1995 novel "Darksaber" by Kevin J. Anderson. It is said that Dorsk 81 used The Force to push back seventeen Star Destroyers. Fans have pointed out the over-powered nature of this plot point.

Dorsk 82 was subsequently killed in the 2001 novel "The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory I: Conquest".