Mekel

"Can you... can you even go back? I've done some... I mean, I've hurt a lot of people."

- Mekel

Mekel was a promising recruit at the Sith Academy on Korriban. He was met by Revan outside the gates of the Academy tormenting a number of sentients wishing to be admitted. Mekel promised to admit whichever person was able to stand in one place the longest without food, water, or sleep. Revan was angered by this wanton display of cruelty and spoke his mind to the brash Mekel, who only left with a huff and a half-hearted threat.

After Mekel left, Revan convinced the hopefuls to abandon their quest to join the Sith (some by convincing them of the truth and some by lying and saying they didn't make the cut).

Revan would soon meet Mekel again in the tomb of Tulak Hord in the Valley of the Dark Lords. A former headmaster of the Academy, Jorak Uln, had gone rogue and became a demented hermit holed up in the tomb, kidnapping any Sith students who happened upon him. Wishing to gain prestige to further infiltrate the Academy, Revan sought out Uln and discovered he had captured Mekel. Revan refused to give in to Jorak's game and allowed himself to be tortured in Mekel's place. Mekel was shocked that someone would sacrifice himself for him and used the force to free Revan and help him kill Jorak. Mekel was grateful to Revan for saving his life and decided to leave the Sith Academy.

Though Mekel left the dark side, nothing is known of his ultimate fate; however, statements he made to Revan after being saved seemed to indicate that he would not join the Jedi Order.

Behind the scenes

 * A popular fan-made Mod for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic allows the player to recruit Mekel in place of Zaalbar.
 * If the player chooses the dark side path for this scenario, he can allow Jorak to torture Mekel to death, or he can turn on Mekel after the two defeat Jorak.
 * Two alignment-neutral possibilities exist as well: If Revan does not kill Jorak quickly enough, Mekel may simply fall in combat, resulting in no alignment shift. If the player does not persuade Mekel to abandon the dark side after defeating Jorak, he will simply stay on at the academy. When the player returns from Naga Sadow's tomb, depending on which choice he made, Mekel may join in with the rest of the academy in attacking him and end up being killed.
 * Similarly, there are alignment-changing possibilities with Mekel's "hopefuls": Dark side points can be gained by cruelly manipulating them into attacking an armed guard. If his Persuade is not high enough, some will die but with no alignment change.
 * Mekel was voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic