Ephant Mon/Legends

"We are the slaves, to our own laziness, to our own comforts. We are nothing more than parasites, feeding on the lives of our fellows. This must stop."

- From Ephant Mon's memoir

Ephant Mon was a Chevin from Vinsoth. He was an old acquaintance of Jabba Desilijic Tiure and served as his Head of Security; Jabba considered him his only true friend. Ephant was also friendly with Barada, but particularly despised Ree-Yees and Salacious Crumb. Despite his awkward and grotesque appearance, Ephant was a skilled and powerful combatant, and was considered handsome (by Chevin standards) in his youth (or at least he liked to think so). He was also mildly Force-sensitive. Lady Valarian was keen for him to leave Jabba's employ and join her, but he repeatedly refused her offer. He did not die in the Skirmish at Carkoon, as he stayed behind in Jabba's Palace, after sensing the force in Luke Skywalker. Mon took care of Jabba's business while Jabba was away on business on Nal Hutta or Nar Shaddaa.

Exploits on Cerea
Shortly before the Battle of Naboo in 32 BBY, Mon was involved in a gunrunning scheme with the Trade Federation and a local firebrand named Bron on the planet Cerea. He was there to collect Malium, which is used for feeding the Tecave plant, which in turn produces Guilea, a substance that is much sought after due to its euphoric qualities. Maluim was unique to Cerea, so, although it was illegal to export it, Mon decided to do just that. He also smuggled contraband swoops and technology to Bron, and arranged transport off planet for Maj-Odo-Nomor, a young Cerean who was on the run. Mon, Maj and the Band of Techrats, along with Sylvn, the daughter of famed Cerean Jedi Ki-Adi-Mundi had boarded Mon's ship but they then found themselves trapped in an escape pod; the main hold of the ship was full of deadly divviks. With no-one willing to try and rescue them, Mon knew only one person would help him get out of this situation. Jedi Knight Ki-Adi-Mundi would surely come and rescue his daughter. Mundi eventually reached the escape pod door, after killing many of the vicious divviks. However, Mon had one more trick up his sleeve. He demanded that the Cerean Jedi hit the manual release for the escape pod, thus ensuring the Chevin escaped, or he would ignite the pod's engines, killing all the passengers, including Mon and Sylvn. Mon gave Mundi 10 seconds to decide. Maj then jumped at Mon, furious with him for putting their lives at danger. However, as the young Cerean launched at Ephant, the smuggler shot him in the chest, killing him instantly. As Mon counted down to one, Ki hit the manual release lever, and Mon lived to fight another day. Ephant then took Sylvn to Jabba's Palace, with Ki-Adi-Mundi close on his tail. Jabba was unhappy with Mon for coming back with no Malium, and with a Jedi hot on his heels. Mon decided to stage a distraction for the Jedi as Jabba had many associates with ships laden with illegal goods ready to leave, and he didn't want Ki-Ad-Mundi to get to them. The Chevin gunrunner chained Sylvn and her friend Twin to the roof of the Citadel in the middle of a great strom. With the Jedi Knight preoccupied fighting Weequay and Gamorrean thugs, Jabba sent his shuttle into space. Mon seemed to have escaped Mundi's wrath, as the Cerean and his daughter had gone after Jabba's shuttle.



Jabba's head of security
After a stint as a mercenary of some repute, Ephant decided to instead turn to weapons-running. This choice was due to the conclusion that the selling of weapons was safer and made him more revenue than using them. He sold to everyone, including an assortment of pirates, outlaws, and even the Alliance, but he made the most from business ventures with Jabba. On one smuggling job on the icy moon of Glakka, the two Aliens planned to raid an imperial weapons cache. But Jabba realized they had been double crossed by one of their own, and soon the Imperial Snowtroopers appeared. Stuck on an icy planet without transport or shelter Jabba prevented Ephant from freezing by sheltering him within his layers of fat, an act of kindness unusual to any Hutt. They barely survived the ordeal, and Ephant always felt he owed Jabba something for saving his life. He remained in Jabba's inner circle for many years, acting as his secret Head of Security because he was the only one Jabba could truly trust. As Jabba's Head of Security, his duty was to root out conspiracies and assassination plots. In a den as murderous as Jabba's palace, the Chevin had his massive hands full keeping tabs on turncoats. Ephant often got information from the B'omarr Monks, the ancient religious order that built Jabba's Palace. Due to their friendship and Jabba's trust of Mon, Jabba didn't keep tabs on Mon, instead letting him conduct his business whatever way he wished. The Hutt also let Mon run business when he was visiting home.



Helping out a spacer
During the Galactic Civil War, a Spacer came to Jabba's Palace looking for work. Mon gave him several jobs, the first of which was to kill some of Valarian's men, who had been threatened to hurt some of Jabba's customers Mon was keen to show the planet that people who pay for Jabba's protection get protected. The spacer did his duty, and when he returned Mon was impressed. He was paid 400 credits. Ephant then gave him another job, this time to take out one of Valarian's couriers, who was carrying some documents about Valarian's finances, which Ephant was desperate to get his huge hands, so he could finally ruin Valarian. The spacer killed the courier and brought the ledger back, and was paid 550 credits by the massive Chevin. The ledger was written in Old Drall, and no-one in Jabba's court could read it. Mon then gave the spacer another job: to bring a coded ledger to a slicer named Sirad Far. The spacer did just that, and returned to Mon with the ledger, which was now understandable to Ephant Mon. Last but not least, Mon had the spacer get rid of some Sennex pirates. The pirates had been trading in slaves, and Jabba didn't like it. The spacer was ordered to go to the Sennex compound, kill the pirates, take their key-cards and break into their database. The spacer returned and Mon sent him to see Porcellus.

Valarian's offer
Shortly after Princess Leia Organa(disguised as Boushh) arrived in Jabba's palace, Ephant traveled to Mos Eisley to meet with Lady Valarian in her casino, the Lucky Despot. Upon his arrival, he ordered a drink from the Bith bartender. A number of local drunks started harassing Mon, making fun of his unorthodox face. At first, Ephant ignored them, but after one pulled a knife, Mon took drastic measures to make sure the weapon remained unused. He slammed his head down on one of the men, and stabbed the other with a Vibro-blade. Then imperial prefect Eugene Talmont thanked Mon for ridding him of some more scum. Mon then traveled through to Valarian's personal chamber. She offered him fortunes to leave Jabba and join her. However, for reasons unknown to her, he turned her down, preferring to stay in Jabba's employ.



Skirmish at Carkoon
In 4 ABY, when Luke Skywalker came to 'negotiate' with Jabba, Tessek approached Ephant Mon. The Quarren had looked into Skywalker and his friends, and he knew of their exploits, the most impressive of which was destroying the Death Star. Tessek begged Ephant to ask Jabba to let Skywalker free, as he was the only Jabba would listen to. Ephant, despite his dislike for the Quarren accountant, agreed to speak with Jabba. He first decided to go and see the young Jedi. On his way he bumped into Ree-Yees, and uncovered a plot on Jabba's life, orchestrated by Tessek. Ephant continued on to Skywalker's cell, and Skywalker sensed Ephant's friendship with Jabba. Luke asked him, like Tessek had done, to try and persuade the Hutt to release his prisoners. The old Chevin replied that Jabba would not be swayed easily. Luke then grabbed Mon's shoulder, and Ephant Mon was treated with vivid visions of his time on Vinsoth. Ephant Mon sensed the Force in Skywalker, and felt that Jabba shouldn't defy him. He attempted to convince Jabba to agree to Luke's demands, but he refused. Ephant Mon also told Jabba of Tessek and Ree-Yees' plot to place a bomb aboard Jabba's sail barge, and tried to warn Jabba, but Jabba would not listen. Thus, Ephant declared his debt to Jabba repaid and refused to accompany him to the Great Pit of Carkoon. Jabba, outraged at this apparent betrayal, stated that Ephant should be killed for this. However, due to their friendship (which was ended soon after), Jabba allowed Ephant to live.

A new life
Shortly after Jabba's death, Ephant Mon returned to his home planet, Vinsoth, and founded a religion based on worshiping the Force. However, he was not above occasionally using his old methods to get the funding his sect required. He also spoke out against the enslavement of the Chev people who shared Vinsoth with the Chevin.

Physical appearance
"Who are you calling ugly?"

- Ephant Mon

Although most thought Mon ugly and grotesque, in fact Mon was a decent specimen for a Chevin. He had blue/gray skin, and wore a tattered cloak. He usually carried a Vibro-blade, along with the ancient bone he used as a cane.

Personality and traits
"You're not evil... Not like Jabba. I feel the good in you. You've just come so far from it, and you've lost your way back. Find it now. Help us. Save Jabba."

- Luke Skywalker

Ephant Mon was highly intelligent and was slightly Force-sensitive. During his smuggling job on Cerea, Mon cleverly allowed Sylvn to enter the escape pod, as he knew her father would come and save her. He was liked by many of his peers, such as Barada and Tessek, and even some of his enemies, like Valarian. Even Luke Skywalker seemed to have some respect for the former mercenary. However, many of Jabba's men hated Mon, such as Ree-Yees. He was very good at his job, snuffing out threats on his master's life that were very common among his den of drunks, gamblers, conmen and murderers. Mon did not want to live a life of crime, but once indebted to Jabba, he was forced to continue his criminal ways. He calm in the face of adversity, and never lost his cool. Although Mon was generally peaceful, he was not afraid of using his considerable strength in dire situations. Although he didn't look it, Mon was an extremely powerful fighter, as he showed in Valarian's casino.

Behind the scenes


The name Ephant Mon is likely a pun on the real-life Elephant Man. Indeed, Ephant Mon was referred to as Elephant Man during pre-production of Return of the Jedi.

Ephant Mon was played by Andy Cunningham in Return of the Jedi.

In the Return of the Jedi novel, Mon was aboard Jabba's sail barge and was involved in a confrontation with Ree-Yees. A similar scene was filmed for the movie (albeit with Saelt-Marae instead of Ephant Mon) but was scrapped during production. However, this scene is not canonical, as Mon was not on the Khetanna during the Skirmish at Carkoon.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Republic: Prelude to Rebellion
 * Rebel Dawn
 * Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
 * A Hunter's Fate: Greedo's Tale webstrip
 * Spare Parts
 * The Emperor's Court
 * The Employment Test
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi novel
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Old Friends: Ephant Mon's Tale
 * Epilogue: Whatever Became Of . . . ?