Zelka Forn

"I have extensive medical training, and even with the lack of resources I can treat most injuries or ailments right here in the center."

- Zelka explaining about his medical center

Zelka Forn was an elderly Human male doctor who ran a clinic in the South of the Upper City on the planet of Taris. In his standing and position as a doctor, Zelka Forn wouldn’t refuse help to anyone, regardless of their homeworld or species, political affiliation, personality, or even if he hated them on a personal level. When the amnesiac Jedi Knight Revan arrived on the planet, Forn asked him for assistance in procuring a serum for the Rakghoul Plague, a plague which transformed those infected into Rakghouls, violent, deformed mutants. Revan journeyed into the Undercity of Taris and found the corpse of a member of a Sith patrol carrying the Rakghoul serum. Despite an offer from crime lord Davik Kang to give a large deal of credits for the serum, Revan chose instead to give the serum to Forn, who proceeded to try and make it readily available to all those infected. Forn was presumably killed during the orbital bombardment of Taris, by Sith Lord Darth Malak’s fleet, in 3,956 BBY.

Biography
Zelka Forn lived in the main city of Taris, with no known family members. Forn was the founder and owner of a medical facility that was used to heal those that were sick or wounded. Forn had a single assistant, named Gurney. Forn had a desire to help or assist, medically, anyone who was hurt or injured, no matter who they were. After the destruction above Taris of the Endar Spire, a warship of the main galactic government of the time, the Galactic Republic, many wounded escaped to the planet. The ship had been assailed by the enemies of the Republic, the Sith government, and individuals brought in several Republic soldiers who had been seriously wounded in the battle. Despite the fact that Taris was occupied by the Sith, which could have seen him arrested and possibly shot, Forn agreed to heal the soldiers, putting them in kolto tanks in a back room of his facility.

Forn was also upset about the Rakghoul disease, due to the fact that he didn't have an antidote for the people who could suffer it. He was particularly grieved for the Outcasts, people who lived in the Undercity who had been, or whose ancestors had been, cast out of the Upper City. He had heard about the Republic scientists getting close to a cure for the plague, before the Sith had overrun the Tarisian Military Base and kept the serum all for their patrols in the Undercity, in case they were infected. Forn spent a great deal of time researching the cause of the Rakghoul infection. During the battle above Taris, the amnesiac Revan had been serving as a Republic soldier aboard the Endar Spire. After he’d reached an evacuation pod, Revan and fellow Republic soldier Carth Onasi had fled to the surface of Taris to search for Jedi Knight Bastila Shan, considered a valuable asset to the Republic. On Taris, Revan arrived at Zelka's facility and discovered the Republic soldiers but agreed not to disclose the information, impressed by the doctor's compassion. Allied with the Republic as he was, Revan was in favor of Forn’s choice. Revan learned about the serum and why Zelka wanted it. Gurney, Forn's assistant, drew Revan aside as he was leaving the facility and told him about Davik Kang, the local boss of the galactic criminal group, the Exchange, who also wanted the serum. Gurney promised that Kang would pay a much higher price for the serum than Forn would ever be able to.

When Revan and his companions traveled to the Undercity, Revan found a Sith trooper corpse that was carrying the Rakghoul serum. Taking the serum, Revan spurned Kang’s offer and, instead, Revan gave it to Zelka, who offered him fifty credits and two medpacs. Revan refused, however, believing Forn needed them more than he and his companions did. Zelka synthesized the serum to sell it cheaply to those infected, and he also gave Revan a discount on all of his stock saying it was the least he could do. Forn was presumably killed with the rest of those on Taris when Sith Lord Darth Malak ordered his fleet to fire upon the planet to stop Shan from leaving alive.

Personality and traits
Forn had an extreme concern for others, evident by his wish to medically help all those ill. He would refuse help to none, even if they were an off-worlder, alien, or even if he hated them. This differed from the mentality of most of the Human population of Taris, who were xenophobic and considered themselves superior to aliens. Forn feared the Sith because he believed that they might one day close his clinic, and he preferred not to have any trouble with the Sith. When Revan gave him the serum and declined his reward, he considered Revan's spirit very noble but still believed that Revan deserved something for his efforts.

Forn held an admiration for the Republic for their work on making a Rakghoul serum before it was taken by the Sith. This was also evident by his willingness to hide and heal the injured Republic soldiers, whereas some may have been dissuaded from such a task by the Sith presence on the planet.

Behind the scenes
Zelka Forn first appeared as a non playable character in the game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Although the player has multiple choices in regards to how he acts and treats Zelka Forn, the light side choices are those chosen canonically. Although canon dictates that the most light side choices would have to be taken, the game can be played with Revan not going to the medical facility at all, meaning Forn is never met.

If the player follows the dark side, they can threaten to tell the Sith about the Republic soldiers unless Forn hands over credits to keep them quiet. If Carth Onasi is in the party he will protest against such an action.

The player could also sell the Rakghoul serum to the Hutt criminal Zax, and earn one thousand credits or persuade Zax into paying one thousand and fifteen hundred credits if the player has a high enough persuade skill&mdash;however, the player will gain dark side points. The player could still buy a copy of the serum from Forn, albeit at a higher price.

Should the player approach Forn while wearing Sith trooper armor, Forn will maintain that he has the correct permits, and asks you to leave saying he doesn't want any trouble.

If the player angers or harasses Forn too much, the option to give the serum to Forn is lost, although he will still offer supplies and healing to the player.

Zelka on Macedonian means cabbage.

He was voiced by Daran Norris in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic