Burra

Burra was a Force-sensitive Kel Dor from the planet Dorin and a member of the Baran Do Sages, a Force-based organization on Dorin. He later became a member of the Hidden Ones, a secret sect of the Baran Do dedicated to preserving the Order's knowledge, should the Order ever be destroyed. Burra was one of the eldest members of the sect present in 43.5 ABY when exiled Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker and his son, Jedi Knight Ben Skywalker, arrived on Dorin in search of Master of the Baran Do Order Koro Ziil, hoping to find out more about why the Jedi Knight Jacen Solo had turned to the dark side.

The Skywalkers soon discovered the Hidden Ones, and traveled with senior combat instructor Charsae Saal to the system of caverns that were home to the sect. Ziil, who had recently become the Hidden Ones' leader, revealed to the Skywalkers that in order to protect the sect's secrecy, they would not be allowed to leave the caverns. After Luke defeated Koro Ziil in a duel of Force powers, Burra revealed to the Skywalkers the location of a secret turbolift chamber out of the caverns.

Early life
Burra was a male Force-sensitive Kel Dor from the planet of Dorin, and was a member of the Baran Do Sages, a Force-based organization on Dorin. Sometime after 19 BBY, Burra joined the Hidden Ones, a secret sect of the Order formed by Baran Do Sage Tokra Hazz, dedicated to preserving the Order's knowledge so that if the Baran Do on the surface were destroyed, the Order could be restored.

In 43.5 ABY, Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker was exiled from the Jedi Order and the galactic capital of Coruscant for failing to prevent Jedi Knight Jacen Solo's fall to the dark side of the Force. Luke and his son, Knight Ben Skywalker, traveled to the Baran Do temple on Dorin to speak with Master of the Order Koro Ziil, hoping to find the cause of Solo's fall to the dark side. Upon their arrival, however, they were told that Ziil had died, and the two decided to stay and train with the Sages.

During their stay, the Skywalkers attended the dying ceremony&mdash;a ceremony in which a Sage pretended to die, and then traveled to a system of caverns that were home to the Hidden Ones&mdash;of senior combat instructor Charsae Saal. However, Luke wasn't fooled by Saal's "death", and after searching the site, the Skywalkers found Saal alive and well. Realizing that Ziil was likely still alive as well, they traveled with Saal to the caverns. Once there, they found that Ziil was in fact alive, and had become the leader of the Hidden Ones and taken the title of the Hidden One. Ziil told the Skywalkers that in order to protect the sect's secrecy, no one who came to the caverns could ever leave.

Leaving the Hidden Ones
"The tunnel out is just above the garment storeroom.''" "Burra, not you." "''The ceiling there is synthstone, artfully detailed to match the natural stone around it. A few blows with chisels will reveal a sliding hatch. Above it is a turbolift chamber. Its generator will need maintenance before it can be activated."

- Burra betrays Koro Ziil and gives the location of the secret turbolift chamber

During their stay, Luke developed a theory that the Hidden Ones&mdash;by rejecting life and vitality and accepting death&mdash;had all but turned their backs on the Force. Burra, who by this time was one of the eldest members of the Hidden Ones, briefly debated the topic with Luke, telling him that the Hidden Ones had discussed the theory that Luke proposed. Burra also revealed that the Hidden Ones didn't vote; their leader decided everything. Burra later went to Ziil's throne chamber when the Skywalkers announced that they were having a naming ceremony, a ceremony in which new members of the Hidden Ones chose their new names. However, once the Hidden Ones had gathered, Luke revealed that he intended to change the Hidden Ones' own names. The Hidden Ones protested, and Ben dueled Saal&mdash;now known as Chara&mdash;with hardwood staffs in an attempt to prove Luke's point. Chara was by far Ben's superior, having taught him combat techniques during Ben's time with the Baran Do, but Ben defeated him because he possessed the will to win. Ziil, however, still did not listen to reason, claiming that Luke had brainwashed Chara into believing that his powers were weakening, causing him to lose.

To resolve this problem, Ziil revealed that he had told those on the surface that the Skywalkers had died when a cave collapsed, and they would no longer need their oxygen-nitrogen canisters. Without the canisters, the Skywalkers would die from Dorin's helium-rich atmosphere within a couple of days. Burra finally openly protested against Ziil, but the latter refused to listen, even after other Hidden Ones&mdash;including the female Kel Dor Ithia&mdash;spoke out against him. Ziil then confronted Luke in a duel of Force powers, which Luke won. After his defeat, Ziil decided that he would allow the Skywalkers to live, but he still refused to let anyone leave the caverns. Earlier, when he had been wandering the caverns, Ben had discovered a system of explosives that could be activated from any room that would block off the only known exit from the caverns. Frustrated with Ziil's continued defiance, Ben set off the system with the Force, collapsing the exit. Ben then began to reveal to the Hidden Ones the many lies which Ziil told them&mdash;that there was only one tunnel in and out of the caverns and that a technique for telepathically reinstating the Hidden Ones existed&mdash;but Ziil still claimed that there was no way out of the caverns. At last, Burra revealed that he knew of a secret turbolift chamber which led to the surface of Dorin, and Luke, Ben, and the Hidden Ones returned to the surface.

Personality and traits
"That is not our way, Master."

- Burra to Koro Ziil, on the matter of killing the Skywalkers

Burra was a Force-sensitive, but after he joined the Hidden Ones he was forced to accept that he was dead to the outside galaxy, and that&mdash;in rejecting life&mdash;his ability to touch the Force had diminished. Burra was one of the eldest members of the Hidden Ones, and appeared to be deeply trusted by Koro Ziil, being one of the few Hidden Ones other than Ziil himseld&mdash;perhaps the only other&mdash;to know of the secret exit from the caverns. Burra seemed to be somewhat set in tradition; he had questioned the wisdom of the Hidden Ones before Luke debated with him on the subject, but he seemed to have turned a blind eye to the matter rather than look for answers. Burra was no fool, however, and came to see that Luke was right. Still, Burra felt obligated to remain loyal to his leader, and even after Ben revealed the many secrets that Ziil had kept from the other Hidden Ones, Burra was hesitant to reveal the secret turbolift exit to the Skywalkers.

Behind the scenes
Burra was created by the established Star Wars author Aaron Allston for his first novel in the nine-part Fate of the Jedi series, Outcast, released on March 24, 2009.

Appearances

 * Outcast