Gelesi

"You look like an offworlder. My name's Gelesi. I'm a checkpoint Captain in the Merchant Quarter."

- Gelesi

Gelesi, a Human male officer in the Onderonian military, lived on planet Onderon with his wife and daughter. In 3,951 BBY, after his superior officer and good friend, Sullio, was murdered outside the Iziz Cantina, he was given her rank as Captain of the Guard and the assignment of verifying starport visas that allowed passage to and from the planet at the entrance to the Iziz Starport. At the time, the entire planet was enmeshed in a political struggle between loyalists to Queen Talia and her faction, who wanted Onderon to stay with the Galactic Republic, and those loyal to her cousin, separatist-minded, General Vaklu. Gelesi was ambivalent, due to his loyalty to the queen and his simultaneous distrust of the Republic, sympathizing with the separatist view that Onderon had been drawn into too many conflicts.

Gelesi was among the soldiers that verified a visa belonging to an offworlder known as the Jedi Exile when she left the planet, fleeing Vaklu's army, following a meeting with Royalist Jedi Master Kavar. After the beginning of an attempted militaristic coup by Vaklu, Gelesi made the choice to support Talia's faction, and fought to protect the queen during a final push by Vaklu's forces into the Iziz Royal Palace.

Biography
"Sullio was captain of the checkpoint for years. I never knew why she came here every night until I got her job."

- Gelesi

In 3,951 BBY, Gelesi lived in Iziz, the walled city of the planet Onderon, with his wife and four-year-old daughter. That year, he was promoted to Captain of the Guard in the Onderon Military after his predecessor and good friend, Sullio, was murdered in the streets. Gelesi was shaken by the murder of Captain Sullio, as he had also been assigned to her post against his wishes. Faced with these circumstances, Gelesi became incresingly paranoid, fearing that he would suffer the same fate and leave his family without a father.

The city of Iziz was locked in controversy surrounding the political views of Onderon's Queen Talia, and her unwavering support of the Galactic Republic. Those who opposed the queen's devotion believed that it was in Onderon's best interest to secede from the Republic, primarily because the planet had been obliged to engage in several wars as a member. Those people rallied behind Talia's cousin, General Vaklu, who led the separatist movement. The queen's supporters, denoted the Royalists, believed that the trade benefits and protection of the Republic outweighed the conflicts. Gelesi was torn between the two groups due to his loyalty to the queen and his distrust of the Republic, as well as sympathy for the separatist view that Onderon had been drawn into too many battles.

Gelesi was one of the soldiers assigned to verify a starport visa&mdash;required in order for one to leave the planet&mdash;owned by the Jedi Exile, a former Jedi Knight who was searching the galaxy for Jedi Masters to help her in her quest to stop an organization of Sith that had already virtually succeeded in eliminating the Jedi Order. Her meeting with Kavar&mdash;a Jedi Master and Jedi High Council member who had gone into hiding due to the Triumvirate's crusade&mdash;was interrupted by a group of soldiers entering the cantina. The soldiers, led by a separatist Colonel, Tobin, wished to capture the pair; Kavar because he was a high-ranking Royalist and the Exile as she was wanted by Vaklu's Sith associates. With teamwork, both were able to escape, the Exile rushing to the starport and through Gelesi's post to reach her ship. By the time the Exile returned, after receiving word that Kavar had been trying to contact her, Onderon had fallen into full-scale civil war between the Royalists and separatist factions. The Exile was asked to take a military command of the Royalist forces and pressed to the Iziz Royal Palace alongside another Captain of the Guard, Bostuco, and his men to defend the queen. Once inside, they met up with Gelesi, who was among the Royalist soldiers who fought against Vaklu's militarized allies and defeated the insurgents. Vaklu was taken into custody and put on trial for inciting his rebellion, ending the war.

Personality and traits
"I have a wife and daughter to look after. And I feel like a target now. I'm tempted to just grab my family and take the first shuttle out of here."

- Gelesi

Gelesi, a Human male, was a member of the Onderon Military and an overall neutral officer, divided by his distrust of the Republic as well as his sympathy for some beliefs of Vaklu's faction and his support for Queen Talia. Following Sullio's murder, Gelesi was unwillingly assigned to his friend Sullio's post at the docks of Iziz with his primary duty as scanning starport visas.

After his appointment to Sullio's former post, he grew nervous and feared for the lives of himself and his family. While she was alive, Gelesi had wondered why his predecessor went to the cantina after all her shifts&mdash;until he got her job and started doing the same. By his own admission, the stress of the job made him feel paranoid. He constantly felt like he was being targeted by some force. This anxiety festered inside him to the point where he considered leaving his post and leaving the planet with his family, although he decided not to take such action.

Character creation and development
Gelesi was created for the Obsidian Entertainment Xbox and PC video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords in 2005. He also later received an entry in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia published in 2008.

Gameplay alternatives
Aside from supporting Taila's faction, which is considered the canonical flow of events, there are other paths the player can take in the game. At the request of a Vaklu supporter named Anda, the Exile can remove the three captains of the Guard in order to weaken the Royalist military in preparation for the attack on the Royal Palace. Anda is willing to pay the Exile undefined2,500 for each one she removes. If the Exile supports Vaklu during her initial visit to Onderon, she meets Gelesi in the cantina in the Merchant Quarter of Iziz, persuading him to leave the city to protect his family. Another way to remove him is to have Panar, a Beast Rider working under Bakkel who frequented the Beast Rider's Den in the cantina, threaten to kidnap and marry Gelesi's four-year old daughter if she chooses to support General Vaklu. If persuasion fails, there is a group of thugs outside the cantina that can be hired to attack Gelesi, after which he leaves the planet, fearing for his family's safety. If the latter option is chosen, Anda becomes angry because she wanted the captains of the Guard removed quietly; however, she will still pay the Exile. This side quest is only available if the Exile supports Vaklu during her initial visit to Iziz and is not guaranteed as a dark-sided choice of the Exile as it can also not reflect her stance in the Force at all. Should the Exile complete this path and support Talia during her second visit to the planet, Gelesi will either be dead or leaving the planet so he will not aid the Royalists in the final battle.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords