Adari Vaal

"Everyone here in Tahv&mdash;do you think the village is going to fall into a hole because I talked to your children about some rocks?"

- Adari Vaal

Adari Vaal was a female Keshiri living on Kesh around 5000 BBY. She was the daughter of Eulyn, the mother of two children, Tona and Finn Vaal, and the widow of Zhari Vaal. Adari was a geologist and therefore branded a heretic by the Neshtovar because of the Keshiri's disbelief of science. She sought refuge with the newly arrived Lost Tribe of Sith who had crash-landed on Kesh. She provided the Sith with information about Keshiri's religious beliefs and language, which allowed them to pose as Skyborn&mdash;the deities whom Keshiri would willingly serve. Adari herself was rewarded with the enormous scientific knowledge available to the Sith, as well as the more prominent position within the Keshiri society.

Branded a heretic
"Adari, listen! They’re hitting the roof now!" "That’s actually thunder." "It’s proof, that’s what it is! The Skyborn have forsaken you." "No, Mother, it’s proof they’re protecting me. If it rains, the mob can’t set our house on fire."

- Eulyn and her daughter Adari Vaal discussing the mob throwing rocks at their house

Vaal loved studying the rocks of Kesh, and held no respect for the Keshiri’s gods, the Skyborn. This contradicted common belief to such a degree that in 5000 BBY, she was summoned to several hearing by the Neshtovar, the uvak-riders that governed Kesh. By this time, even Vaal’s mother considered her a heretic. On the third day of the testimonies, crowds of Keshiri followed Vaal to her home, where they began to pelt the house with rocks. This greatly concerned Vaal’s mother, but the geologist was delighted to collect the stones that landed on her doorstep. The assault on Vaal’s home halted as a thunderstorm began. During her hearing the next day, Vaal used two stones from different parts of the continent to explain to the Neshtovar that the land of Kesh had been formed by volcanic activity. This greatly angered Izri Dazh, the leader of the Neshtovar. He in turn attempted to persuade Vaal that Kesh was created by the Skyborn, who had fought the Otherside ages before. During that fight, Dazh said, the Skyborn’s blood had formed the land from which the Keshiri appeared. Dazh then accused Vaal of spreading lies amongst the young Keshiri. Vaal countered that she was teaching students, not acolytes. At the end of their argument, Vaal saw that many of the surrounding Keshiri’s eyes were lowered, indicating that they would not take violent action against her. Vaal relaxed, believing that she would be allowed to return to her experiments.

However, at that exact moment, a loud boom sounded through Tahv. Alarmed, Vaal and the other Keshiri looked to the west, where they saw that one of the peaks of the Catejan Mountains was billowing with flames and smoke. Vaal exclaimed that the peak was made of granite and should not be volcanic.

The Keshiri present fled to their houses. Dazh and several members of the Neshtovar stayed, huddling together to discuss the meaning of what had just occurred. The next morning, the mountain was still smoking, but it appeared to pose no immediate threat to Tahv, which led many Keshiri to gather outside Vaal’s house. They yelled insults, criticizing her lack of faith in the Skyborn, whom, they said, had given proof of their existence the day before. Vaal sent her mother and two children to her uncle’s house for refuge. The crowd let Vaal’s family pass, but continued to harass the geologist, pelting her home with stones even as it rained. At sunset, the Neshtovar arrived, and torches were lit. Fearing the torches would be used to set her house ablaze, Vaal decided to leave. Whatever protection was granted to the widow of an uvak-rider, she had no more left.

Making her escape
Zhari’s uvak Nink still resided in the backyard of Vaal’s house. Previously, Zhari had abused Nink, causing the uvak to drop his rider into Kesh’s ocean to his death. Vaal had no feeling of attachment to Nink, but she knew he was her only hope for escape.

Surprised that Vaal had climbed onto his back(as it was expected that he would never take another rider), Nink flew upward over Vaal’s house. The Neshtovar gave chase, but Nink outmaneuvered them by flying over the ocean. The pair traveled until Nink found a place to roost. Vaal collapsed with exhaustion, and when she awoke, the Keshiri was surprised to find that Nink had remained with her.

Once again Vaal mounted Nink, and they flew toward the sight of the smoking mountain. When in sight of the burning peak, Vaal saw that instead of a smoking caldera as she had expected, a great silver disk sat in the indentation in the mountain’s top. It occurred to Vaal that whatever was sitting on the mountain had landed, not erupted from inside.

As Vaal contemplated this, an opening in the silver mass appeared and a figure emerged, sporting a crimson beam of light. The man looked up toward Vaal, but the Keshiri was quickly pushed away from the mountain as a gust of wind swept Nink back over the ocean.

Meeting the Sith
"Deliverance. We are yours&mdash;and you are ours. Come to us."

- Yaru Korsin speaking to Vaal via the Force

That evening, as Vaal was watching the sunset from her makeshift camp in the jungle, a single word floated through her head: Deliverance. She looked toward the peak on which the silver disk had crashed, then leapt to her feet as she saw bonfires. Thinking the Neshtovar had pursued her, Vaal began to panic. Then another though passed through her mind; a non-verbal invitation to come toward the distant flames. Realizing it was not the Neshtovar who had lit the fires, Vaal decided to investigate.

Later, Vaal regretted her decision. As she approached the makeshift camp, Vaal saw that each being held a beam of light like the one she had seen the man holding earlier. Unknown to Vaal, the group was part of the Sith Empire and carried red light sabers.

Sensing her approach, the Sith reacted with hostility. One used the Force to throw Vaal into a tree, then the others began a mental assault on the Keshiri’s mind. Vaal screamed, but to no avail. She received particular pain from one woman, who did not hold back as the other Sith did. The attack on Vaal’s head stopped abruptly as a hand was placed on her shoulder. The geologist looked up to see the man she had spied earlier. He introduced himself as Korsin just as Vaal fell unconscious.

Exchange of information
"How many Keshiri are there in all, I mean?" "We’re numberless." "Ah. You mean they have never been counted." "No. I mean, we don’t have a number that large."

- Yaru Korsin and Adari Vaal

When Vaal awoke, she found herself under a warm blanket. The Sith offered her water, which Vaal accepted, but the Keshiri found that she could not remember how to speak. After three days, Vaal’s voice returned. She began to communicate with Yaru Korsin, who used Hestus as translator. Korsin explained that Hestus had a “special ear” which helped him with exchanging communication.

Vaal learned that Korsin and his people had come from the silver disk, which was called Omen and had fallen from the sky. She also learned that the group was unable to leave the mountain, as it was surrounding by rivers and rough terrain. In return, Vaal shared much of her knowledge about Kesh and its people with Korsin, would listened with interest.

Korsin asked Vaal to return to Tahv and lead the Neshtovar to the Sith. Seelah hated this idea, exclaiming that Vaal would not return, but Korsin calmed his sister-in-law, then explained to Vaal that the female Sith was simply upset over the loss of her husband Devore. Korsin then inquired as to the number of Keshiri living on Kesh, to which Vaal replied that there was not a number large enough to include all of them. This greatly unnerved Korsin. He then asked Vaal to share more information about the Skyborn, which the geologist had only mentioned in passing.

Aiding the “Skyborn”
"You were afraid of us, and afraid when you saw the body. You knew we’d die on the mountain if you didn’t bring help. Yet you brought the Neshtovar anyway&mdash;because you though we could help you against them."

- Yaru Korsin to Adari Vaal

Vaal flew back toward Tahv, catching the attention of the Neshtovar patrols and leading them back to the Sith. Astonished, the uvak-riders led a dozen Sith back to Tahv, where the newcomers met with the Neshtovar council in the Circle Eternal. Vaal noticed that the uvak-riders took their positions on the raised perimeter of the Circle; this signified that the Neshtovar believed the Sith to be the Skyborn. The citizens of Tahv stared in wonder as the Sith and Vaal entered the Circle.

Izri Dazh stepped forward and greeted Korsin and the other Sith with words of praise. He then announced to all present that the newcomers were indeed the Skyborn. He also proclaimed that Korsin would be Grand Lord of both the Skyborn and all of Kesh. Korsin showed his support for the decision by force-leaping to the top of the column that stood in the center of the Circle, to the delight of the Keshiri. When the cheering stopped, Korsin made an announcement of his own. He reaffirmed Dazh’s statement that the newcomers were the Skyborn, and declared that a temple would be built over the wreckage of the Omen.

The Sith were given the homes of the Neshtovar; all except for Vaal, who was allowed to continue living in her house due to the help she gave the “Skyborn.” The Sith began to clear a passage from the mountain to the peninsula, using their lightsabers to cut away rock. Vaal became an informal ambassador and aide to Korsin, helping him communicate with the Keshiri and helping to oversee the work.

When Korsin was discussing plans to rebuild the Omen with Gloyd, Vaal suddenly interrupted, telling Korsin that she had seen him push something off the cliff the day after the Omen crashed. Korsin dismissed Gloyd, then asked Vaal to elaborate. Vaal revealed that she had seen Korsin push his brother into the ocean, and had later examined the body, which was then swept away by the current. Korsin inquired as to why Vaal had still brought the Neshtovar to the Sith after seeing Korsin murder his brother. Vaal did not have an answer. Korsin then revealed that he knew several important facts about Vaal’s life&mdash;the circumstances of Zhari’s death, the fact that Vaal had been considered a danger by her society, and that the geologist had come to the Sith with hopes that they could help her, not the other way around. Korsin used this knowledge to justify his actions, and also to point out the many similarities between Vaal and himself. Korsin told Vaal that in the next few months she would learn more then she had in her entire life, but in return, she had to “forget” the incident with Devore. Vaal agreed, and both she and Korsin kept their promises.

Over the next few months, Vaal learned a vast amount of information about Kesh. But she also learned that although the Sith possessed unnatural powers, they were not the Skyborn they claimed to be. However, Vaal felt that they were good enough for and the other Keshiri, and continued to serve Korsin. She also knew that the Sith wished to repair their ship, but the metals to do so lay deep below Kesh’s surface.

Personality and traits
"Heretic! Good to see you too, Mother."

- Eulyn and Adari Vaal

Adari Vaal took a great interest in her work and did not attempt to hide it from the rest of Keshiri society. At times the geologist believed that science was more important than family. She cared little what her neighbors thought; when an angry mob pelted her house with rocks, Vaal was more interested in the stones they were throwing and was even happy to be receiving free samples.

She never really loved Zhari Vaal, believing him to be dim-witted and foolish, traits he passed onto his children.

Vaal was also a brave individual. She ignored cries of “heretic,” often said by her own mother, instead working to teach the young Keshiri about Kesh’s terrain. When the Neshtovar came to Vaal’s house to arrest her, the geologist chose to flee on Nink, though she had never ridden and uvak before. Vaal later faced her own fears of the Sith and came willingly into their camp.

Behind the Scenes
"Enter Adari Vaal, one of the sharpest of her people and someone you might want involved in any first contact situation."

- John Jackson Miller, in his notes for Lost Tribe of the Sith: Skyborn

Adari Vaal was created for the Lost Tribe of the Sith eBook series by John Jackson Miller. Her first appearance was in Lost Tribe of the Sith: Precipice, though she was not named until Lost Tribe of the Sith: Skyborn.

Originally, Adari was named “Adair,” but Miller switched the ‘I’ and the ‘R’, as he thought Adair was “too earthy.”

Appearances

 * Lost Tribe of the Sith: Precipice
 * Lost Tribe of the Sith: Skyborn