Duqua Dar

"I understand why so many have turned from the path. Would you stop me from doing the same?"

- Dar to the Republic agents

Duqua Dar was a Zabrak male Jedi Knight during the time of the Galactic Republic's war against the Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders. During the war, he served alongside fellow Zabrak Acaadi, allying himself with the Revanchists&mdash;a group of Jedi led by then-Jedi Knight Revan&mdash;who went against the orders of the Jedi Council and took an active role in the war. Revan led the Republic forces during the war but came to accept Sith teachings in the process.

At the start of the Jedi Civil War, which began when Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Revan and his apprentice Darth Malak led an invasion of the Galactic Republic in 3,959 BBY, Dar was fighting the remaining Mandalorians on Iridonia. When Dar intercepted a group of Mandalorian mercenaries who had attacked a Republic communications center on the planet, he was aided by Acaadi, now a Sith agent, who used the encounter to persuade Dar to join him and the Sith. Dar and Acaadi traveled to the nearby town of Wortan, pursued by a group of Jedi and spacers working as agents for the Republic, who attempted to thwart the Sith agent's plans. Tracking them back to Acaadi's personal hangar, the Republic agents attempted to convince Dar to reject the dark side, before being attacked by a number of Sith commandos under Acaadi's command.

Biography
"Too late and ineffectual. That is so often the way of the Jedi and their Republic allies these days."

- Duqua Dar to the Republic agents

The Zabrak male known as Duqua Dar was a Jedi Knight during the time of the Galactic Republic's war against the Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders. During the early part of the Mandalorian Wars, Dar joined the Revanchists&mdash;a group of Jedi led by then-Jedi Knight Revan&mdash;who went against the orders of the Jedi Council and took an active role in the conflict. Leading the Republic forces in the war, Revan discovered ancient Sith teachings and came to embrace them. As a member of the Revanchists, Dar served along side fellow Zabrak Jedi, Acaadi, before Acaadi's dedication to Revan eventually turned him to the dark side. Dar resisted the call of the dark side and remained on the Zabrak homeworld of Iridonia, though he believed that his destiny lay elsewhere.

At the start of the Jedi Civil War, which began when Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Revan and his apprentice Darth Malak led an invasion of the Galactic Republic in 3,959 BBY, Dar was fighting the remaining Mandalorians on Iridonia. Under orders from the Republic military, Dar intercepted a group of Mandalorian mercenaries who had attacked a Republic communications center on the planet. The Mandalorians almost proved too much for Dar, but he was saved by the timely intervention of Acaadi, now a Sith agent, who used the encounter to persuade Dar to join him and possibly turn him to the dark side; Dar was convinced that the Jedi Order had been holding him back, preventing him from using his natural aggressive feelings. Unaware that it had been Acaadi who had ordered the Mandalorians to attack the communications center in preparation for a planned Sith attack on Iridonia, Dar decided to join Acaadi. The conversation between the two Zabrak was overheard via comlink by a group of Jedi and spacers under orders from the Republic, who had earlier defeated another group of Mandalorians that had ambushed them. Unaware that Dar had agreed to join Acaadi, they decided to go to Dar's aid.

Acaadi and Dar traveled to Acaadi's private hangar in Wortan, with the Republic agents in pursuit. Reaching Wortan, the Republic agents searched the town for the two Zabrak, and in the process met two unexpected allies, the male Draethos Darok-Tho, and the female Miraluka Jirany Sha, who were practitioners of the Luka Sene and Keetael Force traditions respectively. The two Force-sensitives had been sent by their Masters to help the Republic agents stop Acaadi, as they believed the Sith agent was using techniques he'd learned while studying their respective Force traditions to corrupt Jedi and further Revan's Sith Empire.

With the help of Sha and Darok-Tho, the Republic agents managed to locate Acaadi's hangar. Acaadi detected the group as they approached his hangar, and planned to have the Republic agents meet with Dar in the hangar, watched by a squad of his Sith commandos hidden among nearby debris. Just as the agents arrived, Acaadi left the planet in his personal shuttle with another group of Sith commandos, heading to sabotage the flagship of the Republic fleet, the Hammerhead-class cruiser Champion of Iridonia, which was situated in orbit. Dar met with the Republic agents, who attempted to convince him to reject the dark side. During their conversation, Dar attempted to justify joining the Sith by pointing out holes in the Jedi teachings. After Dar talked with the Republic agents, the agents were attacked by the Sith commandos at Acaadi's command. They managed to defeat the commandos and traveled to the Champion of Iridonia in an attempt to save the Republic fleet from Acaadi.

Personality and traits
"The Jedi way was not for me, and we both know that it is not truly for you either."

- Acaadi convincing Duqua Dar to leave the Jedi path

Duqua Dar was a conflicted Jedi, who, in the aftermath of the Mandalorian Wars, resisted the call of the dark side and remained on the Zabrak homeworld of Iridonia, though he believed that his destiny lay elsewhere. Dar's mind and body bore the scars of the Mandalorian Wars, making him highly emotional and on edge. Dar was convinced that the Jedi Order had been holding him back, preventing him from using his natural aggressive feelings. When he was persuaded by Acaadi to join him, Dar attempted to justify joining the Sith by pointing out holes in the Jedi teachings.

A native of Iridonia, Dar was able to speak both Zabraki and Basic.

Powers and abilities
"Is it so wrong to embrace one's own abilities, one's natural power?"

- Dar to the Republic agents

Duqua Dar was an experienced Jedi who had been trained in both the use of the Force, as well as lightsaber combat. In combat, Dar preferred to concentrate on his lightsaber defenses, bolstered by the Force. He was skilled in telekinetic applications of the Force, able to move objects and create a whirlwind around an opponent. Dar could also hide his Force presence from other Force-users at will, allowing him to escape detection.

Behind the scenes
Duqua Dar made his first appearance in Iridonian Darkness, an adventure for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game, that was made available as a free download from Wizards.com in October 2008. The fate of Dar is determined by the actions of those involved in the game, making it possible for him to either fall to the dark side or join them as a Jedi once again.

Notes and references
Duqua Dar