Shad Jelavan

"Shad is the kind of apprentice every Master wishes he could have."

- Lucien Draay

Shad Jelavan was a male Human from the Middle City on the planet Taris. Shad, along with his sister Shel and brother Shay, was orphaned in 3,966 BBY when his parents died in an accident. He was a promising Jedi Padawan at the Jedi Tower under the tutelage of the Miralukan Jedi Master Q'Anilia.

Biography
In 3,966 BBY, Shad's parents were tragically killed in an accident in Taris' Middle City, leaving him, his sister Shel, and younger brother Shay, orphans. During his time at the Jedi Tower as the Padawan of Jedi Master Q'Anilia, Shad became close friends with fellow Padawan Zayne Carrick.

Shad was the most talented of the Padawans on Taris and was the first to complete the challenge presented to them on Taris' rogue moon. This challenge served as the Tarisian students' Jedi Trials. Despite his accomplishments, Shad provided encouragement for his less-skilled friend Zayne, joking with him the morning before their potential Knighting ceremony and assuring him everything would be fine.

However, the fateful night of the ceremony, Shad arrived uncharacteristically late at the Knighting. He had been escorting his brother and sister home since even the Middle City was becoming dangerous. When Shad placed his lightsaber in the storage area, he noticed that the Masters were wearing their lightsabers, which were traditionally never worn on the Temple floor. When he asked about this, the Masters replied that it was part of the ceremony. Shad noticed that Zayne's Master Lucien Draay was carrying his lightsaber as well, indicating that Zayne (who had just arrived on the Temple grounds) was to be Knighted too. Shad and the other Padawans were surprised and happy for him, but they realized that something was amiss, since Zayne always came last in every test. In response, Master Xamar commented that Zayne possessed a "special relationship" with the Force that hopefully would increase with time. This further confused the Padawans, but Q'Anilia insisted that the war called for more Knights and Taris, among other planets, needed all the Jedi Order could muster.

Shad knew the Masters were lying and said so. Increasingly frustrated, he asserted that the Council treated Zayne as a "court jester" and never took him seriously. When Raana Tey objected that the Masters had known Zayne for a long time, Shad interrupted and asserted that this contradicted the Masters' own teachings, which never held personal feelings above duty.

After a further challenge to Q'Anilia, Shad demanded to know what was really going on. At this point, the Masters decided to wait no longer to unfold their plot; Shad and his friends were killed in the Padawan Massacre of Taris.

Much later, when Zayne turned himself in, the Masters told him that they had originally intended to frame Shad Jelavan for the murders. Whereas Zayne's late arrival was expected, Shad's was not. This, along with Shad's insight and assertiveness surprised them and forced them to action; Zayne became the scapegoat. Zayne was distressed to learn that Shad and the others had not truly believed that he was "good enough" to deserve Knighthood.

Behind the scenes
Shad Jelavan's last name was misspelled "Jelevan" in Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 6: Commencement, Part 6. It was corrected in the trade paperback.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 0: Crossroads
 * The Taris Holofeed: Prime Edition
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 1: Commencement, Part 1
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: Commencement, Part 2
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 3: Commencement, Part 3
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 4: Commencement, Part 4
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 6: Commencement, Part 6
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 9: Flashpoint Interlude: Homecoming
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 14: Days of Fear, Part 2
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 16: Nights of Anger, Part 1
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 20: Daze of Hate, Part 2
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Knights of Suffering
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 31: Turnabout
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 48: Demon, Part 2