Ithia

Ithia was a female Force-sensitive Kel Dor from the planet of Dorin. She became a member of the Baran Do Sages, a Force-based organization on Dorin, and later joined the Hidden Ones, a secret sect of the Baran Do dedicated to preserving the Order's knowledge. She was present in the sect's caverns in 43.5 ABY when former Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker&mdash;recently exiled from the capital planet of Coruscant and the Jedi Order for dereliction of duty&mdash;and his son, Jedi Knight Ben Skywalker, traveled to Dorin to speak with Master of the Baran Do Koro Ziil to learn more about Jedi Knight-turned-Sith Lord Darth Caedus' fall to the dark side of the Force. They eventually discovered the Hidden Ones, and the Skywalkers met with Ziil, who had become the sect's leader. Ziil revealed that, in order to protect the sect's secrecy, no one would ever be allowed to leave the caverns. Luke eventually turned the Hidden Ones against Ziil and defeated him in a battle of Force powers, and Ithia and the Hidden Ones returned to the surface of Dorin.

Early life
Ithia was a Force-sensitive Kel Dor from the helium-rich planet of Dorin. She joined the Baran Do Sages, a Force-based organization for Kel Dor on Dorin. During her time with the Sages, Ithia was trained in fighting technique, which was relatively rare among the Sages. As such, she was considered one of their most skilled combatants. She frequently dueled fellow Sage Charsae Saal&mdash;also one of the best fighters in the Order&mdash;and rarely lost to him. Several years prior to 43 ABY, she decided to join the Hidden Ones, a secret sect of the Baran Do tasked with preserving the knowledge of the Order so that if the Baran Do were ever destroyed, they could reinstate the Order. The Hidden Ones required their members to change their names and accept that they were dead to the outside galaxy, and they would be resigned to their duties as members of the sect. During her time in the Hidden Ones' home, a series of caverns deep below Dorin's surface, she took the name of Ithia and became resigned to her "death", and did not feel the need to practice her skills. As such, her strength of will and Force powers diminished over time.

In 43.5 ABY, former Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker&mdash;recently exiled from the galactic capital of Coruscant and the Jedi Order for dereliction of duty&mdash;arrived on Dorin with his son, Jedi Knight Ben Skywalker, to find Master of the Baran Do Koro Ziil. They hoped to find out more about why Jedi Knight Jacen Solo had turned to the dark side of the Force. Upon their arrival in the Baran Do temple, however, they were told that Ziil had died, and they decided to stay and train with the Baran Do Sages. Before long, the Sage's senior combat instructor, Charsae Saal, decided to join the Hidden Ones. He held his "dying ceremony", the ceremony in which a Sage pretended to die and then traveled to join the Hidden Ones in their caverns. Luke wasn't fooled by Saal's apparent death, however, and after searching the site, he and Ben found Saal alive and well. Realizing that Ziil was also likely still alive, they agreed to travel with Saal to the Caverns of the Hidden One. Ithia was present when Saal and the Skywalkers arrived in the caverns. There, the Skywalkers found that Ziil was indeed still alive, and had become the Hidden Ones' leader, taking the title of "The Hidden One". They spoke with him, and he revealed to them that in order to protect the sect's secrecy, no one who entered the caverns was ever allowed to leave.

Leaving the Hidden Ones
A few days after joining the sect, Saal&mdash;who had taken the name of Chara&mdash;dueled with Ithia in a set of three matches. Ithia had grown weaker than Chara, and he defeated her in every match. Luke developed a theory that the Hidden Ones&mdash;by turning their backs on life, energy, and vitality&mdash;had turned their backs on the Force, causing their powers to weaken. Ithia later went to Ziil's throne chamber when the Skywalkers announced that they would be holding a naming ceremony&mdash;the ceremony in which new members of the Hidden Ones took new names. Once the Hidden Ones had gathered in the chamber, however, Luke revealed that they intended to rename the Hidden Ones instead of themselves. Luke went on to present his theory about how the Hidden Ones were weakening; and to prove it, he suggested that Ben duel Chara. They fought with hardwood staffs, and Chara&mdash;though by far Ben's superior, having instructed him in combat technique at the temple mere days before&mdash;lost the duel, as he lacked the will to win.

Ziil, however, refused to accept this, claiming that Luke had brainwashed Chara into believing that he was growing weaker, but the other Hidden Ones began to agree with the Skywalkers. Angered, Ziil revealed that he had told those on the surface that the Skywalkers had died when a cave collapsed; as such, 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. The Hidden Ones protested, and Ithia spoke out in support of the Skywalkers' idea. She told Ziil that she believed that the "experiment" that was the Hidden Ones had failed. Finally pushed over the edge, Ziil attacked Luke, and the two engaged in a duel of Force powers, which Luke won. Even in defeat Ziil was defiant, but Burra, one of the eldest members of the sect, gave in and revealed the location of a secret turbolift chamber that led out of the caverns. Ithia and the Hidden Ones returned to the Baran Do on the surface, and the Skywalkers left Dorin soon after.

Personality and traits
Ithia was renowned as one of the best combatants of the Baran Do Sages, and until Chara joined the sect, she was the best fighter in the Hidden Ones. She knew that Luke's theory on the Hidden Ones' waning powers was correct, as she recognized that the Hidden Ones were weakening and realized that her own skills had diminished greatly as well. When few others would speak up against Ziil, Ithia was one of the first to confront the Hidden One with these problems, and debated in open support of the Skywalkers.

Powers and abilities
"And those would be lucky ways for you to die. Fast and decisive. It's more likely you will just whither away. Like Ithia there."

- Luke Skywalker, addressing the Hidden Ones

Ithia was one of the few Baran Do Sages to be trained in combat, as fighting techniques were not required for the Order. She became a very skilled combatant, and was said to be the best in the Order. When she joined the Hidden Ones, however, she was forced to turn her back on life, and thus her fighting skills and her connection to the Force weakened. In 43 ABY, when she dueled with Chara, he defeated her in each of their three matches, whereas before, she would consistently win at least two.

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

Appearances

 * Outcast

Notes and references
Ithia