Rayencourt

Rayencourt
Descriptive information
Species	Human
Pronouns	He/him
Height	1.78 meters
Hair color	Black
Eye color	Brown
Skin color	Dark
Chronological and political information
Affiliation(s)	Galactic Republic Galactic Senate

"I think the Jedi are a massive system of unchecked power, posing as a religion, a delusional cult that claims to control the uncontrollable."

―Rayencourt

Rayencourt was a human who served as a Senator of the Galactic Republic's Senate during the High Republic Era. Having anti-Jedi views, he believed the Jedi Order to be a danger and was working on getting an external review of the Order passed during 132 BBY. In that year, he discovered that Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh was leading a murder investigation without reporting it to the senate, prompting him to report this discovery to Supreme Chancellor Drellik and confronting Rwoh. He was later a part of a Senate tribunal where Rwoh provided a report on the investigation. Rwoh lied to the tribunal, framing the dead Jedi Master Sol as the killer to cover up the truth. Rayencourt used her report to argue for an external review of the Order to begin immediately, but Drellik ignored his request.

Biography

Anti-Jedi campaign

"Rayencourt has never been a friend of the Jedi. But I worry his fear has convinced so many."

―Vernestra Rwoh

Rayencourt was a human Senator of the Galactic Republic during the final decades of the High Republic Era. In 132 BBY, Rayencourt was trying to get an external review of the Jedi Order passed in the Galactic Senate and received increased support from his fellow senators. The Mirialan Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh and Abednedo Senator Isedwa Chuwant discussed Rayencourt's increasing popularity in the Senate and his proposal, with Chuwant informing Rwoh that their fellow senators from the Expansion Region would vote in support of the review.

Rwoh admitted that Rayencourt had never been an ally of the Order and expressed worry that his anti-Jedi views had swayed too many others, but Chuwant assured her that she need not be worried about the review as the Order had a history of transparency with the Senate, stating that Rayencourt was merely an ambitious senator trying to gain more power.

Conversation with a Jedi

"You project an image of goodness and restraint, but it's only a matter of time before one of you snaps. And when, not 'if,' that happens, who will be strong enough to stop him?"

―Rayencourt

Rayencourt confronted Rwoh on his distrust of the Jedi Order.

Rayencourt later visited the Jedi Temple on the planet Coruscant to speak with Rwoh. Padawan Mog Adana let Rayencourt into the control room, where he waited for the Jedi Master. Rwoh entered the room using the Force to open its door, greeting him. Rayencourt apologized to Rwoh for his intrusion and Rwoh asked the Senator what was so urgent that it necessitated the unwelcome visit her at the Temple. Rayencourt explained that he heard about the Jedi conducting a murder investigation without a report to the Senate. The Jedi Master countered that she has the authority to keep such matters internal if there isn't a larger threat, unsuccessfully attempting to quench the human's doubts by explaining that all victims were Jedi. She added that a capture of the suspect was imminent and Rayencourt questioned whether the suspect was a Jedi, but Rwoh avoided the question, thanking him for his concern and attempting to leave the room.

She was stopped by Rayencourt who explained to her that despite what she might think, the external review he is working on is not a personal vendetta against the Jedi Order and went on to explain his view of the Jedi as a delusional cult wielding unchecked power and claiming to control emotions, something that he considers uncontrollable. He questioned whether there was anyone with enough power to stop any Jedi who might snap and go rogue. Before leaving the control room he also made the Mirialan aware that he informed Supreme Chancellor Drellik of the Jedi Master's lack of transparency, advising her to have the murder suspect in custody by the time Drellik summons her for a Senate tribunal.

Senate tribunal

"Sixteen years ago, four Jedi were stationed on the planet Brendok. There they discovered a Force cult of witches. A conflict ensued. There were many casualties. Afterwards, the Jedi conspired to keep their actions secret. Recently, when the truth threatened to come out, a rogue Jedi named Sol killed his accomplices to maintain the cover story. Speaking on behalf of the High Council, we wholly condemn the actions of Master Sol."

―Vernestra Rwoh, deceiving a Senate tribunal

Vernestra Rwoh deceived the Senate tribunal about the truth behind the murders.

Rayencourt was one of the senators present for the tribunal he warned Rwoh about. Rwoh reported that sixteen years earlier a quartet of Jedi participated in a mission to the planet Brendok, where their actions led to the destruction of a Force cult of witches. She deceived the tribunal by saying that the Jedi Master Sol had gone rogue when truth about the events threatened to be revealed and hunted down the other three Jedi involved, when in truth the killer was the Force-sensitive assassin Mae Aniseya. Rayencourt and Drellik shared a look when Rwoh mentioned Sol's alleged murder of his compatriots. Rwoh stated that the Jedi High Council condemns Sol's actions, but Rayencourt proposed to the Tarsunt Chancellor that an external review of the Order must begin immediately due to the events described by Rwoh. Drellik did not react to the Senator's proposal, instead asking Rwoh what happened to the rogue Jedi. The Mirialan explained that his corpse was found on Brendok and speculated that he might have ended his own life, but in truth he was killed by his former Padawan Osha Aniseya.

Personality and traits

"The majority of my colleagues can't imagine a galaxy without the Jedi. And I can understand why. When you're looking up to heroes, you don't have to face what's right in front of you."

―Rayencourt

Rayencourt was a dark-skinned human with brown eyes and black hair who had a height of 1.78 meters. He was a suspicious representative who had a strong dislike for the Jedi Order, questioning their nobility and considering them a delusional cult that possessed unchecked power. He considered his fellow senators' positive opinion of the Jedi to be caused by hero worship. While Rayencourt disliked the Order, he insisted that his attempts for an external review are not motivated by a personal vendetta, but were merely concerns about safety, expressing doubt that anyone would be able to stop a Jedi who fails to keep their emotions in check.

When discovering that Vernestra Rwoh kept a Jedi investigation secret from the Senate, he confronted her about her actions and also alerted the Chancellor of her actions. Despite Rayencourt's anti-Jedi sentiments, he was familiar with the Order's saying "May the Force be with you" and was aware that Rwoh gets nauseous in hyperspace, however he incorrectly thought the problem to be her stomach, when in fact it was her head.

Equipment

During his conversation with Vernestra Rwoh, Rayencourt wore multiple layers of clothing, including wine-red robes that were partially covered by cream-colored layer with a black and gold hexagon pattern. Parts of the latter layer were connected with strings of white-gold beads, and the outfit also featured shoes and a necklace with a large pendant. Rayencourt later wore a similar outfit to the Senate tribunal, changing the uppermost layer for one with a hexagon pattern that was red and gold.

Behind the scenes

Rayencourt was first mentioned in "Teach / Corrupt," the sixth episode of the live-action Disney+ series The Acolyte, which released on July 2, 2024. The senator made his first appearance in the eighth episode, "The Acolyte," released on July 16 of the same year. In the episode, he was portrayed by David Harewood.

Appearances

• The Acolyte — "Teach / Corrupt" (First mentioned)
• The Acolyte — "The Acolyte" (First appearance)

Sources

• The Acolyte Explained | Highlights from "The Acolyte" on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "The Acolyte" Episode Guide | The Acolyte on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Senator Rayencourt in the Databank (backup link)

Notes and references

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