- "You have accessed this record using the light side of the Force. The dark side would have sufficed. The Force is the Force, to my mind. Would you hear the same tale if you reached out from the shadow? Who can say? That is more about you than me."
- ―The Archivist's recording in the holocron, when it was opened with the light side
The Archivist's Holocron was created by "The Archivist" existed in the galaxy. Shaped as a blue sphere, the holocron was unusual in that it could be opened by either the light side or the dark side of the Force, although its contents would change depending on what was used. The Archivist recorded in the holocron the story of Qi'ra, the second leader of Crimson Dawn, and how she had gathered allies to try and destroy the Sith during the Imperial Era. Long after the fall, Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa discovered the holocron and watched a recording of the Archivist recount the story.
Description[]
- "This doesn't look like the other ones."
"Well, it's definitely a holocron of some kind, but I've never seen another like it." - ―Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, upon discovering the holocron
The holocron was spherical in shape, with a mottled and striped blue colouration.[1] Unlike Jedi or Sith holocrons, which could only be opened with the light and dark sides of the Force respectively,[2] the holocron could be activated using either aspect. However, the holocron would react differently depending on which side was used, with the light side and dark side producing different opening messages. The contents of the holocron included a recording of its creator, "The Archivist," telling the story of the crime lord Qi'ra of Crimson Dawn's attempt to destroy the Sith during the Imperial Era.[1]
History[]
The holocron was created by a woman known as "The Archivist". A Force-user who cared little for the dichotomy of the light and dark sides, the Archivist recorded into the unusual holocron a recounting of events she had been involved with during the reign of the Galactic Empire, pertaining to a Corellian crime lord named Qi'ra, the second leader of the Crimson Dawn syndicate, who had gathered allies, including the Archivist, to try and destroy the Sith who ruled it, Darth Sidious and Darth Vader.[1] The two died within a year of those events, during the Battle of Endor against the forces of the Alliance to Restore the Republic.[3]
The holocron eventually wound up in a stone chamber with wood reinforcement, on a central stone plinth with three prongs to hold the sphere. Long after the fall,[1] Luke Skywalker[4] who was seeking out holocrons discovered the device. Realizing the holocron was unusual, he was nevertheless able to activate it, whereupon it answered their questions. He then brought another person,[1] his sister Leia Organa,[4] to see the device. Skywalker offered to activate the device for Organa, who noted it did not look like other holocrons they had found. Confirming that it was indeed a holocron, Skywalker said Organa would see for themselves what it responded to, and it would answer their questions. Skywalker activated the holocron with the light side, and a recording of the Archivist noted that the dark side would also have sufficed, before wondering if the use of the opposing aspect would have changed what the holocron's users saw. The recording of the Archivist then began recounting Qi'ra's story.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
The Archivist's holocron appeared in the first issue of the miniseries Star Wars: Crimson Reign, written by Charles Soule and published by Marvel Comics[1] on December 8, 2021.[5]
Appearances[]
- Crimson Reign 1 (First appearance)
- Crimson Reign 2
- Crimson Reign 3
- Crimson Reign 4
- Doctor Aphra (2020) 23
- Hidden Empire 1
- Hidden Empire 2
- Hidden Empire 3
- Hidden Empire 5
Sources[]
The Underworld Takes on the Empire in Marvel's Star Wars: Crimson Reign #1 – Exclusive Preview on StarWars.com (backup link) (First mentioned)- The Odyssey of the Archivist in Marvel's Crimson Reign #3 – Exclusive Preview on StarWars.com (backup link)
- A Podracer Once More in Marvel's Star Wars: Darth Vader #26 – Exclusive Preview on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Qi'ra and the Emperor Plot Their Next Moves in Marvel's Star Wars: Hidden Empire #2 – Exclusive Preview on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire (First identified as The Archivist's Holocron)
- Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
