The Night Sister

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Such a generous offer, Count. But our loyalty is reserved for only each other." ―Count Dooku and Mother Talzin [28]

After Dritus set the Stinger Mantis down in a village on Zimara, a small moon in the Outer Rim, Merrin went to the sulfur baths to relax and soak. After a full day on the moon, Frethylrin sought her out to discuss their relationship and how she had genuinely Irei was dead; she otherwise would have told Merrin about her. Frethylrin asked what the Nightsister did about feeling haunted, and Merrin claimed that Dathomir had pretty ghosts that were good kissers. More seriously, she asked if Frethylrin had loved and still loved Irei; Frethylrin had and always would, but said it did not change how she felt about Merrin. [4]I've spent years…of waiting for a chance to avenge my sisters. I'm finished waiting. I wish to fight by your side. Nightsisters and Jedi do not travel together but…survivors. We adapt." ―Merrin, to Cal Kestis [13] I thought Merrin was the most interesting character in the game. I thought her story held a ton of potential. I wanted to know exactly how she was feeling. I love an anti-hero. I love a complicated sort of lady, which we don't get to see a lot in fiction who's still a good guy. I love everything about her. And so I immediately wanted to dive into her perspective, and her thoughts, and her story, and expand it." ―Sam Maggs, author of Jedi: Battle Scars, on writing Merrin [14]

As the Stinger Mantis crew traveled the galaxy together, they got to know each other better and became like a family with the Mantis as their home. Merrin regarded their differences as strengths that made them nearly unstoppable together, although they were not inclined to have "heart-to-hearts," a term she learned from Cal Kestis. [4] Frethylrin and the crew gathered in the map room and she told them the truth about her personal history with Irei, which was difficult for Merrin to listen to, and with the Empire. The would-be deserter justified remaining in the Empire until she secured the Shroud schematics, while Dritus pointed out that she had knowingly and foolishly endangered his crew, costing him an arm. Because Kestis knew the sincerity of Frethylrin's emotions and wanted to protect Irei as a fellow Force-sensitive fugitive, he asked Frethylrin what they were going to do about her and Irei being on the run. [4] Mother Talzin was among the strongest witches in her clan, and served as their leader. She was a master at her arcane abilities, with the Nightsisters seeking her guidance. She was also responsible for handling any relations with the galaxy, such as when the malevolent Darth Sidious, an ally of Talzin’s, came to Dathomir and saw the potential in one of the young Nightbrothers. Talzin released the child to Sidious, who raised him as his Sith apprentice, and became known as Darth Maul.

Meet the witches of Dathomir.

Merrin: " Are you sure it's something you should find?" Cal Kestis: " What do you mean?" Merrin: " The children on that list. If you take them from their homes to train as Jedi… won't they be hunted like you?" Cal Kestis: " It has to be kept out of the hands of the Empire." Cere Junda: " It'll help us put an end to the Empire." ―Merrin, Cal Kestis, and Cere Junda discuss the holocron [1] Star Wars Inside Intel is a StarWars.com feature where Lucasfilm Story Group member Emily Shkoukani, whose job is to know as much about a galaxy far, far away as possible, explores obscure facts about Star Wars lore and continuity. In this installment, Emily analyzes the peculiar coven of Nightsisters…. After the crew kept their distance from each other for a day and a night, Dritus emerged. He scolded Merrin when she tried to help with his balance and she concealed her hurt. Dritus wanted to confront Frethylrin and accused her of leaving them all to die, resulting in losing his arm. Kestis interrupted their shouting, but he also demanded an explanation of her lies and omissions; otherwise, she must leave the ship with Irei. Merrin agreed with him. [4] And we're a Jedi and a daughter of Dathomir, fast friends." [both laugh] " We are all bound and connected by the Force. There's nothing unusual about two beings who had not previously met forming a strong connection, falling in love at first sight, even. That's the beauty of our galaxy. It's what makes everything we do worthwhile." ―Merrin and Cere Junda discuss Merrin's connection with Chellwinark Frethylrin [4]

The Nightsisters are an ancient clan of female magic users who hail from the planet Dathomir, a vergence that is strong in the dark side of the Force. The Nightsisters have a strong bond with their planet, which is why they are also known as the Daughters of Dathomir. Dathomir is an important world in Star Wars; the Sith have long sought its secrets, and Palpatine turned to Dathomir when he wanted a new apprentice. He was given a male soldier (dubbed a Nightbrother), who became Darth Maul. Following the end of the Clone Wars, the Nightsisters' massacre at the hands of Grievous and Dooku became known, with very few Nightsisters remaining, like Merrin. However, as the Nightbrothers weren't wiped out. Merrin would take them as her servants and they took control of Dathomir during the age of the Galactic Empire. [13] Before they landed, Kestis was repairing some minor damage to his lightsaber when Merrin approached him to talk. They sat side-by-side on his cot and she told him not to ask her to leave Lar's skytower. Kestis protested that he only did it to protect her and believed she was capable; she also wanted to protect their crew and it was not his job to sacrifice himself for them. Merrin and Kestis both felt they would never forgive themselves if something happened to the other that they could have prevented. He avoided giving her the promise she wanted while assuring her that she did not need to prove anything; he knew her and they were in together. Merrin accepted it for the moment and Kestis held her hand as they settled into silence. [4] In addition to the Dathomirian language, Merrin was fluent in Galactic Basic Standard, although she did not always understand colloquialisms. She could swim and rescue drowning swimmers. [1] After years away from Dathomir, Merrin retained her natural night vision. [4]In 14 BBY, [39] Merrin joined the crew of the Stinger Mantis, made up of the Jedi Cal Kestis, the ex-Jedi Cere Junda, the latero pilot Greez Dritus and the droid BD-1, with whom she left Dathomir to explore the galaxy. [13] During the events of Jedi: Battle Scars, which take place sometime between 12 and 11 BBY per the reasoning here, Cal Kestis states Merrin is around the same age as Chellwinark Frethylrin. Frethylrin later states that she is twenty-one years old. Therefore, Merrin must be born around the same time period as Frethylrin. Okay. It would be good for me, too, to figure out what is left between me and Irei. So we should… be friends?"

Cal is like that with everyone. Always putting himself in the line of fire so that no one else gets hurt. He's the same with everyone he cares about. It's not unique to me." This event begins after Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi and ends at the time of the Battle of Jakku culminating with the signing of the Galactic Concordance. The Star Wars: Galactic Atlas places the events of Return of the Jedi in 4 ABY and the signing of the Galactic Concordance as 5 ABY. You are mad, Malicos. Dathomir has unmade you, and my misplaced loyalty has allowed you to lead the Nightbrothers astray. Unlike the Jedi, the Nightsisters of Dathomir do not turn on their kind. Our bond is eternal." ―Merrin, to Taron Malicos and Cal Kestis [1] Due to witnessing the massacre of her fellow Nightsisters and the lies of the former Jedi Taron Malicos, Merrin became hostile and aggressive, especially towards Jedi. In her need to avenge her sisters, she believed his claims that the Jedi were thieves who slaughtered others for their own gain, and despite her distrust of him, she was willing to share secrets of Dathomir in exchange for his promised help with her vengeance. After learning the truth and joining Cal Kestis and the crew of the Stinger Mantis, she became levelheaded and put aside her previous animosity toward Jedi as they were both survivors. [1]I believe the old alliance can again be what it once was. You would only have to pledge your clan's allegiance to the Separatists' cause. We could certainly use the powers of the Nightsisters against the Jedi." If you don't let me help—all of us, help—we are all going to die. Us, and eventually every Force-sensitive in the galaxy, and everyone who would ever stand up against the Imperials from now until the end of time." Nightsisters know the dark side better than anyone. We grow up steeped in it, but we can use it as a tool and stay ourselves—unlike the Sith. That balance is what you must learn." ― Asajj Ventress to Quinlan Vos [36] Kestis was about to tell Irei and Frethylrin but the pair had slipped away. Merrin believed Frethylrin had chosen to leave with Irei over staying with Merrin. In her burning rage, she asked Kestis to leave Frethylrin to her if there was a future encounter, and he agreed. [4]