Daal

Daal was a Force-sensitive human female who lived on a planet where she worked in an Imperial workhouse as an orphan. At some point, she received an amulet that allowed for communication to a Sith Lord known as the Sith Mother. The Sith instructed Daal to travel to the mountain known as Screecher's Reach and promised a new life if she passed a test. Eventually, she decided that it was time to go and stormed out of the workshop. Daal and her friends Baython, Keena, and Quinn stole speeders from the workshop to travel to the mountain. They eventually arrived at a treeline and spoke about a ghost known as the Screecher that supposedly lived in the cave. Baython and Daal briefly talked about their lives, and he told Daal that if she had the opportunity to pursue a better life, then she should take it and not look back.

Eventually, the children arrived at the mountain and entered its cave. They reached a large clearing within and encountered the Screecher. The cave crumbled around the children, and Baython led Quinn and Keena out while Daal stayed behind. Alone, the Screecher attacked Daal with a red-bladed lightsaber. Daal attempted to escape through an opening in the cave wall and reached out to it, using the Force to pull a large rock down, which knocked down both herself and the Screecher to the cave ground. Regaining her senses, Daal gained sight of the Screecher's true identity—a real old woman. After a brief struggle over the woman's lightsaber, Daal ignited the weapon and killed her.

Daal exited the cave through the opening and reunited with her friends as she reflected on the Screecher being a real person. Baython questioned Daal as to what happened, and she replied that her amulet gave her strength. Suddenly, the Sith Mother's voice emanated from the pendant, telling Daal it was time for them to meet. A starship approached the group, landing before them, and a door opened as the Sith Mother stepped out to meet Daal. After she confirmed that the girl had passed the test and killed the Screecher, Daal joined the Sith on the ship, leaving her friends behind.

Biography

Leaving the workshop

Daal was a Force-sensitive human^[1] orphan^[3] who lived on a planet in the galaxy. While living on the planet, she was a laborer tasked with turning wheels on a pipe to direct steam at the Factory Workshop,^[1] an Imperial workhouse^[4] with challenging conditions.^[5] She sought reprieve from her days there,^[6] feeling she was destined for greater things.^[7] At some point she obtained a golden medal that allowed communication between her and the Sith Lord known as the Sith Mother,^[1] who had recognized that Daal had great potential.^[8] The Sith Mother told Daal that she needed to travel to Screecher's Reach, a mountain rumored to be haunted by a ghost known as the Screecher, and would need to pass a test within her mind. The Sith Mother promised Daal a new life if she passed. Daal wore the medal around her neck as a necklace.^[1]

One day, Daal was working when she began turning a wheel too quickly, causing a pipe to burst and steam to erupt from it. Frustrated, she exited the workhouse and ripped her gloves off of her hands and grunted as she tore off her protective head covering, revealing her face, red from the steam. She panted and unzipped her protective suit.^[1] In the quiet of the outside, she dreamed of escape.^[5] Two friends of Daal's—Baython and Quinn—ran after her as she exited. Baython asked Daal what she was doing, and Daal confessed her plan of leaving the workhouse. Quinn celebrated the idea of leaving and asked where they would be heading, to which Daal answered she was going to Screecher's Reach. Baython noted that the walk to the mountain would take three days, but Daal dismissed his reply.^[1]

Quinn suggested the trio steal some speeders instead of walking. Keena, another worker from the factory, approached them and asked what was happening, to which Baython smiled and asked if she wanted to see a ghost. With Keena joining the group, Daal led them to the speeders, where Quinn broke the chains securing the vehicles using a handheld device. Keena sat with Daal on her speeder while the others got on theirs and began traveling to the mountain, knocking over two workers controlling small walkers. They passed over a body of water and through a field. As they approached a large section of trees, the group sped up their speeders.^[1]

Confliction

After reaching the treeline, the group sat around a campfire as Baython told stories about the haunted cave^[1] and Daal contemplated her destiny,^[7] full of doubt.^[8] Keena was scared and stated they were just stories, asking Daal for confirmation. Daal held her amulet in her hands and told the others^[1] solemnly^[7] that she believed the ghost was not real, only something that one could see in their mind. Upon hearing this, Quinn stated that in his mind he was "kick'n her up the arse!" Keena giggled and repeated what he said before kicking him. Quinn chased her around as they both laughed. Daal briefly smiled, watching them play together.^[1]

Baython shared a laugh before sitting next to Daal and asking if she was also having fun. He then nudged her arm, saying they were going to see the ghost and that it beat being at the workhouse. Frowning again, Daal pulled her legs back and turned toward the starlit sky. She asked Baython what he would do if he did not have to go back to the workhouse or the farms and if he would leave if he could. Baython told her that there were worse lives. Daal, however, believed there were also better lives. She pulled her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, burying her face in her knees. Baython looked forward at Quinn—who was hitting his face against a tree root while Keena laughed—and asked who would take care of Quinn, referring to him as an "eejit." The comment caused Daal to smile as a fruit landed on Keena's head, causing the children to laugh and Daal to smile wider and let out a giggle.^[1]

Baython put his hand on Daal's shoulder and acknowledged that she wanted more than what the planet had to offer and told her that if she found out what it was, then she should take it without looking back. Baython then stood up and walked to the children. Daal smiled up at him before returning to a frown. She looked at the medal in her hand and put it back around her neck. Keena ran up to Daal, still giggling, invoking a smile back onto Daal. Keena asked if they were taking the speeders. Daal then plucked the piece of fruit off of Keena's head and picked her up to place her on Baython's shoulders, saying that now she would be traveling in style and to hold on tight. The friends then made their way through the trees to Screecher's Reach.^[1]

Strength and courage

Eventually, the group found themselves at the entrance to the cave. Holding her medal, Daal said the name of Screecher's Reach, and Keena commented that it was a bad place while grabbing Daal's cape. Staring into the cave, Daal closed her eyes and raised the amulet to her mouth, sighed, and said "I follow your path with strength and courage."^[1] Resolute,^[7] she opened her eyes and let the amulet rest around her neck. She then proceeded into the cave ahead of her friends, stating that some bad places were there to test them. While exploring the cave, Daal ventured ahead of the group, leaving them behind as Baython called out to her. She made her way into a section of the cave where a thick layer of fog rested on the ground as Baython and the others caught up with her.^[1]

Narrowing her eyes, she raised a finger to her mouth and outstretched her hand back, gesturing for them to stop and saying to stay quiet. They heard a faint moaning in the cave as they looked around. Baython, Keena, and Quinn huddled together as a dark figure dashed past the group. As Daal began to back up to her friends and turned around to look at them, Baython's lantern flickered and the disturbed Screecher rose behind Daal, with rocks floating around her as two bony hands rose behind her head. The children's eyes widened. Baython struggled to speak, trying to tell Daal that the Screecher was behind her.^[1]

Daal slowly turned around to see the towering, moaning ghost. The rocks continued rising, and the Screecher let out a loud shriek, throwing the children backwards and knocking them to the ground. The cave's large rocks then began crumbling around them. Daal stood up, looking for the ghost as Baython grabbed Quinn to try to escape the cave. Keena ran to Daal and grabbed her arm to get her to leave with them, but Daal refused and told Keena to retreat with the others. The ghost continued shrieking as Keena ran to the others, and Baython made a final yell to Daal for her to come with them. Daal yelled out for them to leave and that she would be right behind them. Reluctantly, they ran, and rocks covered the exit to the rest of the cave and trapped Daal, filling the cave with dust.^[1]

The test

Now in silence, breathing shakily, Daal grabbed on to the amulet.^[1] Believing this was a test of will,^[7] she closed her eyes, recited the saying once more, and assured herself that the ghost was only in her mind. Rocks crumbled through the cave as she opened her eyes, staring forward into the darkness. She told the amulet to give her strength. The ghost again revealed itself, gently groaning and reaching a hand out toward the young girl. Daal repeatedly repeated the saying and breathed heavily. A crimson red blade of a lightsaber ignited, reflecting in Daal's eyes.^[1]

The Screecher held the Sith lightsaber above her head horizontally and then swung it at Daal. She screamed and narrowly dodged the attack, falling to the ground as the lightsaber burnt her arm. A hole began to form at the top of the cave, letting light bleed into the mountain. Realizing the ghost was real, Daal began to run to the exit but tripped on a sharp rock on the ground of the cave. The Screecher then threw her lightsaber and spun it toward the fallen girl—Daal ducked and the saber struck the rock wall. Standing back up, she looked at the glowing blade before the Screecher pulled it back into the darkness.^[1]

Escape

Daal began to climb the side of the cave, trying to reach the opening at its top to escape. The Screecher approached her, stabbing her lightsaber into the wall and climbing after Daal. Daal frantically climbed but slightly slipped at the end. In desperation, she extended her hand toward a large jagged rock near the bright opening, yet the ghost grabbed her ankle, trying to drag her down. The amulet scraped against the wall as Daal once again raised her hand toward the rock, begging for the medal to give her strength. Suddenly, Daal began to pull the rock using the Force. The rock was slowly dragged over the edge before breaking free and tumbling down the side of the wall alongside Daal, and it struck the Screecher as she shrieked.^[1]

Daal awakened as the dust settled, upon which she kicked herself back to press against the wall, panting heavily. She looked forward and laid her eyes on the true identity of the "ghost," seeing it was a real^[1] woman.^[2] The Screecher gasped and tried to use the Force to pull her lightsaber—which was knocked out of her hands—back to her grasp. Instead, Daal leapt for the saber and grabbed it. The woman reached out her hand in an attempt to pry the weapon from Daal's hands using the Force, shrieking louder, causing the cave to crumble again, and pulling Daal ever closer. However, Daal ignited the lightsaber and swung its blade into the woman, killing her.^[1]

Don't look back

Staring blankly, Daal emerged from the cave, holding the lightsaber in one hand and her amulet in the other. Her friends spotted her and quickly ran to her. The stunned Daal spoke quietly, reflecting that the Screecher was a real person^[1] but expressing her belief that she did what she had to do to survive.^[9] Baython lowered his eyebrows and asked her what she had done, and Daal replied that she was strong. She gazed upon her amulet and spoke to it, saying it gave her strength. The indentations in the medal pulsed with red light as the Sith Mother's voice emitted from it, telling Daal that it was time for them to meet. Baython raised his voice, asking Daal what it was that she was holding.^[1]

With a rumble, the Sith Mother's ship emerged from a large glowing light. Daal looked up as the starship blew her cape and hair around while landing before the group. The ship's entrance opened, and the Sith Mother walked down its steps. Daal walked up to the tall woman, stating that the Sith had told her that the test was in her mind. The Sith Mother removed her hood and knelt down to the girl, replying that the true test was always in her mind and that she had done what she had to. Holding the deactivated lightsaber in her hands, Daal asked the towering Sith if she passed. She confirmed that Daal had indeed passed and pressed the lightsaber to Daal's chest—the saber belonged to Daal.^[1]

The Sith Mother told Daal to come with her. The girl gasped and turned towards her friends, asking if they would join. She was quickly met with a "no" as the Sith Mother explained that the opportunity was only for Daal as her new apprentice. Keena then asked Daal who the woman was, though Baython grabbed Keena and hugged her close. Daal then told her friends that the Sith Mother promised her a new life, a way off the planet. With tears in her eyes, Daal said she had to try. The Sith's eyes narrowed behind Daal as she told her apprentice to make her choice. Keena began to cry as Quinn and Baython stared at Daal disapprovingly. Daal offered a meek smile and repeated Baython's past words about not looking back when presented with a new opportunity. He closed his eyes and gently nodded his head once. Sobbing, Daal grabbed hold of the Sith Mother's hand and let herself be led into the starship, joining the Sith Mother's faction. As the ship's entrance shut behind Daal and ascended, she looked back at her friends one more time.^[1]

Personality and traits

Daal was a female human with light skin and red hair. She always wanted there to be more to her life.^[1] Daal had no knowledge of what the Jedi or Sith were.^[8] When she burst a pipe in the workhouse, she became frustrated and stormed out of the factory, throwing her gloves and helmet off. She was determined to travel to Screecher's Reach, even if it meant a three-day walk. When Baython attempted to reassure Daal that there were worse lives, she still understood that there were also better lives. Daal cared deeply for her friends, and seeing Quinn and Keena playing together around the campfire made her happy. She spoke to her medal when scared or nervous, telling it to give her strength.^[1]

Daal was scared of the Screecher, but when they were pinned beneath a boulder, Daal retrieved the woman's lightsaber and killed her with it.^[1] When leaving the cave, she was in a daze.^[2] After reuniting with her friends, she reflected on the fact the Screecher was a real person, not a ghost, and that her amulet gave her strength to kill her. As Daal was leaving her world with the Sith Mother, she asked if her friends could join her, and when Daal was prompted to make her choice, she sobbed and decided to leave her friends behind in pursuit of a better life. However, Daal looked back at her friends as she departed.^[1]

Powers and abilities

Daal turned wheels on pipes at the workshop and was capable of piloting a speeder stolen from the workshop. She was able to use telekinesis through the Force to pull a large rock from a ledge in Screecher's Reach.^[1]

Equipment

As a worker, Daal donned a black protective suit with a zipper down the middle. The suit was worn with boots, gloves, and a helmet with a narrow slit for her eyes. Outside the workshop, Daal dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt with waist-high tan pants and a purple cape. Daal also wore her golden pendant around her neck to communicate with the Sith Mother. After killing the Screecher with her own crimson-bladed lightsaber, Daal kept it as her own. The saber had a smooth white handle with a bulbed bottom, and the emitter was surrounded by two petal-like protrusions. One side had an activation switch while the other had a red streak running down from the petals.^[1]

Behind the scenes

Development

Daal appeared in "Screecher's Reach," a non-canon short film directed by Paul Young in the second volume of the Star Wars: Visions series. Produced by^[1] the Ireland-based^[10] studio Cartoon Saloon, the animated short was released on Disney+^[1] on May 4, 2023.^[10] Prior to Daal's appearance in the short film, she was revealed in the official trailer for Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 shown at the Visions panel at Celebration Europe on April 10, 2023.^[11]

Eva Whittaker voiced Daal. In an interview, Whittaker revealed that she never thought she could play a Star Wars character such as Daal, whom she considered to be strong and cool. During the scene at the camp site, Daal was framed in a circle of light^[8] that represented friendship and bonding,^[12] but when doubting and asking Baython if he would leave, she is framed out of the light. In the final scene, the same symbology was used with the circle of light that is closing on Daal and cutting off the attachment she had with her friends^[8] and welcoming her to her new family.^[12] Young believed that Daal possibly began to regret her decision as the Sith Mother's ship's doors closed, unsure if it was the right thing to do.^[8]

Daal's interaction with the Screecher in the cave was based on a scene from the^[4] 1980^[13] film Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back^[4] in which the Jedi Luke Skywalker fought a vision of the Sith Lord Darth Vader in the Cave of Evil,^[14] except the threat in Screecher's Reach is physical. Daal's adventure with her friends was tied to the writers' own childhoods.^[4] Young thought of his own childhood when writing Daal's character, having grown up in a small town and reflecting that he was fortunate to go to an art college—he was leaving his friends and did not want to gloat about it to them.^[8] Lucasfilm executive producer James Waugh referred to Daal's journey as "a subverted Luke Skywalker story."^[15]

Art and conceptualization

Concept artist Federico Pirovano was responsible for all character designs in the short as well as defining their visual style from initial concepts into the final delivery. An early design of Daal gave her a larger build, and she wore thick clothes and a scarf. She also held a scrawny blue creature with four legs on a leash. Pirovano created multiple pieces of concept art refining Daal's appearance.^[16] Art director^[1] Almu Redondo and Pirovano worked together to create a lineup sheet featuring the main characters of the short, including Daal.^[17] Pirovano also worked with Maria Madelaire to create concept art of Daal and her medal.^[18]

Leo Weiss created concept art pieces of scenes wherein Daal and the other kids walked through the Factory Workshop that were not included in the final film. Weiss also created multiple storyboards for the short's major scenes and various environmental concepts of the planet and cave that included Daal.^[19] Redondo also made various art pieces of scenes from the short and color scripts to establish the final tone and design.^[12] Redondo, Weiss, and Pirovano all made concept art of Daal and the children on their speeders.^[20] Redondo additionally painted a piece featuring Daal for Paul Young on the last day of production, sharing it online via Instagram on January 15, 2024 to celebrate "Screecher's Reach" winning an Emmy Award^[21] for production design.^[22]

Concept art gallery

Appearances

• Star Wars: Visions — "Screecher's Reach" (First appearance)

Sources

• Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2023 - DAY 4 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (First mentioned)
• Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 | Official Trailer | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• SWCE 2023: Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 Trailer, Key Art, and Cast Revealed on StarWars.com (backup link)
• This Week! in Star Wars Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 Recap on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• Star Wars: Visions Filmmaker Focus — "Screecher's Reach"
• With Star Wars: Visions Volume 2, Creators from Around the World Visit the Galaxy Far, Far Away on StarWars.com (backup link)
• This Week! in Star Wars Star Wars Day is Here, Visions Volume 2, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• Visions Revisited: 5 Highlights from "Screecher's Reach" on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Meet the Visionaries: Paul Young on the Irish Folklore-Inspired Tale of "Screecher's Reach" on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Explore Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 with New Episode Guides on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)
• "Screecher's Reach" Episode Guide | Star Wars Visions Volume 2 on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Our Favorite Scary Star Wars Stories to Thrill You This Halloween Season on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Director Paul Young On "Screecher's Reach" | Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars: Best of 2023 on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)
• Star Wars: Visions Nominated for 6 Annie Awards on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars: Visions Wins 2 Annie Awards on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "Jedi Master's Quiz" — Star Wars Insider 224 (Indirect mention only)
• "Phantoms of the Space Opera" — Star Wars Insider 228
• Star Wars Celebration - DAY 3 Replay on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (livestream no longer available)
• "Vision Quest" — Star Wars Insider 231

Notes and references