Hidden Path

For other uses, see Path.

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"You're not alone, Obi-Wan."

―Haja Estree^[4]

The Hidden Path, known to some simply as "the Path," was a secret underground network that worked to shelter surviving Jedi and other Force-sensitives from the Galactic Empire after the Jedi Order was eradicated, operating on several hidden locations across the galaxy during the Great Jedi Purge, smuggling them to safety and giving them new identities.

Organization

"We have safehouses like this throughout the galaxy. Trying to link the systems. Some call it the Path. You're not the first Jedi to come through here. It all leads to Jabiim, and from there, we give them new identities and get them out."

―Tala Durith to Obi-Wan Kenobi^[5]

A shard of wall ripped from a Hidden Path safehouse displaying the symbol of the Jedi Order

Formed in response to the proclamation of the New Order and Great Jedi Purge,^[7] the Hidden Path was an underground railroad of volunteers and safehouses^[8] dedicated to bringing Force-sensitives,^[4] including former Jedi, to safety.^[8] Its operations included a safehouse on Mapuzo, work on other planets,^[1] and work on the holy moon of Jedha.^[3] After losing its operations on Mapuzo and Jabiim,^[7] its base of operations was located on the planet of Tanalorr in the Galactic Frontier,^[3] Its members included the Imperial officer Tala Durith, the loader droid NED-B, the Jedi Master Quinlan Vos, Kawlan Roken, the pilots Wade Resselian and Sully Stark,^[1] the con artist Haja Estree,^[5] the Jedi Master Cere Junda, the Jedi Master Eno Cordova, the Jedi Knight Cal Kestis, and the Nightsister Merrin.^[3] The Path had access to at least two T-47 airspeeders.^[1]

While some of the Path's work echoed the^[7] long-disbanded Path of the Open Hand cult,^[9] that group had sought to "reform" Force users into "average" citizens^[7] who did not use their abilities as per a warped understanding of the Force.^[9] The Hidden Path respected the Jedi and was fine with the Jedi Order's use of the Force.^[1] Under the leadership of "the Mother,"^[10] the Path of the Open Hand, meanwhile, had been corrupted into a group who waged a secret war against the Jedi and executed Force-sensitives should they use their abilities.^[9]

History

Origins

"I had a wife once. I knew exactly what she was before we got married. We tried to hide it. And the Inquisitors found her anyway. So, I know exactly what the Empire can do."

―Kawlan Roken^[1]

The establishment of the Path happened so fast it was hard to determine its exact roots. Kawlan Roken joined the Hidden Path^[7] after the Force-sensitive woman he married was hunted down by the Inquisitorius. After her disappearance, Roken helped smuggle Jedi from the Empire.^[1] Surviving Jedi Quinlan Vos took to helping the Path.^[5] Jedi Masters Cere Junda and Eno Cordova also joined the Path.^[3] A Path safehouse on the planet Mapuzo featured the names of Vos,^[5] Junda, Tiberus Anderlock, Rahm Kota, Nichos Marr, Djinn Altis, Roganda Ismaren, Valin Halcyon, Zonder, Drake Lo'gaan, Ekria, Qu Rahn, and Corwin Shelvay.^[11]

Hunted by the Empire

"I understand that you're leading the hunt for the network that they call the Path?"

―Tala Durith, to the Third Sister^[1]

In 10 BBY,^[12] a transmission on Balnab was intercepted by the Empire regarding communications of a secret network. Initially, the network was disregarded as a lie, but safehouses in two other systems were identified.^[1]

As such, the Empire kicked off a hunt for the network.^[1] Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan were assisted by the network^[5] in 9 BBY,^[6] being granted passage to Jabiim as the Empire was searching for him following their escape from Nur.^[5] However, a tracking device was planted on Organa's toy droid L0-LA59, resulting in the discovery of the base and beginning of a ground assault—led by the Third Sister after the Sith Lord Darth Vader promoted her to be the Grand Inquisitor. Following the Path and Kenobi's escape,^[13] Kenobi pulled Vader, and by extension the Empire, off the Path's trail by departing from their company, knowing that Vader was more interested in killing him than the Path.^[14]

Seeking a new home

"Tanalorr's a fortress. We should use it for the Hidden Path. Gather allies. Train. They'd never see us coming."

―Cal Kestis^[3]

The Hidden Path escape Jabiim aboard a JT-731 Broadhorn transport

Following, but still during the same year as Kenobi's adventure with the Path,^[7] the Jedi Knight Cal Kestis came across the Hidden Path on Jedha, where he reunited with Nightsister Merrin and Jedi Master Junda, as well as finally meeting her former master Eno Cordova, where they had been planning to rebuild the Jedi Archives while investigating Koboh and Tanalorr.^[3]

However, they were betrayed by Bode Akuna having already allied with the Empire as a spy so that he could find refuge with his daughter Kata on Tanalorr, with Vader leading the assault on their base. Bode Akuna murdered Eno Cordova, and at the end of a duel with Vader, Cere Junda was killed as well. The Empire burned and destroyed the Archive on Jedha, and only a few Jedi texts survived. After Akuna's demise,^[3] Kestis and Merrin prepared Tanalorr to serve as a new Path safehouse, thereby making up for the lost safezones of Mapuzo and Jabiim.^[7]

Behind the scenes

"Next time we'll find an even dumber codename just to mess with everyone!"

―Matt Martin^[15]

During development for the game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order in 2016, multiple possibilities for the game's MacGuffin were discussed before settling on Eno Cordova's holocron, which detailed the locations of various Force sensitives. One of the possibilities considered was "an Underground Railroad for Force sensitives" which the player would seek to save from the Empire.^[16]

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi, both of which feature the Hidden Path, were developed at the same time. To avoid leaks, it was codenamed "Muni Metro" in the Jedi: Survivor script and temporary dialogue.^[17] Because of the absurdity of this codename, Bode Akuna actor Noshir Dalal broke character when recording initial dialogue.^[18]