Josk Nivar

Josk Nivar was a male Jedi Knight who served the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. He was killed during his commanding mission to the planet Thule.

Biography

Jedi Order service

As a Knight, Nivar began training a young female Sullustan as his Padawan. For several years before the Clone Wars, Nivar was involved in a diplomatic mission to Chandrila.^[2] In 22 BBY,^[3] Nivar served as part of the assault team sent to the planet Geonosis and fought in the ensuing battle there alongside his Padawan. Although he survived, his student did not.^[2]

Mission to Thule and death

Nivar later commanded the Mission to Thule, leading a company of clone troopers led by Captain Spider, alongside fellow Jedi Knights Iskat Akaris and Tualon Yaluna. The mission objective was to sabotage the Thule droid factory's power grid to prevent it from coming online and producing battle droids, as well as slicing into the factory to obtain locations and plans for other Separatist factories. Nivar was tasked by High Council member Jedi Master Mace Windu to monitor Iskat, as the Council had grown wary of her behavior and wanted to monitor her performance in the field. Nivar thus kept a log of his thoughts and recommendations in regards to Akaris' activities during the mission, planning to turn in a report to Windu upon their return to Coruscant.^[2]

After arriving on the planet and descending into the canyon from which they would approach the factory on foot, the Jedi and troopers discovered a cavern where they set up camp as dawn began to approach. The three Jedi scouted the rest of the grotto using their lightsabers, and deep in the rear they came across an ancient, carved structure. Unbeknownst to the Jedi, this was a Sith altar. After confirming the rest of the cave was empty, the Jedi and troopers ate ration bars before laying down to rest. During the night, Akaris and Yaluna conversed, which disturbed Nivar, who commanded them to be quiet and go to sleep.^[2]

The next morning, the team resumed their approach on the factory. They discovered four cannons atop the canyon walls, two on each side, overlooking the factory. This posed a danger to the team, who, if spotted, could be shot on their ground approach, as well as shot down in their shuttle once they were ready to leave the planet. In order to eliminate the cannons, the group decide that Tualon would climb one side of the ravine, with Nivar and Akaris on the other. After the cannons were destroyed, the clones would split to join the two groups, which both move to complete their own objectives: Yaluna leading the slicing effort and Nivar leading the sabotage attempt.^[2]

While scaling the canyon wall, Nivar revealed that the reason he had commanded Akaris to come with him was that he wanted to discuss the possibility of being a mentor to her, guiding her after the death of her master, Sember Vey, at Geonosis. Nivar did not mention that he planned to request for Master Windu to implement the idea. Akaris did not respond to his proposal, other than to thank him for the offer.^[2]

Shortly after, Akaris discovered black slugs crawling the side of the cavern and blending into the wall, as well as killer birds nesting in nearby holes. She attempted to warn Nivar of the danger, but it was too late, as he accidentally jammed his spike into a slug which loosened his grip on the wall. In a panicked scramble to regain his grasp, Nivar stuck his hand into one of the holes. This disrupted the nest, causing the birds to fly out around Nivar, pecking at him. He fell to his death on the canyon floor, without making a move to catch back on to the wall or position his body to land safely with the aid of the Force. Akaris herself failed to react and aid him with the Force.^[2]

Akaris and Yaluna continued on to eliminate the Separatist cannons and when they returned to the canyon floor, they were informed by the company's clone medic that Nivar was dead before the troopers reached him. When Akaris asked why Nivar had not moved to try and save himself, the medic told her that he had determined that the birds had a venom in them that had either paralyzed Nivar before he hit the ground, or otherwise stopped his heart.^[2]

Following Nivar's death, Akaris and Yaluna took command of the mission. Nivar's corpse was brought onto the shuttle and after the mission, his body was brought back to the Jedi Temple, where he was put to rest.^[2]

Legacy

Akaris would later discover that her destruction of the factory killed civilians, whose presence the group was not aware of, due to Nivar having held back the information. Akaris would remember Nivar's death for years to come, wondering if she could have done anything more to save him, with Yaluna also wondering if she could have done more. The two would later discuss this, with Akaris telling Yaluna that she had clung to the rock face to keep herself alive and that she had come to the conclusion there was nothing she could have done to save Nivar.^[2]

Personality and traits

Nivar was generally well liked by his peers in the Order.^[2]

Powers and abilities

Iskat Akaris considered Nivar to be a middling Jedi who was not particularly special or skilled when compared with other members of the Order. He wielded a blue-bladed lightsaber.^[2]

Appearances

• Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade (and audiobook) (First appearance)

Notes and references