Kortanio

Kortanio was a Kessurian member of the Path of the Open Hand cult who ventured into the Galactic Frontier in service to the Path and was not present when the cult met its violent end on its home planet Dalna in 382 BBY. At some point between the Path's dissolution and around 381 BBY, Kortanio and their partner Esstrop were among the few Path members tracked down by the pirate leader and former Path member Marda Ro and joined her group. Ro subsequently showed them a creature called the Great Leveler.

Kortanio served Ro as a pirate alongside Esstrop, the human Milan Stor, and the Twi'lek Fori Nagor. At some point no earlier than 379 BBY, they undertook a raid on a refugee camp. Nagor presented refugees captured by the raiders during the attack to Ro in the Gaze's throne hall, but Ro ordered her to set them free. Kortanio and Esstrop later escorted the Evereni twins Vika and Velya Faer to the throne hall for a meeting with Ro. At some point, Ro mentioned Kortanio in a recording she made for her descendants, to which her great-great-grandson Marchion Ro had listened by 252 BBY.

Biography

Path of the Open Hand and joining Marda Ro

Kortanio was a Kessurian who became a member of the Path of the Open Hand cult^[1] at some point by 382 BBY.^[2] During their time in the Path, they traveled the Galactic Frontier in an exploratory shuttle to preach the Path's teachings alongside their partner Esstrop. As a result, they were not present on^[1] the Path's home planet Dalna during the Night of Sorrow in 382 BBY,^[3] which led to the Path's end, and they were unaware of the event.^[1]

At some point between the battle and around 381 BBY,^[4] they were tracked down by the Evereni Marda Ro—a former member of the Path—who searched for the few scattered Path members that were left.^[1] She^[5] told Kortanio a false story about how the Path ended to put herself at the center of their faith and desires and told them to either join her group of pirates^[1]—who would eventually become the Nihil^[6]—or stop with any Path activity. Kortanio and Esstrop were among the few that chose to join Ro.^[1]

After Kortanio and Esstrop joined Ro, she took them to her ship, the Gaze Electric, where she showed them a creature that consumed the Living Force called the Great Leveler. Ro explained that the group's purpose was to be caretakers of the beast, so that one day it could consume those who abused the Force. She also added that the group Kortanio had joined had no shared religion or a story to tell the galaxy and all they needed to do was survive.^[1]

Service to Ro and legacy

Kortanio and Esstrop quickly became faithful to Ro, serving as her best raiders. The two used their shuttle to take things that they then brought back to the Gaze Electric and happily presented to Ro. Kortanio and their partner sometimes worked together with their fellow raiders Milan Stor and Fori Nagor to conduct bigger raids.^[1]

They carried out one such attack^[1] at some point no earlier than 379 BBY,^[7] when they raided a refugee camp and—as the refugees lacked posesssions to steal—kidnapped the refugees instead. Back on the Gaze, Nagor presented the refugees to Ro, who was enraged at their actions. Ro ordered Nagor to let the refugees go, with the exception of a Force-sensitive green-skinned man who Ro took to the Great Leveler. Later, Kortanio and Esstrop escorted the Evereni twins Vika and Velya Faer to the throne hall of the Gaze Electric after the Faers accepted an invitation from Ro to meet with her.^[1]

Later, Ro talked about Kortanio in a message she recorded for her descendants and stressed the importance of passing on their name.^[1] By 252 BBY,^[8] during his youth, Ro's great-great-grandson Marchion Ro had listened to her journal, including the entries in which Kortanio was mentioned.^[5]

Personality and traits

Kortanio was in a relationship with Esstrop, a fellow Kessurian, and could not stand being stuck in one place. They turned their faith over to Ro.^[1]

Skills and abilities

Ro regarded Kortanio as a great seeker, and they were one of her best raiders.^[1]

Equipment

Kortanio and Esstrop had a shuttle they used for transport while serving the Path and later Ro.^[1]

Behind the scenes

Kortanio appeared in a flashback in the short story "A Closed Fist Has No Claws," written by Tessa Gratton and published in the 2023 young-adult anthology The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life as a part of the Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia project.^[1]

Appearances

• "A Closed Fist Has No Claws" — The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life (and audiobook) (First appearance) (In flashback(s))

Notes and references