Mark of the Hero

"In order to deserve the Mark of the Hero, you must undergo four different tasks and gain the Marks of Courage, Honor, Intellect, and Altrusim."

―A Rodian hermit, to a spacer^[1]

The Mark of the Hero was a ring of great power gifted to a spacer who had gone above and beyond in his protection of the inhabitants of Tatooine during the Galactic Civil War.

History

"You have done great things in the name of the light. I am honored to be in your presence. Take my Mark of The Hero and let it remind you of your cause. Do not forget why you fight. Good luck, young warrior."

―A Rodian hermit, to a spacer^[1]

The ring was originally in the possession of a Rodian hermit who lived in a squill cave on Tatooine after the Battle of Yavin.^[1] In 1 ABY,^[2] a spacer who was exploring the cave met the hermit at his home at the bottom of the cave. After a brief discussion between the two, the spacer made it clear they did not support the Galactic Empire. The hermit asked the spacer if they would retrieve a missing item of his from mouth of the cave, which the spacer agreed to do. The item turned out to be a squill skull. After returning it to the mysterious hermit, he tasked the spacer with four more heroic acts on Tatooine, which the spacer readily accepted.^[1]

The spacer soundly completed the four tasks, displaying intelligence to deduce who was a troubled bounty hunter's target, honor by refusing to be corrupted by pirates, courage by killing a ferocious bladeback boar, and altruism by assisting a moisture farmer in distress by rescuing his family from the Sennex slavers. After all tasks were completed, the adventurer returned to the hermit and told him of their success. The hermit applauded the spacer for their bravery and heroism and declared them the Hero of Tatooine. He awarded them with four "trophies" — the Mark of Intellect, the Mark of Honor, the Mark of Courage, and the Mark of Altruism — that formed a unique spherical sculpture, and the Mark of the Hero, which was believed to be able to bring its bearer back from the brink of death.^[1]

Behind the scenes

The Mark of the Hero appeared in the 2003 video game Star Wars Galaxies, a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game developed by Sony Online Entertainment and published by LucasArts,^[3] prior to its closure on December 15, 2011.^[4] The Mark of Honor was added to the game as part of the "Hero of Tatooine" questline,^[3] released with "Publish 9" on June 29, 2004.^[5]

The Mark of the Hero was a unique ring awarded to players who completed the "Hero of Tatooine" questline. Its function in-game was that of resuscitation. If used within a certain time after dying, it would bring the user back to life. Its uses were limited to 50 however, after which it became mere jewelry. It could only be used once every twenty-three hours.^[1]

The "Hero of Tatooine" questline was extensively revamped upon the introduction of the "Publish 25", a.k.a. the "New Game Enhancements," on November 15, 2005,^[6] but the quest rewards, such as the "Mark of Honor," were not altered.^[1]