Rardal Balnar

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Rardal Balnar was a human Jedi Padawan of the Jedi Order during the High Republic Era. In 232 BBY, Balnar accompanied several Jedi on the Padawan Academic Cruiser Star Hopper to the Trymant system where an emergence was occurring. In 231 BBY, Balnar was called upon along with other Jedi to be briefed by Jedi Master's Kantam Sy and Torban Buck about an attack that was transpiring on the planet Takodana. In 230 BBY, Balnar participated in the Great Jedi Rumble Race on the Starlight Beacon space station and was later present for the Knighting Ceremony of the Jedi Padawan's Farzala Tarabal and Qort. Balnar was later onboard Starlight Beacon when the station was sabotaged by Nihil marauders and sent falling into the planet Eiram. While trying to escape, Balnar attempted to eliminate a Nameless creature with the help of the Bravaisian Padawan Bibs, but was calcified alongside the other in the attempt. A Republic file was later created for Balnar, which labeled the human as deceased.

Biography

De-escalating an Emergence

Rardal Balnar was a human who served as a Jedi Padawan within the Jedi Order during the High Republic Era.^[4] In 232 BBY,^[5] the head of the Nihil marauder organization, Marchion Ro, ordered for the Byne Guild freighter Legacy Run to collide with another object while the ship was traveling through hyperspace. The result ended with the Great Hyperspace Disaster, which eventually led to Emergences throughout the galaxy that sent pieces of wreckage into several star systems.^[6] One such system, the Trymant system, ultimately suffered the fate of the Emergences when one was reported to the Jedi space station Starlight Beacon with the information being transferred to the Padawan Academic Cruiser Star Hopper which was the only Jedi and Galactic Republic cruiser in range of the system. As Jedi Master Yoda requested the Padawans on the Star Hopper to detail him of the situation, Balnar sat quietly in the cockpit and watched the Jedi relay the knowledge to the elderly Jedi.^[7] In the end, the Star Hopper crew managed to prevent multiple debris from colliding with the planet Trymant IV, which in turn saved many locals lives.^[8]

One such individual, the Mirialan child Zeen Mrala, assisted the Jedi on Trymant IV and revealed her Force-sensitivity to the group,^[7] which prompted Yoda to request Mrala to join them in returning back to Starlight.^[8] Once the Star Hopper crew arrived at the station, five Jedi Masters conversed in regards to what should be done with Mrala. As they talked, the Jedi Padawan Lula Talisola, who had overheard the master's conversation, piped in to request they hear the opinion of Mrala and question what she desired. The Zygerrian Padawan Farzala Tarabal then chimed in to also note to the master's to take consideration of what Mrala's new friends she had befriended over the past week on Starlight wanted, pointing to a crowd of Jedi with Balnar smiling amid the bunch whilst holding an alien Jedi on their back. The Padawans furthermore shed stories of the Trymant IV disaster to the masters, with Balnar present in the room to hear it, who came to the conclusion to allow Mrala to stay while Trymant IV heals from the events the planet had to endure.^[9]

Takodana Briefing

Not long after, Master Yoda went missing after attempting to retrieve an ancient relic on the planet Vrant Tarnum.^[10] In 231 BBY,^[11] the Nihil made themselves known after they attacked the planet Valo while the Republic was hosting its fair there. This in turn, continued to escalate in the conflict against the pirates. After the attack, the Jedi managed to track the Nihil to the planet Grizal which resulted in a battle that ended with the Jedi finding the missing Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm, who appeared to be dusted.^[12] Shortly after these events,^[13] Jedi Master's Kantam Sy and Torban Buck called for Padawans, which included Balnar, on Starlight to brief them on a mission to the planet Takodana in order to assist Jedi Master Sav Malagán in preventing the Nihil from attacking the small Jedi Temple stationed there. Buck greeted the younglings and explained the meditation he and Sy had engaged in, with Sy expressing how much has happened in the galaxy.^[14]

Buck proceeded to ask if any of the Padawans had questions, which led to Balnar and several others questioning the disappearance of Yoda and the death of Greatstorm, among other questions. Overwhelmed, Buck expressed how the answers to their questions were currently unknown with Sy confirming Yoda was still missing. Buck then established to the Padawans how Greatstorm was killed and calcified in an unknown manner with a Jedi investigating the cause of death, which led Balnar to convey a sad expression on their face. Sy diverted the discussion to report on the Takodana issue and how the former friend of Mrala, Krix Kamerat, was working with his cell in the Nihil to cause chaos at the Jedi outpost on Takodana. Balnar revealed an angered face when hearing the news as Sy suggested to Mrala, who was in the room, to stay behind. As Balnar and several others looked over at Mrala, she refused to stay on Starlight and declared she would go to the planet with the rest of the individuals. Sy accepted her option with the Jedi leaving immediately to aid Malagán.^[14] In the end, the Jedi prevented the Nihil from ransacking Takodana, albeit unable to prevent the destruction of the Jedi Temple on the planet.^[15]

Great Jedi Rumble Race

In 230 BBY,^[16] Buck called on dozens of Jedi to partake in the Great Jedi Rumble Race which he planned to host on Starlight in order to cheer everyone up from the current circumstances after bringing the event back from hosting it on the^[3] planet^[17] Endovar. Balnar, who was one of the attendees, listened to Buck explain how there were no rules to the race. As the individuals waited for the event to begin, Balnar played with a head-tailed alien. Buck eventually started the race, with Balnar being flown into the air as everyone rushed the halls of Starlight. The race soon ended with Buck winning first place, and Balnar helping lift the head-tailed alien in giving a medal to the gleeful Chagrian.^[3] Balnar was later present for the Knighting Ceremony of Tarabal and the Aloxian Jedi Qort, with Balnar igniting their green lightsaber and after the two were officially knighted.^[18]

A Fallen Star

Balnar was later present on Starlight Beacon when the space station^[2] was sabotaged by three Nihil on Marchion Ro's orders. Additionally, several Nameless creatures,^[19] which were the cause of Greatstorm's death,^[12] were released onto the station to create conflict and prolong the Jedi in saving the space station,^[19] which was currently plummeting into the atmosphere of the planet Eiram. Balnar and several Jedi, along with the Kajain'sa'Nikto Ishnar Ti-Kharatal, attempted to escape the ruined space station. As they fled through the corridors, Ti-Kharatal fired her blaster at a Nameless to drive it away. Talisola, who was with the group, advised to split up in hopes of finding someone who could get the younglings in the group to protection. The Jedi all supported Talisola in her choice with the course of action being implemented.^[2]

However, before Talisola could leave, the Jedi sensed a Nameless creature while advancing through one of the corridors. Balnar, Qort and the Bravaisian Jedi Bibs, who were leading the way, ignited their lightsabers with Balnar exclaiming the noise they heard and sensed was a Nameless. Eager to fight, Balnar and Bibs advanced down the dark hallway in order to eliminate the threat, only for the two to be calcified in the process. Buck, who was with the group, called out to the Padawan's hoping for a response, with a devastated and distraught Talisola grieving at their deaths. Qort, who was not phased, attempted the same action that killed Balnar and Bibs and rushed down the corridor, with Talisola exclaiming not to proceed. Qort nevertheless continued and was struck with the effects of the Nameless after managing to ward it off with his lightsaber. As Talisola called out to Qort, the Aloxian mentioned how the Nameless took Balnar and Bibs' lives before being knocked unconscious from his wounds. Qort was eventually tended to^[2] and managed to make it off the station alive^[20] before it crashed into Eiram's oceans.^[19]

Legacy

After the destruction of Starlight Beacon, the Galactic Republic created numerous files on all the individuals who were present on the station when it fell. Rardal Balnar, who was one of many that received a file, was listed as deceased.^[4]

Personality and traits

Rardal Balnar appeared to be happy most of the time, such as when Farzala Tarabal listed them as a friend of Zeen Mrala^[9] or when partaking in the Great Jedi Rumble Race.^[3] Balnar additionally hung out alongside a head-tailed alien.^[9][3] Balnar was downcast when hearing the news of Loden Greatstorm's passing, yet angered when briefed on the Nihil's attack on Takodana.^[14] Balnar was attentive when Jedi Masters, such as Master Yoda^[7] or Master Sy and Buck, were speaking.^[14] During the fall of Starlight Beacon, Balnar was confident in eliminating the creature and eager to finish it off, even when others shouted at them not to engage. They had dark skin, brown eyes^[2] and brown hair,^[3] which was later black.^[2]

Powers and abilities

Due to being a Padawan in the Jedi Order, Rardal Balnar was Force-sensitive and trained in employing the Force.^[2]

Equipment

In 232 BBY,^[5] Rardal Balnar wore Jedi apparel which consisted of a tan tabard with a brown robe.^[9] They had a blue-colored belt around their waist^[7] and shortened hair with a Padawan braid.^[9] In 231 BBY, they still continued to wear a tan tabard, with color adjustments in their robes which were now bright brown and their belt which was now green. They also wore brown boots, with more hair and a dreadlock.^[14] In 230 BBY, Balnar wore additional robes to their attire along with a pocket attached to their belt. They also possessed several dreadlocks extending from their hair from the back of their head.^[3] During the fall of Starlight Beacon, Balnar continued to wear the same clothes with sand-colored robes and a brown belt with gray pants. They wielded a green-colored lightsaber.^[2]

Behind the scenes

Rardal Balnar appeared, albeit unidentified, in the first issue of the 2021 comic series Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures,^[7] released as part of the Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia project's Phase I. The issue was written by Daniel José Older, illustrated by Harvey Tolibao, and published by IDW Publishing on February 3, 2021.^[21] The first name, Rardal, was given to the character in "Starlight Coda," a comic story featured in Free Comic Book Day 2023: All Ages which was part of the same comic series run that tied into the next series, the 2023 Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures. The issue was written by Older, illustrated by Tolibao, and published by Dark Horse Comics^[2] on May 6, 2023.^[22] The last name, Balnar, was given to the character in the second issue of the 2023 comic series Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures. The issue was written by Older, illustrated by Tolibao and Nick Brokenshire, and published by Dark Horse Comics as part of the Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia project's^[4] Phase III on January 24, 2024.^[23]

Appearances

• The High Republic Adventures (2021) 1 (First appearance)
• The High Republic Adventures (2021) 3
• The High Republic Adventures (2021) 8
• The High Republic Adventures (2021) 11
• The High Republic Adventures (2021) 13
• "Starlight Coda" — Free Comic Book Day 2023: All Ages (First identified as Rardal)
• The High Republic Adventures (2023) 2 (First identified as Balnar)
• The High Republic: Temptation of the Force (and audiobook) (Indirect mention only)

Sources

• Star Wars: Timelines (Indirect mention only)
• What Is Star Wars: The High Republic? on StarWars.com (backup link) (Indirect mention only)

Notes and references