Thexan

"Wonder how things'd be different if Arcann's twin took the throne."
"Thexan? Haven't thought about him in a long time, may he stay at rest."
"Saw him at a ceremony once, in my life before. Calm and unwavering. Strong. Wouldn't have put the Heralds in charge of the Old World."
"Like letting lunatics watch over a madhouse."

―Two residents of Breaktown reminisce over the fallen Thexan^[4]

Thexan was a Force-sensitive male Human who was the son of Senya Tirall and Tenebrae, who possessed the body of Valkorion, the "Immortal Emperor" of the Eternal Empire of Zakuul. He was the twin brother of Arcann, with whom he led a series of raids against the worlds of the larger galaxy. After they fought many battles on the Eternal Empire's behalf, Arcann became furious at the indifference of Valkorion and attempted to kill him, only for Thexan to intervene and be struck down by Arcann's lightsaber.

Biography

Early life

Thexan and his twin brother Arcann were sons of Valkorion, the "Immortal Emperor" of the Eternal Empire of Zakuul, and Senya Tirall, a member of Valkorion's elite guard from the ranks of the Knights of Zakuul. As children, Arcann and Thexan would often swap clothes to confuse their servants. Senya loved the twins but they did not return her affections, even after their sister Vaylin was born. The children ignored their mother, and their father ignored them in turn when they were. The children played together, sparring in the shadow of the Eternal Fleet or running away and living in the Endless Swamp for a month. The twins were trained from childhood to be warriors, with Thexan always being there in harsh times. Arcann gradually became resentful of their father's apparent lack of interest or affection towards them, despite Thexan's attempts to placate him. When Senya attempted to leave Valkorion and take her children, Arcann and Thexan simply laughed, calling her weak.^[5]

When Vaylin began displaying growing power and mental instability, Valkorion locked her away on Nathema to contain her powers. Thexan would make regular visits to her, the only one of their family to do so, bringing her gifts from conquered worlds. He resented the planet being a void in the Force as much as his sister did.^[6] Years later, Valkorion allowed Vaylin to return home to Zakuul. Vaylin entered the Eternal Throne where her father sat with Arcann and Thexan at his side. Valkorion presented Vaylin with her first lightsaber, Arcann and Thexan moved to defend their father when she ignited her blade, only to to stay their hands at his command. To their relief, Vaylin deactivated the blade and knelt down before Valkorion to pledge her allegiance.^[7]

Galactic conquest

Thexan looks after his brother's injuries on Korriban.

By 3636 BBY,^[2] Arcann and Thexan requested their father's permission to lead an attack to test the strength of the galactic powers of the greater galaxy. Valkorion approved their venture, but decreed that only Thexan would lead the Eternal Fleet, ordering Arcann to remain on Zakuul. Arcann disobeyed his father's wishes and joined his brother anyway. They fought on many worlds, driving back the Galactic Republic and the reconstituted Sith Empire, before finally striking at Korriban. They clashed with the Sith under the command of Darth Atroxa in the Valley of the Dark Lords. During the battle, Arcann was grievously wounded in an explosion that took his arm and left the left side of his face scarred; Thexan was by his brother's side after the injury. Soon after the attack on Korriban, Thexan was to report to his father on the status of the invasion.^[3]

Returning to Zakuul, Arcann and Thexan presented the lightsabers of the fallen Jedi and Sith as trophies from the battle to their father. However, Valkorion turned away in silence, and overcome by the dark side of the Force, Arcann became furious and attempted to attack the Emperor. Thexan, in an attempt to prevent his father's death, pulled his brother back. Arcann turned his attention to Thexan and struck out at him, but their brief duel ended when Arcann struck his brother down with a cut across the stomach, and the glint of the dark side faded from his eyes while he cradled Thexan. After his brother's passing, Valkorion instructed Arcann, now his only son, to come with him.^[1]

Legacy

A funeral was later held saying that he was killed in the Core Worlds. The truth of his death remained unknown to everyone, including Senya, for five years, until Vaylin told her the truth during the Battle of Asylum. Becoming an Emperor after his father's assassination, Arcann remarked that Thexan should be alive, ruling the Empire alongside his brother and sister as it was meant to be ruled. Vaylin agreed that she would like having Thexan back with them.^[8]

ARIES used Holographic disguise to impersonate Thexan on Iokath while talking to Vaylin, complimenting her strength while subtly probing her for information. Seeing her brother shocked Vaylin, but she instantly became suspicious when she could not feel him through the Force. Vaylin asked about the time Thexan came to Nathema to bring her home, confirming the trickery after she was not corrected, as it was Arcann who did that.^[6]

Thexan and Tenebrae, the true face of his father.

After Valkorion's original body was destroyed, it released a plague that infected Jedi Grand Master Satele Shan and her followers, putting then in a hive mind trance. The plague would eventually spawn an entity by feeding on the victims.^[9] Arcann and Senya were among those who entered Satele's mind to stop the plague, discovering that the plague's entity was the mental imprint of the Tenebrae from before he knew any of them. When they met Vaylin and Thexan, Arcann was shocked to see his brother again. Joining the others victims of Tenebrae, the family helped destroy his mental imprint, putting an end to any chance of his return.^[10]

Behind the scenes

Thexan first appeared in Sacrifice, a cinematic trailer produced by Blur Studio for Star Wars: The Old Republic's fifth digital expansion, Knights of the Fallen Empire. The trailer was released at the Electronic Entertainment Expo on June 15, in 2015. While not named in dialogue, Thexan's name can be seen in Aurebesh on his crib at the beginning of the trailer. He is voiced by Erik Todd Dellums who also voiced his twin brother Arcann.