Cord Taunus

Cord Taunus was a human Jedi Master of the Jedi Order who administered the Jedi temple on the planet Olega during the High Republic Era. In 132 BBY, he searched the temple after the assassin Mae-ho Aniseya broke in and attempted to kill Jedi Master Torbin, but was unable to find her. The next day, he met with Jedi Master Sol, Padawan Jecki Lon, Jedi Knight Yord Fandar, and Mae-ho's twin sister Verosha Aniseya and spoke to them about the break-in. After Sol asked to speak with Torbin, Taunus led the group to his quarters, but when they arrived, they found Verosha next to Torbin's dead body. The Jedi Master drew his lightsaber, but he complied with Sol's gesture to lower it after Fandar confirmed Verosha's innocence. Sol then determined that Torbin had killed himself.

Biography

Steward of Olega

Cord Taunus was a human Jedi Master of the Jedi Order who administered the Jedi temple on the planet Olega during the High Republic Era. Among his duties as the Steward of Olega was monitoring Jedi Master Torbin, who,^[1] around 142 BBY,^[3] took the Barash Vow, entering a state of deep meditation and self-imposed isolation.^[1] In 132 BBY,^[4] the assassin Mae-ho Aniseya broke into the temple and attempted to kill Torbin, who remained in his state of meditation. An individual saw the intruder and alerted Taunus, who yelled to search the temple. After hearing his alert, Aniseya fled just before Taunus entered Torbin's quarters. After briefly looking around and finding the room empty except for Torbin, Taunus left.^[2]

The next day, Jedi Master Sol, Padawan Jecki Lon, Jedi Knight Yord Fandar, and Mae-ho's twin sister Verosha Aniseya arrived at the Olega temple to investigate. Taunus welcomed them and was surprised that they were interested in the break-in, prompting Sol to explain they believed it was connected to another investigation, the murder of Jedi Master Indara. Fandar asked Taunus to explain what had happened the previous night, and as he did, Padawan^[2] Od Keder^[1] brought out the urchin^[2] Guthan Archi,^[1] whom^[2] he^[1] said had been caught messing around the temple's portcullis before its gatekeeper droids failed. Lon then knelt and spoke with Archi, who confirmed^[2] he^[1] had been paid to activate the security droid, though he misidentified Verosha as the individual who had paid him. Sol then asked to speak with Torbin, and although Taunus responded that he had not spoken in over ten years, Sol claimed Torbin would speak to him, as he was an old friend.^[2]

Murder of a master

Taunus led the others through the temple towards Torbin's quarters, with Verosha separating from the group. As they walked, Mae-ho returned and offered poison to Torbin, who willingly drank it to atone for his role in an incident that had occurred sixteen years prior. Following Torbin's death, Mae-ho escaped the temple and Verosha arrived in the room ahead of the rest of the group, where she found Torbin's body. Soon after, Taunus arrived with the rest of the Jedi, rushing into the room and igniting his lightsaber while commanding Verosha to step away from Torbin's body.^[2]

Taunus demanded Verosha explain herself, but Fandar, who had followed her after she separated from the group, was able to confirm her innocence. Sol gestured to Taunus, and he lowered his lightsaber and powered it off. While examining Torbin's body, Lon noted there were no signs of struggle, and Sol realized that Torbin had taken the poison willingly, prompting Taunus to wonder why Torbin had killed himself. Verosha identified the poison as bunta, and the other Jedi continued the investigation at a nearby apothecary.^[2]

Personality and traits

Cord Taunus had blue eyes, light skin, and graying brown hair and a beard.^[2] He was surprised by Sol's visit and found it unthinkable that someone would find Torbin to be a threat.^[1] Taunus was suspicious of Verosha Aniseya after finding her with Torbin's body and pointed his lightsaber at her, but lowered it when Sol gestured for him to do so.^[2]

Powers and abilities

As a member of the Jedi Order, Cord Taunus was Force-sensitive and trained to wield the Force.^[2]

Equipment

Cord Taunus wore brown Jedi apparel with a sleeveless quilted tabard and synth-leather boots. He wielded a blue-bladed lightsaber that he owned since his apprenticeship. His lightsaber had a hilt-ring, which was becoming increasingly common by^[1] 132 BBY.^[4]

Behind the scenes

Cord Taunus first appeared in "Revenge / Justice,"^[2] the second episode of the live-action Disney+ television series The Acolyte, which aired on June 4, 2024.^[5] Prior to the episode's release, he was first depicted in a video uploaded to the official Star Wars Australia & New Zealand YouTube channel on May 14 of that year.^[6] Taunus was identified in Pablo Hidalgo's 2025 reference book Star Wars: The Acolyte: The Visual Guide.^[1] He was portrayed by Nick Court.^[2] The scenes on Olega that included Taunus were filmed at Shinfield Studios,^[7] England.^[8] For the show's original characters,^[9] which included Taunus,^[2] showrunner^[5] Leslye Headland personally selected the color of their lightsabers based on the aesthetics of the scene they appeared in and the character's personality.^[9] Concept art of a scene in which Taunus appeared was created by Adam Brockbank under supervision by production designer Kevin Jenkins.^[10]

Appearances

• Star Wars: The Acolyte — "Revenge / Justice" (First appearance)

Sources

• Lee Jung-jae | The Acolyte on the Star Wars Australia & New Zealand YouTube channel (backup link) (First pictured)
• The Acolyte | On Set Stories of The Acolyte | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Video clip only)
• Star Wars: The Acolyte: The Visual Guide (First identified as Cord Taunus)

Notes and references

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