Worus Rayencourt

"I think the Jedi are a massive system of unchecked power, posing as a religion, a delusional cult that claims to control the uncontrollable."

―Worus Rayencourt^[4]

Worus Rayencourt was a human who served as a senator of the Galactic Republic's Senate, representing the Thusa sector during the High Republic Era. Having anti-Jedi views, he believed the Jedi Order to be a danger and was working on getting an external review of the Order passed in 132 BBY. That year, he discovered that Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh was leading a murder investigation without reporting it to the Senate, prompting him to report this discovery to Supreme Chancellor Veeth Drellik and confront Rwoh.

He was later a part of a Senate tribunal where Rwoh provided a report on the investigation. Rwoh lied to the tribunal, framing the dead Jedi Master Sol as the killer to cover up the truth. Rayencourt used her report to argue for an external review of the Order to begin immediately, but Drellik ignored his request.

Biography

Anti-Jedi campaign

"You project an image of goodness and restraint, but it's only a matter of time before one of you snaps. And when, not 'if,' that happens, who will be strong enough to stop him?"

―Rayencourt^[4]

Isedwa Chuwant updates Vernestra Rwoh on Worus Rayencourt's proposal.

Worus Rayencourt was a human senator of the Galactic Republic during the High Republic Era, representing^[1] the Mid Rim's^[5] Thusa sector in the Galactic Senate.^[1] In 132 BBY,^[6] he campaigned for an external review of the Jedi Order to pass in the Galactic Senate and received increased support from his fellow senators.^[2] The Mirialan Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh and Abednedo senator Isedwa Chuwant^[1] discussed Rayencourt's increasing popularity in the Senate and his proposal, with Chuwant informing^[2] her that his^[1] fellow senators from the Expansion Region were going to vote in support of the review. While Rwoh worried that Rayencourt's anti-Jedi views swayed too many others, Chuwant assured the Jedi that the Order had a history of transparency with the Senate and there was no need to worry about the review.^[2]

Later, Rayencourt heard of a murder investigation that the Jedi were conducting without a report to the Senate, prompting him to inform Supreme Chancellor^[4] Veeth Drellik^[1] of the Jedi's lack of transparency^[4] and push for a Senate tribunal with Rwoh.^[1] After his report to the Chancellor,^[3] he immediately^[7] visited the^[4] Jedi Diplomatic Tower on^[1] the Core Worlds planet^[8] Coruscant to speak with Rwoh. Padawan Mog Adana^[1] let Rayencourt into the control room, where he waited for the Jedi Master. After she arrived to the room, she inquired about the reason for Rayencourt's^[4] unwelcome^[9] visit.^[4]

Rayencourt confronted Rwoh on his distrust of the Jedi Order.

Rayencourt mentioned that he had heard about the Order's investigation, and the pair briefly discussed it, with Rwoh attempting to end the conversation by thanking him for his concern and trying to leave the room. The senator stopped her by saying that despite her personal opinion, the external review was not a personal vendetta against the Jedi Order. He went on to explain that he viewed the Jedi as a delusional cult wielding unchecked power, making potential rogue Jedi dangerous. Before leaving the control room he also told Rwoh that he had informed Drellik of the lack of transparency surrounding the murder investigation, advising her to arrest the murder suspect by the time Drellik summoned her for a Senate tribunal.^[4]

Senate tribunal

"Sixteen years ago, four Jedi were stationed on the planet Brendok. There they discovered a Force cult of witches. A conflict ensued. There were many casualties. Afterwards, the Jedi conspired to keep their actions secret. Recently, when the truth threatened to come out, a rogue Jedi named Sol killed his accomplices to maintain the cover story. Speaking on behalf of the High Council, we wholly condemn the actions of Master Sol."

―Vernestra Rwoh, deceiving a Senate tribunal^[4]

Vernestra Rwoh deceived the Senate tribunal about the truth behind the murders.

Rayencourt was one of the senators present for the tribunal he warned Rwoh about. Rwoh reported that, sixteen years earlier, a quartet of Jedi participated in a mission to^[4] the Outer Rim Territories planet^[1] Brendok, where their actions led to the destruction of a Force cult of witches. She deceived the tribunal by saying that the Jedi Master Sol went rogue when truth about the events threatened to be revealed and hunted down the other three Jedi involved,^[4] when in truth the killers were the Force-sensitive assassin Mae Aniseya and her nameless Sith Master.^[1]

Rayencourt and Drellik shared a look when Rwoh mentioned Sol's alleged murder of his compatriots. While Rwoh condemned Sol's actions on behalf of the Jedi High Council, Rayencourt suggested to the Tarsunt Chancellor that an external review of the Order must begin immediately. Drellik did not react to the senator's proposal, instead further discussing the rogue Jedi with Rwoh.^[4]

Personality and traits

"The majority of my colleagues can't imagine a galaxy without the Jedi. And I can understand why. When you're looking up to heroes, you don't have to face what's right in front of you."

―Rayencourt^[4]

Worus Rayencourt campaigned for increased supervision of the Jedi Order to improve safety.

Worus Rayencourt was a dark-skinned human with brown eyes and black hair who had a height of 1.78 meters. He was a suspicious representative^[3] who advocated for stricter supervision of the Jedi Order.^[1] Rayencourt had a strong dislike for the Order,^[4] questioning their nobility^[3] and considering them a delusional cult that possessed unchecked power. He perceived his fellow senators' positive opinion of the Jedi to be caused by hero worship. While Rayencourt disliked the Order, he insisted that his attempts for an external review were not motivated by a personal vendetta.^[4] While Senator Isedwa Chuwant thought of Rayencourt as an ambitious politician trying to secure power for himself,^[2] Rayencourt insisted that his concerns were merely about safety. One of his doubts was that anyone would be able to stop a Jedi who failed to keep their emotions in check, which he expressed to Vernestra Rwoh and considered impossible.^[4]

Rwoh, meanwhile, believed that Rayencourt's distaste of the Jedi Order was rooted in fear.^[2] When discovering that Rwoh kept a Jedi investigation secret from the Senate, he confronted her about her actions and also alerted the Chancellor of them. Despite Rayencourt's anti-Jedi sentiments, he was familiar with the Order's saying "May the Force be with you" and was aware that Rwoh got nauseous in hyperspace; however, he incorrectly believed the problem to be her stomach, when in fact it was her head.^[4]

Equipment

During his conversation with Vernestra Rwoh, Rayencourt wore clothing composed of multiple layers, including wine-red robes that were partially covered by a cream-colored layer with a black and gold hexagon pattern. Parts of the latter layer were connected with strings of white-gold beads, and the outfit also featured shoes and a necklace with a large pendant. Rayencourt later wore a similar outfit to the Senate tribunal, changing the uppermost layer for one with a hexagon pattern that was red and gold.^[4]

Behind the scenes

Worus Rayencourt was first mentioned in "Teach / Corrupt,"^[2] the sixth episode of the live-action Disney+ series The Acolyte, which released on July 2, 2024.^[10] The senator made his first appearance in "The Acolyte,"^[4] the eighth episode of the series, released on July 16 of the same year.^[10] In the episode, he was portrayed by David Harewood,^[4] and the scene in which Rayencourt met with Rwoh was filmed at Shinfield Studios,^[11] England.^[12] The individual's first name of Worus was introduced in the 2025 reference book Star Wars: The Acolyte: The Visual Guide written by Pablo Hidalgo.^[1]