Xylan Graf

Xylan Graf was a human male physicist and member of the Graf family^[2] born around 253 BBY^[1] who lived during the time of the High Republic Era. He worked with Chancey Yarrow on the technology that would become the Stormwall, and attempted to manipulate Chancey's daughter Sylvestri Yarrow into returning to her mother. He was subsequently arrested for his dealings with the Nihil. He went on to marry Cair San Tekka, a member of the rival San Tekka clan, by blackmailing him with evidence of his espionage. Graf worked unwillingly for the Nihil for some time maintaining the Stormwall, but eventually escaped to Republic space, where he helped Avon Sunvale to find a way through the Stormwall.^[2][4]

Biography

Early life

Graf was born into the Graf family around 253 BBY.^[1] As the grandson of Catriona Graf, the family's matriarch, he was a member of the inner family line and considered the primary heir. He learned to hide his thoughts and emotions from a young age, and was expected to seek wealth and power as well as uphold the family's name and reputation.^[5] He studied theoretical hyperspace physics, and achieved at least one doctorate.^[4]

For Graf's eighteenth birthday and his acceptance of his place in the family, Catriona gifted him a building on the planet Coruscant, which she expected him to make profitable. He did so by renting out the floors he did not occupy, and succeeded two years later, at which point he gained full ownership of the building.^[2]

By 231 BBY, Graf had acquired a pet Grand Theljian snow dog named Plinka, and traveled with a Gigoran bodyguard, Basha. He was closely involved with his family's company, and received reports from its pilots.^[2] He had also deciphered that Senator Ghirra Starros was working with the Nihil.^[5]

Dealings with the Yarrows

Working with the Nihil

Following the Great Hyperspace Disaster, Graf began to do business with the Nihil, and paid them to protect the family's shipments. At some point, he began communicating with fellow hyperspace physicist Chancey Yarrow, and the Graf family, Nihil Tempest Runner Lourna Dee, and Chancey developed a plan to construct Chancey's theorized gravity well projector, for which the Grafs provided the funding. In the empty Berenge sector, they constructed the space station Gravity's Heart.^[2] At the same time, they built a second station, which was originally called Gravity's Light but was later renamed to the Lightning Crash.^[5]

In order to convince Eye of the Nihil Marchion Ro to grant Dee and Chancey access to the source of his Paths, Mari San Tekka, the Graf family's shipments began to go missing at an alarming rate, despite the fact that Chancey's weapon worked only a few times. One of the lost shipments was a Togruta pilot hauling a million credits worth of coaxium, who sent Graf a hologram describing his sudden exit from hyperspace.^[2]

Meeting Sylvestri Yarrow

As part of their deal, Graf sought out Chancey's daughter, Sylvestri Yarrow, after Sylvestri had been kicked out of hyperspace by the Gravity's Heart and returned to Coruscant to report it. He told Sylvestri that he was investigating the loss of his family's ships, and showed her the pilot's recording. Though she was suspicious, she agreed to explain her story to him. Afterward, Graf moved her to a new hotel.^[2]

While at the hotel, Sylvestri was attacked by an assassin whom Graf himself had hired, though she did not learn of his involvement until later. Graf said they needed to move Sylvestri to a safer location, and brought her to his own home, where he admitted that he had not told her the entire truth. He showed her a map of places where the Nihil had jumped through hyperspace in ways believed to be impossible, and explained that he believed the Nihil had formed a weapon capable of forcing ships out of hyperspace. Graf also told Sylvestri that her mother might be behind it.^[2]

Sylvestri did not believe him, as she did not know of her mother's studies and believed her to be dead. They were interrupted by Professor Thaddeus Wolk, who had taught Chancey, and Wolk described Chancey's time at the Academy of Carida, which Sylvestri had no knowledge of. He told Sylvestri that he believed Chancey was alive and was responsible for the weapon, which she protested but could not entirely disbelieve.^[2]

Negotiations with Ghirra Starros

The following morning, Graf revealed to Sylvestri that he did not actually believe Wolk or that there was a weapon at all, and explained that his family had been seeking the lease to the Berenge sector. He claimed to have sought out Sylvestri specifically to disprove Wolk's theories about Chancey, as Senator Ghirra Starros was blocking the lease because of the potential weapon. In exchange for denying Wolk's claims to Ghirra and accompanying him on a trip to the Berenge sector, Graf offered her a starship and a line of credit for a year, and she accepted.^[2]

Graf brought Sylvestri to meet Ghirra, who recognized her as Chancey's daughter, but was antagonistic towards Graf, as he had been requesting the lease for several weeks already, and they both disliked each other. Graf and Ghirra debated the issue, and Graf proposed that he, Sylvestri, and Wolk travel to the sector to investigate. Ghirra suggested she also send a neutral observer of her own, and revealed that she had brought Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh and her Padawan Imri Cantaros to the meeting to accompany them. Graf was offended by the Jedi's youth, and argued with Ghirra about sending children with them. Their discussion continued as Sylvestri and the Jedi left.^[2]

Gathering the expedition party

While Ghirra and Graf continued their discussion, Wolk was killed, which Sylvestri suspected Graf had some involvement in. As Sylvestri, the Jedi, and Jordanna Sparkburn, a member of the rival San Tekka clan, discussed Wolk's murder, Graf returned and suggested that he had been killed in order to cast suspicion on his family. He explained his desire for the lease to the Jedi and met Sparkburn for the first time, whom he recognized as a San Tekka, and accepted her offer to accompany the expedition. He informed the group that they would be heading first to the Graf family compound near Neral's moon in order to acquire a better ship, and invited them to spend the night at his tower.^[2]

The following morning, Graf returned to the tower with Jedi Master Cohmac Vitus and his Padawan Reath Silas in tow. Graf explained to them his family's interest in the sector, and dismissed Wolk's theories as nonsensical. When Sparkburn asked about the attempt on Sylvestri's life, Graf noted that his family had many enemies, including her clan. Graf explained that they needed to go in person because while the Republic had already sent scout droids, their findings left Wolk and Ghirra unconvinced. Having explained the plan, they elected to be on their way.^[2]

As they left, Graf declared Sylvestri to be their pilot. While studying their coordinates, Sylvestri realized that the location Graf was directing them to was not Neral's moon, but was instead in the Dalnan sector near Haileap. When she confronted him about it, he explained that he did not want anyone, including Sparkburn, jeopardizing their expedition, and that he believed the Nihil had informants within the Republic; their real destination was Catriona Graf's space station estate, Everbloom.^[2]

Arrival on Everbloom and betrayal

Graf arranged a formal introduction of the group to Catriona; however, when they entered, they realized it was an ambush, and the Jedi and Sparkburn were incapacitated. Basha seized Graf, who was startled and dismayed by Chancey's unexpected presence. When Chancey saw Sylvestri, she told her that Graf had been supposed to tell her the truth.^[2]

When Vitus, Rwoh, and Sparkburn awoke, they found that the other members of their party were gone. They spoke to Catriona, who explained that Graf had been working with the Nihil, and was to deliver them Sylvestri. She claimed that she had no involvement, which the Jedi did not believe, but they elected to find the Padawans and Sylvestri as soon as possible, rather than detaining her.^[2]

When she returned to Coruscant, Sylvestri found that Graf had given her his ship, the Vengeful Goddess, and directed her to speak with someone on the planet Takodana. Graf reported this to Chancey, who was relieved to know Sylvestri was taken care of, and informed her that she would have a new laboratory.^[2]

Disgrace and marriage

Following the destruction of the Gravity's Heart, Graf was arrested on Coruscant, and his assets were seized.^[4] Though she had been part of the deal with Chancey, Catriona denied any involvement in Graf's crimes, making him a scapegoat. Graf left the public eye and instead worked with Chancey, developing the technology that would later become the stormseeds.^[5]

Around 230 BBY,^[6] Graf discovered that a member of the San Tekka clan, Cair San Tekka, had gone undercover in Graf Enterprises and had been spying on him for weeks. Graf chose to blackmail San Tekka, and told him that he could either cut ties and run, or marry Graf, which would enable him to conceal most of his remaining assets from both the Republic and from Catriona. San Tekka chose to marry him, and the two eloped.^[4]

Life with the Nihil

Following the fall of Starlight Beacon, Marchion Ro arrived at Chancey's lab within days and seized both the equipment and Graf himself. Graf was brought to the Lightning Crash, where he was held hostage and forced to maintain the Nihil's Stormwall. Graf was familiar with the technology, but with Chancey having died on Starlight Beacon, he was only able to maintain it, alongside Doctor Zadina Mkampa.^[5]

As an associate of the Nihil, Graf was able to cross the Stormwall, though not unaccompanied. After a meeting with General Abediah Viess about Jedi Master Avar Kriss's escape , Graf decided to visit once again, and requested clearance to do so from Viess with the justification that he would meet with Ghirra. His request was granted, and he traveled to Hosnian Prime alongside a Nihil bodyguard, Corax Oreli.^[5]

Exit from the Occlusion Zone and return

Speaking with Ghirra

Graf chose to attend an event Ghirra was hosting. As he was preparing, Oreli stated that she would not be entering the party, but instead placed a tracker on his vest and told him to activate it if he left the room. After he entered, Graf realized that everything at the party was from planets within the Nihil's Occlusion Zone.^[5]

After he located Ghirra, he pulled her aside to speak privately, as he knew that despite his dislike for her, she was the member of Nihil leadership most similar in thinking to him and the most useful ally. Graf argued that the current state of the Nihil was unsustainable, which she did not deny, and suggested that they share information, which she agreed they could try. They parted, pretending that they had argued, and Graf returned to the festivities.^[5]

Kidnapping and reunions

As he left the party, Graf was held at knifepoint by Sparkburn, who brought him out of the party, alongside Sylvestri. Graf recognized Sylvestri with horror and some joy, which he was disgruntled to realize, as he did not like getting invested in people. Graf attempted to stall as they were pursued by Oreli, but Sparkburn and Sylvestri forced him to board the Vengeful Goddess and they left before she caught up.^[5]

Graf was pleased to see his old ship, and mused that he did not why they were so angry with him, as he'd kept his promises to Sylvestri and the lies he told, only one of which he felt bad about, were just business. He also learned that they had been contracted to retrieve him. While Sylvestri showered, Graf told Sparkburn about a flask of spice liqueur he had hidden in the walls. He pretended to look for it in the wrong place at first and took the opportunity to transfer Oreli's tracker to the ship and activate it before he actually located the liqueur.^[5]

Afterward, Graf spoke to Sylvestri, and told her that he was sorry about her mother, and that he had believed he was bringing them back together, but was wrong, and now Chancey was truly dead. Sylvestri did not want to speak to him. When Sparkburn returned from her own shower, Graf learned that they had not known Chancey's fate, and they questioned him about it. Graf admitted he did not have proof, but the fact that she did not reappear and him being in charge of the Stormwall indicated she was dead. They asked if he could take them across the Stormwall, and he claimed that he could not.^[5]

Meeting Avon and Lompop

As they waited for their contact, Graf revealed that he had activated a tracker and that Oreli was likely to be arriving shortly. He suggested that one of them pretend to be his prisoner in order to cross the Stormwall with him, which they reluctantly agreed to. When a Nihil ship arrived, however, they learned it was not Oreli, but instead Deva Lompop aboard the Dreadful Day, who was the client, having arrived to collect Graf. Shortly afterward, Oreli arrived, and the two Nihil ships battled until Lompop destroyed Oreli's ship. Graf, who had heard of Lompop and her tendency to eat her enemies, pleaded with Sparkburn and Sylvestri not to turn him over. Lompop informed them that they could wait until another group arrived who would make them feel better. ^[5]

The newcomers in question turned out to be Vernestra Rwoh and Avon Sunvale. They informed Sylvestri and Sparkburn that they needed Graf to get across the Stormwall, and they agreed to turn him over if Sparkburn could accompany them. They agreed, which made Graf much more willing to cooperate. Sylvestri asked for Graf's word that he would keep Sparkburn from harm, which he, though startled, gave. As they boarded the Dreadful Day, Sparkburn asked why he wanted her to come, and he informed her that she would keep Lompop from killing him because he had something she wanted: a San Tekka contact, Cair San Tekka, on nearby Seswenna who could help her find her missing family members. Sparkburn was incredulous that he had a San Tekka contact, but agreed.^[5]

Arranging an introduction

Graf gave them the necessary Stormwall codes and, at Avon's insistence, explained to her some of the Stormwall's workings. When they arrived on Seswenna, he refused to bring a Nihil and a Jedi to meet his contact, and so he and Sparkburn left the group and traveled to the Violarza, where Graf and San Tekka possessed private rooms. He told Sparkburn to wait outside until he had set up the meeting, which she protested but reluctantly agreed to.^[5]

Graf entered the club and spoke to Rismo. He informed Graf when asked that the hammered dulcimer player, who they agreed after some discussion could be called a zitherist, would be playing in approximately two hours. Graf ordered a cloud gin and arranged that Sparkburn would do the same and ask to meet the zitherist.^[5]

A brief reunion

While he finished his drink, Graf considered himself and his desires, and whether he would, like Sparkburn, Rwoh, and Avon, risk himself for his loved ones. He museed that he loved Plinka, and his grandmother, though he would not put himself at risk for her. He avoided considering whether he would do so for his husband.^[5]

Graf went to his and San Tekka's rooms to change clothes, and was interrupted as he prepared to leave by San Tekka himself, who was pleased to see him. He told San Tekka he had brought someone who needed his help, but he could not stay, as some of those he came to Seswenna with could not know about their relationship. San Tekka teased him briefly and reluctantly conceded. Graf told him to help his friend and left.^[5]

Graf relayed the directions for the meeting to Sparkburn, who was displeased by being sent in alone but agreed. He then headed to the Riparian Gardens Hotel and was contacted by Avon, who met him there. She locked an epitaxial discharger on his wrist and informed him that if he did not follow her instructions exactly, it would cut his hand off.^[5]

A second kidnapping

Avon led Graf back to the Dreadful Day and took off. She informed him she planned to sneak aboard the Lightning Crash and rig it to explode, but Graf vehemently protested, first on the basis that the station was his, and second beause Plinka remained on board. He agreed they needed to destroy the Stormwall, but proposed instead that he sneak her on board to learn about the Stormwall's systems and find a way to stop it that would not harm anyone on board the station, as some were good people with no other choice. Avon agreed, though she didn't actually believe any were good people, and Graf went to go rest.^[5]

Avon asked him for coordinates for the Lightning Crash, as the ones she'd had led to empty space, and Graf realized that they had ended up instead in one of the Nihil's kill zones where ships were destroyed. When they returned to the cockpit, they found the incapacitated ship the Poldon Bain was also present, but Graf told Avon they did not have time to assist, as the scav droids, which he had seen at work before, would dismantle the ship if they did not leave immediately. He gave her the correct coordinates, and they left.^[5]

Aboard the Lightning Crash

Graf and Avon, after disguising the latter as a Nihil, arrive at the Lightning Crash, and are questioned about their possession of the Dreadful Day, which Graf claims they got by killing Lompop. They traveled to his quarters, where he reunited with Plinka, and directed Avon to the appropriate console for her research. Meanwhile, Graf downloaded a large number of Path codes, and also contacted Nan, who had been the last person to see Chancey alive, and asked her to tell him about Chancey's death. She asked why he wanted to know; Graf realized that if he told her the truth, she would hold Sylvestri over him, and said instead that he intended to sell the information. Nan agreed to tell the story in exchange for a future favor.^[5]

After the conversation, Graf found that Avon had left, and followed her. He found the body of Klinith Da, whom Avon had killed, and covered for her, then proceeded to interrupt her when she attempted to kill Dr. Mkampa. He shot Mkampa, though as a cyborg she would survive it, and watched as Avon considered and then decided against killing Mkampa herself. Graf suggested they leave, but Avon destroyed the crystal array which powered the Stormwall first, despite it being replacable. As they left, Graf gave her the Path codes he had downloaded.^[5]

As they traveled back toward Seswenna, Avon thanked Graf for preventing her from killing Mkampa, as she would have regretted it. They also discussed the data he had given her. Avon suggested that it may have a home key of some kind, which Graf, disgruntled, said that his family's mathematicians had not considered.^[5]

Return to Seswenna

When Sparkburn and San Tekka returned to Seswenna, Sparkburn reached out over the comm to see if the Dreadful Day had returned; Graf answered and scolded her for not using a direct code, told her to hurry, and said that Avon was working on a way out. San Tekka, listening to the conversation, noted that Graf liked Avon, which he could tell by his tone.^[5]

Sparkburn returned to the Dreadful Day, where she contacted Graf using San Tekka's codes, alarming him. Sparkburn realized from his worry that Graf was San Tekka's husband, and said that he was fine but that Graf should check in with him as soon as possible. Graf gave Sparkburn a recording of Nan's story, which he told her was for Sylvestri, and left the Dreadful Day.^[5]

Reuniting with San Tekka

Xylan watched the Dreadful Day leave, then returned to the Riparian Gardens, where he sent a message to the Violarza as well as a message to Ghirra, whom he informed that he had been trying to ensure Avon's safety and suggested his involvement in the attack on the Lightning Crash should be smoothed over.^[5]

As Graf relaxed, he was surprised by San Tekka's arrival. He noted that San Tekka looked somewhat unwell, and San Tekka explained that he would likely no longer be a safe place to hide Graf's assets, as he and Sparkburn planned to set up a smuggler's alley in order to get people out of the Occlusion Zone. Graf was frustrated by their shared San Tekka heroic spirit, but was swiftly distracted when he discovered that San Tekka was missing a hand. San Tekka explained that he and Sparkburn had encountered a blight while searching for her family, which San Tekka had come into contact with, and they had been forced to cut it off. San Tekka suggested that Graf join him and Sparkburn in opposing the Nihil, but they set the subject aside.^[5]

Final departure from the Lightning Crash

Helping the smugglers

Graf returned to the Lightning Crash, where he remained in charge of the Stormwall, despite the destruction of the crystal array. When San Tekka began opposing the Nihil and smuggling people across the Stormwall, Graf assisted him by providing appropriate Path codes and acting as an informant. Though he was asked, San Tekka did not reveal Graf's identity to his Republic contacts.^[4]

While discussing the increasing breaches of the Stormwall, General Viess suggested that she kill and replace the entire crew of the Lightning Crash. Ghirra, who felt that Avon was in danger, warned Graf of the impending purge, assuming that Graf would be able to escape and locate Avon, thereby allowing Ghirra to track him to her daughter.^[4]

Leaving the Occlusion Zone

Graf, heeding the warning, left the Occlusion Zone using the same coordinates that had been used only recently by Avar Kriss on one of the smuggling missions. Alarmed by the seemingly leaked coordinates, the Republic Defense Coalition forces returned and found a Nihil ship. Graf surrendered to the Republic, though not before the other Nihil on board destroyed the ship's Path engine. He explained that he was escaping the Nihil's clutches and could tell them how to destroy the Stormwall.^[4]

Graf was permitted to board the Axiom, where he was greeted by Captain Ba'luun, Kriss, and Rwoh. They elected to interrogate him in Ba'luun's quarters. On their way there, they encountered the patriarchs of the San Tekka clan, Marlowe and Vellis, who recognized Graf and were angered by his presence, as alongside their family rivalry, the San Tekkas had discovered Graf and Cair San Tekka's marriage.^[4]

Graf explained to Ba'luun, the Jedi, and the San Tekkas his work with Chancey and subsequent seizure by the Nihil. He said that Ro and Viess were frustrated with his inability to create a truly impenetrable wall, and revealed that he had been providing the Path codes to the smugglers. He told them that he possessed the Stormwall's home key, but would only reveal it to Avon on Coruscant. In return, he requested a pardon and for the Republic to liberate the planet Naboo, on the basis that his dog was there, though Marlowe pointed out that so was his husband.^[4]

Unlocking the Stormwall

When they returned to Coruscant, Graf was brought to meet with Chancellor Lina Soh, along with several Jedi and Avon. Soh asked if Avon believed Graf could truly help them destroy the Stormwall, and Avon stated that she did not trust him but that he did not gamble if he didn't think he could win. Graf explained that he had been looking into Mari San Tekka in order to decipher the home key, and told Avon she already had the answer. When she denied it, he reminded her that San Tekkas thought with their hearts, and she realized the key was Mari's homeworld.^[4]

To prove his information was legitimate, Graf was required to be on the first ship crossing the Stormwall with the home key. He and Avon worked together to modify the hyperdrive of the Clear Spring, and bickered frequently while doing so, though Jedi Master Elzar Mann believed it sounded like sibling affection more than true antagonism.^[4]

They successfully made the jump across the Stormwall. Graf claimed to Avon that he didn't want glory, to which she retorted that he did want money. When they exited hyperspace, Graf activated a tracking beacon to locate the Lightning Crash, which he had installed during its construction. After he located it, they jumped back across the Stormwall.^[4]

To the Lightning Crash and Naboo

Graf accompanied the Republic fleet aboard the Third Horizon for the attack on the Lightning Crash. After its destruction, though Mann and the Republic fighters felt it had been too easy, Graf determined that the Stormwall was down. He argued, unsuccessfully, that they should preserve the raw material of the station rather than obliterate it.^[4]

When they learned that additional Nihil forces were headed to Naboo, Graf suggested that they go there to assist. Mann, among others, thought it seemed uncharacteristically altruistic of him, but agreed, and they traveled towards Naboo. Mann spoke with Graf, and asked why he was so eager to go to Naboo; when Graf said that Plinka was there, Mann noted it was not the only reason. Graf asked if Mann thought he was leading them into a trap, and Mann said he did not. He told Graf that caring was not a weakness, but instead what separated them from the Nihil.^[4]

After the battle concluded, Mann and Graf sought out their respective loved ones. Graf reunited with Plinka, whom he was shocked to see was injured, and with San Tekka, who embraced him.^[4]

Marital disagreements

The following day, Graf urged San Tekka to wake up and prepare to leave so that they could board the next ship exiting the Occlusion Zone. San Tekka protested, but Graf told him that they would both be returning to Republic space even if he had to force him. Graf asked if he trusted him, which San Tekka did not answer; Graf, hurt, told him to prepare anyway.^[4]

When they met with the Jedi, they learned that the Stormwall had been restored, and, more concerningly, the home key had stopped working, leaving them without a reliable way across the Stormwall. Graf said they should jump anyway, and suggested that he check whether the Stormwall had fundamentally been changed or if they could cross using the same methods they had been for the smuggling missions.^[4]

San Tekka, quickly growing concerned, asked if Graf had known the home key could change, and Graf insisted that they all should have known that Ro would have a backup plan. San Tekka retorted that not all of them were used to thinking like monsters. Kriss interrupted them, and told Graf to come with her to confirm their method would still work. Graf lingered to talk to San Tekka, and suggested there was just as much for him to do in Republic space, and that he himself could not stay in the Occlusion Zone. San Tekka reminded him that he was not asking him to, and Graf demanded why not.^[4]

Tricking San Tekka

Aboard the Third Horizon, Graf sliced into the ship's systems despite protests in order to confirm that only the home key had changed. He questioned Rwoh about Avon's original solution when leaving Seswenna, and learned that she had only used her improvised solution after the ship's Path engine had been destroyed. They realized they could use the data core of a Path engine, and Graf suggested that San Tekka retrieve one, as he had worked with Path engines before.^[4]

San Tekka brought Plinka and the data core to Graf. Before he could return to the surface, Graf pulled San Tekka aside and led him to his temporary quarters. San Tekka, who remained angry with Graf, asked him to say what he needed to say so that he could return to Naboo before the ship departed. Instead, Graf locked him inside and informed him that before he could get out, the ship would have already left.^[4]

On Coruscant

After they returned to Coruscant, Graf left Plinka with San Tekka, who was residing at the San Tekka manor. He also offered his help with replacing San Tekka's prosthetic hand, which had been lost on Naboo, but San Tekka refused his help.^[4]

Graf visited the manor on one occasion while Kriss was discussing the blight with San Tekka. He brought a prosthetics specialist, but San Tekka rejected his assistance and told him to leave. Graf sent away the specialist, and told San Tekka that he would leave if he truly wished, but would take Plinka with him. San Tekka did not reply, and Graf remained for the rest of the conversation, which he occasionally contributed to. As Kriss left, San Tekka asked to return with her to the Occlusion Zone, which Graf was frustrated by, but she refused.^[4]

Personality and traits

Xylan Graf was a powerful member of the Graf family, and acted accordingly in most instances. He prioritized profit and power, and did not mind manipulating or lying to other people for his own ends. He was typically flippant and dramatic, and rarely demonstrated real sincerity. He was skilled at hiding his thoughts and feelings, as he had learned to do so from a young age.^[5] Sylvestri noted that he seemed to have a reasonable-sounding explanation for everything, even if it was not actually true.^[2]

Graf, despite his faults, was not entirely heartless. He loved both Plinka and San Tekka dearly, and was genuinely fond of Sylvestri and Avon, though he was loathe to admit it. He did to some extent desire genuine connection, even though he generally avoided it.^[5]

Relationship with Cair San Tekka

Though it began through manipulation and blackmail, Graf's marriage to San Tekka became one of his most important relationships, and Graf could not hide his genuine care for his husband despite his best efforts. Graf supplied Path codes for San Tekka's smuggling operation despite the risk it presented for his own safety. Thouogh Graf generally denied caring for San Tekka, he cared nonetheless.^[4]

Equipment

Graf was extremely wealthy due to his family, and appreciated luxury in all aspects of his life. His clothing was typically extravagant and expensive, as were his cosmetics. While working with the Nihil, he owned a breath mask, but refused to decorate it with Nihil insignia.^[5] Before the seizure of his assets, Graf owned several starships, including the Resplendent Pearl and the Vengeful Goddess, the latter of which he later gave to Sylvestri and Sparkburn.^[2]

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Behind the scenes

Xylan Graf first appeared in the novel The High Republic: Out of the Shadows, written by Justina Ireland^[2] and published on July 27, 2021^[8] as part of the Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia initiative's Phase I.^[9] Graf was first pictured in an episode of Star Wars: The High Republic Show on September 15, 2021,^[10] with art designed by MinJi Yoon.^[11]

In the first draft of Out of the Shadows, Ireland expected Sylvestri Yarrow to be in a love triangle that included her ex-girlfriend, Jordanna Sparkburn, and Graf. After beginning to write, however, Ireland determined that neither Yarrow nor herself particularly liked Graf, and dropped the idea halfway through the first draft.^[7] Ireland described most of Graf's outfits as an homage to Prince and Jem and the Holograms.^[12]

Appearances

• The High Republic: Out of the Shadows (and audiobook) (First appearance)
• The High Republic: Defy the Storm (and audiobook)
• The High Republic: Temptation of the Force (and audiobook)
• The High Republic (2023) 8 (Variant cover only)
• The Acolyte: Wayseeker (Indirect mention only)

Sources

• "Nothing is the Same After This Book": Justina Ireland on Out of the Shadows on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Spoiler Talk: Justina Ireland Shines a Light on Out of the Shadows on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars: The High Republic Show: New High Republic Wave 3 Cover Reveals, Starlight Beacon Model Unveiled, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com) (First pictured)
• Star Wars: The High Republic Show: Trail of Shadows, a Tale From Last Call, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• Jordanna Sparkburn and More Concept Art Revealed on Star Wars: The High Republic Show on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars Inside Intel: Coruscant on StarWars.com (article) (backup link)
• Star Wars: Timelines
• Star Wars: The High Republic Character Encyclopedia
• The High Republic Authors on Authors: Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland on StarWars.com (backup link)
• New 'Star Wars' Pride Variant Covers Celebrate Pride Month in a Galaxy Far, Far Away on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)

Notes and references