Zealots of Psusan

< Zealots of Psusan
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The Zealots of Psusan were a trendy religious cult that dominated three colonies on the Talcene Transit hyperlane. Disciples of the cult also established colonies in the worlds of the Mid Rim. By 22 BBY, the High Priest of the cult, Scri Oscuro, was put in prison by bounty hunter Kalyn Farnmir and her partner Cian Shee after former cult members discovered his illicit ventures. From prison, Oscuro lured Shee to work for him in his plot to enact vengeance on Farnmir.

While on the planet Coruscant in 22 BBY, Farnmir was notified of the plot by an informant, and she arranged a meeting between her and Shee at the Outlander Club. Acting like nothing was wrong while at the club, Farnmir attempted to capture Shee while they left, but she was able to escape and call off the deal between her and Oscuro.

Description

The Zealots of Psusan were a trendy, female-empowering[4] religious[1] cult[5] led by a High Priest.[6] The Zealots dominated three colonies along the Talcene Transit, a hyperlane that went through the Outer Rim Territories. Saleucami, a planet along the Talcene Transit, exported root segments from the bubse tree and mineral water, both of which fetched high prices from aesthetes of the cult.[3] A starburst[7] tattoo located on the abdomen was associated with the Zealots.[1]

History

Colonizing cult

The Zealots of Psusan became fashionable on Coruscant (pictured).

The Zealots of Psusan became fashionable on Coruscant (pictured).

Members of the Zealots were among the many disciples of various religious groups that established countless colonies in the Mid Rim area of the galaxy, particularly in the Slice. Freedom from religious persecution was a large incentive for these colonization efforts, though most of these colonies faded years later.[2]

During the last years of the Galactic Republic, the cult had become fashionable on[1] the planet[3] Coruscant.[1] Prior to the start of the[6] Clone Wars between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems,[8] the Zealots were led by the corrupt High Priest Scri Oscuro.[6] By 22 BBY,[9][10] the cult was fast growing[11] and the Human women[12][13][14] Nyrat Agira, Rosha Vess, and Khaleen Hentz were members of the cult, bearing its associated tattoo.[13][12][1] By that year as well,[15] Oscuro had started to use the church[5] and his position of spiritual influence as a front for illegal ventures. When former members of the cult discovered this, a bounty was placed on his head that was claimed by[6] the bounty hunter Kalyn Farnmir and her partner, the slicer Cian Shee.[5]

Revenge against Kalyn Farnmir

Scri Oscuro sought to enact vengeance against Kalyn Farnmir (pictured).

Scri Oscuro sought to enact vengeance against Kalyn Farnmir (pictured).

Oscuro tried from prison to use his cult contacts to enact revenge on Shee and Farnmir and was able to lure the slicer to work for him through a[6] hefty payout[5] of credits.[6] During one night on Coruscant[5] in 22 BBY,[16] Farnmir was told by an informant that sinister parts of the Zealots were planning on taking her down and that Shee was in on the plot. Shaken by the news and knowing that the cult was popular in Coruscant's entertainment districts, the bounty hunter arranged a meeting with Shee at the Outlander Club,[5] an Uscru Entertainment District gambling hall and nightclub.[17]

Farnmir arrived first to the club, noticing many cult signs. Nyrat Agira was also visiting at that time, and the bounty hunter interrogated her[5] after noticing her tattoo.[12] Agira was able to confirm that Scri Oscuro was present on Coruscant and that he had dealings with Shee. When the slicer arrived at the club, Farnmir acted like nothing was wrong.[5] After the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker apprehended bounty hunter Zam Wesell there,[18] Agira identified a weak-minded individual for conversion to the cult.[11] Farnmir tried to capture Shee while they were leaving the club, but the slicer's reflexes allowed her to escape. Now aware that her former partner was expecting to be ambushed, Shee called off the deal with Oscuro. The slicer was killed by Farnmir on[5] the moon[19] Nar Shaddaa[5] at some point during or after 2 BBY.[20]

Behind the scenes

The Zealots of Psusan were first indirectly mentioned in the reference book Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary, which was written by David West Reynolds[21] and released on April 23, 2002.[22] The cult members Nyrat Agira and Rosha Vess first appeared in an illustration in the young readers book Jango Fett: Bounty Hunter, written by Eric Arnold and illustrated by Valerie Reckert[23] and also released on April 23 of that year.[24] The image of the members was taken from the then-upcoming prequel trilogy film Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones,[18] released on May 16, 2002.[25] The Zealots of Psusan were first identified in 2003 with the release of Inside the Worlds of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, a reference book by Simon Beecroft and Curtis Saxton.[26]

Appearances

Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Vol. III, p. 369 ("Zealots of Psusan")
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Star Wars: Force and Destiny Core Rulebook
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Essential Atlas
  4. ↑ Far Horizons
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 Databank title Farnmir, Kalyn in the Databank (original site is defunct)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Vol. II, p. 426 ("Oscuro, Scri")
  7. ↑ SWInsider "Who's Who in the Outlander Club: It's Ladies' Night" — Star Wars Insider 75
  8. ↑ The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Vol. I, p. 131 ("Clone Wars")
  9. ↑ The New Essential Chronology dates the events of Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones to 22 BBY.
  10. ↑ Republic 49 is set shortly before the First Battle of Kamino, which The Official Star Wars Fact File Part 6 22 BBY 75-80: Dark Side Influence dates to 22 BBY.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Star Wars: Complete Locations
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Databank title Agira, Nyrat in the Databank (original site is defunct)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Databank title Vess, Rosha in the Databank (original site is defunct)
  14. ↑ The Official Star Wars Fact File 113 HEN 1-2: Khaleen Hentz
  15. ↑ The events in Kalyn Farnmir's Databank entry show the apprehension of Scri Oscuro by Farnmir and Cian Shee happen before the events of Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, which The New Essential Chronology dates to 22 BBY.
  16. ↑ The New Essential Chronology dates the events of Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones to 22 BBY. The events in Kalyn Farnmir's Databank entry show Agira's interrogation happening shortly before Farnmir meeting Cian Shee, which is shown in the film. Therefore, the events in the Databank entry must take place in 22 BBY.
  17. ↑ The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Vol. II, p. 431 ("Outlander Club")
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
  19. ↑ Databank title Nar Shaddaa in the Databank (original site is defunct)
  20. ↑ The Essential Reader's Companion dates the events of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, which includes the formation of the Rebel Alliance, to 2 BBY. Therefore, Cian Shee's death on Nar Shaddaa in Kalyn Farnmir's Databank entry must happen during or after that year, as Farnmir is associated with the Alliance when she kills Shee.
  21. ↑ Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary
  22. ↑ StarWars.com Book Preview: DK Episode II Books on StarWars.com (original site is defunct)
  23. ↑ Jango Fett: Bounty Hunter
  24. ↑ Amazon-Favicon Jango Fett: Bounty Hunter (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones / Jedi Readers, Step 3) on Amazon.com (backup link)
  25. ↑ Star Wars Year By Year: A Visual History, Updated and Expanded Edition
  26. ↑ Inside the Worlds of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones