Gethzerion

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Gethzerion
Gethzerion

Gethzerion was a character in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. She was a Nightsister from the planet of Dathomir.

[edit] Fall and exile

The people of Dathomir lived in clans ruled by female leaders with the male population serving as servants and mates. During the reign of Gethzerion many of the Dathomirians were killed or captured by Gethzerion's adoptive clan, the Nightsisters. These women's control over the Force was developed from a method of selective breeding to ensure power. Gethzerion was actually born the second daughter to the head (the "Clan Mother") of the Singing Mountain Clan. She was beautiful, talented, and beloved by her mother. Sadly, she and her mother, Augwynne had significant disagreements over how to interpret The Book of the Law, a handbook for using the Force passed down by the clans from the very first Dathomiran Jedi, Allya, who had been exiled by the Old Republic. Allya's work mentioned uses of the dark side. Gethzerion believed that the advanced, tainted spells were licit for use and experimentation by the most skillful witches, like herself. But Augwynne hewed strongly and unwaveringly to Allya's warnings; according to the Dark side sourcebook: "The central message of The Book of the Law is that the magic it describes must always be used wisely- that a Force witch must never surrender to evil, lest she be consumed by it. (In her own way, Allya was warning her followers to avoid the dark side)." Gethzerion chafed under the restrictions. Finally, she contemplated murder, since Augwynne was young and healthy. Together with her follower Baritha, Gethzerion staged her "accident," but it went awry and slew instead Gethzerion's younger sibling (and Augwynne's third daughter). Augwynne's investigation uncovered the plot, and Gethzerion and Baritha were exiled.

Soon into their exile, the two were assaulted by three other exiles. Gethzerion's puissance in the Force made short work of two, leaving the third to beg for her life. Here Gethzerion was suddenly inspired: she would start her own rival clan. Gethzerion gave up any idea of reformation or repentance, and began gathering members and battling other clans, seeking to capture converts. Their successful example caused many witches and a number of other clans to turn to the dark side — Gethzerion's own elder sister joined the Nightsisters, intending to save Gethzerion, only to herself be corrupted.

[edit] Gethzerion and the Empire

While the Nightsisters believed that they had to perform rituals to unleash their force powers, only Gethzerion realized the true power that she could control. Emperor Palpatine at one point began a new penal colony on Dathomir, replacing the one that Allya had destroyed in her prisoner's revolt hundreds of years earlier. The Nightsisters offered to aid the Imperial garrison, and its commander accepted; the Sisters proved extremely useful in repelling attacks from the clans and keeping prisoners in line. Few noticed how the Nightsisters were always examining the shuttles and spaceships. Eventually, Palpatine learned of her power and the Nightsisters in general, and realized after investigation why the Sisters were so interested in ships: they wanted to seize some and take over the orbital station and the rudimentary shipyards, and then the galaxy. He ordered that she be kept trapped on Dathomir where she could still rule but not use her power elsewhere. Commander Zsinj, who would later become a ruling Imperial warlord, carried out this interdiction (which almost occurred too late; all ships assigned to the garrison had to be destroyed as there was no time to evacuate them or even the unfortunate Imperial troops assigned there.) He was then assigned to keep an eye on Dathomir.

When Han Solo crash-landed the Millennium Falcon on Dathomir, Gethzerion was contacted by Zsinj and the two of them managed to capture Solo and Princess Leia.

Gethzerion finally met her match in Luke Skywalker and Teneniel Djo (a Dathomirian from another clan) when they turned up to rescue their friends. Gethzerion fled in a space shuttle, but was killed just prior to escaping into hyperspace when Solo opened fire with concussion missiles in the Millennium Falcon. The Dathomirans were free of Gethzerion's tyranny.

[edit] References

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