Cal Kestis' second lightsaber (2024)

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This lightsaber was created by Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis when he went to Ilum after damaging his previous weapon. The weapon was created by combining parts from Cere Junda's lightsaber and his former deceased master Jaro Tapal's lightsaber.

Description[]

Cal Kestis' second lightsaber was constructed using parts from Jaro Tapal's lightsaber and Cere Junda's lightsaber, both of which had been entrusted to Kestis by their former owners. The lightsaber was powered by a pair of kyber crystals retrieved by Kestis from the Crystal Cave on Ilum^[1] in 14 BBY.^[3] The crystals had originally been one, but had split in half when Kestis found them.^[1]

Similar to Jaro Tapal's, the lightsaber was a double-bladed weapon with one side comprised with dual emitter shrouds on either end and a black grip section in the middle. The other end features a flared emitter and a wrapped x-shape pattern. One blade could be ignited or both at the same time, allowing Kestis to use the weapon single-bladed or double-bladed respectively. Furthermore, the weapon could split into two separate lightsabers, allowing Kestis to use Jar'Kai.^[1]

History[]

Constructing a new lightsaber[]

Previous sabers[]

In the final days of the Clone Wars, Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis and his master Jaro Tapal were stationed about the Venator-class Star Destroyer Albedo Brave when Order 66 was initiated by Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, turning the clone forces aboard the vessel against the Jedi. In the subsequent skirmish Kestis lost his first lightsaber and Tapal lost his life. In his dying breaths, Tapal bequeathed Kestis his own lightsaber. With the death of Tapal, Kestis went into hiding as a rigger in the Scrapper Guild on Bracca, secretly keeping the lightsaber of his fallen master on his person.^[1]

In 14 BBY,^[3] Kestis was forced out of hiding when his connection to the Force was exposed. Now hunted by the Galactic Empire, Kestis joined the crew of the Stinger Mantis which was comprised of the Latero pilot Greez Dritus and the former Jedi Knight Cere Junda. Under the direction of Junda, Kestis underwent a journey to obtain the holocron of Jedi Master Eno Cordova and rebuild the Jedi Order with the list of Force-sensitive children contained on the aforementioned device. During his travels, Kestis used the lightsaber of his late master in combat against the Empire and other hostile forces.^[1]

However, in the midst of his journey, Kestis accidentally crushed Tapal's weapon while experiencing a Force vision of his painful past in the Tomb of Kujet on Dathomir. The lightsaber was damaged beyond repair, prompting Kestis to journey to Ilum to construct a new lightsaber. In the days of the Jedi, Ilum had been a sacred world where Jedi younglings would retrieve a kyber crystal to construct their lightsaber with in a ritual known as the Gathering. Kestis himself had undergone this ritual as a youngling, where he had acquired the kyber crystal he used to build his first lightsaber.^[1]

Journey to Ilum[]

Touching down on Ilum, Kestis headed for the Jedi Temple where the Gathering had traditionally began while reminiscing about his previous visit to the icy planet. Although the Empire maintained an occupation of Ilum, Kestis didn't immediately encounter any Imperial forces. After entering the Temple, Kestis journeyed into the Crystal Cave, where younglings would've typically found their kyber crystals in the past. Although he encountered a few Imperial probe droids upon entering, Kestis was undeterred and pressed on in his pursuit of a crystal.^[1]

Eventually, Kestis fell into a chasm of icy water. Kestis began to freeze as he frantically tried to escape the deathly cold water. Fortunately, he was able to emerge from the water and find his crystal. Kestis crawled over to the crystal and grasped it in his hand, only for it to inexplicably split in half. Although he began to lose hope, Kestis' determination was rekindled by his droid companion BD-1, who was accompanying him in the crystal cave.^[1]

Spurred on by his newfound resolve, Kestis placed the two halves of the crystal on a base of ice and began forging a new lightsaber. For the hilt of the weapon, Kestis incorporated the remains of his master's broken lightsaber and the lightsaber used by Junda when she walked the Jedi path. The lightsaber, like his master's, was a double-bladed weapon. However, in addition, the saber was also capable of splitting into two halves, acting as two single-bladed lightsabers. After forging the saber, Kestis ignited the weapon and split it in two, testing the functionality of the lightsaber.^[1]

Jedi weapon[]

Escape from Ilum[]

Needing a new route out of the crystal caves, Kestis began slicing through a path of large icicles with the intention of making it back to his ship. Unfortunately, he cut a path into a local Imperial garrison consisting of scout troopers and KX-series security droids. Despite enemy reinforcements, Kestis was eventually able to overcome the gathered Imperial forces with his new lightsaber. As he continued to make his way back to the ship, Kestis used the weapon to slice numerous icicles that stood in his path. As he headed further towards the entrance he was once again met by Imperial resistance, with the addition of standard stormtroopers, Heavy Weapons Stormtroopers and elite Purge Troopers. With his lightsaber, Kestis was able to defeat these assailants as well. After emerging from the temple, two AT-STs assailed Kestis. Kestis proceeded to destroy these walkers and safely reach the Stinger Mantis, where Junda congratulated him on his success.^[1]

Duel on Dathomir[]

Following Kestis' lightsaber acquisition, the crew of the Stinger Mantis traveled back to Dathomir with their original goal in mind. Kestis had initially visited the planet to retrieve an Astrium that would unlock the vault on Bogano, where Cordova's holocron was located. Kestis used his lightsaber to cut through the various sentient and non-sentient locals that opposed him, eventually making his way back to the Tomb of Kujet where the Astrium was housed. Inside the tomb, Kestis was confronted by Merrin, a native Nightsister. To convince Merrin that he wasn't a threat, Kestis gave her his lightsaber, expressing to her that a lightsaber was not what made a Jedi. Merrin told Kestis that an armored warrior brandishing a lightsaber had massacred her clan during the Clone Wars, before returning his lightsaber to him.^[1]

Having been allowed to pass by Merrin, Kestis headed deeper into the tomb until he came face-to-face with Taron Malicos, a Jedi Master who had fallen to the dark side following Order 66. Although Malicos attempted to coax Kestis into joining him in his pursuit of power, he turned hostile once Kestis repeatedly refused his offer. The two Jedi engaged in a lightsaber duel. Midway through their fight, Kestis used his lightsaber in its single-bladed function and appeared to be forcing Malicos on his back foot. However, Malicos retaliated through the Force, attempting to crush Kestis with a boulder. Before Malicos could slay Kestis, Merrin intervened, firing blasts of ichor at the fallen master in support of Kestis. The duel continued between Malicos and the team of Kestis and Merrin. Malicos was eventually overwhelmed by the pair and buried alive by Merrin's magick. Kestis and Merrin proceeded to retrieve the Astrium, and Merrin subsequently joined the crew of the Mantis.^[1]

The Bogano Vault[]

Having retrieved the Astrium, the Stinger Mantis returned to Bogano to finally open the Zeffonians vault and obtain Cordova's holocron. Like he had previously, Kestis received resistance from the hostile fauna that blanketed the land between the Mantis and the vault. Similar to Dathomir, Kestis cut through the local adversaries and reached the Zeffo structure. Kestis and BD-1 entered the vault and were able to uncover the holocron after the former experienced a malicious Force vision that failed to break him.^[1]

Before Kestis could retrieve the holocron, he was interrupted by the Second Sister, a member of the Inquisitorius who had been hunting Kestis since he emerged from exile. After a verbal spat, Kestis and the Second Sister ignited their lightsabers and began dueling for the right to own the holocron. Unlike before, Kestis was able to get the upper hand on the Inquisitor. However, when he grasped her lightsaber he was subjected to a dark Force vision of her past, temporarily immobilizing him. The Second Sister took the opportunity to grasp the holocron and escape the planet.^[1]

Kestis made his way out of the vault where he was beset upon by newly arrived Imperial troops, including regular stormtroopers, scout troopers and heavy weapon troopers. After slaying the Imperial troopers, Kestis was able to make his way back to the Mantis where he informed his comrades what had happened in the vault.^[1]

Mission to Nur[]

After Kestis was knighted by Junda, the crew of the Mantis launched a mission on the water moon of Nur to take back the holocron. During this mission, upon entering Fortress Inquisitorius, Kestis used his new lightsaber to cut down anyone who tried to stop him, ranging from regular stormtroopers to scout troopers and Purge Troopers. Upon entering the interrogation chamber, Kestis engaged in a final duel with the Second Sister, and, using his lightsaber, ending up winning the duel. As Junda attempted to reconcile with the Second Sister, who was once her Padawan Trilla Suduri, Darth Vader appeared and killed the Inquisitor for failing him. Kestis refused to surrender to Vader and was overpowered by the Dark Lord of the Sith, who began tearing the fortress apart in an effort to kill Kestis. After briefly escaping, Kestis once again faced Vader, barely igniting his lightsaber to defend himself. During this, Kestis tried to use the Force to summon his lightsaber to him, but Vader stopped him, the latter turning it on and stabbing Kestis with it. Kestis escaped with his lightsaber, the holocron and Junda soon after. When reunited with all the members of the Mantis crew, Kestis decided to destroy the holocron to keep the children on the list safe from the Empire, by cutting it in half vertically with the blade of his lightsaber.^[1]

Crusade against the Empire[]

Sometime after his duel with Vader and the Second Sister, Kestis modified his lightsaber, adding components that made both halves of the weapon appear reminiscent of Jaro Tapal's saber. The second half of the blade remained attached to his belt in the single blade configuration, which ensured that the hilt was not overly long when only a single blade was being used. Kestis used the lightsaber in his crusade against the Galactic Empire.^[2]

Hunt for the Shroud[]

Between 12 BBY and 11 BBY, the crew of the Stinger Mantis would infiltrate a Haxion Brood base.^[5] During this mission, in which Kestis would use his lightsaber in combat against Haxion Brood bounty hunters as well as stormtroopers who were present on the base, the crew would discover Chellwinark "Fret" Frethylrin, an Imperial analyst who, deceiving the Mantis Crew and posing as a defecting stormtrooper, would inform them of a Omwati named Qeris Lar who funded anti-Imperial operations.^[5]

In a meeting with Lar on Hosnian Prime, the crew would learn of a cloaking device known as the Shroud, that the Empire held the schematics of in an installation on Murkhana. With some hesitation, the crew agreed to retrieve the Shroud schematics for Lar.^[5]

During the Mission to Murkhana, Kestis would use his lightsaber in combat against many stormtroopers and Purge Troopers, until eventually duelling the Inquisitor Fifth Brother until he was overwhelmed and saved by Junda and eventually Dritus when the Inquisitor took Junda's lightsaber and attempted to strike at the defenseless Kestis.^[5]

Upon the Mantis Crew's return to Hosnian Prime, they would discover that Lar had betrayed them to the Empire. Kestis once again duelled the Fifth Brother alongside Merrin inside Lar's office. Both Kestis and Merrin were nearly defeated, until the Shroud's creator, Irei, created an explosive that threw the Inquisitor from the tower.

Working for Saw Gerrera[]

By 9 BBY,^[6] the Stinger Mantis Crew had splintered, leaving Kestis and BD-1 alone in their crusade. Together they began to work with Saw Gerrera and his Partisans. During a mission on Coruscant for Saw, the saber was gifted to the Pau'an Senator Daho Sejan by Bode Akuna, Kestis' ally who unbeknownst to him was a Jedi survivor that was working undercover for the Imperial Security Bureau, while Kestis was posing as having being captured, but the saber was quickly reclaimed. He then used the weapon in combat with the Ninth Sister, who slew Sejan. Kestis killed her using the split-saber functionality of his lightsaber.^[2]

Hunt for Tanalorr[]

After the mission to Coruscant, the Stinger Mantis was damaged, forcing Kestis to travel to the planet Koboh and find Dritus in order to repair the ship. On Koboh, Kestis was attacked by the Bedlam Raiders and their reprogrammed B1, B2 and BX series battle droids, who Kestis fought with his lightsaber.^[2] Later during his time on Koboh, Kestis would discover and free the fallen High Republic Jedi Knight Dagan Gera, also learning of the planet Tanalorr that was hidden in the Koboh Abyss. Not aware that Gera had fallen to the Dark side, Kestis handed him his lightsaber. Gera then bled his kyber crystal and dueled Kestis. Eventually, Gera would escape with his Gen'Dai servant Rayvis aboard a Bedlam Raider Low Altitude Assault Transport.^[2]

Once Kestis reached Dritus at Rambler's Reach, Kestis, Dritus, and Akuna, who had joined Kestis on Koboh and was still posing as an ally, journeyed to Jedha to find Junda and discover more about Gera and Tanalorr. On Jedha, Kestis used his saber in combat against native creatures such as Skriton, as well as occupying Imperial forces. Kestis would meet with Merrin, who would guide him to Junda's Archive. There they met Eno Cordova, who had been working with Junda to establish the archive and work with the network known as the Hidden Path. Junda and Cordova helped Kestis gain the infomation he sought about Tanalorr and the crew returned to the Koboh system.^[2]

Back on Koboh, Kestis explored the Stone Spires and used his lightsaber to duel and defeat Tague Louesh, a Bedlam Raider Lieutenant armed with a double-bladed lightsaber gifted to him by Rayvis.^[2]

On Koboh's Shattered Moon, Kestis fought a reprogrammed IG-100 MagnaGuard and duelled against Drya Thornne, another Lieutenant of the Bedlam Raiders who wielded a lightsaber with retractable crossguards. Kestis disassembled it and incorporated its crossguard emitter into his own lightsaber following his duel with Thornne.^[2]

After finding two damaged Abyss compasses, allowing for traversal across the Koboh Abyss, on his missions to the Shattered Moon and Stone Spires, Kestis and the Mantis crew returned to Jedha to enquire with Master Cordova about them. Upon their arrival, they learnt that Pilgrim's Sanctuary, the safehouse for the Hidden Path, was about to be discovered by the Empire. Together, Merrin and Kestis stopped the Imperial Excavation team, with Kestis using his lightsaber in combat against many stormtroopers and scout troopers and several DT-series sentry droids. Later, Kestis would use his lightsaber to attack a repurposed Trident-class assault ship being used by the Empire to destroy Pilgrim's Sanctuary.^[2] After returning to The Archive, Akuna gifted Kestis with a LW-896 Blaster Pistol. Although reluctant at first to take the weapon, as he had been taught against the use of blasters by Jaro Tapal, upon some reassurance from Akuna and Merrin, Kestis began to use the blaster in combat alongside his lightsaber.^[2]

Again returning to Koboh, Kestis learnt that the Bedlam Raiders had taken ZN-A4 "Zee" to their base in the wreckage of a Lucrehulk-class Battleship. Together, Kestis and Akuna attacked the Lucrehulk, fighting many Raiders and battle droids including Droidekas. While traversing the battleship, Kestis was attacked by Rayvis. When Kestis tried to fight back with his lightsaber, he discovered that the weapon had little effect on the Gen'Dai due to the species' regenerative tentacles. Eventually, Kestis reached the control tower where he once again used his saber in a duel with Dagan Gera, who again escaped. Kestis and Akuna then freed Zee.^[2]

Travelling to the Shattered Moon to confront Rayvis, Kestis would use his lightsaber in a duel with the Gen'Dai. Eventually, Rayvis would yield. Kestis asked Rayvis to join him, but he refused, requesting Kestis to give him a warrior's death. Kestis obliged and struck Rayvis' head with his lightsaber, killing him.^[2]

Having learnt Gera had the final compass from Rayvis, Kestis journeyed up the mountain towards the Koboh Observatory, fighting many stormtroopers and native creatures. Passing through and attacking Imperial Post 8L-055, Kestis used his lightsaber to clear the hanger of several stormtroopers, Jumptroopers, scout troopers and sentry droids. After ascending to the upper levels of the base, Kestis fought and killed Rick using his lightsaber. Arriving at the observatory, Kestis and Akuna fought the Bedlam Raiders and Imperials, eventually confronting Gera in the Grand Oculus. Together, Akuna and Kestis fought Gera, who used a Force Illusion during their fight. Eventually, Kestis used Gera's illusion against him, posing as Santari Khri, a Jedi whom Gera trusted. After Gera realised the illusion, Kestis stabbed him with his lightsaber. Several blaster bolts fired by Akuna and a final slash by Kestis resulted in Gera's death. The two recovered the minorly damaged abyss compass, and Cal left to return to the mantis. Unbeknownst to Kestis, Akuna took half of Gera's split-saber.^[2]

Upon returning to Jedha, preparations were being made to relocate The Archive and Hidden Path to Tanalorr. After Cordova repaired the compass, imperial forces, summoned by Akuna, arrived. While Junda and Kestis were distracted, Akuna held Cordova at blasterpoint, stealing the compass then executing the Jedi Master. Kestis, shocked and saddened at Cordova's sudden death and Akuna's betrayal, chased him across The Archive and on Speeder bikes. Kestis used his lightsaber to fight a scout trooper on a speeder bike before lifting him into the air into an oncoming TIE/ln space superiority starfighter. Kestis then used the weapon to damage Akuna's speeder, causing them both to crash. While threatening Akuna with his lightsaber, Kestis asked why Akuna had betrayed them. He warned Kestis that he had to get his family out of The Archive to save them. As Kestis prepared to strike with his lightsaber, Akuna used the Force to push Kestis away, revealing himself as a Force-sensitive Jedi survivor. Then, Akuna ignited Gera's saber and dueled Cal, emerging victorious as Kestis fell from the cliff. Before falling unconscious, Kestis began to reach towards his lightsaber.^[2]

Once Kestis returned to The Archive, he found Junda dead after a duel with Darth Vader. Distraught at his loss and angered at Akuna's betrayal, Kestis used a locator beacon he gifted to Akuna on Coruscant to track him to an ISB base in the Nova Garon system. Attacking the base, Kestis arrived in Akuna's quarters where he found Akuna's daughter Kata Akuna. She noticed the lightsaber on his belt and realized he was a Jedi. While asking Kata where her father was taking her, Bode arrived and Kestis confronted him. After discussing his past, Bode again pushed Kestis with the force and ran with his daughter. Enraged, Kestis tapped into the dark side, using his lightsaber to fight the Imperials in his way while chasing Bode, who escaped. Kestis used his lightsaber to threaten Lank Denvik, but Merrin prevented Kestis from killing him.^[2]

Returning to Koboh again, the crew aligned the arrays, created a small opening in the Abyss to fly through.^[2]

Arriving on Tanalorr, Merrin and Kestis confronted Bode, who, blinded by his rage, attacked. Kestis used his lightsaber in the duel and again tapped into the dark side to defeat Akuna, killing him with his blaster pistol.^[2]

Bounty Hunting for Caij[]

Kestis would use his lightsaber to fight many Haxion Brood Bounty Hunters for Caij Vanda. When Vanda later betrayed Kestis on Koboh, he used his lightsaber in a confrontation with her and the bounty hunter Boba Fett.^[2]

Behind the scenes[]

Cal Kestis' second lightsaber first appeared in the 2019 video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Although the canon color of the weapon's blade is blue, its kyber crystal can be customized with the other possible colors of green, orange, purple, yellow, indigo, cyan, and magenta. The hilt of the lightsaber can also be customized with various materials, sleeves, emitters and switches. The materials ranges from Arcetron, Cerakote, Corundum, Crodium, Duralium, Laminasteel, and Slivian iron. In New Journey + mode, it can be given a red crystal and blade.^[1]

In the 2023 sequel Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, lightsaber combat revolved around the new "stances", which offered different ways of using the saber. 5 stances (Single blade, double blade, dual wield, crossguard and blaster) were available for the player to equip at mediation points, with two stances being equipped at any one time. Each stance reflects a different playstyle and has it's own skill tree. In terms of customisation, different cosmetic components were made available as well as the new blade color white. The player also had the option to customise the crossguard vents that would appear when the crossguard stance was equipped, and the wear visible on the saber. As well as this, in all New Journeys started after completing the main story, a new "Party" saber color was added, which swapped between the existing saber colors (except red) every time the player blocked, parried or attacked.^[2]

Appearances[]

• Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (First appearance)
• Jedi: Battle Scars
• Jedi: Battle Scars audiobook
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Non-canon appearances[]

• LEGO STAR WARS: Celebrate the Season — "LEGO Star Wars - 25 Years"

Sources[]

• Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection
• "Lightsabers and Jedi Equipment" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
• Star Wars Jedi Pocket Expert
• Star Wars: The Mini Book of Lightsabers
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Official Teaser on the official Electronic Arts Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• SWCA 2022: Respawn's Stig Asmussen Talks Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Reflects on Its Predecessor – Exclusive on StarWars.com (backup link)
• This Week! in Star Wars Rogue One Is Back, The Rebel Spirit Of ILM, And More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor: Cameron Monaghan on Cal Kestis' Next Adventure on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Jedi Coaching Sessions Trailer on the official Electronic Arts Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• "Imperial March" Begins with a Galaxy of New Toys, Apparel, and More on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)
• Star Wars Day 2024 Games and Experiences Deals! on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)

Notes and references[]

External links[]

• STAR WARS: Jedi Survivor on Electronic Arts' official website (backup link)
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor on StarWars.com (backup link)