Welcome back! Continuing the series of notations dissecting The Story of General Grievous, here is the second of four planned parts. In Part 1, we explored the circu mstances that turned Qymaen jai Sheelal into the killing machine Grievous. Now in Part 2 we get on with the Knight Slayer's carnage in earnest. This conclusion to the Star Wars Insider #86 feature "Unknown Soldier" ends with a bang, elaborating on the sources for all the known Jedi Grievous cut down during his Clone Wars rampage. "Unknown Soldier" is still on newsstands till April 16, and is just starting to hit subscribers in the UK, France, and Germany, so head over and nab your copy in order to milk these companion pieces for everything they're worth!

Once again, folks, let's rock 'n' roll.


Revenge on the Jedi

Most of the details of the general's droid body and gadgetry come from the Revenge of the Sith Visual Dictionary (2005, Dorling Kindersley) and Chapters 20-25 of the Clone Wars micro-series (2004-2005, Cartoon Network). The six-fingered Ebranites were first depicted in the roleplaying game supplement Galaxy Guide 12: Aliens--Enemies and Allies (1995, West End Games).

That Grievous' first engagement with Republic forces occurred during the Battle of Geonosis is from the novel Labyrinth of Evil (2005, Del Rey), though his slaying of the Jedi Master Ur-Sema Du during the conflict is technically new. This will be elaborated upon a bit later.

The transfusion of Master Sifo-Dyas' blood in order to keep Grievous alive after his shuttle crash is a story point from "Eyes of Revolution" in Visionaries (2005, Dark Horse Comics), as is the fact that Dooku trained Grievous using this Jedi's lightsaber. The MagnaGuard IG-109 that Grievous battles in the accompanying illustration is new.

The confrontation on Space Station Trenchant between Asajj Ventress, Durge, and the cyborg general is from the story "Rogues Gallery" in Clone Wars Adventures #3 (2005, Dark Horse Comics). His anointment as Supreme Commander of the Separatist droid army is from "Republic Holonet News" in Star Wars Insider #75 (2004, IDG).

Grievous' tongue-in-cheek HoloNet nickname, "The Knight Slayer," is new, but inspired by any number of media monikers given to real-life serial killers. The general's "debut" on the planet Hypori was the climax of Chapter 20 of the Clone Wars cartoon series (2004, Cartoon Network). Meanwhile, the sources for the sights of Grievous' war mongering are as follows: Banvhar Station and Vandos in General Grievous (2005, Dark Horse Comics), Nadiem in "Hiding in Plain Sight" from Clone Wars Adventures Vol. 2 (2004, Dark Horse Comics), Togoria in The New Essential Chronology (2005, Del Rey), Duro in "Republic Holonet News" in Star Wars Insider #75 (2004, IDG), Xagobah in Boba Fett: A New Threat (2004, Scholastic), Belderone in Labyrinth of Evil (2005, Del Rey), and Kashyyyk in "Deep Forest" from Visionaries (2005, Dark Horse Comics). The kidnapping of Chancellor Palpatine by Grievous is the subject of Chapters 22-25 of the Clone Wars micro-series (2005, Cartoon Network).

The total number of Jedi deaths for which Grievous is responsible throughout the Clone Wars is chronicled here for the first time. Most of Grievous' psychological hang-ups in this section are also new, created in order to give the general some depth and tie together his seemingly disparate actions with a credible motivation. The Bergruutfa Clan Padawans and their Abyssin Master Quarmall are both identified here for the first time, though they originally appeared in General Grievous #1 (2005, Dark Horse Comics). The name for these Padawans was carefully chosen. Because they look like pre-apprenticeship younglings, and are grouped together in the manner of the youngling Bear Clan from Attack of the Clones, yet are constantly referred to as Padawans through the comic, I made the unconventional decision to combine the two roles. I then gave them a clan name derived from the elephant-like Bergruutfa beast from Creatures of the Galaxy (1994, West End Games). Meanwhile, the name of their Jedi Master Quarmall comes from the Gamemaster Screen for Second Edition (1992, West End Games).

Though the planet Nelvaan is introduced in Chapters 22-25 of the Clone Wars micro-series (2005, Cartoon Network), Grievous' part in manipulating the world's male population and making of them mutant cyborgs is revealed here for the first time. The alluded to confrontation between Grievous and Mace Windu is also from that source.


The Future of Warfare

The suggestion that the technology employed in transforming Grievous was likewise used for Darth Vader's iconic armor is new information based on George Lucas' comments in interviews that Grievous' character is a metaphorical Vader prototype. The extension of this technology to the cyborg Shira Brie/Lumiya from multiple issues of Marvel Comics monthly Star Wars series (1980-1986, Marvel Comics) is also new. The droid Necrosis appears in the Star Wars Galaxies Rage of the Wookiees expansion pack (2005, Sony Online Entertainment), and his back story and very personal relation to Grievous is fleshed out in great detail in The Story of General Grievous: Lord of War (2006, StarWars.com).


The Knight Slayer

This section gives a complete list of the known Jedi Grievous murdered. Jedi Master Daakman Barrek, his Padawan Sha'a Gi, and Jedi Watchman Tarr Seirr all buy the moisture farm in Chapter 20 of the Clone Wars animated series (2004, Cartoon Network), while Roron Corobb and Foul Moudama are done in by Grievous in Chapter 25 (2005, Cartoon Network).

T'chooka D'oon is cut down in General Grievous #1 (2005, Dark Horse Comics). His unflattering title and Nubian origin are new.

Jedi Council member Adi Gallia and the improbably named Jedi Master Soon Bayts bite the bullet in Obsession #5 (2005, Dark Horse Comics), reprinted in Clone Wars Vol. 7: When They Were Brothers (2005, Dark Horse Comics).

Waldan Bridger and L'lacielo Sageon have an interesting history. Both were slated to appear in the Clone Wars Sourcebook. Though that book was cancelled, contributing author Daniel Wallace incorporated "General Bridger" into The New Essential Chronology (2005, Del Rey). Because there were a number of anonymous Jedi killed by Grievous in various publications, Sageon was then borrowed for "Unknown Soldier" to put a name to a face. As a nod to the creator of these characters, each was given a first name anagrammed from "Daniel Wallace." This is actually the second time I attempted to use this particular Tuckerization: the first time, I gave the name Waldan L'lacielo to one of the earliest Jedi from the First Great Schism, now known as Awdrysta Pina, in "The Emperor's Pawns" in Star Wars Gamer #5 (2001, Wizards of the Coast).

Jedi Master Ur-Sema Du is an homage to the Star Wars artist Jan Duursema. Illustrator Joe Corroney first introduced her likeness in the Power of the Jedi Sourcebook (2002, Wizards of the Coast) and named her, though this is the first time her name has been printed in an official source. Duursema, who illustrated the comics adaptation of Attack of the Clones (2002, Dark Horse Comics), insisted that her alter ego was among the slain Jedi in the comic's Battle of Geonosis panels. Corroney and I conspired to spare the character her ignominious death by illustrating her going toe-to-toe with Grievous in her last stand.

The Jedi Knight Firkrann is a new character, though his confrontation with Grievous alludes to the Battle of Xagobah, which serves as the backdrop for Boba Fett: A New Threat (2004, Scholastic). As an Iron Knight, Firkrann takes his name from that of a kind of lightsaber crystal introduced in the video game Knights of the Old Republic (2003, LucasArts).

Jmmaar, Nystammall, and Puroth, named in the Revenge of the Sith novelization (2005, Del Rey), are Jedi Knights killed by Grievous whose lightsabers he then wields in the film. While Jmmaar's Viraanntesse origin is from the same novel, the origins of Nystammall and Puroth as Vuvrian and Eirrauc, respectively, are new. Vuvrians were introduced in A New Hope, though their race was first identified in Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley (1993, West End Games). The Eirraucs' first and only appearance until now was in the short story, "Wanderer of Worlds" in Star Wars Galaxy Magazine #9 (1996, Topps).

B'ink Utrila is another character with an interesting background. Introduced as a nameless Twi'lek Jedi in Labyrinth of Evil (2005, Del Rey), Holocron Keeper Leland Chee suggested that it would make sense to combine the character with an art design of a Twi'lek instructor from the Power of the Jedi Sourcebook (2002, Wizards of the Coast). Her name was also contributed by Chee.

Pablo-Jill, affectionately known as "upside-down head," is the Ongree Jedi seen in the Battle of Geonosis in Attack of the Clones. The circu mstances of his death are revealed for the first time here, interpolated from the climactic battle of Labyrinth of Evil (2005, Del Rey) where he is last seen. Taking the place of another nameless Jedi slaughtered by Grievous in that book is Roth-Del Masona, an even more obscure participant of the Battle of Geonosis. Described as the "adjutant to Mace Windu," this is a reference to actor Leonard Thomas' credited role as Samuel L. Jackson's "assistant" for the prequels.

B'dard Tone is killed in General Grievous #4 (2005, Dark Horse Comics), and his Coway ancestry is from The New Essential Chronology (2005, Del Rey). The manner in which Grievous inflicted Tone's injuries is new. Though he is named here for the first time, Tone's apprentice Zephata'ru'tor is mentioned in passing as a Grievous casualty in General Grievous #1 (2005, Dark Horse Comics). All other information about the Star Dragon is new, though his name is borrowed from a list of several appellations deemed "common" for individuals of the Duinuogwuin race in Geonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds (2004, Wizards of the Coast).

Quarmall has already been referred to as one of Grievous' kills, though he is here established as both a Jedi Master and controversial for his decision to take an entire youngling clan as his Padawans.

Grievous killed 27 Jedi Knights at the Battle of Belderone in Labyrinth of Evil (2005, Del Rey), all of them anonymous. The Jedi Knight specified here, Flint Torul, refers to the heretofore unknown father of the Force-sensitive character Flint from Marvel Comics' Star Wars Annual #3, "The Apprentice," reprinted in A Long Time Ago... Vol. 5: Fool's Bounty (2003, Dark Horse Comics).

Coming Soon: Endnotes for The Story of General Grievous, Part 3: The Dreamt One! ~ Abel G. Peña


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