One of the greatest aspects of Bioware's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was its cast of colorful and intriguing characters. After exploring the planets available in the game, players would find the Ebon Hawk filled with a crew comprised of the galaxy's greatest Jedi, mercenaries and droids and Republic soldiers, joining forces to defeat the Sith and their leader, Darth Malak.
With Aspyr and Lucasfilm Games' Knights of the Old Republic remake on the way, it is the perfect time to take a look back at the classic video game and at all those familiar faces-- who they are, where they came from and how they helped save the galaxy.
During the opening sequence, it's Carth that leads you through the Endar Spire to the escape pods. It's also Carth that saves the player's life and drags them to safety after their pod crash lands on Taris. He was a Republic pilot -- one of the best -- and one shaped by betrayal at the hands of his former mentor, Admiral Saul Karath.
Carth Onasi lost his wife and, for a while, his son. He did not discuss it often and remained a soldier first and foremost. He initially kept to himself, unable and unwilling to trust those around him, even himself. However, once earned, his loyalty never wavered.
Without Mission, the Twi'lek street urchin from the Lower City of Taris, there is little doubt that Carth, Bastila and the player would have ever made it off of Taris alive. She grew up as an orphan and was essentially abandoned by her brother, Griff, on Taris. For a long time after, she only had her best friend Zaalbar to count on.
She may have been youthful, but she was a clever companion with considerable security and tech skills. Despite all of the hardships she endured, Mission maintained a sunny disposition, always tried to see the best in people and always fought for what she believed was right.
This Wookie ended up on Taris trying to flee an ugly past on Kashyyyk. He was the son of Wookiee Chieftain Freyyr, exiled after attacking his brother Chuundar with his climbing claws-- a grave act of violence on Kashyyyk. He was labeled a madclaw and cast out.
He found family on Taris, first with Mission, then the crew of the Ebon Hawk. After the player saves him from Gamorrean slavers in the Undercity, he swears a life debt. Zaalbar evidently had a low opinion of himself, but to others, he was clearly a Wookie of principle and honor.
What Star Wars crew could ever be complete without a faithful utility droid? The player, Carth and Bastila sought T3-M4 to break into the Sith military base on Taris. He was built by Janice Nall for the crime lord Davik Kang. After the destruction of Taris, T3 remained with the player and the Ebon Hawk.
As part of the Ebon Hawk crew, T3 performed useful tasks such as creating security spikes for the crew to use. In battle, the droid could also utilize weapons such as blasters and bombs, as well as protect itself using a variety of shields. He remained with the Ebon Hawk after everyone left, in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords.
This young Jedi was famous for her role as part of the strike team that defeated Darth Revan. She was also renowned for her unique ability: battle meditation, which aided the Republic forces greatly. It was for this reason that Darth Malak and the Sith wished for her capture and annihilation.
Bastila Shan was undoubtedly a great Jedi, but she was headstrong and occasionally over-confident. However, she did her best to adhere to the Jedi code and become a better, more compassionate Jedi than the masters, who she felt were self-absorbed and dull.
Players met Canderous Ordo during his career as a Mandalorian mercenary working for Davik Kang on Taris. Searching for a challenge and greater battles than gunfights against petty thugs, Canderous opted to remain with the Ebon Hawk after escaping Taris, throwing himself into a war that would determine the fate of the galaxy.
Ordo lived by the ideals of the Mandalorian and sought honor through battle. He bore no hatred toward foes such as Revan and Malak since they offered a great battle. At least, that's what he wanted others to believe, especially when regaling them with his war stories. The truth he eventually had to face was that, as much as he craved a grand war, he did not believe in the Mandalorian way anymore.
Players met Juhani on Dantooine, where she risked falling to the dark side of the Force. It was understandable. Her past was a difficult one. Her family fled from Cathar to Taris during the Mandalorian Wars. Non-humans were treated appallingly there, to begin with, but to make matters worse, Juhani lost her mother and father and was sold into slavery to pay off their debts.
She was freed by none other than the Jedi Revan and made her way to the Jedi enclave on Dantooine soon after. Little did the Cathar warrior know that Revan's part in her story had only just begun.
HK-47 was an assassin droid built by Darth Revan. Because of it, he possessed something of a dark edge. While on a mission, HK-47 was badly damaged and, due to assassin droid protocol, had his memory temporarily wiped. He was handed from owner to owner until, years later, he ended up in a droid shop on Tatooine, where players encountered him.
HK-47 often showed complete disregard for the well-being of others (or meatbags, as he'd call them), with the exception of his masters and companions. He was programmed to appear somewhat sociopathic but maintained professionalism despite it all.
Deep in the Shadowlands of Kashyyyk, players found an old man trained in the Jedi arts, dwelling in solitude, protecting the region. The Wookies saw him as a protective spirit. In reality, he was a former Jedi who was active during the war with Exar Kun, during which time he lost his wife, a Jedi by the name of Nayama. Traumatized by the experience and disillusioned with the Jedi Order's wisdom, he went into exile.
He was a cynical old man who often walked the line between the dark side and the light, always ready to point out the flaws in both sides for the player. He was also never one to speak directly. Rather, he preferred to offer metaphors and allegories, allowing others to interpret them as they would.
In one of the greatest twists in video gaming history, Darth Malak reveals that the player is actually his old mentor and fellow Jedi, Darth Revan-- whose identity was erased and reshaped by the Jedi Council in order to avoid killing him. The Jedi Council turned Revan into a Republic soldier and stationed the former Jedi on the Endar Spire.
Eventually, Revan's connection to the Force returned, as did a number of memories. It worried Revan's allies: mostly those who knew the truth and who believed Revan might become the Dark Lord of the Sith once more. Whether or not their fears manifested was completely up to the player.
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