Welcome to T. Rob’s Star Wars Guide
A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, Fourth Edition
(based on the third edition book by Bill Slavicsek, with additions
and revisions by T. Rob Brown -- now includes
information from all 11 Star Wars motion pictures, newer books, comics, games,
and d20 sourcebooks)
V
- "Va deeza.": "Exit" in the Bocce
language. [GPB]
- Vader, Darth: The personification of the fear
and evil the Emperor used to rule the galaxy, in the end Vader showed that
the light side of the Force remained within him. Born Anakin Skywalker, a
spirited and talented slave child who exhibited great potential in the Force,
he became an expert pilot and was one of the heroes of the Clone Wars. But
he felt the methods taught by his mentor, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, were
too slow. He was impatient to unlock the powers he glimpsed in the Force,
seeking a quicker, less difficult path to the vast power he sensed all around
him. Following a vision that his wife, Padmé, would die, Anakin gave
in to Chancellor Palpatine's false promises and lies to teach him new dark
side powers that would save her. As a result, Anakin betrayed Jedi Master
Mace Windu, became Vader, and then killed Jedi children at the Jedi temple.
Palpatine had offered him the quicker and easier path -- the dark side. All
Anakin had to do was give in to his anger, fear, and aggression. Ambitious
and headstrong, he stepped into the dark side's embrace and became a servant
of evil. When Kenobi saw a recording of Anakin/Vader slaughter the Jedi children,
he sought his former friend and padawan, hoping to draw Anakin back from the
dark side. The two fought on the volcanic planet of Mustafar, which resulted
in Vader losing his limbs to Obi-Wan who had gained high ground. After Obi-Wan
left, thinking Vader dead, Darth Sidious/Palpatine arrived with special Sith
alchemy and medicines to heal Vader as best as he could -- the result was
more machine than man. Vader now had to rely on life-supporting armor and
periodic stints in a hyperbaric medical chamber. When Kenobi learned Vader
survived, he and Jedi Master Yoda oversaw the birth of the twins Luke Skywalker
and Leia Organa while they remained hidden with assistance from Senator Bail
Organa of Alderaan. Padmé died during childbirth. Kenobi hid Luke on
Tatooine with his uncle Owen Lars and aunt Beru Lars. Organa and his wife
took Leia to be their own child on Alderaan. As a new Dark Lord of the Sith,
Vader helped the self-proclaimed Emperor Palpatine hunt down and exterminate
the remaining Jedi Knights during the last days of the Republic. Later, he
was sent to help Governor Tarkin oversee the original Death Star battle station.
When the Rebellion stole the plans for the Death Star, Vader was sent to retrieve
them. Events conspired to bring Kenobi and Vader once more into battle, and
in this fateful lightsaber duel aboard the Death Star, Kenobi allowed himself
to be struck down. His corporeal body disappeared as he became one with the
Force. During the subsequent Rebel attack on the Death Star, Vader joined
the battle in his own TIE/Advanced prototype starfighter. He concentrated
his efforts on a lone X-wing from which Vader felt strong Force emanations.
An unexpected blast caught Vader's ship and sent it spinning into space, allowing
the pilot of the X-wing to target the battle station's weak spot and destroy
it. Vader survived the battle and a second encounter with the Force user on
Mimban, though he lost his right arm in the resulting lightsaber duel. He
soon discovered the Force user was the son he never knew he had. Both the
Emperor and Vader wanted to convert young Skywalker to the dark side, but
Vader had his own agenda. He wanted to rule the galaxy with Luke at his side.
Because of this development and because the Rebellion was proving to be more
dangerous than previously suspected, Vader was put in charge of the Imperial
fleet assigned to find and destroy the Alliance leaders. The next time father
and son met was Cloud City, after Imperial probe droids and bounty hunters
tracked down Princess Leia and Han Solo. Luke's friends were used as bait,
and during a furious lightsaber battle Vader revealed his true identity to
the young Jedi. "I am your father," Vader said. Luke rejected Vader's
claims and offers, losing his right hand to his father's lightsaber and barely
escaping from Cloud City with his life. Over the next few months, Vader oversaw
a galaxywide effort to locate the elusive Luke Skywalker and his Rebel associates.
Vader's plans to turn young Skywalker to the dark side were jeopardized by
a new threat -- Prince Xizor, head of the Black Sun criminal organization.
Xizor attempted to usurp Vader's position with the Emperor and assassinate
Luke. He failed in both endeavors. The last meeting between father and son
occurred on the forest moon of Endor after Luke surrendered to Vader's troops.
This time the younger Skywalker did not arrive as a half-trained apprentice
Jedi, but as a full-fledged Jedi Knight. Luke's faith in his father's innate
goodness won the day, bringing Anakin out of the darkness of Darth Vader and
back into the light. Vader saved Luke and destroyed the Emperor, but at the
cost of his own life. Vader's final act -- as Anakin and not as the Dark Lord
of the Sith -- was to look upon Luke and tell him he was right: There was
still a spark of light trapped deep within the dark side, and Luke had helped
set it free. He is 2.03 meters tall. (Played by Hayden Christensen
(shortly after turning to the dark side in Revenge of the Sith), David Prowse (as Darth Vader), James
Earl Jones (as Vader's voice), and Sebastian Shaw (as the unmasked Vader in the original version of Return of the Jedi).)
Formerly the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, Vader is the impressive Dark Lord of the Sith who serves Emperor Palpatine. After Vader’s near-fatal duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar, Palpatine has his apprentice encased in black armor that provides constant life support. CHARACTERS CYBORGS IMPERIALS SITH HUMANS [AOTC, DSTC, ESB, RJ, ROTS, SME, SOTE, SW, SWSB, SWTPM]
- Vakil, Nrin: A Quarren, he was a member of Rogue
Squadron. [XW]
- Valarian, Lady: A Whiphid, she was a crimlord
on Tatooine who competed with Jabba the Hutt. After Jabba's death, she set
out to take over much of the Hutt's empire. [GG7, SWCG, TJP]
- Valiant:
This Alderaanian Thranta-class war cruiser was one of three ships
modified with robotic controls and slaved to accept commands from Another
Chance. The Valiant and its companions defended the armory ship
from pirates and smugglers. It came to the aid of Rogue Squadron when the
pilots were ambushed at the Graveyard of Alderaan. Later, it was refitted
and placed under the command of New Republic officer Aril Nunb. [BW]
- Valley of Royalty: Located on the planet Duro,
this valley is famous for its massive monuments to ancient rulers, including
Queen Rana. [MMY]
- vanguard trooper: See Rebel trooper, vanguard.
- vaporator: This device used on arid planets, such as
Tatooine, consists of 3-to-5-meter-tall refrigeration cylinders that condense
water vapor and store the resulting liquid in large underground tanks. The
water is kept for later consumption or sold for profit. [ISWU, SW]
- varactyl: When on Utapau, Obi-Wan Kenobi rides a varactyl mount called Boga. Useful on Utapau’s treacherous terrain, varactyls are excellent climbers. Boga is well trained and very responsive to the Jedi’s commands. CREATURES UTAPAU [RotS]
- Varn: The chief scout for Tyrann, the Supreme
Master of the Serpent Masters. [CSW]
- "Varockee.": "Meteor" in the Bocce
language. [GPB]
- Veers, General Maximilian: Commander of the
Imperial ground troops assigned to Lord Darth Vader's special armada during
the Galactic Civil War. He was ordered by Vader to personally lead his troops
into battle on the planet Hoth. His force consisted of AT-AT walkers and waves
of Imperial snowtroopers. He was later betrayed by his son, Zev, who joined
the Alliance. [ESB, GG3, SWSB]
- Veers, Zev: Son of the Imperial general who
commanded the ground assault against the Rebel base on Hoth. He disowned his
father and went against his wishes when he joined the Alliance. During the
Battle of Calamari, Zev was the chief gunner aboard the New Republic Star
Destroyer Emancipator. [DE]
- Vek: A handpicked survivor of the dark-side
Kueller's pogroms on Almania, he was a young man who served the dark-sider
as best he could. Even so, Kueller could never remember why he spared the
boy's life in the first place. [NR]
- Vekker: A Quarren, he was a Vigo in the Black
Sun criminal organization. He controlled a small empire of casinos and entertainment-based
industries. Some of these were legal establishments, but many served as fronts
for illegal Black Sun ventures. [SESB, SOTE]
- Ven, Nawara: A Twi'lek, he was a member of Rogue
Squadron. [BW, KT, RS, WG]
- Venator-class Star Destroyer:
See Republic Attack Cruiser and Imperial Attack Cruiser.
- Ventress, Asajj: She was a desciple of the dark side
of the Force and a follower of Count Dooku, also known as Darth Tyranus. Full
of anger and bitterness, she was skilleld in lightsaber combat and a sworn
enemy of the Jedi. She preferred dueling-style lightsabers and normally dual-wielded
them. Asajj Ventress is a disciple of the dark side of the Force and a follower
of Count Dooku. Full of anger and bitterness, she is skilled in lightsaber
combat and a sworn enemy of the Jedi. Her powerful ability with the Force
makes her a formidable enemy. [CW1, CW2]
- Verdanth: A jungle planet where R2-D2 and C-3P0
were stranded after they were sent to investigate an Imperial messenger drone
prior to the Battle of Hoth. [CSW]
- Vergere: A Jedi Knight during the time of Palpatine's
chancellorship, Vergere was a member of the rare, nearly-extinct Fosh species.
Sent by Jedi Master Mace Windu to investigate the mysterious planet Zonama
Sekot, she disappeared and was presumed lost, then reappeared 54 years later
during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. [CHR, HT, RP]
- Verpine: An advanced species of humanoid insectoids.
Verpine possess thin, sticklike bodies with awkwardly-articulated joints and
chitinous shells. The Verpine live in the Roche asteroid field, using great
repulsor shells to keep inhabited asteroids from crashing into each other
and to deflect other bits of space debris. They hollowed out the asteroids
for use as colonies, sealing them against space and filling them with technological
wonders. They have innate expertise in most fields of technology, and their
childlike fascination with machinery serves them well. The Verpine are expert
starship builders. The Slayn & Korpil Corporation, named for two neighboring
Verpine colonies, has been well known and respected since the days of the
Republic. The Verpine helped Admiral Ackbar design and build the B-wing starfighter.
[BW, CPL, DFRSB, GG4, SFS]
- Ver Seryan, Karia: A life-bearer on Leria Kerlsil,
she was about 300 years old when Lando Calrissian investigated her as a possible
marriage candidate. [AC]
- vibro-ax: A handheld melee weapon with a broad blade.
An ultrasonic generator located in the ax handle produces the vibrations that
allow the blade to cut with only the slightest touch. [HSR, SWSB]
- vibroblade: This ultrasonic-vibration weapon is a powered
knife or dagger with a reverberating blade edge that produces great cutting
power with only the slightest touch. [HSE, HSR, SWSB]
- Victory-class Star
Destroyer: The earliest version of the Imperial Star Destroyer, this
smaller vessel measures 900 meters long. It was designed by Republic engineer
Walex Blissex near the end of the Clone Wars. As the Imperial-class
vessels came to prominence, more and more Victory-class vessels were
relegated to planetary defense roles. A number were decommisioned and sold
to planetary defense forces, including the Corporate Sector Authority. [HSR,
ISB, SWSB, SWVG]
- Vidkun, Benedict: A henpecked engineer with
a swallow complexion and emaciated form. He agreed to help Luke Skywalker
and company rescue Princess Leia Organa from her prison in Prince Xizor's
palace. Vidkun not only provided maps of the sewer conduits beneath the palace,
he also led Luke, Lando Calrissian, Dash Rendar, and Chewbacca through the
labyrinthine passages. In the end, Vidkum revealed his true nature and shot
Dash in the hip with his blaster. Unfortunately for the traitor, Dash returned
fire with a direct hit from his own blaster pistol. [SESB, SOTE]
- Vigo: The title granted to Prince Xizor's most
powerful lieutenants. Each was entrusted with a portion of the Black Sun crime
syndicate. They controlled all activities within their sphere of influence
and reported back to Xizor on a regular basis. [SESB, SOTE]
- Vilas: A male from Dathomir, he was the Force-sensitive
companion and apprentice of Nightsister Vonnda Ra. She wanted him to lead
a new order of Dark Jedi, but his competition for that spot was Zekk. The
two battled in the Shadow Academy space station, where Zekk sliced Vilas in
half with his lightsaber. [YJK]
- Vima-Da-Boda: A powerful Jedi, she was directly
related to Vima Sunrider, daughter of Nomi Sunrider. Vima-Da-Boda lost her
powers after giving free reign to her anger and hatred, then finally succumbed
to despair after her daughter's death. Her retreat from the world saved her
from the Jedi Purge. She was imprisoned in the spice mines of Kessel for a
time, where she provided elementary training to Kyp Durron. She eventually
found a hiding place on the streets of Nar Shaddaa, where the old woman lived
as a beggar. Six years after the Battle of Endor, the 200-year-old Vima met
Princess Leia Organa Solo and gave her a gift -- her ancient lightsaber. Months
later, she took a post in Luke Skywalker's Jedi academy and helped him train
new Jedi. [DE, DE2, JS]
- Vinda: Co-owner, with D'rag, of Starshipwrights
and Aerospace Engineers Incorporated, he was once owed credits for the work
his company performed on Han Solo's Millennium Falcon. [HSR]
- Virago: Prince Xizor's personal
transport and assault ship. It was the first of the extremely-fast StarViper-class
assault fighters. [SOTE, SWVG]
- Virgilio, Captain: New Republic officer in command
of the escort frigate Quenfis, one of the ships in Admiral Hiram
Drayson's Home Guard Fleet assigned to protect Coruscant. Virgilio had long
been a supporter of the Bothans, for he was among the crew of the Alliance
ship that helped the Bothan spies return with the plans for the second Death
Star battle station. At the time, Virgilio was a young third officer on a
Corellian gunship. The ship picked up a distress call whose code identified
its senders as members of a large team of Bothan intelligence agents operating
in the outer regions. Of that team, only six survived -- but they carried
with them the plans and secret location of the second Death Star. They also
intercepted the Emperor's private schedule, indicating when he would be visiting
the site. [DFR, DFRSB]
- "Vitex fo gobaj ka zu zux.": "I will
get back to you on that one" in the Bocce language. [GPB]
- "Vitteez!": "Emergency!" in the
Bocce language. [GPB]
- Vjun: The planet where Darth Vader built his
remote private refuge, Bast Castle. It was later the headquarters of dark-side
executor Sedriss and the Emperor's elite force of Dark Jedi. [DE2,
EE]
- Vlee, Ussar: One of the three famous Gand ruetsavii
who were sent to observe Ooryl Qrygg's life and determine his worthiness to
become janquine. [BW]
- vocabulator: A device that allows a droid to produce
sounds. It is usually visible as a grille or orifice. Protocol droids used
the most sophisticated vocabulators. [SWN, SWSB]
- voice manipulation: One of the most-frequently used
manifestations of the Force by Jedi Knights, it allows a Jedi to verbally
implant suggestions into the minds of others and cause the appropriate responses.
The Jedi employ voice manipulation to peacefully achieve their objectives.
[RJN, SWN]
- Voice Override: Epsilon Actual: A verbal command
that immediate supersedes a droid's primary programming. This override function
is activated by a verbal code, usually delivered in the form of a word or
phrase. [SWR]
- Vontor, Third Battle of: The last in a series
of major conflicts directed against the Republic tyrant known as Xim the Despot.
In this battle, the forces that opposed his rule finally defeated him. [HLL]
- Vorn, Liegeus Sarpaetius: Seti Ashgad's pilot,
he was a master holo-forger and a competent designer of artificial intelligence
systems for spacecraft. He was a captive of the droch Dzym, who wanted the
pilot to transport him safely off Nam Chorios. Later, Vorn was reunited with
his lost love, Admiral Daala. [POT]
- vornskr: A violent, long-legged quadruped with a doglike
muzzle, sharp teeth, and a whiplike tail. It lives on the planet Myrkr. During
the day, vornskrs are sedate and inactive. At night, they are nocturnal hunters.
The vornskr's tail is covered with a mild poison that inflicts painful welts
and has the capability to stun prey. Vornskrs display an unnatural hatred
of Jedi, often going out of their way to hunt and attack Force users. Talon
Karrde has two domestic vornskrs, his pets Sturm and Drang. These guard animals
had their tails clipped to reduce their normally-aggressive nature. [HE,
HESB]
- Vorru, Fliry: The onetime administrator of the
Corellian sector for the Republic, he always turned a blind eye to the smuggling
activities all around him. He was sent to the Kessel spice mines by Palpatine
and was eventually freed by Rogue Squadron. He later joined up with Imperial
Intelligence Director Ysanne Isard and was named her minister of trade on
Thyferra. He was eventually left behind by Isard and captured by Rebel forces.
[BW, KT, WG]
- Vos, Quinlan: Vos awakens with no memory of
who or where he is, and immediately finds himself in peril, in the midst of
a fierce blaze and attacked by bounty hunters. He is saved by Vilmarh Grahrk,
who helps him escape and explains that bets are being placed on Quinlan's
chances of survival. Villie reveals he has a personal stake in the outcome,
but changes his outlook when he sees Quinlan's Jedi skills in action. [DHSWC]
- Vri'syk, Peshk: A Bothan, he was a member of
Rogue Squadron. He was killed during the raid on Borleias. [RS]
- Vuffi Raa: This astrogation/pilot droid traveled
with Lando Calrissian for at least a year shortly after the young gambler
won the Millennium Falcon. The droid was technically Lando's property, as
the gambler had won him in a game of sabacc, but after a few adventures he
came to regard the droid as his friends. Vuffi Raa stood a meter tall, with
five multijointed tentacle limbs that he could move at various angles and
even prop himself up on to achieve more height. Vuffi was the shape of an
attenuated starfish with sinuous manipulators that served both as arms and
legs. These were connected to a dinner-plate-sized pentagonal torso with a
single, softly glowing deep red vision crystal. Vuffi's entire body was covered
in highly-polished chromium. In reality, Vuffi Raa was a "baby starship,"
a member of a sentient droid-ship species. [LCF, LCM, LCS, RD]
- V-wing airspeeder: An atmospheric attack craft
deployed from orbit into a planet's air space by huge speeder transports.
The New Republic used these airspeeder fighters during the Battle of Calamari.
Note: Though this may be the common thought pattern regarding
the V-wing airspeeder, there is indeed no "V" in the Aurebesh alphabet
used throughout the galaxy. [DE]
- V-wing starfighter: An interceptor/starfighter
created by Kuat Systems Engineering for the Galactic Republic. This 8-meter-long
ship was designed by Walex Blissex and had laser cannons. Perhaps the most
advanced snub fighter to emerge from the forge of the Clone Wars, the V-wing
starfighter is engineered to eke every last bit of performance out of ship
and pilot alike. Fast, nimble, and boasting computer-assisted navigation and
defense systems that allow clone pilots to nearly keep up with their Jedi
commanders, the V-wing proves to be more than a match for the automated ships
of the Trade Federation. After the collapse of the Republic, V-wing starfighters
were among the first ships deployed as part of the new Imperial Navy. Note:
Though this may be the common thought pattern regarding the V-wing starfighter,
there is indeed no "V" in the Aurebesh alphabet used throughout
the galaxy. [ROTS]
- V-wing starfighter, Imperial: After the fall of the
Republic and the emergence of the Galactic Empire, war planners determine
that a new start is needed. Slow, heavy starfighters are de-emphasized in
favor of more nimble and numerous single-seat strike craft. The V-wing, already
in limited production, is moved to the top of the priority list, and vast
numbers of this dangerous craft are produced in a short time. As the Empire
begins to consolidate its power in the wake of the Clone Wars, swarms of these
starfighters become a common sight in the skies over worlds reluctant to pay
homage to their new Emperor. The Imperial variants are still manufactured
by Kuat Systems Engineering. [ROTS]
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