I was hoping for some nemesis in the vein of the Elder God from the Legacy of Kain series and it seems I’m getting it (or something like it), right down to the tentacles! 😄
The revelations concerning Abeloth are truly unsettling:
-She is a creature of mysterious origin that possesses great influence over plant life and the Mind Walkers/Mind Drinkers encountered by Luke, who seem to worship her. More disturbing is her ability to practically assume command and great influence over the Lost Tribe; these are Sith: battle hardened, ruthless, and the last people in the galaxy to take orders from a stranger. Not to mention her domination of Ship.
-She is able to assume the form so appealing that Vestara concludes that she was probably the prettiest face [Vestara] had ever seen.
-She is either omnipresent or capable of projection, being simultaneously present for Luke Skywalker’s journey into the Lake of Apparitions as well as the Lost Tribe’s hunt for the Skywalkers, which she engineers.
-The ethereal form of Mara Jade warns Luke specifically against pursuing information on Abeloth, which suggests that she is a creature of pure menace.
-She is obviously enormously powerful; telekinetically overpowering Rhea, Ahri, and Vestara—not to mention the fact that she was clearly the one who subdued Xal. The Mind Walkers refer to her as a manifestation of power, and Ship—an entity designed to serve the Sith—obeys Abeloth and refers to her as “almighty.”
-Her influence has been in the background of the series for some time. She is clearly the source or a representation of the source of the Jedi madness, which is essentially a psychological call for Force users to return to the Maw. Not to mention the fact that she is the presence that Ben felt as a child during the Yuuzhan Vong War that caused him to withdraw from the Force.
-Ben concludes that the destruction of Centerpoint Station during the Second Galactic Civil War is what allowed the “presence” (which he does not yet know is Abeloth) to be released, able to reach out from wherever it is that it came from.
I have two theories.
Theory #1: There is an inevitable Palpatine connection. While he was alive, the man was responsible for everything. After his death? He’s still got fingers in people’s pies. The whole post-Endor battle with the Imperials was due to his death and machinations; Thrawn’s assassination was on his order; he was aware of the Yuuzhan Vong even prior to the Outbound Flight incident, which preceded the Clone Wars; Raynar Thul would claim that it was Palpatine’s ordered assassination of accountant Daxar Ies at Mara Jade’s hands that ultimately caused the creation of Dark Nest; it was Palpatine’s agent Lumiya who turned Caedus to the dark side because of the oath she “swore to the Emperor”; it was Palpatine’s agent Vergere that also prepared Caedus for the dark side, as well as Krayt; it was Krayt’s desire to revenge himself upon the Emperor for Order Sixty-six that drove him to the dark side.
Let’s face it, this series would suffer a stroke if they did something that didn’t, in some way, connect to the Emperor. And Abeloth’s presence in the Maw, which was an infamous Imperial testing bed, is simply far too juicy to pass up. Not to mention the presence of Daala in this series; it would be a dramatic irony far too great for a writer to overlook. My theory is that Palpatine was aware that there was something in the Maw that required attention, which is why he ordered Tarkin to put an experimental weapons facility there. It makes perfect sense: weapons unprecedented in magnitude and energy being placed in a position to attack anything that should come out of the Maw; not to mention that Daala commanded a fleet there.
The precedent was established with Thrawn. Palpatine and Thrawn were both aware of the Yuuzhan Vong’s presence and orchestrated events where Thrawn was kicked out to the Unknown Regions, ostensibly for “mapping,” when the reality was that he was put in a position to defend the galaxy against the Vong should they make their inevitable attempt at conquest. Thus Thrawn’s mini-Empire of the Hand and his return to defeat the Rebellion; he wanted the galaxy united against the Vong.
Theory #2: Abeloth is either a former Celestial or an enemy of the Celestials imprisoned at specific points (the Maw, Centerpoint, ect.) My theory is that Centerpoint was designed to create the Corellia system as a means of holding Abeloth back through sheer gravitational energy, as with the Maw’s black holes. Destroying Centerpoint disrupted the system enough to allow Abeloth to seep through.
REXXXX
Gideon, you have seceded in convincing me not only to pick up this new series of books, but possibly others as well... how the hell did you do that?
Thank you.
Here's a spoiler especially for you, REXXY!
Spoiler:
Because I'm that damn sexy.
😐
Elite Hunter
Did you get the feeling that they were rushing things in order for it to fit in with the legacy series?
Eh?
I admit gideon, you made it sound much worse for luke yesterday.
I hope to get the book later tonight, but given the circumstances of the fight? (two whole paragrapsh before your description of the fight) plus, its 2 on 1, instead of 1 on 1 like you made it sound yesterday) I am not so unhappy over it. Sounds like they purposely stacked the odds against luke before starting.
I got Abyss today, on chapter 4 or 5 and its a really goos book. Does kind of overdo the whole jedi psychosis thing though, going as far as to have Jags limo crushed, and a spy in the Temple, and Jaina learning about Mandalorians and Dalaa, read the book for it. Dont know how to do the spoiler thing, so I wont say.
Originally posted by Gideon
[B ]Eh? [/B]
So you didn't feel like they were trying to rush things so it fits with the legacy comics timeline, i heard complaints about that before. (for the series overall)
I'm curious if Jacen/Caedus still feels that his actions were just, does that mean he is "damned" in the netherworld of the force. Or is his ghost sort of "in the middle" in terms of "alignment" but is still under the Caedus persona. (hope i explained that right)
On a side note it is nice that the major villain is not a sith for once. I wouldn't be surprised if Luke has to sacrifice himself (or dies in battle with) to kill this thing. Based on the little we know of it, I think he may easily rival DE Sidious in power, or maybe even be stronger though so far I don't think it can be defeated by conventional means. I'm sure we will hear thoughts from it on Palpatine and now it makes sense that they was never (to my knowledge) an inquisitor or Vader at the maw for an extended period time.
The fact that Legacy takes place starting in 127 ABY is plain incompetence on the part of the writers. It means that it either the FOTJ authors have to speed up ALL of the Skywalker/Solo deaths, or that Legacy is N-Canon. Both ideas are stupid.
This Abeloth character finally gives what I think is a legitimate reason for Luke ultimately dying. A Godlike presence Luke has to sacrifice himself to defeat.
I got to disagree with Rex and Ms. Marvel, I think (based upon what we know and the possible speculations) that this Abeloth is a breath of fresh air in the eu.(imo) Unless you would rather see another alien invasion, galactic civil war,mandalorian uprising or another sith conflict (as the main villian which they dont appear to be)
Originally posted by Dr McBeefingtonWhat is that godlike presence?
The fact that Legacy takes place starting in 127 ABY is plain incompetence on the part of the writers. It means that it either the FOTJ authors have to speed up ALL of the Skywalker/Solo deaths, or that Legacy is N-Canon. Both ideas are stupid.This Abeloth character finally gives what I think is a legitimate reason for Luke ultimately dying. A Godlike presence Luke has to sacrifice himself to defeat.
Are we looking at something possibly more powerful than luke and sidious?
Originally posted by Dr McBeefington
The fact that Legacy takes place starting in 127 ABY is plain incompetence on the part of the writers. It means that it either the FOTJ authors have to speed up ALL of the Skywalker/Solo deaths, or that Legacy is N-Canon. Both ideas are stupid.
Like how they had to make Revenge Of The Sith connected to A New Hope and rushed Anakin's conversion to the Dark Side. Kill of all the Jedi we don't hear about in the OT and establish the Empire under stupid circumstances.
Originally posted by Wolverine2179
What is that godlike presence?Are we looking at something possibly more powerful than luke and sidious?
Something that is possibly VASTLY more powerful than either of them. This being has the ability to be in more than 1 place at 1 time. She manipulates 15 sith while at the same time creating force psychosis for the various Jedi on Coruscant. IF she is a Celestial, it would explain how powerful those beings were millions of years ago. Either way it appears that her powers are limitless.
And I agree with EH. Aside from the retarded PIS/CIS in Luke's fights and the Lost Tribe of the Sith being used as cheap and pathetic filler, the storyline with the mind walkers and Abeloth is among the most interested i've ever encountered in regards to Star Wars.
Originally posted by Gideon
Theory #2: Abeloth is either a former Celestial or an enemy of the Celestials imprisoned at specific points (the Maw, Centerpoint, ect.) My theory is that Centerpoint was designed to create the Corellia system as a means of holding Abeloth back through sheer gravitational energy, as with the Maw’s black holes. Destroying Centerpoint disrupted the system enough to allow Abeloth to seep through.
So there are ancient celestial entities in SW. Honestly I'm surprised it took them this long to add these type of a character into SW, although I'm not sure it makes sense for Luke's last hoorah to be against some shadow being.
His father's death was both poignant and epic. Luke deserves a better send out, at least one that approaches that kind of drama, I'm not too sure this cosmic will give that.
Originally posted by Slash_KMC
Like how they had to make Revenge Of The Sith connected to A New Hope and rushed Anakin's conversion to the Dark Side. Kill of all the Jedi we don't hear about in the OT and establish the Empire under stupid circumstances.
People always talk about acting and "not enough action" etc etc as the major weaknesses of the prequel films. But this was it's weakest point.
The senates easy acceptance of the Empire was as far fetched as anything we've seen in SW. 100's of 1000's of personalities representing millions of cultures and interest groups and they all agree to an Empire on the word of one man?
Even if the Jedi attacked Palpatine, how does that support the dissolving of the Republic.