Who is Exar Kun? The Rise and Fall of a Dark Lord

Exar Kun was one of the most important Sith Lords in the Star Wars galaxy. It first appeared in the Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi comics. Then, it was further developed in the Star Wars: The Jedi Academy Trilogy novels by Kevin J. Anderson. He was a character from Legends, thousands of years before the Skywalker saga. He also played an important role in The Jedi Academy Trilogy. 

This blog explores his life, beginning as a Jedi with an uncontrollable thirst for power that led him to fall into darkness. 

Early Life and Jedi Training

Exar Kun was born on a Core World several thousand years before the rise of the Galactic Empire. He was Force-sensitive, which led him to the Jedi Temple for training. Jedi Master Vodo-Siosk Baas, a well-respected historian and teacher, taught him about the Force. Exar Kun was always ambitious, arrogant, and fiercely competitive among his fellow younglings. He wielded a blue lightsaber and became proficient at Form V: Djem So. This form was known for its strong counterattacks and aggressive strikes. Exar Kun was also skilled in Jar’Kai, the dual-wielding technique. 

Questions About Jedi Restrictions

Exar Kun had great potential in the Force. However, he questioned the Jedi rules about studying dark knowledge. He wanted more power. He believed the Jedi Masters didn’t want him to discover the true power hidden in the secrets of ancient Sith Lords. Master Baas warned him about the pull of the dark side. However, Exar Kun didn't listen to any warnings. He thought he could understand darkness without being consumed by it. 

The Fall to the Dark Side 

Exar Kun defied the Jedi rules and started his journey towards seeking forbidden knowledge. It took him to Onderon, a world once ruled by Sith Lord Freedon Nadd. There, he saw Nadd’s spirit, who tried to corrupt him. However, Exar was strong enough to resist him. Nadd remained patient and used his dark side energy to crush his body, leaving him near death. 

To stay alive, Exar chooses the dark side of the Force. He healed himself using the dark Force, and this was the beginning of his fall. After that, Kun freed himself from all Jedi connections and followed Nadd’s path to Korriban, the ancient world of the Sith Lords. Upon reaching there, he went through several trials that made him more powerful. 

Exar Kun vs. Freedon Nadd & Massassi Warriors 

Exar Kun soon realized that Nadd was using him as a tool for resurrection. He rejected this idea of being a mere pawn and destroyed Nadd’s spirit. This moment proved that Kun was more than an apprentice; he cemented his place as a Sith Lord. After this, he went to Yavin 4, where he was attacked by the Massassi warriors, the remnants of the Sith species. He fought with them, resulting in the massacre of many warriors. He used his lightsaber combat and dark side techniques to outnumber them. Following this, he used dark rituals to enhance his power and enslave the remaining warriors. 

The Great Sith War Begins

Exar Kun was no more just a fallen Jedi, but he became a true Sith warlord. After initial tasks, he encountered a fallen Jedi, Ulic Qel-Droma. Ulic was under the influence of the Krath cult and led a war against the Republic. The two dark-side warriors faced each other with a determination to prove who was the true Sith leader. 

However, before it was decided, the spirit of a long-dead Sith Lord appeared to them. It was the spirit of Marka Ragnos who declared it was useless to fight each other; instead, they must work together. The spirit made Kun, the Dark Lord of the Sith, and Ulic, the warlord and the enforcer. 

Chaos in the Jedi Order 

After turning into the Dark Lord, Exar Kun aimed to destroy the Jedi and get complete control of the galaxy. To create a new Sith Empire, his first significant act was using the Sith sorcery to corrupt Jedi Knights. He inspired the Jedi apprentices to rebel against their Jedi masters. The plan worked, and many apprentices killed their Jedi masters. It created a turmoil in the Jedi Order. Not just this, but at the same time, Ulic Qel-Droma commanded Sith troops in a declared war against the Republic. He initiated destructive conflicts in various star systems.

Seeking Dark Secrets 

Another crucial moment of the war occurred at the Battle of Ossus. In this mission, the holy library world of the Jedi was being assaulted. Exar Kun launched an attack on the Great Jedi Library. He murdered Master Odan-Urr and took ancient Sith holocrons. Before his withdrawal, he gathered as much information and armament as possible, enhancing his strength even more.

The Betrayal and Fall of Exar Kun

Although Exar Kun won many of the missions of the Great Sith War, there came a downfall when Ulic Qel-Droma was captured by the Republic. Jedi Master Nomi Sunrider took away his connection to the darkness and his powers. Ulic was then broken and ultimately betrayed the Sith Lord, Exar Kun. Ulic revealed his location on Yavin 4, and the entire Jedi Order and Republic fleet then launched an all-out assault there. 

Exar Kun knew he could not win that fight, so he tried a very risky Sith ritual to become immortal. He sacrificed his Massassi warriors, draining their life energy to transfer his spirit into his temple. He hoped to survive and return one day. His body was destroyed, but his choice to not accept the death led to his essence staying trapped in the temples of Yavin 4. 

The Signature Weapon of Exar Kun 

Exar Kun wielded a blue lightsaber during his time in the Jedi Order. However, after he fell to darkness, he did not replace his saber but modified it. In the initial missions, he used the same blue blade. However, later he modified his blue blade into a double-bladed lightsaber, making it his signature weapon. It was blue and white. Kun never wielded a red lightsaber even after he became a Sith Lord. He was the first one to use such an iconic and different lightsaber from a traditional red color, setting him apart from other dark side users.  

The Enduring Legacy 

Even after the death of Exar Kun, his essence remained in the ruins of Yavin 4 for thousands of years. When Luke Skywalker began his New Jedi Order, Kun's spirit woke up. It aimed to corrupt Luke’s followers. He also succeeded in turning some Jedi against one another. However, in the end, he was defeated and banished from the galaxy for good.

Even after his ultimate defeat, the legacy of Exar Kun persisted. He was the first Sith Lord of this age. He brought the Sith back to life after centuries of inactivity. The Great Sith War weakened the Jedi Order and paved the way for future Sith uprisings. His wisdom and teachings also influenced Darth Bane, Darth Plagueis, and Emperor Palpatine.

Even though his spirit was broken, his story shows that true Sith strength never really goes away.