Who is Savage Opress? The Tragic Warrior of the Dark Side

Savage Opress was a Dathomirian Zabrak warrior. The leader of his tribe, Mother Talzin, and Asajj Ventress wanted to use him as a tool against Count Dooku. However, the plan did not go as they had decided Savage Opress did not follow them and became a pawn of Count Dooku.

This blog explores the life of Savage Opress, his origins, the time of slavery, and his ultimate ending at the hands of Darth Sidious. 

 

Origins on Dathomir

Savage belonged to the planet named Dathomir. It was a dark, mystical planet led by Force-sensitive witches and Nightsisters. Mother Talzin was the leader, and Savage was a Nightbrother. Like other Zabrak males, he was a strong warrior and servant of the Nightsisters. He was the brother of Darth Maul, but he never knew this because Darth Sidious took Maul as a child.

The Dark Transformation

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During the Clone Wars, Mother Talzin and Asajj Ventress decided to take revenge on Count Dooku for betraying them. To execute this plan, they went to Nightbrothers and selected Savage as their tool. They used dark magic to increase his strength, aggression, and size to become a monstrous warrior against Dooku. However, when Ventress forced him to kill Feral to cut his last emotional connection, he became a mindless weapon.

Training Under Count Dooku

Mother Talzin introduced Savage to Count Dooku as his new Sith apprentice. Dooku was impressed by Savage's raw strength. He trained him in the dark side of the Force and taught him to wield a double-bladed red lightsaber. Afterward, Dooku sent Savage on a mission. He was ordered to capture King Katuunko of Toydaria. However, when Savage confronted the king, he killed him instead of capturing him alive. This act revealed his uncontrollable aggression and hatred.

Dooku recognized Savage's potential but saw his darkness as a flaw. He aimed to shape Savage into the ideal Sith warrior. Soon, Ventress revealed her true intent. She activated Savage's hidden programming, forcing him to betray Dooku. This led to a fierce duel between Dooku, Ventress, and Savage. Dooku's Sith lightning struck Savage down, but he fought back and fled, abandoning both his masters.

Finding Darth Maul on Lotho Minor

Angry and lost, Savage went back to Dathomir for Mother Talzin's help. She mentioned his long-lost brother, Darth Maul, and sent him on a new mission: to find him. Savage, in search of Darth Maul, traveled to a planet, Lotho Minor, filled with scavengers. Soon, he found Maul, who had been defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Duel of the Fates. 

Maul was driven insane after his defeat. Savage rescued him and took him to Dathomir. Mother Talzin restored Maul’s mind and gave him new cybernetic legs. Maul became fully aware and declared war on the galaxy, which was no less than a war of terror alongside Savage. 

The Brothers’ Path of Destruction

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Savage and Maul quickly earned a reputation as a feared duo. Their first big move was an ambush on a Jedi cruiser, luring Obi-Wan Kenobi into a trap. However, Jedi Master Adi Gallia joined him in battle. During the fight, Savage killed Gallia, stabbing her with his horns, which forced Kenobi to retreat. 

When Savage and Maul realized they needed more power, they started raids and looted planets. They gathered warriors from different places and allied with Pre Vizsla and the Mandalorian terrorist group Death Watch. These brothers aimed to take over Mandalore. 

Together, they overthrew Duchess Satine Kryze, bringing Mandalore under their control. Things changed when Pre Vizsla betrayed Maul. This betrayal led to a duel where Maul killed Vizsla. Maul became the new leader of the Mandalore. However, there were some Mandalorians, including Bo-Katan Kryze, who refused to follow Maul’s rule and rebelled.

Confrontation with Darth Sidious

Savage and Maul’s power did not go unnoticed, and soon, Darth Sidious became aware of their threat to the Rule of Two. Sidious himself traveled to Mandalore and confronted the brothers in the throne room. They all had a duel, but although Savage and Maul were extremely strong, they were not superior to Sidious’s power. Sidious easily outdueled both brothers, using his twin lightsabers and mastery of the dark side.

During the battle, Sidious fatally stabbed Savage in the chest, severing his connection to the dark side. As Savage died, his body shrunk back to its original form, and he told Maul, "I am not like you… I never was." These words showed that deep down, Savage never sought power—he had always been a tool of others. Sidious then tortured Maul with Sith lightning, keeping him alive for his purposes.

Legacy

Savage Opress left a significant impact on the Clone Wars. Though he was never a true Sith, he was a terrifying warrior whose raw power and brutality made him a deadly force. His death was a turning point for Maul, pushing him further into his war against the Sith. However, Savage's story was a tragedy. He was used by Ventress, Dooku, Talzin, and Maul. He never had control over his destiny.

Despite his brief rise, Savage’s name became legendary among the Jedi and the Sith alike. His actions shaped the fate of Mandalore and helped set the stage for Maul’s final downfall. Though he perished before the Republic's fall, Savage is a tragic figure in Star Wars. He was a warrior with no choice in his fate.