"Ovair's triumph over darkness was celebrated, and the Jedi Council assumed that all was well. The question no one asked was this: 'Why would Naga Sadow's spirit seek vengeance, specifically against Master Ovair?'"
"Possessed by the dark spirit of Naga Sadow, Gynt attacked his former master in broad daylight. The brutal battle between the two was staged with all of the Republic watching."
Their career together culminated with an ambitious mission in 3,756 BBY to explore the tomb of the Sith LordNaga Sadow on Yavin 4.[2] This was ostensibly to rid the temple of dark side energies for the good of the Order, but in truth Ovair was under orders to eliminate any remnant of Sadow's power, which the Sith Emperor viewed as a potential threat to his planned invasion. During the mission, Ovair and Gynt were attacked by Massassi warriors and were forced to go deep within the tomb. Ovair returned to Coruscantweeks later without his Padawan, incoherent and injured. After recovering from his ordeal, Ovair reported to the Galactic Senate that Gynt had been killed during the mission. However, Gynt was in fact still alive and had fallen under the influence of Naga Sadow's spirit.[1]
Eison Gynt and Barel Ovair battle Massassi warriors in the tomb of Naga Sadow on Yavin 4.
Gynt resurfaced on Coruscant several years after the failed mission to Yavin 4,[2] dressed in Massassi warrior robes and possessed by the spirit of Sadow. After finding his former Master, Gynt attacked him in full view of the public eye. While Gynt's borrowed dark side abilities were formidable, the undercover Sith defeated and killed Gynt. Ovair was interviewed by the Jedi High Council after the duel, but his triumph was praised and he came under no suspicion. Indeed, he was hailed as a hero by the Galactic Republic for his actions. Over a century later, Jedi historian Gnost-Dural questioned why the spirit of Sadow would have sought vengeance against Ovair specifically, and made the connection between Ovair and the Sith. He realized that Ovair and his Jedi ancestors were in fact spies working on behalf of the Sith Emperor. The historian deduced that Ovair had used Gynt to draw out Sadow's spirit to eliminate it prior to the invasion of the Republic.[1]
Ovair operated simultaneously as a Jedi scholar and as a Sith infiltrator for decades without detection by the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic. This role was one he inherited from his father and his grandfather. On behalf of the Sith Empire, and ostensibly the Jedi Order, he undertook many daunting missions, such as the one to Naga Sadow's tomb on Yavin 4. Ovair had fair skin with brown hair and eyes, although his eyes would turn orange-yellow when his corruption by the dark side of the Force was revealed.[1]
Ovair was able to conceal his true heritage from even the Jedi High Council.
"Ovair's mission on Yavin 4 was not for the Jedi—it was on behalf of his true master, the dark Emperor of the Sith. The Emperor knew the spirits of the ancient Sith Lords could be a threat to his power when he returned to the known galaxy a century later…"
When the spirit of Naga Sadow possessed Gynt, who had been considered the most promising Padawan in the Jedi Order at the time of his selection, Ovair was still able to overcome the formidable dark powers of Sadow occupying the body of such a talented Jedi. Ovair's skills at subterfuge were sufficient to conceal his identity until years later when reviewed by Jedi historian Gnost-Dural. Ovair wielded a purpledouble-bladedlightsaber.[1]