- "Savage. Savage Opress."
"Mother?"
"He is on Toydaria." - ―Mother Talzin uses the crystal ball to locate Savage Opress on Obi-Wan Kenobi's behalf
The Nightsister crystal ball was an artifact created and used by Mother Talzin, the leader of the Nightsisters—a coven of witches from the planet Dathomir. Talzin was able to craft the crystal ball due to the Nightsisters' unique connection to the Force. In 20 BBY, the Nightsister crystal ball allowed Talzin to see visions of the future and determine the location of individuals.
The Nightsister crystal ball eventually came into the possession of Talzin's son, the former Nightbrother and Sith Lord Maul. By 2 BBY, Maul kept the crystal ball within the Nightsister lair on Dathomir, along with other items of past importance to him.
Description[]
- "You have a brother."
"A brother? But all of my kin were killed."
"Not all of them. He lives in the Outer Rim in exile. You will find him." - ―Using the crystal ball, Mother Talzin reveals Darth Maul's image to Savage Opress
The Nightsister crystal ball[5] was a type of Witches' Orb.[1] A spherical object with varying degrees of orange coloration, it was kept within the Nightsister lair on[2] the Outer Rim planet[5] Dathomir, held up by a small, gray pedestal on a table.[2]
The crystal ball was made by Mother Talzin[3]—the leader of the Nightsisters, a coven of witches from Dathomir[5]—who managed to create it due to the Nightsisters' ability to tap into deep areas of the Force almost entirely unknown to those trained in the ways of the Jedi and Sith. The Nightsister crystal ball could be used to see visions[7] of the future[5] or locate specific individuals, such as the former Nightbrothers[6]—a clan of male warriors ruled by the Nightsisters[8]—Savage Opress and Darth Maul. When locating Opress and Maul, the crystal ball showcased images of them.[6]
History[]
Mother Talzin's machinations[]
The Nightsisters of Dathomir used crystal balls to peer into the future. One of these crystal balls was handcrafted by Mother Talzin.[3] Talzin kept the artifact atop a table within the Nightsister lair on Dathomir, and it was present when Separatist[2] leader[5] and Dark Lord of the Sith[8] Count Dooku visited the witch[2] in 20 BBY[9] to discuss taking a new apprentice for himself. That apprentice soon became Savage Opress,[2] one of Talzin's sons[8] who, unbeknownst to Dooku, was merely an instrument in a plot by the Nightsisters to assassinate the count.[2]
After Opress's existence became known to the Jedi Order, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and[6] Jedi Knight[9] Anakin Skywalker traveled to Dathomir and met with Talzin to learn his location. Manipulating her crystal ball, the witch moved[6] her[5] hands around the artifact and repeated Opress's name, discovering that he was on[6] the Mid Rim planet[10] Toydaria, which she revealed to the two Jedi.[6]
Darth Maul returns[]
- "These are artifacts from my past, from a time when my power was almost absolute."
- ―Maul discusses his trove of items, including the Nightsister crystal ball
Opress engaged the Jedi on Toydaria before returning to Dooku's ship in space over the planet. There, Opress revealed his true allegiance and dueled Dooku but was forced to flee. The former Sith apprentice returned to Talzin on Dathomir, telling her that he was not powerful enough to defeat all his foes. She comforted Opress, informing him that there was still someone who could teach him:[6] another of her sons[5] and a brother of Opress,[6] the Sith Lord[5] Darth Maul,[6] who was thought to have died on[2] the Mid Rim planet[5] Naboo several years earlier.[2] As Maul's image appeared in the crystal ball, Talzin sent Opress to find his brother, who was at the time residing in the Outer Rim[6] on the planet Lotho Minor.[5]
Although he did find Maul, Opress perished during a duel with Maul's former Sith Master, Darth Sidious, on the Outer Rim planet Mandalore[5] in 19 BBY. Despite Maul surviving further run-ins with Sidious and the Jedi, he[9] became stranded on the Sith planet Malachor[11] in the Outer Rim.[5] After escaping Malachor,[11] Maul eventually returned to his home of Dathomir, where he kept many items of past importance to him within the Nightsister lair, which was deserted by then. Among these items was the Nightsister crystal ball, which was there when Maul brought the Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger to the lair[4] in 2 BBY.[12]
Behind the scenes[]
The Nightsister crystal ball was created for the animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, first appearing unidentified in "Monster,"[2] the thirteenth episode of the series' third season, which aired on January 14, 2011.[13] Prior to the release of the episode, the crystal ball was depicted in a preview clip for the episode that was posted on StarWars.com on January 11 of the same year.[14] The 2015 reference book Ultimate Star Wars later identified it by name.[3]
Appearances[]
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Monster" (First appearance)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Witches of the Mist"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Brothers" (In flashback(s))
- Star Wars Rebels — "Visions and Voices"
Sources[]
- Another of his kind | Star Wars: The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link) (First pictured)
- The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Witches of the Mist on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link) (Picture only)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Complete Season Three
- "Monster" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)
- "Witches of the Mist" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Massacre" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Ultimate Star Wars (First identified as Nightsister crystal ball)
- Dark Side Secrets - Visions and Voices Preview | Star Wars Rebels on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
- Star Wars: Destiny — Legacies (Card: Crystal Ball) (backup link)
- The Clone Wars Rewatch: Beware the "Witches of the Mist" on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)
- Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
- Darth Maul in the Databank (backup link) (Picture only)
- Dathomir in the Databank (backup link) (Picture only)
- Mother Talzin in the Databank (backup link)
- Nightsister Crystal Ball in the Databank (backup link)
- Nightsisters in the Databank (backup link)
- Savage Opress in the Databank (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Massacre Trivia Gallery on StarWars.com (backup link) (Slide 2)
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Monster"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Ultimate Star Wars
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Star Wars Rebels — "Visions and Voices"
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Witches of the Mist"
- ↑ Nightsister Crystal Ball in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Star Wars The Dark Side Pocket Expert
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Star Wars: Timelines
- ↑ Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Traveler's Guide to Batuu
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Star Wars Rebels — "Twilight of the Apprentice"
- ↑ Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of "Visions and Voices" to 2 BBY.
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Episode Guide
- ↑ The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Monster on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)