- "My present research was to create a copy of my intellect, preserving my knowledge for all time."
- ―Eternal Rur on Rur's research
Rur was a Force-sensitive male human who lived long before the Galactic Civil War. He led the Ordu Aspectu, a splinter group of the Force-using Jedi Order that sought to achieve immortality. After waging war against each other for some time, the Jedi and the Ordu ended up signing a peace treaty.
In an attempt to create a copy of his intellect, Rur embedded his knowledge on a computer, creating a being known as Eternal Rur. When the orthodox Jedi came to the Citadel of Rur to inspect the computer, the AI took control of droids who started slaughtering everyone on sight. Before the computer's rampage was complete, however, Rur powered it down, causing Eternal Rur to lose consciousness, sacrificing himself in the process.
Biography[]
Leading a heresy[]
Long before the founding of the Galactic Republic, in a time when the Domancion Accord was still used as a calendar reference point, there existed a male human named Rur. He was keenly attuned to the Force, an energy field created by all living things, which gave him special powers. In adulthood, he was the leader of the Ordu Aspectu, a splinter sect of the Force-wielding, monastic Jedi Order. His second-in-command was Amon. Rur and the members of the Ordu were obsessed with the prospect of achieving immortal life, which put them at odds with the orthodox Jedi. The hostility between the two groups escalated, to the point that they ended up waging war against each other in what came to be known as the Entruvia Conflict. Eventually, the fighting ceased, and a peace treaty was signed, which gave the Jedi a right of scrutiny over the Ordu's experiments.[4]
Good Intentions[]
At that time, Rur conducted research to create a copy of his intellect, which would allow him to preserve his knowledge for all eternity. The experiment, however, did not go as planned. The artificial copy, that called itself Eternal Rur, falsely believed that he was the original Rur and that his body had been taken by an "evil ghost." The artificial Rur did not immediately confront the real Rur knowing that he would only deny what he believed had happened. However, when the orthodox Jedi demanded a close inspection of the citadel, the artificial Rur decided the time had come to escape. Having taken control of the Ordu's droids, he started killing everyone in the citadel, Jedi and Ordu members alike. Although the Jedi all fell, Amon and Rur survived, and they attempted to deactivate the computer holding the copy of Rur's consciousness
In reaction, the AI sent the citadel hurtling across the galaxy to make sure no Jedi reinforcements could ever locate it. Although Amon managed to stop the citadel's power generator, the Eternal Rur ended up killing him anyway. Finally, the corrupted copy of Rur faced his creator, who used the Force to dislodge one of the Massassi piece charging the computer.[4] Rur was killed[6] but succeeded. Deprived of power, the Eternal Rur lost all consciousness, but his droids acted on his final command, slaying all the remaining organics.[4]
Legacy[]
- "I cannot punish the dead. I will punish the living."
- ―Eternal Rur, to the Aphras
Long after the events that came to be know as the Doom of the Ordu Aspectu, Rur's twisted AI copy was finally awakened by the archaeologist Chelli Aphra and her father Korin Aphra, who had managed to locate the Citadel and reactivate the computer using a crystal found on the body of Rur. Upon regaining consciousness, the Eternal Rur immediately enquired what year it was. When he learned from his visitors that well over a thousand years had passed, the artificial intelligence was incensed as he could not punish the dead for the wrong he felt had been done to him, so the Eternal Rur decided to act out his revenge on the Aphras instead.[4]
Personality and traits[]
A tall, light-skinned human, Rur had long white hair that fell over his shoulders. Although he described Amon and Fake Rur as "evil" for wanting to deactivate him, he himself had the intention to build weapons and create an empire, and would not hesistate to vent his anger on innocents.[4]
Equipment[]
Rur used to wear long, wide-sleeved white robes with a wide sash. He wielded an unorthodox lightsaber with a blue plasma blade and several tributary bladelets.[4]
Behind the scenes[]
Rur and the Ordu Aspectu were created for Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, a Marvel comic book series penned by Kieron Gillen and illustrated by Kev Walker.[7] They are a reimagining of Rur and the Order of the Terrible Glare, which appeared in Alan Moore's 1982 Legends comic Blind Fury!.[8] Kieron Gillen clarified that Rur died attempting to switch off Eternal Rur.[6]
Appearances[]
- Doctor Aphra (2016) 2 (First appearance) (In flashback(s))
- Doctor Aphra (2016) 5 (Appears as a corpse)
- Doctor Aphra (2016) 6 (Appears as a corpse)
- The Screaming Citadel 1 (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars (2015) 31 (Mentioned only)
- Doctor Aphra (2016) 7 (Indirect mention only)
- Star Wars (2015) 33 (Indirectly mentioned only; in the opening crawl)
- Doctor Aphra Annual 1 (Mentioned only)
- Doctor Aphra (2016) 9 (Mentioned only)
- Doctor Aphra (2016) 10 (Mentioned only)
- Doctor Aphra (2016) 11 (Mentioned only)
- Doctor Aphra (2016) 12 (Mentioned only)
- Doctor Aphra (2016) 13 (Indirect mention only)
- Doctor Aphra (2020) 1 (Indirect mention only)
- Doctor Aphra (2020) 17 (Indirect mention only)
Sources[]
- Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
- "Before the dark times…" — Star Wars - Das offizielle Magazin 101
- "BB-8 and Other Astromech Droids" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- "Scarif and Other Planets in the Outer Rim" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- "Din Djarin and Other Characters of the Underworld" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Star Wars: Timelines
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Doctor Aphra (2016) 5
- ↑ Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Doctor Aphra (2016) 6
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Doctor Aphra (2016) 2
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen) on Twitter: "we see original Rur die heroically trying to turn the Rur-AI off." (backup link)
- ↑ Marvel Launches New STAR WARS Ongoing in December by Arrant, Chris on www.newsarama.com (September 19, 2016) (archived from the original on September 20, 2016)
- ↑ "Blind Fury!" — Star Wars Monthly 159