In Star Wars Legends, Darth Vader’s first apprentice was one of the most unique characters in the saga – and powerful too. Darth Vader was a Sith apprentice of Darth Sidious and thus gained acolytes of the dark side to challenge his master. That was the Rule of Two way. Long before this was created in our universe, however, comics Star Wars Annual #1 by Chris Claremont and Mike Vosburg was released in 1979.
This single issue reveals Darth Vader’s first apprentice, a winged green humanoid known as S’kytri, named Kharys. Kharys was the ruler of the Imperial Satrapy on her homeworld of Skye. Between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Backshe comes into conflict with Luke, Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca using some surprising dark side Force powers.
The Sith demons of Kharys were truly horrific creatures
Dark Side Smoke Monsters
Kharys, trained by Darth Vader, learned the technique known as Dwomutsiqsa. This was translated from Sith to “summon demon“, and it was a powerful ability that allowed the dark side to summon a smoke demon. These terrifying creatures started out as spiraling clouds of smoke, but later took the form of a large, red, horned figure..
Smoke demons were neither tangible nor intangible, but existed in multiple forms. While fighting one of these demons, Luke Skywalker claims that it looks solid, but also feels it firmly in his mind – implying a dark side presence that could make these creatures more effective against the Jedi. Most importantly, however, Sith smoke demons could disintegrate living beings by absorbing them into their smoldering forms.
Only a lightsaber could stop a Sith demon
Luke Skywalker vs. the Smoke Demon
In the issue, Luke and Leia come face to face with a Sith demon aboard the Millennial Falcão. The beast is capable of facing and attacking physical beings and even draining the soul of an old friend of Han Solo. The creature is immune to damage from a blaster beam and knocks Luke and Leia to the ground, before young Skywalker is able to use his lightsaber to defeat it.
After Luke stabbed the demon with his father’s lightsaber, he reverted to his orange, smoky form, leaving the realm of the living. This act of Luke also freed all the souls contained within him. Luke expressed that he had never felt anything like it before, and that he must have been summoned by a powerful dark side, which he later discovers is Kharys, Darth Vader’s first apprentice in Star Wars history.