Tempest Runner, orTempest for short,[3] was a position held by leading members of theNihil, anarchisticraiders who were organized into three main divisions calledTempests, which each had its own Runner who wielded total control. Tempest Runners were responsible for leading their respective Tempests and lining the pockets of the Nihil in their Tempest, although everything in the organization revolved around theEye of the Nihil, during theHigh Republic Era.[2][4] The role of Tempest Runner could not be usurped; if the Runner did not appoint a successor and was killed, the Runner'sStorms would share leadership of the Tempest.[4] However, in the case of the Tempest RunnerXanaven, who was believed to be a traitor to the Nihil, a new Tempest Runner was to be established to replace him, with theTwi'lekLourna Dee soon being crowned his replacement Tempest Runner at the blessing of Eye of the NihilAsgar Ro.[5] Each Tempest Runner had a vote in Nihil-related matters. Following theBattle of Kur, EyeMarchion Ro took sole leadership of the Nihil, though the Tempest Runner position still existed, albeit under his command.[6]
Lourna Dee (pictured) became a Tempest Runner around 247 BBY after slaying the Runner Xanaven.
Around247 BBY,[7] the three Tempest Runners of theNihil werePan Eyta,Kassav Milliko, andXanaven. All three plotted to kill the currentEye of the Nihil,Asgar Ro, until the NihilLourna Dee stepped in and slayed Xanaven in Ro's defense. Afterward, Dee was named the new Tempest Runner to replace Xanaven and slayed Ro herself, leaving his sonMarchion Ro to take the position of Eye. Quickly, Marchion began to work to cement the Tempest Runners under his control[5] and suspected one of them was behind his father's murder. At the time of theGreat Hyperspace Disaster[4] in232 BBY,[8] however, much was still the same, with Eyta, Milliko, and Dee the Tempest Runners while Ro stood as the Eye. As theGalactic Republic had begun to enter theOuter Rim Territories in earnest, however, Ro decided the time had come to fully evolve the Nihil. Ro brought theBattle of Kur into being to wipe out Milliko and hisTempest to turn them into martyrs for the Nihil cause. Calling on the Nihil to remember their supposed sacrifice and promising to offer the Nihil the whole galaxy,[4] Ro reorganized the Nihil under his sole command, with the Tempest Runner existing under his control.[6]
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InsideStar Wars: The High Republic: Meet the Villains onStarWars.com(backup link)(First mentioned)
InsideStar Wars: The High Republic: Meet the Villains onStarWars.com(backup link)