The lightsaber parasol was a Sith lightsaber created by Kouru, a female Sith who led a bandit group. It functioned as a singled-bladed lightsaber when she used only the lightsaber hilt. With its attached parasol auxiliary, it produced multiple red plasma blades in a manner that resembled a parasol, particularly when she spun it to create a shield.
Kouru used the weapon when her bandits attacked a village on the planet Genbara. She removed the lightsaber auxiliary to engage in a lightsaber duel with the former Dark Lord of the Sith known as the Ronin. His droid, B5-56, retrieved the auxiliary after the Ronin killed Kouru, and the Ronin gave the device to a shopkeep as extra payment. After shattering the hilt, the Ronin removed the kyber crystal inside. He initially intended to keep it, but instead gave it to the village chief to ward against evil.
Description[]
The lightsaber parasol was a Sith lightsaber variant that utilized an auxiliary to modify the lightsaber's capabilities. When the parasol auxiliary was attached to the lightsaber hilt, the kyber crystal within the hilt had its energy channeled straight and then outward into several blades in a manner reminiscent of a parasol.[1] The auxiliary itself had a central pole and radiating ribs that opened upward like a parasol's canopy. When activated, the red plasma beams that protruded from the tips of the ribs appeared to be multiple lightsabers. An additional extension piece on the bottom of the hilt further extended the weapon's length. Both pieces could be detached to utilize the weapon as a standard single-bladed lightsaber.[2]
History[]
Kouru detaches the parasol auxiliary from the hilt of her lightsaber parasol.
Kouru, a female Sith warrior, constructed the lightsaber parasol during the Sith rebellion. To craft the auxiliary, she utilized holographic blueprints that were created by the Dark Lord of the Sith before he was known as the Ronin.[1]
While leading a bandit group to attack a village on Genbara, Kouru and the former dark lord crossed paths; however, neither recognized the other. After removing the auxiliary, Kouru used her lightsaber to duel the Ronin. He tricked her and killed her, though she would not remain dead.[1]
The Ronin returned to the village with his astromech droid, B5-56. The droid brought the parasol auxiliary along, and the Ronin gave it to the Sullustan shopkeep who had assisted him in repairing B5-56. Since such specialized lightsaber technology could fetch a high price if sold to the right buyer, the auxiliary served as a tip to thank the Sullustan.[1] The Ronin used his lightsaber to shatter Kouru's hilt, then gave the kyber crystal to a youngling who acted as village chief, stating that it would ward off evil.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
- "Given the way I framed lightsaber auxiliaries as a point of personal expression, it had to be a choice she made — and what a choice it is. Flamboyant as hell, for one, but incredibly diverse range of uses, for another. […] Let's say she has all the subtlety and decorum of a rancor on too many uppers. But she's also clever. Crafty. Impulsive, at times, but she's thinking. Always trying to use her environment to her best advantage, always willing to switch up her approach, and perhaps most terrifyingly, looking good while she does it."
- ―Emma Mieko Candon
The lightsaber parasol first appeared in "The Duel," a short film in the Star Wars: Visions series produced by Kamikaze Douga and directed by Takanobu Mizuno,[2] with character designs by Takashi Okazaki.[4] The film was released on September 22, 2021,[5] and the subsequent tie-in novel Ronin: A Visions Novel, written by Emma Mieko Candon and published on October 12 of that year, first identified it as a lightsaber parasol.[1]
As the lightsaber was destroyed in the short, Candon decided to use its relatively short appearance in the novel to explore how the design and use of the lightsaber parasol reflected Kouru's personality; it was versatile, flamboyant, and aggressive. Candon commented on how Kouru could use it to do a "terrifying lawnmower" move like General Grievous or levitate like an Inquisitor's double-bladed spinning lightsaber.[3]
In "The Duel," the lightsaber parasol was depicted with eight blades at its top.[2] However, in Ronin: A Visions Novel, it is instead described as having six.[1]
Appearances[]
- Ronin: A Visions Novel (First identified as lightsaber parasol)
- Ronin: A Visions Novel audiobook
Star Wars: Visions — "The Duel" (First appearance)
Sources[]
Stunning New Star Wars: Visions Trailer Debuts on StarWars.com (backup link) (First mentioned)- Inside Star Wars: Visions: Meet the Villains on StarWars.com (backup link) (as lightsaber umbrella)
- "The Duel" Episode Guide on StarWars.com (backup link)
- The Art of Star Wars: Visions
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Star Wars: Visions — "Ronin: A Visions Novel"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Star Wars: Visions — "The Duel"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1
Emma Mieko Candon — Untitled on Tumblr (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: Visions — "Filmmaker Focus – The Duel"
- ↑ Star Wars: Visions is Here! on StarWars.com (backup link)
