Imagine a galaxy far, far away, where spaceships whizz through the endless dark, ancient faiths display mysterious powers, and the fight between good and evil plays out on an all-encompassing scale. This is the Star Wars saga—a vast epic filled with stories that have ensnared the minds and attention of millions of people spanning generations.

At its heart, Star Wars is an enduring tale of hope, justice, valiant deeds, and the classic struggle between light and darkness. It is mainly a story about ordinary people—the everyday farmers, scavengers, droids, and rebels—who are destined to rise up and perform extraordinary deeds. It is also about family, the ones we are born into and the ones we choose for ourselves. Lastly, it is about the core belief that light can be found even in the darkest of times if one keeps the kernel of hope alive in one's heart.

The tale begins with a simple yet iconic phrase: “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” From there onwards, you’re pulled into a fascinating world of Jedi Knights, who are keepers of the peace armed with gleaming lightsabers and connected to the Force, an energy field that runs through all living things and binds them. Their main opposition is the Sith, dark and corrupted warriors who seek power and control over everything, often through fear and oppression. Between these two main powers are numerous planets, races and species, and civilizations, each adding their own rich colour to the sprawling tapestry of this special universe.

But Star Wars isn’t just about cool space wars and lightsaber duels (though we cannot ignore their cool factor). It’s also about characters who are so relatable, you will feel like old acquaintances. You’ll meet the famous Luke Skywalker, a young boy from a farm with dreams of adventure; Princess Leia, a courageous leader fighting for freedom; Han Solo, a charismatic smuggler who is a total softie at heart; and Darth Vader, one of the most well-known villains in the history of stories, whose own tale is as horrific as it is heartbreaking.

It is, however, hard to deny that Star Wars is about the power that stories have to inspire us and transport us somewhere else. It never fails to remind us that even when all seems lost and there is no way out, bravery, friendship, and hope can light the way. So, whether you’re a hardcore fan or just dipping your toes in, welcome to the galaxy. May the Force be with you!

One beloved character is Jocasta Nu, who is a character from the Star Wars universe, mainly known for her role in the prequel trilogy and extended lore. She is a Jedi Master and the Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives, making her one of the most learned and respected figures within the Jedi Order during the final years of the Galactic Republic. Her life and character provide audiences with a fascinating insight into the inner mechanisms of the Jedi Order and its eventual decline.

Early Life and Jedi Training

Jocasta Nu's early life is not very elaborate in canon that we know of, but like most of the Jedi Order, she was likely discovered as Force-sensitive in her youth and taken to the Jedi Temple on the planet Coruscant for training. Jocasta Nu was born on Coruscant only before the Clone Wars broke out. She was obviously found to be Force-sensitive, and thus, her training began in earnest. She soon ascended to be part of the Jedi High Council and a librarian in the Jedi Archives. She studied further to become a Consular Jedi and did become one successfully after a brief period. As a Jedi, she mainly focused her interests and ultimate work on the Temple's enormous Jedi Archives and quickly rose to the rank of Jedi Master, mentoring several Padawans. At some point later on, she joined the Jedi High Council.

Role as Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives

In 68 BBY, when Qui-Gon Jinn first became Dooku's Padawan, Jocasta Nu was the newly established Chief Librarian, and the Coruscant-based Jedi noticed that Dooku and Nu were normally very friendly. She would serve in this post for several decades by the time the Imperial Era came around. She had absolute faith in the reliability and integrity of the records she presided over, bordering on arrogance, even going as far as to suggest that an item that was not present in her library did not exist. During the course of her term, she would go on to collect several things as an archivist, such as the Mask of Lord Momin. As a young girl, she would have undergone the tough training course of the Jedi, learning to utilize the Force in different ways, lightsaber combat, and the Jedi Code. As the years went by, her thirst for knowledge and academic pursuits distinguished her from others, giving her opportunities to excel in archival and scholarly vocations.

Jocasta Nu had risen to the position of Chief Librarian of the Jedi Archives by the time of the prequel trilogy, a post that appointed her the custodian of the Jedi Order's vast collection of knowledge. The Archives were home to countless holobooks, texts dating back to ancient times, maps of stars and planets, and records of numerous civilizations, cementing it as one of the most comprehensive repositories of information in the galaxy. Jocasta was rightfully very proud of her work and never failed to mention it, often highlighting the detail and accuracy of the Archives and its contents. Her noted line, "If an item does not appear in our records, it does not exist," is a reflection of her complete confidence in the Archives—a confidence that sometimes felt smug and boastful.

Jocasta's role was not just the administrative kind; she was a scholar and historian, focusing her attention on understanding the galaxy's history and preserving it for future generations. Her area of expertise made her the ultimate resource for any Jedi seeking information on long-forgotten Sith lore, the study of planets, or rare alien species. However, her supreme confidence in the Archives also revealed a potential weakness: the Jedi's presumption that their code and knowledge were supreme, which, in time, was a factor in their inability to foresee the rise of the Sith and the downfall of the Republic.

Personality and Relationships

Jocasta Nu is portrayed as a calm, composed, and highly disciplined individual, embodying the ideals of the Jedi Order. She is meticulous, detail-oriented, and deeply committed to her duties. However, her character also exhibits a certain rigidity and pride, particularly in her belief in the infallibility of the Jedi Archives. This trait is most evident in her interaction with Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, where she dismisses the possibility that Kamino could have been erased from the Archives, despite evidence to the contrary.

Despite her somewhat stern demeanour, Jocasta is not portrayed as unkind. She is a mentor figure to younger Jedi and is deeply invested in the Order's mission to maintain peace and justice in the galaxy. Her relationships with other Jedi, such as Yoda and Mace Windu, are marked by mutual respect, though she is not depicted as being particularly close to any specific individual.

The Fall of the Jedi Order

Jocasta Nu's circumstances during the fall of the Jedi Order are revealed closely in the expanded universe lore, particularly in the comic series Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith. After the execution of Order 66 ordered by the Emperor and the rise of the Galactic Empire, Jocasta managed to survive the initial purge by taking refuge in the Jedi Temple. She made attempts to save the knowledge of the Jedi by stealing holocrons and fleeing Coruscant during this tumultuous time. These actions were driven by her loyalty to the Jedi and the treasure trove of knowledge that she had kept watch over for all these years. This was her way to ensure that the legacy of the Jedi would not be destroyed, even as the Order was breaking down.

Jocasta's survival, however, did not last long. She was soon tracked down by Darth Vader, who was committed to wiping out all the Jedi that remained and retrieving the stolen holocrons. In her final moments, Jocasta stayed true to the Jedi ideals that she had embodied all these years, refusing to bow down and submit to the Sith. When the stormtroopers looked down at her with contempt for being part of the Jedi, Nu told them that Vader’s true identity was Anakin Skywalker, a renowned Jedi Knight. Vader then proceeded to kill all the troopers present to ensure that this bit of knowledge didn’t get out. When Nu bravely asked as to what her fate would be, Vader activated his lightsaber but met no battle from Nu, who gracefully accepted her death. This event was the end of an era, signalling the complete end of the Jedi Order.

Powers and abilities

Even though she was far from being the skilled Force user or lightsaber wielder, Nu was still quite capable in both things and was proficient in all basic Jedi skills. She was more than able to use telekinesis, which she utilized as a tool or weapon whenever the situation demanded it, from activating and putting together a holocron to calling forth the books in the Jedi Archive to hurl them at Vader and the Grand Inquisitor. Additionally, Jocasta displayed substantial skill with the mind trick, which she applied on shock troopers to get them to disregard her presence. Despite her extreme depth of knowledge, however, she was described by Darth Sidious as being "middling in the Force" and "barely competent with a lightsaber”.

While she was well ahead in her years and not in prime physical shape, Nu was not exactly weak, as she showed remarkable physical prowess, such as vaulting down several levels from a crater impact on the wall of the Jedi Temple. As a lightsaber warrior, she had enough skill to give a short but fierce battle to the Grand Inquisitor until she couldn’t match his own skill and strength. She could also deflect a few blaster bolts fired at her by more than one shock trooper.

Legacy

Jocasta Nu's legacy is one of knowledge, dedication, and endurance. As the custodian of the Jedi Archives, she played a significant role in preserving the records and history of the Jedi, even as the Order disintegrated into almost nothing. Her commitment to her responsibilities and her final sacrifice reflected the strengths and shortcomings of the Jedi Order during its final days. While her arrogance with regards to the Archives may have been a blind spot, her dedication to saving knowledge and her courage in the face of the Sith serve as a testament to her character.

In the broader Star Wars lore, Jocasta Nu is a symbol for the intellectual and non-combatant side of the Jedi Order, a reminder that the Jedi were not just violent, swaggering warriors but also scholars, historians, and custodians of knowledge. Her story provides rich detail to the prequel period, highlighting the complexities and tragedies of the Jedi's downfall.