Dark Days: The Fall of Devaron
 | This page contains spoilers! Read at your own risk! |
| Author: | Astrid Meadows |
|---|---|
| Length: | 3,634 words |
| Source: | AO3 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Timeline Placement: | 1998 BBY |
| Preceding: | Following: |
|---|---|
| Dark Days II: Periapsis | Dark Days III: Horizon |
"Dark Days: The Fall of Devaron" is a short story written by Astrid Meadows. It is the third entry in the Dark Days series.
Author's summary
The Jedi Lord Rayven Skol helped command the strike force that saw Korriban sacked and the Sith destroyed. Now, as Baron of Devaron, he must face a new enemy at his gates...
Synopsis
Rayven Skol was one of the commanders of the strike team that assaulted Korriban, and the only one to return to Coruscant.[1] For his efforts, Chancellor Talos Crix awarded him a barony on the planet Devaron in the Colonies.[1]
In the present, Skol finds the duties of rulership tedious and beneath him, and has committed several diplomatic blunders that have estranged him from the Devaronians he is supposed to govern. To add to his misfortune, his territory has been besieged by a band of black-armored marauders for several days. Though the siege has killed his people and exhausted his food stores, Skol refuses to fight back himself, having been traumatized by the massacre at Korriban.
The marauders later storm Skol's throne room, led by a Zeltron. The Zeltron tries to parley with Skol; however, the Jedi Lord refuses, and engages the marauders in combat. Though he dispatches each of them in short order, he hesitates to attack the Zeltron, who taunts him. Before Skol can react to the provocation, he founds himself suspended by a dark side Force entity, emanating from the bodies of each of the slain marauders. Dying in the entity's grasp, Skol ruminates on the futility of his life.[1]
Appearances
Characters
- Dark Underlord (Implied)
- Jariah Teale (as "The Zeltron")
- Rayven Skol (First appearance)
- Unidentified squire (First appearance)
Development
"The Fall of Devaron" was first conceived in 2023 as the prologue to Dark Days II, at that point still titled Horizon. However, as author Astrid Meadows outlined the remainder of the series, she realized that another book needed to be inserted between Zenith and the then-upcoming Horizon. When Dark Days II: Periapsis was written, it left no room for "The Fall of Devaron" within its narrative. Likewise, as she began to outline Dark Days III, Meadows found that the story would be better served by a different opening. Thus, she decided to release "The Fall of Devaron" on its own as a short story.
Continuity
While not explicitly identified in the text, the shadowy entity that emerges from the Black Knights and kills Rayven Skol is heavily implied to be the Dark Underlord. The Dark Underlord made another heavily implied appearance in the prologue of Dark Days II: Periapsis, in which he possesses the spelunker Jariah Teale.[2] While Teale is unnamed in this story, the Zeltron commanding the Black Knights is implied to be him.
Behind the scenes
Rayven Skol shares a surname with the character Baylan Skol from Star Wars' "Canon" continuity, a fact that was pointed out to Meadows after "The Fall of Devaron" was finished. This is purely coincidental, and the name was intended as a bastardization of "Raven Skull."[3]
References
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