I start displaying custom figures, and wanna slowly fill up the sections with nice pictures of my custom figures, also some illustrations from the games, and a background story of the character, who was she/he, what was her/his part in the
Galactic events, and what was the peculiarity of the character. I was thinking a lot which figure, which character should be introduced first. After a long time I decided to start the row with Bastila Shan. Please read her story, watch her pictures, and learn her life! Stick with me, CustomStarWars will introduce you the heroes and villains, the droids, some cool troopers, Jedi and Sith characters, thugs, protagonists and supporting characters!
Bastila Shan
Bastila
Shan is a Human female character of Kotor1 and Kotor2, who was a Jedi Padawan who became one of the key figures of the game. She is best known for having her impressive talent in the Force Power called battle meditation. Also, I have already told you some details on her in my Kotor1 article, that was mostly introduced Revan, but also mentioned Bastila several times. I have already told you that Bastila led that Jedi strike team which was sent to neutralize Darth Revan, and you may remember that I mentioned that she was forming a Force bond with him when she saved his life. Also, almost everybody knows that Bastila was the love of Revan, if Revan was played as a male character. Read this article, and meet her!
Bastila was born as the only child of Helena Shan and a hunter whose name was not preserved by history. Bastila had a loving and powerful relationship with her father. However, she was not on good terms with her mother, Helena, believing that she was pushing her father into dangerous hunts so they would live in wealth. She was blaming her mother for their early life, when they were always on the move,
traveling around the galaxy without her father, who had to risk his life for the money, hunting dangerous animals. Bastila was a sad girl in her early ages because of these, she is still very sad, you can feel it in her voice. (As almost every girl, who had lost her father, or who had been grew up in a family without a father, she missed the love of a man, and the fondness. Those girls often search and seek tenderness later on from an older man, when they are teenagers, or even when adults. They sometimes even give themselves up for that man, just to be with him, to fill that empty space in their soul, that their father should have filled up. So Bastila will carry this weight on her shoulders, too.)
At a young age, she was discovered with an exceptional gift with the Force by the Jedi. Bastila did not wish to leave her family (especially her father) behind and join the Jedi Order, but Helena, believing that her life would be better with the Jedi, gave her up. She was separated, and the Jedi began her training, and soon Bastila proved to be an powerful Jedi Sentinel. She was gifted with a natural Force power of battle meditation. It was a rare skill that increased the morale of her allies in battle and reduced her enemy's will to fight, also very useful on tactics, and strategy, because ally troops and fleets can attack organized the enemy weakest points, while they don't even notice that.
Bastila was a young Padawan, when Revan and his best Jedi friends including Malak, and Exile went to war against the Mandalorians to help the Republic. Bastila refused to join Revan's freedom fighters. She obeyed the Jedi Order, who did not supported the idea to kill millions of people in an endless war. Later, when those renegade Jedi returned as Sith during the Jedi Civil War, she became one of the most active supporters of the old Jedi Order, and joined those groups in the Order, who urged the new Dark Lord Revan had to be stopped.
Finally the right time has come. In 3,957 BBY, the Jedi Council sent a Jedi strike force led by Bastila, aiming to capture Darth Revan, who was then the Dark Lord of the Sith. Her team infiltrated in Revan's flagship, and had just managed to find Revan on the bridge when Darth Malak, Revan's apprentice, unexpectedly betrayed his master and fired on his cruiser. Revan fell down because of the detonations, and hit his head against some hard thing, as I already mentioned for you, he was knocked into a coma, while his mind was suffering damage. Fortunately Bastila managed to save his life - she pulled the
unconscious man to her ship, and stabilized his life signs, using the Force to keep Revan alive, thereby forging a powerful Force bond between them. While Malak continued attacking them. Revan assumed by everyone to be a simple injured Republic soldier, had been assigned to the vessel Endar Spire. The Sith fleet overwhelmed the Republic fleet and boarded the damaged, immobilized Endar Spire, over the planet Taris, to assassinate or capture Bastila, and Revan. The battle was lost, the Sith were victorious on the ship, so Bastila had to escape the seriously damaged Spire with an escape pod. The recovered, but still confused Revan, and Commander Carth Onasi were also forced to evacuate the ship in an other escape pod just before the Endar Spire was destroyed. Bastila's crashed into the lower levels of Taris, and
the weak, and dizzy woman was easily incarcerated by a Taris gang known as the Black Vulkars. She was luckily not identified as a Jedi, as she would have been killed or sold to the Sith. But as she was very pretty, the gang planned to keep her in slavery, and offered
her as the prize, the "jackpot" of a local swoop race. Revan had to infiltrate one of the gangs, and to enter for the race. Finally he won the race, but
he did not won a laurel wreath, not to mention the pretty
Bastila, as Brejik was "altering the deal,
and Revan should pray he wouldn't alter it any further", as Darth Vader said.
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This means Brejik refused to give him the prize, claiming Revan was cheated. He wanted to keep Bastila, and to kill Revan instead. So Bastila used the Force to free herself Force Pulling a guard to her, and opening her cage, siding with Revan.
Their first date was pretty memorable, as they beat up everybody
there, - together they finished up Brejik's gang, and returned their hide-out.
Soon they found and teamed up with several companions, and they decided to get a ship, and break through the Sith quarantine around Taris. They finally managed to get a smuggler vessel called "Ebon Hawk", which they "inherited" from a local dead crime lord named Davik Kang. But to tell the truth, Davik was not so dead before he met them, but they helped him in that pretty
aggressively. After the unsuccessful quarantine and search of Taris, Malak altered the order "dead or alive" to "dead", and ordered Admiral Saul Karath to destroy the planet in the hope of ridding himself of Bastila and Revan once and for all. The urban centers of Taris were utterly obliterated in the turbolaser fire, but Bastila and her party managed to escape and flee to the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine.
Bastila brought Revan to the Jedi Council, who opted to reprogram him with a new identity that was loyal to the Republic in the hopes that he would help to find the Star Forge, and to defeat the Sith invaders, of course under control, with Bastila guiding him along the way. So that is how Bastila became an "almost" master, however she was still a Padawan. She was afraid of failing the Order, because she felt not to be strong enough in the Force to guide such that strong personality that was Revan. She was afraid that she won't be prepared enough to handle the situations that may come. She was also full of questions, how should she answer Revan's questions? Also, she knew Revan in the past, saw him becoming a Dark Lord twisted by the Dark Side. And she was trusted by the Jedi Order to protect him from returning to the Dark Side, which is an extremely difficult, and
a highly response mission for a inexperienced Padawan?! The young Obi-wan Kenobi was in the same situation. He was not a master, he was still just a Padawan, and had many things to learn, when his master (Qui-Gon Jinn) claimed he was prepared enough for his exams, to be able to train Anakin instead. Soon Qui Gon was killed by Darth Maul in Theed, and Obi-wan had to promise he would continue Anakin's training. Anakin was a same headstrong person, that Revan,
therefore both pupil were very difficult to be taught by a novice "master". Nor Bastila Shan, neither Obi-wan Kenobi felt capable for that a
challenge, but anyway, both were delegated to handle an incredible complex, risky, and
response-full mission!
During their quest, Bastila had to closely monitor Revan, searching for any possible signs that he might have been slipping, although she tried to hide it. She still held a dislike for the man who had done so much damage to the Galaxy. But instead of being the monster she imagined he would be, Revan proved to be a true servant of the Light Side, displaying many acts of kindness throughout their journey together. Though this may have been attributed to the programmed identity that replaced his former persona, Revan's compassionate nature may have also been caused by subconscious aspects of his former personality before his fall to the Dark Side. She soon found herself admiring his passion and unrivaled power and, despite her best efforts, began to develop feelings for him. She resisted such feelings, partly because it was forbidden for Jedi to fall in love and partly because she was unable to come to terms with who he really was. But the larger Revan grew, the smaller Bastila felt beside him. She felt herself weak besides Revan, and secretly wanted to become stronger somehow, to be worthy for the love of Revan. She
desperately struggled to comply with the will of the Jedi Order, with his feeling with Revan, and the Dark Side, which was tempted her. She tried to hide her feelings about Revan, but he had already observed it, and felt the same. He said brash things for Bastila, what she could not reply, and lost her bearings. Bastila is just cute when she stammers. :-) She became cold after that with Revan, lying him, - and also including herself - she did not love him, but that was not true, and both knew that. But one day they can't hide it anymore, and confess the truth for each other. They went to a separate room
of the Ebon Hawk to talk it over. Bastila was again lost her bearings, and started stammering, but finally the two kissed each other,
and they forgot they were Jedis for a long, hot moment. However
the moment has passed by, and Bastila refused to continue the romance till their mission has not been completed, and
like many women (and basket ball coaches) demanded a little time to define her feelings.
So they continued their journey. Planet after planet, they searched every locations for the Star Map pieces. While searching on Tatooine for clues about the Star Forge, Bastila met her mother again, after long years.
Helena was ill, she may die because of that.
However Bastila's heart remained cold about her mother, finally they were reunited with her estranged mother with Revan's help. However, she was saddened to learn that her father had been killed while hunting a Krayt Dragon for its pearl, which he thought would provide enough credits to pay for treatment for his wife. They finally reconciled, and Bastila gave some credits for her mother to have her treated in a good medical center. (I think at Coruscant)
During the quest to find the Star Map pieces, the Ebon Hawk was ambushed and tractor beamed by the Leviathan. Bastila, Revan and Carth were put in their own close cells apart from the others. After notifying Darth Malak about the valuable prisoners, and till the Sith Lord arrived to the ship, Admiral Karath asked some information from Revan about the whereabouts of the Jedi Enclave, and other important data, however he had already known the answers, he wanted to play a game. If he caught Revan lying, he shocked his babe Bastila with a painful electroshock. Bastila asked Revan not to tell those secrets, but Revan couldn't see the suffering of his love, and told the things that Karath wanted to know.
(It seems the Sith like to play this torture game, because
Jorak Uln played the same game with Revan and Mekel later in KotOR1.) Saul Karath sensed the connection of the two, and also
realized that Bastila can be broken with torture, as the young lady almost gave up after the third dose of painful, terrible shock. Later, Bastila told Revan she was near to the Dark Side, for a moment she thought she would have done anything, or would have told anything that Karath wanted.
When they were freed by a randomly selected friend of the team, they headed to the bridge to release the tractor beam, and escape the Leviathan. They had to fight there with the Admiral and his best men, mortally wounding Karath who told Carth of his companion's true identity. Carth then demanded answers, but Bastila promised to answer his questions once they have escaped. They were then halted by Darth Malak, who had just arrived to the Leviathan. Then Revan was told the truth, he had been a Dark Lord of the Sith. Bastila also wanted to tell it to Revan one day, but she was waiting for a good opportunity, the right moment, when she can share the fact with Revan, but now it happened different way. She felt guilty, that she kept it in secret,
but she hoped Revan would understood her one day, and would be able to forgive her. Hopefully it has happened - Revan forgave her. So Malak became angry. If he
could not break Revan's mind with the truth, he wanted to destroy his body at least. He sought to fight his former master - Revan,
and was long waited for meeting his former master again, to be able to kill him. (Like Darth Vader sought to fight the elder Kenobi in the New Hope) So he held Bastila and Carth in a Force stasis, and attacked Revan, but he was overwhelmed by Revan, and ran away. Revan
followed him into an other room, and they started it over. After the Force Stasis elapsed, Bastila ran to help Revan, and sacrificed herself to let Revan and Carth escape. Revan did not wanted to let her alone, but he was convinced by Carth of run. Our movie example has been extended (Darth Vader attacks - elder Kenobi sacrifices himself - Luke does not want to let him down - Leia pulls him away)
Malak transported his prisoner 
Bastila in his fortress, and started to
torture her by Force
lightning, and mind tricked her. Malak eventually succeeded in forcing Bastila to give in to her hate and fall to the Dark Side. She became the Dark Lord's apprentice, replacing the slain Darth Bandon.
In
time, she met again with Revan atop the Temple of the Ancients on the world of Lehon, but their meeting was far from happy. Bastila told Revan, Jolee Bindo, and Juhani that she had sworn
allegiance to Malak, and was now his apprentice. She engaged all three of them in a lightsaber duel, but it was brief. After seeing how powerful Revan was despite what the Council had done to him, she came to believe Revan deserved to be the Dark Lord of the Sith. Bastila attempted to persuade him to reclaim his former title, but Revan would not be swayed. Revan made the choice of a Jedi and rejected Bastila's pleas. (it is
interesting, Anakin was also a very new Sith apprentice, but he almost
immediately planned to kill Sidious, and to take his title, and to rule in his Empire, he told it to Amidala, but she has refused, now Bastila suggest to Revan to kill Malak, and they could rule together in the Sith Empire, but Revan refused.) Angered at her failure to turn Revan, Bastila retreated to the Star Forge. She was ordered by Malak to use her Battle meditation to help the Sith fleet. She was left alone, to be able to
concentrate on the space battle, but a small strike force, including Revan's team, were able to land in the Star Forge. Bastila and Revan eventually faced off again - and again she was defeated by Revan, despite her powers being continually renewed by the Star Forge. Beaten once more, she begged her former loved man to take her life. Revan, however, refused to kill her woman. Instead he persuaded Bastila to renounce the Dark Side and helped her to return to the Light Side by drawing on the bond they shared - not one of the Force, but one of love. With the power of their true love they finally reunited, and were able to see each other like before - two Jedis in love. But they did not have too much time to be happy, because the space battle was raging outside, the whole space monster was in danger. Both had to make things right. Redeemed, Bastila used her battle meditation to turn the tide of the battle in the Republic's favor, as the Sith were about to win the battle, the republic was thinking to saves their lives and retreat, but there were not too much ships, and pilots to save now. Bastila had to
telepathically control the Republic pilots, and to confuse the Sith, and she had to let the republic win, but to prevent the Star Forge to be destroyed by them till Revan had slain his old apprentice-friend Malak in single combat. Hmmm... not an easy task, however Revan was quick, and they managed to leave the space station before it had been destroyed.
After the battle, Bastila and Revan, along with their companions were honored as the saviors of the galaxy. Despite this seemingly happy ending, Revan and Bastila were not destined to remain together for long, and to live happy ever after. A year after the Star Forge's destruction, Revan recalled a great threat to the Galaxy that he had discovered as the Dark Lord and he set out alone into the Unknown Regions. Bastila, through their bond, had learned
something from him, though not everything. He left all those whom he had loved behind, for he knew that to take them to the places he had to go would bring destruction to them all. So again, this wonderful being lost the man that she truly loved, that she admired, and wished to live with. Revan has never come back. Bastila sent his little companion, T3-M4 after him. She programmed the clever astromech to find a friend, a human partner, who will aid the little droid to find and protect Revan. T3 had found Exile, but they did not find Revan, neither. In KotOR2 Bastila appears on Citadel Station after the Exile spoke with Admiral Carth Onasi. She was seemingly sad.
Sadder, then ever. She was in the other room, when Carth asked the Exile Jedi if he knew anything on the whereabouts of Revan.
Unfortunately Exile hasn't meet him, neither. This happens in the DS ending, too. I mean Bastila will remain alone, after his Dark Lord Revan
traveled away. Without their powerful leader the Sith soon started to gain the control, and they exterminated one an other. Exile has found a holographic message from Bastila in a Holocron. Bastila was complaining about the Sith, who became crazy in their hunger of power, and started to kill one an other for the empty chair of Revan. Korriban was in ruins, also the sacred temples of the
ancient Sith Lords. Bastila is in mortal fear. She suspects she will be killed. It had not yet been proven if she left before Korriban fell into ruin, or died there before leaving. Anyway, the fate of this great girl was not too happy, no matter if you play the game Light Sided, or Dark Sided, she seems to be created to suffer, and her life was not too easy, as most Jedi's, who had their part in this
Galactic adventure of Star wars.
Additional information:
Bastila was voiced by 
Jennifer Hale, who superbly acted her character. Luckily we could enjoy the actress' voice in the Clone Wars, too, since her fans can hear
Jennifer
Hale as Aayla Secura, who was an other Jedi lady!
If you were lucky to hear her voice, you could recall the Bastila-feeling, when Jennifer Hale played a powerful Jedi master again, which is after Bastila can be a wonderful experience for her male fans. As an extra gift, we could hear the actress in the 15. episode, too! On the icy world of the Talz we saw an other blue-skinned lady, (like Aayla was) Jennifer Hale played senator Cucchi. She had a nice accent to create a foreign, but humanoid character, but when she forgot it for a short second, she talked pretty like when acting Bastila. :-) Also, as the newest gift for us, Ms Hale played a traitor female rodian in the Clone Wars season two, who killed the rodian senator previously.
Bastila preferred wearing a tight and flexible full-body suit, kept in the color scheme of the traditional Jedi robes; however, you can dress her a typical Jedi robe over it in the game. As a Jedi Sentinel she used a yellow double-bladed lightsaber.
Funny scenes:
During their adventures Bastila was asked by Mission Vao if she ever used the Force non properly, for her own purposes. Bastila denied it. However Mission did not
believed it, and just pushing around with that question. Somehow Mission lost her balance, and sat on the ground. She attacked Bastila, claiming Bastila was the one, who pushed her with the Force, that is why she fell. But Bastila answered she does not know what was Mission saying, and advised Mission to be more careful next time, and pay attention, as SHE was clumsy to slip. :-)
On the rooftop of the Rakata temple the Dark Bastila was warned by Jolee Bindo of the dangers of the Dark Side. He wanted to save Bastila, and told her his experiences, telling long sermon on the topic. After listening to it, Bastila pityingly looked Jolee, and simply answered: shut up, old man. :-)
Please check out my pictures of my custom Bastila
The most difficult part of this figure was her hair. Bastila liked to pin-up a tidied knot of her hair, however
she often left two mops hanging on the two sides of her beautiful face, which
made a perfect contour for her face. Also, she had an unruly mop falling out
from the knot to her brow, that was combed aside to a random direction from her
eyes. Also, she had two short plaits at the back, what I made very carefully,
because that is a very fragile part of her hair-do.
An other difficult part was her dress. It took several hours to
make those laces on her suit, especially that butterfly-like thing on her neck,
and those scalloped things on her bust.
Please note, that even her double-bladed yellow lightsaber was a custom weapon, I made it from a
yellow tooth brush, I was rasping it for many hours, till it became so thin.
Custom Bastila Shan figure front view
Custom Bastila Shan figure from the back
Custom Bastila Shan figure from the side
Special thanks for Rophek Zellus, who sent us a corrected photo of Bastila Shan, which depicts Bastila with the authentic YELLOW lightsaber, not that weird green one, which is always a big mistake on every kinds of
reference photos.
Thanks for your interest, CustomStarWars is expecting you back!
written by: Norbert Rostas
2008.05.16. the figure was made years before
