Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Ahsoka episode 6
Summary
- A major twist in the new Ahsoka show reveals the existence of more Nightsisters, debunking the belief that they were nearly extinct after the Clone Wars.
- The novel Jedi: Battle Scars sets up the reveal of the Nightsisters' homeworld and their connection to community, explaining why Merrin remained powerful outside of Dathomir.
- The community aspect of the Nightsisters' magicks allows for the introduction of the Great Mothers, revealing that the Nightsisters are an intergalactic race with their power derived from unity within covens.
Although the new Star Wars project. Originally, it was believed that the enigmatic Force witches were nearly extinct following the Clone Wars with the majority having been slaughtered by General Grievous. However, Ahsoka has confirmed the existence of more Nightsisters following the events of the original trilogy along with major reveals regarding their homeworld and powerful magicks.
Ahsoka's premiere confirmed long-held theories that Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) was a surviving Nightsister working for Grand iral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen). Likewise, Ahsoka episode 6 revealed the existence of more Nightsisters, a trio known as the Great Mothers residing on the extragalactic world of Peridea, apparently the witches' ancient homeworld before they came to the known galaxy and settled on Dathomir. This is a major game-changer regarding what was believed about the Nightsisters' magicks, though the novel Jedi: Battle Scars by Sam Maggs sets up this reveal quite well. This is thanks to Merrin, another Nightsister survivor and ally of Cal Kestis featured in both of EA's Jedi games.
Jedi: Battle Scars Explained How Nightsisters Can Have Power Away From Dathomir
Until recently, Nightsister magick had seemed linked solely to the planet Dathomir. Due to the unconventional nature of the Force witches' magicks compared to the Force wielded by both the Jedi and Sith, Dathomir was thought to have been a vergence in the Force that provided the Nightsisters' power, but only on the world itself. This was confirmed in Jedi: Battle Scars, but the book also added another key aspect: they are also tied to the sense of community, explaining why Merrin was so powerful in the events of Jedi: Survivor which follows the prelude novel.
Despite having left Dathomir as its lone Nightsister survivor, Merrin still retained her power after ing The Path while also continuing to be an ally to Cal Kestis during the Empire's reign. It seems community is what allows Nightsisters to have power away from Dathomir. As such, this is quite telling and serves to be a very dynamic set-up when looking at Ahsoka episode 6 and the debut of the Great Mothers on the Nightsisters's true homeworld of Peridea.
Ahsoka's Great Mothers Fit Merrin's Pattern Perfectly
The newly confirmed community aspect behind the Nightsisters' magicks allows for this new Star Wars retcon where the Nightsisters are now an intergalactic race. It further allows the Grand Mothers to be powerful as there are three of them in communion, making the Nightsisters' unity within covens the core element of their power rather than any particular planet as was originally assumed. Likewise, it's also a core reason why the Sith and their ongoing rivalries for singular dominance could never adopt the Nightsisters' magicks (though it wasn't for Palpatine's lack of trying).
Ahsoka releases new episodes Tuesdays at 6 pm PT / 9 pm ET on Disney+.