View source for Bentilais san Sk'ar

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{{Youmay|a Kaleesh general|[[San (disambiguation)|other people and things named San]]}}
{{Character
|type=Galactic Empire
|image=[[File:Skarface.jpg]]
|name=Bentilais san Sk'ar
|homeworld=[[Kalee/Legends|Kalee]]<ref name="aite">{{Hyperspace|url=hyperspace/member/insideronline/97/indexp4.html|text=Aliens in the Empire, Part 2: To a Traitor Go the Spoils|int=Aliens in the Empire}}</ref>
|birth=
|death=[[3 ABY/Legends|3 ABY]],<ref name="tcc">''[[Star Wars: The Comics Companion]]''</ref> [[Shiva IV]]<ref name="aite" />
|species=[[Kaleesh/Legends|Kaleesh]]<ref name="aite" />
|gender=[[Gender/Legends|Male]]<ref name="aite" />
|height=Approx. 3 [[Imperial standard meter|meters]]<ref name="aite" />
|mass=
|hair=None<ref name="aite" />
|eyes=[[Color/Legends|Red]]<ref name="aite" />
|skin=Purple<ref name="m54">[[Star Wars (1977) 54|''Star Wars'' (1977) 54]]</ref>
|cyber=
|affiliation=*[[Kolkpravis]]<ref name="GAW">''[[Galaxy at War]]''</ref>
**[[Izvoshra/Legends|Izvoshra]]<ref name="GAW" />
*[[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]]<ref name="aite" />
**[[Imperial Army/Legends|Imperial Army]]<ref name="aite" />
|masters=
|apprentices=}}
{{Quote|I am ''Sk'ar''! I have the honor to be a general in the Imperial strike force. You&mdash;your city, your pathetic little planet&mdash;have the honor to be my next ''target''.|Bentilais san Sk'ar|<ref name="m54" />}}
'''Bentilais san Sk'ar''' was a [[Kaleesh/Legends|Kaleesh]] [[General/Legends|general]] in the [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]] who served during the [[Galactic Civil War/Legends|Galactic Civil War]]. Originally a [[Warlord/Legends|warlord]] on his native [[Kalee/Legends|Kalee]], his resistance forces had been routed by Imperial [[Captain/Legends|Captain]] [[Mitth'raw'nuruodo/Legends|Thrawn]], who leveled the [[Planet/Legends|planet]] [[Oben]] with his [[Star Destroyer/Legends|Star Destroyers]]. Accepting defeat, Sk'ar allowed himself to be captured by Captain [[Rel Bentin]], who brought him before [[Galactic Emperor/Legends|Emperor]] [[Palpatine/Legends|Palpatine]]. Seeing Sk'ar's potential, Palpatine accepted him into the ranks of his [[Imperial Military/Legends|Imperial armies]] and sent him to bring order to remote, outlying worlds.

Sk'ar embarked on a campaign across the [[Jahilid Drift]], conquering several worlds and making a name for himself in the Imperial military. Preferring to use divide and conquer tactics rather than flat out bombardment, Sk'ar's plans put his [[Troop/Legends|troops]] at lessened risk while putting the worlds he overran under stronger Imperial control. His campaigns eventually brought him to [[Shiva IV]]; however, there he was thwarted by agents of the [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Alliance to Restore the Republic]]. Attempting to evade defeat, he was [[Death/Legends|killed]] when the [[Wookiee/Legends|Wookiee]] [[Chewbacca/Legends|Chewbacca]] threw a solid [[Steel/Legends|steel]] gun mount at his [[Starship/Legends|ship]], causing Sk'ar's aircraft to explode.

==Biography==
===Early career===
{{Quote|It was my one failure, out on the Fringes.|Thrawn|<ref name="Heir to the Empire">''[[Heir to the Empire]]''</ref>}}
Bentilais san Sk'ar was a [[Kaleesh/Legends|Kaleesh]] who was born during the time of the [[Galactic Republic/Legends|Galactic Republic]]. He lived on the [[Planet/Legends|planet]] [[Kalee/Legends|Kalee]] and was originally a revolutionary, but eventually became the ruler of the planet's western hemisphere. When the [[Insectoid/Legends|insectoid]] [[Yam'rii/Legends|Yam'rii]] [[Species/Legends|species]] [[Huk War|invaded]] Kalee, Sk'ar joined the [[Kolkpravis]], a group of Kaleesh tribal warriors who were resisting the Yam'rii. He served under the leadership of [[Grievous/Legends|Qymaen jai Sheelal]] and became one of the [[Izvoshra/Legends|Izvoshra]], eight elite soldiers who were personally answerable to Sheelal and served as his bodyguards. However, after the Yam'rii petitioned to the [[Galactic Senate/Legends|Galactic Senate]], the Republic intervened and ended the conflict, enforcing crippling economic sanctions on the Kaleesh.<ref name="GAW" />

[[File:Outboundthrawn.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Bentilais san Sk'ar battled and was defeated by Imperial Captain Thrawn during the early Imperial Period.]]
Peace did not last long; the Yam'rii desecrated Kaleesh burial grounds on the colony world [[Oben]], as a consequence, Sheelal gathered the Izvoshra and flew to Oben where they planned to re-establish hostilities with the Yam'rii. Their ship crashed into the [[Jenuwaa Sea]], however, as a result of the [[InterGalactic Banking Clan/Legends|InterGalactic Banking Clan's]] intervention at the behest of [[Count/Legends|Count]] [[Dooku/Legends|Dooku]], the [[Confederacy of Independent Systems/Legends|Confederacy of Independent Systems]]' [[Head of State/Legends|Head of State]] who hoped to utilise Sheelal for the ensuing [[Separatist Crisis/Legends|Separatist]] [[Clone Wars/Legends|war]] [[Separatist Droid Army/Legends|effort]]. Dooku had had Sheelal ejected from the ship before it crashed, but unbeknownst to the Count, Sk'ar had also survived, though alone. Thus, the warrior rallied the Kolkpravis under his leadership. They slaughtered all of the Yam'rii on Oben and Sk'ar had his people re-locate there.<ref name="GAW" />

Following the rise of the [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]], Sk'ar [[Kaleesh–Imperial conflict|violently resisted]] Imperial rule for over a decade, although [[Kaleesh Resistance|his forces]] were finally routed by [[Captain/Legends|Captain]] [[Mitth'raw'nuruodo/Legends|Thrawn]], who was usually able to study his adversaries' art and devise a strategy to defeat them from there. In the case of the Kaleesh, Thrawn was unable to comprehend the works of art, and so [[Bombardment of Oben|leveled]] the planet Oben with his [[Star Destroyer/Legends|Star Destroyers]].<ref name="aite" />

Sk'ar recognized superior tactics when he saw them and held no ill will against the victors since his people had died with honor. Instead, the general was taken aback by the sheer power of the technology wielded by his adversaries. Waiting in the remains of his razed headquarters, Sk'ar was approached by Captain [[Rel Bentin]], to whom he offered his life or his services. Bentin, intimidated by the towering figure of Sk'ar, brought the Kaleesh before [[Galactic Emperor/Legends|Emperor]] [[Palpatine/Legends|Palpatine]]. The Emperor was impressed by Sk'ar's courage in the face of almost certain death and knew full well what a Kaleesh warlord could achieve, as he had used the services of Sheelal during the Clone Wars. Seeing a purpose for Sk'ar in his Empire, Palpatine sent the Kaleesh [[General/Legends|general]] to bring some of the more remote worlds on the edge of known [[Realspace/Legends|space]] into line.<ref name="aite" />

With an Imperial strike force under his command, Sk'ar set out to vindicate Palpatine's judgment. He [[Subjugation of the Jahilid Drift|conquered]] the worlds of [[Pral]], [[Koltine]], and others located within the [[Jahilid Drift]], and began to earn a degree of respect amongst his peers. Even the Empire's more [[Speciesism|xenophobic]] officers recognized the successes of General Sk'ar. Unlike his colleagues, however, the Kaleesh excelled at undermining his adversaries through subterfuge and trickery, putting his soldiers at lesser risk and allowing for more significant control over conquered worlds.<ref name="aite" /> Leading from the front, Sk'ar equipped himself with a strong [[Personal energy shield/Legends|personal energy shield]] that was impervious even to close-range [[Blaster/Legends|blaster]] attacks.<ref name="m54" />

===Shiva IV===
{{Quote|You call yourselves commandos, the Emperor's elite strike force, prove it! I want this farce ended&mdash;now! ''Attack!''|Bentilais san Sk'ar|<ref name="m54" />}}
[[File:SkarCrushPunyPinkBoy-MSW53.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Sk'ar establishes his physical dominance over Warlord Aron Peacebringer during his bid to conquer Shiva IV.]]
Sk'ar hoped to be able to use his divide and conquer tactics on the world of [[Shiva IV]]. The two dominant governments on the planet, the [[Twelve Tribes of T'Syriél]] and the [[Calian Confederacy]], had warred incessantly for years,<ref name="aite" /> until [[2 ABY/Legends|2 ABY]],<ref name="date">''[[Star Wars: The Comics Companion]]'' places the events of [[Star Wars (1977) 53|''Star Wars'' (1977) 53]] at [[3 ABY/Legends|3 ABY]], while the comic itself establishes that [[Aron Peacebringer]]'s ascension and the signing of the [[Concordat of Peace]] occurred the [[Standard year/Legends|year]] prior. Therefore, the signing happened in [[2 ABY/Legends|2 ABY]].</ref> when they were able to make peace in a ceremony known as the [[Concordat of Peace]]. Hoping to open up old wounds, Sk'ar hired both [[Human/Legends|Humans]] from the Confederacy and [[T'Syriél]] from the Twelve Tribes, hoping that if either a member of the Confederacy or the Twelve Tribes stumbled upon his Shiva IV operation, they would immediately think their former rivals had broken the truce.<ref name="aite" />

Equipping the T'Syriél outcasts with heavily modified [[Stormtrooper armor/Legends|stormtrooper armor]], Sk'ar began laying the groundwork for his conquest of Shiva IV.<ref name="aite" /> First, he ringed the planet with microscopic [[space mine]]s,<ref name="sw53">[[Star Wars (1977) 53|''Star Wars'' (1977) 53]]</ref> before utilizing an [[anti-matter bomb]] against the city of [[K'avor]], [[Destruction of K'avor|leveling it]] entirely. He then began acquiring allies within the Calian and Twelve Tribes high command, promising [[Ygal Delois]], kin and aide of the Confederate leader [[Aron Peacebringer]], a position as ruler of the planet following the Imperial occupation. He enlisted Delois to prepare a mock-up of a [[Calian aerial battleship]], which would drop an anti-matter bomb on Shiva IV's capital city of [[Illyriaqüm]].<ref name="aite" /> Sk'ar would then conscript an army from the enslaved populace, since Shiva IV was home to what the general considered some of [[The galaxy/Legends|the galaxy's]] fiercest fighters.<ref name="m54" />

Dispatching his troops to Illyriaqüm to kidnap Peacebringer during the first anniversary of the Concordat of Peace, he was given custody of not one leader but two: [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Alliance to Restore the Republic]] member [[Leia Organa Solo|Leia Organa]] was also present, having been stranded on Shiva IV by the micro space mines.<ref name="sw53" /> While beating Peacebringer personally, Sk'ar had Organa [[Torture/Legends|tortured]] by his ally Delois, instilling rage in the Calian leader. As Sk'ar set off on his mission to destroy Illyriaqüm, he gave his men orders not to harm Organa, as Palpatine had requested that privilege for himself.<ref name="m54" />

===Death===
[[File:Skardies.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Sk'ar is killed in an explosion on Shiva IV.]]
Palpatine's order proved to be damaging to Sk'ar's operation: since the guards were not to harm her, Organa escaped, bringing Peacebringer along with her. Hijacking one of the Shivan aircraft, she set off after Sk'ar and his mock Calian airship. The Kaleesh sent [[TIE/LN starfighter]]s after them, but the general's [[Pilot/Legends|pilots]] were no match for Organa's own piloting skills. Peacebringer and Organa then boarded the airship, wreaking havoc on the main deck, while Sk'ar brayed orders at his men in futility.<ref name="m54" />

The situation worsened for Sk'ar when a team of Rebels who had been searching for Organa, comprising [[Lando Calrissian/Legends|Lando Calrissian]], [[Chewbacca/Legends|Chewbacca]], and [[Luke Skywalker/Legends|Luke Skywalker]], joined the foray, along with Peacebringer's [[Blood/Legends|blood]] brother, [[Demarch]] [[Kéral Longknife]] of the Twelve Tribes. Skywalker defeated Delois in combat, prompting Sk'ar to make his escape. He was stopped in his tracks by Calrissian, who attempted to gun the Kaleesh general down. However, Sk'ar's personal energy shield allowed him to simply walk up to his assailant and violently strike him, effectively removing him from the battle. Making it to one of the Shivan aircraft, Sk'ar hurtled away from the mock airship, but was spotted by Chewbacca. The [[Wookiee/Legends|Wookiee]], with no practical weapon in sight, picked up a solid [[Steel/Legends|steel]] gun mount and hurled it at the Kaleesh's ship. Sk'ar perished in the subsequent explosion.<ref name="m54" />

==Personality and traits==
{{Quote|I would rip the head from your body, had I the time, but that slap will have to suffice.|Bentilais san Sk'ar|<ref name="sw53" />}}
[[File:Skar.png|thumb|left|170px|Bentilais san Sk'ar, one of the most physically imposing and powerful generals in the Imperial military.]]
Though he preferred to manipulate and undermine his enemies, Bentilais san Sk'ar was a bloodthirsty individual who would commit acts of genocide or violence without any particular purpose in mind. His bombing of K'avor did not work into his final plan for Shiva IV at all, and he tortured both Leia Organa and Aron Peacebringer without asking any questions. Though he lessened the risk to his men through his tactics, he did not particularly respect them, often barking out orders and chiding them for their incompetence.<ref name="aite" /><ref name="m54" /> He would use his towering size<ref name="negas">''[[The New Essential Guide to Alien Species]]''</ref>  of about three [[Imperial standard meter|meters]] in height, unusually large for a Kaleesh,<ref name="negas" /> to intimidate and strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. Sk'ar's intimidating look was completed with hairless [[Color/Legends|grey]] skin and piercing red eyes.<ref name="m54" />

Supremely confident, Sk'ar considered it an honor to work for the Empire, the only adversary that had ever beaten him. Unlike others, he did not seek revenge for the destruction of his people, and he had a great respect for the power of technology. He paid proper service to the wishes of his master, Palpatine, and would strictly obey his commands. Conversely, Sk'ar had little more than contempt for pacifist entities such as Peacebringer and Organa, though he did acknowledge that Shiva IV was home to some of the galaxy's finest combatants.<ref name="m54" /><ref name="aite" />

==Behind the scenes==
Sk'ar was created by [[Chris Claremont]], [[Carmine Infantino]] and [[Walter Simonson|Walt Simonson]] for a two-issue arc in [[Marvel Comics]]' [[Star Wars (Marvel Comics 1977)|''Star Wars'']] series in [[1981]].<ref name="sw53" /><ref name="m54" /> His [[Species/Legends|species]], like those of many other early [[Star Wars Legends|Expanded Universe]] figures, was never identified, and his character remained undeveloped until fleshed out in the [[2007]] [[Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club|Hyperspace]] publication ''[[Aliens in the Empire]]'', which gave his full name and [[retcon]]ned him as a Kaleesh.<ref name="aite" /> He was later referenced in the [[Wizards of the Coast]] sourcebook ''[[Galaxy at War]]'' in [[2009]], which further expanded his backstory.<ref name="GAW" />

==Appearances==
{{Mediacat|imagecat=Images of Bentilais san Sk'ar}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 53|''Star Wars'' (1977) 53]] {{1st}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 54|''Star Wars'' (1977) 54]]

==Sources==
*{{Hyperspace|url=hyperspace/member/insideronline/97/indexp4.html|text=Aliens in the Empire, Part 2: To a Traitor Go the Spoils|int=Aliens in the Empire}} {{1stID|Bentilais san}}
*''[[Galaxy at War]]''
*{{DB|character|aronpeacebringer|Peacebringer, Aron|archivedate=20100106101958}}
*{{InsiderCite|146|Legendary Authors|Authors of the Expanded Universe: Chris Claremont}}

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

{{Interlang
|de=Bentilais san Sk'ar
|pl=Bentilais san Sk'ar
|plFA=1
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT: Sk'ar, Bentilais san}}
[[Category:Imperial Army generals of the Galactic Empire]]
[[Category:Kaleesh]]
[[Category:Males]]
[[Category:Resistance fighters]]
[[Category:Torturers and interrogators]]