Qilori

Qilori was a Force-sensitive male individual associated with Uandualon who was a Pathfinder navigator. He used a sensory-deprivation headset to connect to the Great Presence in order to navigate through hyperspace. Other Pathfinders are able to track his movements through hypersace using the Great Presence. He disliked the Chiss Ascendancy because they assumed themselves to be superior to all other species. According to Qilori, the Chiss were not unique in believing themselves superior, but they took such ethnocentrism to a much greater level, viewing other sentients as "particularly clever animals."
Chiss Junior Commander Mitth'raw'nuru hired Qilori to help initiate the Lioaoin pirate campaign. After their mission to the Lioaoin heartworld, Qilori hoped he would never meet Thrawn again. However, he was later hired by Thrawn, who had since become a Senior Captain, during the Nikardun conquests. By that time, Qilori had become a servant of General Yiv the Benevolent, the leader of the Nikardun Destiny.
After defeating Yiv during the battle over Primea, Thrawn demanded that Qilori never reveal how he managed to defeat the Nikardun leader. Thrawn invoked the Navigators' Guild policy of confidentiality to threaten to have Qilori thrown out of the Pathfinders and also the Pathfinders removed from the Navigators' Guild, if Qilori were ever to disclose Thrawn's tactics. However, Qilori came to be trapped on a seemingly-dead starship owned by "Jixtus," to whom Qilori revealed that Thrawn was behind Yiv's defeat. Taking up Jixtus's offer for a bright future and revenge on the Chiss Ascendancy, Qilori then agreed to join his faction, the Grysk Hegemony. Jixtus tasked Qilori with learning the Chiss' means of navigating the Unknown Regions.
Qilori played a minor part as a Navigator in the conspiracy of the Agbui, who plotted to overthrow the Chiss Ascendancy from the inside with the guidance of the Grysks. Qilori had developed a fear of Thrawn's tactical abilities and warned Jixtus of the danger Thrawn represented. His warning proved futile, however, and Thrawn thwarted the Agbui's scheme.
Qilori was then assigned to navigate the Kilji Illumine war cruiser Anvil to its assigned destinations. He narrowly escaped the ship in an escape pod before it was destroyed in a battle with Thrawn and his associates, although Qilori's escape pod was subsequently picked up by Thrawn's cruiser. After traveling with Thrawn to Sunrise, Qilori was released and immediately warned Jixtus of Thrawn's plans.
Qilori spent the remainder of his service with the Grysks navigating the Kilji Illumine war cruiser Whetstone, the Kilji flagship and Jixtus's current mode of transportation. While aboard he witnessed the defeat of Jixtus's Grysk fleet over Sunrise at the hands of a Chiss fleet under the command of Thrawn and Admiral Ar'alani. After the Kilji Generilius Nakirre, the commander of the Whetstone, was killed by Jixtus, Qilori briefly took command of the vessel to alude Jixtus's attempts to use his flagship, the FateSpinner, to destroy Qilori and the Kilji.
==Biography==
===Meeting Thrawn===
At Guild Concourse 447, a Chiss diplomatic cruiser arrives seeking a navigator to take them to the capital of the Scofti nation, Bardram Scoft. Qilori is chosen by his dispatcher, Prack, to serve as the ship's navigator, much to his dismay. At the boarding gate, Chiss officers lead him aboard the ship. Along with most other species in the vicinity, Qilori doesn't like the Chiss. Specifically, he feels as if the Chiss see other species as "particularly clever animals". Upon reaching the Chiss bridge, Qilori settles in to take the Chiss to their destination.
At Bardram Scoft, Qilori takes off his sensory-deprivation headset, and is surprised to see that only he and a Chiss pilot are on the bridge. The Chiss explains that the other officers are preparing the Chiss ambassador for meeting with the new Scofti government officials. Since the government has changed, they are learning the new interaction protocols. Qilori asks about the previous Prefect, and the Chiss pilot reveals that he was assassinated, explaining that assassinations are common for the Scofti people. The pilot then asks Qilori to identify one of the incoming ships. Although he doesn't know for sure, Qilori believes that it is of Lioaoin origin. The pilot asks if it is a new design, but Qilori does not know. He asks the Chiss why he is interested, and the pilot explains that the ship is of similar design to a pirate ship group that have been attacking freighters on the Chiss Ascendancy borders. Qilori reflects upon the rumors circulating throughout the Navigators' Guild (mostly from Void Guides) about the Lioaoin Regime turning to piracy to prop up their failing economy, but he declines to share this information with the Chiss pilot out of fear of violating the Navigators’ Guild's rules of confidentiality and neutrality.
Qilori is asked if he can navigate to Lioaoin space from the Chiss Ascendancy, to which he confirms that he can. The pilot asks if Qilori could lead him from Bardram Scoft to Lioaoin space, to which Qilori does not answer. He instead asks the pilot if they will be traveling there next, but the pilot only says that they may be traveling there in the future. The Chiss asks Qilori for his name and if he is normally stationed at Guild Concourse 447. Qilori shares his name and confirms his primary station location. When Qilori asks for the pilot's name, the Chiss reveals himself as Junior Commander Thrawn. Thrawn tells Qilori that he will be asking for him, specifically, for any future navigator assignments.
Very soon thereafter, Thrawn returns to Guild Concourse 447 and asks for Qilori to accompany him on a mission to the Lioaoin heartworld. After arriving, Thrawn confirms, to Qilori's puzzlement, that the design of the Lioaoin patrol craft bear similarities to the pirate ships. Qilori wants to immediately leave the system, knowing of the danger posed to him, but Thrawn wants a closer look at a nearby Lioaoin ship. He believes it to be one of the ships that had recently attacked the Chiss Massoss system. Qilori expresses concern that Thrawn's actions may stir up a "massive stinger nest", to which Thrawn immediately asks him if he is confirming the Lioaoin involvement in the piracy. Qilori regrets his previous comment, worrying about breaking the Navigators' Guild's rules on nondisclosure. He is additionally worried about both the other Pathfinders' abilities to track his movements through hyperspace and the Lioaoin corsairs' likelihood of killing him in an attack. Qilori tries to backtrack, but Thrawn does not go along. After hearing another comment from Qilori (in which he points out a potential Lioaoin suspicion that Thrawn is hunting pirates), Thrawn decides to make the Lioaoi aware of his exact intentions. Over his comm, Thrawn announces, on an open channel, that he had located the pirates, and orders another nearby ship to report back to the Ascendancy. Thrawn shows Qilori a departing Chiss vessel, who is responding to Thrawn's order. When Thrawn himself turns away to leave the system, three Lioaoin corsairs pursue him. Thrawn tells Qilori that they are headed to the nearby Kinoss system to deliver the news to the stationed Chiss couriers.
Qilori returns to space-normal twice on their journey to Kinoss, having been disturbed by the pursuing corsairs (Pathfinders can sense others of their kind in the Great Presence). Arriving, Thrawn and Qilori witness that other Chiss ship was already there. As the two Chiss chips head towards Kinoss, four Lioaoin corsairs arrive behind them. Qilori is surprised to learn that Thrawn expected their arrival. Thrawn tells Qilori that he had researched the Pathfinders after their first encounter, learning of their ability to track each other through hyperspace. He had also witnessed their movement patterns in a previous, unrelated pirate attack. Thrawn was hoping to get to the Lioaoin heartworld before the Pathfinders on the pirate ships were returned to their stations of operation so that he could lure them to Kinoss. Using his knowledge of Pathfinder tactics, Thrawn had successfully manipulated the Lioaoin pirate ships into arriving at Kinoss at a precise location. A Chiss warship, commanded by Mid Captain Ziara, suddenly arrives amongst the Lioaoin ships, and destroys them.
===A Warning to Yiv===
After hoping to never see Thrawn again, Thrawn returns, with the Chiss ship Springhawk, to Guild Concourse 447 and asks for Qilori. Qilori reflects on the improbability of Thrawn’s quick military ascension but isn't surprised, considering what had happened at Kinoss. Thrawn asks Qilori if he knows of the Rapacc system. Qilori knows that Yiv is blockading Rapacc, and tries his best to appear unfazed by the question. He forgets to answer, though, so Thrawn prompts him again. Qilori tells Thrawn that he can lead them to Rapacc, and he wonders if he should warn Thrawn about the Nikardun presence there. He decides not to, though, since it may make Thrawn suspicious as to how Qilori knows about them. Qilori takes the Springhawk to the inner Rapacc system via either Shadow Number One or Shadow Number Two, and as he realizes that no one is paying any attention to him, he sends messages to the Nikardun ships in the area (having secretly tapped into the Chiss comms and recording messages during his many rest periods). Three Nikardun ships approach the Springhawk. Qilori assumes a deck jolt to be the start of an attack, but realizes that it was just the product of a shuttle separating from the Springhawk. The shuttle races towards Rapacc, and two of the Nikardun ships break off to pursue it. The Springhawk subsequently turns away, with the remaining Nikardun fighter chasing it. Qilori realizes that Thrawn chose these specific coordinates because he wanted to be attacked by Nikardun forces, and he theorizes that the Springhawk is a diversion for another Chiss ship to advance on the planet unnoticed.
The pursuing Nikardun ship catches up to the Springhawk and opens fire, but the Springhawk defeats it and captures it via a tractor beam and a crippler net. Qilori realizes that Thrawn's true goal was to capture a Nikardun ship. Thrawn, preparing to return Qilori to Guild Concourse 447, asks him if he needs a rest period, to which Qilori refuses. Thrawn then asks Qilori if he found the exercise "interesting", to which Qilori responds in the affirmative, trying to keep his composure.
After returning to Guild Concourse 447, Qilori uses a backlog of favors and blackmail to secure transport to the Primea system, capital of the Vak Combine. After a thirty-five-hour-long journey, he arrives and boards Yiv's Battle Dreadnought Deathless. Qilori tells Yiv that he brings news from Rapacc, and after Yiv tells him that he is aware of the Nikardun ship capture, Qilori offers to give him the name of the man responsible. Yiv, intrigued, tells Qilori to proceed. As Qilori tells the whole story, Yiv interrupts, states that he already knows it was a Chiss that captured the vessel, and demands to know the name of its commander. When Qilori tells Yiv that it was Senior Captain Thrawn that was in command, Yiv is upset that Qilori didn't bother to find out his full Chiss name. Qilori is then tasked by Yiv with determining Thrawn's full name.
===Introducing Thrawn to Yiv===
Qilori, serving as the navigator for a Garwian diplomatic mission to Primea, learns that two Chiss are aboard: an artistic master and a female companion. Yiv is still on Primea, and he instructs Qilori to attend a Vak reception to inform him of any updates. At this reception, he overhears the male Chiss telling his female companion, stating that she needs to go fix her makeup, referencing the importance of "proper family hostage decorum". Turning around to look at the Chiss, Qilori recognizes him as Thrawn. Qilori, realizing an opportunity to please Yiv, considers immediately informing the Nikardun of Thrawn's presence. Opting to wait, Qilori strikes up a conversation with Thrawn. The Chiss introduces himself as Artistic Master Svorno. Qilori, believing that Thrawn does not recognize him, declines to share his name and asks what the Chiss is doing on Primea. Thrawn states that he intends to disprove a theory that the Garwians and Vaks had a trade relationship during the Midorian Era. Thrawn, noting the abundance of different species at the reception, points out Yiv, stating that he has never before seen anyone of that species. Qilori identifies Thrawn's subject as a Nikardun. When Thrawn asks Qilori if he could be introduced to the Nikardun, Qilori states that he will go see if he is interested.
Leaving Thrawn, Qilori approaches Yiv, who is conversing to a group of Vaks. Waiting for Yiv to take a breath, Qilori informs him of Thrawn's presence and his false name. Yiv permits Qilori to bring Thrawn to him for a conversation. Going back to Thrawn, Qilori introduces the Nikardun as General Yiv the Benevolent, to which Thrawn expresses disappointment, noting that military types typically don't harbor valuable artistic information. Qilori, fearing that Thrawn will dismiss a conversation with Yiv, implores Thrawn to at least try talking to him. Thrawn, noting that he cannot leave before the return of his companion, accepts Qilori's reasoning. As Qilori brings Thrawn to Yiv, he confusedly reflects on Thrawn's differing descriptions of his female companion (he describes her as his companion and his family hostage).
Upon introducing Thrawn to Yiv, the two strike up a conversation. They discuss artwork, architecture, and the Vak culture, challenging and complimenting each other along the way. Later, the Chiss female returns, and Thrawn describes her as a "person of no consequence" to a curious Yiv. Thrawn departs, and Yiv and Qilori discuss the conversation that just occurred. Yiv tells Qilori that he now understands the threat that Thrawn poses, and commends him for bringing the Chiss to his attention. Qilori brings up the Chiss female, revealing that he heard Thrawn describe her as his "family hostage". Yiv states that he believes that description to be a bluff meant to confuse him, but Qilori notes that the general had a note of hesitation in his voice. Qilori asks what Yiv plans to do with Thrawn, to which the Nikardun reveals that he will be captured whilst aboard the Garwian ship. Qilori is instructed to keep the Garwian ship at Primea until the Nikardun makes its move. Qilori notes to himself that participation in this kind of military scheme might lead a Pathfinder to execution, but decides to go along anyway due to the threat that Thrawn poses to the Nikardun reign.
To Qilori's shock, the Garwian ship decides to leave a day early. He wonders if he should send word to Yiv, but Qilori sees the Deathless come into view as it orbits Primea. However, Qilori overhears the Garwians talking about Artistic Master Svorno and his companion neither being aboard the ship nor anywhere in the diplomatic offices or guest quarters on the surface. Qilori fears that Yiv will attack the Garwian ship for nothing. He decides to offer a solution to the Garwian officer Frangelic. Qilori states that he witnessed Svorno talking with General Yiv the Benevolent at the diplomatic reception on the planet and offered that he might know about the Chiss' whereabouts. Frangelic listens and signals for the comm officer to signal the Deathless. Qilori reflects that although Thrawn had escaped the more immediate trap, he couldn't possibly outrun the Nikardun or the Vaks for much longer.
===Yiv's Defeat===
Thrawn had later escaped Primea by stealing a Vak patrol craft. Many weeks later, Thrawn would send his "family hostages", Thalias and Che'ri, back to Primea to return this craft and to deliver a message. However, Yiv intercepts and replaces this message. He also instructs for Thalias and Che'ri to be captured by the Vaks, and sends Qilori to transport them to the Deathless. After he does so, Qilori travels back to Guild Concourse 447, where he would await for Thrawn's arrival. Qilori has instructions to personally bring Thrawn to a point in the Primea system far away from the planet, where Yiv would be waiting to kill him. During the voyage, Thrawn gives Qilori his favorite drink, Garala tealeaf, which surprises him: not many employers bother to learn their navigators' preferences. Qilori maintains his image of ignorance to the situation, even though Thrawn secretly knows of his allegiance to Yiv. Qilori, notably, is confused to the Chiss freighter's peculiar shape. He also notes to himself that he must thank Yiv for allowing him to watch Thrawn perish.
As Qilori and Thrawn arrive at Primea, Thrawn notes that their location does not match the coordinates sent in Yiv's message to the Ascendancy. Yiv reveals that Thrawn, instead of the money, was to be the ransom for the Chiss hostages. Thrawn then calmly explained that he did not have to come alone, since Yiv had broken the agreement. Yiv, seeing that Chiss Admiral Ar'alani's Picket Force Six had arrived at Primea and engaged the Nikardun blockaders, panicked and ordered his three accompanying Nikardun Battle Dreadnoughts to attack them. Thrawn also reveals that he anticipated for his message to be replaced and that he placed a second copy of the message on the Vak patrol craft for the Combine to find. The Vaks, knowing that Yiv had replaced the message and realizing the danger posed by the Nikardun, stepped back and allowed the Chiss to attack them. Thrawn, during a break in his conversation with Yiv, interrogates Qilori about the situation. He explains that Yiv cannot afford to show weakness by allowing their blockade ships to be destroyed, evidenced by the departure of the three companion Nikardun Battle Dreadnoughts. Thrawn resumes his conversation with Yiv, where Qilori notes to himself that the Nikardun's face was that of pure hatred. Yiv threatens to destroy the entire Ascendancy for Thrawn's treachery. Qilori realizes that Thrawn is more in control of the situation than previously thought, and it sends a chill down his spine. He also realizes that, since the other Battle Dreadnoughts were gone, the Deathless is vulnerable to an attack from behind. Qilori, disturbed by the possibility, starts to think of a way to contact Yiv, but Thrawn detects his unease and assures him that there are no other Chiss ships ready to attack the Deathless. Thrawn drops his charade and reveals to Qilori that he is aware of both Yiv's use of Pathfinders to coordinate Nikardun attacks and Qilori's allegiance to Yiv. Since direct cooperation with military forces was against the Navigators' Guild rules, Thrawn offers Qilori to keep this secret from the Navigators' Guild if he agrees to forget the day's events. Qilori agrees to the proposal, but quietly dismisses Thrawn, noting that he would be dead soon anyway. However, Thrawn was able to defeat Yiv. Thalias and Che'ri had concealed a potent amount of tava mist in their makeup, which, upon release, disoriented the Nikardun to the point where Thrawn was able to board the Deathless's bridge and bind Yiv. 
After two months, Qilori was hired by the Grysk known as Jixtus. During a voyage, Jixtus commanded his ship's navigation system to be shut down, and Qilori, recognizing this, exited the Great Presence. In the empty bridge, Qilori is contacted by the unidentified voice of Jixtus, who asks him about the whereabouts of Yiv. When Qilori attempts to feign ignorance, the Jixtus threatenes to kill him. Qilori then informs Jixtus of the capture of Yiv by the Chiss Senior Captain Thrawn. Jixtus asks about the Nikardun Destiny, and Qilori informs him about their decreasing power and control. Qilori asks Jixtus if he was Yiv's master, and Jixtus confirms that he orchestrated the Nikardun conquests, noting that if they were involved, it would have been much more successful. Jixtus informs Qilori that if the Chiss were to be taken down, a more subtle approach would need to be established. Qilori, when prompted about his approval of the plan, pledges to join Jixtus on his campaign against the Chiss, noting that they have taken his life away from him. Jixtus identifies himself to Qilori and allows him to resume his navigational duties. 
===Tasked to the Agbui===
Soon thereafter, Jixtus would hire Qilori to a group of Agbui, led by Haplif, who were working to foment a civil war within the Chiss Ascendancy. Upon arriving at Jixtus's ship and meeting Haplif, Jixtus tasked Qilori with navigating a Chiss ship to the world of Hoxim, where a fake nyix mine was being held. Qilori was to act like he had been to the world before and answer any questions the Chiss may have about it. Haplif also promised Qilori to prepare him with the answers to any question the Chiss may ask. Qilori asked Jixtus if there was to be any military conflict involved, but the Grysk promised that the conflict would be far away from him. However, Qilori insisted that Jixtus consider who he took military action against, reminding him of Senior Captain Thrawn's exploits against General Yiv. Considering this, Jixtus promised to occupy Thrawn with another task far away from the Agbui sphere of operation. When Qilori and Haplif depart from their meeting, Jixtus makes Qilori aware of the mystery of how the Chiss navigate hyperspace, sharing rumors that the Chiss have acquired a computerized navigational system from their past missions into Lesser Space. Jixtus only wants Qilori to be aware of this possibility and to keep an eye out for the mystery. As Qilori departed, he notes to himself that if he ever found this supposed technology being used by the Chiss, he would not tell Jixtus, as he would be soon be out of a job.
Many weeks later, Qilori would be called upon to navigate for a Chiss escort mission to Hoxim. Upon arriving at the system, Xodlak'ji'iprip (Lakjiip), senior aide to Xodlak Councilor Xodlak'uvi'vil (Lakuviv), would interrogate Qilori about the world, the Agbui, and his involvement with the Agbui. Qilori was trained on what to say to Lakjiip by Haplif, who wished to manipulate the Xodlak family into starting a civil war with two other Chiss families over the planet, which housed a fake mine of nyix, the rarest metal known to the Chaos. Qilori would accompany Lakjiip in her investigation of the fake mining facilities. At the end of the mission, the Chiss captain of the escort ship would ask Lakjiip if she had accomplished everything she wanted, to which she would affirm. Qilori then smiled to himself, as both Haplif and Jixtus also got everything they wanted. 
However, the Agbui plot was dismantled by Senior Captain Thrawn and Mid Captain Csap'ro'strob (Apros) of the Chiss warship Grayshrike. Soon thereafter, Qilori would again meet with Jixtus, who commended the Pathfinder for making him aware of the military cunning of Thrawn. Jixtus promised to keep him in mind for his future machinations against the Chiss. In this meeting, Jixtus also identifies his species as Grysk. When Qilori asked if there is anything that he can still do for Jixtus, he officially tasked the Pathfinder with solving the mystery of how the Chiss travel through hyperspace. Qilori agreed, as Jixtus threatened to hold him accountable if he failed. 
==Personality and traits==
Qilori was by nature unsure of himself and easily frightened. Because of this his loyalty to whatever regime he was in service of was easily compromised, making him an untrustworthy associate. Only fear would keep him loyal to his service. Qilori put his personal safety above all other things, and no other fear of punishment could override his fear of death.
Qilori harbored a strong dislike for the Chiss, whom he called "blue-skins", and their government. He was often afraid for his personal safety, to the point of compromising the Navigators' Guild neutrality and confidentiality policies when coerced.
Qilori had faith in the Force, which he called the "Great Presence". When he believed he would die, he believed he would join the Great Presence, and wondered whether he would fade into the void or be "deemed worthy" to join the currents of hyperspace to guide the journeys of future navigators.
==Behind the scenes==
Qilori of Uandualon first appeared in the 2020 novel Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising by Timothy Zahn, in which he played the role of a secondary antagonist and a major point-of-view character. Qilori returned in a more minor capacity in the 2021 sequel Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good, in which fellow Grysk Hegemony agent Haplif of the Agbui played a similar literary role to that Qilori played in Chaos Rising. Qilori appeared once again in the 2021 finale Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil, where his role from the previous novel was increased, although he was not a major character as in the first novel in the series.
==Appearances==
*Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising 
*Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good 
*Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil 
==Notes and references==
==External links==
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Category:Grysk Hegemony individuals
Category:Individuals of unidentified species
Category:Individuals with he/him pronouns
Category:Males
Category:Navigators' Guild personnel
Category:Nikardun Destiny individuals