Moran (Koboh)

Moran was a male Mirialan living on Koboh. He formerly worked for the Republic Tax Collection Agency.
==Biography==
===Early history===
Hailing from the Core Worlds, Moran studied the galactic economy with some of the greatest minds on Coruscant. Whilst on the planet, he eventually worked for the Republic Tax Collection Agency investigating revenue disputes, and it was there that he was introduced to people who were willing to bribe the system to avoid punishment. Moran believed that the Republic was a corrupt system that was pricier to adhere to.
While working for the Republic Tax Collection Agency, Moran ran an illegal, but profitable, smuggling operation with his business partner Dreyo. The pair met when Dreyo, who had previously managed a perfectly legitimate port on Rodia, would let Moran use his docks for shipments with no questions asked. The two grew romantically involved over time. Smuggling was a career he initially described as tax free trade of extrajudicial imports, Moran believing that the galaxy was begging to fill people's pockets, if only they'd play its 'game'.
At some point, whilst he was personally escorting a shipment of spice, or "sensitive luxury product", on Muunilinst, Moran and his crew were accosted by a customs longship as the transponder codes on his ship had not been updated and the vessel was marked. After his ship had been boarded, Moran put on the waterworks and began crying over a variety of subjects including past marriages and lower back pain. However, his efforts were in vain as one of the officers inadvertently kicked over one of the containers of spice. Moran quickly established a lie and told the officers the powder was the ashes of a thousand ritually cremated Serenno war heroes. To his surprise and relief, the inspectors believed the deception and cleared Moran to continue his delivery. He credited that lie as the reason why he later was able to flee to Koboh instead of rotting in a Muunilinst work camp.
When the Galactic Empire formed from the Republic following the conclusion of the Clone Wars, they cracked down on illegal operations and many of Moran's associates sought the safety of the Hutts. Dreyo urged Moran to quit the business and leave together, but Moran refused and Dreyo ended up leaving alone. He thought he could stick it out and turn the cards in his favor, but eventually realized he was driven by greed and became regretful, stating he chose the scenic route to rock bottom. Once Moran's smuggling operations were discovered, he fled to the Outer-Rim planet Koboh.
===Life on Koboh===
Following his arrival on the planet, he spent the majority of his time in Pyloon's Saloon, so much so that the proprietor Greez Dritus allowed him to store his belongings in a back room, and he had an established "old favorite" order there. Whilst he appreciated the fact that the cantina served alcohol and did not close when the Bedlam Raiders came to town, he believed the establishment violated about two dozen business fundamentals whilst giddily deploying false advertising practices, and was riddled with molds he dared not investigate.
The presence of battle droids across the planet afforded Moran the chance to reminisce on the Clone Wars. He called the conflict the glory days, commenting that a Separatist secession backed by tax-loathing free marketeers beginning just as he established a profitable extrajudicial shipping operation paired together like wine and flatcakes.
In 9 BBY, Moran met the Jedi Knight Cal Kestis in the saloon and the pair shared a frosty relationship. He immediately recognized Kestis as a Jedi due to the way he carried himself and the presence of a lightsaber on his belt. He promised to keep this fact a secret as, during their conversations, he had told Kestis enough to land himself in an Imperial intake yard. He told the Jedi that he knew what it was like to have a losing streak tied around his throat and respected people who kept fighting when the chips were down.
He initially couldn't bring himself to contact Dreyo as be believed there was enough shame to go around and assumed that his ex-partner likely didn't even know he was alive. At Kestis' behest, Moran eventually decided to send a comm to Dreyo for the first time since they split up, though he did not believe it would reach him, and, if it did, he did not expect a reply or that Dreyo would actually come. Despite the presence of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer that came to orbit the planet, Moran had no plans to leave Koboh.
==Personality and traits==
Moran was a solitary person who preferred his own company, and when having to commune with others, he would often show barely restrained indifference to them. At one point, Turgle informed him that he nearly died during one of his many escapades, to which Moran feigned indifference to the frog's near-fate.
He harbored strong anti-Imperial sentiments following the dissolution of his smuggling operation and his experiences with the Empire since that time. During a conversation with Twi'lek historian Toa, he thought her to be naïve for believing the Imperials wouldn't shoot a scholar working near the High Republic ruins on the planet. He compared the Empire to investors saying you could only keep them in the dark for so long. He would also state to her that even if the Empire hadn't decided how they were going to rob Koboh blind, they eventually would and would take what they wanted, including everything she was hunting for. He remarked that taking on the Empire was akin to betting on the long odds because you can't beat them and that they all had to live in their shadow.
At times, Moran would soften his stance towards others. After initially dismissing Cal Kestis' pity over his situation, he said he ended up on Koboh as a refugee at his own behest. He later apologized, saying that he shouldn't take his own troubles out on Kestis, and allowed the Jedi to search through his back room at Pyloon's for anything that would aid his mission. Moran would eventually grow to develop a grudging respect for Kestis. After looking back on the Clone Wars with fondness, he apologized to Kestis for being insensitive knowing what the Jedi would have gone through. He told him that Koboh would bleed him dry, and to get out whilst he could, before adding that it is not just about getting out, it's about getting out before he lost everything. He did, however, confirm to Kestis that despite being heartened when the Jedi said he'd take a Raider blaster bolt for him, he wouldn't afford Kestis the same courtesy.
Despite his stubborn refusal to contact Dreyo, Moran would speak of his ex-partner with fondness and regret. He claimed Dreyo had a ghastly sense of style and hoarded tasteless ornaments, but conceded he was the genuine article and believed that is why things didn't work out between them.
==Behind the scenes==
Moran first appeared in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor which released on April 28th, 2023. He was voiced by prolific voice actor J Michael Tatum.
==Appearances==
*Star Wars Jedi: Survivor 
==Notes and references==
Category:Galactic Republic bureaucrats
Category:Individuals with he/him pronouns
Category:Koboh residents
Category:LGBTQIA+ individuals
Category:Males
Category:Mirialans
Category:Smugglers