Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has been a hot topic for discussion in the last week since its release, as Star Wars fans are thrilled to finally get a Triple-A Star Wars game worthy of bearing that title. The newest Star Wars video game has canonized several new planets and creatures, all with deep lore and histories just waiting to be unveiled. One such addition are the Zeffo, a mysterious, ancient race of force-sensitive aliens hailing from the similarly named planet Zeffo. These ancient aliens play an important role in the story, and much can be gleaned from careful analysis of the collectible data-banks found on both Zeffo and Dathomir. Be forewarned: this article may contain MINOR SPOILERS.
The continuation of the Star Wars franchise since Disney bought out Lucasfilm has been met with mixed emotions, but for the most part, fans agree that the endeavor has been hit or miss at best. Star Wars: The Last Jedi, for example, and Rogue One fall on opposite sides of that for most fans, but many more agree that the latter was a huge success.
One such potential success is the recent release of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The game has only been out for a week from the time of this writing, but the internet is brimming with new content about this Star Wars dream come true. This entry in the Star Wars mythos is even more interesting because it, along with all of the new planets, alien races, and stories it introduces, are all considered canon in the Star Wars universe.
The story of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order revolves around Cal Kestis, a Jedi Padowan who managed to survive Chancellor-turned-Emperor Palpatine's infamous and deadly "Order 66." Cal settles down on Bracca, attempting to lead a normal life away from the Empire's piercing gaze, but is eventually discovered. After meeting up with Cere, a former Jedi Knight who had forsaken the power of the force, the two head to the planet Bogano to uncover the secrets of an ancient vault built by the Zeffo long ago. Cere's former master, Eno Cordova had hidden a list of the locations of force-sensitive children inside the Zeffo vault, and with dreams of rebuilding the Jedi Order, Cal follows in Cordova's footsteps, aiming to unveil the mysteries of the Zeffo.
Zeffo and Dathomir are the second and third available planets for players to visit during their quest through the galaxy, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gives players the choice of which they'd like to visit first. Dathomir is notable because it is already a well-established world in Star Wars canon, best known as the home planet of Darth Maul. Zeffo, on the other hand, makes its Star Wars debut in this game, meaning creators had a ton of artistic freedom when designing and building Zeffo.
Zeffo is described as an incredibly windy planet, featuring electromagnetic winds which storm troopers in game reveal are capable of rendering most of their technology useless. Additionally, the planet's landscapes and geographic features were heavily inspired by some of the windiest places on Earth, most of which tend to be mountainous regions with steep cliff walls eroded by relentless winds. Zeffo mimics this, as players find themselves navigating both high peaks and low valleys throughout the level. Even the wildlife and enemies were designed with this trait in mind.
But what of the Zeffo themselves? What were they like, and why are they so important? The Zeffo are particularly unique because they predate both the Jedi and the Sith, and as such, refer to the Force by a different name: the Life Wind. All Zeffo were Force sensitive, with a select few even having mastery over the Force. These Zeffo capable of manipulating the Force or Life Wind are known as Sages, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gives insight into the lives of three of such sages.
Two of these Sages, Eilram and Miktrull, are buried in massive, age-old temples on Zeffo filled to the brim with deadly traps, difficult encounters, and thought-provoking puzzles. Journeying through these temples teaches Cal new ways to use the force and provides further clues to opening the vault on Bogano.
Little information about these two is given, but databank entries from his tomb reveal that Eilram was the first of the Zeffo to establish positive relations with the people of Kashyyyk. Their civilization was advanced enough to appreciate other cultures, and even had a stone carving of a wroshyr tree (the most common tree from Kashyyyk) built over his grave. Miktrull, on the other hand, was said to demand precious offerings from his subjects. His reign being viewed by the Zeffo as an era of extravagance and vanity.
The third took a different path. The Sage Kujet valued power and mastery over the Life Wind above all else, and after promising such things to many of the Zeffo, led a contingent to Dathomir where they began a ruthless rule. Databases found in the temple on Dathomir, which is just one of many planets Jedi Fallen Order players cannot fast travel, even reference the Zeffo here killing their own kind in an attempt to gain power.
Kujet eventually succumbed to death as well, and left behind yet another Zeffo temple for Cal to infiltrate. What exactly caused the near extinction of the Zeffo is unknown, but a recording left behind by an unknown Zeffo Sage claims that pride and greed were their undoing. In seeking greater mastery over the Life Wind and technology, the Zeffo hurled themselves unknowingly toward extinction. The Zeffo Sage finishes his message stating he has taken the remaining Zeffo to the "Great Beyond," where he hopes they will find peace.
Exact details on the Zeffo's origins, history, and eventual extinction are scarce, but given their pivotal role in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and their unique place in the Star Wars universe, it seems likely that fans may see more of them in the future, with their return, based on Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order's ending and their mysterious allure, seeming likely. Their unique view of the Force is an interesting angle on an age-old Star Wars phenomenon, and the mystery surrounding the scarce information about them mean creators will have plenty of leeway for future incarnations of the Zeffo.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
