Spoilers for Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars aheadBefore jumping into Respawn Entertainment's upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, fans can catch up with Cal Kestis and his adventures aboard the Stinger Mantis in the novel Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars. Set between the events of Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel, the novel details this motley crew's next mission to take down the Galactic Empire. Respawn is jumping forward a few years in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, making fans wonder where these heroes have been since the end of the first story. Battle Scars fills in some of the gaps, while revealing greater character depth during an uncertain period.
Sam Maggs, the author of Jedi: Battle Scars, gives readers a vivid sense of the crew's relationships after a couple of years working together. Cal Kestis, the now-more customizable player character of Jedi: Survivor, is fiercely committed to loosening the Empire's grip on the Galaxy. Greez, the four-armed captain of the Stinger Mantis, is less enthusiastic about the risks associated with the outlaw life, while Cal's master Cere Junda focuses on preserving the Jedi Order. Merrin, probably the most guarded of the bunch, is a force user who is emotionally vulnerable after leaving her homeworld of Dathomir. They are a complicated family that shares many of the same ideals, though a few cracks are beginning to show.
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars Puts a Spotlight on the Nightsister Merrin
Merrin was a fan-favorite character in Jedi: Fallen Order, and she gets a much larger focus in this novel. The vengeful Nightsister is given an emotional role in discovering herself among the Mantis crew. Initially, she has a standoffish demeanor while grieving the loss of her people, as the Separatists' massacre is still fresh in her mind. Upon meeting an Imperial defector nicknamed "Fret," Merrin hears Fret's plight, and eventually they are forced to escape together.
After the group's mission against the Haxion Brood goes awry, Merrin ultimately chooses mercy and vouches for Fret. With those same bounty hunters and Imperial agents on their tail, they take a risk by following Fret's lead in search of a stealth device called the Shroud. This device has the potential to safeguard Force sensitives, and the journey to get it might influence the story of Jedi: Survivor even more. However, over the course of Jedi: Battle Scars, Merrin develops an attachment to Fret that becomes a liability.
Cal and Cere discover Fret never severed her Empire ties completely, and is hiding something or someone from the crew. They find that their mission leads to Fret's former partner Irei, who is imprisoned and holds the schematics of the Shroud in her mind.
The Mantis Crew Meets Familiar Foes in Jedi: Battle Scars
Jedi: Battle Scars expands upon the threats from Respawn's first Jedi game, so it is interesting to see how the situation becomes more dangerous leading up to Jedi: Survivor. Following some intense negotiations between Cere, Greez, and BD-1, they pursue a new mission that puts them in the path of the Inquisitorius. One Inquisitor, the Fifth Brother seen in Star Wars: Rebels and the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries, is tasked with securing the Shroud and runs into the Mantis crew.
During a confrontation in the prison facility that holds the Force-sensitive Irei, the Fifth Brother almost defeats Cal before Cere intervenes. Greez loses an arm in the ensuing battle, with the group barely escaping with their lives.
Cal Kestis is Eager to Strike Back Against the Empire
Throughout Jedi: Battle Scars, Cal Kestis doesn't want to stand idly by while the Empire grows in power, yet he's also concerned for his crew. These familial bonds are critical to his arc, expressing his hope that they may endure the dark days ahead. Urging his allies to press forward in their mission, the book seems to hint that Jedi: Survivor could channel The Empire Strikes Back, during which its heroes face an even harsher reality than expected.
By this time in the universe's lore, the Galactic Empire has exerted absolute control over most of the Galaxy. There are not many safe havens left for the fugitive Jedi, and after Fret and the crew is betrayed, there is less hope of finding dependable allies. At the end of the journey, forsaking the Shroud's schematics should it land in the wrong hands, Merrin overcomes her feelings to leave Fret and Irei behind. The novel reinforces her loyalty to Cal and company, which only adds more mystery to where Merrin might be in Jedi: Survivor.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor releases April 28 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.