Aron Peacebringer

Aron, later known as Peacebringer, was born on Shiva IV, a planet far from the galactic core. He was a male Human who spent his early years within the Calian Confederacy, a society characterized by constant warfare with the humanoids of the Twelve Tribes of T'Syriél, another group vying for control of the planet. At the age of twelve years, he participated in combat and killed an enemy soldier in close-quarters sword combat, a common practice among the Calians. This experience disgusted him, and he became determined to end the endless cycle of violence plaguing Shiva IV. He eventually married Alisande, with whom he was deeply in love, and they had several children. Their first child, a daughter, tragically died in infancy from an illness that Aron himself contracted. Although he was deeply saddened by the loss of his child, he eventually recovered from his grief. It can be said that Peacebringer became one of the most formidable figures in the galaxy.

Aron steadily advanced through the Calian ranks, ultimately becoming the Warlord of the Calian Confederacy in 2 ABY, establishing his capital at Illyriaqüm. Prince Ygal Delois, a close friend and relative, served as the captain of his personal guard. Aron utilized his authority as Warlord to propose peace to Kéral Longknife, the Demarch of the T'Syriél. They jointly signed the Concordat of Peace and became blood brothers. For the first time within the collective memory of the Shivan people, peace descended upon Shiva IV, and Aron earned the moniker Peacebringer. He abolished the death cults dedicated to the Calian war gods, executing their priests and ending their rituals, a decision that sparked controversy among his constituents. Not everyone embraced the peace, and some outcasts continued to raid the peaceful settlements. Over the subsequent year, Peacebringer received concerning reports that these outcasts were being assembled and trained into a proper army within the Drylands.

In 3 ABY, Illyriaqüm lost contact with the remote city of K'avor. Reports from nearby areas indicated a significant flash of light occurred when communications ceased. The Warlord, accompanied by Longknife, Delois, and their comrade Jain Havero, embarked on a three-day journey to K'avor to investigate the situation personally. On the second night, while at campfire with his men, they heard a gunshot. They quickly investigated and discovered a group of T'Syriél outcasts attacking a woman—Leia Organa, the Rebel Princess, who had crashed on the planet while on a mission to investigate Imperial activity in the region. Despite being uncertain about the number of attackers, Peacebringer rushed to save the woman, relying on the darkness to create the illusion of a larger force. When mounted reinforcements arrived, Peacebringer engaged them himself, causing the outcasts to flee. However, Peacebringer was troubled that his four-man team, composed of the most skilled warriors on Shiva IV, had struggled against the outcasts, who were better equipped and trained than usual.

Peacebringer then focused on the woman, whose Basic language he could not understand. She, in turn, could not comprehend the Calian language spoken by Peacebringer and his companions. Peacebringer managed to convey his name and learned that hers was Leia. He took the mysterious woman with him as he continued his journey, teaching her Calian in the back of his repulsorlift transport. Upon reaching K'avor, they discovered that the surrounding area had been transformed into polished black glass, with blue flames hovering above the city. The city and its inhabitants had been reduced to ash. Organa, recognizing the effects of the Cherenkov effect and aware of the high levels of radiation, warned Peacebringer to avoid entering the city to prevent certain death. Trusting her warning, Peacebringer heeded her advice and turned back.

Upon returning to his capital, Peacebringer dispatched his agents across the planet to determine the cause of K'avor's destruction. Weeks passed without any answers, and rumors began to spread that the war gods were exacting revenge on the heretical Peacebringer. The Warlord suspected that someone was intentionally fueling these rumors while plotting a coup against him. Compounding his concerns, Peacebringer found himself increasingly drawn to Organa, captivated by her beauty, courage, and exotic nature. While he still loved his wife, he felt a growing passion for Organa, leaving him confused and conflicted. Although Organa, now fluent in Calian, attempted to communicate with him, he avoided her, fearing the consequences of another encounter. It was through intermediaries that he learned she was an emissary from the Alliance to Restore the Republic, fighting the Galactic Empire beyond the boundaries of Shiva IV, and that she had crashed during a mission to investigate the world.

On the evening before a gala at his palace, celebrating the first anniversary of the Concordat of Peace, and a month after Organa's rescue, Alisande informed Peacebringer of Organa's reports regarding a Galactic Empire. This Empire, dominating the wider galaxy and eager for conquest, was likely responsible for the destruction of K'avor, a level of devastation beyond the capabilities of Shiva IV's [technology](/article/technology_level]. At his wife's encouragement, he spoke with Organa, attempting to suppress his attraction to her. During the party, he remained preoccupied with concerns about the future of the peace he and Longknife had established. Alisande noticed his jealousy when Delois danced with Organa, but instead of scolding him, she acknowledged that it was only natural to be tempted. She urged him to exercise caution and wisdom in his decisions, expressing confidence in his judgment.

Despite this, after dancing with his wife, they did not retreat for a romantic interlude as they usually did. Instead, they separated, filled with uncertainty. When Organa broke away from Delois and went to a balcony, Peacebringer stopped his friend and went to speak with Organa himself. She expressed her frustration at not yet being rescued by the Rebel Alliance and grieved the loss of her homeworld, Alderaan, whose stately courts reminded her of Illyriaqüm. Peacebringer attempted to comfort her about Alderaan's destruction, but as he did so, the pair were ambushed by T'Syriél stormtroopers trained by the Empire. Caught off guard, Peacebringer was knocked unconscious before he could react to the danger.

Taken from his capital to a secret Imperial base, Peacebringer awoke in chains and was brought before General Bentilais san Sk'ar, the commander of the Imperial forces tasked with conquering Shiva IV. He quickly realized that the outcasts had been organized by the Empire and remained defiant in the face of the imposing Kaleesh general. Sk'ar revealed his plans to enslave the inhabitants of Shiva IV as Imperial shock troops, and Delois betrayed Peacebringer, aiding Sk'ar in exchange for control of Shiva IV. Delois boasted about the plan to kill all those gathered in Illyriaqüm, destabilizing the government and creating chaos that Sk'ar and Delois would exploit as conquerors. Peacebringer was horrified by the treacherous betrayal of his close friend and lieutenant, who was like blood to him.

While he and Organa were being led away, Peacebringer signaled the Rebel princess and attacked their guards, creating a diversion that allowed Organa to take the initiative. The Calian Warlord fought for his life, only catching glimpses of Organa's struggle against a knife-wielding attacker. When it appeared that she had been killed, Peacebringer was overcome with rage, entering a Calian battle madness that amplified his strength, enabling him to break his chains and kill the entire squad of guards. Upon reaching Organa, he found her safe; her assailant had narrowly missed her before she turned the knife against the Imperial officer.

With most of the base's forces away on the mission to destroy Illyriaqüm, the pair managed to steal a transport and escape without significant resistance. Organa piloted the ship through Sk'ar's TIE defenses and onto the airship that Sk'ar was using for his attack. Peacebringer and Organa fought off waves of stormtroopers before evading their would-be captors and disappearing into the vast aerial battleship. They made their way to the bomb Sk'ar intended to drop on Peacebringer's capital, and the warrior stood guard as Organa attempted to disarm it.

Delois ambushed Organa, injuring her, but was defeated by the arrival of Rebel reinforcements—Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca, two of Organa's closest allies—along with Longknife. While Organa successfully disarmed the bomb, Peacebringer and his new allies held off the Imperials. As Sk'ar tried to escape, Chewbacca shot down his flier with a discarded gun mount, killing the would-be conqueror of Shiva IV. When Peacebringer saw Organa instinctively celebrate with Skywalker rather than himself, he realized that Leia did not love him and never would. This realization allowed him to accept that he could live without her.

In the aftermath, Peacebringer rallied his forces to eliminate the remaining troops of the Kaleesh general and purged Delois's conspirators from his court within six days. Once he felt secure, the Warlord hosted a ball to celebrate the world's successful defense. At the ball, Alisande put the matter of Organa behind them, and Peacebringer felt confident in his relationship with his wife. However, the celebration was interrupted by the arrival of an Imperial I-class Star Destroyer in orbit. Using the Rebel freighter known as the Millennium Falcon, Skywalker and his Rebel companion Lando Calrissian lured the ship into a black hole, eliminating the new threat to Shiva IV.

Aron Peacebringer's first experience with killing left him with a lasting aversion to warfare. Despite the prevalence of war in his world's culture, he resolved to end it, preventing further loss of life. To achieve this goal, Peacebringer was willing to seize any opportunity. Although dedicated to achieving peace, Peacebringer was renowned as one of the most formidable warriors, a fierce fighter when necessary. Despite his position as a warlord and ruler, he always made time to dress well.

Devoted to his homeworld, his people, and his family, Peacebringer desired the best for them and felt the heavy burden of responsibility as one of the planet's two leaders. He understood the fragility of the peace agreement and was determined to ensure its long-term success. A man who valued good company, Peacebringer was a devoted family man and cherished his friends as family. The betrayal by Delois, whom he considered a son, was a devastating blow. Muscular and physically imposing, Peacebringer possessed tanned red skin, dark brown hair, and brown eyes.

Aron and Alisande married when they were young. They were deeply in love and conceived a child, who tragically died in infancy. Rather than driving them apart, this loss brought them closer together, and they had more children, in whom they found great joy. When Peacebringer became the Calian Warlord, Alisande became his queen, and they enjoyed a fulfilling married life. Their relationship grew stronger with time and remained vibrant, with formal dances often leading to secluded moments of intimacy.

However, with the arrival of Leia Organa, Peacebringer found himself captivated by her. Although he still loved his wife and wished to remain faithful, he could not deny his strong attraction to Organa. This caused him great distress and strained his relationship with Alisande, who noticed his infatuation. She did not condemn him but instead cautioned him that while his attraction was natural, he should carefully consider his actions. The situation resolved itself when Peacebringer realized that Organa did not and would not love him, allowing him to release the emotional hold she had on him. Peacebringer reconciled with his wife and family, whom he still loved deeply.

Peacebringer was one of the most skilled fighters on Shiva IV, having been raised in a Calian warrior tradition shaped by generations of conflict. Despite his peaceful and contemplative nature outside of war, Peacebringer was known for his ferocity in combat, fearlessly engaging in battle and cutting down his opponents. Peacebringer was also known to succumb to the "battle madness" sometimes experienced by the Calian people. During times of extreme stress, he would be consumed by a berserker rage that transformed him into an almost unstoppable killing machine with superhuman strength and fury. Equally adept at hand-to-hand combat and sword fighting, Peacebringer combined skill at arms with speed and agility. He was also a cunning strategist and tactician, as well as a capable pilot of the unique aerial transports developed by the Calian people.

As Warlord of Shiva IV, Aron Peacebringer typically wore a loincloth and a bandolier-style garment on his upper body, an outfit that provided minimal protection but served him well in combat. Peacebringer commonly wielded a sword in battle, although he was a formidable opponent even unarmed, especially when affected by the Calian "battle madness."

Aron Peacebringer made his debut in the fifty-third issue of the Marvel comic-book series Star Wars, which was written by Chris Claremont and released on August 18, 1981. Claremont and penciler Walter Simonson created the character by adapting unused artwork from the canceled Marvel Comics series John Carter, Warlord of Mars for use in a Star Wars comic. Carmine Infantino, a regular artist for the Star Wars series, had contributed some fill-in art for the series based on Edgar Rice Burroughs's space-fantasy warlord John Carter of Mars. This art was left unused after the cancellation of the John Carter series. Approximately a year after the cancellation, Marvel tasked Claremont with writing a new story based on the existing art and Simonson with adapting Infantino's art to fit the Star Wars comic series. The character of John Carter was transformed into Aron Peacebringer of Shiva IV in a story that spanned two issues, Star Wars 53 and Star Wars 54. In the "Star Words" letters column, the issues were presented as simply inspired by the John Carter stories.