The Secrets of the Mortis Gods Unveiled: Untold Star Wars Chronicles, Supernatural Abilities, Enigmatic World & Profound Significance

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for the Ahsoka finale.

Summary

The Mortis gods, which comprise the Father, the Daughter, and the Son, are formidable beings who possess dominion over the Force and are poised to have a significant impact on the future of the Star Wars universe. Operating as guardians of the Force, they not only uphold its equilibrium but also possess the extraordinary power to alter their physical appearance and steer the course of its energy.

The Mortis gods play a crucial role in the symbolism and narrative of Star Wars, symbolizing the delicate equilibrium between the light and dark sides of the Force. The discovery of statues depicting these gods by Baylan implies that he may have unlocked the ability to harness the Force's power.

After Ahsoka's appearance, the significance of the Mortis gods in Star Wars has only grown. The true essence and origin of the Force have always remained enigmatic, but its connection to the enigmatic Mortis gods has become evident. These revered beings, worshipped on the distant galaxy's planet Peridea, appear to be intertwined with the mysterious goals of the dark Jedi, Baylan Skoll. This hints at their immense importance in the future storyline.

Who Are The Mortis Gods

Previously, Mortis was believed to exist as a separate mystical realm outside of the Star Wars universe, similar to the World Between Worlds. However, evidence of the Mortis gods has been discovered scattered across the galaxy, such as the mural found at the Jedi Temple on Lothal. Remarkably, Baylan's recent uncovering of the Mortis god statues implies that Mortis may physically reside on Peridea. The significance and symbolic nature of the Mortis gods cannot be overstated, as they are some of the most vital characters within the Star Wars narrative. If Baylan has indeed stumbled upon the location where these gods once resided, he may have come across the ability to tap into the power of the Force itself.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars introduced the three Mortis gods as formidable "Force-wielders." These powerful beings, namely the Father, the Daughter, and the Son, were entrusted with guiding the trajectory of the Force throughout the galaxy. While physically present on Mortis, they possessed the remarkable ability to transform their appearances at will. Their main purpose was to safeguard "the power," which symbolized the Force itself. Mortis served as a conduit for the entire Force in the Star Wars universe, and it was the Mortis gods who controlled its ebb and flow, ensuring the balance between the dark side and the light side remained intact.

The Mortis gods were revered as legendary figures across the galaxy. In Star Wars Rebels, Ezra Bridger stumbled upon a mural of the Mortis gods at the Jedi Temple of Lothal, which served as the gateway to the World Between Worlds. Additionally, sacred Jedi texts used by Rey in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker featured inscriptions about the Mortis gods. Although the Jedi Order once had knowledge of these deities, belief in their existence has dwindled. Even the Father acknowledged that only a few still acknowledge the Mortis gods today. He claimed that their unparalleled ability to manipulate the Force drove them to abandon the mortal realm.

The Father Represents The Balance Of The Force

Within The Clone Wars, the Father is depicted as an elderly man responsible for upholding the equilibrium of the Force by exercising control over his offspring. Given his depiction on Lothal and Peridea, it appears that he has fulfilled this duty for countless millennia. The Father believed that Mortis was the sole realm where he could effectively manage his children and prevent them from causing catastrophic damage to the universe. However, the Mortis arc uncovered the Father's deteriorating health and his waning ability to control his offspring.

As the most powerful deity of Mortis, the Father was the source of his children's power and immortality. Mortis served as both a sanctuary and a confinement for these three wielders of the Force. While the Father possessed the restraint necessary to maintain balance, the Daughter and the Son were too strongly aligned with either the light or dark side of the Force to be trusted independently. In essence, despite their desire to escape Mortis and assert their dominance over the galaxy, the Father lovingly kept them restrained. In his perception, darkness and light must fluctuate equally. If one side gained an excessive amount of power, the equilibrium of life would be disrupted.

The Daughter Represents The Light Side Of The Force

The Daughter, embodying the light side of the Force which the Jedi favored, possessed the ability to transform into a massive griffin. She symbolized the day and brought life to Mortis through the blossoming of plants under the sun. Unlike her power-hungry brother, she approached her role with solemnity, trusting her Father's choice to keep them captive, and only asserting her power when challenged by him. The Daughter consistently sought to act selflessly.

Curiously, Baylan discovers a decapitated statue of the Daughter on Peridea. This absence symbolizes the state of the light side during Ahsoka's time in the Star Wars timeline. In The Clone Wars, the Daughter sacrifices herself to save the Father and transfers her remaining life into Ahsoka Tano. In many ways, her demise parallels Order 66 and the downfall of the Jedi Order. Just as she perished, so too were the Jedi destroyed. Meanwhile, the Son was left to gain dominion over Mortis alone, akin to Palpatine's temporary reign over the galaxy.

The Son Represents The Dark Side Of The Force

As the embodiment of the dark side of the Force, the Son continuously seeks to overthrow the Father and become the supreme deity of Mortis. He may have harbored some feelings towards his sister, but perhaps only because she gave significance to his own power. The Son had the ability to transform into various shapes, with his preferred form being a towering bat. However, he also assumed the appearance of Shmi Skywalker, Anakin's mother, in an attempt to lure him to the dark side. Additionally, the Son took on the guise of a mischievous goblin to torment Ahsoka and infect her with the dark side.

In contrast to the Daughter's selflessness, the Son was driven by selfishness. Similar to the Sith who drew strength from him, he reveled in decay, darkness, and the power that came with hatred and malice. With the Daughter's demise, Mortis descended into a realm of darkness and despair. The lush vegetation she had cultivated wilted under the influence of the Son's power. As a final desperate act to escape Mortis, the Son revealed Anakin's future as Darth Vader, although this knowledge was later erased by the Father. Nevertheless, the Son's triumph over the Daughter symbolized the ascent of the Empire and the domination of the dark side.

Everything Star Wars Has Revealed About Mortis, Homeworld Of The Mortis Gods

Very little is known about the specific location of Mortis in the galaxy. Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka were transported there through a floating monument near the Chrelythium system. Obi-Wan's scanners were unable to determine their exact position within the known galaxy. Ahsoka believed that Mortis may be no larger than an asteroid. However, Baylan Skoll has suggested that Mortis could possibly exist physically on the planet Peridea. If this is true, Baylan may be on the verge of discovering the location of the Force conduit. As Mortis enhances Force sensitivity, Baylan could potentially become a wielder of the Force or even control the flow of the Force itself.

There are significant locations on Mortis that are worth noting. The Well of the Dark Side is a fiery chasm that extends deep beneath the planet's surface, serving as a conduit for all the dark side energy in the galaxy. Additionally, the Altar of Mortis houses the Dagger of Mortis, a weapon more lethal than any lightsaber as it has the power to kill the gods of Mortis. However, most of the events in the Mortis arc occur within the Mortis monastery, which Baylan may have sighted in the distance on Peridea.

How The Mortis Gods Connect To The Chosen One & The Balance Of The Force

The entirety of The Clone Wars' Mortis arc was initiated by the Father, who wanted to determine if Anakin was truly the Chosen One. Due to his failing health, the Father saw Anakin as his potential successor on Mortis, but Anakin ultimately rejected this opportunity. Despite possessing mystical powers, the Mortis gods still held the prophecy of the Chosen One in high regard. According to the Father, it had been foretold that Anakin would stay on Mortis and maintain balance. However, Anakin's refusal resulted in the destruction of Mortis and the downfall of the Mortis gods.

The Mortis arc had profound symbolic significance, making it difficult to situate within the Star Wars timeline. Although Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka were transported there during the Clone Wars, their time spent with the Mortis gods did not align with real time. Upon returning to the temporal galaxy, Captain Rex stated that they had only lost contact with Mortis for a brief moment. In other words, the Mortis realm may exist beyond the confines of time, which could explain how the Father managed to maintain balance among his children for thousands of years.

What Star Wars Episodes Does Mortis Appear In?

The Mortis arc takes place in episodes 15, 16, and 17 of season 3 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. In "Overlords," Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan first arrive in the strange realm of Mortis. Anakin demonstrates his ability to subdue both the Son and the Daughter simultaneously, solidifying his role as the Chosen One with control over the Force. However, in "Altar of Mortis," the Daughter sacrifices herself while trying to save the Father from the Son, eliminating the need for Anakin to maintain the balance. In "Ghosts of Mortis," the Father chooses to sacrifice himself to strip the Son of his power and immortality, enabling Anakin to deliver the final blow.

Although Mortis itself is not physically present, a representation of the Mortis gods is also featured in episodes 12 and 13 of season 4 of Star Wars Rebels. In "Wolves and a Door," Ezra Bridger and Sabine Wren discover a hidden mural of the Father, the Son, and the Daughter deeply hidden beneath the Jedi Temple on Lothal. Through the use of the Force, Ezra activates a gateway that leads to the World Between Worlds, which may have a fundamental connection to the power of the Mortis gods. In "A World Between Worlds," Ezra successfully employs time travel to rescue Ahsoka, although the mural and the Temple collapse in on themselves in the end.

The Mortis Gods In Star Wars Legends - & Abeloth

In the years following the release of The Clone Wars and prior to Disney's eventual takeover, Aaron Allston delved deeper into the enigmatic Mortis gods in his Fate of the Jedi series. Within the realm of Star Wars Legends, Allston introduced an ancient being named Abeloth, who served as the main antagonist in his works. Initially a mortal woman who serendipitously crossed paths with the three Mortis gods, Abeloth eventually assumed her role as the absent Mother in their divine family. Unlike the Father, who merely contained his offspring, Abeloth possessed the ability to coax them into cooperation. However, as a mortal, Abeloth inevitably aged and yearned for eternal life.

Although now confined to the realm of Legends, Abeloth partook in the Font of Power and immersed herself in the Pool of Knowledge. While these actions granted her immortality, they also corrupted her, transforming her into an alarmingly formidable entity of the dark side. Fearing her power, the other Mortis gods imprisoned her. Nevertheless, upon their demise during The Clone Wars, Abeloth was liberated and unleashed her destructive influence upon the galaxy. Additionally, there is speculation that Dave Filoni of Lucasfilm intends to incorporate Abeloth into the canon, as she could potentially be the entity enticing Baylan to Mortis.

The Mortis Gods In Ahsoka & Baylan's Future Star Wars Setup

If Abeloth isn't communicating with Baylan, it's possible that the Mortis gods, who were believed to be dead during The Clone Wars, may still exist. As they are deeply connected with the Force, it's conceivable that they continue to exist in some form even without physical bodies. The Father himself explains to Anakin that their physical presence was merely a representation of the surrounding energy. If the Mortis gods still exist within the Force, they might be calling Baylan to take on the role of the power's guardian on Mortis.

Regardless of whether it's the Mortis gods or Abeloth who are beckoning Baylan, Dave Filoni faces a challenging decision in concluding Baylan's storyline on Mortis. Unfortunately, due to the unfortunate passing of Ray Stevenson, Baylan's character remains stranded on top of the Father's statue. Although Mortis is within reach, Baylan is unable to reach it himself. Regardless of how Filoni addresses this loss, he has successfully utilized the Mortis gods to connect his various Star Wars projects, from The Clone Wars and Rebels to the current Ahsoka storyline.

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