Koril

This article is about Koril, the witch. You may be looking for Koril Bekam, a New Republic pilot in Star Wars Legends.

No one is safe from the truth.

Warning! This page contains spoilers from the episode "Choice" of The Acolyte. Caution is advised.

"Osha wants to do it."
"Osha is a child."
"She is old enough to know what she wants."
"I did not bring the girls into this world so we could lose them to a bunch of deranged monks."
"It is not your decision. It is mine. And I've made it."

―Aniseya and Koril, arguing over whether to allow the visiting Jedi to test their daughters^[1]

Mother Koril was a Force-sensitive Iridonian Zabrak female who lived during the High Republic Era. She was a witch in Mother Aniseya's exiled coven, who eventually settled on the planet Brendok after being persecuted. Around 156 BBY, Koril carried the twin children Mae-ho and Verosha Aniseya who were created by Mother Aniseya. She and Mother Aniseya raised the sisters together as their mothers and the Zabrak was fiercely protective of her daughters. The two mothers often disagreed on how to raise the twins, with Koril often eventually deferring to her leader's authority.

In 148 BBY, Koril brought Verosha and Mae-ho back to the witches' fortress after finding them wandering the nearby forest and discussed their outing with Mother Aniseya prior to the girls' training session. During the twins' Rite of Ascension ceremony to become witches, several visiting Jedi interrupted, and Mother Aniseya agreed to let the pair be tested after Jedi Master Indara insisted. Koril strongly disagreed with her leader's decision, but nevertheless deferred to her authority and brought the girls to the Jedi's starship the next day. Not long after, Koril vanished into smoke after Mae-ho started a fire that killed the entire coven, which the girl had sparked to prevent Verosha from leaving to become a Jedi. Verosha—who became a Padawan afterward—grieved her mothers' deaths for several years afterward.

Biography[]

A coven witch[]

"I carried them."
"I created them."

―Koril and Aniseya about their daughters^[1]

AniseyaKoril-Destiny — Aniseya and Koril were the mothers of the twin sisters Mae-ho and Verosha Aniseya.

Mother Koril was a female Iridonian Zabrak who lived during the High Republic Era.^[1] She^[2] was part of Mother Aniseya's exiled coven of witches, who eventually settled in a fortress on the planet Brendok after an extended period of persecution, with the leader insisting to Koril that the world would be safe for their group. When Aniseya created Mae-ho and Verosha Aniseya^[1] around 156 BBY,^[5] Koril carried them until their birth, and the two became the twins' mothers. As their parent, Koril was fiercely protective of the twins,^[1] often posing as a stern and intimidating caretaker^[3] as opposed to Mother Aniseya's more relaxed parenting style. However, Koril deferred to the twins' other mother when they disagreed on how to raise the children due to the latter being the coven's leader, despite wishing they would be more firm with Mae-ho and Verosha to protect them.^[1]

By 148 BBY,^[6] Koril served as one of Aniseya's advisors in the coven and also held authority in the community, though she still deferred to the coven's leader. Around this time, Verosha began sneaking outside the fortress to explore, which was against the coven's rules for the twins. On at least some occasions, Koril reprimanded Verosha for her actions and brought her—and sometimes her sister—back to the safety of their home. However, Mother Aniseya disagreed with Koril's approach and, while not entirely pleased at her daughters' disobedience, did not want to punish them for exploring.^[1]

Dangerous forests[]

Koril: "What are you doing here? How many times have I told you? It is not safe out here."

Mae-ho Aniseya: "Sorry, Mother Koril."

Koril: "There will be consequences for breaking the rules."

Verosha Aniseya: "It isn't fair. I'm old enough to go outside the fortress walls."

Koril: "The rules are for your safety."

―Koril reprimanding Mae-ho and Verosha Aniseya^[1]

In 148 BBY,^[6] several Jedi—Jedi Masters Indara and Kelnacca, the Jedi Knight Sol, and the Padawan Torbin visited Brendok on a mission, soon discovering the witches after having initially assumed the planet was uninhabited. Koril considered them trespassers and was displeased with their presence on the world, worried that they would discover her daughters while they explored outside the fortress. Koril was kept apprised of the Jedi's movements on the world by the coven's scouts, who told her when the visitors moved their ship inland and set up a camp.^[1]

KorilOshaMae-Destiny — Koril reprimanded her daughters for leaving the safety of the coven's fortress.

Koril found the sisters wandering in the forests outside the witches' fortress and reprimanded them for not following the group's rules, which were designed for their safety. Though Mae-ho apologized, Verosha disagreed with not being allowed outside and felt she was old enough to be on her own. Koril quickly ushered the two through the forest and into the bustling fortress's entrance. Though the two implored the Zabrak to allow them to indulge in some spice creams as a treat, she insisted they should wait until after their Rite of Ascension ceremony, in which they would becone witches of the coven. However, Mother Aniseya contested the decision and allowed the girls to take some spice creams before leaving^[1] and Koril respectfully deferred to her authority by lowering her gaze.^[2]

Two mothers[]

"Mother Aniseya. They left the fortress again."
"Did anyone see them?"
"I do not believe so."
"Any sign of the visiting Jedi?"
"None. Our scouts think they've moved their ship inland."

―Koril and Mother Aniseya^[1]

KorilAniseyaFortress-Destiny — Aniseya and Koril conversed about their daughters and the visiting Jedi while in their coven's fortress.

Afterward, Mother Aniseya and Koril conversed about their daughters having left the fortress again, as well as the visiting Jedi on Brendok. When the coven leader encouraged the Zabrak to speak freely, Koril indicated her displeasure with the other mother's lenient parenting style but acknowledged that she deferred to the former's judgement due to her authority in the coven. Mother Aniseya expressed that she felt the fortress would keep them safe, though Koril countered that it would not remain so if Verosha continued to leave its safety.^[1]

In the fortress's common room, Koril observed Aniseya teaching Mae-ho and Verosha how to wield the Thread. When Mae-ho successfully blocked one of the coven leader's attacks, Verosha hid behind her sister, causing Koril to scold her for not doing better. When a noise sounded in the training room, Koril exchanged a glance with Mother Aniseya and got up to investigate, intently surveying a nearby corridor leading to the coven's electricity generator.^[1]

Rite of Ascension ceremony[]

"Come. Claim your destiny."

―Koril to her daughters, during their Rite of Ascension ceremony^[1]

AniseyaKorilAscension-Destiny — Koril attended her daughters' Rite of Ascension, which was led by Mother Aniseya.

Koril and the coven's witches donned^[1] ceremonial purple robes^[2] and gathered in the fortress's courtyard for Mae-ho and Verosha Aniseya's Rite of Ascension ceremony to become witches. While chanting, the witches^[1] performed a ceremonial synchronized ritual of arm movements.^[2] Koril stood at the front of the witches, leading her coven members in an overhead clap^[1] before they eventually parted and let Mother Aniseya move through them. After the coven leader explained the significance of the ceremony—which they had not performed since before the group's exile—Koril invited her daughters to come forward and claim their destiny.^[1]

Though Mother Aniseya completed the ritual on Mae-ho, who accepted the vow of joining the coven, the visiting Jedi slashed one of the witches' platforms and made their way to the courtyard before the leader could do the same for Verosha. The witches quickly crowded around the children to hide them, with Koril gripping her staff tightly as she stayed at her leader's side. Koril accused the visiting Jedi of trespassing, and explained their reasoning for intruding—they wished to ensure the coven was not training children to use the Force—or as the coven referred to it, the Thread—in a dark way. Though Koril insisted the witches had no children, Verosha eventually came forward to meet the Jedi due to her interest in them. Sol told the witches present that the Jedi did not take children, prompting the Zabrak to insist that if he did not stop speaking, she would cut out his tongue. Eventually however, Mother Aniseya allowed the Jedi to test both of her and Koril's daughters.^[1]

Daughters tested[]

"That man used his Jedi mind tricks on her."
"No, he didn't. I told him I wanted to be a Jedi because I do."

―Koril and Verosha Aniseya^[1]

KorilAniseyaArgument-Destiny — Koril and Aniseya argued over whether to allow the Jedi to test their daughters.

In a meeting of adult witches afterward, Koril sharply disagreed with the coven leader's decision, pointing out that she had carried the girls. Though the Zabrak proposed killing the visiting Jedi, other witches disagreed, as the Republic would be angered if any Jedi blood was spilled. However, Mother Aniseya pointed out that it was her decision to make, and also reminded the Zabrak that she had created the twins. At the advice of the elder witch Naasa, however, Mother Aniseya advised Verosha and Mae-ho to lie when the Jedi tested them, so they could fail and remain on Brendok with the coven.^[1]

The following day, Koril and several coven scouts escorted the girls to the Jedi's ship, where Koril spoke with Torbin before calling for Mae-ho to go first. Ultimately, Mae-ho failed the test by lying and Verosha opted to tell the truth, passing the test. Koril sat with the other witches in the coven's common room afterward, indicating that the Jedi must have used their mind tricks on Verosha to make her want to be a Jedi. Verosha denied this, however, and when Mae-ho began to tussle with her sister for their differing viewpoints, Koril dragged the child away forcibly to go on a walk. After discussing with the witches about Verosha's witches, she began packing to leave the Jedi. However, Mae-ho started a fire that killed all the witches—except Koril—to prevent her sister's departure.^[1]

Verosha, however, was saved from the fire by Sol^[1] and became his Padawan. Verosha continued to mourn her mothers' deaths for years after their passing, harboring resentment toward Mae-ho for destroying their family. Eventually, Verosha left the Jedi^[7] around 138 BBY^[8] and by 132 BBY,^[8] she still mourned the loss of her family.^[7]

Personality and traits[]

"As our leader, I've always deferred to you when raising the twins, but you're too lenient. A firm hand is required."
"Osha is testing her boundaries. It's normal behavior for a child."
"The twins are not normal children."

―Koril and Aniseya, about their daughters^[1]

WitchesAdvisors-Destiny — Koril tried to convince the coven's other witches to attack the Jedi to prevent them from testing her daughters.

Koril was protective of Mother Aniseya and their coven of witches, serving as a stern caretaker^[3] of the pair's daughters, Verosha and Mae-ho. Koril cared about Verosha and Mae-ho's safety, willing to incite violence by killing the visiting Jedi on Brendok to stop them from testing her daughters. She was displeased that the Jedi had trespassed on sacred ceremonial grounds during the Ascension ceremony, willing to hide the coven's girls from them by lying. Koril also felt that the Jedi had malintent, believing the Jedi must have mind tricked Verosha into wanting to be a Jedi, despite the latter insisting she had told the truth and knew what she wanted.^[1]

As the twins' mothers, the Zabrak and the coven leader often disagreed with how to raise them, with Koril often opting for a more strict approach compared to Mother Aniseya's more relaxed demeanor. Koril worried deeply about the girls' safety each time they wandered out of the fortress and expected them to keep the rules of staying inside its walls. However, Koril ultimately often deferred to her coven leader's authority in parenting matters, though she did voice her opinion out of concern.^[1] When she was frustrated with Mae, she would shove her to the ground. The witch felt that acting out of rage was a good response to the Jedi arriving.^[9]

AniseyaKorilAfterTesting-Destiny — Koril and Aniseya parented their daughters together, though often had differing viewpoints.

Koril and Aniseya shared a close bond with each other, which was furthered by the matriarchal culture of their community.^[4] The pair shared several moments of gently emotionally comforting each other^[2] and Mother Aniseya encouraged the Zabrak to voice her opinions and concerns to her. However, the coven leader was also willing to exercise her authority and directly defy Koril's adamant wish for the Jedi not to test the pair's daughters, insisting it was her decision alone as their leader.^[1] Koril had yellow eyes and light skin with blue tattoos. The witch had auburn hair, which she styled either partially braided or in a complete updo.^[1] Koril stood 1.68 meters tall.^[3]

Powers and abilities[]

"We make our move tonight, while the moons are high."

―Koril, suggesting an attack on the Jedi to the coven's witches^[1]

A capable warrior,^[3] Koril was a Force-sensitive witch trained to wield the Thread—also known as the Force—which was expected of members of her coven. She was capable of wielding a dark-handled staff as a weapon and was willing to use her combat skills to defend her daughters and fellow witches.^[1] Her command of the dark side allowed her to vanish away in black mist and project her voice from room to outdoors. She also had a limited ability to sense others. She was able to use her strength to haul around Mae, but when faced with Sol (who neither desired battle nor used his lightsaber to attack her), was not able to land a solid hit with her spear and her unarmed strikes did not harm him greatly.^[10]

Equipment[]

"Hold your tongue or I'll cut it out for you!"

―Koril to Sol, while wielding her pointed staff^[1]

On Brendok, Koril wore a flowing maroon-colored cloak that had a hood and gaps for her arms. She donned a long-sleeved, floor-length blue undertunic underneath, as well as dark boots. Koril also wore a circular gold necklace and one multi-ringed gold bracelet on each arm. During the coven's Ascension ceremony, Koril and the rest of her coven dressed themselves in hooded^[1] ceremonial purple robes with gold trim.^[2] She wielded a pointed staff as a weapon.^[1]

Behind the scenes[]

Milestones[]

MargaritaLevieva — Margarita Levieva, who portrayed Koril

Koril first appeared in "Destiny," the third episode of the live-action Disney+ series The Acolyte,^[1] which aired on June 11, 2024.^[11] In "Destiny," the character was portrayed by Margarita Levieva.^[12]

Prior to the episode's release, she was first indirectly mentioned in both a StarWars.com in an article revealing information about some of the then-upcoming series's characters, which included Aniseya's coven of witches,^[13] and Aniseya's StarWars.com Databank entry,^[14] which were both released on March 18, 2024.^[13] The witch was first visually depicted in a trailer for The Acolyte released on the official Star Wars YouTube channel on May 4 of the same year.^[15] The same day, Koril was first identified by name and her actor's casting was revealed via Walt Disney Studios' official Getty Images account.^[12]

Costumes and music[]

"In designing for Mother Aniseya and for the witches, I wanted to set them apart from what we've seen in previous Star Wars episodes and movies. I use purple as a color because it [evokes] a kind of royalty."

―Jennifer Bryan, about the witches' Ascension costumes^[16]

The robes Koril—and the rest of the coven's witches—wore during the Rite of Ascension were designed by The Acolyte's costume designer, Jennifer Bryan. Bryan indicated that the original color of the fabric upon arrival was more similar to a fuschia shade and had to be dyed to the royal purple seen in the finished episode.^[17] The color purple for the costumes was chosen because purple evokes a feeling of royalty, and Bryan wished to reflect that the women in the episode were a group of elevated ladies.^[16]

The Acolyte's composer Michael Abels created the music for the Ascension scene first, for actors to have it available to choreograph with in the scene. Abels felt that the multicultural, diverse range of artists brought in to do the witches' chanting had many individuals vocalizing together, yet adding riffs from their own cultures, which he felt suited the scene perfectly.^[18] which included Koril.^[1]

Portrayal and story development[]

"I felt that when we were shooting it, so many of the topics that we're exploring are really relatable. I get emotional. [Koril] means a lot to me. I love her so much. I felt her so deeply. She's a mother and I was a new mom at the time."

―Margarita Levieva^[16]

*The Acolyte*'s showrunner, Leslye Headland, created Koril.

Levieva resonated with her character emotionally as they were shooting the series and loved portraying Koril. The actor related Koril's fierce protectiveness of her daughters to her own protective nature toward her then five-month-old infant. Mother Aniseya's actor—Jodie Turner-Smith—felt that filming with Levieva was a pleasure, noting that they both related to each other a lot. Turner-Smith also acknowledged that the pair parenting together made for an interesting dynamic, as their disagreements catalyzed into explosive moments on screen when Koril disagreed with Mother Aniseya, despite the latter being her leader.^[16]

In "Destiny," Koril and Aniseya are depicted as a caring pair of mothers^[1] who share several affectionate physical interactions.^[2] The Acolyte's showrunner Leslye Headland later indicated that she knew the pair's relationship had closeness between them seemed natural and plot driven. The showrunner also stated that while she knew their relationship would read that their sexuality was queer, that there also were not any men in their community, and noted that it would be "really reductive to call them lesbians." However, the creator also felt that if any of her content was seen as queer, she was proud elements viewed as such by fans could inspire people.^[4]