- "I reviewed the security measures alongside you, Rael. The stables and hunting ground had been extensively secured by droids, autosentries, and human guards."
"We even hired a few Rodian mercenaries, put 'em out in the far woodlands. But someone got to the prey droid anyway."
"Therefore, the droid could only have been sabotaged by someone within the palace." - ―Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Lord Regent Rael Averross
The palace stables of the Pijali monarchy were located on the grounds of the Pijali palace on the Inner Rim planet Pijal. The structure housed Pijal varactyls used for both recreational riding and ceremonial Grand Hunt events. By the time of the Republic Era, the stables were a short distance away from a cantina operating in Pijal's capital city, hunting grounds, and other establishments. In 40 BBY, Pijal's Jedi Lord Regent Rael Averross and some associates rode some varactyls in a race, later returning the creatures to the stables.
Days after the race, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn arrived on Pijal for an investigative mission, and assisted Averross in readying security measures for the stables and surrounding palace grounds in preparation for the Grand Hunt hosted for the Pijali Princess Fanry. On the night of the event, Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi were given varactyls from the stables that they then rode in the hunt. When the Grand Hunt ended in an attempt on Fanry's life, the Jedi pair investigated the sabotaged crab droid used in the attack while visiting the palace stables.
Description[]
Located on the sweeping grounds of the Pijali palace on the Inner Rim Territories planet Pijal, the palace stables were a large, tall structure intended to house the Pijali monarchy's Pijal varactyls, feathered creatures used for traditional hunting events and recreational racing. The stables included space for servants to tend to the animals by giving them dust baths and food, as well as stalls for the varactyls to live in. Riders could guide their varactyls to the entrance of the stables for palace staff to lead the beasts into separate stalls.[1]
Land around the stables was expansive and covered in long grasses. During the ceremonial Pijali Grand Hunt event, torches were placed to light up the stables as the sun setting made the surrounding area dark.[1] By 40 BBY,[2] the stables were a short distance away from a cantina operating in Pijal's capital city, barracks housing palace staff, and hunting grounds used in the Grand Hunt.[1]
History[]
Housing varactyls[]
During the Republic Era, varactyls were imported to Pijal from[1] the Outer Rim planet[3] Utapau for use in the Grand Hunt, and the stables were built on the Pijali palace's grounds to accommodate them. Over time, those creatures were bred into Pijal varactyls, a variant unique to the planet, which became the preferred riding mounts for the Grand Hunt events on the world.[1]
At some point between around 48 BBY to 40 BBY,[2] during the Jedi Knight Rael Averross's mission to Pijal to serve as its lord regent, he learned how to ride Pijal varactyls for recreation and brought the creatures back to the palace stables between riding trips.[1] In 40 BBY,[2] Averross, royal guard captain Deren, and several other riders raced Pijal varactyls on a track near the palace stables. Upon winning the race, he led his mount back to the stables, and gave its reins to palace servants. Averross led most of the riders from the palace stables to a nearby cantina operating in Pijal's capital city.[1]
Princess Fanry's Grand Hunt[]
- "You haven't ridden much up until now, have you, Padawan?"
"No, Master. But it doesn't look so difficult." - ―Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, in the stables
Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi visited the stables while on their Pijal mission.
Days after the race, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, arrived on Pijal to investigate incidents blamed on Opposition performance troupe members that were protesting the signing of the Governance Treaty, a motion the Pijali Princess Fanry was expected to sign after her upcoming coronation. Jinn helped Averross prepare the stables and surrounding grounds with extensive security measures, including armed droids and human guards, for the Grand Hunt being hosted to honor Fanry's approaching crowning and assumption of Pijal's throne.[1]
On the evening of the ceremionial hunt, Kenobi and Jinn visited the palace stables and were given varactyls to ride alongside the Pijali participants. The Grand Hunt concluded when the prey of the event, a modified crab droid, attacked Fanry. Jinn concluded that because the stables and surrounding area were being heavily monitored during the event, the suspect for sabotaging the droid must be one of the palace staff and nobles present. Shortly after the incident, Kenobi visited the varactyl he had ridden in the stables and looked at several images of the sabotaged prey's remains on a datapad. The Padawan then discussed the unique features of the crab droid with Jinn as possible leads in their investigation of the attack. Days later, before departng Pijal at the end of his mission, Kenobi went to the stables to spend time with the same varactyl, reflecting that he would miss the creature.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
The palace stables appeared in Master & Apprentice, a 2019 novel written by Claudia Gray.[1]
Appearances[]
- Master & Apprentice (First appearance, simultaneous with Master & Apprentice audiobook)
- Master & Apprentice audiobook
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Master & Apprentice
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Star Wars: Timelines places the events of Master & Apprentice in 40 BBY and Rael Averross' arrival on Pijal to 48 BBY. As the novel also establishes that Averross began riding Pijal varactyls during this time there, he must have learned to ride between 48 BBY and 40 BBY.
- ↑ Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition