Poli Dapatian

"You may not have heard that Master Dapatian intends to retire from the Council, effective next month."
"That is our loss."
"We hope it will also be our gain. Qui-Gon Jinn, we hereby offer you a seat on the Jedi Council."

―Mace Windu and Qui-Gon Jinn^[2]

Poli Dapatian was a Force-sensitive human who served as a Jedi Master of the Jedi Order. In the Republic Era, he served on the Jedi High Council and trained a Padawan. Dapatian continued to serve on the Council for several years, garnering renown and respect from his colleagues. In 41 BBY, Dapatian was present in a Council meeting in the Jedi Council Chamber when Jedi Master Eno Cordova and his Padawan, Cere Junda, were sent on an investigatory mission to the planet Ontotho.

Dapatian opted to step down from the Council the following year, and his position was offered to Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. As the Master contemplated the offer while on a mission to the Inner Rim planet Pijal, Dapatian helped advise Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, during their initiative on the world. After returning from the mission, Jinn declined the Council's offer to join their ranks, much to Dapatian and the rest of the Council's surprise.

Biography

Jedi Council member

The human^[1] Poli Dapatian was a Force-sensitive Jedi Master of the Jedi Order who served as a member of the Jedi High Council during the reign of the Galactic Republic. After serving on the Council for a long time, he began training a Padawan learner who was one of the Jedi Initiate Qui-Gon Jinn's crèche-mates^[2] at some point before Jinn became a Padawan in 68 BBY.^[3] At the time, the decision to teach a student while serving as a Council member was viewed as controversial by other Jedi and had only been deemed permissible due to Dapatian's extensive experience managing his duties well. Dapatian continued serving alongside his colleagues for several years afterward and earned respect from several Jedi.^[2]

While in the Jedi Temple's Council Chamber on^[2] the Core Worlds planet^[4] Coruscant^[1] in 41 BBY,^[5] Dapatian attended a meeting with the Jedi Master Eno Cordova and^[1] his^[4] Padawan, Cere Junda. He and his colleagues sent the pair on an investigation to the planet Ontotho to explore an ancient temple, concurring that Cordova's expertise with artifacts would make it a suitable mission.^[1]

Retirement

"Qui-Gon's gone rogue before but he's never deviated from his mandate so greatly, or in such a serious matter."
"Of course the treaty must somehow be changed to protect the people of Pijal. But disrupting the entire diplomatic process is dangerous, especially when multiple armed forces threaten the rule of law on Pijal and its moon."

―Jedi Master Saesee Tiin and Poli Dapatian, to Obi-Wan Kenobi^[2]

In 40 BBY,^[6] Dapatian decided to resign from his position on the Jedi High Council and informed his colleagues of his choice. Afterward, he and the Council's other members debated who should take his place and collectively decided to offer Dapatian's position to Jinn, by then a Jedi Master, despite the disagreement of Grand Master Yoda. Not long after, they informed the Republic Supreme Chancellor Kirames Kaj of Jinn's impending invitation due to the upcoming resignation. In the Council's next meeting with Jinn in the Jedi Council Chamber, Dapatian watched as Jedi Master Mace Windu informed the other Master of the impending retirement and their proposal that he be their next member.^[2]

Having been shocked by the offer, Jinn requested time to thoroughly consider the decision, which Dapatian and his colleagues granted with amusement. After leaving the meeting, the Jedi Master reflected that accepting the appointment to fill Dapatian's position would mean that his own Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, would be reassigned to another Master. Before Jinn could decide, he and Kenobi were assigned an urgent mission to the Inner Rim planet Pijal to ratify the Governance Treaty initiative for the Pijali monarchy. Kaj briefed Jinn and Kenobi on their mandate while in her office and offhandedly mentioned the Jedi Master's invitation to the Council due to Dapatian's upcoming resignation.^[2]

While on Pijal, Jinn decided to act against his mission parameters and refused to ratify the Governance Treaty, citing concerns he had with the ritual language in its draft and the concerning Force visions he had received about the Pijali Princess Fanry's upcoming coronation. Kenobi disagreed with his Master's decision and contacted the Jedi Council using a holographic comm terminal in the world's royal palace library. After listening to Kenobi's report, Dapatian expressed concern that Jinn acted irrationally by interrupting the diplomatic process when the world's political situation was fraught. He also indicated his interest in Jinn's Force visions regarding the treaty but ultimately felt that making decisions off them would be unwise. Eventually, Dapatian and the rest of the Council decided to allow Kenobi to ratify the Governance Treaty in Jinn's stead, which the Padawan eventually did. Days later, upon the pair's return to Coruscant, Jinn declined his invitation to join the Jedi Council. Dapatian was shocked by his refusal, repeatedly blinking in surprise but eventually understanding the reasoning behind the decision.^[2]

Legacy

"Around this time, Qui-Gon received a coveted offer to join the Jedi Council and thus become one of the 12 Jedi steering the Order and offering guidance to Jedi Masters in the field. To the other members’ astonishment, Qui-Gon rejected their proposal, certain that his true path was still unspooling before him."

―Kitrin Braves, on Dapatian and the Council's Jedi Masters, Skywalker: A Family at War^[7]

The Jedi Master was indirectly mentioned in the second chapter of^[7] Skywalker: A Family at War,^[8] an exhaustive biography of the Skywalker family written by the journalist Kitrin Braves^[9] and published at some point after the 35 ABY release^[10] of the historian Beaumont Kin's book, The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire.^[9] The work discussed the circumstances surrounding Jinn's refusal to join the Jedi Council^[7] to take Dapatian's place.^[2]

Personality and traits

"We cannot evaluate the tactical implications of these visions without also considering the ethical implications."

―Poli Dapatian, on Qui-Gon Jinn's Force visions^[2]

By the time of his retirement, Poli Dapatian's many years serving on the Jedi Council had earned him widespread renown and respect amongst the Jedi Order's members. He proved able to train a Padawan while managing his duties as a Council member, which was a commitment many Jedi felt they would not be able to meet. When advising Kenobi about the Governance Treaty, Dapatian argued strongly that the rule of law should be upheld where possible and that diplomatic processes were beneficial to solving disputes. He was skeptical about the validity of Force visions when considering practical decisions, opting to err on the side of caution.^[2] Dapatian had tan skin^[1] and possessed an aged appearance^[2] by 40 BBY.^[6]

Equipment

While on Coruscant, Dapatian wore a black shirt and donned a brown cloak.^[1] He also often used a^[2] gray^[1] respirator mask to breathe.^[2]

Behind the scenes

Poli Dapatian first appeared in Master & Apprentice, a novel written by Claudia Gray^[2] that was released on April 16, 2019. Prior to the novel's release, he was included in a StarWars.com preview for the book released on February 13.^[11] Dapatian was first pictured in a flashback in the first issue of the Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order - Dark Temple comic-book series. The issue was written by Matthew Rosenberg, penciled by Paolo Villanelli, and published by Marvel Comics^[1] on September 4, 2019.^[12]