The Sword of Talzin & Its Connection to Mother Talzin in ‘Ahsoka,’ Explained

The storyline of the ‘Ahsoka‘ series closely ties in with two of Dave Filoni’s earlier Star Wars creations: ‘The Clone Wars’ and ‘Rebels.’ Because of this, it’s almost impossible not to draw parallels between ‘Ahsoka’ and these shows. This is particularly true as this series offers Filoni the unique opportunity to adapt some elements from his animated works into live action. One prominent example is the Sword of Talzin, which also appears in the ‘Ahsoka’ series. So, what exactly is the Sword of Talzin, and what’s its connection to Mother Talzin?

Origins of the Sword of Talzin

In the ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ narrative, we were introduced to the Nightsisters of Dathomir and their unique and potent skill, Magick. Often called witches, these Nightsisters possessed powers that even Darth Sidious found intimidating. Leading the Nightsisters was Mother Talzin, who also happened to be the mother of Darth Maul.

In ‘The Clone Wars,’ Talzin initially allied herself with Count Dooku and the Separatists. However, she later turned against him to let Asajj Ventress seek vengeance on her former master. When their attempt to assassinate Dooku fell through, the Separatists retaliated by targeting the Nightsisters. Dooku dispatched General Grievous and a droid army to wipe out the witches of Dathomir, resulting in the decimation of the Nightsisters. Despite this, Talzin managed to survive.

Talzin reappeared when she sought to harness the power of the Force from the Dagoyan Masters of Bardotta. While the Dagoyan Masters weren’t particularly powerful, they were Force-sensitive. Mace Windu, with the unlikely assistance of Jar Jar Binks, foiled Talzin’s scheme to absorb the Force abilities of the Dagoyan Masters and enhance her own strength.

This confrontation resulted in a face-off between Windu and Talzin. To ensure she was on equal footing with the Jedi Master in hand-to-hand combat, Mother Talzin conjured the Sword of Talzin from thin air through Nightsister Magick. This katana-like blade enveloped in green Nightsister Magick flames, was potent enough to withstand the blows of Mace Windu’s lightsaber.

Her schemes were still foiled despite Windu not securing a clear victory over Talzin. The sword, having only been showcased once in ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars,’ seemed to vanish from the storyline. Given Talzin’s demise during the Clone Wars, the return of her sword in future installments appeared improbable.

How did Morgan get the Sword of Talzin?

The season 1 finale of ‘Ahsoka’ opened with a scene between Morgan Elsbeth and the Great Mothers of Peridea. These three witches expressed their delight that Morgan could hear their summons from across the galaxy. This is how Morgan discerned Thrawn’s location in Peridea, as she heard the Great Mothers’ beckoning to join them.

With Grand Admiral Thrawn and the Great Mothers now poised to depart Peridea and venture into the known galaxy, the Great Mothers deemed it fitting to reward one of their own for her dedication. In recognition of her efforts, they bestowed upon Morgan Elsbeth the Gift of the Shadows, allowing her to fully embrace her Nightsister heritage in lineage and power. Using their Nightsister Magick, they infused Morgan Elsbeth with the abilities of a Nightsister warrior.

But the Great Mothers had more in store. Using their Magick, they conjured a blade from thin air. This was the legendary Sword of Talzin, which they believed would be expertly wielded by a skilled warrior like Morgan Elsbeth. Armed with this blade, Elsbeth’s prowess in battle was significantly amplified.

During Ahsoka and her allies’ assault on the Nightsister stronghold, Thrawn instructed Morgan to remain while they embarked on the Chimaera. His intent was for Elsbeth to hinder the Jedi’s progress. Loyal to her kin, the Dathomirian Nightsisters, Morgan readily accepted this task and positioned herself in a chamber near the fortress’s apex.

Once Ahsoka, Sabine, and Ezra had evaded the zombified Night Troopers, they encountered Morgan, who was intent on stalling them. Ahsoka instructed the younger Jedi to proceed without her, ensuring they would advance more swiftly. This set the stage for a second duel between Ahsoka and Morgan. Now, with the power of Nightsister Magick and the Sword of Talzin at her disposal, Elsbeth was an even more formidable adversary.

Elsbeth’s use of the Sword of Talzin enabled her to challenge Ahsoka evenly. The Jedi struggled to outmaneuver her opponent. Notably, the sword could match a lightsaber’s slicing capability — a feat previously observed only with Beskar steel.

Elsbeth managed to shatter one of Ahsoka’s lightsabers and seemed poised to strike down the Jedi. Yet, Sabine’s timely intervention shifted the battle’s tide. Ahsoka successfully disarmed Morgan, then wielding both her remaining lightsaber and the Sword of Talzin delivered a fatal blow to the Nightsister.

While Ahsoka briefly utilized the Sword of Talzin to defeat Morgan, it’s improbable she retained it afterward. The sword likely perished when the Chimaera rained destruction upon the Nightsister fortress. However, there’s also the possibility that the Great Mothers can conjure the blade again when needed. Regardless, it was a treat for fans to witness this iconic weapon’s live-action debut in ‘Ahsoka.’

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