Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a sprawling, galaxy-embroiding adventure. They play as Cal Kestis and jump from planet to planet to fight stormtroopers, murder local wildlife, and solve puzzles in giant tombs. However, what you may not realize is why exactly you are doing this. The story of Fallen Order is full of proper names and Star Wars universe details. If you spend too much time exploring a planet, you may miss its narrative purpose in the large scale of the series.
To help you figure out exactly what’s going on, we’ve tied the dots together in a few key moments without spoiling one of the game’s biggest revelations.
[Ed. NoteThis post contains light spoilers for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.]
What is a Zeffo?
Zeffo is two things at once: the name of a planet that Cal visits during the Jedi period: Fallen Order and the race of beings originally descended from this planet. Zeffo, a new race in the Star Wars universe, is an ancient race that has a strong power base. Their range spread throughout the galaxy, but the most phenomenal examples of their power existed on their own planet, where Cal finds graves designed by the ancient race. These tombs have power puzzles designed to test anyone who enters them.
Why does Cal have to go to these graves?
Because Eno Cordova, Ceres Jedi Master, was obsessed with the Zeffo and hid certain key pieces with their graves. Cordova hid those pieces as best he could, making sure only a real Jedi could reach them. And what better tests can be used than those developed by Zeffo? All these tests and experiments eventually lead to a key that opens a vault on the planet Bagano, where Cordova hides an important Jedi holocron.
What exactly is a Jedi Holocron?
A holocron is a device used to store information, usually very private or secret information. There are Jedi holocrons and Sith holocrons. The only way to access a Jedi-Holocron is to use the power that opens the device and allows it to reveal its information. The Sith Holocrons need to open the dark side of the power, which actually makes them a little safer. Holocrons can store an incredible amount of information, but it may be easiest to view them as a password-protected USB drive, but for Force users.
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What exactly is in Cordova’s hidden Holocron?
This particular holocron contains the identity of many forcibly sensitive children and adolescents throughout the galaxy. Apparently, Cordova wanted to use this list as an emergency plan, in case the Jedi ever gets hurt. In a world after Order 66, this list offers a chance to restore the Jedi Order to its former glory. But the existence of the list – what do I think is updated automatically with all new Force users? – is dangerous because Darth Vader and his Jedi-killing Inquisitors have a list of potential threats they can detect before they become a real problem. Because it’s both an asset and a threat to the safety of the creatures on the list, Cal and Cere are after Holocron.
Bonus question: What does Taron Malicos have to do with it?
Not really. Malicos is a former Jedi who took over after the fall of the Republic of Dathomir. Although he prevents Cal from accessing the tomb of Kujet on the planet, it does not seem that he has any craving for the holocron or real awareness of the zeffo and his various tombs.
