In the pivotal finale of Ahsoka, Baylan Skoll is briefly spotted standing atop statues reminiscent of The Lord of the Rings’ Argonath. Ray Stevenson’s enigmatic character was mostly absent during the finale, slipping away quietly in episode 7 of Ahsoka. Showrunner Dave Filoni chose to conclude the series by focusing on Thrawn’s escape, Ezra Bridger, Sabine Wren, and Ahsoka Tano’s efforts to stop him, rather than delving into Baylan Skoll’s plan. Nevertheless, Baylan’s momentary appearance sheds light on what he has been seeking on Peridea.
Throughout the Ahsoka series, Baylan hinted at searching for a power beyond that of the Jedi and Sith, sparking theories about Abeloth from Star Wars Legends. Despite assisting Nightsister Morgan Elsbeth and pretending allegiance to Thrawn, Baylan’s true motive was to uncover the truth behind the tales he heard at the Jedi Temple in his youth. He believes that the galactic power struggle will persist indefinitely unless he takes action to bring it to an end. Now, it seems he may have stumbled upon the ancient power necessary to conclusively end the turmoil.
In episode 8 of Ahsoka, Baylan is depicted standing atop the statue of the Father, a character from Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 3 residing in the enigmatic realm of Mortis alongside his offspring, the Son and the Daughter. The Mortis arc, a highly allegorical narrative in the Star Wars universe, portrayed this realm as a conduit through which the entire Force emanated. Baylan’s discovery of these statues strongly suggests that he has been in search of this conduit and, consequently, the ability to wield and regulate the Force’s flow.
While Baylan Skoll is positioned on the statue of the Father, there is also a statue of the Son visible to the right. However, the statue of the Daughter on the left has been damaged and eroded. In The Clone Wars series, the Daughter symbolized the flow of the light side of the Force in the galaxy. Although it might appear as a symbolic coincidence, the absence of her statue profoundly reflects the condition of the light side in the galaxy during the events of Ahsoka. Following Order 66 and the razing of the Jedi Temple, only a handful of Jedi remained to uphold the practice of the light side of the Force.
While the Daughter symbolized the light side of the Force, the Son epitomized the dark side. Concurrently, the Father served as the equilibrium between the two, ensuring that neither dominated the other. In The Clone Wars series, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and Obi-Wan Kenobi found themselves transported to the enigmatic realm of Mortis. During their time there, the Son attempted to entice Anakin prematurely towards the dark side, whereas the Father desired Anakin to embrace his role of maintaining balance in the Force.
In the Mortis arc, the Daughter met an accidental demise at the hands of the Son, who mortally wounded her with the Dagger of Mortis. Her death symbolized the demise of the Jedi and the ascendancy of the dark side in several respects. Just as the Son temporarily seized control of Mortis and the Force, so did Palpatine dominate the galaxy unchecked. However, the Father selflessly sacrificed himself to strip the Son of his power, ultimately bringing an end to the Mortis gods long before the events of Ahsoka take place.
Currently, it remains uncertain which of the three Mortis gods is beckoning to Baylan. The ambiguity arises from their supposed demise during the Mortis arc in The Clone Wars, making their influence on Baylan puzzling given the timeline of Ahsoka. However, considering the profound symbolism associated with their existence, it’s plausible that they endure even beyond death. The Mortis gods were intrinsically linked to the Force, potentially explaining why Baylan continues to perceive their call. It’s conceivable that they desire Baylan to locate Mortis itself and assume the role of the new guardian of balance.
The light Baylan discerns in the distance on Peridea is likely the Mortis monastery featured in The Clone Wars. While Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan may have experienced a spiritual connection to the location, Baylan seems to have located its physical existence. Consequently, Baylan Skoll may have stumbled upon the conduit of the Force. The implications of this discovery for his character and the means by which he can harness the monastery’s power remain unknown. Considering Ray Stevenson’s passing, it might pose a challenge for Filoni to conclude Baylan’s Ahsoka subplot involving Mortis in subsequent episodes.