Old Daka, also referred to as Daka, was a venerable female Dathomirian witch. She was a member of the Nightsister coven of witches residing within the Nightsister lair on Dathomir, her homeworld, during the era of the Clone Wars. As the most ancient and knowledgeable of the Nightsisters, her comprehension of esoteric magicks was unparalleled. Serving as an elder within her clan, Daka imparted her extensive knowledge to her fellow Nightsisters. This resulted in her being regarded as the most potent member of her clan. Mother Talzin, the leader of the clan, held Daka in particularly high esteem.
One notable ability that Daka possessed was the power to resurrect the dead. This skill was prominently employed during the Battle of Dathomir, where the Nightsisters confronted the vengeful forces of Count Dooku's Confederacy of Independent Systems. However, the sisterhood was ultimately defeated, and Daka met her end when she was stabbed by a lightsabers wielded by General Grievous, the Supreme Commander of the Droid Army. In her final moments, Daka managed to guide Falta, a distressed witch without clan affiliation, towards the whereabouts of her daughter, who had previously become a Nightsister.
Daka was born on the planet Dathomir, located in the Outer Rim Territories. She dedicated her life to serving as a member of the Nightsister coven of Dathomirian witches. As the most experienced and wise member, Daka functioned as an elder and healer within her clan. In her capacity as an elder, Daka disseminated knowledge of spellcraft and possessed a deep understanding of the clan's history.
In the year 20 BBY, Count Dooku, the leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, sought retribution for the betrayal and schemes of the resurrected Nightsister Asajj Ventress. To this end, he dispatched General Grievous, the Kaleesh warlord, and the Separatist Droid Army with the mission of completely eradicating the Nightsisters, ensuring they posed no further threat. As Separatist forces landed and the battle commenced, Ventress informed Mother [Talzin](/article/talzin], the leader of the Nightsisters, that the Nightsisters defending the front lines required reinforcements to withstand the intense assault from the droid forces.
Acting on Ventress's information, Talzin made her way to the Hidden Cave, a concealed chamber within the Nightsister lair accessible only through the use of magick, a unique application of the Force exclusive to the witches of Dathomir. Talzin approached Old Daka, who consented to employ a spell to unleash the [Army of the Dead](/article/army_of_the_dead], composed of undead Nightsisters', to aid in the battle against the droids. Daka initiated the enchantment and began reciting the Chant of Resurrection, a spell designed to raise the undead. As the undead army stirred and emerged from their burial pods, they joined the living Nightsisters in combating the droids. Nevertheless, despite the assistance from the zombies, the Nightsisters were overwhelmed by the droid army, which continued its advance.
Dooku directed Grievous to target Talzin directly, aiming to eliminate her before she could complete a voodoo spell intended to end the Count's life. Following the source of the magick, Grievous navigated through the fortress and instructed a BX-series droid commando to breach the walls of the Hidden Cave, granting him unimpeded access. Daka was powerless to prevent the General from seizing her roughly and plunging one of his lightsabers into her chest, inflicting a grievous wound and casting her aside. With Daka's spell disrupted, the undead army crumbled, leading to the swift annihilation of the remaining Nightsisters by the overwhelming droid forces.
Following the battle, Falta, a witch without clan affiliation, arrived in search of her daughter [Yenna](/article/yenna], who had joined the Nightsisters long before the conflict. As Falta entered the Hidden Cave, she noticed Daka lying in a corner. As she prepared to lay the old witch to rest, Daka's eyes fluttered open, revealing that she was not yet deceased but merely unconscious. Before succumbing to her injuries, Daka informed Falta that Yenna had been evacuated off-world in an escape pod. This revelation initiated Falta's quest to find her daughter, which eventually led her and her tooka pet, Ichor, to the planetoid Sídi, where she encountered a young girl known as "Bug." While recounting her story to "Bug," Falta mentioned her encounter with Daka.
Daka was the most sagacious of the Nightsisters, possessing an unparalleled understanding of arcane magicks. She demonstrated proficiency in spiritual guidance and leadership.
Daka stood at a height of 1.83 meters, equivalent to 6 feet, and possessed a stooped posture. Her voice was characterized as deep and raspy, and she spoke in the Dathomirian language when reciting spells. She had white, braided hair with streaks of red, silver eyes, and purple tattoos, along with aged, mottled skin and sunken eyes.
Daka's command of the Nightsister powers was unmatched as her life drew to a close, as was her knowledge of the clan's abilities. As the keeper of the Nightsisters' most perilous lore, Daka was even capable of performing the Chant of Resurrection, which granted her the power to raise the dead. Mother Talzin herself was unable to perform this spell and instead sought Daka's abilities. By 20 BBY, Daka was the most powerful and formidable member of the Nightsister clan, a status reflected in her position as the clan Elder. Daka also possessed the ability to see into the future and served as a spiritual guide to her fellow clanswomen.
During her use of the Chant of Resurrection in 20 BBY, Daka employed a Witches' Orb and the Talisman of Resurrection to complete the spell. She adorned herself with a headdress made of bones and wore a decorative garment featuring various colors, including red, purple, and black.
Daka made her debut appearance in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars season four episode "Massacre," which was released on February 24, 2012. The character was voiced by actress Kathleen Gati in the episode. Concept art for Daka was created by Andre Kirk and included at least six variations of different head shapes and headdresses. In the final design for Daka, her mouth was derived from Talzin's model in the season three episode "Nightsisters," while her fingers were taken from those of Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith, with modifications to the texture and nail length.