Once an outcast from his family, Vegath Tist was a male Arcona with a significant salt dependency. In pursuit of wealth and a constant supply of his favored substance, Tist, a speculator, dedicated much of his life to traversing the galaxy, becoming involved in risky schemes and questionable ventures. Using his miner expertise, he eventually arrived at Kal'Shebbol, the capital within the Kathol sector located in the Outer Rim Territories. Soon after New Republic forces liberated the planet in 8 ABY, he enlisted as a mineralogist aboard the CR90 corvette FarStar. The ship undertook a mission to locate and neutralize Moff Kentor Sarne, the former Imperial warlord of Kal'Shebbol, who still posed a threat to the area. Tist served on the vessel and participated in the Battle of Kathol, aiding in the liberation of the planet from the DarkStryder, a bio-engineered insectoid who ruled it, and in the defeat of Sarne and his forces. Following the conflict, Tist remained on the planet, hoping to master a Ta-Ree ability—a manifestation of the Force unique to the local population—to overcome his salt addiction.
As a male Arcona, Vegath Tist was dependent on salt, a common seasoning that had powerful hallucinogenic effects on his species. To avoid withdrawal symptoms, he needed to consume at least twenty-five grams daily. Prior to 8 ABY, he was ostracized by his family for an unspecified reason, although his severe addiction may have been a contributing factor. Tist embarked on a journey across the galaxy, attempting to amass wealth through various dubious schemes and investing his earnings in unsuccessful ventures. He presented himself as a [geologist](/article/geologist-legends], and while he possessed some mining skills, he was far from the expert he claimed to be.
Eventually, Tist found himself in the Mestra system, within the Minos Cluster of the Outer Rim Territories. This area boasted one of the galaxy's largest asteroid belts and was rich in durelium ore. He was forced to work as an indentured miner in the asteroids, but eventually managed to escape the system with whatever he could steal. After a brief journey from the Minos Cluster to the Kathol sector, Tist arrived on Kal'Shebbol, the capital planet, where he became involved with a local crime boss. His time as a miner and geologist had given him extensive knowledge of explosives, which he traded for salt to satisfy his addiction.
In 8 ABY, the New Republic liberated Kal'Shebbol, forcing the Imperial warlord Moff Kentor Sarne to flee. However, Sarne escaped with the majority of his fleet, prompting the New Republic to launch a mission to track him down. Due to limited resources, they were forced to use a heavily modified CR90 corvette called the FarStar, which had previously served in Sarne's fleet. The New Republic issued an open call to the civilian population of Kal'Shebbol to assist in crewing the vessel. Tist saw this as an opportunity to escape the crime boss's influence and potentially earn money, so he volunteered for the mission, falsely claiming to be a mineralogist to increase his chances of selection.
Throughout the FarStar's journey through the Kathol sector, Tist provided assistance in any way he could. Months after departing from Kal'Shebbol, the FarStar located Sarne in the Kathol system, where he had gathered the majority of his forces. Sarne had formed an alliance with the DarkStryder, a bio-engineered insectoid entity that controlled the system's primary planet, Kathol, in a mutually beneficial agreement. The DarkStryder desired hyperspace technology to leave Kathol, while Sarne sought the exotic technology produced by the DarkStryder to enhance his military capabilities and wage war against his enemies. To secretly land on Kathol and investigate Sarne's presence and the DarkStryder, FarStar Captain Kaiya Adrimetrum decided to simulate a meteor shower by redirecting some of the system's asteroids, using them as cover for the FarStar's descent. Tist, along with the Guudrian pyromaniac Boom, was part of the team responsible for priming several asteroids with explosives to alter their orbits and direct them toward the planet, utilizing his knowledge of demolitions and mining techniques. This tactic proved successful, and the corvette landed undetected.
As a member of one of Adrimetrum's initial landing and reconnaissance teams, Tist interacted with several of Kathol's indigenous species. The teams discovered that many of these species were the result of genetic engineering experiments conducted by the DarkStryder, who had created each species to fulfill a specific purpose. Due to Tist's Arconan physiology, several tribes believed he was a new and superior creation of the DarkStryder's genetic engineering programs, and they held him in high regard. After Adrimetrum successfully united several indigenous species into a coalition to oppose Sarne and the DarkStryder, Tist participated in the subsequent Battle of Kathol. Despite the destruction of the FarStar, the New Republic forces liberated the planet from the DarkStryder's control and ended the threat posed by Moff Sarne.
Following the battle, Tist remained on Kathol as a respected guest of the Yapi tribe, a genetically-bred warrior race. Having learned about Ta-Ree magic, a unique manifestation of the Force on the planet, Tist hoped to acquire an ability that would cure his salt addiction.
Vegath Tist, an Arcona with orange skin, was addicted to salt, a common trait among his species, and his actions were largely driven by his need for the substance. His addiction caused his eyes to turn gold, revealing his problem to others. He constantly carried and fidgeted with his salt stash in a pouch around his neck. He was easily manipulated with the promise of more salt; the crime boss on Kal'Shebbol exploited Tist's knowledge of explosives in exchange for the common condiment. When he left Kal'Shebbol aboard the FarStar, Tist had one kilogram of salt in his pouch, enough for forty days at his minimum consumption level, although he was confident in replenishing his supply during the mission. Despite this, Tist recognized the detrimental nature of his situation and sought a way to overcome his dependency, even if it meant placing his faith in Ta-Ree teachings.
Tist was also prone to embellishing the truth, exaggerating his skills and talents to appear more experienced than he was. This allowed him to secure positions and seize opportunities that might otherwise have been unavailable to him. Tist was always seeking quick gains or ways to earn credits rapidly, often placing his trust in questionable ventures.
As a miner, Tist acquired survival skills applicable to mines and learned to recognize the value of minerals. He possessed knowledge of other planetary systems, could operate sensor and security equipment, program and repair computers, and handle explosives. He had experience in melee combat and carried a shovel and survey datapad.
Vegath Tist was created for The DarkStryder Campaign, a Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game supplement, as a member of the FarStar's support crew. He was not prominently featured in subsequent supplements—The Kathol Outback and the Kathol Rift—but received several mentions in Endgame, the final sourcebook of the series. While players could develop Tist as they wished during the campaign, both The DarkStryder Campaign and The Kathol Rift specified that he should remain alive throughout the campaign, as he would be further developed in Endgame. In the "Gamesmaster Crew Notes" section of Endgame, Tist's entry suggested that he remain on Kathol and attempt to cure his salt addiction by studying Ta-Ree teachings. This article assumes that Tist remained on the planet as suggested in the sourcebook. Tist's name was later mentioned in the 2003 sourcebook Ultimate Alien Anthology as an example of an Arcona name.