Tess

Lore & Background

Tess is a human woman living in Haven City during the oppressive rule of Baron Praxis. She is a key operative of the Underground, a secret resistance group fighting to overthrow the Baron's tyranny and later the Metal Head invasion. Unlike frontline fighters like Jak or Torn, Tess works behind the scenes, managing communications and intelligence. She is often seen in the Underground's hideout, monitoring transmissions and coordinating supply drops to rebels in the city's sectors. In Jak II, Tess provides Jak with missions that involve disrupting Krimson Guard operations and delivering supplies to other resistance cells. She is known for her calm demeanor and loyalty to the cause, though she rarely engages in direct combat. By Jak III, Tess continues her support role, helping the resistance as they face the Metal Head threat and the darker forces of the Dark Makers. Her exact fate after the events of Jak III is not detailed, but she is not killed or removed from the story, implying she survives the conflict.

In Their Own Story

The air in the Underground hideout was thick with the hum of old machinery and the faint smell of ozone. Tess adjusted her headset, fingers dancing over a cracked console that flickered with static. 'Sector 7-4, this is Haven Base. Package is en route. Watch for patrols on the east overpass.' A crackle of static, then a faint, tinny 'Copy that.' She leaned back, wiping sweat from her brow. Outside, the city rumbled with the sound of Krimson Guard mechs stomping through the streets. But here, in the dark, surrounded by blinking lights and coiled wires, she was the thread that held the rebellion together—one barely audible signal at a time.

Reader's Guide

Tess is a non-playable character (NPC) who appears in Jak II and Jak III. In Jak II, she is found in the Underground hideout beneath the city, accessible after Jak joins the resistance. She offers side missions that involve delivering items or sabotaging Krimson Guard operations, rewarding the player with Precursor Orbs or other collectibles. These missions are optional but help build the player's resources and deepen the story's immersion — and they often force you to navigate the city's most dangerous sectors, turning simple fetch quests into tense sprints past patrols. In Jak III, Tess returns in a similar role, located in the resistance base in the Spargus region. She provides information and minor tasks, though her role is reduced compared to Jak II — she has fewer missions and less dialogue, but her calm presence still anchors the base's operations. She does not engage in combat and has no unique gameplay mechanics; her function is purely narrative and quest-giving. Players interact with her via dialogue menus to accept or complete missions. Tess's character model is consistent across both games: a young woman with short brown hair, wearing a practical vest and headset. She is voiced by an actress (credited in the games) and has a calm, professional tone that never wavers, even when the city is under siege. Her missions are straightforward and serve as breathers from the main story's intensity, offering rewards for exploration and completion — but don't let the simplicity fool you; her deliveries often lead you into the thick of danger.

Did You Know?

• Tess is a minor supporting character in the Jak and Daxter series, appearing primarily in Jak II and Jak III.
• She serves as a communications and logistics specialist, aiding Jak and his allies through coded messages and supply drops.
• In Jak II, she is found in the Underground hideout beneath the city, accessible after Jak joins the resistance.
• In Jak III, Tess returns in a similar role, located in the resistance base in the Spargus region.
• Tess does not engage in combat and has no unique gameplay mechanics; her function is purely narrative and quest-giving.