WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The High Republic #10, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Throughout the first wave of the Star Wars: The High Republic subseries, the Jedi mainly are reacting to the Nihil's attacks on the galaxy, and they have flawed knowledge of the Nihil's hierarchy. The Jedi know that the Nihil are organized into groups known as Tempest led by Tempest Runners. But, they mistakenly believe that Lourna Dee is the overall leader of the Nihil when Marchion Ro is in fact the true Eye of the Nihil, for now. The Jedi believe that Lourna actually died when her Tempest was taken, but when Keeve Trennis and Terec go undercover with the Nihil, they discover that Lourna actually is alive. Lourna's cockiness may be her downfall because she now has unwittingly revealed her survival to all of the Jedi forces without even realizing it.
The rise and fall and rise again of Lourna Dee is the subject of Cavan Scott’s Star Wars: The High Republic: Tempest Runner. At the beginning of the audio drama, the Jedi defeat Lourna Dee’s forces. However, none of the Jedi have ever seen Lourna’s face because the Nihil all wear gas masks when attacking. She fools the Jedi into thinking that she is dead by rigging a bomb to a droid wearing her helmet. In the confusion, the Jedi are unable to get a good look at the false Lourna before the bomb explodes. Lourna is arrested with the rest of her Tempest, but the Jedi think that she is just Sal, a lower-ranking member of the Nihil. She eventually escapes with a new ship and a new, extremely loyal crew composed of Pan Eyta's former Tempest and her fellow prisoners. Her ruse remains secure, and the Jedi still believe that Lourna died months ago.
Thus, the Jedi believe that they are making major victories against the Nihil when the Nihil are in fact regrouping and growing stronger. In the latest arc of the Star Wars: The High Republic comic series, Avar Kriss sends Keeve and Terec on an undercover mission to try to be more proactive in the fight against the Nihil. The mission goes awry in Star Wars: The High Republic #10 by Cavan Scott, Georges Jeanty, Carlos Lopez, Karl Story, Victor Olazaba, VC's Travis Lanham, Phil Noto, Marco Turini, Annalisa Leoni, Caspar Wijngaard, and Carlos Lao. Myarga the Hutt reveals Keeve Trennis and Terec’s true identity to the Nihil in an attempt to save herself.
As Keeve and Terec begin fighting the Nihil to try to stall for time until the rest of the Jedi arrive, Lourna enters the room and reveals her survival. Because she is confident that she and Zeetar, another Tempest Runner, have the upper hand, Lourna even removes her helmet, showing her face to Keeve and Terec. Her overconfidence may be tied to the Great Leveler, a mysterious beast with the ability to feed on Jedi's fear and turn them to stone. She reveals herself precisely because she thinks that the Great Leveler will destroy Keeve and Terec, and her secret will die with them.
Lourna is unaware that Terec is a Kotabi and has a bond-twin, Ceret. Earlier in the issue, Ceret explains to Avar Kriss, "We are, in essence, the same being. At the least, the same mind. Even at this distance, we experience each other's thoughts, because they are our thoughts." Thus, when Terec learns that Lourna Dee is alive, Ceret also receives this information simultaneously. Also, because Terec sees Lourna's face, Ceret probably also knows exactly what Lourna looks like. Ceret immediately shares this information with Avar and the rest of the Jedi, guaranteeing that the galaxy will now be on the lookout for Lourna Dee once more.
Therefore, Lourna currently believes her secret is safe, especially when she unleashes the Great Leveler to kill Keeve and Terec. When in reality the news of her survival actually has already reached the Jedi. However, this information might have a high cost as Keeve, Terec, and Ceret may all perish due to the Great Leveler even though the Jedi are on their way to save them. Still, Lourna's overconfidence might be her downfall as news of her survival spreads throughout the galaxy.