Post by Force_Flow on Aug 16, 2007 14:28:40 GMT -4
There is no emotion; there is peace.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no chaos; there is harmony.
There is no death; there is the Force.
A Jedi was a member of the Jedi Order, which studied, served and used the mystical energies of the Force; more specifically, the light side of the Force. The Jedi fought for peace and justice in the Galactic Republic, often against their mortal enemies, the Sith, who studied the dark side of the Force. Recently, the new Grand Master of the Jedi, Calvin Redgrave, has decided to embrace the Unifying Force. The Jedi now believe in not light or dark side powers, but in what state of mind you’re in once you use those powers.
Originally formed as a philosophical study group, the Jedi became revered as august guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy. As mystical wielders of the Force and their glowing, signature lightsabers, their powers inspired awe in most of the galaxy's citizens. The calm, considered demeanor of the Jedi made them ideal brokers of peace in times of conflict or dispute. Yet, for all their power and diversity, the Jedi were few. Often beset by foes in times of doubt and confusion, undercurrents of evil often challenged their order and the establishment they served, the most notable being the Sith. These dark warriors were the antithesis of the Jedi, their sworn enemies, and the battle between them brought the galaxy to war more than once. In times of crisis, the Sith influence could even block the sight of the Jedi Order.
The way of the Jedi had become the way of wisdom and patience, backed by swift and decisive action when necessary. Becoming a Jedi requires the most profound commitment and astute mind. The life of a Jedi is one of sacrifice. To hinder transgression, those who showed an aptitude for the Force were taken directly from birth (or soon afterward) to train in the Jedi Temple headquartered on Coruscant or at smaller Jedi Enclaves, like on Ossus. From the beginning of their training a Jedi was expected to adhere to a strict Code that included concepts such as rational thought, patience, and benevolence. Emotions such as hate, anger, and fear were thought to be destructive and lead to the dark side, so such things were banned from Jedi practice, but the Sith continue to study them.
Almost all youthful Jedi were initially called Younglings and instructed in "clans" by a venerable, experienced Jedi Master, learning the ways of the Jedi and the powers of the Force. It was once normal for Jedi to be trained as small children, but adults are now aloud in, but they need to push themselves harder.
When an individual student achieved satisfactory understanding of the Jedi way, they were usually taken under the wing of another Jedi member and instructed individually to complete their training. Masters typically brought their Padawans along on missions, and later sent them on missions on their own, for them to gain experience and learn from practice.
The traditional Jedi weapon was the lightsaber, which, in the hands of a skilled wielder, could be deadly in combat, even against opponents armed with ranged weapons. To attain this level of skill, however, required great focus and training. Students practiced the rubrics of lightsaber combat with a remote, and children used training lightsabers. They also dueled fellow Jedi as a contest of their skills. Due to all the weight being in the hilt, Jedi needed heightened awareness, thus, such conditioning honed their attunement to the Force. Since the binding of a lightsaber's intricate innards and the initial charging of the power cell also required knowledge of the Force to implement, a Jedi was tasked with constructing their own lightsaber as part of their training, using special crystals that focused the lightsaber's blade. During the Jedi Civil War era, many Cerean Jedi used specially-forged Kasha lightsaber crystals as a meditative tool; by incorporating such crystals into their training regimens, they helped to clear the wielder's mind of distractions, even during tense physical combat. Further, it was a task in itself to find components for the lightsaber. Meditation in a crystal cave on a planet such as Ilum or Dantooine would often produce an image in the Jedi's mind about the lightsaber they were to build. The construction of a lightsaber was considered a milestone on the path to Jedi Knighthood, and took on a heavily symbolic meaning.
In following the Code, Jedi behavior was rigidly structured to uphold self-discipline, responsibility, and public service. The Jedi conquered emotions and materialism. They honored life, the law, the order itself and the master-student relationship. Jedi rendered aid to support and defend the weak; compassion was "encouraged". Rules of engagement included such notions as understanding the dark and light in all things, learning to see accurately, opening their eyes to what was not evident and exercising caution, even in trivial matters. Above all, Jedi upheld their duty to the Republic and embraced the Force. The Jedi have more leeway in their dealings thanks to Redgrave, as the Order is more loosely organized and the individual Knights and Masters granted greater personal freedom.
The strength of the Jedi Code and organization rested on three core tenets:
*Self-discipline
*Knowledge, as contained in the Jedi Archives
*The Force, a universal energy that binds all things and also has many relations to midi-chlorians
[/b]There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no chaos; there is harmony.
There is no death; there is the Force.
A Jedi was a member of the Jedi Order, which studied, served and used the mystical energies of the Force; more specifically, the light side of the Force. The Jedi fought for peace and justice in the Galactic Republic, often against their mortal enemies, the Sith, who studied the dark side of the Force. Recently, the new Grand Master of the Jedi, Calvin Redgrave, has decided to embrace the Unifying Force. The Jedi now believe in not light or dark side powers, but in what state of mind you’re in once you use those powers.
Originally formed as a philosophical study group, the Jedi became revered as august guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy. As mystical wielders of the Force and their glowing, signature lightsabers, their powers inspired awe in most of the galaxy's citizens. The calm, considered demeanor of the Jedi made them ideal brokers of peace in times of conflict or dispute. Yet, for all their power and diversity, the Jedi were few. Often beset by foes in times of doubt and confusion, undercurrents of evil often challenged their order and the establishment they served, the most notable being the Sith. These dark warriors were the antithesis of the Jedi, their sworn enemies, and the battle between them brought the galaxy to war more than once. In times of crisis, the Sith influence could even block the sight of the Jedi Order.
The way of the Jedi had become the way of wisdom and patience, backed by swift and decisive action when necessary. Becoming a Jedi requires the most profound commitment and astute mind. The life of a Jedi is one of sacrifice. To hinder transgression, those who showed an aptitude for the Force were taken directly from birth (or soon afterward) to train in the Jedi Temple headquartered on Coruscant or at smaller Jedi Enclaves, like on Ossus. From the beginning of their training a Jedi was expected to adhere to a strict Code that included concepts such as rational thought, patience, and benevolence. Emotions such as hate, anger, and fear were thought to be destructive and lead to the dark side, so such things were banned from Jedi practice, but the Sith continue to study them.
Almost all youthful Jedi were initially called Younglings and instructed in "clans" by a venerable, experienced Jedi Master, learning the ways of the Jedi and the powers of the Force. It was once normal for Jedi to be trained as small children, but adults are now aloud in, but they need to push themselves harder.
When an individual student achieved satisfactory understanding of the Jedi way, they were usually taken under the wing of another Jedi member and instructed individually to complete their training. Masters typically brought their Padawans along on missions, and later sent them on missions on their own, for them to gain experience and learn from practice.
The traditional Jedi weapon was the lightsaber, which, in the hands of a skilled wielder, could be deadly in combat, even against opponents armed with ranged weapons. To attain this level of skill, however, required great focus and training. Students practiced the rubrics of lightsaber combat with a remote, and children used training lightsabers. They also dueled fellow Jedi as a contest of their skills. Due to all the weight being in the hilt, Jedi needed heightened awareness, thus, such conditioning honed their attunement to the Force. Since the binding of a lightsaber's intricate innards and the initial charging of the power cell also required knowledge of the Force to implement, a Jedi was tasked with constructing their own lightsaber as part of their training, using special crystals that focused the lightsaber's blade. During the Jedi Civil War era, many Cerean Jedi used specially-forged Kasha lightsaber crystals as a meditative tool; by incorporating such crystals into their training regimens, they helped to clear the wielder's mind of distractions, even during tense physical combat. Further, it was a task in itself to find components for the lightsaber. Meditation in a crystal cave on a planet such as Ilum or Dantooine would often produce an image in the Jedi's mind about the lightsaber they were to build. The construction of a lightsaber was considered a milestone on the path to Jedi Knighthood, and took on a heavily symbolic meaning.
In following the Code, Jedi behavior was rigidly structured to uphold self-discipline, responsibility, and public service. The Jedi conquered emotions and materialism. They honored life, the law, the order itself and the master-student relationship. Jedi rendered aid to support and defend the weak; compassion was "encouraged". Rules of engagement included such notions as understanding the dark and light in all things, learning to see accurately, opening their eyes to what was not evident and exercising caution, even in trivial matters. Above all, Jedi upheld their duty to the Republic and embraced the Force. The Jedi have more leeway in their dealings thanks to Redgrave, as the Order is more loosely organized and the individual Knights and Masters granted greater personal freedom.
The strength of the Jedi Code and organization rested on three core tenets:
*Self-discipline
*Knowledge, as contained in the Jedi Archives
*The Force, a universal energy that binds all things and also has many relations to midi-chlorians
When used correctly, these allowed a Jedi to solve any problem and overcome any obstacle, helping to make the Galaxy a better place.
As the Jedi instructed their members in the ways of the Jedi Code and the Force, each member progressed through four basic levels of rank:
Jedi Initiate (or Youngling or "Jedi Hopeful") – a Force-sensitive child. Often a prospective Jedi was detected through blood sampling -- those with great Force potential had high midi-chlorian counts in their bloodstream. At a very young age, children were removed from their families and assigned to the Jedi Temple for training. Younglings were taught in communal groups known as clans.
Jedi Padawan – an apprentice who began serious tutelage under a single Jedi Knight or Jedi Master. In order to graduate to Padawan status, an Initiate was required to be chosen by a Knight or Master and taken as their sole pupil. Padawans who were of a haired species typically wore a long braid of hair behind their right ear. When a Padawan was elevated to Knighthood the braid was cut during the knighting ceremony.
Jedi Knight - a disciplined Padawan could become a fully trained Jedi once they completed "the trials." The known trials were, but weren't limited to: the Trial of Flesh, the Trial of Courage, the Trial of Skill and the Trial of Self (also known as "facing the mirror").
Jedi Master – a Jedi Knight who showed great understanding of the Force and managed to instruct a Padawan and train them successfully to the level of a Jedi Knight. This title could also be achieved through the performance of extraordinary deeds. Self-proclamation of the Jedi Master title was rare and frowned upon by the Jedi Council.
Councilor ( or Council Member ) – A very few Jedi were invited to serve on the Jedi Council, the governing body of the Order. The Council was made up almost exclusively of wise, experienced Masters. The Council was made up of 12 masters, five of them with life terms (two of them designated as "senior"), four as long-term, and three short-term.
Grand Master – The highest rank of the Jedi Order was that of Grand Master, the leader of all the Jedi.
A Jedi Knight or Jedi Master can have only one apprentice at a time, and the Padawan has to be promoted to the rank of Jedi Knight before another apprentice could be chosen. In special cases, however, masters are allowed to have more than one apprentice.
Being a Jedi was a life of great variation as the Jedi Order had several responsibilities. While many Jedi were generalists, some would specialize in one or more areas either in accordance with their own interests and preferences, or because they were delegated responsibility for an area that required specialization. With these specializations often came specific Jedi ranks. Moreover, in certain periods of the history of the Galaxy, some Jedi would assume military ranks fighting alongside Republic forces.
Jedi Commander – a Padawan serving as a Commander in the Grand Army of the Republic, the Jedi Commander was assigned to a Jedi General until knighted. Once a full Jedi, the Padawan is now referred to as General.
Jedi General – a Jedi Knight who had been placed in command of a Republic army. Considered a full General.
Senior Jedi General – a Jedi Master that is not on the Council serving as a general in the Clone Wars. the Senior Jedi General was very experienced in warfare and battle tactics.
High Jedi General – a member of the Jedi Council serving as a Jedi General during the Clone Wars, the Jedi High General would not only command their own army, but also supervise other Jedi Senior Generals, Jedi Generals and Jedi Commanders.
In addition to the ordinary military ranks, there were a number of ranks and titles based on specialization in areas of warfare and combat.
Force Warrior – a Jedi who was skilled in a special type of unarmed combat, using meditative martial arts and the Force.
Jedi ace – a Jedi who had specialized in starfighter combat, combining piloting skills with mastery of the Force.
Jedi gatemaster – the Jedi who served as the keeper of the main entrance at the Jedi Temple. These Jedi were usually trained in a special way.
Jedi Guardian/Warrior Master – a Jedi Master who was especially skilled in battle, the Guardian (Warrior Master) would concentrate mainly on martial training and combat in general without losing focus on diplomacy and the philosophies of the Force.
Jedi Weapon Master – a Jedi Master who focused solely on battle, the Weapon Master was among the greatest fighters of the Order, but also had very limited insight into philosophy and non-combat related Force skills.
Jedi Healer – Some Jedi would focus on the more Humanitarian aspects of the Force, specializing in Force powers based on Force healing. In addition to knowledge of such Force powers, also had extensive knowledge of medicine and medical technology. Jedi healers were normally stationed at the Jedi Medical Corps Infirmary, but would also serve in the field.
Some Jedi would specialize in lore, such as the history of the Galaxy, the Force, and the Jedi Order, producing invaluable knowledge.
Jedi archaeologist – a Jedi who had specialized in gaining historical knowledge through archaeology, the Jedi archaeologist was often a member of the ExplorCorps and involved in expeditions of various kinds.
Jedi historian – a Jedi who had specialized in chronicling the history of the Galaxy and the Jedi Order, the Jedi historian knew virtually everything about the past of the Jedi Order.
Jedi librarian – a Jedi who had specialized in administrating vast databases of knowledge, the Jedi librarian was in charge of an important Jedi library, such as the ancient Great Jedi Library, the library of the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine, or the Jedi Archives.
Jedi geologist – a Jedi who had specialized in geology.
Jedi Consular/Sage Master – a Jedi Master dedicated to the mysteries of the Force, the Consular (Sage Master) had deep insights into the philosophies of the Force and was a highly skilled user of many Force powers
Jedi were often called upon to act as impartial diplomats, possibly due to the Order's traditions of detachment from secular society and the phenomenon of Force-guided intuition. They would serve as moderators and negotiators during disputes, and their judgments were often recognized as just and binding. When acting as diplomats, Jedi took the utmost care to be impartial and fair-minded.
Whilst any Jedi could function as a mediator or diplomat, two dedicated classes of "diplomatic Jedi" are known.
Jedi Sentinel – Jedi that sought a balance between the intensive combat training of the Jedi Guardians and the wider philosophical views and teaching responsibilities of the Jedi Consulars. These Jedi ferreted out deceit and injustice, bringing it to light. They were generally employed in scouting missions and were skilled in security, computers, stealth techniques, or medicine, and also had diplomatic skills. Having said that the title of Jedi Sentinel was an ancient one dating back as far as the Jedi Civil War.
Jedi Watchmen – Jedi Watchmen were charged with overseeing a particular system or sector, thus serving as a type of liaison officer between the system or sector and the Jedi Council as well as the Republic in general. Jedi Watchmen were often highly skilled in diplomacy and possessed knowledge of the culture of the system or sector they oversaw. Often Jedi Watchmen originated from the system or sector they were tasked with overseeing.
The Jedi Order would also actively partake in crimefighting as part of their role as keepers of the peace in the Republic. They would loosely police the Galaxy, but there were also groups of Jedi specializing in crime detection, investigation, solving, and prevention.
Jedi investigator – a Jedi specially appointed by the Council to uncover hidden and obscure threats to the Galaxy such as powerful criminal syndicates, corruption and conspiracy against the Republic and other shady menaces. The Jedi investigator would often work alone and undercover to infiltrate suspicious organizations or would be busy investigating some act of crime.
Jedi Sentinel – a Jedi Sentinel was the perfect balance between the Jedi Guardian and the Jedi Consular, possessing great skills in combat and knowledge in the force. This type of Jedi functioned like both the Jedi investigator and the Jedi Shadow, rooting out and destroying both crime and the dark side. In addition, the Jedi Sentinel also had skills in various other studies. However, it is unclear whether the Jedi Sentinel as a distinct class survived the Ruusan Reformation, and the title was an ancient one dating back at least as far as the Jedi Civil War.
Jedi Shadow – a Jedi whose job was to seek out and destroy any sign of the dark side of the Force, the Jedi shadow was the Jedi Order's primary weapon against the dark side up until the Clone Wars. The Jedi Shadow was a Jedi tasked with infiltrating dark side groups and cults to expose them to justice.
In addition to the Master-Padawan model, some Jedi had specialized in teaching aspects of the Force and the skill required to be a Jedi.
Jedi instructor – a Jedi accountable for giving general teachings to Younglings, Padawans, or the occasional older beings. Sometimes Council members, who were frequently at the Jedi Temple, where initial instruction commonly took place, served as Jedi instructors. However, most such mentors were stationed at a Jedi Praxeum or academy.
Jedi battlemaster – a Jedi highly skilled in lightsaber combat, the Battlemaster was the lightsaber combat instructor of a Jedi Praxeum, Temple, or Academy.[/center]
