EU-Fic/History/The Jedi Order

The Jedi Order

by Darth Raptor

Introduction

The Jedi Order is an ancient and pan-galactic society devoted to the light side of the Force, its philosophical study and practical applications. While they are scarcely understood, phenomena traditionally ascribed to the Force are repeatable and independently verifiable. Nevertheless, the Order adheres to a mystical philosophy and a dogmatic code of morality and conduct. For this reason, scholars and historians have traditionally classified the Jedi Order as a Force cult; one of the so-called "true religions", or those centered on an unscientific study of the very real phenomena known as the Force. The legendary virtue and heroism of its members combined with its undeniable history of applying the Force both safely and effectively (a history not shared by competing philosophies) have helped to make the Jedi Order the galaxy's dominant Force cult. Their interpretation of the Force is generally accepted as "correct" by the galaxy at large. Due to its role in the foundation of the Galactic Republic and its function in the defense and maintenance thereof, the Jedi Order enjoys considerable power and influence within the Republic Authority, while remaining technically independent of said government. The Jedi have a standing mandate to explore the galaxy, defend the Republic from external threats, expand (through peaceful means) its sphere of influence, mediate domestic and international disputes, recruit from among the citizenry, regulate the study, knowledge and practice of Force-related abilities and to enforce law and order within Republic territory; a mandate that has not been altered since the Republic was established over twenty-four thousand years ago.

History

Unfortunately, the precise origins of the Jedi Order have been lost to prehistory. Jedi scholars and secular archaeologists alike have posited a great many competing and hotly-contested hypotheses on the matter. Most probably, the Order cannot trace its beginnings to any one philosophy, religion or group in any one era or location. Instead, they were inspired by a great many groups of prehistoric Force magi like the Chatos Paladins and the Dai Bendu Monks. Indeed, the eponymous, eight-spoked roundel of the Order of Dai Bendu has come to symbolize galactic unity and features heavily in both Jedi and Republic iconography.

The modern and mature form of the Jedi Order predates the Galactic Republic by at least two thousand years and archaeological evidence points to an Order that is more ancient still. The first indisputable accounts are those of the Force Wars of Tython, a nigh-mythical, Deep Core planet where scientists and philosophers from across the galaxy gathered to study the Ashla, or light side of the Force. An inevitable conflict arose between the Jedi and those who became corrupted by the Bogan, or dark side of the Force. Due to an appalling lack of contemporary evidence and an abundance of contradictory accounts, the Force Wars are (understandably) dismissed by most secular and even Jedi scholars as the genesis of the modern Order. Instead, those who maintain that they actually occurred consider them a precursor to the First Great Schism, an interstellar war between the Jedi and their sworn enemies; the various groups of dark side magi.

The First Great Schism was itself part and symptomatic of the Unification Wars. The pre-Republic Jedi were defined by their violent opposition to dark side witches and heretical sects of their own cult. Thus, the Jedi quickly became known as chivalrous heroes; the saviors and protectors of peace-loving peoples throughout the galaxy. It was as much by the cruelty and barbarism of their enemies as it was by their own merits that they acquired this reputation. The Jedi were in a perfect position to unite the Great Powers of the Core and their allies against the Anti-Unification Alliance and its barbarian pawns. They did so, and found that while numerous, their enemies were as disorganized as they were dissolute. What began as an alliance of necessity for the survival of civilization would eventually become the Galactic Republic. With the Jedi to stand vigil as the eternal guardians of peace and justice, the future of civilization was assured.

Recruitment, Training and Placement

By law, membership in the Jedi Order is voluntary. Individuals suspected to possess potential are identified at birth by routine medical tests. In eukaryotic species, this is done by performing a count of midi-chlorians per cell. An individual's midi-chlorian count is positively-correlated with latent Force abilities, but a battery of further tests are required for confirmation. These tests are performed by the recruiting Knight or officer of the Inquisition. If the presence of genuine ability is confirmed, the individual is, with the written consent of their legal guardians, inducted into the Jedi Order at the age of seven.

Training takes place in one of two ways; the first is for Knights of Master level to take on the initiate as their personal apprentice. The second is for the initiate to attend a Jedi academy or praxeum. Apprentice Jedi and academy students are called Padawans and, in addition to their studies, serve their masters and/or the Order itself as pages until they reach the legal age of majority for their species. Padawans old enough for military service act as squires in the direct support of Knights in the field, or begin to assume the responsibilities of their occupational specialty. Republic law mandates that they receive a full primary and secondary education in addition to their martial and occupational training. Most also complete a baccalaureate-level tertiary education or better.

Occupational placement is partly determined by the needs of the Order and partly by the talents and temperaments of the individual Padawan. Squires under the charge of a Knight can only become a Knight, while academy-trained Padawans have a wider range of specializations available to them. Jedi that pursue a less generalized career can begin their specialized training as early as fourteen and as late as eighteen. All Jedi carry lightsabers and have some degree of martial skill, even if they never see combat.

Knights

The martial arm of the Jedi Order, the Swift Sword and Invincible Shield of the Galactic Republic, the Jedi Knights are the finest warriors in the galaxy. While masters of swordsmanship and known for their gleaming, plastoid body armor, Jedi Knights are savants at battle in any medium. Infantry, armor, aviation, marksmanship, reconnaissance, infiltration and special forces; Jedi Knights can do it all and do it better than even the most gifted Force-blind individual. Knights-errant act on their own or with/in support of other Knights-errant. Others are dispatched on missions by the Temple, either alone or in support of Republic military operations.

Still others serve in the Armed Forces of the Republic on active duty; with most of these being special forces or naval aviators. As one would expect, many Knights move on to occupy command roles. These are the Jedi Generals and their powers of telepathy and precognition have allowed them to lead the armies and fleets of the Republic to victory time and again. Jedi Generals are specialists in battle meditation, a skill that allows them to coordinate and inspire their troops to an extent that would otherwise be impossible.

Apothecaries

Apothecaries are masters of alchemy (Force-assisted, trans-elemental chemistry) and psychometabolism, making them physicians and pharmacologists without peer. While a Jedi Apothecary cannot do anything that modern medicine cannot, they can do so anywhere and at any time. This makes them invaluable on the battlefield or at the scene of an epidemic or natural disaster; especially in circumstances of critical time or scarce resources. Apothecaries are also employed in planetary terraforming and reclamation efforts. In addition to their preternatural abilities, Jedi apothecaries are almost always fully-trained biologists or conventional physicians.

The Temple

The Temple is the guiding light of the Order and Temples of various sizes and dispositions can be found on most worlds in the Republic. The primary role of the Temple is to coordinate and support Knights in the field and to liaise with the Republic Authority and local governments. Understandably, very few Temples can maintain a permanent cadre of Jedi. Instead, these facilities are staffed by lay servants, Force-blind acolytes who are the lifeblood of the Order's organizational bureaucracy and support infrastructure. The size of a Jedi Temple depends on the world's relative importance and can range from humble shrines sequestered in the alcoves of government buildings to the ecumenical Temple on Coruscant, a virtual city unto itself.

Those large enough to warrant a permanent Jedi detachment often double as academies, archives or headquarters for the Council and Inquisition. Knights assigned to a Temple specifically to ensure its security are called Templars. Specialist members of the permanent compliment are styled and self-styled by a range of names varying by local tradition, specific function and personal preference. These Jedi serve a much more intellectual role, and can be known as scholars, scientists, philosophers, magi, priests, monks and numerous other academic and mystical titles. The same is true for the individual Temples and their leaders.

In addition to its intra-Order support functions, the Temple provides valuable social services to their local communities. On less developed worlds, the Temple can take on an almost missionary disposition, providing food, clothing, medicine and education to worlds outside the Republic or on the fringe of its effective influence.

The Inquisition

Almost all Jedi and their acolytes are seen as saints; intrinsically noble and honorable servants of light, the guardians of peace and justice. While those on the wrong side of the Order's attentions would disagree, to the galaxy at large, the Jedi are almost universally revered. Conversely, no one likes the Inquistion, not even most Jedi. Some respect it, others fear it, still more hate it, but fondness for the organization is not something that is found outside its walls. Even after twenty-four thousand years of tireless service, the Inquisition is merely tolerated by the Republic. Tolerated and accepted as necessary to contain the very real dangers of the dark side of the Force.

The Inquisition serves to regulate the knowledge, teaching and practice of the Force. By Republic law, all religions are protected and dark side cults are no exception. Alternative beliefs in the Force are tolerated by both the Jedi and the Republic Authority. Alternative practices are not. Jedi Inquisitors and their subordinate agents hunt down and prosecute the myriad groups of practicing witches, heretics, schismatics and apostates. The Inquisition is also responsible for the discovery and surveillance of potential Jedi recruits. While the Order prefers to have Knights or less odious specialists do the actual recruiting, it is almost always the Inquisition who is first to learn of a potential initiate. Those whose person or guardians refuse to join the Order are thoroughly yet discreetly monitored by the Inquisition for the rest of their lives.

The Inquisition is also the internal police and judiciary of the Order, which prefers to handle its problems internally. Particularly infamous and egregious offenders are usually remanded to Republic custody.