"Clear your mind, let the Force guide you."
"Self-sacrifice to stop a great evil is a great good."
"Die? I am not dying, my friend. Do you think I am merely this body? I will live on so long as the Jedi Order brings peace and order to the Galaxy."-- Quotes of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master.
The Jedi Order, once a religious order limited to those strictly devoted to the development of their Force Powers has, after the Skywalker teachings, become an Order of like-minded individuals who believe not only in The Force as a unifying presense in the Galaxy, but also in the strengthening of The Force through self-sacrifice, protection of the weak, and destruction of evil. Jedi Knights remain as individuals who have great abilities in The Force. Jedi Masters are those who have studied the Force to an even greater degree, but also are those that have taught another Learner to the skills necessary to become a Jedi Knight.
Starting OutThe Jedi are drawn from the citizenry of the Republic. The Jedi religion is very broadly embraced among the people of the Republic ("May the Force be with you" is a Jedi expression), and many study the philosophical teachings of the Jedi. The virtues of honor, dedication to duty, empathy, faith in one's friends. It is simple enough to become an initiate in the Jedi religion and receive advice and counseling from a Jedi mentor. But relatively few people are allowed to take the next step and become a Jedi Learner.
The Jedi recruit their Learners from people who have proven heroism and strength of character. Not all Jedi apprentices are moral paragons, but all Jedi Learners have shown themselves willing to take risks in order to do the right thing, and dedicated to doing the right thing even at a cost. Before a person can become a Jedi Learner, the Jedi Council must select them for training. Usually, a current Jedi Knight or Master will nominate them, and the Council will vote. Only a handful of Jedi are trained at any given time; the quota is limited so that the Jedi can focus their attention on teaching current trainees.
Once accepted as a Jedi Learner, the young apprentice will be tested with a never-ending gauntlet of physical and mental challenges. Some will be formal tests; some will be real-world. As the Learner gains knowledge of the Force and of him/herself, the Jedi will watch the Learner for any sign of moral decay.
The Jedi Order was established by Luke Skywalker to be above corruption. There has not been a single Learner that has fallen from grace and embraced the Dark Side in over one hundred years. Those that do are hunted down and brought to trial. But a Jedi Trial is fair and a criminal is given full chance to make good for his crime. A thief is released if he returns the stolen goods. A vandal is released if she repairs the damage. A murderer is released if they show remorse and seek to repair the hole they have rent in the world. Even crime lords are given chances at redemption. But the Jedi do not slow their hand in punishment.
Jedi Rank Structure- Initiate (shares the goals and morality of the Jedi Order; non-trained, but taught Jedi philosophies)
- Learner
- Knight
- Master
Things To KnowConduct for members of the Jedi Order is strict. They are not greedy, or gluttons, or evil in any way. They are more good than good guys! Han Solo cannot be a member of the Jedi Order; hokey religions and ancient weapons just aren't his style. Chewbacca, on the other hand, could be.
The Masters of the Jedi Order can sense things about you. They can tell if your future is bright or cloudy. While a deep-scan isn't often made of Initiates, no one who associates long with the Jedi can keep an evil secret.
The same goes for Learners. That's not to say that a Knight might not FLIRT with the Dark Side. But the training that a Jedi goes through eliminates the wishy-washy morality of ordinary people. The Jedi Order preaches self-sacrifice for the good of the Galaxy. Jedi have gone without food to ease the suffering of those without food. They have endured great pain to bring others to safety.
Jedi Learner and Knights will often rescue kidnap victims. Track down terrorists. Stop bounty hunters from killing people. Things of the larger scope.
Jedi Masters oversee the Learners and Knights, they also seek to guide the hand of others and keep the vigil against the Dark Side. A Jedi who flirts with the Dark Side cannot hide such action from the Jedi Masters. If a Knight uses the dark side, it is almost certain that his master (and his students) will feel the disturbance almost at once.
Members should be self-sacrificing. But not to the extreme. A Jedi Order Member who is a pilot might stay behind so his fellows can escape, but would not suicide in a way that would jeopardize the mission.
Many healers are often Initiates of the Jedi Order, bringing peace to the Galaxy through their healing.
Once a year, the Jedi Order remembers the sacrifice of Luke Skywalker. Festivities range from small to large. The Jedi Shrine on Vasatissa often lights a large pyre upon the rooftop, forgoing all other lights in their building for the traditional wood burning of a Jedi Funeral.
