DOTF
FORCE GUIDE OUTLINE - By Dave.
What
is the Force?
"The Force is what gives
the Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living
things."
Obi
Wan Kenobi - Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
"Life creates it, makes it
grow,"
Master Yoda - Star Wars
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
All things that live are a part of the Force. All things that live
generate the Force. All things that live make the Force grow ever stronger, and
ever more rich and bountiful. Its energies are nigh inexhaustible; as long as
life exists, so too will the Force. Any thing that lives, that has life, be it
plant, animal, sentient, or even some forms of living minerals, generates energy
that contributes to the Force. No one knows the precise nature of this energy,
and nothing can calculate its full potential. There are no instruments which can
read or tap the energies of the Force, only living cells rich in midi-chlorians
posess that ability. The Force's full potential has never been explored, let
alone utilized by one being, but we know the Force has the ability to create and
destroy life, to lengthen or shorten life, and to do these things on a galactic
scale. As Darth Vader truly said "The Ability to Destroy a Planet is INSIGNIFICANT, next to
the power of the Force." (Darth Vader, Episode IV: A New Hope.)
"It surrounds us, and
pentetrates us, it binds the galaxy together."
Obi
Wan Kenobi - Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
"Its energy surrounds us,
and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter! You must feel the
Force, around you - between you and me, the tree, the rock. Yes, even between
the land, and the ship."
Master Yoda - Star Wars
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Just as the Force is generated by all living things, it is also IN all
things. The Force is omni-present - that is - present everywhere. The Force is
omni-directional - it is in all directions. There is no where in the galaxy
where there is no Force. Even in Ysalamari bubbles, the Force exists, it is
rather that the Ysalamari make it inpossible for those Sensative to the Force to
be able to touch the Force. The Vong
are present within the Force, but cannot be sensed through or directly affected
by it, for unknown reasons. It's not an exact science, but to the best and
fullest knowledge of the Jedi and other Force Users of note, the Force IS
everywhere, IS IN everything, and IS A PART OF everything.
And if it follows that the Force is everywhere, and in everything, and
everyone, then perhaps there are those who know the Force but do not call it by
its right name? Ben Kenobi mentioned these types of people to Luke - the
pre-Jedi Force Users. (LOOK UP ANH NOTE) ... they were seen as magicicans or
wizards in their day, and those dark enough and fell enough were worshipped as
terrible Dark Lords, monstrous Emperors, or even set themselves up to be like
gods. It was not until shortly under thirty thousand years ago that the Jedi
uncovered the existance of the Force as an omnipotent and onmipresent resevior
of energy and named it duly - as THE FORCE.
All mystic energy within the galaxy finds its ultimate wellspring in the
Force. Whether you worship an idolized 'god' or serve a magic energy by a
differant name, all mystic energies come from the Force. All Force Users use the
same Force. White Current, Shamans, Sith, Krath, Aing-Tii, Priestesses of the
Goddess - the names may change, the beliefs may differ, and the use of the Force
be somewhat differant from that of the Jedi's traditional way, but it is the
same Force in all of them. Its is a common wellspring of energy tapped by all
mystics and 'wizards.'
Nor are the souls of sentients any differant. The souls of sentient
beings are a part of the Force, a living, personalized embodiement of Force
energy, part of the whole. Upon death, the vast majority of sentient souls are
drained away into the oneness of the Force, to a state of non-awareness and
union with all living things. But some spirits, particularly those of beings
strong enough in mind and will, or trained in the use of powers designed for
just such a purpose, retain their personalities and individuality upon death,
and communicate with one another through the eternal oneness of the Force, on a
sort of ‘spiritual plane.’ These beings can also manifest on the physical plain
as 'ghosts' and spirits. It is not believed that any plants or non-sentients
exist with this capability, but it has also not be extensively
researched.
"Remember, a Jedi can feel
the Force FLOWING Through him!"
Obi
Wan Kenobi - Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
"Remember, a Jedi's
strength FLOWS from the Force!"
Master Yoda - Star Wars
Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi
"Be mindful of the Living
Force, young Padawan."
Qui
Gon Jinn - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
The Force is not by any means a static, unchanging, inactive body of
energy that merely waits to be tapped. It also bears a LIVING, viable essence of
life, with a basic, primal will of its own. In its active state - also known as
the Living Force - it has a conciouss will and a plan for the greater good of
the galaxy. It promotes life and peace and harmony in the galaxy through
effecting immediate good – saving a life, defending an innocent – merely because
these are good things to do, sometimes regardless of what future consequences
there may be for this action. The Force, in this manner, is often experiened
like one would sense a stream of water washing over you. You immediately detect
the currents of water that are hitting you, rushing over you, and you focus on
them, as oppossed to paying wider heed to what may be fouling the water upstream
somewhere before it reaches you, or how you might be fouling the water for
someone further downstream FROM you. Though this view may serve the immediate
future better, when this sense of the ‘here and now’ is focused upon to the
ignorance of the greater whole, it is a heady, impulsive stance that can lead
towards dark tempations, or have serious and grave consequences in the
future.
Consider both Master Qui-Gon Jinn and the Jedi Padawans Luke Skywalker
and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Master Jinn, in
the cases of Jar Jar Binks and Anakin Skywalker, intervened on the behalf of the
two innocents for his own, immediate reasons. He served the Living Force with
compassion and nobility, helping those who could not help themselves. He
rationaled his decisions by declaring ‘this Gungan may be of help,’ and by
stating ‘It’s the boy responsible for getting us these parts.’ Qui-Gon saw only
the immediate future, and the immediate surroundings. This made him an
incredibly precognitive and accomplished duelist, and a noble ‘hero,’ righting
the wrongs of the galaxy whereever and whenever he encountered them. But
sometimes this benevolency did not pan out as he had hoped – true, Jar Jar did
repay Qui-Gon’s act of kindness by recruiting the army that assisted in saving
Naboo, but Anakin Skywalker – though in the end, he DID Balance the Force –
became the hideous, monstrous Sith Lord known as Darth Vader, a cruel
intergalactic warlord, one the galaxy would be better off for never having
known.
Similarly, the Jedi Padawans Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi also focus
on the Living Force somewhat too blindly to see the greater good, on occasion.
Luke fled Dagobah to confront his enemy and rescue his friends from Darth Vader
– a good and noble goal, to be sure, but one which he would have cause to regret
later – in the end, his friends saved HIM, and not only did he not Save them, he
lost his hand, his first lightsaber, and discovered the shocking truth about his
parentage before he was truly ready for it – and he was nearly lost to the Dark
Side.
Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, heedlessly devoted to the legacy of his fallen
Master, made the mistake of throwing away his own reservations about the young
‘Chosen One,’ and the reservations of the Jedi Council, to train the Young
Anakin Skywalker, as a promise to his dead Master. He did not heed his warning
spirit – or the warnings of Master Yoda - and as he himself later said: his
pride had terribly consequences for the galaxy.
“The Chosen One The Boy
May Be. Nevertheless, Grave Danger I fear in his
Training!”
Master Yoda – Star Wars
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
“With the Force, Things
you will see – other places – the Future, the Past, Old Friends Long
Gone.”
Master Yoda – Star Wars
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
“Mmmm…Clouded this Boy’s
Future is.”
Master Yoda – Star Wars
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
“Be Patient, Luke!” …”And
sacrifce Han and Leia?!” … “If you honor what they fight for –
yes.”
Ben
Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, and Master Yoda – Star Wars Episode V: The Empire
Strikes Back
But there is more to the Force than its Living Aspect. There is also a
Unifying Aspect – less blindly focused on the immediate here and now, and more
universally focused on future and past occurences that affect decisions and
choices made in the here and now. In the Movies of the Star Wars Saga, Master
Yoda is, among the Jedi, the greatest and most skilled devotee of the Unifying
Force, though the entire Jedi Council ascribes to its use.
Referring back to the analogy used above to explain the Living Force,
experiencing the Unifying Force is again like unto the waters of a river flowing
over you. However, in this case, you pay less attention to the immediacy of the
waters and currents flowing over you, and more attention to the greater whole –
are you fouling the water for someone who would need to bathe later? Has someone
fouled the water for you – and so, practitioners of the Unifying Force often
spend more time searching the Future for visions and guidance in their
meditations (What will happen in the future as a result of these actions?), and
sometimes ignoring the immediate reprecussions of their choices; as oppossed to
the meditations of devotees ascribing to the Living Force, who seek the
immediate guidance (What will happen in the here and now?) of the Force in all
their actions, sometimes heedless of later consequences..
Yoda, who routinely spares more thought for the Future and for the
Unifying Force than any of his fellow Council Members, is the most attune out of
all the Jedi to the shadowy, phantomed danger hidden in the innocent boy
Skywalker and his future. Qui-Gon Jinn sees only the immediate good the boy can
do, and that he IS indeed the Chosen One. Upon those two criterium, he decides
that Anni will be a great assest to the Jedi Order, and brings him to Coruscant
for training. But despite the boy’s great powers, Yoda sees further than the
other Council Members and feels a hidden danger in this boy’s future. It is too
clouded for even Yoda to see for certain, but It is a certain enough feeling to
cause the Jedi Master to decline to train young Anakin, or to even allow for his
training by others.
Another key point of note when looking at the Unifying Force is the fitfth movie, “The Empire Strikes Back,” Here, as the Living Force and his Moral Compass of right and wrong seem to propel Luke out to face Vader and (attempt) to save his friends, he is rebuked by Yoda and Ben, both having insights from the Unifying Force, who attempt to dissuade Luke from going. And though all turned out alright in the end, Luke had a very close call. It is most interesting to note that, as far as the Expanded Universe Goes, Luke remains a firmly dedicated proponent of the Living Force (with all the blindness that entails) well throughout the books, until the Hand of Thrawn Duology. After this point he begins to see a more rounded view of the galaxy, and becomes more of a practitioner of the Unifying Force.
But the Unifying Force has disadvantages of its own. When seperated from a healthy respect for the Living Force, pure dedication to the Unifying Force can make a Jedi cold, heartless, and content to allow for the suffering of others in order to maintain the greater good. Thus, Ben and Yoda come across very harsh and cold when they try to force Luke to stay on Dagobah. Their utter lack of compassion makes it impossible for them to view the suffering of three lives as anything important in the grand scheme.
“Everything which has
transpired has done so according to MY Design!”
Emperor Palpatine – Star
Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi
One other key aspect of the Unifying Force, however, is that through
extensive foresight, it is possible to affect future events, and alter them to
your will. Emperor Palpatine uses this skill EXTENSIVELY. Like Yoda, his command
over Foretelling Future events is INCREDIBLE. It is possible that his range of
broad scope surpasses even that of Yoda, for neither Yoda nor Ben foretell the
disastrous outcome of the Rebel Assault on the Death Star, but it is clearly
shown that not only had the Emperor forewarning of the assault, as far back as
the beginning of “Shadows of the Empire,”but that he was orchestrating the entirty of those
events to bring about HIS will. He had carefully prepared the whole, devilish
affair in hopes of seducing the last Jedi – young Skywalker – to the Dark
Side.
But this skill is not without fault, occassionaly … for as we see
…
“I have forseen it. His compassion for you will be his undoing. He will come to you, and then you will bring him before me. He has grown strong. Only together can we turn him to the Dark Side of the Force.”
Emperor Palpatine – Star
Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi
“Everything is proceeding as I have Forseen.”
Emperor Palpatine – Star
Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi
Despite the Emperor’s awesome command over the Unifying Aspect of the
Force – despite all his foreknowledge, his planning, his designs – he failed to
grasp the entire scope of the future. He foresaw neither that the young
Skywalker would resist turning to the Dark Side – the young imp of a Jedi had
more power than he! – nor that his trusted, docile servant would just as
surprisingly turn BACK to the Light Side. These short-sights, few and small in
scope as they may seem, brought about the Emperor’s great fall, and the end of
his reign. Their meaning is all too clear – trust not overmuch on your
perceptions of the Future for “Always in motion Is the
Future.”
Although many great and memorable quotes in the vast wealth of Star Wars
refer to the Dark Side of the Force, not near as many pay attention to the Light
Side. This is because, in the view of the Jedi, and indeed, in the proven view
of the Force itself, the 'Light Side' of the Force is not so much a distinct
SIDE of the Force, as is widely believed, as it is simply the native,
un-perverted true nature of the Force - the Force in its untainted form.
The Force, and its Light Side, as was seen above, is made from the
energies of all life. Indeed, the Light Side of the Force encourages the natural
order of life - and it can be truly argued that Death is merely a perversion of
life - and it enhances the living of all things that do
live.
Those who serve the Light Side, the Native nature of the Force, find
themselves commonly empowered by the Life Force of the galaxy - strength just
naturally FLOWS into them. Their bodies are refreshed, and often the life span
of a Jedi is extended to far greater that of non-Jedi of his species. Touching
the Light Side of the Force is often a pleasant, peaceful sensation much like
that of bathing in a crystal clear spring, or walking through green fields while
the cool breeze brushes over your face. It is the most perfect way of
experiencing the unadulteraded peace and calm of the Force that exists
today.
Those non-Jedi Force Users who practice the Force and are not claimed by
the Dark Side, whether they be servants of the Goddess, Witches of Dathomir, or
even the Aing-Tii Monks, find themselves almost exclusively serving the Light
Side of the Force, for as long as they serve the betterment of others, and not
the good of their own selves, they remain pure - though long affiliation with
Dark Side power or with great power of any degree is likely to consume even the
best-meaning of users - and in the Light.
Although the Light Side existed before - long before - the advent of the
Earliest Jedi, no other Order of Force Users in the galaxy has ever so
completely defined the Light Side and worked to stay well within the Light. They
are the most experienced of Force Users in the ways of Light and Dark, and know
well the boundaries between them. Therefore it is moot that in explaining the
Light Side of the Force, we should also give some explanation of the Jedi Order,
and its teachings, for truly - if you wish to understand the Light Side of the
Force - you must understand the Jedi Order.
The Jedi Order - An
Introduction
Some 25,000 years or more before the onset of Star Wars Episode IV: A New
Hope, the Jedi came together as an intergalactic council of philosophers and
teachers and academacians, who debated openly the mystic energy field known as
the Force - debated its uses, its purpose, and its nature. Not long after this
group was founded, some of its members began to learn how to manipulate the
Force, how to wield it, and to harnass its power. These beings became known as
the Jedi Knights, an intergalactic order of peacekeepers which would last for
more than a thousand generations of the Old Republic. Legend states that the
earliest of the Jedi learned the moral rights and wrongs of their power from the
ancient and peaceful race of the Camaasi, though this has never been
substantiated.
Not long after the Jedi Knights emerged, the first Jedi Council convened,
and a Code of conduct for all the Jedi was formed, a Code which governed the
actions and processees of the Order, and dictated how it would function. This
Code has largely now passed away, but its key precepts, along with an ancient
Mantra of Jedi Lore, have survived to guide the new Jedi Order in their misson
to the galaxy.
As I said earlier, it is almost nessecary, in this day and age, if one
seeks to understand the nature of the "Light Side of the Force," for that one to
first understand the nature of the Jedi Order. To this end, I have compiled many
key lines and quotes which refer to the nature of the Jedi and their relation to
the Light Side of the Force. I hope these may be of
assistance.
The Nature of the Light
Side of the Force
Before we begin, it is nessecary to realise that whatever the Light Side
may be, it is the direct, polar opposite of the Dark Side. White against Black.
There is no Grey, and there is no blurring of the lines between Light and Dark.
It is also good to realise that, just as the essential Nature of the DARK
SIDE, as we will discuss later, is greed, the essential Nature of the Light Side
is self-sacrifce. Where as a Dark Sider invariably uses his power to further HIS
desires and wishes over that of the galaxy's, the Jedi humble themselves to the
greater good of the galaxy, serving the Light Side of the Force, Serving Life
itself, and protecting the galaxy's many peoples and worlds from evil. Thus, if
one seeks to determine whether they are acting in the interests of the Light
Side or of the Dark Side, they should ask themselves the following question "Is
it my glory or the glory of another small number of beings that I seek to
enlarge, or do I seek to enhance the glory of the greater good through my
sacrifice?"
"A Jedi Uses the Force for
Knowledge and Defense, Never For Attack."
Master Yoda - Star Wars
Episode V: The Return of the Jedi
"Article II: Jedi Use Their
Powers to Defend and Protect, Never to Attack Others."
The Jedi
Code
The Light Side seeks to understand the nature of things. It seeks to root
out the causes of evil and malignancy, for knowledge is power to combat evil.
Thus, the Jedi are often seen as scholarly, studious beings with deep and
investigative minds. The Jedi are slow to action, because they seek first to
understand the nature of the problem at hand, lest rash actions cause undue
problems in the future. Furthermore, the Jedi are instructed to regularly engage
in meditation - to meditate deeply upon their actions and to determine whether
they were both just and in the interests of the Light Side of the
Force.
Coupled with the desire for knowledge and understanding is a hesitancy in
the Light Side to attack. The Light Side promotes the life and well-being of all
creatures, good or evil, and the Jedi are instructed - aye, the Jedi feel an
overwhelming compulsion from the Force itself - not to kill or to take a life
unless absolutely nessecary. This places the Jedi in the position of being
defensive from the get-go, slow to action, slow to combat of any kind, but even
beyond THIS stipulation, there is yet another. A Jedi who uses the Force to
attack others, and not merely to defend when forced to, indirectly seeks to
extert HIS will upon the galaxy, and this agression can lead to the DARK SIDE of
the Force.
The Jedi
THE JEDI MANTRA
There is no emotion, there
is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no
passion, there is serenity.
There is no death, there is the Force
THE JEDI CODE
The Articles of the Jedi
Code and Supplimentary Text Provided by Mace Windu (Mark).
I. JEDI ARE THE GUARDIANS OF
PEACE IN THE GALAXY.
Jedi live their entire lives
as the guardians of peace in the galaxy. They take no specific orders from any
one body except for the Jedi council. However, the Jedi should follow the
demands of the senate unless the council agrees that the senate is wrong.
A Jedi cannot force people
to be just and decent. They must allow such qualities to arise from within. If a
Jedi forces these qualities on an adversary they will not be learned
permanently. However, with patience the Jedi can use his power and knowledge to
guide an adversary's actions and thoughts leading him to what is right and
good.
II. JEDI USE THEIR POWERS TO
DEFEND AND PROTECT, NEVER TO ATTACK OTHERS.
A Jedi must never use the
Force with the intention of attacking and defeating his opponent. The Force is
only to be used in defense and protection of the user or of another who is
unable to defend him/herself. Also, the phrase "The ends justify the means" does
not hold as an excuse for a Jedi to do whatever he wants to succeed. A Jedi
should not rationalize a wrong action as good just to be able to do it.
A Jedi must keep constant
watch on his actions and thoughts for the dark side of the Force is quick, easy,
and seductive. Anger, Fear, and Aggression define the dark side of the Force. A
Jedi must never use these emotions unless he is calm and at peace and has the
utmost control of the emotion. If a Jedi becomes reckless in his actions he
endangers himself and others around him. Complete concentration and patience are
essential to a Jedi. A Jedi should not try to sway the Force to his own
purposes, but rather allow the Force to guide himself.
A Jedi's one and only
physical weapon should be a lightsaber. As a part of training a Master will show
his apprentice how to construct a saber. A student should not construct one on
his own without a Master's prior guidance. It is ok for a student to possess an
already constructed saber as long as his master has consented and advised him on
proper use.
A Jedi should not make the
use of his saber his first option in a conflict. He should exhaust all other
options with the opponent before making use of his lightsaber. This should be a
weapon of defense and protection. But when forced to use it, a Jedi should act
quickly and decisively .
III. JEDI RESPECT ALL LIFE,
IN ANY FORM.
All life throughout the
galaxy is unique in its own way and each being deserves the same amount of
respect as any other. Each being of life serves a purpose to the common good of
the galaxy. The Force binds all life together. The Force creates life and thus a
Jedi should seek to preserve life at any cost. A Jedi should show unconditional
love to any lifeform.
Jedi also respect the
uniqueness of life. The cloning of life is not approved by the Jedi. A Jedi must
never clone himself just to create another being like himself. It takes away
frmo the precious uniqueness of life and is not ethical.
IV. JEDI SERVE OTHERS RATHER
THAN RULING OVER THEM, FOR THE GOOD OF THE GALAXY.
The Jedi live their lives
with a code of honor. Material wealth holds no meaning to a Jedi and though it
is ok for a Jedi to possess money, it holds no personal value to him/her. A Jedi
only leads people; a Jedi does not rule over people or command them to do
anything against their will. A Jedi does not do anything for the glory of it.
Winning a battle should not be followed with arrogance by a Jedi. A Jedi cannot
take part in any profit-making enterprise. One cannot profit from their
protection.
V. JEDI SEEK TO IMPROVE
THEMSELVES THROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING.
The levels in rank for the
Jedi are the following: The first step to becoming a Jedi is becoming a Jedi
trainee. Children less than a year of age should be tested of their
midi-chlorian level first and if over 10,000 they may be trained. Also, a Jedi
Master may choose to allow a child to be trained even if the midi-chlorian level
is not high enough if the Jedi council approves it.
Once a Jedi trainee, the
child will be trained for up to the next twelve years. At any point during those
twelve years, an approved Jedi Master may take the trainee as his Padawan
learner, which is the second level to becoming a Jedi. A trainee must be chosen
to be a Padawan by age 13 or he will not be allowed to be a Jedi knight.
The Padawan will follow his
Master and learn the rest of his training in the Force from him. A Master may
only have one Padawan at a time. The Master will teach the Jedi code to his
apprentice and teach him all there is to know about the light side and dark side
of the Force. The Padawan phase of becoming a Jedi will only end when two
conditions are met. First, the Master must announce that his Padawan is ready to
take the trials held by the Jedi council, and second, the Jedi council must
approve the Padawan and announce him as a Jedi Knight.
Being a Jedi Knight is the
fourth phase in the cycle of the Jedi. For many, this will be the final phase.
The step up to the final phase, a Jedi Master, is a tough one, but not a
mandatory one. Only the greatest and smartest of the Jedi become Masters. The
Jedi council will decide and approve any Knight who wishes to become a Master.
The key to a Jedi's
never-ending cycle is patience. Without patience a Jedi only opens himself up to
the dark side more readily. A Jedi is at his strongest when he is calm, at
peace, passive, and patient. A Jedi's ability to do something is not all there
is. One must know the thing. One must master every facet of every skill. One
must understand how it fits in to everything else in the galaxy.
During the life of a Jedi,
he/she will find that some talents in the Force come easier than others. Each
Jedi has his/her own unique strengths and weaknesses in the Force and the
greatest Jedi are ones who can balance the use of their strengths with the
control of their weaknesses.
Jedi skills in the Force are
rooted in three areas. Control is internal. It is the Jedi's ability to
recognize the Force in himself and to use it to his benefit. Sense involves the
next step, in which the Jedi recognizes the Force in the universe outside
herself. Here she feels the Force and is able to draw upon it for information
about the world around her. Through it she is connected to the rest of the
universe. Alter is the third and most difficult to master, for it involves the
student's ability to modify the force and redistribute its energies. Through
these skills, the Jedi can influence the universe, making changes as needed to
accomplish its goals.
Lightsabers
and the Jedi Fighting Arts (Kei'No)
What is a
Lightsaber?
"Your Father's Lightsaber.
This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. It
was an elegant weapon, for a more … civilized age."
Obi
Wan "Ben" Kenobi - Star Wars Episode: IV A New Hope
"This was the formal weapon
of a Jedi knight,' explained Kenobi. 'Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. More
skill than simple sight was required for its use. An elegant weapon. It was a
symbol as well. Anyone can use a blaster or fusioncutter - but to use a
lightsabre well was a mark of someone a cut above the ordinary.' "
Text from "Star Wars
Episode: IV - A New Hope" Novelization by George Lucas
A lightsaber, weapon of the Jedi Knights and symbol of their Order,
(though used widely throughout some sectors of the galaxy) is an elegant weapon
for civilized warfar. It is approximately 30 centimeters in length, or roughly
the same length as one English "foot" of 12 inches. It includes a power supply
(power pack), which has no documented need to be recharged or re-energized even
over long periods of time. It also contains one or more jewels which serve to
focus or tune the blade's shape, and even affect its color. The blade produced
from this device is a mass-less, or nearly so, blade of incredible cutting
ability - just over a meter in length. This energy blade can cut through
anything, though some material is more resistant than others. It should be noted
that Lightsabers will not function underwater, though they will function within
a vacuum.
More on the blade itself - the blade of a lightsaber seems to be capable
of being ignited within roughly a fourth of a second - faster than they eye can
see. It is also a heatless blade, neither burning the hand of its weilder or
melting its casing. The cauterized burn marks left on organic material by the
passage of a Lightsaber are likely to be the cause of radiation-stimulated
burns, as oppossed to any heat from the weapon itself. It is likely that the
actual cutting 'edge' of the blade may itself be far smaller and more fine-edged
than the glowing shillouete of the blade, as the cuts left behind by its passage
are uncommonly fine or small, not readily noticable in all cases, as is seen
below:
[...] the rodent-thing had
been cleft cleanly in half down the middle, its two halves falling in opposite
directions. The giant multiocular creature still stood staring, dazed, at the
old human who was poised motionless before it, the shining lightsabre held over
his head in a peculiar fashion. The creatures chrome pistol fired once, blowing
a hole in the door. Then the torso peeled away as neatly as had the body of the
rodent, its two cauterized sections falling in opposite directions
..."
Text from "Star Wars
Episode IV: A New Hope" Novelization by George Lucas
Although personal construction of a lightsaber is considered the final
step of a Jedi's formal training, there is no magic to the process, nor is a
lightsaber inherently a device which requires the Force's presence during its
construction or usage, though there are some models which DO incorporate such a
technique of saber construction.
Of all the crystal types most appropriate to the lightsaber design, it is
known throughout the text of the Jedi Order that Adegan crystals are the most
preferred choice for lightsaber construction, though in lack of Adegan crystals,
others will suffice. Indeed, in lack of ANY crystals, a jewel may be cooked and
then chiseled for the same purpose. Extra care is given to the alignment of the
crystals, for fear that misalignment may result in injury or death - due to
radiation leakage or explosion.
These are the
steps of Lightsaber Creation:
1.
Snap the
activation switch into place on the hilt, connect the connecters to the chosen
circuit board.
2. Place shielding tape along the switch and the location of
the superconductor.
3. Slip the gem stone(s) into place to focus the beam
that will become the blade.
4. Adjust, and place the continuous energy lens
at the center, just above the gem stone(s).
5. On the end of the hilt, where
the beam will form, screw on the high energy flux aperture.
6. Clip in
energy cell, discharged, and connect the recharging socket.
7. Plug the
Lightsaber into the recharging station that will be used to charge the cell for
the first time.
It should be
noted that Lightsaber construction, when preformed in its ritual state with all
due ceremony, can take up to, or over, a month's time, though in a hurry, a Jedi
Master is capable of creating a new weapon from scratch within a few days.
Jedi
Fighting Arts of Kei'No
What is
"Kei'No"
Developed Millennia upon Millennia past by a great and respected Jedi
Master serving on the Council named Jorcsh Car'dalla, a human resident of the
since-lost world of Alath, Kei'No was intended to serve the Jedi as a uniform
fighting style which was based in a defensive, reactionary style, as opposed to
the more aggressive styles preferred by the many Dark Jedi then plaguing the
galaxy. Its defensive edge was in fact SO polished that in the twenty thousand
years following the death of Master Car'dalla, no style was found to surpass his
work. The name Kei'No, a combination of two Alathian words, was not adopted
until years after Master Car'dalla's death, but at the time of its adoption, the
Jedi Council felt the Alathian words "Kei" and "Noe," meaning "Jedi" and "Way,"
to well define the technique behind Car'dalla's work.
Even as it passed down through the thousands of years following the death
of its creator, Kei'No changed little. Though additional stances were added for
the addition of a double-bladed lightstaff to Jedi Weaponry, or to accomadate
those Jedi who saught to weild two blades in combat, Kei'No's inherent role as a
defensive art of martial combat remained unchanged, and only continued to
increase in its fluidity and gracefulness. In time, Masters of the Art were seen
almost as artisans, so beautiful and graceful could their fighting be.
As with all arts, Kei'No's rich heritage only increased with age.
Long-lived Masters like the great Mace Windu, the skilled Qui-Gon Jinn, or the
even more venerable Yoda were acknowledged as accomplished in the arts, and
could at some of their own philosophy and teachings to the Jedi Way, but even
for all that cultural age and history, Kei'No's galactic fame and recognition
all but ceased to exist in the years following the Jedi Purge. It was survived
only in the fighting of the Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, and passed on in
training to his students. Among the
many teaching aids Master Skywalker employed to instruct his students in the
Jedi Way, as taught to him by his masters Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi and Yoda, was an
ancient manual recovered from the ruins of Yoda's Hut on Dagobah. An ancient
text, inscribed by a Jedi Master born thousands of years before Yoda, which
revealed the true name and lineage of Kei'No to the Last Jedi and his students,
and enabled the Order to continue in the Way of its
predecessors.
Gripping the
Lightsaber
In Kei'No, the Lightsaber (when weilded as a two-handed weapon, as is
most common) is gripped most commonly in the following manner: The left hand is
at the bottom of the hilt, and the right hand is at the top. In this gripping
manner, the left hand serves to preform the work of moving the weapon up, and
down, whilst the right hand controls direction, angle, and thrust. The grip used
is much like the grip of any other two-handed handle, with the thumb and first
finger of the right hand at the top of the hilt. But in the Jedi Way, the force
of the blow is most strong applied by the ring and index
fingers.
Although this style CAN be reversed, and although it is possible to weild
the lightsaber in a single hand, it has been found that the strongest and most
balance grip IS that of the traditional Jedi Way, right hand over left, strength
in the index and ring fingers. Even the left-handed duelists are advised to
prefer the original grip, as it lends uncommon strength to your upward or
downward movements that may catch an unwary opponent off
guard.
Fighting Stances
in Kei'No
Traditionally, The Jedi Way of Kei'No utilizes a fighting stance where
both feet are parallel, with the right foot being both forward and a few inches
to the side of the left. In this stance, the balls of the feet take on the
weight of the stance, and although it seems to run contrary to common sense,
forward movement is propelled off of the rear foot, and NOT by leaping forward
or sliding forward with the front foot. If you require a pivot, use the frontal
foot (weight centered on the ball of the foot) to pivot upon, launching forward
from the rear foot. In Kei'No, the frontal foot is referred to as "Fro" and the
rear as "Frae."
Some saber users, however, who attempt to weild their weapon with more
strength than Is actually required (in hope, perhaps of an added edge of speed,
though with the massless blade of a lightsaber this policy is not recommended)
favor a wider stance, called the "Ken'Ju" stance. But in either case, if the
duelist is upright, balanced, aware, and holds the center with his or her weapon
(as will be explained in detail further on), then the stance will be adequate
for the defensive nature of Kei'No.
Once the duelist IS so balanced, aware, and etc., the typical need of a
swordsman to dodge in-coming attacks though weaving, swaying, or bobbing, no
longer exists, as all attacks can be well-countered from the Kei'No stances
without requiring any ducking, flinching, twisting, or gyrating. In fact, to
preform these actions would only slow you, and leave you more open to attack
from a more controlled master of the weapon.
Footwork in
Kei'No
There are primarily two forms of footwork employed in the Kei'No, one for
the common duelist, and one for the advanced, skilled master veteran of many
battles. The first is referred to as "Koe'noi" (for Gliding Walk) and the second
as simply "Koe" (Glide).
Koe'noi, which is quick and well-suited to covering greater distances
between foes, involves a sort of 'walking' footwork from which it recieves its
name. The feet are kept close to the ground, like a sort of glide, to prevent
interruption from causing loss of balance. This style is easy to learn and to
employ, and is more widely adopted than Koe.
Koe, unlike Koe'noi, is a more masterful footwork used by true masters of
dueling. It involves starting from a position like unto that of the Kei'No
Fighting Stance (Above Section), with one foot (often the right) ahead of the
other. THIS POSITION IS RETAINED throughout the duel, barring a drastic change
in location. Typically, the foot which is forward would seem to glide off the
ground a little ways, to be followed by the foot behind. This footwork is
adopted when fighting becomes that of close-quarters, but again, is most
commonly used by MASTER duelists.
Remember - excessive movement is to be kept to a minimum. Your body
should always be facing straight, or nearly so, toward your opponent - wild,
meaningless flips may look both artistic and colorful, but are likely to drain
you, leaving you tired, slow, and vulnerable. Keep excessive movement to a
minimum.
If you are wondering which foot to lead with, refer back to the grip with
which you hold your saber. If you hold it as is customary, right hand over left,
lead with the right foot. If you employ the reverse, lead with the
left.
Kanae
(En-Guarde) Postions in Kei'No.
Just as with all sword arts, Kei'No has its own forms of En-Guarrde
positioning - what it refers to as its Kanae. However, unlike with common
sword-fighting stances, Kanae are NOT merely physical positions of readiness.
They are mental, spiritual, emotional, and Force focii - nessecary for the
unseen mental dueling of the Jedi and their Force-using opponents, a mental
combat that can be even more deadly than the physical one.
There are both the 'classic' static, or stationary, Kanae in Kei'No and
the 'transitional' fluid Kanae as well.
For instance, although some times a duelist may launch an attack straight
from a classic, stationary Kanae stance, sometimes a duelist may go through one,
two, or even three or more extra Kanae before finding an opening in the defenses
of their opponent in which to strike. They cannot simply drop their guard and
reposition, so they must move transitionally, fluidly, from one Kanae to the
next. The Kanae are: Chulan, Gelan, Jolan, Hasho, and Wake'. They are
classically referred to as Chulan-No-Kanae, Gelan-No-Kanae, and so
on.
Chulan
The basic stance of the Kei'No, Chulan is referred to as the 'second
position,' by some duelists, though its ranking is not essentially vital. It is
the middle-guard of the Kei'No. The saber will be held with the tip of the blade
aimed toward your opponent's throat. The hilt is held around your waist, in
front of your stomache, and centered in front of your body, and the blade point
angles up 30 to 45 degrees. All of the Kei'No cutting attacks may be made from
this position, and every possible frontal assault can be blocked from this
stance as well, thus making this the most powerful of Kanae. Whomever you are in
combat with cannot attack you unless they get past your blade first - or they
will impale themselves on the weapon.
I referred earlier to the 'center' position. This Chulan stance is that
position, and it is the goal of true Masters, when met in saber fights, to
somehow lure away or trick their opponent into surrenduring this all-important
area. Just as Lord Vader and Jedi Kenobi dueled for much of their fight on the
first Death Star, the two opponents will find themselves 'playing for the
center.'
The classic response to the Chulan is to assume to Chulan yourself, to
defend your center. This is considered the 'classic second
response.'
Gelan
This is the lower guard position of the Jedi Way, the classic 'third
position' for those curious to know. Though your hands hold the blade's hilt at
the same position in this stance as they do in the Chulan - in front of your
stomache - the blade is now aimed down at your opponent's knee caps. This is a
tempting, taunting stance meant to signify a weaker position than the Chulan,
and bring your opponent to you. With a metal blade, an attack from this position
might be to rotate your grip and diagonally strike for your opponent's wrists or
hands, but as a Lightsaber HAS no set blade and can cut in any direction, you
are just as well off swinging straight up with the weapon as anything else. Just
watch to ensure that you can adequately defend your center! The only
disadvantage of launching an upwards cut from this Kanae is that the cut will
not be as strong as would one descending from Chulan.
The classic response to Gelan is to assume either Chulan, Jolan, or
Hasho, though Jolan should be considered last as a response, as Gelan is nearly
as threatening to your center as a Kanae as Chulan is. These are then considered
'classic third responses.'
Jolan
The 'first position' of Kei'No, Jolan is the upper-guard. Here, the blade
is held over your own head at about 45 degrees. The very base of your handle
should be aimed at the foe's eyes in this Kanae. Jolan is by far the most
aggressive of the Kei'No stances, and the most aptly suited to a duelist who
intends to strike out at and destroy their opponent, as it has little of the
defensive positioning of the other stances, and much more power can be put
behind the blade as it strikes. It's largest disadvantage is that it is slow to
the defense in this stance, and the center is cleanly un-guarded. Jolan is best
used by the lightsaber duelist in transition.
The classic response to Jolan is either Chulan, Gelan or Wake', since the
upper guard allows more leeway in choosing a defense, and your center would not
be as threatened by the Jolan as it would by the Chulan, Gelan, or Hasho. These
then are known as 'classic first responses.'
Hasho
Classic 'fourth position,' Hasho is a somewhat more calm and defensive
version of Jolan. Here, the blade is held as a shoulder stance. It is held up
over your shoulder, next to your face, usually on the right side, but some times
on the left as well. The hands are positioned by the jaw, and the elbows point
down. Nearly as aggressive as Jolan, this stance trades a little of Jolan's
offensive power for defensive options, by bringing the blade closer toward the
center. Qui-Gon Jinn, a Master of the Jedi Way, often used this
Kanae.
The classic response to Hasho is either Chulan or Gelan. These then are
'classic fourth responses.'
Wake'
Wake' is the Classic 'fifth position' and is known as the hidden guard.
It is held very low, on the right side. If you assumed the Classic Gelan
position and then turned your body to the left all the way around 180 degrees,
you would then be in the classic Wake' position. This stance is the least used,
least preformed of all the Jedi Kanae, because it is far too dangerous to employ
against any opponent who is not horribly enraged and has lost the sense of
reasoning to discover that your chest and center are now WIDE open. From Wake'
it is possible to launch a devasting across-the-chest strike, but again, the
risk to yourself cannot be ignored.
The classic responses to Wake' consist of all the Kanae, as Wake' is by
far the weakest, most open and defenseless of all the Kanae. These are then
known as the 'classic fifth responses.'
Kathol (Basic
Strikes) of the Kei'No
In the Kei'No, all complex and seemingly difficult sequences of moves can
be broken down into their most basic strikes and transitions. True skill lies
not in the difficulty of the moves preformed, nor in the grace with which they
are preformed, but in the exact precision and timing required to preform them
exactly as demanded.
Mein
The simplest of all Kathol is the Mein, the large, vertical, overhead
strike. It faces your opponent head on, as if to cleave them down their middle,
and leave two smoking sections of dead corpse lying side by side on the
floor. This strike aims for the
immediate kill, and it is important that you not let the right hand
over-dominate this grip, because, as was said above in "Gripping The
Lightsaber," the left hand controls vertical movement, and should descened on a
straight line down the center of your body, and the right hand steers the blow.
If you would rather strike at either side of the opponent's face, then the right
hand can be brought in to so steer the weapon, but otherwise, a simple downward
vertical strike should be empowered by the left hand.
Hasho-Mein
The second of the Kathol is the Shoulder-strike. Launched best from the
Hasho Kanae, the Hasho-Mein descends from above the shoulder as a diagonal cut.
These blows are VERY powerful and are use to disect an opponent from shoulder to
hip. The left hand should still control the power of this blow, and as it
descends, bring the blade down to the center line we discussed in the above
Kathol, Mein, ending just in front of your stomach or
navel.
Hasho-Mein Kieraki-ashe' is a form of
this Kathol in which the duelist side-steps an oncoming foe before delivering
the blow. It involves launching, as was said before, forward with the rear foot
of your stance, or backward with the forward foot of your stance. In either
case, whichever foot is launched shoulder pivot back and away a half-pivot (90
degrees) to avoid the on-coming assault, and plant itself behind the foot which
was pivoted behind. This stance can be changed later after the Kathol is
launched, but don't waste time finding perfect footing to deliver this
Side-stepping blow. (Kieraki-ashe' is a Kei'No term for
side-step.)
Kho
The third of the Kathol strikes is a belly cut, launched from either
Hasho or Chulan or Gelan best, though Wake' and Jolan can also utilize this
blow, the Kho cut arcs itself across the opponent's waist and midsection. Vader,
taller than Kenobi, killed Kenobi with this strike across Ben's shoulders and
neck.
Kobe'
The fourth Kathol is a more Jedi-like strike than any other, as its
purpose is to disarm and disable, rather than to kill. Kobe' aims at the
opponent's wrist, and whether launched upward from Chulan, diagonal from Chulan,
snapped upward from Gelan, or brought down from Hasho or Jolan, it's aim is not
to intercept the opponent's weapon or to strike at their body, but to cut wrist
from arm and thus both disarm and disable your opponent, leaving them helpless
and defeated.
Kein
The fifth Kathol often preceeds the wrist-attack Kobe', because it is a
'center-sweep.' The aim of this attack, launched best from Chulan or Hasho or
Gelan, is to knock your opponent's saber aside with a sweeping blow. A well
timed Master might then follow up this move with a Kobe' wrist blow, or a
…
Tsutae
The thrusting strike is not often seen used in Kei'No, but when it is, it
most commonly follows a Kein sweep. Of course, the problem is that your
opponent, unless he is very inexperienced or extremely off-balance, is likely to
back away and sweep your saber aside with a Kein of his own, and not be spitted
by your attack. However, it is a risk sometimes worth
taking.
Kena Seri
This powerful, upward swing cuts diagonally across the opponent's chest,
and is BEST launched when coming from Gelan, Wake', or Chulan, in that order.
This is another rare strike, though when timed correctly can cut through an
opponent's chest even as they bring a blow down toward you from a loose Hasho or
a clumsy Jolan, or even a Wake' of their own. Such diagonal cuts are often
typical of those who wield a lightstaff.
Klea'
Another sweep well suited to batting aside a thrust, and the Kathol
best-suited to vying for the center, is the Klea'. The Klea' has the aim of
rotating your blade around your opponent's entangling their blade, and knocking
it aside while you retain the center.
Important tips to remember when engaged in Kei'No saber dueling include
avoiding large, wide strikes that are not easily retractable and leave you open
to a fast opponent's better timing. While small, wrist-snapping movements are
not always flashy and do not look as skillful as large, sweeping cuts and
strikes do, they are far more controlled, and thus, far more deadly. A quick
snap of a wrist can bring my blade arcing across your belly while you whip your
sabre up to Hasho to come down in a shoulder-strike.
Another thing to remember is that in Kei'No, unless you face an opponent
who's intent is more of a nature to intimidate, bully, frighten, or turn you,
you are not likely to employ many BLOCKING moves. In fact, Kei'No relies heavily
on moves that sweep your weapon aside (a parry of sorts) while also serving as a
transition to an attacking move. Small wiping moves, sliding your blade off an
opponents, or turning a parry into a transition for attacking are how Kei'No duelists become Kei'No
Masters, and survive. Remember - these fights show flow like water. They should
not be choppy, inordinately thought-out, or massively detailed in hopes of
preventing any mistakes. They should be adequately-detailed, smooth, and should
flow from attack to defense to attack and defense again.
