Masters of Teräs Käsi

 

History of the Teräs Käsi:

The order of the Teräs Käsi is a secret organization born from the belief that near infinite power, regardless of the intention behind it, should not go unregulated. The Teräs Käsi - bluntly, did not trust the Jedi to police themselves.
The Teräs Käsi was founded thousands of years ago, during the last of the great wars between the Light and the Dark. The final decisive battle between the two great forces occurred in the Pacanth Reach, devastating the planet of Palawa itself. The victory was attained, but at momentous cost to the civilian population. The Jedi Council, deeply saddened by the outcome of the events, nevertheless deemed it 'acceptable losses'. The battleground was not one of the Order's choosing, the evil had to be stopped, it was one planet against thousands - there was no choice.

The civilians that survived the battle saw it differently.

The meager handful of survivors relocated to the nearby world of Bunduki. The remaining Palawan concluded that so much force, so much power - in the hands of one people, regardless of how well intentioned and regulated. They vowed never to let happen to others what had happened to them. They began the study of the mind over the body, how to master self from without and within. They forged themselves to be a force capable of dealing with Jedi, should the need arise. It took generations to conceive and implement the plan, but the Teräs Käsi martial arts were born.

Since that time, the order has grown strong. During the heights of the Old Republic, the exact number of Teräs Käsi masters is unknown - but the number was estimated to be from several hundred up to slightly more than a thousand. Of course the number of Teräs Käsi practitioners are considerably less during the reign of Palpatine and his Empire. During the era of the New Republic, the order is growing again, but has yet to fully recover.

 

About the Teräs Käsi:

Although not they quite as all-powerful and versatile as the Jedi arts, the practitioners of Teräs Käsi are formidable in their own ways.

There is one basic fundamental difference between the two schools. Instead of drawing on the Force for power, Teräs Käsi users draw on the power from inside themselves. By using the power from within, they are able to have more control and fewer restraints. Since practitioners of Teräs Käsi draw from what is inside, they become what they are. Unlike the Jedi, since the Force surrounds and penetrates all life - which has good and evil, so there are light and dark sides of the Force.

A master of Teräs Käsi must be able to command their own bodies in addition to learning the external arts. As such they are able to ignore pain, control disease and poisons within themselves, focus on injured areas and accelerating their own healing, and summon great strength to release it in one blow. The Teräs Käsi are also exceptionally attuned to the ebb and flow of the Force - if not actually out and out Jedi material. This attuned nature of the Teräs Käsi not only allows them to be aware of Jedi and Force Users, but also makes them exceptionally resistant to uses of the Force.

Mastery of the teachings of Teräs Käsi also imparts one additional benefit - a long life span. Not immortality - no matter how long you live, how far you run, you can't escape the hand of death forever. However, a master of Teräs Käsi can live several hundred years - and many of the order often do so.

 

The Teräs Käsi and the Jedi:

Operating in secret, even beyond the notice most Jedi (it is unknown if the Jedi Council knew or suspected of the existence of the group) the Teräs Käsi have set up a network of temples and training facilities. These facilities are scattered throughout the galaxy, often hidden in plain site - small monasteries and temples are the order's natural appearance.

With this network, they watch the Jedi. Mostly they are unneeded, but when one-steps out of line, the Teräs Käsi are there.

Occasionally there are beings able to cross over between the two groups, masters both versed in the Jedi arts and the ways of Teräs Käsi. These individuals are extremely rare, however. Although it may seem a conflict of interests - the watcher in the very order they watch - but what better place to monitor and observe than from within.

 

The Teräs Käsi and Palpatine's New Order:

Then the purge came. The order, although not targeted by Palpatine, was also caught up in the madness of the destruction of the Jedi Order. However unlike the Jedi, who were in the public eye, the Teräs Käsi managed to avoid the near total extermination the Empire meted out. Unfortunately the very secretive nature of the Teräs Käsi that saved them from extermination left the few survivors adrift and without resources.
The destruction of the Teräs Käsi may not have complete, but it was crippling. Only a handful of Masters survived - more than the Jedi order, but not by many. The Teräs Käsi have survived adversity before - have had to deal with persecution and extermination before. As a precaution against the destruction of the order, the Teräs Käsi was segmented into cells, much like a guerrilla war might be fought. Eventually, one or two branches of the order would survive.
During this period, the most notable of the Teräs Käsi masters came to the spotlight - Arden Lynn. As one of the last remaining masters of Teräs Käsi, Arden was cornered by Vader and offered a chance at survival - provided that she assassinated key members of the Rebel Alliance. The plot failed, and presumably Arden Lynn was executed by Palpatine for her failure - although this is conjecture, since no records of her, her execution, or her current status existed when Coruscant was taken by the New Republic. Owing to the resourcefulness of the master turned mercenary, she very well may have successfully eluded the Empire after her failure.

 

The Teräs Käsi in Gembassy:

The  Teräs Käsi are a rare group in the Gembassy universe, their numbers hiding in wait for the various despots and crime lords of the galaxy to eventually wipe each other out. With the New Republic lost and a new Rebel Alliance slowly becoming stronger, they are silent and like ghosts. The few surviving Fallen Masters seek profit and power in the galaxy, and one such being has joined the ranks of the Amonites. Several non-Epicanthix Teräs Käsi users do exist, but they lack much of the understanding required to become truly masters of this martial art.

 

Teräs Käsi Ranks (and skills):

Rank 1: Adept (Beginning of Meditation, Brawling, Contort/Escape, Blind Fighting, Ignore Pain, and Detect Weakness along with use of weapons and other equipment)

Rank 2: Student ( Expanded training in all of the above plus the beginning of Sense Force Use, Pinpoint Energy Centers.Concentrate on Force User, Detect Force User, Hibernation Trance, Primal Strength, Resist the Force, and Primal Strength. For Fallen Teräs Käsi users, these additional abilities are learned: Burning Fingers, Blazing Fury, and Teräs Käsi Needle usage.)

Rank 3: Warrior (All former skills are honed and the Warrior becomes a true master of warfare)

Rank 4: Master (All former skills activate with minimal effort. If the Master is fallen, he learns the skill Eyes of the Dragon.)

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Teräs Käsi Martial Arts:

Brawling - Teräs Käsi Martial Arts is a rare specialization.  A person must study full-time under a master of Teräs Käsi for six months to acquire the first pip in the specialization. Dedicated to keeping any and all Force Users from using their powers for personal gain, the Masters of Teräs Käsi are formidable foes indeed.

Contort/Escape:
This ability is similar to the Jedi power of the same name.  Contort/Escape allows one to work there very free of bindings by twisting their bodies in often-unnatural ways. Often it is necessary to dislocate joints, or commit otherwise painful acts to escape bonds.

Blind Fighting:
Practitioners of Teräs Käsi have learned to use all of their senses in combat, and are thus at a great advantage in dark environments.  With a successful role, they can fight without penalty even when completely blinded.

Ignore Pain:
Teräs Käsi users must be able to master their own bodies, and as such, they have learned to set aside their pain and keep fighting.  This ability combines the Jedi powers remain conscious and reduce pain.  The primary difference is that the Jedi no longer feel the pain, the Teräs Käsi still feels it, they are just able to ignore it and keep going.  If successfully used the martial artist may keep fighting without penalty and they will not pass out, but keep in mind, the wounds are still present, so further damage can be devastating.

Sense Force Use:
Teräs Käsi sometimes find them opposed to Jedi or other Force users.  Their self-imposed duty, the hunting down of dangerous Force Users, has caused them to develop some affinity with the workings of the Force.  Thus, though they are not able to use it themselves, they have learned to detect its use.
This power is considered always on, like a passive sensor, and undetectable by a Force User.  The character may also concentrate on a specific person they feel may be using the Force. 
Different Force users also feel slightly different to a trained Teräs Käsi, almost as though they each have a different taste.  As one grows more familiar with a specific user, they can begin to recognize his exact flavor.  Just because a Teräs Käsi recognizes a particular Jedi's Force, does not mean they would be able to immediately pick that Jedi out of a crowd.  Until they see him, and feel him use the Force simultaneously, they may never actually associate the user and power together.  Masters of Teräs Käsi have followed specific Force users for years without ever knowing what they look like.  They simply follow the power use; unfortunately, by the time they arrive at the scene the Force user is long gone.  This power is often used together with detect Force user.  If you can tell that an individual is a Force user, and you know that a strong power was used in the area, it is likely, though by no means guaranteed, that is the individual who used it.

Concentrating on the Force User:
Excessive Force use in the area by other users can muddle a trail. By focusing one specific presence, they can track a single Force User. Some Masters are rumored to be able to sense Force use in other systems, this is not confirmed however.

Detect Force User:
The Masters of Teräs Käsi have also developed the skill of noting the subtle differences that differentiate a Force user from others.  By applying this skill, it is often possible to tell, just by looking, whether an individual is a user of the Force, and their approximate power level.  The more advanced the target, the more clearly the signs show.  These can be just physical looks, as well as how they move.  A good deal of this ability, however, is just an unidentifiable instinct.  A skilled Teräs Käsi can sometimes even detect which path the Force User Follows.

Resist The Force:
This is one of the most difficult of the Teräs Käsi powers.  It is rarely used, but when needed, can be extremely handy.  The Masters of Teräs Käsi have managed to come up with a way to actually push the Force from them, effectively rendering themselves invisible, and untouchable, to the Force.  This can be useful in eluding detection or evading attacks.  Extremely powerful Teräs Käsi can also push the Force from those in contact with them, but only a master would normally attempt this.
 
Meditate:
Meditation is a skill taught to all Teräs Käsi students.  Before they can advance into the more complex arts, they must be able to enter a calm state, no matter what the circumstances.  One in a meditative trance gains the benefits of sleep, without loosing complete track of the surrounding world. In addition, while in the trance they may make use of any other of the Teräs Käsi abilities.  This includes all sense, defense, and even escape skills.  These benefits are only reached however, when one is in full meditation.
Meditation does eliminate the need for sleep.  The dreams that come in a true deep sleep are still essential to allow the mind to sort itself out.  The need, however, can be greatly reduced, allowing one to get by on only an hour or two of true sleep daily, or even less for the truly skilled.

Hibernation Trance:
Building on the meditation skill, hibernation trance goes one step further.  The character is no longer aware of their surroundings.  They become so relaxed, that their body becomes almost catatonic- only an intensive scrutiny will detect any life signs.  In this state, the body uses far less air, and requires far less food and water.  It is possible to go over a week before truly requiring water.  Unlike simple meditation, one in a hibernation trance is completely oblivious to what is going on around them.  Unless they take an actual wound it is unlikely they will wake up, even then it will take several minutes before full awareness is achieved.
When one goes into the trance, they decide how long they will stay under. 

 

Pinpoint Energy Centers:

The master uses the energy centers of an opponent or ally's body to created any of several possible effects, depending on the combination or strength of the attack. Anything from slight nausea, intense relaxation, or even instant death can be caused. This ability is very seldom used and is illegal in any tournament situation.
 

Primal Strength:
Teräs Käsi practitioners have learned how to tap into the hysterical strength within the body.  This can give them a tremendous boost of power, but can also do great damage if over used.  To use Primal Strength, one is pulling energy from their bodies' reserves, and if completely drained the practitioner will be extremely weak, and may pass out.  There is also a small chance that constant use could be too much of a shock for the heart, and induce a heart attack.

Detect Weakness:
The Masters of Teräs Käsi have made a study of the bodies' weaknesses.  This allows them to zero in on sensitive areas, and exploit them.  Armor and personal force shielding may counteract this in the physical sense, though the Master may still take advantage of his/her opponent's mental and emotional state.

Longevity:
Although not an actual Teräs Käsi power, this ability is a vital component of the Teräs Käsi training.  Unlike other the other Teräs Käsi game mechanics, no hard and fast rules govern this ability. The standard Epicanthix, which lives 150 years, while a Teräs Käsi Master may live up to 300 years, twice as long as his/her species.

 

 

 

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