A noble order of protectors unified by their belief and observance of the Force, the Jedi hearken back to a more civilized, classical time in galactic history. Their order is ancient, spanning over a thousand generations. As the Galactic Republic throve and grew over the centuries, the Jedi came to serve it as guardians of peace and justice.

Headquartered on Coruscant, the Jedi trained, studied, and planned from the impressive Jedi Temple, a towering edifice rising high above the surrounding structures on the city-planet. They are governed by a High Council of 12 Jedi -- most of them Jedi Masters -- who contemplate the very nature of the Force.

To become a Jedi requires the deepest commitment and most serious mind. It is not a venture to be undertaken lightly. As such, Jedi instruction is rigidly structured and codified to enforce discipline and hinder transgression. Only 20 Jedi have ever voluntarily renounced their commissions. It is with great regret that the Jedi order recognize the so-called "Lost Twenty." A Jedi who fails in his training can be a very serious threat. The dark side of the Force beckons to the impatient, and students in the past have been lured to its call with devastating consequences.

Jedi candidates are detected, identified and taken into the order as infants. One method of detection is through blood sampling -- those with great Force potential often have high midi-chlorian counts in their bloodstream. A prospective Jedi begins training in infancy. All connection to previous family life is lost. In this early stage of training, a single master instructs groups, or clans, of Jedi hopefuls.

As the Jedi mature, the apprentice is paired with a master to continue the next phase of the training. According to the Jedi Code, a Jedi Master may only have one Padawan at a time. Near the end of the Padawan's training, she must undergo trials before ascending to the rank of Knight.

The next level of rank in the Jedi order is the Jedi Master, reserved for those who have shown exceptional devotion and skill in the Force. It is from the ranks of the Jedi Masters that the High Council is chosen, which is the main interface between the Jedi and the government of the Republic.

The Jedi dress in simple robes and carry specialized field gear for their missions. Their signature weapon, the lightsaber, is both elegant and deadly when in the hands of a trained master.

The sworn enemies of the Jedi are the Sith -- a cult-like order bent on domination through subservience to the Force's dark side. Founded by former Jedi, the Sith abandoned the precepts of knowledge and defense, and instead seek abandon and strength through the Force's hateful energies. Centuries ago, the Jedi destroyed the Sith order. A dangerous complacency set it, wherein the Jedi believed the Sith extinct. Little did they know the order would arise anew, to destroy their ranks.

At first, the signs were few. The sudden appearance of a Sith attacker during the Battle of Naboo was startling to the Council, but that threat was dispatched. Still, according to Sith lore, the dark villains always traveled in pairs -- a master, and apprentice. For a decade, there was no physical signs of the remaining Dark Lord, but evidence of his power began to appear.

The Jedi ability to use the Force inexplicably began to diminish. This, coupled with increasing violence in the galaxy sparked by a Separatist movement overburdened the valiant protectors. Their ranks were spread thin trying to maintain the peace, and many Jedi fell during the crisis. When it came to war, and the first shots of the Clone Wars were fired on Geonosis, only a scant 200 Jedi were readily available for the conflict. Most of this taskforce was killed in the battle, but reinforcements, in the form of the Republic's new military, secured a victory against the Separatists.

[ Jedi Order, The ]

When the Empire came to power, the Jedi order was exterminated by Emperor Palpatine, and his Sith Lord apprentice Darth Vader. During the time of the Galactic Civil War, the Jedi were all but extinct. A few survivors, Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Jedi Master Yoda, were able to train the first new Jedi in a generation. As a sign of the desperate times, Luke Skywalker was taken into the Jedi fold well past the traditional age requirements -- he was already an adult when he first picked up the lightsaber. Nonetheless, his raw talent in the Force -- inherited from his father -- was such that his age didn't matter.

Luke Skywalker scored numerous major victories against the Empire, and was able to lure Darth Vader from the grip of the dark side. Vader, once again Anakin Skywalker, defeated Emperor Palpatine, bringing an end to the Sith reign of terror that had seized the galaxy.

Jedi Trials


Category: Education
Type: Tests and Training
Affiliation: Jedi Knights



this was the name given to the series of milestones a Jedi Padawan learner had to successfully complete to earn the promotion to the status of Jedi Knight. Before the trials could begin, a student had to first construct their own lightsaber and demonstrate proficiency in wielding it, both from an offensive standpoint as well as its use in self-defense. Among the later trials was a demonstration of an individual's facility with the three aspects of the Force: alter, control, and sense. Knowledge of the Jedi Code and its application and the use of sound judgement were also key trials. Lastly, a student had to accept and complete a solo mission, without instruction or guidance from their Master. This mission could be prescribed by the Jedi Council, or it could be a past mission which demonstrated the student's ability to act alone. Only when all the trials were completed, would the Jedi Council consider a student for promotion.

Jedi Council


Category: Affiliations
Type: Governmental
Affiliation: Jedi Knights



in the years leading up to the Clone Wars and the fall of the Old Republic, the Jedi Council consisted of twelve Jedi Masters elected to guide the actions and goals of the Jedi. They had a spectacular chamber located in one of the four council towers of the Jedi Temple, located on Coruscant. The Council was made up of five lifetime members, four long-term members, and three limited-term members. At the time of the Battle of Naboo, the Council consisted of the following members:

* Lifetime Members:
o Mace Windu
o Yoda
o Oppo Rancisis
o Plo Koon
o Yarael Poof
* Long-term Members:
o Eeth Koth
o Even Piell
o Depa Billaba
o Saesee Tiin
* Limited-term Members:
o Ki-Adi-Mundi
o Yaddle
o Adi Gallia

The mission of the Jedi Council was to oversee the continued development of the Jedi Order, and to ensure that the ideals of the Jedi were upheld. The goal of every Jedi Knight and Master was to maintain peace and justice throughout the galaxy, a goal that was predicated on the fact that the entire Jedi Order remained politically neutral. By law, however, the Jedi Order reported directly to the Galactic Senate. For many generations this meant little more than regular reporting of the activities of the Jedi Order. As the Republic began to crumble from within, and after Count Dooku formed the Confederacy of Indepenent Systems, the Jedi Order found itself responding to more and more requests for assistance in political or military matters. The Jedi Council had to send more and more Jedi into combat situations, and the mission of the Jedi Order slowly became one of military importance. By the time of the Battle of Geonosis, Coleman Trebor had replaced Yarael Poof, and Shaak Ti had replaced Yaddle. With the full-blown conflict of the Clone Wars, the Jedi Council became the military leadership of a new group of Generals, as Jedi Master were given command of clone trooper squads in an effort to confront the atrocities of the Separatists. As they affected most other aspects of life, the Clone Wars altered the make-up of the Jedi Council. Master Trebor died at Geonosis, and the remaining Council members were often forced to meet via holographic communication from the battlefronts. Appointed to replace fallen Masters were Agen Kolar, Stass Allie, Kit Fisto, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Following the First Battle of Coruscant, the Galactic Senate was forced to admit that it could no longer handle the duties of politics and the military. In an unusual move, the Senators voted to have the Jedi Order report directly to Chancellor Palpatine, giving the Chancellor complete control of its activities. Outwardly, this would mean that Palpatine could focus the Jedi Order on the elimination of the Separatists, leaving the Senate to handle the rebuilding of the Republic. However, implied in this decree was the fact that Palpatine would also control any and all troops under the command of the Jedi Order, which included the entire Grand Army of the Republic. With this simple bit of legislation, Palpatine became the Supreme Commander of the Republic's entire military force. Palpatine then named Anakin Skywalker as his personal representative on the Jedi Council, a move that went against the electoral process of the Jedi Order. In order to maintain a modicum of control, the Council refused to grant Skywalker the status of Jedi Master. With the destruction of the Jedi Order at the hands of Emperor Palpatine, the Jedi Council was banished from history. It's existence was later discovered by Luke Skywalker, during his research into the Jedi of the Old Republic. He longed to re-establish the Council, but the New Republic Senate feared that it would give the Jedi an elitist presence. However, when Cal Omas was elected Chief of State, he vowed to work with Luke on recreating the Council. They agreed to create a High Council that consisted of six Jedi and six New Republic officials, mirroring the twelve-seat Council of the Old Republic.

Jedi Code, The


Category: Laws and Regulations
Affiliation: Jedi Knights



this was the name given to the basic tenets of the Jedi Knights, the Jedi Code was established from the writings of Jedi Master Odan-Urr some 4,000 years before the Battle of Yavin. The basic Code altered in form but never content over the millennia, and read as follows: "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." Among the other basic tenets was the notion that a Jedi Knight or Master could only take a single Padawan apprentice. This ensured that a teacher could not gain undue influence, and mirrored the limitations imposed by the Sith Lords. Among the deepest beliefs contained within the Jedi Code was that a Jedi must consider the actions of the Force before undertaking any action. This meant that a Jedi had to ensure that they were acting without emotion in every situation, so as not to draw power from the Dark Side of the Force. Among the most prominent teachings of Master Odan-Urr were the following:

* "Certainly a Jedi should know the Code, by word and by heart. But seemingly every Jedi is in some fashion negligent, from the lowest Padawan to the highest Master. Consequently, were someone to demand, 'What is the true meaning of the Jedi Code?' the Jedi who promptly answered would be rare indeed."
* "Every Jedi should spent time meditating each day on the will of the Force. The reason for this is simple: If one has unwittingly acted contrary to the will of the Force, recognizing the mistake soon after may still give on time to make amends."
* "To be brave in battle proves nothing. A Jedi should be prepared to put aside fear, regret, and uncertainty and either fight, run, surrender, or die."
* "If a Jedi ignites his lightsaber, he must be ready to take a life. If he is not so prepared, he must keep his weapon at his side."
* "Do not come to rely on the Force to the detriment of your other senses and abilities."

To further clarify the Jedi Code, Master Odan-Urr went on to explain that there were eight distinct conclusions to any situation a Jedi might face, and that every one had to be considered before any action was taken. The eight conclusions - meditation, training, loyalty, integrity, morality, discretion, bravery, and fighting - all required understanding by a Jedi, so that they could resolve any situation that demanded a quick decision with the will of the Force already in mind.

Golden Age of the Jedi


Category: History
Affiliation: Jedi Knights



this was the name given to the 2,000-year period between the Great Sith War and the Battle of Ruusan, in which the Jedi Order maintained a regular and benevolent presence in the Old Republic. No major wars were fought during this period, marking it as a time of peace throughout the galaxy.


Jedi Archives


Category: Locations
Type: Buildings
Affiliation: Jedi Knights
Planet of Origin: Coruscant (Imperial Center)


located in a building which was more than 2,500 years old at the time of the Battle of Geonosis, this vast library of holobooks and information had been compiled by the Jedi Knights of the Old Republic for many generations. Some of the documents contained in the Archives were believed to have dated from the very beginning of the Republic.


jedi Battle Meditation


Category: The Force
Type: Techniques
Affiliation: Jedi Knights



a skill mastered by only a few Jedi Knights and Masters, it involves the Jedi's concentration on the general flow and the outcome of a battle. When the Jedi has pictured the battle in his mind, he can then project the image to all participants in the battle. This mental image influences both sides of the battle, and helps bolster the Jedi's forces while reducing the opponent's conviction. The Jedi Master Thon could do this, and so could Nomi Sunrider. Luke Skywalker found a volume dedicated to the technique when he discovered the ancient Jedi library on Ossus


Great Holocron


Category: Technology
Type: Other
Affiliation: Jedi Knights



this was the largest and most comprehensive of the Jedi Holocrons, produced during the height of the Old Republic. It was a twelve-sided device that was designed for ease of use, and was called upon to provide young students of the Force with easy access to the ancient lore and training of the Jedi. It was believed that the scope and breadth of information contained in the Great Holocron had never been fully traversed, and even Master Yoda had never learned all its contents.

Holocron


Category: Technology
Type: Other



known originally as a holographic chronicle, this was a recording device used by the ancient Jedi Knights to hold the multitude of teachings and lore needed to maintain the Jedi Knights. Each of these devices provides a visual and vocal way to view the enclosed information. The holocron was essentially a dense crystal, with intricate lattices and vertices which were capable of storing huge amounts of information. Most were small enough to fit in the palm of a human being. Each holocron has a gatekeeper assigned to dispense the information. The gatekeeper contains the cognitive network functions of a Jedi Master, and acts as a search, recovery, and storage allocation program. The devices are shaped like small, translucent cubes, and can be activated by a person controlling The Force. The Holocron can sense the user's ability with the Force, and can block out areas of knowledge that are beyond the user's ability. Despite the name, these holocrons were not limited to the Jedi Knights. Several holocrons containing Sith lore have been discovered as well. For some unknown reason, Sith Holocrons were pyramidal in shape, while Jedi Holocrons were cubic. The technology for constructing a Holocron and storing the personalities and knowledge within one was lost many thousands of years before the Battle of Yavin.

Jedi Library


Category: Locations
Type: Buildings
Planet of Origin: Yavin 4


located in the Lost City of the Jedi, this building holds records of the Jedi from thousands of years before the Galactic Civil War. It houses a vast central computer, as well as archives of ancient manuscripts and books. It is rumored that all the knowledge of all the intelligent races of the galaxy is stored there


Great Library of the Jedi


Category: Locations
Type: Buildings
Affiliation: Jedi Knights
Planet of Origin: Ossus


located on the planet Ossus, this vast library was conceived by Jedi Master Odan-Urr, who oversaw its construction some 4,000 years before the Battle of Yavin. Designed to be a repository of all known information about every sentient endeavor, the Great Library encompassed the Chamber of Antiquities, which preserved paper documents from the earliest days of the Jedi Knights. It was Master Odan-Urr's belief that all information, no matter its source, could potentially be of use to the Jedi Order, so even the dreaded Sith holocrons were stored in its vaults. The Great Library was thought to have been lost during the Great Sith War, as Ossus itself was swept clean in the cataclysmic conflict. It wasn't until Executor Sedriss discovered its existence, several years after the Battle of Endor, that its chambers were reopened. Since then, the Great Library has been controlled by the new Jedi Knights training under Master Luke Skywalker. Much of its contents remain a mystery, but Master Skywalker was hopeful that the knowledge it contained would again be revealed to the galaxy. Mirroring the architecture of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, the Great Library was divided into four towers, each holding a different era's worth of information. Master Odan-Urr categorized the information as Pre-Hyperdrive, Pre-Republic, Early Republic, and Modern Republic, although the Jedi of Master Skywalker's time have had to adapt their investigations to a more upt-o-date classification.