THE JEDI
"For more than a thousend generations,
the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice
in the Old Republic ..."
The Ancient Jedi Knights
The Old
Republic endured for more than 20,000 years, protected
by the Jedi Knights, who acted as its guardians, emissaries,
warriors and peacemakers. With the Force as their ally,
the Jedi could accomplish amazing feats. They could
sense disturbances in the Force across thousands of
light-years. They were masters of diplomacy and skilled
in combat; a single Jedi could defeat a score of ordinary
soldiers. Many famous Jedi fought in The Sith War, which
took place 4,000 years before the birth of Luke Skywalker.
Nomi Sunrider helped lead the Jedi to victory against
Exar Kun, the Dark Lord of the Sith. Her daughter, Vima
Sunrider, also became a great Jedi. Ulic Qel-Droma was
a powerful Jedi, but he turned to the dark side and
joined Exar Kun. Ulic eventually returned to the light.
Master Odan-Urr fought the Sith in a great conflict
1,000 years earlier. A scholar and historian, Odan-Urr
presided over Jedi assemblies and provided counsel during
The Sith War. Master Ood Bnar was a renowned teacher,
but his greatest act was to preserve many Jedi artifacts
when the planet Ossus was consumed by a supernova. Ood
placed himself in a state of suspended animation and
reawakened 4,000 years later when Luke Skywalker arrived
on Ossus.
The Fall of the Jedi
Many opposed
the Old Republic, including gangsters such as Bogga
the Hutt, pirate marauders and mercenary armies like
the Mandalorians. The most dangerous foes were young
Jedi who'd been seduced by the dark side of the Force
and became dreaded Dark Jedi. The greatest of these
opponents were the Sith. In the distant past, these
Dark Jedi fled to a remote part of the galaxy and built
a vast empire, but were destroyed by the Jedi when they
attacked the Old Republic. A thousand years later, the
evil of the Sith returned. Two young Jedi - Exar Kun
and Ulic Qel-Droma - were overwhelmed by the dark side
and embraced the Sith ways. Kun, the new Dark Lord of
the Sith, nearly exterminated the Jedi, but was stopped
in a titanic battle at Yavin Four. After millenia of
prosperity, the Old Republic had become decadent. In
this time of corruption, Senator Palpatine became Senate
Leader and then declared himself Emperor, seizing control
and eliminating all resistance. To cement his control,
the Emperor orchestrated the destruction of the Jedi.
His minions - including former Jedi Anakin Skywalker,
who had become Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith -
eradicated the Jedi. Their libraries were destroyed.
Families of the Jedi, with bloodlines rich in Force
potential, were wiped out. A great darkness dominated
the galaxy. Emperor Palpatine's plan was not entirely
successful. Anakin's former mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi,
escaped and hid Anakin's twin children, Luke and Leia
Skywalker. Obi-Wan's instructor, the wise Master Yoda,
also survived. He watched from afar as Luke grew from
child to man. Yoda knew that the future rested on this
brave but brash youth who had the potential to destroy
the Emperor - or to turn to the dark side as had his
father.
Return of the Jedi
Luke Skywalker
learned the ways of the Jedi Knights and fulfilled his
destiny by destroying the Emperor. Luke was the first
of a new generation of Jedi Knights! With the Empire
gone and the New Republic established, Luke knew that
the Jedi Knights were needed to preserve freedom. He
disovered Jedi records aboard the wreckage of the ancient
ship Chu'unthor and contained within an ancient Jedi
Holocron. Luke founded his Jedi academy, or praxeum,
and recruited students from across the galaxy. The early
days of the academy were filled with turmoil and conflict,
but these Jedi students continued their studies, mastering
the Force as Luke had so many years earlier. Jedi such
as Kirana Ti, Dorsk 81 (and later Dorsk 82), Kam Solusar,
Cilghal and Tionne defended the New Republic from its
enemies. In the decade that followed, the Jedi academy
accepted many students, including Luke's niece, Jaina
Solo, and his nephews, Jacen and Anakin Solo. Luke Skywalker
ushered in a grand era for the Jedi Knights. Like the
Jedi of old, these new Jedi defend the Republic and
protect the freedom of the people of the galaxy.
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