The One Who Readies
- Intent: To layout what the Chantry of the Living Force is so that people can use it as a plot device.
- Image Credit: https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/ (modified by me)
- Canon: Based on the Church of the Force.
- Permissions: Not Applicable
- Links: Not Applicable
- Religion Name: Chantry of the Living Force
- Religion Type: Force Based
- Influence: Interplanetary. There are numerous followers but spread out throughout the galaxy in small pockets here and there. It's not a mainstream religion.
- Influence Area: The main temple is located on the planet Odessen but the followers travel throughout the galaxy. They are sort of like missionaries in that they travel to different parts of the galaxy to spread the religion, but they're also interested in obtaining artifacts and knowledge for safe-keeping.
- Symbol: See the image above.
- Description: The Chantry of the Living Force is focused on doing the will of the Force by helping to keep the galaxy in a state of balance and by preserving ancient history wherever possible. It works alongside its sister organization, the Church of the Force, in the preservation of what most consider to be light side ideals. Often this brings them into conflict with practitioners of the dark side of the Force, though they never seek it out unless forced. They view all life as sacred, even that of their enemies.
- Founder: Shah Reede - Shah came from a family of members of the Church of the Force. Through no part of his own, he was born with a high midi-chlorian count, enabling him to access the Force. The Church itself is made up of non-Force sensitive individuals, so he was somewhat out of place even though he grew up adhering to the tenets of the organization. After hundreds of years of the Church's existence, Shah decided it was time to create a branch known as the Chantry of the Living Force, to be dedicated to the same work as the Church, with the noted exception that its members were Force-users dedicated to helping sustain balance in the galaxy. Shah himself is a Seer and uses his abilities to help direct the other members of the Chantry to their tasks.
- Membership: Joining the Chantry requires that one be a Force-user. Other individuals are directed to join the Church. Normally individuals are recruited by Wayfarers who are going about their tasks. These individuals are then taken back to Odessen where they enter a training program. It's not as rigorous as some, and there's no brainwashing involved. It's essentially the same as entering a university class for the study of the Force, Force History, Galactic History, and Balance. Once these courses are completed, the individual is given the chance to decide whether to continue with the Church and adhere to its principles, or leave freely. If they choose to leave, the location of the Temple is erased from their mind, something they agree to prior to leaving to Odessen. If they choose to stay, they are given the title of Cleric with the task of studying artifacts and talking to elder members of the Chantry in order for them to find their true balance. Once they've found that, they are promoted to Wayfarer and sent out into the galaxy to look for more converts, assist in maintaining balance, and seek out artifacts and knowledge to be preserved. Those that survive this eventually become Deacon's, those who teach within the Chantry proper and serve directly under the Bishop himself.
- Sacred: There are two item types that the Chantry view as completely sacred:
- Life: All life is sacred and the taking of a life is forbidden unless it can be concluded it was absolutely necessary to preserve one's own life, the lives of numerous others, or the balance of the Force. As an example, the willingness of the Emperor to violently end life with the use of Death Stars would have resulted in him being deemed a necessary kill for the preservation of the galaxy.
- Artifacts: One of the main goals of the Chantry is the preservation of history and artifacts of the Force. These items are greatly valued and kept stored safely within the Chantry itself on Odessen. Destruction of artifacts is punishable by imprisonment and banishment.
- Dogma:
- Living And Cosmic Force:
- All Life Is Sacred: Preservation of life is tantamount to the preservation of balance. The Force creates life so keeping that life from being wantonly destroyed is imperative.
- Balance Is Key: In life and in the home it is essential to find balance and center one's self. Avoiding unnecessary emotional turmoil is just as important as not throwing emotion away. In order to preserve balance, one must first know what it is and attain it themselves. Work on the self before working on others.
- If It Offends: It is not unheard of for very strict adherents to punish themselves by removing what offends. For example, if someone's hand is involved in doing something that goes against the core tenets of the Chantry, they might remove the hand so that it cannot do so again. This is rare, but those who do this are often revered within the Chantry for their dedication.
- The Future Depends On The Past: As with all things, it is necessary to learn from the past to inform the future. Preserving the past is a necessity, especially after much was lost to the Gulag plague. Seeking out the history of the Force is imperative for all members of the Chantry.
- Reputation: This religion is not mainstream. Very few have heard of it, though its members are a few thousand strong all throughout the galaxy. Normally people that encounter them think they are some form of Jedi Zealot and treat them as such. Few will ever encounter them, but those that do are often left with questions that they never get answered unless they leave with the Wayfarer they've met.
MEMBERS
First PC Member: Sola Sundar
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The Church of the Force was founded all the way back in the days of the Galactic Empire. It existed to preserve the history and ideals of the Jedi through knowledge and stories told by the non-Force users that were members of it. In addition, they would often take stolen artifacts back to where they came from. Shah Reede grew up a member of the Church by virtue of his parents, but he was a Force Sensitive individual and didn't quite feel his kind were accurately represented within the Church. He wasn't shunned, but so few Force-users valued what the Church embodied that he found it necessary to create a new addition to the Church. Naturally, he wanted to maintain most of the same ideals, but he was also interested in the preservation of the history of the Force itself, which necessitated the preservation of artifacts and knowledge.
Thus the Chantry of the Living Force was formed. The goal, to spread a desire for balance and to gather up loose, unappreciated, undiscovered artifacts of the Force and its history for the sake of studying and preserving the knowledge of the past. Shah chose Odessen as the homeworld of the Chantry because of its lack of population and strong presence in the Force. It was a world he saw that could serve as a beacon for Wayfarers to return to, but keeping it largely hidden and safe from those who would choose to raid the place to steal the powerful artifacts and knowledge held within.
Soon after he founded the Chantry, Shah started recruiting. There were several people he found that were lost, never having been scooped up by one Order or the other. It's a big galaxy and no group of Force-users could be expected to cover it all. Some of them rejected what he had to say, but others didn't and gladly welcomed the chance for a new home. These were the first of the Wayfarers. As time went on and they brought more people into the fold, the original Wayfarers became the first Deacons, and the new crop of initiates became the first Clerics and eventually the second group of Wayfarers. The Chantry is not that old, Shah is human and in his eighties so there is roughly sixty years of history of this organization, but it continues to grow quietly as it seeks to preserve balance and the history of the Force.
