Character
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Tiland Kortun, Jedi Master, Advisor, Grand Master of closely aligned Circle of the Light Hand
Myri Oakheart, Jedi Knight
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Conceptually speaking, the idea of the Jedi Pilgrims date far back into the ancient days of the Galactic Republic with legendary Jedi Masters Fay, Nico Diath, Jon Antilles, and Knol Ven'nari being the archetypal examples who established the idea and demonstrated its power. Their tradition was carried forward into the present day by Jedi Master Tiland Kortun and his centuries-long pilgrimage around the galaxy following the guidance of the Force in his search for wisdom and self-discipline to conquer his Anzati darkness, and to bring what Light he could to the oft-overlooked people of the galactic frontier. He sought out and tried to organize Jedi in a similar manner with a short-lived organization known as the Wayfarers, but this was eventually replaced by the Way of the Light Hand and the associated Circle of the Light Hand that practices its tenets. However, for many Jedi, the Circle's eschewing of the lightsaber and traditional Jedi lifestyle was a bit extreme, so it grew only little, despite its role as one of the main Jedi organization operating within the Outer Rim Coalition/Outer Planets Alliance. With the dissolution of the Alliance, however, there proved to be a greater need for Jedi in the Outer Rim, even if none of the main orders had any technical jurisdiction there. While many moved to the Silver Jedi Concord or New Jedi Order of the Galactic Alliance, there were those who felt guided by the Force that their place was in the Outer Rim. There was a bit of an existential crisis for those who would not abandon the Outer Rim to its fate after having served as its guardians for so long.
Fortunately, there were a multitude of experienced Jedi Masters and members of other Force sects whose lives were defined by working the Outer Rim, and they were able to gather many of them together to discuss a plan. The formation of the Rimward Trade League provided the perfect opportunity, with this motley collection banding together with the Church of the Force to assist the League in its vision of a safer, healthy, Outer Rim society where each planet ruled itself and collaborated with the rest to bring better economies, safer hyperlanes, and justice to the often wild worlds of the Rim. Knowing the importance and respect of the Jedi, the League accepted them and granted them a permanent voting position on the League council to ensure that the governing bodies would be kept in check while Jedi had the autonomy and authority (as tenuous as it is, coming from a very minor galactic power) to fulfill their mission.
With that established, the Jedi Pilgrims were able to go about their business as they were guided by the Force, ensuring that the Light of the Jedi was not lost in the Outer Rim. But first, they needed a different way of operating. With his expertise, Tiland Kortun was able to lend himself to the cause and establish networks of communication in concert with the Church of the Force to relay messages to the wandering Jedi when necessary and training them in detecting the subtle currents of the Force that would guide them to where they are needed. With that completed, he bade farewell to his student, Myri Oakheart, now fully knighted as she transitioned full time to be one of the founding members of the Jedi Pilgrims, reaching out to others in Circle of the Light Hand and other Jedi who feel called by the Force to serve in the Outer Rim along with the Church of the Force, as well as other groups seeking the betterment of the Outer Rim.
- Intent: To develop a sect of Jedi with a flavor and style different than the other Jedi factions, to develop more lore of the Outer Rim, Rimward Trade League, and other Outer Rim groups, as well to explore a different aspect of the Jedi- mysticism and errantry (in the medieval sense) within a grassroots mystic concept that embraces the idea of ronin and knights-errant of the Round Table hinted at within the upcoming High Republic concept.
- Image Credit: N/A
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: Ronin, Knight-Errant, Circle of the Light Hand, Tiland Kortun, Jedi Master Fay, Jedi Master Nico Diath, Jedi Master Jon Antilles, Jedi Master Knol Ven'nari, Rimward Trading League, Outer Planets Alliance, Church of the Force (Chaos Outer Rim Sects), Church of the Force (Canon), Jedi Code, Jedi Order, Yumfla, Way of the Light Hand
- Organization Name: Jedi Pilgrims
- Classification: Jedi Sect
- Affiliation: Church of the Force (Outer Rim Sects) & (Canon), Rimward Trade League, Circle of the Light Hand (closely related and cooperative)
- Organization Symbol: The traditional symbol of the Jedi Order, but little beyond that.
- Description: The Jedi Pilgrims are the main Jedi Order that operates within and with the authority of the Rimward Trade League while maintaining full autonomy over themselves and their actions, acting as members within the Church of the Force and at their request, or at the guidance of the Force itself. They often act alone, hold no temples of their own, and are more nomadic than most Jedi who operate as part of government-supported orders. Instead, they focus on their personal spiritual development and mysticism as they seek to commune fully with the Force.
- Headquarters: Yumfla, loosely, as the capital of the Rimward Trade League, though they have no permanent buildings that are particularly their own.
- Domain: Jedi Pilgrims have no claims on territory, property, or areas of influence, as they spend most of their time traveling. There are a few Church of the Force chapter houses that house them more regularly, but nothing permanent as of yet, although they seek out ancient sacred sites of the Jedi, and may pass through them, or dwell there for a time, they almost always pass on to somewhere else. Yet despite this, they are very active in the communities with which they engage, seeking to resolve problems that are brought to them, help instruct in meditation and the ways of the Force, assisting in growing crops in agricultural communities, defending those in need, healing those are sick or injured, negotiating solutions to problems that the local chapter has been unable to resolve. Some may even feel led by the Force to settle in one location and take a role as a protector of the community, perhaps even marrying and raising a family there. Such individuals may find a small Jedi community forming around them to learn from their experience and wisdom, although this happens rarely.
- Notable Assets: N/A
- Hierarchy: As a (mostly) traditional Jedi Order, Jedi Pilgrims have the traditional hierarchy of Jedi Initiates/Younglings, Jedi Padawans, Jedi Knights, Jedi Masters, and in theory, Grand Master. In theory, there is a council of the most experienced Masters, but as the pilgrims are probably itinerant, communication is typically asynchronous, through comlinks, or reaching out in the Force to sense each other's thoughts. As a result, the primary hierarchy within the pilgrims is that of the master and apprentice, though seniority is almost always used to determine who leads in any given situation.
- Membership: Currently numbering no more than a few dozen, the pilgrims are a scattered, diffuse order. To join, one must first be Force-sensitive, swear to live by the Jedi Codes, and then usually just inform a local Church of the Force chapter house that there is interest in aiding them and the other Jedi. Or, one can simply follow the leading of the Force and eventually, you'll be known as a Jedi Pilgrim. From an OOC perspective, contact
Tiland Kortun
or Myri Oakheart, or join the Rimward Trade League. - Climate: The Jedi Pilgrims are a very friendly bunch, as they are wandering Jedi used to being alone on the road for years at a time, sometimes, and always glad to meet another of their brethren. Otherwise, they are practical, trusting of each other, more than a little bit mystical, perhaps eccentric by normal Jedi standards, but very rooted in the Force and their role in the communities they serve.
- Reputation: For the most part, they are almost half legend to most people, being so few of them comparatively speaking, but amongst those they work with, they have earned great respect through their hard work, sacrifice, and willingness to serve. There is also the reputation of the Jedi that they have attached to them as well. Undoubtedly, however, there are those in more formal Jedi orders and those who don't trust Jedi that find them too uncontrolled, too free, and recklessly without accountability.
- Curios: Other than the normal Jedi lightsaber, none in particular.
- Rules: The Jedi Code in its various interpretations, versions, and editions, with a specific focus on following the will of the Force and letting it guide one's entire life, as well as actions in certain moments.
- Goals: The Jedi Pilgrims exist to ensure that there will always be Jedi to serve and protect the people of the Outer Rim, even if there is no government there to support or fund them. Instead, the Jedi Pilgrims work in close relations as support for the various Outer Rim sects of the Church of the Force, either directly responding to requests for assistance or by following the guidance of the Force to wherever they are needed next. They exist to resolve crises diplomatically and without loss of life, if at all possible, to right wrongs, reestablish justice where there is injustice, heal those who have been harmed, preserve the knowledge and places of the Jedi for the future, and foster the growth harmony within the far reaches of the Outer Rim, as well as pursuing enlightenment and deeper connection to the Force than often thought probable.
Tiland Kortun, Jedi Master, Advisor, Grand Master of closely aligned Circle of the Light Hand
Myri Oakheart, Jedi Knight
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Conceptually speaking, the idea of the Jedi Pilgrims date far back into the ancient days of the Galactic Republic with legendary Jedi Masters Fay, Nico Diath, Jon Antilles, and Knol Ven'nari being the archetypal examples who established the idea and demonstrated its power. Their tradition was carried forward into the present day by Jedi Master Tiland Kortun and his centuries-long pilgrimage around the galaxy following the guidance of the Force in his search for wisdom and self-discipline to conquer his Anzati darkness, and to bring what Light he could to the oft-overlooked people of the galactic frontier. He sought out and tried to organize Jedi in a similar manner with a short-lived organization known as the Wayfarers, but this was eventually replaced by the Way of the Light Hand and the associated Circle of the Light Hand that practices its tenets. However, for many Jedi, the Circle's eschewing of the lightsaber and traditional Jedi lifestyle was a bit extreme, so it grew only little, despite its role as one of the main Jedi organization operating within the Outer Rim Coalition/Outer Planets Alliance. With the dissolution of the Alliance, however, there proved to be a greater need for Jedi in the Outer Rim, even if none of the main orders had any technical jurisdiction there. While many moved to the Silver Jedi Concord or New Jedi Order of the Galactic Alliance, there were those who felt guided by the Force that their place was in the Outer Rim. There was a bit of an existential crisis for those who would not abandon the Outer Rim to its fate after having served as its guardians for so long.
Fortunately, there were a multitude of experienced Jedi Masters and members of other Force sects whose lives were defined by working the Outer Rim, and they were able to gather many of them together to discuss a plan. The formation of the Rimward Trade League provided the perfect opportunity, with this motley collection banding together with the Church of the Force to assist the League in its vision of a safer, healthy, Outer Rim society where each planet ruled itself and collaborated with the rest to bring better economies, safer hyperlanes, and justice to the often wild worlds of the Rim. Knowing the importance and respect of the Jedi, the League accepted them and granted them a permanent voting position on the League council to ensure that the governing bodies would be kept in check while Jedi had the autonomy and authority (as tenuous as it is, coming from a very minor galactic power) to fulfill their mission.
With that established, the Jedi Pilgrims were able to go about their business as they were guided by the Force, ensuring that the Light of the Jedi was not lost in the Outer Rim. But first, they needed a different way of operating. With his expertise, Tiland Kortun was able to lend himself to the cause and establish networks of communication in concert with the Church of the Force to relay messages to the wandering Jedi when necessary and training them in detecting the subtle currents of the Force that would guide them to where they are needed. With that completed, he bade farewell to his student, Myri Oakheart, now fully knighted as she transitioned full time to be one of the founding members of the Jedi Pilgrims, reaching out to others in Circle of the Light Hand and other Jedi who feel called by the Force to serve in the Outer Rim along with the Church of the Force, as well as other groups seeking the betterment of the Outer Rim.
