[Closed] Jedi Code 101 - Class I

[Krajin]

Kade listened a bit and spoke up "War is never good, especially when religion and incredible powers meet. Darkness and light for example. But the galaxy endures and gets stronger from these conflicts does it not?"

 

[Khivas]

"Heh, if you can call what we have now stronger, than you may want to review your definitions of a good place to live and a bad one again." Khivas said from behind closed eyes, leaning back in his chair still. "For a little over a thousand years, the Jedi managed to somehow usher in an age of general peace and a crapload of prosperity. A thousand years man, our minds can't even fully process that length of time, yet it actually happened. In a way though that's what undid the Jedi, growing too soft and comfortable in the hard won peace made us easily manipulated and controlled, and just like that we found ourselves in charge of leading armies and citystates once again, and look where that landed us. The galaxy never really recovered from all that conflict, and we've been limping on ever since."

Rotating and cracking his neck and he came forward once again, Khivas continued his line of dialogue on the subject at hand. "Jedi are powerful, but that power is only physically and even then it can be fooled, tricked, worked about, and defeated. We're all still mortal in some way shape or form if not all the way mortal just like everybody else. Carrying a lightsaber doesn't make us anymore brave than a soldier with a rifle, and having the luxury and ability to study philosophy like this doesn't make us any wiser or capable of a high leadership role either. If anything this "new" code we use today is made because of our past history, that people with our level of power leading things always ends in a bloody disaster, and if we want people to live on and prosper to a new tomorrow, it has to be them to lead themselves, not us. For all our power, we're nothing more than guard hounds and shepherds, warding against the evils of this universe."

 

[Sebby]

The last part of the code is what Felix had already assumed about the Jedi. They help people, but they don't rule over anyone or anything. That much he had gathered just from what his parents had told him and the low profile Jedi seem to maintain. He hardly knew anything about them until Khelsea told him a bit of information and helped him find some Jedi to join the Order. As far as Felix knows, the only people who know where the Jedi are would be other Jedi. And yet his parents had advised him to seek them out if he needed help with anything. They're not like the Sith, who seem to only want power and control.

The instructor brought up the lightsaber, which is only to be used as a last resort. From the sounds of it, Jedi don't start conflicts, but they can end them. Or...try to. Now that Felix thought about it, he didn't even know how one would obtain a lightsaber. He was tempted to ask, but he figured it would be too off-topic, so it put that question in the back of his mind for now. Khivas began to speak up and add a little more to the Jedi's purpose in the galaxy. It was true that the Jedi had many advantages over the average person, but Khivas also had a good point. Jedi are people, and like anyone else, can be fooled or defeated. It was also probably why they could be tempted by the dark side. But it was common sense that everyone had flaws.

"It's pretty much like what we were talking about before," Felix said. "Using our powers or a lightsaber is only a last resort. We have to avoid fighting as much as possible." Felix usually did that by running away when ever conflict rose up around him. But, as a Jedi, he probably can't do that anymore. They don't help people when needed by running. Felix slumped in his chair a bit, wondering if he'd be able to learn to not to use the easy way out when things get tough.

 

[Taruna]

The teacher nodded with some satisfaction, listening in on each of the opinions. "You see, how the Jedi Code is percieved is very different from person to person. Each of you does have his own opinion so far. But do not be afraid of changing it. What you need to keep in mind is the basic, the Code in it's core form. Build on it, but do not modify it. In the course of many, many years this five line have been formed, and so far they ensured peace. Do not let the fact that he Imperum and the Sith are on a high now, that we need to change the code again. It's that we forgot how to use it what brought us in this situation."

She then let the holographic projection show all five lines

<Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy.
Jedi use the Force only for the pursuit of knowledge, to defend, and to protect.
Jedi respect all life in the galaxy, in any form it may take.
Jedi do not rule others, but serve them for the welfare of the galaxy.
Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge, training, and self-discipline.>​

"I am looking forward to your opinions to the last one" she admitted at the end and looked at the students.

 

[Khivas]

As Khivas sat and watched the code light up in the air in front of the class, the last line being traced in a tirade of digitized, holographic coloration, he just sat and stared at the floating letters and smiled, admiring how far he had come in such a small time frame. In only what was roughly three months, if that, Khivas had gone from a mere scrub with the Force and some decent Lightsaber skills to a man who might actually be considered a well versed swordsman and actually decent with using his Force abilities, some mistaking him for a Jedi Knight.

As he read and reread that last line, Khivas spoke up and let Taruna, as well as the class, know his opinion once again. "It's quite simple, really." He started, "As it says there in the line, a Jedi seeks to improve themselves through those three things; Knowledge, Training, and Discipline. You can't hope to be a guardian to the galaxy or defender of the weak and seeker of knowledge if you let yourself slack off and become soft and lax while everything around you goes to hell. You need the train yourself to obtain the knowledge, but you need the discipline to know how to use the knowledge, and you gotta keep up with it. Doesn't get more simple than that folks." He finished, standing up and stretching his limbs.

"Well, that was fun. Is that for the class, Master Taruna? If so, I'd like to see myself out now." He asked, questioning the Knight to see if there was more to add on to the lesson.

 

[Sebby]

Felix now read over the code in its entirety once it was in the projection. The code was quite simple when it was put up like this, and it had showed just how much he learned from just a few lines in one class. It just went to show how much this lesson actually mattered. As Felix read the last line, Khivas had already stated what he was thinking. It was probably the most important one, and with this in mind, Felix knew that he'd be able to move on with his training much easier. Learning how he was going to use his abilities certainly helped, and now he knew more than before why he needed to avoid the dark side.

"Not much I can say that hasn't already been said," Felix stated simply, motioning to Khivas. Although, with how knowledgeable he seemed to be, Felix wondered why Khivas even took the class. "Are you even a padawan, though? You sound like you have a lot of experience being a Jedi already..."

 

[Khivas]

Cracking a smile and a slight chuckle, Khivas simply looked back at the young man who had asked him if he was a Padawan or not, and simply stated "The short of it is yes, I'm just another Padawan, not much different than you. This class isn't the place to get into backstories and insights into other people's lives though, so if you want to learn about me, I'll tell you, but not here. Anyway, I believe this is done for now, on my end at least. If you need me Master Taruna, feel free to contact me again, I'll be around. Good day folks."

Grabbing his datapad and sliding it into the pouch on his belt, Khivas simply walked out of the room without nary a fuss and kept his stride clean with a smile as he exited the room, pausing only once in the hallway to gaze out of the bay windows to look at the nebula of stars and systems that lay in front of him. "Been a hell of a decade, hasn't it Master?" He said quietly to himself before moving onward in his life.

"So much to do, so little time to do it in. Then again, would it hurt so much to stick it out?" Khivas questioned himself, especially since he still had nothing to do as of yet and if his ears didn't betray him, Taruna was going to begin comparing codes, plus there was the code of conduct to still over.....

"Eh, screw it." He said, and turned on his heels and walked back into the lecture hall, taking a seat quietly on the side of the room near the other Padawans, and this time closer to the instructor.

"I had a gut feeling I should stick around, a thousand pardons." He said with a wink, waiting for the class to continue.

 

[Taruna]

The Chiss teacher nodded at Khivas, as he was apparently not interested in the rest of the lessons, wich was nothing she could change. She was not very experienced in teaching and it was only natural she could not satisfy all demands. She did not feel offended, but it was a little sad that he left before she could get to the interesting parts. "I am actually just starting, but you are free to go anytime" she stated with a smile "I can go on with the pillars or a comparsion with the code of old days, what do you prefer?"

 

[Krajin]

"Either or works. Ma'am. Both are good topics to study and understand." Kade would smile, sitting forward slightly with his tail curling around his legs. "Of course if we had to pick, which code of the old days would it be? Weren't there several?"

 

[Khivas]

"Oh hey, I know about those old codes, my first Master actually preferred those over the more recent version we use today." Khivas said when he heard the idea of comparing the older codes to the one Skywalker to replace them.

"The one I know best, like all of them, is really open to interpretation, yet at the same time is really strict and to the point on how to act. If you want I could share it with you guys." He said, offering to recite the code used for thousands of years before the name Skywalker was even a thought.

 

[Taruna]

Taruna was delighted. It's always better to have the class involved rather than just throwing knowledge at them.

She had prepared the code of Odan-Urr, since it had the widest rate of spreading, but maybe this student would surprise her. And since the actual Jedi code differed so greatly from any of the ones prior, it would help her lesson at any rate.

"Please, by all means go ahead." she nodded in approval and thus gave the centre of attention to Khivas, who actually deserved it for being so enthusiastic.

 

[Khivas]

Khivas had out himself out there with his offer, and Taruna had accepted, and thus he began his line of dialogue. "This code was the one used for a hell of a long time before Order Sixty-Six got issued and that particular Jedi Purge, causing Grandmaster Skywalker to replace it with his version that we use today. But without further adieu..." Clearing his throat before he continued,

"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 only the Force."

"You can see why it would be really open for interpretation and even more so why so many would see it as a very strict set of rules to live by. My first master taught me this code right after the primary one we use now as a means to remind myself to stay centered, but he also used it as a means to start discussion about the nature of the Force and it's connection to us, and us to it. I could talk for days about this code too, but alas I digress, Master Taruna, the floor is yours again." Khivas finished, sitting back down in his seat and waiting for the questions that would no doubt begin flooding in.

 

[Krajin]

"Seems like a contradictory Code in several parts. How can there be no Emotion and yet there be peace? Peace is an emotion. How do each of these lines fit? From your perspective at least?" He asked.

 

[Khivas]

"Now that's the interesting part." Khivas said when Kade asked him his inquiry while pointing out exactly what it was Khivas was talking about pertaining to that old code. "I'm gonna give you the short of it, but that first line says there is no emotion, only peace. To me it read as to control your emotions, to bring about only peace with yourself. The second one read as no ignorance, only knowledge, something which actually survived to our current code when you think about it, and is self explanatory. Don't be ignorant, seek knowledge. Passion and serenity is interesting to me and I found myself thinking way too hard on it, but I believe it referred to as not letting yourself be controlled by your passions, maintaining a sense of serenity, similar to the whole no emotion bit. I actually agree with the chaos and harmony thing, but that's another topic as to why I believe that."

With a slight pause, Khivas shifted his eyes downward before looking back up towards the rest of the class. "There is no Death, there is only the Force. That one should speak volumes on it's own. My master always reminded me that our bodies are merely structures of crude material that the Force simply flowed through at the time, and when we die, we'd go back tot he Force to be whole with it again. I have my own reasons as to why I don't fear death, but those lessons definitely helped in shaping them. You fellows, should you wish it at least, are free to form your own opinions of this code. After all, it's pretty damn open to what you wanna see it as."

 

[Krajin]

"Its a really strange code. Were there any I guess you could call it.. approved interpretations of the Code by the Jedi Order originally?" He asked as Kade listened to Khivas explain the code to them. "Does it counter or.. change the code that is used today?"

 

[Taruna]

As much as the Chiss lady would have loved to let this conversation proceed as it was, since they were about to reach the correct conclusion, she had to remind herself that this was a class.

"The Code have been changed since Luke Skywalker. Due to many reasons. one of them was that the path of following was a very narrow one. And the times changed, but the Code not. Thus, the road got smaller and smaller, teaching to control your emotions as well as suppress them. It is still true that you need to learn to stay aware of the dark side, as this path may be easier, but will rob you of your free will and intentions over time. Many Jedis of the old code, may they have been Padawans, Knights or Masters quite often fell off the path by one misstep, and from there on the way back into the light was not easy to find again, as it was this narrow. Luke, who has seen the dark and light paths decided that changes were neccessary. Allowing emotional bonds, since the love could very well bring a lost Jedi back to the path as well as the need to stay aware of the dangers the dark side brings, thus learn to make good use of hatred, fear and other negative options. They always will be there, you will never be immune to them but you really need to make sure they are not to control your actions, thoughts and decisions. Also, you should never bottle them in. If you do so, they will just linger, grow and one day break out without warning and at that point your fate may change immediately."

She took a deep breath

"The actual, most clearly changed code is not decided upon on a whim, not just to set a mark. But to ensure that the purpose of being a Jedi will remain the same over a longer time. A thousand years now, it was there and guided us. But lately the Jedi simply decided to ignore the guidance, ignore the dangers, neglect their duties as guardians. Be aware that the path you are about to follow is one that needs more than just lip service. It will need dedication from all who are in the order from the Masters down to you."

 

[Krajin]

"The purpose of the Jedi should change with the way the galaxy changes. Or at least models and modes of it. Otherwise all it will do is stagnate and well.. you saw what happened with the first Jedi Purge. They'd stagnated, had to many people on the council with the same views I bet and sat with their thumbs up their ass." He'd state with a frown. "Adaptation came to late. We follow a path with conviction, otherwise it is pointless. Hm."

 

[Sebby]

As the class went on, Felix noticed his attention span waning at several points in the lesson. He was distracted by the thoughts that the discussion sparked, the possibility of the Sith turning back to the light, and the recitation of the old Jedi Code. Apparently, quite a few things about the code had been changed of the course of thousands of years, which was understandable. Like anyone else, the Jedi aren't perfect, and from what it sounded like, the old Jedi Code was rather...black and white. There seemed to be no in-between for anything on that code and if one were to stray to the other side of the spectrum, they were lost. If that were the same code the Jedi used today, Felix had trouble picturing himself staying with the Jedi. However, Taruna's point brought Felix's attention back to the class in full. It looked like there were more grey areas allowed in the Jedi. Instead of no emotions, it was okay to experience them, but have control over them and always choose the light.

Felix felt like that was the area he needed the most improvement on. He always let his emotions get the best of him, especially fear. He never thought rationally or stopped to control his thoughts at all. They ran rampant and he acted without much care to it. Was it so bad? Would he even be allowed to be here if they were still using the old Code?

"It does sound extremely strict," Felix muttered, in regards to the old code. "I understand being at peace and having control over our emotions and all, but no emotion? Is that even possible?"

 

[Khivas]

"Ha, no, not really, I tried." Replied Khivas to Felix's inquiry on the whole "No Emotions for the Jedi" thing. "Fun fact though, there's an even older code that sounds awfully like the one I just listed, only instead of "There is No" whatever have you, it goes "There is this, but this", meaning you can have both and run with it. That brings me back to what Kade said, about Jedi changing codes then stagnating, no longer truly, fully meditating and studying what it meant, trying to force all Jedi along the same path when something of that scale just isn't possible, and more to the point, isn't right, not when the Jedi are as diverse in ranks as the races and worlds they represent., which brings me all the way back to what Master Taruna here said." He said, taking a moment to reclaim his breath and lean back in his seat yet again.

"Grandmaster Luke didn't just decide this code on a whim, or took his time and studied everything possible and available to him, he went and made sure that whatever code he would implement, it would go a long way to promising that a Jedi could still be mortal, still be allowed to have a life; They'd just have a higher calling is all. In my opinion, he succeeded."

 

[Taruna]

[ooc: wf! I had a post posted a few days ago, but apparently I did not submit correctly! SORRY!]

"That's correct so far. Think about this: We are Jedi. This order is about to do the right thing, protect and guide. It's a agenda all Jedi's are connected with as a shared base. We are here to better the universe, protect peace and help with keeping it. As you see, we have some work to do and I expect something in that manner happening soon. This base, the will to protect and uphold the peace is what should connect all and every Jedi. And the code is the way to give everyone an idea what this shared goals should be."

Taruna deactivated the holo and brought back the normal light into the room by pressing the correct buttons on her remote, then posted herself so that she could see them all without turning her head

"Let's talk about dangerous knowledge before we make a small break for you to process this all, shall we?" she smiled a little "As we found out, there are multiple ways to look at this and none of them is really wrong."

She took a few breaths to order her thoughts, eliminate her personal opinion as much as possible from what she was about to say to give the students the most objective way to see it.

"It is said that knowledge is dangerous, and by a degree it is. At the end, it boils down to your ability to process it. As a simple example we could take a blaster. Having none with you will always force you to find a way to solve a problem without it, having one will always ad this option to your list of solutions, making it way harder to find the other ones. This is not an accusation, but the nature of things. You are all intelligent people and that you consider all options at your disposal is a given. The same also counts for knowledge. Not having it can mean a missing option you are not even aware of. But having the knowledge can also tempt you to use it. Also, the knowledge of the Dark Side is like poison. As you have it sitting there in your brain, your thinking factory of course try to make sense of it in some ways. It thus can easily happen that you find yourself bending your own thoughts and logic to fit these special pieces of information into your mindset. That's the real danger of it. Your conviction that 'killing is wrong' can warp to 'killing is wrong, but...' "

"So, basically.. you need to be aware that the danger is there. And you need to assess yourself, keep yourself on the right track. The dark side IS making things easier. It's like giving your mind a blaster. Do you understand this?"