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Founded in early 35 ABY by members of House Odan-Urr, the Lightwalkers became the second Battleteam attached to the Light-side House. Comprised of Jedi more focused on expanding their minds and increasing their knowledge instead of running a lightsaber through an opponent, the team is rarely called upon to leave New Tython and is seen as the planet's last line of defense. However, when mobilized, the group will fight with unmatched tenacity and dedication to their cause.
History
Formation
In early 35 ABY, the Quaestor of Odan-Urr, Ji, recognized the need for a second battleteam within the house. Unlike the first sect, the more martial OSTAD, the group that would be known as the Lightwalkers would be devoted to more scholarly pursuits. To that end, Ji called upon Guinevere Deschain to bring together a group of like-minded Jedi with the goal of filling out Odan-Urr's archives and libraries as well as deepening the House's collective understanding of the Force. In addition, the team would specialize in helping redeemed Dark Jedi transition to the ways of the light side.
Eventually, Commander Guinevere was called to higher duties and was forced to withdraw from her leadership position, although she remained in the Battleteam as its founder and architect.
Defense of New Tython
The invasion of New Tython caught the Lightwalkers unawares. However, from the time the Dark Brotherhood fleets appeared in the skies of New Tython, the Lightwalkers lost no time in setting up a defense. Certain members assisted in mustering help from the Harakoans and the Tythonians. When the forces of the Brotherhood Clans and Houses made landfall, some members helped to protect evacuees from Menat Ombo. Others locked in deadly combat with single Dark Jedi, with most of the fighting centered around the capital city.
Halfway through the fierce battle, the Council of Urr appointed Consular Warrior Korroth to the position of Commander. The Lightwalkers' efforts during the war did not focus solely on direct combat. A number of members played vital roles in information gathering. They investigated Dark Council and Clan Ordo special forces units and several prized holocrons, although the intelligence gathering of other Brotherhood Clans and Houses ultimately proved to be more efficient.
In addition to fighting the Brotherhood's Dark Jedi, the Lightwalkers had to deal with internal, intimate conflicts. The Lightwalkers had to fight the temptation of the dark side, the urge to give in to one's emotions completely, to let one's anger and hate guide one's actions. In the end the Lightwalkers were able to suppress this urge, to control their emotions and fight with the light side of the Force as their ally.
When the war finally concluded, the Battleteam returned to Takakoa Monastery battered but confident that their efforts had not been in vain. At this time, the unofficial title of "Lightwalker" was conferred on each Battleteam member, together with a personal gleagem. Also, the title of Sith Commander was unofficially substituted with "Lightwarden" and Sith Flight Leader with "Lightwatcher."
Purpose
The driving motive of the Lightwalkers is the improvement of the self, through the Force and one's own willpower. The Jedi of this Battleteam are said to walk the path of the light, a trail which the Jedi chooses to follow throughout their life to abide to their idiosyncratic idea of virtue. This can be compared in some ways to the practice of monasticism, because the Lightwalkers place much emphasis in the study of the Force and a wide variety of more worldly subjects. However, virtue cannot be gained from books and datachips, therefore the Lightwalkers always try to put their teachings and beliefs into action. They perform tasks for the House which range from information gathering to conflict mediation and diplomatic missions and, if necessary, they will not shy away from armed conflict.
The Battleteam is composed of Jedi of very different backgrounds and beliefs, from conservative old-order Jedi to borderline Gray Jedi. Therefore, the intention is not to set a single doctrine that every Jedi must submit to, but to assist the Lightwalkers in finding their own set of virtues and ideals, and to guide them as they follow the path they choose for themselves. A substantial number of Lightwalkers are redeemed Jedi who were once of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood; for this reason the Lightwarden is charged with ensuring that, in following their individual paths, none of the Lightwalkers stray too far to the dark side. Liberal views of the dark-light side divide and the nature of the Force are tolerated and even encouraged, but the Lightwalkers must always remember that a Jedi acts to serve and protect others, not to gain personal power.
Titles
"Lightwalker" is the title granted to every member of the Battleteam upon receiving his or her gleagem (see below). The title denotes the Jedi's dedication to the path of enlightenment. This does not necessarily indicate the traditional interpretation of the Light side of the Force, but rather the Jedi's own personal concept of what is good and right. The Battleteam Commander acquires the title of Lightwarden, or Lightward. Similarly, the Flight Leader is named Lightwatcher or Ligthwatch. These titles reflect that the Battleteam leaders strive to safeguard and protect the Lightwalkers on their path to the Light, ensuring that none stray too far to the Dark side. All these titles are relinquished once the Jedi leaves the Battleteam or the leadership position.
Possessions
Gleagem
Gleagems (pron. GLEE-ah-gems) are precious stones panned out of certain tributary streams of the river Sabina. Once cut and polished, the gleagem is a clear colorless gemstone, but its properties go far beyond its value as a precious stone. When it is handled by a Force-sensitive, the gleagem will emit a pulsing glow which varies in color and intensity according to the person's state of mind. If the Force-sensitive is calm and serene, or is experiencing "positive" emotions such as joy, hope, affection or gratitude, the gleagem will emit a wholesome white light, throbbing more or less vigorously according to the person's emotions. If the Force-sensitive is experiencing "negative" emotions, the light emitted by the gleagem flutters with a sickly yellow color. In general, the gleagem can be considered to indicate the Light or Dark side tendencies of the holder at any particular moment.
A gleagem is awarded to every newly initiated Lightwalker, to help them walk the path of the Light without straying. The gleagems are cut to different shapes and sizes, and the Lightwalkers may further cut them to fit brooches, rings or pendants. A skilled and experienced Jedi may even be able to use it as a lightsaber crystal, although its suitability and effects have never been tested so far.
While more than twelve gleagems are in possession of the Battleteam, the Lightwalkers are not generally permitted to keep the gem once they leave the team, because it is still a relatively rare and precious mineral.
Takakoa Monastery
Carved out of the eastern face of a cylindrical granite monolith known as Ju Long, the Takakoa Monastery is an elaborate system of rooms connected by hallways and several graceful sets of spiraling stairs. It is located near the banks of one of Sabina's southern tributary rivers, about 200 km (125 miles) east of Menat Ombo. Originally the home of an unusually peaceful faction of Harakoans, the monastery was carved out of the monolith over a period of a thousand years. The faction lived on the surrounding plains while they worked, and when work finished in approximately 2,200 BBY, the natives left the fields and made the worked-stone complex their home. Though they weren't monks in the strictest sense, the extremely-introverted nature of the Harakoans that lived in the granite facility gave them that reputation, one that has lingered long after the inhabitants left the place around 700 BBY. The true reasons for the reintegration are unknown to non-Harakoan beings, but it's believed that the philosophy that set the original faction apart died out among the group.
When the Jedi of Odan-Urr took interest of the abandoned complex, turbolifts were installed along with modern climate control, plumbing, and food storage and preparation systems. A public library and archiving system was established along the bottom three floors. The fourth and fifth floors are private and are reserved for the Lightwalkers. These floors contain meditation chambers, a sparring room, and a lounge. The top floor contains a kitchen, a small cafeteria, quarters for the team, and a terrace that overlooks the surrounding area. The wide, naturally-flat roof is used as a landing platform for the group's various starfighters.
One of the monastery's notable features is the custom-made durasteel barbecue pit created for the team's first leader, Guinevere Deschain. Located in a small room off of the kitchen, the pit is where the Hapan cures, smokes, grills, and roasts meats to perfection. In 34 ABY, Guinevere was declared a winner of Menat Ombo's annual barbecue competition in the smoked nerf ribs category. She entered the brisket of traladon division but failed to place in the top three.
Roll of Leaders