Lightwalkers

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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 and Purpose

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.

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. 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 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.