Post by Darth Xaos on Apr 23, 2015 1:01:33 GMT
During the height of the old Jedi Order it was nearly unheard of for one of its Apprentices to become a Dark Jedi. Even during times when the Sith waxed strong those who left the Order tended to do so in a single mass rather than trickle out slowly. Yet it is that latter predicament that the current Jedi Order has begun to face in recent years. Dubbed the Jedi Age of Apostasy by more reactionary individuals, this era has seen droves of Apprentices leaving the Jedi to follow their own devices…often by becoming Sith. The New Sith Brotherhood, and it’s predecessor organization the New Sith Order, has drunk deeply from this recruiting pool and Dark Jedi have always been the core of their membership. Yet the causes of and reactions to this wave of apostates are far from simple.
Causes:
The Yuuzhan Vong War
The Galaxy was forever changed by the Yuuzhan Vong War. Countless worlds fell before the alien invaders and untold numbers lost their lives. Though much hatred still exists toward the Yuuzhan Vong, more blame the Galactic Alliance and the Jedi Order for failing to protect the Galaxy. They recall instances such as the Battle of Dantooine where a Republic retreat left the population of a world at the mercy of the Vong. Bitterness also rages over the fact that the Jedi’s Force Powers, which many feel they hold over the rest of the Galaxy’s heads, could do nothing to stop the devastation.
Greater Access to Recruits
While it might seem odd that an increased ability to recruit would increase apostasy, more Apprentices means less attention per Apprentice. The Galactic Alliance has a presence on worlds that the Old Republic never discovered and transportation methods continue to improve. Just because the Jedi are losing Apprentices doesn’t mean they aren’t also gaining them. Yet, it seems, each batch of recruits is larger…and a greater percentage of them become apostates.
Growing Union Population
Another root of the problem is that more and more Force Sensitives are coming into their powers within Union territory. During the Snowfall Campaign Hutt Space defected en masse to the Union. Sith recruiters now comb population centers like Nar Shaddaa looking for the destitute and Force Sensitive to bring into their ranks. The Yuuzhan Vong War has also had a hand in this. The planets in the area traditionally known as Sith Space were once completely abandoned. During the Vong invasion many refugees fled here where they correctly thought their pursuers would not bother to follow. Since then these planets have experienced a mass population boom due to a high birthrate spurred on by the need for workers. The Sith Pureblood Tribes too are returning to prominence on these worlds (and are beginning to come into conflict with their colonist neighbors). While these new Force Sensitives are not apostates per se, there was time when these populations would have sent them to the Jedi.
The Proliferation of Jedi Training
In fact, some of the individuals a Jedi would think to be an apostate were never Jedi at all. At some point during its history, Darth Bane’s Order of Sith Lords gained access to and integrated Jedi training into its teachings. Darth Sidious in particular made great use of his knowledge of Jedi techniques, imparting them to his Apprentices, Inquisitors and Hands. Since the fall of the Empire these individuals have scattered across the Galaxy and often take students of their own. Without Palpatine to limit their actions they may proliferate without restriction. A modern Jedi encountering one of these individuals might easily mistake him for a fallen Jedi.
Anti-Jedi Sentiment
In the New Sith Brotherhood’s worldview, the current conflict is primarily between themselves and the New Jedi Order. Seeing how much the Obsidian Union is under their control, they assume the Jedi likewise have total power over the Galactic Alliance. The truth, however, is far more complex and less favorable for the Jedi. Far from controlling the Alliance, the Jedi aren’t really even popular in it. The average Alliance citizen actually fundamentally agrees with the Sith opinion at the start of this paragraph. To their mind most wars in Galactic history seem to be caused by the animosity between Jedi and Sith. They likewise wonder if the only way to finally end the cycle of war is to purge Jedi along with Sith; an opinion also voiced in private by their Chief of State.
Reactions:
Mainline
On the whole, the course of action counseled by Grand Master Luke Skywalker and his Jedi Council has been that Instructors should redouble their efforts. Skywalker counsels the Masters and Knights that they must emphasize the dangers of the Dark Side to their students while also always making sure to understand and listen to the Apprentice’s thoughts. This solution may be too little too late, however. Even the best of teachers make mistakes. It only takes one moment to fall from the Jedi way yet once one sets down the Dark Path it forever dominates their destiny.
Silver Jedi
There is one specialized group within the Jedi Order that would not exist were it not for the Age of Apostasy. The Reformed Order of Silver Jedi, or simply the Silver Jedi, are a revival of an ancient group who made it their sole purpose to completely eradicate all Dark Side influences in the Galaxy. Luke Skywalker reluctantly gave permission to revive the Silver Jedi to an unknown Jedi Master in response to the rise of apostasy. The Silver Jedi have become no less mysterious since their inception and little is known of them. Other than a confrontation with the Sith Brotherhood during the Snowfall Campaign, their activities remain unseen and unknown. However, many Jedi secretly wonder if some of the apostates actually left the Order or if the Silver Jedi quietly purged them on suspicion of involvement with the Dark Side.
Causes:
The Yuuzhan Vong War
The Galaxy was forever changed by the Yuuzhan Vong War. Countless worlds fell before the alien invaders and untold numbers lost their lives. Though much hatred still exists toward the Yuuzhan Vong, more blame the Galactic Alliance and the Jedi Order for failing to protect the Galaxy. They recall instances such as the Battle of Dantooine where a Republic retreat left the population of a world at the mercy of the Vong. Bitterness also rages over the fact that the Jedi’s Force Powers, which many feel they hold over the rest of the Galaxy’s heads, could do nothing to stop the devastation.
Greater Access to Recruits
While it might seem odd that an increased ability to recruit would increase apostasy, more Apprentices means less attention per Apprentice. The Galactic Alliance has a presence on worlds that the Old Republic never discovered and transportation methods continue to improve. Just because the Jedi are losing Apprentices doesn’t mean they aren’t also gaining them. Yet, it seems, each batch of recruits is larger…and a greater percentage of them become apostates.
Growing Union Population
Another root of the problem is that more and more Force Sensitives are coming into their powers within Union territory. During the Snowfall Campaign Hutt Space defected en masse to the Union. Sith recruiters now comb population centers like Nar Shaddaa looking for the destitute and Force Sensitive to bring into their ranks. The Yuuzhan Vong War has also had a hand in this. The planets in the area traditionally known as Sith Space were once completely abandoned. During the Vong invasion many refugees fled here where they correctly thought their pursuers would not bother to follow. Since then these planets have experienced a mass population boom due to a high birthrate spurred on by the need for workers. The Sith Pureblood Tribes too are returning to prominence on these worlds (and are beginning to come into conflict with their colonist neighbors). While these new Force Sensitives are not apostates per se, there was time when these populations would have sent them to the Jedi.
The Proliferation of Jedi Training
In fact, some of the individuals a Jedi would think to be an apostate were never Jedi at all. At some point during its history, Darth Bane’s Order of Sith Lords gained access to and integrated Jedi training into its teachings. Darth Sidious in particular made great use of his knowledge of Jedi techniques, imparting them to his Apprentices, Inquisitors and Hands. Since the fall of the Empire these individuals have scattered across the Galaxy and often take students of their own. Without Palpatine to limit their actions they may proliferate without restriction. A modern Jedi encountering one of these individuals might easily mistake him for a fallen Jedi.
Anti-Jedi Sentiment
In the New Sith Brotherhood’s worldview, the current conflict is primarily between themselves and the New Jedi Order. Seeing how much the Obsidian Union is under their control, they assume the Jedi likewise have total power over the Galactic Alliance. The truth, however, is far more complex and less favorable for the Jedi. Far from controlling the Alliance, the Jedi aren’t really even popular in it. The average Alliance citizen actually fundamentally agrees with the Sith opinion at the start of this paragraph. To their mind most wars in Galactic history seem to be caused by the animosity between Jedi and Sith. They likewise wonder if the only way to finally end the cycle of war is to purge Jedi along with Sith; an opinion also voiced in private by their Chief of State.
Reactions:
Mainline
On the whole, the course of action counseled by Grand Master Luke Skywalker and his Jedi Council has been that Instructors should redouble their efforts. Skywalker counsels the Masters and Knights that they must emphasize the dangers of the Dark Side to their students while also always making sure to understand and listen to the Apprentice’s thoughts. This solution may be too little too late, however. Even the best of teachers make mistakes. It only takes one moment to fall from the Jedi way yet once one sets down the Dark Path it forever dominates their destiny.
Silver Jedi
There is one specialized group within the Jedi Order that would not exist were it not for the Age of Apostasy. The Reformed Order of Silver Jedi, or simply the Silver Jedi, are a revival of an ancient group who made it their sole purpose to completely eradicate all Dark Side influences in the Galaxy. Luke Skywalker reluctantly gave permission to revive the Silver Jedi to an unknown Jedi Master in response to the rise of apostasy. The Silver Jedi have become no less mysterious since their inception and little is known of them. Other than a confrontation with the Sith Brotherhood during the Snowfall Campaign, their activities remain unseen and unknown. However, many Jedi secretly wonder if some of the apostates actually left the Order or if the Silver Jedi quietly purged them on suspicion of involvement with the Dark Side.