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[hadthehighground]

[Someone has been gone for quite awhile. He disappeared sometime during the whole Valentine fiasco and is only just now showing back up again. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to think he had left this world altogether, but nope he’s still here! Obi-Wan had simply gone outside the city into the Wilderness to be alone and meditate. Needing the time to think and sort things out in his mind with a little help from the Force.

So maybe you will be surprised when you see his face again? He looks no worse for wear, though he is ready to take a shower for sure.]

I apologize for my lengthy absence. It was needed so that I could have some time to think.

Many of you have come to know me as Ben Kenobi, and I regret to say that’s not entirely correct. My actual name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. I had changed my name in order to protect myself before even arriving here. I’m certain many of you will understand my caution as you know the history of the Jedi. However, I have decided such measures are not needed here.

When I first came here, the only members of my kind were myself and Cal. Since then, there are now four of us. Which is largely what brought about my extended leave. I don’t know why so many of us have been brought to this place, but I hadn’t expected to be around so many ever again.

All of us have known what it’s like to be alone. To be hunted and in hiding, living each day with a threat looming over us. There is no reason that should be so as long as we are here. No matter our past struggles, we are still Jedi, and here we don’t have to hide that fact.

Seeing as I was once a member of the High Council, it would be expected of me to see to the safety and well-being of all the Jedi here. I intend to live up to that expectation. I wish to find a place that we can call our own. A temple if you will. Where we can gather, learn, and perhaps even live together. As the only master among us, I have decided to also make myself available for teaching. It won’t exactly be conventional, but these are unconventional times.

Thus I would like to speak with all of you regarding this. And you as well, Mandalorian. We have a great deal to discuss.

Oh... and before I forget. Can anyone explain this?

[Obi-Wan then turns his device to show a giant feathered lizard wearing a saddle and bridle, chewing on leaves not too far away.]

I found her just before I left.

Comments

[kyley_b]

Okay, that I get. Where I'm from some religions are tied to ethnicities. Like even if I don't practice, I'm still Jewish because my mom is and her mom was and so on all the way back to like, one group of people thousands of years ago.

But as far as I know it doesn't give us magic powers like I guess you guys have.

[hadthehighground]

That does make it a bit different, yes. Jedi can be of any species or race, as long as they are born with a sensitivity to the Force. Though some species are more likely to be Force sensitive than others. Seemingly just due to their particular biology.

It's because of that, that I consider the Jedi my people more than I would any particular group of humans.

[kyley_b]

I can understand that, kinda.

So if someone is Force sensitive, they'd seek someone like you out?

[hadthehighground]

Not exactly.

Force sensitivity often manifests early in someone's life. We were often the ones to find them, or their parents would alert us to it.

You see, training has to start at a very young age. I myself was three years old when I was brought to the temple.

[kyley_b]

Three?! Dude!

So did you ever get to see your parents?

[hadthehighground]

Not really, no. I never felt a need to, either. The Jedi were my family, and I was proud to be a part of it.

[kyley_b]

Oh man. Weren't your parents upset? Like I'm glad you basically had an adopted family, but still, I assume your folks loved you.

[hadthehighground]

A Jedi who discovers a child would always discuss matters at length with the parents, and the child if they are old enough to comprehend. We never took children by force.

My own memories of the event are vague, but I do know that they loved me. However, I also knew going with the Jedi was what I wanted.

[kyley_b]

Well. That's good anyway.

Sorry, I'm not like, down on the idea, it's just hard to picture people taking such a little kid away to be trained for something. If some guys had shown up to take my little brother at that age I'd have freaked out.

[hadthehighground]

It's quite alright. You wouldn't be the first. The Quarren had accused us of being baby stealers in the past. Most were open to the idea, however, as becoming a Jedi is a great honor. Not only that, it's the best environment for a child with such special abilities. Think of it as a school for the gifted, only it becomes an entire way of life.

[kyley_b]

Yeah. That makes sense - you need people who can understand what they're going through.

I guess I'd just want visiting rights or something, if it were my little brother. I'm sure you guys allow that, though.

[hadthehighground]

To an extent. Part of the reason children are taken young is so that strong familial attachments are not formed with the biological family. Any they might have we are taught to let go of. It is necessary for our way of life.

At three years, I was actually considered old. Very few were taken in older than that.

[kyley_b]

Why the hell is that necessary? That's a cult tactic, dude.

That's really intense. So. Why are you guys considered so important? Like, not being judgmental, it just seems like a lot of work.

[hadthehighground]

[Aaaand this is where conversations about Jedi ways typically go off the rails with outsiders. Happens without fail.]

It is a difficult life, and we do not allow ourselves some things that most people have. However, I have always found it fulfilling and rewarding.

Our place has always been as keepers of the peace. We serve others rather than ourselves.

[kyley_b]

So you're like monks. Except you're trained practically since birth. Okay. Well. Not gonna lie, super conflicted over that. What happens if someone decides they hate it? Can they leave?

Soooo... warrior monks.

[ezra_of_lothal]

I don't know what my parents would have decided. I was effectively orphaned when I was seven.

My teacher didn't find me until I was fourteen. There wasn't a temple to take me in, because the Empire killed too many of the Jedi. Kanan, and the entire crew he was part of - they're my new family, sort of like Master Kenobi is talking about. But Kanan and I were only ones in that family force sensitive enough for training.

I guess one of the things we're going to be talking about as a community here is...how things can or should work outside of the traditional temple.

[hadthehighground]

[He's definitely looking at this, and he can only imagine how difficult things must have been for Ezra having been orphaned like he was at such a young age. Obi-Wan is glad that Kanan managed to find him.]

Yes, that will be an important topic. As much as I would like to keep things traditional, I realize that won't be entirely feasible.

[That's actually one of the things he had to come to terms with during his two week absence. Letting go of that notion was part of his grieving process.]

[ezra_of_lothal]

It'll be interesting.

[He grins.] Don't worry, Master Kenobi. If I think you're being too much of a stick in the mud, I won't pull my verbal punches.

[hadthehighground]

[He grins back.]
Oh good, I’m glad to have a voice of reason to keep me in check.

[kyley_b]

Jesus, dude, I'm sorry.

So now that you're here, though, Mr. Kenobi here is like... sort of honour bound to help you out? Because you're connected by virtue of your Force stuff.

And hey, not to butt in, but I have a question: is there anybody here who'd give you guys shit for making your temple? Because if so we oughtta handle that ASAP. I'm going on the assumption that this is gonna be a tolerant society but... you know. We can make rules. Set precedents.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He has no idea who or what Jesus is, but he knows a swear when he hears it.]

Not honor bound, I don't think, although maybe that's part of if, and I just don't know. I'm just a student, not a master. Moved by compassion?

Like you are, it sounds like. If there's anyone here right now who's going to give us trouble, they haven't spoken up yet. But thanks. It's nice to have the support.

[kyley_b]

[If he ever asks, Kyle will probably have some really unusual stories about the guy.]

So he's just a super nice dude on top of being a master. Okay, that's pretty cool.

Yeah, I'm a student back home. Uhm. Pre-law. [Do they have lawyers in space? He's really not sure.] I just figured, you know, people can get really weird about religion, so I don't wanna see you guys go through all this work and somebody burns your building down or something.

[ezra_of_lothal]

I'm sure there are Jedi who are better or worse at being nice, but we're supposed to...

[How to explain?]

It's a religion, sure. There's other religious traditions centered around the Force. My...adopted brother, he's Lasat. That's a non-human species. They call the Force Ashla.

Being a Jedi is also a calling. Force sensitives have the potential to be really powerful - in ways that can frighten people. Being a Jedi is about using that power to help people. To protect them. To seek justice and peace.

Pre-law. You...study how the government works?

[kyley_b]

And that's different from you guys because they don't get the, uh. Magic force powers?

Oh, okay, it's kinda like you're superheroes. That's intense, dude.

Uh, partly, I was a political science major. But that's just so I could go to law school, which teaches you to be a lawyer. Which is, like... a person who argues on the behalf of other people about how laws are applied and how punishments are dealt out and stuff.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Well, it's not exactly having force powers or not. The Lasat have prophecies about their own people, which must have come from the Force, and I met Chava who's a Lasat priestess. She was definitely somewhat force sensitive.

I'm probably going to explain this wrong, and I know there's all kinds of history I just don't know. The Republic was huge - spread across most of our galaxy. That's just so many species, and religions, and cultures. A Lasat priestess, yeah, she's got the responsibility to try to be a good person, but her duties are...local.

Jedi, ideally, served the entire Republic. At least that's what that's I was taught. Now there's the Empire, and the guy in charge has Force powers but he's a Sith. Sith focus on making themselves more powerful. If there's ever any room to follow that philosophy and still do good, I promise the Emperor is not doing it.