Jedi Protectorate

> A small threat can be a hint of a greater one to come. Whether within or without, the threat is always real.
>
> Lord Protector Mace Windu

The **Jedi Protectorate** is a Force-based feudalistic monarchy situated in the inner core regions of the galaxy. It is considered the successor state to the Galactic Republic, though it shares little of the Republic's values and sentiments. Ruled by the Lord Protector, Mace Windu, he established the Protectorate in 0 ANZ after he killed the Republic's Chancellor, Sheev Palpatine, for treason against the Republic.

Seizing control of the Senate after installing martial law, Windu would radicalize the Jedi Order in the absence of the Grandmaster, Yoda, who had vanished in the Nebulous Zone. Though many left the Order after the news of Windu's changes and would go on to form the Knights of the Republic in the quickly-growing New Republic, Windu's faction of loyal Jedi, eager to reshape the Republic to better serve the needs of Jedi and common man, would form the Protectorate.

The Protectorate in 20 ANZ is a fierce machine of oppression and theocratic belief; non-Jedi are second-class citizens, and those who live on worlds ruled by Jedi Lords exist at the whims of their Force-wielding leaders. They must have absolute obeisance to those above them, and those Lords in the upper echelons of society have begun to play dynastic games as they establish succession laws and bloodlines strong with the Force.

## Government

> The Jedi are the greatest among us. They are our best, our brightest. It is only right that they rule.
>
> Senator Tas Gallin, shortly before the abolition of the Senate

The Jedi Protectorate, despite its name, is a state built around Jedi rule rather than service; there are two levels of citizenship within it. The first, and most common, are the regular citizens. These people breathe, eat and prosper at the leisure of their Jedi Lord. If they are needed for the war effort, they will be conscripted. If their resources are needed, they will be taken. If their lord makes a request or demand of them, they cannot refuse them. Should a Jedi Lord deem that someone is to be punished, whatever that punishment is, their word is law on the planet that they rule.

From a top-down view, Mace Windu sits as Lord Protector, with his children poised to eventually take his position once he steps down or becomes one with the force. Beneath him are the Jedi High Lords, who rule over a region of space with a single planet as their seat of power. Below them are Jedi Lords, who rule over their individual planets with impunity. At times, a Jedi Lord or High Lord will be given rulership over multiple planets. The last rung in the Jedi hierarchy are the Jedi Knights. Those who have not been given land to govern will usually align themselves with a specific lord or High Lord. While those who do not yet have a planet to govern are prioritised when new territory is taken, usually there are many attempts by prominent families to have members of their own house gain ownership, often resulting in tournaments or other competitions between Jedi Knights.

Succession of planets or regions varies with each and every house, but the ruler of a planet must always be force-sensitive. Some families simply have primogeniture with a child inheriting it all, others having partitions where different areas of the planet are ruled by different members. Yet others inherit through tests of skill or wit, others voted in either by members of the house or the population of the world. Others choose unusual methods of family inheritance, such as the oldest living member of the family or the youngest child. Should there be no member of a House able to take over a world, the ruling Lord or High Lord may designate an individual that they have trained or will train as their padawan to take their lands instead. Should no heir be chosen or designated, the land reverts to either the High Lord, or to Lord Protector Windu, who will make a further decision.

## Military

> There is no death, only the force.
>
> 17th Infantry Legion Motto

After the Jedi took power in the old republic, they had their loyal clone troopers to enforce their will across the new territory of the Protectorate. However, they quickly realised that their soldiers were ageing, and that the former outer rim territories, who had access to Kamino’s technology, had no desire to help them. Therefore, they adopted a new strategy; the Clones would make their sacrifice for the Protectorate with their shorter lives in order to train those who would come after them, and to create training simulations for the next generations of clones. Nowadays, the Protectorate clones almost exclusively on Centax-3 for Lord Protector Windu’s own soldiers. While each planet fields its own military, made up of the population from that very world with different forms of training depending on their own doctrine, they are required to all wear the same uniform.

Wanting to capture the iconic look that is easily marketed to the masses as their protectors, the Protectorate military uses the ‘Phase 1’ clone trooper armour from early in the Clone Wars. While this look does have staying power for propaganda and is much cheaper to produce than other forms, it is inferior to most armour that is used now; thankfully, overall survival of soldiers is not considered a great priority for the Protectorate, especially as many soldiers are conscripted or cloned and raised to adulthood within a year of their existence.

While the cloning facilities on Centax-3 are able to produce clones at an incredibly fast rate, these clones are nowhere near as effective as those used on Kamino. This, combined with the fact that Windu keeps this military exclusively for his own use and does not spare them for every conflict, means that it is nowhere near as trained, experienced or as effective an army as the former Grand Army of the Clone wars. It is, however, still Jango Fett’s template being used, even as his DNA samples degrade and a new template will soon have to be found.

## Justice System

> I will not stand for this. I have my rights - I demand a Test of Skill!
>
> Nad Yuuza, Jedi Lord of Dorin

Throughout the Protectorate, there are certain standards that the Jedi Knights are held to, even if it appears arbitrary and simultaneously lenient to most outside observers not living in the web of intrigue and politics the Jedi Lords have shrouded themselves in. While a Jedi Knight striking down a normal individual is not considered of the same level as murder between non-force sensitives or between two Jedi, they would still be expected to compensate the non-force user’s lord in some way or another.

Within the Jedi, however, grievances and justice can take many forms. Should there be reports of dark side usage or an accusation of someone being a dark sider, this will usually involve the Jedi Inquisitorus, though they leave final judgement up to the lord whose territory the investigation falls to. When a Jedi is under trial, for any crime or offence they have committed, they may either stand trial as they would in the days of the old republic, with a jury of other Jedi and witnesses called. It is notable that should a Jedi and non-Jedi’s witness statements contradict, the non-Jedi’s testimony will be thrown out.

Should the force user be considered a ‘Jedi Knight’, that is, having completed training as a Padawan under another lord or knight, they have the right to demand instead that their trial is a Test, reflecting one of the tests that would qualify one to become a Knight under the old order.

A Test of Skill, almost always will involve the use of a lightsaber against a combatant or combatants, usually an honourable duel in which the loser is expected to be killed.

A Test of Flesh involves the accused undergoing extreme pain, with the offer of the pain stopping if they admit to the crimes they have been accused of. Should they undergo all of the pain and still profess their innocence, they will pass.

A Test of Courage may be given if the Lord or even Lord Protector Windu requires something of the accused. They will be given a task that they must complete, without any assistance. This is sometimes also demanded by groups of accused conspirators for a crime, and only that group can complete the task.

A Test of Insight requires that the accused must pass a deeply complex riddle or puzzle. This test must be carried out by Jedi Inquisitors, to ensure that nobody involved could have any knowledge of the riddle to prevent an unfair advantage.

A Test of Spirit is rare, and reserved for those accused of using the dark side. Whether or not this Test can be carried out is left to Lord Protector Windu, and the details of these tests are only known to him and the highest levels of the Jedi Inquisitorus.

To be declared innocent of a crime, a Jedi must pass at least two of these Tests. Should a Jedi only pass one, they will be allowed free of custody and given a ‘grace period’ of a few days to have a head-start from authorities. In this case, they are expected to undertake self-imposed exile. A Jedi may not take any Tests more than once for the same crime.

## The Jedi Kingdoms

> You will make us great! We will conquer all, even death, to save them!
>
> A’Sharad Hett, High Lord of the Bulwark

The territory occupied by the Protectorate is split into five lesser kingdoms, each one overseen by a Jedi High Lord. They answer directly to the Lord Protector, and oversee the Jedi Lords and their dominions beneath them. Each region is generally specialized for a certain aspect of production, science, or military might.

### Force Worlds

Ruled over by Lord Protector Windu from Coruscant, the Force Worlds are the heart of the Jedi Protectorate and where most of its power is concentrated. Taxes, pleas for justice and blood spilt by war; it all flows here. The Force Worlds are where most military force is concentrated, thanks to the cloning facilities on Centax-3 and being the only place where cloning for military use is legal in the Protectorate.

This is also where the home of the Inquisitorus, the White Fortress is situated, specifically on Atale, the moon of Empress Teta. Force Worlders tend to be affluent and pleased with their lot in life, unless they are those on the lower levels of the capital world of Coruscant, which is still in a poor state and held mostly by criminal powers. Lord Protector Windu’s propaganda campaign has been incredibly effective here, and regular citizens see the Jedi mostly as a force for good.

### Crystal Oceans

Ruled over by the house of Fisto-Secura and the current High Lord and High Lady, Kit Fisto and Aayla Secura, the Crystal Oceans’ main source of power comes from the resources within its territory. The Khil’dor system, while relatively insignificant throughout galactic history, is one of the accessible worlds that can produce Tibanna gas, and this combined with their control of the world of Ilum and its lightsaber crystals makes their existence important to any other Kingdom’s military endeavours.

### Arkanian Expanse

Ruled by Taron Malicos and his house, the Arkanian Expanse fittingly has its seat of power on Arkania itself. Thanks to the genetic tampering and general scientific expertise of the Arkanians, the Expanse is known primarily for its contribution towards research across the Protectorate. What it also provides, however, are many of the resources and agents for the Protectorate’s intelligence agents other than the re-created “Jedi Shadows”. Thanks to Lord Malicos’ use of this apparatus, it is not uncommon for those in the Expanse to assume they are always being listened to.

### The Bulwark

Ruled by A'Sharad Hett and the house of Hett, the Bulwark is primarily known for its military strength and culture. Unlike the typical system of military recruitment and conscription of the other kingdoms, the Bulwark regularly trains every single citizen and encourages them to view themselves as all part of a greater whole, as a Bulwark against the enemy. The Bulwark has fought the New Republic’s Rimward territories for almost the entirety of the last two decades, most importantly in the vital Valley Worlds, battling some of the most experienced republic forces.

### Hosnian Reach

Ruled by Vero Drallig, son of the original High Lord, the Hosnian Reach is primarily known for the skill in combat of its Jedi nobility, especially when it comes to lightsaber duels. Their culture of highly valuing many of the older Jedi principles also remains, and even if they are still simply up-jumped nobility using the force, it is generally accepted that a Jedi Knight from the Hosnian Reach will usually be of higher quality. Due to their constant fighting with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, they regularly have practice against both enemies using blasters and the Commander of the Confederate forces, General Grievous - after the death of the original High Lord in combat against the Kaleesh, he is only fought in large groups. This means, even with how dangerous Grievous is, good intelligence and preparation has resulted in his defeat multiple times in every recent engagement.