Jensaarai

The **Jensaarai** are a Force-based organization that has claimed to walk in perfect balance with the Force, able to call upon both compassion and anger for their powers. Popular belief within the Jedi Council during the Clone Wars held that that Nikkos Tyris (a rogue Jedi Master) established the order, but according to the Jensaarai Enclave on Zaralner, Tyris is alternatively referred to both as a *reformer* and *splinterer,* suggesting that while he may have had a profound influence on the organization, he was not its creator. The Jensaarai themselves are known for their extreme secrecy, an indifference to the Light and Dark Sides of the Force, a unique written language, and their distinctive Cortosis armor which can block or disable lightsabers (and hides their identities).

## History

### Background

The Jensaarai are a group shrouded in mystery and secrets, and so many of the known truths of the order come from one source: the Jensaarai Defenders of Zaralner. This group itself is a splinter faction, who, according to themselves, needed to do so to survive the destruction of their beliefs by their then-leader Nikkos Tyris. In their words, they saw "more change in one generation that the order had seen since it was established." Presumably, this statement references the fact that the illusive and mysterious order emerged from seemingly nowhere in the Clone Wars under the banner of the Confederate Systems and led by an, arguably, fallen Jedi. With such limited information about the groups, the association with the CIS and a Dark Jedi, has led to the perception of the group as society of Dark Jedi continues today.

### History

If Nikkos Tyris seems not the be creator, then where did the order come from and where was it established? These aren't questions that are answered when asked by outsiders, but there seems to be common threads in their organization with that of both the Jedi and the Sith Empire that existed circa 3660 BBY. While records of this time aren't always reliable and often debated, retellings of the wars that occurred indicate that soliders of the Sith Empire frequently had access to Cortosis-laced weapons and armor, something we know the Jensaarai are capable of making today. Indeed, there are several records of a secret society within the reconstituted Sith Empire of that era that adhered to the teaching of a powerful Force-user.

Using this founder as an example, an individual named Darkspanner led a group who attempted to balance the light and dark sides of the Force. This Order also sought to change the Sith Empire from within, and accepted members from all levels of Imperial society and even alien species - giving them new ranks and positions once they entered the fold - in the desire to gain additional knowledge or 'truths.' These practices are all prevalent within the Jensaarai as we know them today, and while the secret group was eventually reported to have been stamped out by the Sith Empire, we also know that that may not be the case.

Unfortunately, many other aspects of the ancient society either no longer exist or have been lost to the ages, so further (and deeper) comparisons are not possible but if this connection is true, then order has existed thousands of years in hiding and continues to this day.

### Beliefs

While the tenets and maxims of the Jensaarai may have changed over generations, here is what we can say we know with reasonable certainty that they believe today. Their core belief is pacifism and defense; they convince others of their viewpoint by example and by stopping their adversaries from exerting their power over them. They also believe they are searching for either an ultimate truth or simply additional knowledge, which many have interpreted as either the will of the Force or knowledge on how to best balance themselves between Light and Dark. To illustrate some of these points further, while not many stories of the Jensaarai exist, we can extrapolate one based on knowing who is or has been a Jensaarai.

On Zaralner, once a known Jensaarai was taken into custody of the local law officers. That night, he disappeared from his holding cell. No one's memory was altered, no one saw him leave or escape, and no property had been damaged. Questioning members of the community that knew the individual proved fruitless and the person was never seen in public again.

Another story involves a confrontation with an overzealous elected official on Zaralner that attempted to extort the businesses established in the region the Jensaarai lived in. The Jensaarai continued to pay their old taxes and when a representative of an elected official and their enforcers visited businesses in shakedowns - according to the story told - the known Jensaarai waited until the enforcer attempted physical violence and parried the attack. They then parried each consecutive attack until the enforcers (who at that time were too hurt from their own attacks) retreated and left their region alone. Eventually the official was charged with several crimes and retired in disgrace.

Once a Jensaarai becomes initiated into the order, they then are expected to take up these tenets and others. Several have been mentioned already, but others only obliquely referred to, so the known list of practices within the order are listed here in terms the Jensaarai themselves would recognize:

> *Your true self shall be hidden from outsiders / You are on a path others cannot take / The hidden truth exists within all living things, therefore you are a protector of all living things - even of those who would hurt themselves* / *Harmonious balance should guide your every decision*
>
>

### Organization

It has been traditionally thought that there was a monolithic group of Jensaarai who worked under a council and was overseen by their organizational leader named the Master of Truth. With the enclave's existence, it seems more likely that there are several more levels that exist here and those are outlined below alongside each those groups' practices.

The basic building block of the Jensaarai group is the individual. The Jensaarai we know of accept only Force-users and treat all groups, sexes, and species equally. Jensaarai are allowed to marry and have children, but are not allowed to reveal they are Jensaarai to outsiders. There have been instances of Jensaarai being revealed to outsiders and either the individual or the entire community disappears without trace.

The individual person inside of the Jensaarai usually will belong to, or be adopted into, a Jensaraai family. Each family inside the Jensaarai isn't always made up of genetically-linked people, but also of people who seem to be like-minded and aligned between each other. It is not known how often or difficult it is to create or join a family at this time. Another aspect of the family groups within the Jensaarai is the family's animal. Each family has a specific animal they identify with and each member seems to focus on a different aspect of that animal - these can be either physical or behavioral traits - and that individual's focus seems to determine part of their role in the family itself. Each of these families have a head that reports up to what may be called a council, which then is lead by their Master of Truth.

### Practices & Weaponry

Aside from their secrecy, their group also has common practices. When one conjures up traditional images of Jedi Knights, one thinks of flowing robes and a glowing lightsaber in the front of a battle, leading a charge against the droids of the Clone Wars. The equivalent image in the Jensaarai organization would be a hooded or caped figure in armor (that hides their identity) stepping out of the shadows on a command ship and turning off its shields before disappearing back into the shadows. While there are few reports of Nikkos Tyris and a few Jensaarai still under his sway during the Clone Wars working for the CIS (as mentioned earlier) these Defenders were not what the Jensaarai would call *in the balance* and seemed to be corrupted by the Dark Side, like Tyris himself.

Their warriors, analogous to Jedi Knights, were called Defenders, and both secrecy and efficiency are valued above other traits. If the Jedi are supposed to be a shining light on the galaxy, the Jensaarai would prefer to be hidden in the shadow that they would cast.

As noted several times, the Defenders wear armor. If they are a part of a family that armor will generally resemble the animal their family has an association with. A full Jensaarai armor can either be cortosis weave, which can spread the energy of a lightsaber across the armor plating (this prevents it from peircing the armor itself) or pure cortosis which will totally absorb the kyber crystal's energy (this shuts down the attacker's lightsaber). This second configuration seems vastly superior but this style of armor can only absorb so much energy until it becomes no longer effective and is eventually nullified.

Defenders themselves use both cortosis weave swords, staffs, and other weapons, yet they also use lightsabers. It would not be uncommon to see a Jensaarai wielding both at the same time. The color of Jensaarai blades seem to range from a bronze to orange to even pink colors.

### Force Practices

At a high generalization, it would seem the Jedi use their connection with the Force for knowledge, self improvement, and influence. The Witches of Dathomir are known for their deception and resurrection spells, the Sorcerers of Tund desired foreknowledge of the galaxy's events, and Sith lusted for power. The Jensaarai seem more interested in a balance between themselves and their surroundings.

First and foremost, a Jensaarai spends hours upon hours each day meditating. Whether the purpose is to rebalance themselves after exposing themselves to the dark side or if its simply a way to commune with their surroundings, nature, and/or the so-called Living Force is not known. Another part of their duties is either training or being trained in their ways - this includes forging cortosis, using a lightsaber or another blade, or studying and transcribing texts into their own and unique written language. If they are a Defender, they may be sent to acquire knowledge (or *truths*) or protect something (defending a farmstead from robbers, for example. In all of these things, they are done in secret.

When using the Force, the Jensaarai are known to use distract and illusory powers to avoid detection. They also seem to be masters of hiding their presence in the Force. One of the rumored abilities they possess is the ability to heal using the Force - something quite rare among other Force users. One final rumor important to note, is that that their unique written language seems to only be able to be read using the Force itself which allows them to protect the truths they've acquired.

### Other Practices

Finally, the Jensaarai seem to choose areas alive and teeming in the Force. It is said that Nikkos Tyris took a section of the Jensaarai to a desert planet and it was there that many lost their way and began to follow his orders without question, so it is important to note that the Jensaraai have a deep connection to the living things around them and draw strength from them. However, it does not seem like they necessarily allow themselves to be fully attached to these places as it was been noted they are quick to leave if discovered or threatened.