Beautiful, isn't she?
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Codify an itty bitty piece of new canon that probably won't be expanded on for another decade
- Image Credit: Link
- Canon: Church of the Force
- Permissions: N/A
- Links:
- Religion Name: Church of the Force
- Religion Type: Force Based
- Influence: Interplanetary
- Influence Area: The religion can be found everywhere as it has no true central authority
- Symbol: A Winged Blade of Light, the symbol of the Jedi Order, was adopted by the Church of the Force as well.
- Description: The Church of the Force was a decentralized collection of traditions and beliefs surrounding the worship of the Force. The practitioners were usually not Force-Sensitive or weak enough in the Force that the Jedi would not bother to train them. Many members of the Church served the various Jedi Orders throughout the Galaxy in support roles and helped maintain temples, praxeum ships, and enclaves as well as other sites considered holy by the various traditions within the Church of the Force.
- Founder: Unknown
- Membership: One simply is, or isn't. There is no central authority outside of those that see themselves as part of the Ashlan Reformation.
- Sacred:
- Kyber Crystals - Kyber was sacred to the Church. The damage done to Old Kyber by Palpatine's empire was immeasurable and so members of the Church took it upon themselves to return kyber to their original homes. Some also wore shards of kyber around their neck, though usually only wealthy or important members of the Church practiced this.
- Sacred Jedi Texts - Digital and physical copies have long since been made available and were the basis of the religion.
- Tython - One mythical home of the Jedi. Many members of the Church have immigrated to the world over time making it a hub of activity for the church. Also home to one of the most famous Kyberite confessionals, the Martyrium of Frozen Tears.
- Ilum - Sacred planet of the Jedi Order and the Church of the Force due to their rich kyber crystals. Despite Tython being a reconstruction, it was as if the Force was not done with the world and the appearance of new Kyber on the world was seen as a sign that the Force endured. Just as padawans do during their training, many members of the Church pilgrimaged to the planet to take Kyber.
- Ossus - Home of the Ossus Project and the Extolled. Ossus had one of the largest Jedi Temple Complexes in the Galaxy and was a place of greater learning connected to a university.
- Ach-To - Believed to be the final resting place of Luke Skywalker, the place where he was rumored to have spent his final days has been cared for a thousand years by the Lanai. It was also home to Force-Sensitive plants that were often taken and repotted by members of the Church. It was one of the least visited pilgrimage locations due to its distance from the known Galaxy but it was not uncommon to find a member of the Extolled in on of its rocky villages.
- Loth-Wolves - Symbolic of courage and the strong Will of the Force. Some sects of the Church saw them as Guardians of the Force and as a result, kept canines as pets due to their likeness of the elusive beasts.
- Convor - Symbolic of balance and good tidings. Tied to the imagery of The Daughter. They were popular pets of people of the Church of the Force and thus a common sight in and around various Jedi Temples, Enclaves, and holy sites.
- Uneti Trees/Shrub - Uneti Trees and shrubs were sacred to the Church. Force-Sensitive in nature, they were native to Ach-To. To some members of the Church they reminded them of the Force's connection to all things, even non-sentient and inanimate life. They represented resilience in the face of destruction due to their long life. Perfumes and incense were sometimes made with the petals from the flower that grew on both the tree and bush.
- Dogma:
- Skywalker Orthodoxy - The mainstream Church doctrine based on testaments/fables laid down in the sacred Jedi texts. To them, Luke Skywalker was the chosen one, a messianic figure who sacrificed himself to defeat the sith'ari and bring balance. Principles and beliefs are based on the Jedi Code as well as Luke's surviving teachings.
- Ashlan Reformation - Beliefs more recently popularized on Ession where the Force is deified as a feminine godhead known as Ashla while the Darkside is influenced by the terrible demon Bogan.
- Ancient Order of the Whills - A far older faith that strives for a true balance between light and dark. They were recorders of history whose teachings have survived for millennia.
- Outer Rim Folk Traditions - A variety of local faiths influenced by isolationism or cultural exchange. They were united by their light side worship though it may take many forms.
- Reputation: The Church of the Force is widely considered to be a hokey space religion by most, even some younger Jedi. They are seen as mostly harmless and are often welcomed on many worlds as they tend to do good humanitarian work. Many are often confused for Jedi due to their often simple lifestyle and humble dress.
MEMBERS
Dracken Pryce
Miel Tevv
Mazik Stazi
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The history regarding the Church of the Force is long and varied. During this age it is almost pointless to delve into its storied past. The only thing that can be agreed on is that it saw a metoric rise during the time of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious' reign, championed by the San Tekka family. Its practices have changed from era to era and from group to group with its current incarnation having several sects. It has always been closely tied to the Jedi Order with many of the civilian volunteers of the Order being adherents of one sect or another. Since the Gulag Plague the religion has mostly been active in the Outer Rim with acceptions being those pilgrims who made their home on the Deep Core world of Tython. Events such as the Dark Harvest of 836 and the Great Vanishing of 844 only served to strengthen the faith and popularity of the religion across the Galaxy.
As they were under Darth Sidious during his reign, so too were the people of the Church persecuted after the fall of the first Galactic Alliance and the ratification of the Imperial Bloc Treaty which saw vast swaths of the Core occupied by Sith and First Order forces. This attack on their faith force a great migration into the Outer Rim and Southern Systems. Forced to defend themselves many would join the Alliance in Exile or the Outer Rim Coalition's volunteer forces in order to fight back against the Sith and First Order. Ultimately though, they remained a minor and forgettable minority during the conflict with many of their number taken or killed. One particularly dark day, known across the faith as the Night of Sabers when the Sith Inquisitorius attacked a group of smugglers called "The Path".
The Path had been aiding Jedi and Alliance troops move to and from occupied space as well as helping followers of the Church escape persecution. Betrayed by their own leader, one of the Path's main headquarters on a trade station located along the Rimmward Trade Route. The station, privately owned by an ally of the Path, was assaulted by a fleet while Alliance ships were resupplying. While the battle raged in space Sith Inquisitors entered the station where families surrendered. Hoping to send a message and eradicate the Path not only was the traitorous leader killed but all of the members of the Church as well. The day is reserved as a day of mourning for the Church.
In more modern times the Church of the Force has been working with the various Jedi Orders and Enclaves as volunteers to keep their ships, temples, and enclaves running when droids cannot be used. Their numbers are fewer since the war with the One Sith but just as the Jedi and the Light rise to meet the darkness so too have the numbers within the Church of the Force swelled.
For Light and Life!
