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Inner Lantern Jedi subclass


Darth Nyrys

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The Light Within the Heart(Consular)

 

The lightsaber is the iconic weapon of the Jedi, a symbol of the order’s role as protectors and vanquishers of darkness. Most people focus on the weapon as solely that, a tool used for the purpose of leveraging its physical qualities in the deadly dance of combat, but the lightsaber is so much more. It is a limnal gateway between the physical and spiritual planes, a convergence of faith and intent that has defined the order. Any true practitioner of the martial arts begot by lightsabers understands that the weapon is far more than a crude tool of matter and energy, yet the applications for which the lightsaber is used are largely confined to this idea. The stranglehold of glory and the guardian’s legacy is nearly absolute on the perception of the lightsaber, and yet there are other paths.

 

There is a minor sect of Jedi consulars who study the motions of the lightsaber, the traditions of respect, focus, and discipline that cling to it, and turn a weapon into a focus of spiritual resolve. These scholars imbue the movements and etiquette of lightsaber traditions with the weight of understanding and reverence that empowers these actions on a philosophical and spiritual level, even with the blade extinguished. For the enlightened, the blade is only a fraction of the truth of the lightsaber. 

 

These Jedi strip away the mundane aspects of the lightsaber to reveal the light that the blade in many ways conceals. To the uninitiated, the lightsaber is little more than a laser sword, the power of which is in its nearly unparalleled offensive and defensive capabilities of its scientific qualities. To the Jedi, it is perhaps the closest that they can come to touching some small measure of the Force, or at least a lens that clarifies, reveals, and focuses its light.

 

The training of the Inner Lantern sect focuses on the resonance of the Force with the movements and katas of lightsaber use, weaving each movement and shift of weight with inner light, without ever igniting the blade. It is by this combination of devotion and restraint that the light is truly revealed.

 

Jedi of the Inner Lantern are not soldiers, nor would they use their lightsabers as implements of murder, however they will not hesitate to banish darkness or serve as a bulwark to the meek. Defeated enemies of these Jedi have described entering a confused state of overwhelming empathy or an abyssal state of philosophical and sensory tumult where their otherness has confined them to a void of ungraspable dimensions and elusive context with no illumination to guide them. Former Sith who repented during the experience claimed that the Jedi was able to place within them a fragile yet vital kernel of light that with nurturing and patience could lead them out of the dark woods.

 

Inner Lantern Force Powers and Techniques

 

Path of Intimate Distance: Jedi of the Inner Lantern intensively study the movements and footwork of lightsaber duelists, but weave their application with the intent of not seeking to physically harm their opponents. The result is a collection of technical movements that confusingly exist in the threshold between engaging the enemy and maintaining distance, making any opponent who dissects martial interaction by the binary of in range and out confused by the ambiguity of their positioning. A skilled Inner Lantern Jedi adopts a state of detached focus, orbiting their opposite without closing in or breaking away, present yet ephemeral. To the onlooker, their movements seem almost casual, yet undeniably graceful and with understated purpose.

 

Etiquette of Introductions: The Consular practices the proper rituals and ceremonial aspects of introduction as both diplomatic and martial tool. Whoever they meet they acknowledge with respect and humility. All have a place in the light of the Force, all have value, none are to be dismissed as nothing. This reserved and humble approach can quite literally be disarming to practitioners of the Dark Side, who rely so heavily on antagonistic relationships to fuel their fury. Even those who are barely touched by the Force often feel a reluctance or hesitation to destroy such a modest and considerate person.

 

Internal Peace Reflected Outwardly: With carefully considered words and thoughtful insight, the Consular interacts with their opponent in an effort to douse their rage and quiet their fears. This is not a Force power, but like the lightsaber can be a conduit for the Force, where the humanity and decency of the Jedi is used as both a mirror and lens to shine light upon forgotten aspects of their own goodness, revealing them like lost and forgotten treasures. This practice undermines the controlling grasp that the darkness has on the heart of a person, and in turn can disrupt the constancy of the rage and other dark emotions that they use to fuel their powers.

 

Lightness of Being: Through self reflection and acceptance, the Jedi enters into conflict blessed with an unburdened spirit. This metaphysical freedom can allow them to ride the momentum of both physical and spiritual attacks, reducing the weight of their impacts and making it incredibly hard for them to find biting purchase. This is a transitive defensive power that mitigates damage but does not entirely nullify it. Experienced practitioners can use this redirection of momentum to to attempt to unbalance or even disrupt the footing of an opponent.

 

Unshutter the Lantern: In a moment of boundless compassion, faith, and service, the Jedi acts as a mirror to the light of the Force, and manifests it like a starlit blade from the hilt of their unignited saber. This is not an implement of physical destruction, but rather a beacon of goodness that sends shadows into flight and diminishes their dominion over the battlefield. Furthermore, the manifestation is intolerably bright and blinding to users of the dark side, while being a source of emotionally healing calm for servants of the light.

 

True Nature: The Jedi’s disciplined training has turned their advanced katas into their internalized nature, an inner truth that remains constant in the face of doubt and oppression. Their trained movements are resistant to interference by mental attacks.

 

Show the Cost: As a mirror of the Force, the Jedi can not only reflect the light, but also reveal the truth of the dark. When an opponent is fighting an Inner Lantern Jedi, whenever they tap into negative emotions, they are reminded of a time when those negative emotions betrayed them and destroyed something that they cared about.

Gentle Tree Stance: The looseness of the Jedi’s stance allows them to often adapt with careful redistribution of weight and balance whenever a physical or metaphysical blow would otherwise unbalance them.

 

Moment of Blindness: Whenever an opponent attempts to align their sights on the Jedi, physically or through technology, they inadvertently perceive the Jedi’s inner light in a flash of blinding brilliance that heavily dissuades accurate fire.

 

Unyielding Virtue: An instinctive telekinetic technique developed as part of Inner Lantern training, the Jedi reflexively blocks an attack as if their lightsaber was ignited. This power is never used aggressively, only to defend against strikes, control the opponent’s weapon, or disarm an opponent.

 

Tranquil Heart Bridge: An extrapolation of Unyielding Virtue, the Tranquil Heart Bridge style is a set of techniques that use short range telekinesis to guide and redirect an enemy’s weapon into a calmer rhythm, a metaphorical act that metaphysically echoes within the wielder, sapping their volatile energies.

 

Thought Alone: Experienced practitioners of this style of training are capable of using any reasonable substitute for a lightsaber to use these arts. The true masters can achieve the techniques of this path through thought and gesture alone.

 

Winning a duel as an Inner Lantern Consular: While the Inner Lantern path is a pacifist way of life, there are clear and reasonable victory states in their methods. A total disarm of the enemy, knocking an opponent prostrate while denying them a quick recovery, or the absolute disruption of an opponent’s access to the Dark Side (Not to be confused with severing their Force connection) are suggested win conditions by the author.

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