The Force
During the age of the Old Republic knowledge of and
belief in an enigmatic power able to influence the fortunes of living things
and even become the catalyst of galactic impetus. This animating spirit was
observed and examined by many species and cultures with an innumerable variety
of approaches and conclusions ranging from the analytical to the arcane. Over
time, a relative consensus emerged among the cultures of the Republic and the
phenomenon became recognized as the Force.
It was concluded that the energy of this wonder both empowered and was in turn sustained by living things, possibly even all matter in the galaxy. Throughout the course of galactic events, individuals and groups have discovered an ability to uplift themselves, or others, by controlling the Force as a medium to achieve a desired outcome or by channeling its existing dynamism into reality.
In the years since the conclusion of the Clone Wars, understanding of the Force has become almost completely obscured and few even acknowledge the possibility of an unseen agency capable of manifesting some sort of influence on the lives of sentient being, let alone the presence of such a fanciful conceit. Indeed, most citizens of the Galactic Empire, and the New Republic which displaced it, believed that accounts of individuals able to work miracles with mystical power merely speaks to romantic notions of a bygone era, thought to be more sophisticated and genteel than the bleak reality of life after the Empire’s rise and fall.
It was concluded that the energy of this wonder both empowered and was in turn sustained by living things, possibly even all matter in the galaxy. Throughout the course of galactic events, individuals and groups have discovered an ability to uplift themselves, or others, by controlling the Force as a medium to achieve a desired outcome or by channeling its existing dynamism into reality.
In the years since the conclusion of the Clone Wars, understanding of the Force has become almost completely obscured and few even acknowledge the possibility of an unseen agency capable of manifesting some sort of influence on the lives of sentient being, let alone the presence of such a fanciful conceit. Indeed, most citizens of the Galactic Empire, and the New Republic which displaced it, believed that accounts of individuals able to work miracles with mystical power merely speaks to romantic notions of a bygone era, thought to be more sophisticated and genteel than the bleak reality of life after the Empire’s rise and fall.
The truth is much more complicated than either the cynics or the
few burgeoning sects of believers could possibly imagine. The number of
individuals in existence within the galaxy at the time of the annihilation of Hosnian Prime with
even an inkling of the true nature of the Force, is infinitesimally small.
Those few include only members of incredibly long-lived species, the rare droid
which continues to function without having had its memories cleared since the
time of the Galactic Republic, and the most unique of all, those who have received education
or training that can be traced back to one of those lost traditions which
possessed authentic recognition of a deeper unseen reality.
The Nature of the Force
It is not possible to fully comprehend the underlying cosmic
reality in the same manner as physical forces and matter at work in the
universe, although many have tried. The effects of the Force can be observed
and some components of a being’s physical nature with a positive correlation to
metaphysical attunement have even been quantified. Such data provides virtually
no insight as to the origin or purpose of the Force, however and such knowledge
cannot be translated into awareness of or facility with its effects.
Individuals with the capacity to ‘feel’ or ‘hear’ the Force, may
be able to make use of its power. Even those with the ability to sense the
Force, and who may manifest its energy unconsciously, usually require training
of some kind to become proficient with the wide (possibly limitless) assortment
of feats they have the potential to exhibit. Nevertheless, there are numerous
individuals with a reputation for unusual intuition, luck, or reflexes who are
in fact controlling the Force, or acting as an instrument of it.
Practitioners of the Force have gathered from time to time
generating multitudinous congregations over tens of thousands of ears, but only
one is remembered by the galaxy at large. At one time, the Jedi
Order was the most accessible, active, and visible organization of
Force sensitive individuals and served as the face of that energy to the species
of galaxy. To those who believed in the Force and the Jedi,
that order is remembered as the most knowledgeable and powerful of all Force
using traditions. While the Jedi were indeed enlightened by their understanding
of the Force and infused with its power, even they were ignorant of the deeper
mysteries of the cosmos.
Undoubtedly, the Jedi’s blindness to certain aspects of reality,
their complacency regarding the position they held within the galaxy, and their
hidebound reliance on the Jedi Code partially enabled the dark days that led to
the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. The Jedi Order sought to
understand the Force objectively, but were unable to recognize the bias that
developed within and permeated throughout their belief structure. No sentient
being can be said to fully know the nature of the Force. The wisest must learn
to recognize their ignorance and empty themselves of preconception in order to
enact the will of the Force.
Using the Force
It is possible for nearly any living thing to use the Force in
some capacity. Even those without the capacity to comprehend the Force or who
actively deny its existence can manifest it subconsciously. In fact, at least
one non-sentient life-form was known to exhibit sensitivity
to the Force in the time of the Jedi Order. Wielding the force intentionally to
achieve a particular result almost always required training in addition to
sensitivity however. Many abilities were exhibited by the Jedi of old, as well
as by practitioners of the Dark Side of the Force such as the Sith
and the Nightsisters of Dathomir. Almost every conscious
act of Force manipulation required devotion to and study with one of these
groups.
The varieties of effects the Force can create are nearly
limitless. In practice a relatively small number of competencies have been in evidence
with enough regularity to be cataloged in any meaningful way. Limited postcognitive
or precognitive Senses, as well as Enhanced reflexes occur in many Force
sensitive beings unwittingly, and in most cases are seen as manifestations of
mundane, if uncanny, aptitudes.
Telekinetic control, mind control, or other types
of alterations to the physical reality of persons or things typically require
guidance and training, and may manifest themselves differently depending upon
the teacher. Within each individual, the Force takes on a subjective aspect. A
student of the Force may see their understanding strongly influenced by their
teacher, but they are not bound by that understanding. Within organized
Force-using traditions, few students or teachers fully comprehend this truth
and individuals often fall victim to the limitations of their own expectations
or the expectations of others.
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