Teras Kasi Archive
Thread: Teras Kasi and Jedi: The happy unity
I will post the information from EU books I read... I believe one of them to be "Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter" or something along those lines. You'll have to be patient with me because the books aren't mine I simply started reading them for research about a month ago.
Merc
No doubt! There's scant info on TK that would you would call SW canon. Ironically (or uncanonly), most of what I've found about TK history has been quoted from SWRPG (WEG, WotC) materials, and the video game Masters of Teras Kasi.
There is a timeline which includes Palawa/Bunduki as it relates to early Jedi battles and the formation of the Followers of Palawa: http://www.galacticembassy.com/mx2705/index.php?page=2
Other sources I've seen cited include "The Emperor's Pawns" (Star Wars Gamer Magazine #5) and "Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter," which one source claims that Maul was a TKm.
Arden Lyn is probably the most well-known TKm. Zan and Zu Pike can be found in the Rebellion Era (RES) and Shadows of the Empire Sourcebooks (SOE) from WEG and WotC. The pike sisters are born around the same time as Biggs Darklighter (ANH-22; Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire). Dark Horse Comics' "Shadows of the Empire: Evolution" series from 1998 (iss 1-5) all portray the Pike sisters.
Of course, info on TK from SW or the EU is canon, but SWRPG and SW comics are licensed materials which get the SW stamp of approval, and, given the tight watch on SW licensed materials,I feel these tertiary sources have merit.
But from all I've seen, there is no such thing as THE Teras Kasi. Rather, TK is a martial art which is noted in SW and SWEU because some very concerned, displaced, otherwise benevolent Palawa adopted TK and honed it to their self-proclaimed purpose of watchdogging Force-weilders, and it is mentioned because it is part of the Jedi/Sith story. In fact, my impression is that the remnant Palawa relocating to Bunduki learned TK from the indigenous Bunduki.
Teras Kasi draws on non-Jedi Force powers in SW games. I vaguely recall Echani, the martial art of the Royal Guard, is also a non-Jedi Force skill.
The story of the Followers of Palawa is not the story of all TKAs. According to admittedly secondhand, but reasonably prolific information, Palawa was devastated by war involving Jedi, and the remnant inhabitants emmigrated to Bunduki. They secluded themselves in valley and there honed their skills, vowing to prevent such powerful, devestating use of the Force. It is said that the Palawa were much loved and respected, and were people of benevolence. In the time of SWG, two Force-weilders have come to the fore to rule the galaxy. And with the senselessdestruction of Alderaan, I'm sure the Palawa are reminded of the devestation of their home world. For the Followers of Palawa, then, with their defined purpose, it is the Sith and Dark Jedi who must be hunted, and it would behoove them to support and protect the Light Jedi.
The assertion that "Teras Kasi are not canon" is incorrect, as there is mention of them in "official" literature. That's what "canon" means.
"Cannon" is something you shoot, by the way. 
Once again thx for the info.
Are the sourcebooks you are refering to Roleplaying guides. Like I said Ive read many, and have never seen anything to do with palawa or jedi watching. I laso colect comics and havent seen much about the tka.
We do agree on one thing. The mentioning of tka in the EU, comics or RPG sourcebooks is concerned with a fighting style. Not realy a group or organization that talks about watching jedi or forceweilders.
Darth MAul is a practitioner of TKA. Cant remember if it was mentioned in ShadowHunter or the Darth maul diaries,or the 4 comic series of Darth maul, perhaps it was in the RPG sith source book. Ill try and look into it tonight or in the next couple of days.
By the way way Im not saying RPG sourcebooks or comics are not Cannon or close to being it. They are aproved by the SW logo and Lucas enterprises. All im saying is that the story that is being dispalyed in the net is made by an average joe for rolepalying purposes.
What do the sourcebooks say about the twins? Do they give a background story.
Teras kasi is canonised, it's the history of TK and the Followers of Palawa apart from the Jedi/Sith story we're missing. I can see I was rambling and repeating myself a bit.
Roleplaying for the most part, yes. West End Games (WEG) developed SWRPG and released a good number of source books. WEG was bought out (?) by Wizards of the Coast (WotC) who continues the SWRPG line. SWRPG is pretty popular and there are websites dedicated to the game. I would venture a guess that the sourcebooks can be found on eBay, but I don't know where the Pike Sisters history comes from.
Zan & Zu do have something of a background story, and the Black Horse Comic series (Shadows of the Empire: Evolution) has them appearing with Xizor. Here's a good synopsis with character appearances source: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~alkenned/starwars/swsote2.htm. More detailed synopsis at: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~alkenned/starwars/swsote1.htm. (And I'm not sure if you have these, so forgive me if I'm preaching to Jesus).
The Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopediacites SOTE and the Dark Horse Comics SOTEE in their rather brief descriptions here (which makes me wonder if there's any real insight to be gained from the comics):http://www1.theforce.net/CUSWE/categories.asp?category=1&type=3(bottom of the page). A bit on their father Dux Pike appears above their entry in the encycolpedia. In fact, theforce.net cites a lot of gaming material and periodicals from WEG and WotC, and this arcticle, adaptedfrom Electronic Games Monthly Aug 1997, says the name for the video game "Masters of Teras Kasi" was taken out of WEG's SOTE Sourcebook: http://idej.org/maxwell/6/2/18/2.html.
The info I'm finding on the web (which I honestly thought WAS someone's character backstory the first time I saw it) is consistent, but I don't know where the info comes from:
This deadly and beautiful duo are prime examples of the kind of operatives Xizor hires--well-trained, among the best in their field, and with no ties whatsoever to Black Sun.
The Epicanthix twins Zan and Zu Pike are professional fighters in the remote Pacanth Reach, a small cluster of stars in the Outer Rim Territories. The two are just now emerging on the galactic combat scene, fighting opponents in hidden arenas and high-class pleasure halls where such illegal sport can be properly concealed. The two are shrewd as well as combat-wise, and they act as their own booking agent--they don't trust anyone who doesn't have the credits to win them over, and they certainly don't trust middlemen interested in shares of their profits.
The sisters are masters of the Bunduki martial art called teräs käsi, or "steel hands". When they were young, their mother sent them to Bunduki--a world in the Pacanth Reach conquered by the Epicanthix- for an education with the learned Followers of Palawa, a secretive group of hermits highly revered there. While the twins learned much about the history, great literature and philosophies of the Pacanth Reach, they also learned physical discipline and the art of combat without weapons. The Pike twins mastered these martial arts and quickly rose throught the ranks of teräs käsi students, receiving many honors from their teachers. Instead of using this martial discipline for the better good of society, the Pike sisters set out to use their talents for personal profit.
The women are just as beautiful as they are deadly. They dress in the form-fitting tunics of their Palawa teachers, which allows them freedom of movement, and they have the lithe yet powerful bodies typical of Epicanthix. The sisters generally wear their black hair in braids, occasionally augmented with small blades tied into the tips (which can be used to lethal effect in combat). Their eyes betray no emotion, just cold precision. To the Pike sisters, it is a point of pride not to carry weapons--for the deadly pair's skills are more than sufficient to defeat any foe.
Source: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/3920/bios/pike.html
An interesting mention of "form-fitting tunics" of the Palawa teachers. I wonder if that's what they're wearing in this pic at the bottom of the page: http://www.starwars.jp/character/blacksun.html. Or here halfway down the page: http://www.theforce.net/timetales/tt2-2/Sect2-2.shtml.
Sure enough: http://www.moseisley.com/swenc/encyc-t.htmcites SOTE as saying teras kasi was created and perfected by the Bunduki.
Xeonus wrote:
The fact is...if the devs do not allow for a Elite Elite class for the Teras Kasi, then they themselves, alone will single handedly re-define who the Teras Kasi are. They will be rejecting all material that came before they ever did and arbitrarily re-define us.....I think that is bad and I think that they should never had made us as a profession in this game unless they plan to make us stronger, which I think they are in upcomming patches with +250 damage and the Center Of Being skill.
thats why alot of people suspect that eventauly TK will have an elite elite, because of the fact that TK does need to be more powerfull, but just making it so is not fair for how many points we spend.
it would certinaly add an interesting dynamic to the game, and a new force to fear, other then bounty hunter jedi combo, wich isn't all that interesting, atleast to me.
One again I have to thank you, You are the only person that actually brings some usefull information on the subject.
I must admit Im still not one hundred percent sure of all this information but thats because Ive always ben a a sceptic, so I have to see to believe.
I will look into all the sites youve mentioned and try to look for the books or info you mention. Like I said I have read many sourcebooks (my brother is into role plying games), and still havent found much mention about tka except for it being a martial art.
Im currently reading Shadows of the empire, and only a brief mention of thePike sisters so far. They are being watched on a holoprojector and never actually meet Xixor. It does give a little background info on them but not much (so thx for the info you got) andit also tell of the posibility of hiering them for a job.
Anyways got home late from work yesterday, so I did not have time to look at more info. Once I get some Ill post it,
Once again many thxz for your research and providing all ths info.
I still think that story has some credibilitly
TKA is not mentioned at all hardly so that kind of makes it a mysterious art does it not?
A breif mention of the Pike sisters beating 8 WELL TRAINED Imperial troopers without breaking a SWEAT hmm
Think what you want I think its the TKA story
im definately for an extra full tree for the TKA, it shud be alot like Jedi seeing as how theyre closely related..... extremely hard to master and extremely tough....
If it took up the whole of my SP id still do it Purity should be the key to killing
TK Novice > TK Adept > TK Master or something?
Heh great idea shame noting will most likely come of it 
i agree totally
I've posted about the whole TKA/jedi tka as 'force sinsitives in other posts here
I still belive it is our history
We are never really mention in any of the books(breifly in Shadows The two sisters whipe the floor with 8 well trained imperial troopers without breaking a sweat, I mean come on)
Oh well we will see what they do with this TKA thing
who couldn't kill 8 stormies without breaking a sweat?
its called doc buffs and armor people...
(might not need the armor)
This was in a book not a game thing LOL
They were very well trained and armed soldiers
But nevermind I'm not going to argue it out with you