Teras Kasi Archive

I'd like to see it remain true to the statements in Section One. Basically we are just "fleshing out" the history

Teräs Käsi: History Written by the Community



The purpose of this thread is to take what we think we know of the Teräs Käsi and, using that information, devise our own history of who we are. In reality this is, for all intents and purposes, no different than any of the information we already have to draw from.

Note:Teräs Käsi is NOT part of George Lucas's original story and cannot be considered canon.

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Section One: The Teräs Käsi History as "Written"

"One of many martial arts, but one of the few which appears to integrate well with the Force. Mastery of Teräs Käsi is seen as uncommon in galactic terms, but not rare in the Pacanth Reach of the Outer Rim Territories where Teräs Käsi originated. Sith, Jedi and neutral Force-users seem to be attracted to Teräs Käsi: The martial art itself is neither good nor evil."
-- http://www.teraskasi.net/about_tk.html



"Both a martial art and an Order. The Teräs Käsi were formed from the remnant civilians of a long-ago battle which devastated their home world of Palawa, a war which involved the awesome powers of the Jedi Council. The few survivors of Palawa migrated to a nearby world called Bunduki, where they decided to master mind over body so they may keep the Jedi use of power in check. The Teräs Käsi are thought to be sensitive to changes in the Force, and Teräs Käsi Masters are feared by the Jedi. But Teräs Käsi are not generally Force users as Jedi are: Teräs Käsi draw internal, personal power, while Jedi draw from everything around them."
-- Star Wars Encyclopedia (June 30, 1998. Del Rey. Stephen J. Sansweet.)

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Section Two: The Teräs Käsi History as Defined by the Community

This is the section that we must fill out. I realize that I left out references to the Teräs Käsi in the above section, but if there is other "official" information (i.e. anything written in the EU that explains things further, not just references to the art) I would like to add it above as well. If you find that information, or if you have it available, please provide a link to it in this thread. Unfortunatley unless I can verify it I won't be able to add it.


I also realize that the first quote is not really classified as "official" information by my standards as outlined above. It is, however, a summary from a couple of different "official" sources, and so I felt it appropriate to leave in place.

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Now, I consider this a Community effort, and want to have as much input on creating our heritage in a manner that can be accepted by all (naturally in terms of gameplau). Please keep everything "realistic." I would hate to have to ignore a contribution because of ridiculous notions. After the thread has been up for a little bit and there is enough feedback, I'll compile a brief history, and then we'll take another swing at the editing process. Eventually we'll have a history that we all can agree on, and it will become our "official" history, recognized by the Teräs Käsi of Star Wars Galaxies, without dispute. (Unless of course we are given an official history by Lucas in a movie )

Message Edited by Ryutek on 11-22-2004 03:24 PM

Section One:

The order of the Teräs Käsi is a secret organization born from the belief that near infinite power, regardless of the intention behind it, should not go unregulated. The Teräs Käsi - bluntly, did not trust the Jedi to police themselves.

The Teräs Käsi was founded thousands of years ago, during the last of the great wars between the Light and the Dark. The final decisive battle between the two great forces occurred in the Pacanth Reach, devastating the planet of Palawa itself. The victory was attained, but at momentous cost to the civilian population. The Jedi Council, deeply saddened by the outcome of the events, nevertheless deemed it 'acceptable losses'. The battleground was not one of the Order's choosing, the evil had to be stopped, it was one planet against thousands - there was no choice.

The civilians that survived the battle saw it differently.

The meager handful of survivors relocated to the nearby world of Bunduki. The remaining Palawan concluded that so much force, so much power - in the hands of one people, regardless of how well intentioned and regulated. They vowed never to let happen to others what had happened to them. They began the study of the mind over the body, how to master self from without and within. They forged themselves to be a force capable of dealing with Jedi, should the need arise. It took generations to conceive and implement the plan, but the Teräs Käsi martial arts were born.

Since that time, the order has grown strong. During the heights of the Old Republic, the exact number of Teräs Käsi masters is unknown - but the number was estimated to be from several hundred up to slightly more than a thousand. Of course the number of Teräs Käsi practitioners are considerably less during the reign of Palpatine and his Empire. During the era of the New Republic, the order is growing again, but has yet to fully recover.

Timeline

3,991 BSW4
The Teräs Käsi was founded thousands of years ago,during the last of the great wars between the Light and the Dark. *(read introductory history text)

3,867 BSW4
After generations of training, the Teräs Käsi or,"Steel Hands," martial arts style is created. The first Epicanthix warriors begin training soon after from the Palawans.

3,850 BSW4
The first trained Teräs Käsi Masters leave Bunduki and explore the galaxy, secretly killing Dark Jedi and Jedi who are in the process of turning. The Jedi only catch rumors of these 'Shadows' and later use the idea to create covert 'Jedi Shadows.' It won't be until Arden Lynn's discovery by the Empire that even the smallest hint of their existance comes to light.

193 -163 BSW4
The Epicanthix Luxas Maut is born on Bunduki to two relatives of the ruling house of Bunduki. As a noble, he is raised in the relative lap of luxury before entering Teräs Käsi training. After his thirtieth birthday, he kills his master, his parents, and the ruling king and queen using previously unknown techniques. He changes his nameguerrilla Epicanthix and becomes leader of a guerrila force.

quite simply it works.

My contrast between TKA and Jedi (since TKA and Jedi seem to be mentioned together so much in this thread):

I like to see TKA as the opposite of the Jedi in some ways. The Jedi use the Force in their daily lives, and while the Force is inside the Jedi it is also outside of him (as Yoda said, it is everywhere). So Force powers are to an extent a manipulation and usage of powers that exist outside of the Jedi; Force usage it is the Jedi using his willpower to manipulate the outside world.

The TKA does something different; all of his powers are internal. His training is about manipulating his own body. He makes himself stronger, faster, and tougher than a regular person simply by making his body perform better. Instead of making the Force lift him in the air, he makes his legs stronger so they do it for him. He does not use the Force to heal himself, he wills his body to stop bleeding, he wills his body to eject poison and fight disease, he wills his body to close his wounds faster.

The Jedi is always working to control his emotions. A Light Jedi tries to remain calm and unemotional so that the influence of the Dark Side is kept at bay. A Dark Jedi tries to encourage and maintain his emotions, as he draws upon the Dark Side to make himself stronger.

A TKA does not care about such things since the Force has little to no influence over him. He can be calm or emotional, he can be angry or happy, it doesn't matter. What he must do is control his body. What matters to a TKA more is not the well-being of his mind and emotions, but of his body. His body must always be in top shape, and the goal of meditation is not for spiritual purity or calmness of self, but rather to delve within himself to make his body do his bidding.

A Jedi's philosophy tends to be polarized based on what side of the Force influences him the most. A Light Jedi does not seek physical pleasures, or material gain, or political power, and tries to protect and nurture those around him. A Dark Jedi is always seeking whatever gain he can, whether it is political power, or wealth, or pleasure, and he will ues and destroy those around him to attain his goals.

A TKA is not as polarized. They are neither great saints or villains. A TKA is controlled not by the Force, but rather by his interests. You have TKAs like Arden Lyn who will perform assassinations when forced to, or the Pike sisters who will work willingly for criminals out of a desire for wealth or simply for pleasure. Yet a TKA can also choose to align himself with righteous causes if he desires. A TKA is more moderate than a Jedi tends to be.

The Jedi want to change everything around them. They strive less for perfection of self, but rather have goals like making the galaxy better, or safer, or (for those of the Dark persuasion) to take control of the galaxy.

TKAs are concerned with the perfection of the self. They are constantly improving their skills to achieve the perfect body. The TKA cares less about the state of the galaxy which is one reason why the Empire does not bother to hunt them down; it is unlikely that any Teras Kasi Order would ever form to oppose the Empire. Any TKAs that fight for or against the Empire do so because they believe it to be right, not because of any philosophy taught from their TK studies. Many simply don't care.

You put into words nicely, what I was thinking about it. I think you nailed it on the spot there...

TK are defined by their very nature using there bodies for combat rather than an external weapon.

so i conclude also that a TK is actually a force adept but has the ability to turn the force on and off like a water faucet to keep a different aspect of the force within internalised unpoluted by the free flowing nature of other force users.

because the force encompasses everything good or bad the jedi are reflective of this polution, where as TK are not and the gates are closed firmly at the temple of their body. you cannot see the way a TK uses their force but you can see the way a jedi does by the promotion of the lightsaber.

this if anything should be a clear example of how the teras kasi have regulation of how the force should be presented in the galaxy because of there unbiased nature toward it.

in so much to say as TK shouldnt be as powerful as jedi as with the external nature of the force creates compromises and sacrifices which reward the jedi with great power from this free flow.

teras kasi should also be recognised as a form of unarmed combat, but with the understanding that there is a difference from being able to write words and knowing what the words mean. anyone can copy textual symbols, however understanding the symbols to give meaning to the exsistence of the text is a totally different thing.

that is how the 'Fighting style Vs The Teras Kasi Order' debate should be approached.

Thus they are feared by the Jedi because to use such external force powers upon the Teräs Käsi is like throwing a bowl of water into the ocean from which it came.

thats a great quote!