For thousands of years, the Je’daii order on Tython trained their warrior monks in
both the light and dark sides of the force, a concept inspired by their moons Ashla and Bogan
as well as the balance required for their world to prosper.
Yet when the Infinite Empire invaded the system, a new philosophy was showcased through the famous
General Daegen Lok, who proudly embraced the dark side as he led their armies to victory.
After winning the war, a schism formed in the Order with Daegen convinced the Dark
Side was the only way they could properly defend themselves from merciless enemies,
while others reacted oppositely, sickened by the violence they witnessed,
dedicating themselves to peace in the light side. Tensions eventually gave
way to the decade long Force Wars where light side forces emerged victorious,
while their surviving enemies fled and scattered throughout the galaxy. Reorganizing themselves
into the light side Jedi Order, they abandoned Tython and settled on Ossus, establishing an
alliance with the Galactic Republic, an emerging superpower from the core worlds.
Focusing exclusively on the light side, the Order trained their students to abide by a
strict interpretation of the force, eventually leading the respected Jedi Knight Xendor to speak
out against their rigid and dogmatic beliefs, claiming they stifled progress and innovation.
A member of the Kashi Mer Dynasty, exiled from his homeworld for studying the dark side of the force
and combining it with his knowledge of Teräs Käsi, a deadly martial art. Ever seekign
to broaden his understanding of the force, he made his way to the Jedi on Ossus and trained,
for a time, in the light side, excelling in his studies to become a Knight of the order.
Yet despite of his accomplishments, Xendor felt uneasy about the order he served, as he saw much
throughout his life that did not necessarily adhere to the strict light side philosophy
of the Jedi, including a planet where the force was represented by a dark side son,
light side daughter and father who kept balance between them. Seeking to reform and advance the
Order, Xendor spoke out against their traditional teachings, adamant that the Jedi must study other
philosophies and consider change in order to grow and prosper as an organization.
Sharing his ideas with Arden Lyn, a woman with her own unique background as a follower
of Palawa and master of the Teräs Käsi martial art which Xendor so admired,
the two fell in love and worked together to spread the word about their beliefs.
Earning the title Steel Hand of the Palawa, Arden Lyn left her people to join the Jedi Order after
hearing an Oracle’s prophecy directing her to Ossus and where she met Xendor,
becoming his most fervent supporter. Seeking to break free from Ossus and follow their own path,
Xendor approached the Jedi Council and asked permission to form an academy on another planet
where he would teach multiple force philosophies in addition to traditional jedi teachings,
including that of the Chatos Academy, the Dai Bendu, the Palawa, the Kashi Mer, the Bogan,
the Kel Dor sages, the Way of the Dark and the Protectorate of the Hidden. Yet as was expected,
the Jedi Council would not consider such a radical notion, rejecting his proposal.
Unwilling to abide by their close-minded judgments, Xendor and Lyn left without permission
in 24,500 BBY, starting the first Great Jedi Schism by founding a school on the planet Lettow,
where students gradually trickled in, as growing numbers joined in their departure from Ossus.
Despite the Jedi Council’s insistence the light side was the only acceptable
path to study the force, many within the order agreed with Xendor and joined his renunciates,
embracing the more open minded, individual based philosophy of the Legions of Lettow
as they became known. Speaking out against Xendor and his followers,
the Jedi council named them dissenters and started arming for war. Responding to their aggression,
the Legions of Lettow gathered their own forces and launched a per-emptive strike, attacking
Ossus directly in the hope of ending the war quickly and with as few casualties as possible.
Yet the Legions lost the battle on Ossus and so the fighting spread throughout the core,
with battles on Chandrila, Brentaal, Coruscant and Metellos. Though the Legions put up a valiant
struggle, they suffered from a fatal disadvantage, stemming from the root of their philosophy,
fighting as individuals against the Jedi who combined their strength through Battle Meditation.
Seeking to rob the Jedi of a valued ally, General Xendor reached out to the Republic,
warning that the Jedi would cloak themselves as protectors while waging war and taking
the levers of power for themselves, but their claims were ignored and communication cut off.
Taking the fight to their enemies, Jedi forces were led by the Green Blade, Master Awdrysta
Pina who at last defeated and killed Xendor at the battle of Columus, where it was said the
General’s spirit fled into the dark rather than be drunk and destroyed by the green blade. Closing in
on Lettow, now led by Arden Lyn, the war was all but over, and so the Legions accepted defeat and
scattered throughout the galaxy. Yet even so the Green Blade would not settle for victory alone
and so chased Arden Lyn to the planet Irkalla for a final confrontation. Channeling all her rage and
other powerful emotions through a special Kashi Mer talisman that belonged to her love Xendor,
Lyn caused her opponent’s sword to explode, launching pieces into Master Pina who
collapsed with fatal wounds. Yet he even on the verge of death, Pina would strike back,
gathering the last of his strength to perform his much practised Morichro force technique,
which subdued Lyn’s life energies, causing her body to fail and enter a form of stasis,
where she remained for over 24 thousands years, until found by those working for Darth Sidious,
ruler of the galactic empire. Recruiting Arden Lyn to serve as the Emperor’s hand,
he promised to resurrect the spirit of Xendor in exchange for her cooperation,
but when she at last realized he was lying participated in an attempted coup.
Failing to defeat him, Lyn fled but was eventually found and destroyed by Darth Sidious.
As for Xendor, his spirit most likely remained lost, though some believe he did in fact return
in the form of the Dark Underlord, who reigned as a mighty Sith Dark Lord around 1750 BBY,
founding an order of Black Knights which waged war against the Republic until he too was defeated
and killed in single combat against a Jedi master. Yet whatever happened to him death,
his life was one of significance as it represented the first great schism in Jedi history,
beginning a pattern that repeated many times over, with their strict light side philosophy inspiring
continued rebellion and opposition leading to the formation of organizations like the Sith Order and
thousands of years of conflict between those who followed the light and dark sides of the force.