JediAcademy/JediTrials

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Trials Of Knighthood

When an apprentice has sufficient experience and knowledge as a Jedi, having constructed his own lightsaber and proven himself able to wield the Force without effort, then he can attempt to become a Jedi Knight. This effort always involves tests, and they can be formal or informal depending on who oversees the trials. They can be as simple as the Master observing his apprentice’s progress, or as complex as a council of Jedi Masters conducting extensive interviews and perhaps assigning a quest of some kind.

The overall purpose of the trials is meant to answer one question. Because a Jedi Knight is now technically qualified to instruct an apprentice of his own, does the Jedi Order trust the candidate to do so? If the answer is no, then the Jedi is probably not yet qualified to become a Jedi Knight. If the answer is always no, then the apprentice’s Master has in some way failed to properly prepare the apprentice, and the apprentice needs training.

The basic elements of the test include facility with the Force, knowledge of the Jedi Code, lightsaber construction, lightsaber proficiency, self defense capability, sound (and swift) judgment, and most important, the ability to carry out a mission without the Master’s assistance or intervention. Failure in any part indicates that the apprentice is not yet ready to be a Jedi Knight. No two trials are exactly alike. They are tailored to the individual Jedi to ensure that the Jedi does not simply rely on his strength while avoiding weaknesses. The trials might take hours, days or weeks and can include travel to several locations. Jedi can even forego some of the tests at the discretion of the Master or Masters administering the test, if the Jedi has at some point succeeded at a much more difficult task of the same type.

A Jedi might be ask to undertake the following example trials in order to become a Jedi Knight. These are just suggestions, not set in stone.

• Facility With The Force – The Jedi apprentice must perform relatively simple tasks related to the three main aspects of the Force (Alter, Control and Sense) to prove his ability to wield the Force in all it’s forms. The Jedi might be asked to maneuver an object through a series of obstacles or treat an injured animal to test their ability with Alter. A test of a Jedi’s grasp of Control might involve using Force Stealth to mask one’s presence from other Force-users, or simply withstand a Might Trick. Tests of Sense could require the Jedi to describe an events happening elsewhere, or locate a living creature in a hidden location.
• Knowledge Of The Jedi Code – The most common version of this test is a series of questions posed to the Jedi at intervals throughout the trials. These include interpretations of the Jedi Code, lessons learned from Jedi history, and discerning actual Jedi lore from an erroneous tale made up by the test. This test confirms the apprentice’s knowledge base. A Jedi Knight performs best if he understands the history and motivations of the Jedi and does not let erroneous information cloud his perception of the Jedi way.
• Lightsaber Construction – As mentioned before, a Jedi who has not constructed a lightsaber does not qualify to become a Jedi Knight – thought he Master or Masters administering the trials may grant special dispensation if the situation warrants. Some of the Order’s most respected Jedi had cultural admonitions against wielding lethal weapons or any weapons at al, yet not allowing them to become Jedi Knights would have meant great losses to the Order. The Jedi Order is always willing to exercise flexibility to a certain point.
• Lightsaber Proficiency – A Jedi’s proficiency with a lightsaber is often tested with a lightsaber duel. Again, if a Jedi does not use a lightsaber, he is allowed to use the weapon of his choice, provided it is not a lethal weapon. If a Jedi does not use a weapon at all, this part of the trials can be ignored, though the Jedi still has to prove the ability to defend himself.
• Self Defense Capability – Because all Jedi are required to defend the helpless, they must first be able to defend themselves. Exactly how a Jedi accomplishes this is unimportant as long as the Jedi does not call upon the dark side. The Master administering the test ensures that the Jedi’s abilities are not stretched to their limit. This method intends not only to prove that the Jedi can defend himself, but also to determine whether the Jedi can change tactics quickly when a favored method of self defense fails him. Thus, this test can take on various forms, including being attacked by droids, creatures and the very person the Jedi is supposed to protect (for those Jedi who have trouble perceiving a hidden threat). The Master who gives the test always monitors the candidate, since the point of the test is to prove the Jedi’s ability for self defense. If the Jedi goes on the offensive without provocation, he has failed the test. The Master ensures that any such failures do not spin out of control.
• Sound Judgment – The measure of a Jedi’s ability to make reasoned decisions in a short span of time is perhaps second in importance only to his ability to make those decisions without the Master’s prompting. This test determines the Jedi’s capacity for perceiving and resolving dilemmas without undue meditation, or conversely, without enough meditation, the test can come in multiple parts. It was customary at one time for each Jedi Master to present to pose an ethical question to a Jedi seeking Knighthood, one after another in quick succession. The Jedi’s test was not only to resolve the questions (once they have all been asked) but to do so in order of importance. In general, though, the Master presents a conundrum – perhaps one with real consequences, should such a test present itself – and then awaits a response. An incorrect answer is, of course, a failure. So is the correct answer if it is too long in coming. The Master never tells the Jedi how long he has to answer the question, because identifying the immediacy of a problem is an important step in solving it.
• Solo Mission – The last part of any Jedi’s trials to become a Jedi Knight is a solo mission undertaken without the apprentice’s Master. If a Jedi has failed any of the previous tests, he may not undertake this mission. The purpose of this test is twofold. First, the Jedi needs to learn how to undertake missions as a Jedi Knight. Second, it answers the important question of whether the apprentice can function as a Jedi, accomplish missions, serve peace and justice as well as the needs of the Order, and operate without direct supervision or without disgracing the Order. The Jedi’s success or failure is important, but how the Jedi handles the situation in either event is the most telling indicator of his readiness of the autonomy that Knighthood brings. A Jedi Knight must be able to adapt his plans to changing situations, to conquer fear and overcome personal opinion, to determine the will of the Force, and to carry out the tasks assigned to him without undue hesitation or dissembling. Failing any of that, the Jedi Knight must be willing to take responsibility for his actions (or inactions), and to make amends if possible. Jedi who fail to complete their missions can still be awarded the mantle of Jedi Knight, because they took the initiative to salvage the situation, and sometimes even achieving a result greater than the scope of the mission.