Bendu Order

"You are letting simple and primitive discrimination get the best of you, causing you to make an irrational decision such as launching a campaign that has the potential to kill hundreds if not thousands of innocent civillians."

- Ussej Padric Bac

The Bendu Order was an ancient and noble monastic peacekeeping organization in the Ashlan Expanse that was one of two great orders that emerged during a schism within the Jedi Bendu Order 15,000 years before the Battle of Yavin IV. The Bendu Order was unified through it’s belief in the god Yahweh and his omnipotent presence, known as the Force of Others. Wielders of this mystic energy and signature long swords, the Bendu Knights were revered as guardians of an everlasting peace in the Ashlan worlds.

The Jedi Bendu Order
In the beginning, there was nothing. Volcanoes spewed over the newly formed worlds, no water or habitability in sight. However, things began to change rapidly for the next million years. Life arose on a multitude of worlds and flourished. This life brought forth the Force of Others, an energy radiated by all living beings. Even as living beings died, the Force they generated remained intact. And so, the Force of Others grew to become the living essence of the galaxy itself. Being a part of the great cycle of life, the Force of Others had two aspects: creation and destruction. Each of the parts balanced against the other, and the Force came to know itself.

Eventually, the energies of the Force of Others had grown strong enough to be sensed by living beings. A holy man named The Skywalker was the first to become aware of the Force on the second planet to bare life, Ashlan Four. He had traveled for years, searching for a purpose in life while praying to whatever God he heard mentioning of. However, none of them responded. Finally, he received a response from what sound like millions of voice speaking to him in unison. He studied for years, coming to see in a new way. His aura and his powers grew stronger day by day. The Force of Others spoke to The Skywalker and he came to know the life-giving aspect of the Force. And, he named it ‘Ashla’, a word meaning ‘bringer of hope’ in the ancient Ashlan language.

However, the life-taking aspect of the Force of Others quickly responded to what the Ashla had done. It too spoke to The Skywalker, and he named it ‘Bogan’, a word meaning ‘bringer of death’ in the ancient Ashla language. The Bogan sought out the holy on in an effort to twist his mind into doing its evil deeds, increasing the energy of death in the galaxy. But, the Bogan had not yet learned the way of seduction so it could only try to compel The Skywalker to comply.

“I fear you not,” The Skywalker proclaimed. “I shalt not betray my people to thy temptations. You have failed, dark one.” The Bogan tempted him for years, but The Skywalker’s strength prevailed. Realizing that it had failed, the Bogan quickly diminished itself, thus bringing balance to the Force of Others and giving the Ashla its rightful title as the true way.

The Skywalker knew that if the Way of the Ashla was taught to others, those with little strength would awaken the Bogan and bring great suffering to the galaxy. Thus, the secrets of the Force of Others were entrusted only to The Skywalker’s twelve children. The Family of The Skywalker brought knew life to the people of the Ashlan Expanse, bringing many a blessing upon them. The time cam when The Skywalker’s children had children of their own and they too learned the secrets of the Way. The Skywalker proclaimed them to be the Jedi Bendu of the Ashla, servants of the Force of Others and guardians of peace and justice in the Ashlan Expanse. The Skywalker, becoming content with his life in the Ashlan Expanse, wished for more. He traveled far into the galaxy, happening upon a planet called Alderaan. With the help of the Organa and Antilles households, he formed what would later be known as the Organian Empire, the monarchial government of Alderaan that would last for millennia to come.

When The Skywalker’s work was done, he had grown very old. On his final day, he gathered his children and his children’s children around him. It was here that he laid out his final prophecy.

“The Force of Others has been a secret among us, so that no one will use it to bring great pain to others,” The Skywalker told them. “But, one day our story will be told in full and the Force of Others will be known to all. A Republic will be formed, encompassing all of the planets in the galactic core and beyond. It will grow very large, and it will be the duty of the Jedi Bendu to be the guardians of peace and justice within it. However, our family will not be enough to safeguard all of it. The many races of this Republic will provide servants of the Force of Others and the Jedi Bendu will be numerous enough to oppose the servants of the Bogan where they arise.”

He grew sicker as the day went on, but his family remained by his side to nurse him through his final moments. “Your descendants will go out among the stars and find a race of great wisdom called the Whills. They will accept their destiny and follow the Jedi Bendu here and dwell in the light of the Ashlan Nebula. On the fourth planet, they will record our continuing story. The Whills shall tell the story of the Jedi Bendu and the Republic which shall last for thousands of generations. All the races of the Republic shall share its story. It’s their common heritage. The Whills shall be sustained by their task, but when the shadow of the Bogan falls upon them, the Ashla will not desert them. And, in the time of greatest despair there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns.”

With those final words, The Skywalker passed on. To his family’s surprise, his physical body disappeared and his soul became one with the Ashla. To them, it seemed as if he had abandoned them. However, he was always watching over them, just as he would forever.

It would be years before the Republic seen in The Skywalker’s final prophecy was created, so the Jedi Bendu knew that they would have to continue to serve and protect the Ashlan Expanse until they were called away by the Force of Others. To cover more territory in a more efficient manner, they sent a group of Jedi Bendu out into the galaxy and they settled themselves on Kal’Shabbol. Whereas Ashlan Four was the second planet to bare life, Kal’Shabbol was the first. When they arrived, they set up their enclave in the habitable region of what they named the Ashlan Mountains. Deep within the mountains, they buried their scriptures so that only they would know where to find them. They soon began to watch over the inhabitants of the world, introducing them to the Way of the Ashla.

However, one of The Skywalker’s fears began to play out. There was a group that lived deep within a valley at the bottom of the mountains, an area that all Jedi Bendu were forbidden to travel to. The Jedi Bendu called it the Valley of the Shadow of Death, perhaps rightfully so. The group that lived there was introduced to the Way when they traveled into the mountains, becoming fascinated by it. However, this fascination soon turned into greed. The Valley’s Medicine Man gathered his people, telling them about it. “Listen, children, to a story about the kingdom on the mountains towering high above us. On the mountain is a treasure buried deep beneath the stone.” It was then that the people of the Valley swore that they would have the treasure for their own.

The people of the Valley sent a message up the mountain, asking for the buried treasure the likes of which they would kill for. Days went by and the Jedi Bendu received the message from a local courier. The Jedi Bendu sent a small group into the Valley to answer the message personally. Upon arrival, they gathered the people of the Valley around them. “All living beings are our brothers. With our brothers we will share all the secrets of our mountain and all of the riches buried there.”

This outraged the leaders of the Valley people, and so the Medicine Man drew his staff. It was then that the first Jedi Bendu to be murdered fell, vaporizing by the power of the Medicine Man’s staff. The Valley cried with anger and the Medicine Man turned to the crowd. “Mount your horses! Draw your swords,” he decreed. The Valley people rode up the mountain, overpowering the limited number of Jedi Bendu on the mountain. And so, they killed the Jedi Bendu and unearthed the ‘treasure’ that was buried within the stone.

Now they stood beside their treasure, on the mountain darkened red. They turned the stone and looked beneath it. “Peace in the Force of Others” was all it said. The Valley people dropped their swords, mortified by what they had done. They believed that the Jedi Bendu had stolen treasure from their lands, but in reality it was a treasure for all living beings to learn from. In deep regret, the people of the Valley took their own lives and, because of the forgiving nature of the Ashla, dwelled within the Force of Others for eternity. The Jedi Bendu on Ashlan Four discovered this, thus adopting the principle that no one is beyond redemption.

However, with every victory of the light the darkness can still prevail. When the Jedi Bendu of Kal'Shabbol were murdered, the Bogan was awakened. Even when the Ashla redeemed the people of the Valley, the Bogan still stirred and its shadow began to slowly claw it's way back into existence.

For almost seventy-five thousand years, the Jedi Bendu traveled the galaxy and brought more disciples into their order until they numbered in the thousands. The Jedi Bendu stayed neutral in The Unification War that brought forth the Galactic Republic, serving only as mediators between the rival governments that were attempting to unify. Once the Galactic Republic was formed, the Jedi Bendu pledged their service to Supreme Chancellor Conrad Bac as guardians of peace and justice in the Republic. This is a title that was held for thousands of years.

The Schism
Thousands of years passed and the Galactic Republic throve and grew. Thousands of star systems pledged their allegiance to the Galactic Republic. However, the newly elected Supreme Chancellor Contispex was a corrupt bureaucrat who wanted to shape the Jedi Bendu Order with his own beliefs of the past. Through treachery and deception, he was able to place Jedi Master Zoz Appenkee into the seat of Grandmaster of the Jedi Order. Grandmaster Appenkee spent years amending their code and history, and the Jedi Bendu followed him willingly. However, the family of The Skywalker still had somewhat of a following within the Order. Zios Malachor, one of the last remaining descendants of The Skywalker, managed to convince no more than one hundred Jedi Bendu of what was happening, and they formed a non-violent resistance movement.

The newly renamed Jedi Order fought back by attempting to expel these “non-believers” from the Order. However, before they could do so, those loyal to the old way left and traveled into the Unknown Regions. They happened upon the ancient world of Kal’Shabbol. It was there that they formed their own order. It was unanimously decided to name it the Bendu Order, the disciples proclaiming themselves to be Knights of the Ashla, guardians of peace and justice in the Ashlan Expanse. In an effort to keep their numbers small, they decreed that only those that dwelled within the light of the Ashlan Nebula would be trained as Bendu Knights. Zios Malachor then went on to become the first Bendu High Priest.

The Voyager
Thirty years after The Jedi Civil War, a group of refugees from Coruscant was picked up by the Bendu in the Ashlan Expanse. This group comprised of Ussej Padric Bac, Laili Jeyna Rendar and Kit Corwin Rendar, along with the son of Ussej and Laili. They were accepted by the Bendu Order as the Bendu believed that Ussej would fulfill the [Prophecy of The Voyager], regardless of the fact that Ussej and Kit had been Sith Lords. Ussej and Kit eventually became the Bendu High Priests, positions they held into their deaths. Ussej’s death was the most significant as he sacrificed his life for all of Kal’Shabbol. However, Bendu history would later record that he became the Shaman of the Whills and dwelled, as a spirit, on Ashlan Four with the Whills. Because of all that Ussej Padric Bac had done, the Bendu decreed that all male sons of the Bac Family would be named “Ussej Padric” in his honor.

The Holy War
The most profound event in the history of the Bendu Order was the holy war that the Orders of the Bendu and the Shadourians launched against the Jedi Order, this war later becoming known as The Great Sovereign Crusades. It involved the use of guerilla warfare and terrorist attacks across the Galactic Republic, but all attacks were made against Jedi targets are Bendu High Priest Ussej Padric Bac III made it clear that civillians were not to be targeted.

Early Days
Forty years after the death of Ussej Padric Bac, the Sith Lords were thought to have been destroyed by a Dark Jedi named Carden Mannux. However, it proved to be untrue. After the return of the Sith under the watch of the Dark Lord Viscerus and his apprentice Darth Dire, the Bendu Order left Kal’Shabbol, under the command of High Priest Ussej Padric Bac III, to help the Jedi Order against what they believed would be the armies of the Dark Lord of the Sith. However, the Jedi Order had become complacent and incompetent and, along with the Shadourian Order, the Bendu Order decided that they had to do something about it.

The Shadourian Plot
After a harrowing defeat at the Jedi Temple at the hands of the Sith Empire, both Ussej Padric Bac III and Shadourian Master Ein Nightblade, grandson of the famed Damien Nightblade, both knew that something had to be done about the Jedi Order. Not only did they witness a defeat on Coruscant, but prior to that the Jedi Order made fools of themselves on Yavin IV and allowed millions to suffer on Alderaan, Corellia and Mon Calamari due to a plague unleashed by the Sith. Nightblade approached Ussej and told him of his plan to launch a Holy War against the Jedi Order. The Shaman of the Whills spoke to his grandson and disagreed, though the Bendu High Priest began formulating a plan to let the Jedi Order know just how easy of a target they were.

The Attacks
Before the Holy War began, Ussej Padric Bac III was assigned to protect the daughter of Supreme Chancellor Cos Jonathan Dashin, a woman named Isabella Dashin. He escorted her to Naboo where the two began to fall for one another, but they were quickly separated by a Mandalorian assault. With the help of Kalel Kitsune, Ussej led the Republic Military to Onderon and freed Isabella from the forces of the Mandalorians in a quick and painless assault.

One month later, the attacks were ready to begin. Ussej and Ein Nightblade traveled to the Refugee Section on Nar Shadda under the cover of darkness and hired a former mercenary for a suicide mission on Barab 1. The mercenary posed as a port technician at Barab 1’s only docking port. When the Jedi Order allowed him onto their shuttle for what they assumed to be refueling, he dropped a match into the fuel lines and the shuttle, along with the entire port, was destroyed in a massive explosion that rocked the nearby tribal villages. The Bendu flagship was in the vicinity to monitor this and, hours later, posed as rescuers and gave the Jedi Masters safe passage back to Coruscant. He knew they had their suspicions, but they could not prove anything. However, he vowed to himself that more attacks would follow.

Days later on one fateful night, Isabella and Chancellor Dashin were having an argument about Ussej in the Office of the Supreme Chancellor. Carden Mannux swooped in and kidnapped her. Ussej attempted to stop him, but was knocked out by Carden. However, Ussej managed to get to his ship and chase the former Dark Lord, which resulted in Carden using a maneuver to trick the High Priest into believing that they had exploded. While en route to Mustafar, it was formally announced via HoloNet that Isabella Dashin had died in a failed rescue effort.

After failing to piece together the mystery of what happened on Barab 1, the Jedi Council decided to get back on with their normal day-to-day activities, though most on the Jedi Council suspected that Ussej and the Bendu Order had something to do with it. One fateful day, it was learned that Grandmaster Uric Kyrtus Kressh had gone missing so the Jedi Council called an open session of the Jedi Order. Ussej was in the rebuilt Jedi Temple at the time, so he decided to stay and back to listen to what was being said, as well as grandstand, letting the Jedi Council know through non-vocal means his dissatisfaction with these events. At the perfect moment, he revealed that he was the one behind the terrorist attacks on Barab 1 and, within minutes, left the planet, leaving the Jedi dazed and confused.

Weeks later, Ussej and Ein attacked and destroyed the ancient Jedi Academy on Telos IV, the same place where Ussej Padric Bac and Laili Jeyna Rendar were married, as wel as the long-abandoned Jedi Tower on the broken world of Taris. In total, there were no casualties but it sent shockwaves throught the Jedi Order when Ussej and Ein informed the Jedi Council of it. Giving them a second chance at survival, Ussej demanded that the Jedi Order step down as the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy so that mantle could be turned over to those who were capable. After refusing to do so, the Bendu and Shadourian leaders assured them that more attacks would come, the next ones being deadly.

Less than one week later, the forces of the Bendu and the Shadourians attacked the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine. First, a Shadourian fighter squad knocked out all communications and one of two hangar bays, leaving Dantooine isolated from the rest of the Galactic Republic. Bendu shuttles were quickly sent to the surface where four Jedi Knights were killed and brought back to the shuttles. Three Jedi Knights and Jedi Council Member Master Kal Yast, the Bendu’s primary target for the attack, were taken hostage and brought aboard the Bendu flagship.

Hours after the Bendu had left the Sith forces behind on Dantooine, Ussej planned on using the hostages as leverage for forcing the Jedi Order to surrender its position as the “guardians of peace and justice” in the Galactic Republic. Even after witnessing the brutal beheading of the Jedi Master Kal Yast in cold blood via HoloNet, the Jedi Order still refused to leave the Galactic Republic. Ussej now knew that more drastic action would have to be taken in order to ensure victory, even if he was beginning to question whether or not he was doing the right thing by waging war against the Jedi Order.

Ussej soon returned to Coruscant in a vessel stolen from Corellia and made his way to the Galactic Senate Office Building. It was there that he professed his deepest sorrow and regret to the Supreme Chancellor for Isabella’s death, though the Supreme Chancellor was surprisingly understanding. The Supreme Chancellor told him that he had forgave him long ago and now he only needed to forgive himself. With the apologies out of the way, the Supreme Chancellor told the Bendu High Priest that something needed to be done. Telling the Supreme Chancellor that he would do whatever needed to be done, Ussej was granted full authority and full access to any and all Galactic Republic resources he would need.

Later that afternoon, the Bendu High Priest ordered a group of Republic technicians to begin altering two Republic shuttlecrafts so they could be controlled via remote control. High-grade explosives were then placed into the cockpit. Kilometers away from the Jedi Temple, a Republic technician piloted the shuttles into the traffic lanes with the Bendu High Priest watching on. Swiftly and suddenly, the shuttles veered out of the traffic lanes and were rammed into two of the great spires of the Jedi Temple. Though the spires themselves remained intact, the sides of the spires collapsed to the ground leaving interior exposed. Dozens of Jedi Knights died in the resulting explosions, exactly as Ussej had planned it.

That night, the commanders of the Republic fleet began moving their vessels into a calculated orbit around Coruscant. When dawn came and the star that Coruscant orbited cast its first rays of light upon the city, Ussej and Supreme Commander Joshua Rydal stood on the bridge of the flagship of the Republic and prepared to remove the Jedi from the Galactic Republic once and for all. Ussej made contact with Jedi Master Khaluq Chan’drane and gave her two options: first, give up their mandate as guardians of peace and justice in the Galactic Republic and leave Coruscant peacefully; two, watch and die as the Republic fleet fired upon the Jedi Temple, destroying it. However, the second option never came to fruition. Master Chan’drane and the Jedi Council agreed. By the end of the day, the Jedi Temple stood empty with not a single soul within its great halls. After months of war, the Bendu Order had finally won their holy crusades against the Jedi Order. The Shaman of the Whills was wrong and his grandson had seemingly proven that.

As he left Coruscant, the Force of Others drew him to the remote planet of Anaxes, though he knew not why it would do so. But, it did not take long to discover why. Khaluq Chan'drane was there, and he knew it was time to finally slay her. He followed her for a time, but when she realized he was behind her the search for her became harder. He followed her to an abandoned warehouse where he was able to bring out her darker emotions, angering her to her very core. When the time came, she used her anger to strike against her though she was no match for a Bendu High Priest. However, when he was in a position to finally strike her down, he hesitated. He would not destroy an unarmed opponent, and after careful consideration he realized that she truly was not worth the effort it would take to kill her. He knew he had bested her and that was enough for him.

Savoring his victories, the Bendu High Priest returned to Ashla’s Light and began to meditate on what had transpired. However, his meditations were interrupted as the ship’s tractor beam locked onto a small shuttle that had been drifting through space. Ussej made his way to the shuttle bay to discover something he never thought possible: Isabella was alive, though her body was naked and battered with obvious signs of torture and rape. As Isabella was rushed to the Medical Wing, the High Priest contacted Kalel Kitsune to deliver the news.

A day later, Kalel arrived at the Bendu flagship. At first, he simply struck Ussej across the jaw, cracking the bones. Kalel accused Ussej of bringing this entire ordeal upon them and talked of how tortured he had been thinking that Isabella was dead. Ussej desperately wanted to tell him that he too was tortured, as he cared deeply for Isabella and thinking that he killed her tore him up inside. But, he couldn’t. He discovered a fundamental truth about himself and a truth about his feelings for Isabella. He did not truly love her. He loved the idea of her and the idea of filling the empty and lonely void within his heart that had been there since his wife had died. He knew that Kalel and Isabella were destined to be together and he would no longer stand in the way of that. He let Kalel enter the room alone, walking away as the two lovers were reunited.

After leaving the Medical Wing, he stepped onto the bridge where he found a HoloNet broadcast of a live speech by Chancellor Dashin. In it, he told the Galactic Senate that he was attacked by a Dark Lord of the Sith who threatened that he and his family and loved ones would be murdered unless he resigned. The Chancellor announced his resignation and then placed his full support behind long-time friend and political ally Senator Romulus Augustus. Ussej returned to the Medical Wing to tell Kalel this, as well as to report the results of a medical report: Isabella had given birth to a child, a child that belonged to her and the Bendu High Priest. The three were shocked to hear this news. After a few days, Isabella and Kalel left leaving the Bendu to prepare to go home to Kal’Shabbol, as Ussej now knew that the Holy War was the wrong course of action.

Days later, Isabella went to the Outer Rim world where the Bendu Order was preparing their vessel for takeoff. She and Ussej argued about his leaving, but in the end she left without so much as a true goodbye due to her frustration with him. Ussej regretted the things he had said, but knew that regrets no longer mattered. Hours later, he met up with the Shadourian flagship where he told Kage Tatsujin his feelings on the Holy War and that they were going home to Kal’Shabbol. Ussej left the ship, seeing the look of betrayal and anger in the eyes of the Shadourian Master and hoped that he wouldn’t do anything rash.

Peace
After the death of Ussej Padric Bac III, the newly elected High Priest Jos Corwin Rendar helped the Bendu Order rebuild itself from the ground up. During this time, there were not only changes in appearance to a more formal and monk-like style among some but also a change in the way the Bendu Order viewed itself. Usssej Padric Bac, Ussej Padric Bac II and Ussej Padric Bac III all helped them to realize what happens when you let pride get to you. Because of this, they vowed to only protect the Ashlan Expanse and stay out of the affairs of the Galactic Republic, as the Jedi Order was the rightful protector of the galactic body. This newfound peace within the Bendu Order would last for almost four thousand years.

The Rebel Alliance
During a routine training session, the Bendu were contacted by Mon Mothma, a former Senator in the Old Republic and Galactic Empire. Mon Mothma told High Priest Ussej Padric Bac LXIV of how the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order had fallen, adding that the Dark Guardians of Lettow now carried out the will of the Dark Lord of the Sith, the one who had crowned himself Galactic Emperor. Though this was disturbing to him, especially the idea that Carden Mannux had indeed successfully created the Dark Guardians of Lettow, he refused to have the Bendu Order leave Kal’Shabbol to help.

Hours later, Ussej vanished from the High Priest’s Chambers within the Bendu Temple of Light and mysteriously reappeared on Ashlan Four, the planet that housed the legendary Journal of the Whills. It was there that he found his ancestor, the Shaman of the Whills, looking just as he did when he had spoken with Ussej Padric Bac III thousands of years before. The Shaman told his descendant that he knew what had taken place with Mon Mothma and urged the High Priest to reconsider. Though Ussej at first refused the Shaman’s plea, he soon gave in and agreed to leave Kal’Shabbol to help in the fight against the Dark Lord of the Sith. Ussej was sent back to Kal’Shabbol where he later addressed the Bendu Order and all of the people of Kal’Shabbol. Ussej told them what had taken place and that they were going to be leaving to help the Alliance to Restore the Republic. The Bendu Order was at first outraged, as they still had resentment towards the Jedi Order left over from The Great Sovereign Crusades, but they soon agreed after wise words from the High Priest. Just hours later, they boarded their flagship and headed wherever the Force of Others wanted to take them.

The Bendu Order would later go on to help secure a Rebel Victory on the planet Endor, help destroy the Dark Guardians of Lettow and help win The Galactic Civil War.

Religion
The religion that the Bendu Order follows is much like the religion of the old Jedi Bendu Order, both being very different from the Jedi Order. The Bendu Order recognize that there is a God and that he dwells on a planet called Heaven, found in another demension of space and time than the one they reside in. The name of this God is Yahweh, and he is the entity that is the Force of Others. Yahweh had spoke to a man named Jedi Bendu on the highest peak of Mount Sky on Had Abaddon and dubbed him The Skywalker, as he was the only one who was able to climb to the top of Mount Sky and live to tell the tale. Yahweh has allowed his chosen people, those being the creatures that are sensative to the Force of Others, to manipulate him to use his powers for good. However, once he allowed this to happen the darkness of the galaxy was able to tap into it which led to many groups such as the Dark Jedi Bendu, the Dark Jedi and the Sith Order.

Many Bendu and non-Bendu alike have challenged the existence of Yahweh in the past. Though they all universally recognize the existence of the Force of Others, many do not believe that The Skywalker spoke to Yahweh because, as they put it, "no God in our existence would be foolish enough to allow mere mortals access to his unlimited power". These claims have always been dismissed, and from The Great Sovereign Crusades onward no Bendu ever doubted the existence of Yahweh or The Skywalker.

Bendu Code


There is a major difference between the way the Bendu Order looks at their code and the way the Jedi Order looks at theirs. The Jedi Order sees the Jedi Code as a set of rules and a burden, always making sure that they follow it as if it was a law. The Bendu Code, written by Zios Malachor, simply states what a Bendu can do by using the Ashla. The Bendu Order sees their code as a prayer, rather than a burden. The Bendu Code is as follows:


 * From the Ashla, we find emotion
 * From the Ashla, we find peace
 * From the Ashla, we gain knowledge
 * From the Ashla, we find passion
 * From the Ashla, we fear not
 * Through the Ashla, we gain eternal life
 * Through the Ashla, we find love
 * Love is the answer to the darkness
 * Love can ignite the stars.
 * - The Bendu Code

Proverbs of Ussej Padric Bac
Before the end of his mortal life, Saint Ussej Padric Bac the First wrote in his journals fifteen proverbs that he believed all beings of the galaxy should follow. This journal was found by his son, Priest Ussej Padric Bac II, and became required studying for all Bendu Apprentices working towards Knighthood. They became known as the Proverbs of Ussej Padric Bac, and have been followed by the Bendu Order ever since the departure of Saint Ussej Padric Bac from his mortal journey.


 * 1) Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.


 * 2) As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all beings.


 * 3) Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant for they too have a story. Avoid loud and aggressive beings, as they are the vexations to the living spirit within us all.


 * 4) If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter for always there will be greater and lesser beings than yourself.


 * 5) Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.


 * 6) Exercise caution in your dealings with others, for the galaxy is full of trickery. But, let this not blind you to the virtue there is. Many beings strive for high ideals, as even in the darkness there always rises a hero.


 * 7) Do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.


 * 8) Take kindly the counsel of years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.


 * 9) Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune, but do not stress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.


 * 10) Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the galaxy, no less than the tress and the stars. You have a right to be here.


 * 11) Whether or not it is clear to you, never doubt that the galaxy is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with Force, or whatever you may conceive a higher power to be.


 * 12) Whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams it is still a vast and beautiful galaxy.


 * 13) You cannot escape death. Death, not just of the corporeal body, but of all manifestations of the mind is inevitable. It is the way of all things....the Way of the Force. When someone is dying of thirst it is too late to dig a well. If you wait until you are upon your deathbed to practice the Way, it will be too late. Death will not wait a moment longer than it is ready. Do not be lazy, but be steadfast as a serious, deeply committed warrior is steadfast. Life is impermanence. All things are subject to change, as nothing can last forever.


 * 14) Beware the binding tractor beam of attachment, for a being who is attached to his body, his thoughts, his feelings, his beliefs, his percepts or his consciousness is imprisoned and can never know true freedom. To commit to the Way is to give up selfish desires and to live for the benefit of all beings whether they be Gungan, Ewok, Bendu, Jedi or Sith.


 * 15) Redemption comes from the release of self, not the exaltation of self. It comes through compassion, not greed. One lone candle is enough to fight the darkness. Love is more than a candle. Love is the answer to the darkness. Love can ignite the stars.

Pillars of Strength
A famous Jedi Master would once say something that would sum up the feelings of both the Jedi Order and the Bendu Order. In the context of the Bendu Order, Bendu do not fight for peace. That is only a slogan and it is as misleading as slogans always are. Bendu fight for civilization, because only civilization creates peace. They fight for justice because justice is the fundamental bedrock of civilization: an unjust civilization is built upon sand. It does not long survive a storm.

The strength of the Bendu Order's organization and the prayer that is the Bendu Code rested on the five major principles:


 * Self-discipline
 * Knowledge
 * The Force of Others
 * Religion
 * Prayer

When used correctly, they would allow a Bendu to solve any problem and overcome any obstacle they might face.

Hierarchy
Bendu Hopeful - A Bendu Hopeful is a child no older than thirteen who shows a great sensitivity to the Force of Others. When a Bendu Hopeful reached thirteen years of age, they would meet with the Council of Priests and eventually solely the Bendu High Priest who would then determine whether or not they would be accepted for training within the Bendu Order. If accepted, the High Priest would instruct them the accepted one where, when and with whom they would begin their training. If they were not accepted, they would return to their lives within the villages, never being able to request training again. Very rarely would a candidate be turned away.

Bendu Apprentice - The first stage of Bendu training. A Bendu Apprentice is taught the powers of the Force of Others, the intricacies of the Ashla and the Bogan, the history of the Bendu Order and the philosophies that the Bendu Order lives by. A Bendu Apprentice is also taught the art of the sword, though that would come much later in the stages of training as the Bendu Order feels that the more you know about philosophies and powers then the more naturally one would be able to perform with a sword. at the end of training, a Bendu Apprentice is faced with the challenge of completing the Trial of Wills, a rigorous ordeal that tests an Apprentice physically and mentally, before ascending to the level of Bendu Knight.

Bendu Knight - Only after completing the Trial of Wills and being deemed worthy by the Council of Priests can a Bendu Apprentice ascend to the level of Bendu Knight. The Knights of the Bendu are the guardians of peace and justice within the Ashlan Expanse, though they are rarely called off of Kal’Shabbol for help in the peaceful region of space. Although a Bendu Knight has completed the bulk of his training, he would still study the ancient texts found within the Bendu Archives and would continue to receive some instruction on more challenging forms of philosophy and powers from the Bendu Priests. Should they be called upon to do so, a Bendu Knight would take on a Bendu Apprentice of their own.

Bendu Priest - After the successful training of a Bendu Apprentice, a Bendu Knight may be considered to become a Bendu Priest. However, there are only fifty Priests within the Bendu Order, one for each major village on Kal’Shabbol. If the Council of Priests deems a Bendu Knight to be a resourceful and innovative leader within the Bendu Order and feels that the Knight is truly ready to be exposed to a higher calling, they will appoint him to be a Bendu Priest. Priests do not reside in the Bendu Temple of Light, though they visit their on an almost daily basis. They reside within the village they were chosen to oversee and lead weekly religious services in and help the villagers with any problems they may encounter. Though they continue to oversee the Ashlan Expanse somewhat, their main focus is serving as the religious and political leaders of the villages. Should a Bendu Priest truly shine above the rest of his peers, he would be considered for a seat on the Council of Priests. Perhaps the most famous of Bendu Priest's is Ussej Padric Bac II, as he was credited for a major shift in thinking when it comes self-pride.


 * Council of Priests -

Bendu High Priest - Though the Council of Priests is mostly a group of equals, one will serve above the rest. This is the Bendu High Priest, and there is only one at a time. A Bendu High Priest is chosen by the Council of Priests for a life term upon the death of his predecessor and serves as the leader of the Bendu Order, as well as the unofficial “King” of Kal’Shabbol. He is responsible for all training and religious activity within the Bendu Order and on Kal’Shabbol, as well as the political activity on the planet. Perhaps the most famous of Bendu High Priest’s are Ussej Padric Bac, Ussej Padric Bac III and Ussej Padric Bac LXIV, as they were all credited with making major changes to the Bendu Order for the better.

Sainthood
Sainthood was by far the highest honor any Bendu could ever hope to attain, though in truth it was rarely thought about or spoken of in public. The honor of Bendu Saint was given posthumously to only a few Bendu High Priests, and occasionally a Bendu Priest, based on their achievements in life. The only true criteria is that a candidate brought about a major shift in any facet of the Bendu Order and that they had the love, respect and trust of not only the Bendu but of all the people of Kal’Shabbol. Few have received this posthumous honor in the history of the Bendu Order, including but not limited to:


 * Zios Malachor
 * Ussej Padric Bac
 * Laili Jeyna Rendar
 * Kit Corwin Rendar
 * Ussej Padric Bac II
 * Ussej Padric Bac III
 * Jos Corwin Rendar

Culture, History and Knowledge
After the end of The Great Sovereign Crusades, the Bendu Order adopted a historical and cultural hierarchy that the Jedi Order had been using for years. Some Bendu ended up specializing in history, the Force of Others and the Bendu Order, producing invaluable knowledge throughout the thousands of years following the war.


 * Bendu Archaeologist - A Bendu who had specialized in gaining historical knowledge through Archaeology by being sent on expeditions across the Ashlan Expanse and other points of interest in the Unknown Regions.
 * Bendu Historian - A Bendu who had specialized in chronicling the true history of the galaxy, including the Jedi Bendu Order, the Jedi Order, the Sith Order and the Bendu Order. A Bendu Historian knew virtually everything about the pasts of the four Orders.
 * Bendu Historian - A Bendu who had specialized in administrating the vast scrolls and journals of knowledge. The Bendu Librarians were in charge of all archives and libraries across Kal’Shabbol.
 * Bendu Sage - A Bendu Priest that dedicated themselves to the mysteries of the Force of Others. The Bendu Sages had deep insights into the philosophies of the Force of Others and were highly skilled users of many powers within the Force of Others. Many times, the Bendu High Priest would call upon his own personal Bendu Sage for guidance.

War Tactics
"A holy war? Do you really think that religious killings will solve anything?"

- Ussej Padric Bac

During the many thousands of years that the Bendu Order watched over the Ashlan Expanse, not a single war broke out within that area of space. The Bendu Order only became involved in two wars, the first being The Great Sovereign Crusades and the second being The Galactic Civil War. The Bendu would not officially hand out military ranks, though some Knights and Priests ended up taking over greater roles than others. The High Priest and Council of Priests oversaw the war efforts, and the remainder of the Priests served as unofficial Generals in charge of the Bendu Knights.

Occasional Diplomacy
Very rarely were Bendu called upon to act as impartial diplomats across the Ashlan Expanse, though it did occur from time to time. When it occured, a group of Bendu Priests would be sent to the world in question and would serve as moderators and negotiators during the disputes. The judgement of the Bendu Priests would be final, with no way to appeal it.

Instruction
Within the Bendu Order, there were not only Knight to Apprentice or Priest to Apprentice relationships when it came to instruction in the way of the Bendu. Many Bendu Knights and Priests prefered to teach certain aspects in the course of Bendu Training such as philosophy, the art of the sword and powers of the Force of Others. The positions are much like those of the Jedi Order.


 * Bendu Instructor - A Bendu accountable for giving general teaching to Hopefuls, Apprentices and the occasional Knight or Priest. Many times, Bendu Instructors are members of the Council of Priests as they are generally in the Bendu Temple of Light.
 * Bendu Swordmaster - A Bendu highly skilled in the art of the sword. The Bendu Swordmaster was the sword combat instructor at the Bendu Temple of Light.
 * Bendu Trainer - A Bendu Apprentice or Bendu Knight responsible for teaching and instructing a certain aspect of the Force of Others. The Bendu Trainers were vital components in the education of Bendu Knights throughout the history of the Bendu Order.

Prophecies
During the forty year journey from Had Abaddon to Kal'Shabbol, many visions came to The Skywalker which led to the writing of many eight prophecies about sixteen different people throughout history, starting with The Voyager. He wrote them down within his sacred journals and when his descendants found the Whills, they gave them said journals to be the first entries within the Journal of the Whills. The eight prophecies are as follows:

The Prophecy of The Voyager
The Prophecy of The Voyager spoke of the coming of the Shaman of the Whills, the one who turned out to be Ussej Padric Bac. It was the first prophecy The Skywalker made and the first to come to pass.


 * When the laborer's task is o'er,
 * When the battle day is past,
 * Upon the farther shore
 * Will land The Voyager at last.
 * - The Prophecy of The Voyager

The Prophecy of The Night's Children
The Prophecy of The Night's Children spoke of the coming of the Dark Guardians of Lettow. After The Great Sovereign Crusades, the Bendu analyzed the scripture more closely and discovered that the Dark Guardians of Lettow may have been created when Isabella Dashin gave birth to Damien Starkiller on an outdoor altar on an unknown world. The prophecy is as follows:


 * As the full moon rises to its nocturnal throne,
 * The children of the night will awaken
 * To weave their web of dark enchantments.
 * Through the shadows they will creep,
 * Whispering their dark secrets on the night winds.
 * - The Prophecy of The Night's Children

The Prophecy of The Sith'ari
The Prophecy of The Sith'ari spoke of one who had freed themselves of all restrictions and had reached perfection, fulfilling their potential. They would be equiped with perfect strength and perfect power. The Sith'ari was later revealed to be Darth Bane, though the Bendu Order did not know of this until Bane had been dead for one thousand years. The text of this prophecy is believed to have been lost.

The Prophecy of The Guardian
The Prophecy of The Guardian spoke of the coming of The Guardian, one who had a perfect destiny within the Force of Others. This person was revealed to be Kane Starkiller.


 * In the time of great darkness in the Force of Others
 * One who has freed themselves of all restrictions
 * Will reach perfection and fulfill their ultimate potential
 * Perfect strength, perfect power, perfect destiny;
 * All of these traits will be synonymous with him.
 * He will lead the chosen warriors of darkness
 * Into their greatest era and their final battle.
 * Yet, through their destruction, the survivors
 * Will become more powerful than ever.
 * - The Prophecy of The Guardian

The Prophecy of The Son of the Suns
The Son of the Suns, or the Chosen One as the Jedi Order referred to it as, was a person who would ultimately rid the galaxy of the forces of the Bogan and bring balance to the Force of Others by doing so. This person was revealed to be Anakin Skywalker.


 * In the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior
 * And he shall be known as The Son of the Suns.
 * He shall bring balance to the Force, but not harmony.
 * He shall bring emotion to the Jedi Bendu, but not compassion.
 * He shall bring order to the galaxy, but not justice.
 * And, for a time, evil shall reign.
 * But, do not be dismayed at the balance
 * That the Chosen One shall bring.
 * For in it, hope shall yet be born anew.
 * And out of the deepest darkness,
 * The brightest of all lights shall spring.
 * - The Prophecy of The Son of the Suns

The Prophecy of The King of Kings
The Prophecy of The King of Kings spoke of the coming of the one that would unify the Jedi Order and the Bendu Order into the second Jedi Bendu Order, as they had been destined to be unified for thousands of years. After Luke Skywalker unified the orders, with the help of Ussej Padric Bac LXIV, and created the second Jedi Bendu Order it was revealed that Skywalker was in fact the King of Kings spoken of in the prophecy. The prophecy is as follows:

The Prophecy of The Last Son
The Prophecy of The Last Son spoke of one who would dwell on the Planet of Yahweh in a galaxy far, far away from that of the galaxy of the Bendu Order. The Last Son would be the final Jedi Bendu Knight and would be the one to destroy the children of the night, which lead the Bendu Order to believe that he would eventually destroy the Dark Guardians of Lettow. It was later revealed that the Planet of Yahweh was in fact a watery world called Earth and that The Last Son was Patrick Keylan Bac, whose true name was Ussej Padric Bac CCL (250th).

The Prophecy of The Nine Prophets
The Prophecy of the Nine Prophets spoke of nine individuals who would help the ones spoken of in each of the other prophecies along their journies. The Prophets were discovered one by one over time, and after all was said and done the prophets ended up being Laili Jeyna Rendar, Kit Corwin Rendar, Ussej Padric Bac II, Ussej Padric Bac III, Ussej Padric Bac LXIV, Han Solo, Kyle Katarn, Troy Mackenzie and Taylor Rendar. The prophecy is as follows:

Mythical Worlds
There are many worlds in the long history of the Ashlan Expanse that have played a key role in the founding of the Jedi Bendu Order and the Bendu Order. Many are known to exist, though others are still the subject of much debate. Only faith can truly prove the existence of some of these worlds, as their locations have been lost forever.


 * Ashlan Three - Not much is known about the mythical world of Ashlan Three, other than the fact that it was once a very poor and desolate world and that it was the birthplace of The Skywalker. Though the planet is believed to still be inhabited, the location of this sacred planet had been lost throughout the ages. Many within the Ashlan Expanse do not believe that it even exists, nor that The Skywalker existed, but the Bendu Order still believes it to be a real place, albeit shrouded in mystery. The only remaining record of it’s existence is a quote from the Journal of the Whills, excerpted from the Commentaries of Jedi Bendu Master Cresh, where Master Cresh states that “that majority of these facts are not in dispute my fellow Jedi Bendu Masters - that The Skywalker lived, that he came from Ashlan Three and lived on Had Abaddon one hundred centuries ago, that he and his twelve children were the first of the Jedi Bendu and that their descendants are prophesied to help form a “Galactic Republic” in which all of civilization will be unified.”


 * Ashlan Four - On his deathbed, The Skywalker told his twelve children that their “descendants will go out among the stars and find a race of great wisdom called the Whills. They will accept their destiny and follow the Jedi Bendu to this system and dwell within the light of the Ashlan Nebula. On the fourth planet, they will record our story”. By the time of The Great Sovereign Crusades, Ashlan Four had been home to the Whills for seventy-five thousand years, fifty thousand years longer than the life span of the Galactic Republic itself. The planet is not their world of origin, the name of which has been forgotten, but in deference to the Whills no other races have settled there. Most of Ashlan Four is still a wilderness. The cool, wet mountains are home to the graceful Shri Haws, high-flying avian predators who feed on the local population of Scurriers. The peaks are also roamed by sturdy, six-legged Thor Goats. The most dangerous animals, the voracious yet slow-witted giant Vlids, have long since learned not to approach the monastery. How this was accomplished is unknown, though some suspect it to be the powers of the Force of Others calling out to the beasts themselves. Much like Ashlan Three, the location of Ashlan Four was lost through the ages.


 * Kal’Shabbol - Not to be confused with the Outer Rim world of Kal’Shebbol, Kal’Shabbol was once a Jedi Bendu world and later became the sole residence of the Bendu Order. This world was the first in the Ashlan Expanse to bear life, which is why the Jedi Bendu of the Ashla were so desperate to find it before the death of The Skywalker. Because it was the first planet to bear life, the Force of Others was stronger here than on most other worlds, though it was not the strongest source of the Force of Others. When the Jedi Bendu arrived, they set up their conclave in the habitable region of what they called the Ashlan Mountains. Deep within the mountains, they buried their scriptures so that only they would know where to find them. They soon began to watch over the inhabitants of the world, introducing them to the ways of the Force of Others. Once the Jedi Bendu Order split into two, a group loyal to the old ways settled on Kal’Shabbol and formed the Bendu Order.


 * Tirnanog - Tirnanog, a planet on the edge of the Ashlan Expanse, is said in legends to be the “Planet of Eternal Youth”. This sacred world has only been stepped upon by the few and the foolish, as it is warned in ancient Jedi Bendu and Bendu lore that the lust for eternal youth can drive a person over the edge and onto the path of the Bogan. Little is known about this world other than it is a tropical paradise that played a major role in The Ashlan Wars. Few within the Bendu Order know of its location, and none outside of the Order itself know of its existence.

Behind the Scenes

 * The Bendu Order was created by Brandon Rhea based off of the limited information given by George Lucas in the original drafts of The Star Wars about the formation and philosophies of the Jedi Bendu Order. The majority of the information about the formation of the Bendu Order, which is mostly the story of The Skywalker, is based off of The Journal of the Whills, a novel by Brendan J. Whalberg.

Appearances

 * The Beginning: The Legend of The Skywalker
 * Schism: The Legend of the Bendu
 * Shadows of the Jedi: The Legend of Ussej Padric Bac
 * Shadows of the Jedi: The Legend of Ussej Padric Bac II
 * Shadows of the Jedi: The Legend of Ussej Padric Bac III
 * Lettow: The Curse of Carden Mannux
 * Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Beginning