Mathyu Colrak

"I am a Tusken Raider. I am also a Jedi. So be careful where you tread, as the instincts of the former will likely dictate the actions of the latter."

- Mathyu Colrak

Mathyu Colrak (nicknamed "The Sand Jedi" later in his life) was a Jedi from the Galactic Civil War to after the Second Corellian Crisis. Though he did not become one of the major legends of the New Jedi Order, he was renowned for his unique fighting style of mixing the savagery of the Tuskens with the stoicism and precision of a Jedi.

Early Life
Born two years after the formation of the Galactic Empire on Taris, Mathyu began a simple life as the orphaned son of unknown parents. The only connection to his heritage was his name which had a hazy past to begin with. The infant was taken in by an elderly but master shipbuilder who had settled on the devastated planet to rebuild it. The boy was loved dearly by his adoptive father and spent most of his childhood helping around the various construction projects going on around him.

In 0 BBY, the adolescent Colrak witnessed an instance of harrassment by Imperial stormtroopers against a group construction workers on a repulsorlift platform. Mathyu was helping out the workers when the Imperial patrol stopped them and began to physically and verbally abuse the workers. The young boy intervened and told the troopers to put a stop to it, but it only led them to draw their blasters. Within an instant, Mathyu used the The Force to throw the stormtroopers off the platform in time to save the workers from an unjust execution. His father, who was aware of the possible repercussions of being Force-sensitive sent his son to an old friend on the desert world of Tatooine.

Seeds of Rebellion and Jedi Training
Mathyu arrived at Anchorhead and met several members of the Rebel Alliance who officially inducted him into their ranks. They also introduced him to his new master, Tusken Jedi A'Sharad Hett. Working missions for the Alliance was Mathyu's calling. He felt anything he could do that would undermine the Empire was worth a try. He participated in several minor skirmishes and events during the early years of the Galactic Civil War. He became very proficient in piloting, and took great pride in his skills. During this entire time, Mathyu was also receiving training from Hett. Mathyu even fashioned his first lightsaber after his mentor's.

For roughly four years the young Jedi studied under the tutelage of his experienced master. The two developed a strong bond, and Hett even allowed for Mathyu to adopt many of the Tusken Raider customs. He began to wear the traditional garbs of the warriors and learned of their history and fighting styles. Though many Jedi later on would see these lessons as dangerous, Hett believed that the Order's only chance to survive would be if it adapted to tolerate the more aggressive tactics seen by Gray Jedi. After the Battle of Endor, Mathyu "learned all he could learn" from Hett and was sent out to aide the Rebellion in their struggle to form a New Republic

Member of the New Jedi Order
Mathyu began to study at the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin IV and quickly ascended the ranks of the Order. Despite his painfully honest, sometimes sarcastic, and other times brutal character, he was able to fit in with even the most stoic of jedi. Mathyu had the ability to shut off emotion when he needed to and could calm a situation faster than a seasoned diplomat. His fighting style, however, seemed to become a problem with his superiors. Mathyu used his anger in fights, not always on the defense, he would sometimes become so feral he would frighten his sparring partner into defeat. Though Master Skywalker seemed to frown upon it, it was allowed. Mathyu did not fully believe in being purely light. His beliefs were close to that of a Gray Jedi, which made him friends among the likes of Kyle Katarn. The Invasion of the Yuuzhan Vong would affirm Mathyu's perception on the force.

Yuuzhan Vong Invasion
Mathyu participated in every major battle of the Yuuzhan Vong War from the First Battle of Helska to the Liberation of Coruscant. Unlike most jedi, Mathyu preferred to battle in space. Engaging the enemy in a starfighter was a skill much more practiced during the war. In the final years, he even captained his own Star Destroyer. Part of the reason Mathyu fought his battles from space was the atrocities he witnessed on the ground. Not even the Tusken Jedi could bare to comprehend the merciless slaughter performed by the enemy. In the few ground battles Mathyu was a part of, he was often seen by his comrades slicing down enemy after enemy in the savage and merciless veracity of a Tusken Raider. The war had openned his eyes to a conflict never seen by the likes of any sentient in the Galaxy. Mathyu used his rage to defeat the Vong countless times in battle, which was highly taboo for a Jedi. However, with the help of Kyp Durron, he managed to convince Grand Master Skywalker of this philosophy of the Force. Regardless, by the war's end, he had seen his fair share of combat.

"The Sand Jedi"
After the Yuuzhan Vong War, Mathyu was hailed as a war hero and given the title of Jedi Master. However, the war had changed him, and he was tired of the constant struggle in the New Jedi Order and the politics of the Galaxy. In 32 ABY, Mathyu proclaimed himself a Gray Jedi and returned to Tatooine to join several other Jedi in keeping the peace on the backwater world. It was rumored that Mathyu may have also sired a family during his earlier years years on the desert world, and that the war had spurred him to return to his family for good.

Over the years, less and less was heard of Mathyu, and many in the Order wondered if he still lived. Only a select few of his friends knew his whereabouts and how to contact him. In the latter half of the century after the Battle of Yavin, a legend arose on Tatooine about a "Sand Jedi" who would arrive on the scene of an evil act in a storm of sand and vanquish any who wished suffering on their fellow sentients. The jedi himself was said dressed in brown and tan but wore a Durasteel chestplate with the Rebel Alliance insignia painted in blood on his shoulder while his long white hair fluttered in the breeze. Most offworlders equated the tales to nothing more than bedtime stories, but native Tatooinians and jedi knew better.

Lightsaber style
Despite his preference for space combat, Mathyu was a proficient lightsaber duelist. His first Tusken Tribal Saber never sat well in his hand. He constantly felt that the style of combat was a hinderance to him. He subsequently constructed a Double-bladed lightsaber that never saw combat as neither Mathyu or A'Sharad Hett were entirely clear on its use. After joining the New Jedi Order, Master Luke Skywalker suggested he try Double-bladed lightsaber combat. Mathyu brought his own out of retirement and, after some guidance, fell right into place. He quickly mastered the style, preferring its focus on releasing aggression. This did not always bode over well with his masters, but it brought him many victories during the Yuuzhan Vong War and Mathyu was never seen anywhere without his prized weapon.

Sevaral years into the War, Mathyu's lightsaber was sliced in half. Instead of repairing it to its original state, Mathyu modified it so it could be both a double-bladed and dual lightsabers. Mathyu became proficient in Form X or dual wielding lightsaber combat and switched between the two forms frequently to diversify combat and give him an extra edge to a duel.

Personality and traits
Mathyu was a mut on all levels. His parents were unknown but both presumed to be from very different backgrounds, then he was raised as a shipbuilders apprentice, only to end up training under a jedi who happened to be a Tusken Raider. In most cases, he was a loner, not caring for anything or anyone outside of his personal beliefs and small circle of trusted individuals. He helped the Rebel Alliance because of the atrocites he witnessed on his home planet and when he realized what had happened to his parents. After the many deaths he witnessed at the hands of the Empire Mathyu made a vendetta of killing Imperials. When it came to the Yuuzhan Vong, Mathyu despised their wanton destruction and disregard for sentient life, and made it his sole mission to eliminate as many as he could. In short, anything he did he made personal. His skill with a lightsaber rose suspicion when coupled with conjecture about his last name, which was often tossed around as one of the possible last names of the ancient jedi Revan's programmed personality. If it held true, this would mean that Mathyu was likely a descendant of Revan and Bastila Shan

He was not without a sense of humor, dry and dark as it was. Often in combat he'd make sarcastic and wry comments about whatever situation he was in. Being a pessimist, he never expected the best to come out of anything, and was a firm believer in Murphy's Law. When it came to interaction, he would convey emotionless responses, and saved his rage for combat. Even with jedi teachings, he managed to use his hate for good purposes. To his friends he was loyal, and to his enemies he was a force to be rekoned with. This coupled with his odd background made for a very unique individual, and a formidable jedi.

A'Sharad Hett
Mathyu met Master Hett at the age of seventeen after learning he was Force-sensitive. The elder jedi took the young boy under his wing and trained him in the ways of the light side...as well as a few dirty tricks and Tusken fighting methods. The two developed a close bond and the relationship became very much like that of a father and son. Mathyu adopted the customs of the Tusken Raiders during his years on Tatooine. When he returned to the arid world from the Yuuzhan Vong War he continued his master's role as a planetary guardian.

Maardok Onasi
Whilst training on Tatooine, Mathyu also did a good deal of work for the Rebel Alliance. At the time, then-Colonel Maardok Onasi would often fight alongside the padawan. It was not long before the two of them developed a healthy friendship. Their mutual Tusken background and similar outward appearance made them a perfect pair for special operations missions in which the Rebellion didn't want to be pinned for their attacks on the Empire. After Maardok left the Alliance officially, their friendship diminished somewhat.

Kyle Katarn
During his studies at the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin IV, Mathyu found himself somewhat outcast not because of his appearance, but his unusual fighting style. Not only did he employ the use of a double-bladed lightsaber, but he also focused his anger on opponents during combat. The only two jedi to defend him were Kyp Durron and Kyle Katarn. Kyle had been tempted by the Dark Side of The Force and knew how to walk the fine line between good and evil. He aided Mathyu in honing his somewhat taboo abilities and joined him during many battles during the Yuuzhan Vong War.