Keelin Zaariq (Jedi Renaissance)

"I am Jan-Ira Toru. This is Keelin Zaariq. We are here at the request of Master For'deschel of the Almas Academy"

- Jan-Ira Toru

Keelin Zaariq was a female Devaronian Jedi Master serving the Jedi Order during the Jedi Renaissance era and the following Golden Age. A Padawan during the decade marked by the Separatist Crisis in the Galactic Senate, Zaariq employed her Right of Denial in order to sit out the Clone Wars.

Early life in the Cularin system
A Force-sensitive Devaronian, Keelin Zaariq was detected as Forceful by Republic doctors on her homeworld of Fenves and turned over to the Jedi Order so that she might be educated in the ways of the Force. Ten standard years old by the time of her detection, Zaariq would have typically been turned away by the Order but was transferred to the experimental academy on Almas where she would be taught under an accelerated curriculum which planned for the learning curve of late-comers. Selected for training as a Padawan by the revered Thisspiasian Jedi Master Rassad Cospicitis, Zaariq took missions with her mentor which kept her within the Cularin system.

When the Clone Wars erupted across the galaxy, Zaariq and her master remained lockstep with the Almas Council and refused to return to Coruscant to take up arms for the Republic per the orders of the High Council. Turning over their lightsabers as they invoked the Right of Denial, Zaariq and her fellow Almas Jedi constructed new ones with material smuggled into the academy by a sympathizing colleague from Coruscant. Taking assignments within the system during the war, Zaariq and the Human Padawan Jan-Ira Toru were sent by Jedi Master Devan For'deschel to bring the vigilante group known as the Heroes of Cularin to the Almas Academy. Escorting the Heroes back to the Academy for the meeting, Zaariq and Toru were commended for negotiating the talks and successfully escorting the group without any missteps.

The Great Journey
When the Clone Wars abruptly ended in 19 BBY, Zaariq joined her master and fellow Almas Jedi in reporting to Coruscant, if not reluctantly for suspicion that they may be detained by the High Council for refusing to fight. Upon arriving at the Temple there, Zaariq and the other Almas Jedi were shocked to learn that the High Council had reorganized under the leadership of newly appointed Grand Master Tomac Moorcé and would be welcoming them back into the fold without any punishment for their refusal. Like all Jedi, Zaariq was called before the Council of Judgment and was ordered to give a critical report on the state of her balance within the Force. Deeming her well-balanced, they ordered her to travel with her master to Ossus to assist in the construction efforts there as the Order reestablished its ancient home on the ruined world.

Emerging from the Council chambers, Zaariq was surprised to learn that her master had been named Headmaster of the soon to be constructed Grand Academy on Ossus and given a seat on the Council of First Knowledge.