The Weapon Of The Jedi
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What is a lightsabre? It is the ancient defensive weapon of the Jedi Order. It is believed to actually predate the rise of the Jedi, which is about 25,000 years ago. It is more than a 'laser sword'. It is used as a focal point for a Jedi's concentration. It is also the ancient symbol of the Jedi. The beings of the universe knew that where a lightsabre was, then life would be protected.
The lightsabre 'handle' is a self contained unit about 12" in length. It contains it's own power source that can go long periods without being recharged. The blade itself that is produced by the handle can be from 4' to just over 6' long. This blade cancut through almost anything, save for coritoris, mystically protected metals, or mandellorian armor. While it will cut through these metal eventually,it takes about 4 or 5 swings to penetrate the metal.
The classic grip for the lightsabre is to have the left hand at the bottom of the hilt, and the right hand at the top. The left hand actually does all the work of moving the weapon up and down, whilst the right hand steers the weapon's direction. The grip used by each hand is somewhat like a tennis grip, the "V" between the thumb and the first finger at the top of the hilt. Unlike a tennis grip, however, the strongest force is applied by the ring and little fingers, not the forefinger and the index finger.
Upon activation of the unit an energy 'blade' extends outward in a straight line for about 5 to 6 feet. The blade itself is tightly coherent and opaque, with a slightly rounded 'tip'. The 'core' rod is about 1" in diameter. There is an even smaller cutting core within this one. The rod eminates a glow from it in all directions. The glow dims quickly the further you move from the core, and a lightsabre is of practically no use for lighting an area. When the blade is swung, it appears to occupy more space than it really does, due to the residual phosporescent image left on the human eye by the passage of such a brightly lit object. The hilt of the sabre does not get hot, despite the immense heat of the blade. Though the blade GIVES OFF no heat. Only if one was to touch the blade woulf you notice heat....as your finger is disintegrated. The 'battery' power source of the lightsabre holds an immense charge. Going years without needing to be recharged.
The blade is not a laser beam. As it can not pass through other lightsabre blades. A laser, by the means we understand light, would pass through another laser effortlessly. And it can deflect blaster bolts. The glow is believed by many to be simply as a way of tracking the blade. Much like tracer rounds in a machine gun. Despite it's broad glowing corona, and it's thickness of about an adult thumb, it makes extremely fine cuts. The blade will remain thoroughly rigid-regardless of how vigorously it is waved about or jostled.
The lightsabre most closely resembles the Japanese shinai (training sword) in both dimensions and use, with several crucial differences. The 'blade' of the weapon has negligible mass. That means the centerof gravity for the entire weapon is miday along the hilt, not 20-30% along the length of the blade as is typical with 'physical' weapons. As a result there is negligible momentum in swinging the blade. It may be swung rapidly about with a minimum of effort. As a result, the blade is difficult to employ safely. The slightest motion can send the cutting surface swinging wildly. There is no sense of swinging a weight, as there is with say, a katana - there is no 'feedback'. It would be like trying to tie your shoelaces without any feeling in your fingers. or trying to play the violin with earplugs. Feedback is a crucial mechanism in developing 'muscle memory'. The weapon will cut through any objects one the first swing. Except for coritoris and objects with mystical protection. A lightsabre does not cut effortlessly through physical objects. It is required the 'blade' be 'pushed' through the object. Different objects offer differing amounts of resistance. As a result, the user must swing the lightsabre with considerable force, and yet, have sufficient control to be able to stop the motion in the event of a miss. Without any momentum, or feedback, it is not easy to develop this skill - it is counterintuitive.
~There are many who believe the lightsabre blade is a manifestation of the Force. That only Jedi can weild a sabre since only a Jedi can channel the Force into such a shape. This is totally untrue. The lightsabre is a piece of technology, not a piece of the Force itself.
~There are those who believe there is some mystical bond between a Jedi and his/her lightsabre. The most quoted analogy is that of Japanese Samurai...whose katana is considered to be his soul. The sabre is in fact the formal weapon of the Jedi, not necessarily the only weapon, and it is not necessairly restricted TO the Jedi. The sabre is a symblo of the Jedi, but that is as deep as the mystical connection goes.
~The lightsabre can be used WELL by an exceptionally trained person.
~Jedi can use them better than anyone else.
~Jedi CHOOSE to use sabres as their formal weapons, probably to showcase their Force enhanced skills.
~Jedi are culturally associated with lightsabres in most of the universe.
~Lightsabre Blade Colors And What They Mean~
Yellow/Orange(We believe these two interchangeable) - "Luminous beings are we; not this crude matter." The Yellow abilities deal
with energy, both in it's physical and metaphysical forms.
Blue - Mind over matter is the basis for telekinesis;
mind over mind is the nature of a Force duel.
Blue deals with countering mental attacks, seeking the paths of others' thoughts,
and the universe of the mind.
Green - Of all the colors, this is perhaps the most important.
Nature is the focus of this discipline, growth, life, and the course of natural evolution
are involved with this color. Users of these skills often have a
longing for gardens after a while of exposure.
Red - Red is often a symbol of attack and chaos, making it the least used of
the Aing-Tii powers. Still, mastery of these abilities will help those constantly on
the front lines of a battle.
UPDATE! It has recently been learned that red lightsabre blades CAN ACTUALLY BREAK ANOTHER LIGHTSABRE BLADE! WHA!!? Yep, so true. How? Listen up.
Red crystals are ordinarily unsuitable for lightsabres, since they are less stable than the customary green and blue crystals Jedi use for the blade generators in the lightsabres. However, red crystals glow in harmonic vibration when energized by the dark side of the Force. When energized in this way, red 'Sith' crystals can actually produce a stronger blade that has the rare potential to 'break the blade' of Jedi lightsabres, overloading the energy matrix and instantly burning out the sabre of the unfortunate opponent. This rarely happens, but it is a known and frightening possibility in combat.
Brown - Brown, the color of the rock beneath, invokes the powers of defense.
Similar to the "Protection" Sith discipline, the users of the Aing-Tii skills
find that power is not as important to this as circumstances are.
Purple/Violet - The color of seeing through illusion is purple. Truth in the face of lies,
truth in the face of other truth. Those who specialize in this discipline can
see through illusions and dispel them, or simply cause select others to see what
is really there.
Silver - ???????
Please please no more 'black' or rainbow colored blades. If you have a colored blade other than the ones listed, you don't have a true lightsabre. You have a cheap imitation.
~Lightsabre Blade Strength~
The number one complaint about using lightsabres is that they can cut through anything. People say it is unfair. Well ... that is just the way it is. A lightsabre will slice through anything on the first swing. The exceptions are as follows:
1. Mystically protected objects -If an object is protected by a magical spell, then the blade won't slice through it. It will only weaken it. Eventually it will penetrate it though.
2. Coritoris - The classic sabre proof metal. Sort of. It takes four good strikes to pierce a piece of coritoris. Or holding the blade on the metal for 2 or more rounds. Like pressing against it for that amount of time.
3. Energy Shields - Whether produced by magic or technology, a lightsabre blade won't slice through an energy shield. It will weaken it, and pierce a non sustaining shield after 5 strikes.
3. Cortosis - similar to Coritoris in strength and durability.
~Lightsabre Types~
The only legal forms of sabres in Ayenee is the traditional lightsabre and the lightstaff (as Darth Maul made famous). All blades are four and a half feet to six feet long. And remember, the blade has no negligible mass, so don't worry about it being to much weight for you.
There are NO, I repeat, NO omnisabres or tri-sabres. Lightsabres or lightstaffs ONLY. Period.
~Who Can Use A Lightsabre~
Those who are Force sensative and trained in using the lightsabre can of course use one. Certain beings with extreme telekinetic control can handle one. People who can't use the Force or aren't TK sensative won't be able to use a lightsabre with much proficiency. The extreme muscle control needed to handle the massless blade would wear a person out in no time.
~How To Get A Lightsabre~
A novice Jedi Knight should be able to create his first lightsaber in about a month.
A trained Jedi Master can, in a hurry, could construct one in a few days.
Note that the Star Wars Journal: The Fight for Justice indicates that a Jedi
is given his lightsaber on his first day of training. Anyone can techinically construct one. But it requires certain Jedi powers to make final connections.
.... or ....
You can kill someone with a lightsabre. Take theirs.
