The Jedi | The Sith | Other Force Religions | Lightsabers

FORCE RELIGIONS
There were many religions in the galaxy, but not all were concerned about or even aware of the Force. At the same time, the indigenous
beliefs of many worlds were often centered around the Force, or at least around nature, which is the same as being devoted to the Force
only without the next level of understanding common to the interstellar community. Religious beliefs of interstellar society tended to at
least address the subject of the Force, and most major religions unique to a particular spacefaring race contained either a belief in the Force
or some approximation of it. The most famous Force religion was probably the Jedi, however it was an exclusive group for Force wielders
and was in no way the largest religion concerned with the Force. A great many without the ability to wield the Force place great faith and
trust in the Force, and recognize their connection to the Force without directly sensing it or more fully understanding it. In addition, other
religions of Force wielders existed in the galaxy beyond the Jedi and the Sith. These religions varied in their philosophies and goals.


The Church of the Force
The Church of the Force is a decentralized religion followed primarily by people who were not Force sensitive enough to wield the Force.
Those in the galaxy who believe in the Force are certainly numerous, possibly even in the majority, however not all who do would identify
themselves as followers of the Church. Those which do consider themselves members may have a wide variety of beliefs, although some
central tenants were common to all followers. The Church emphasized faith in the Force, and passed down what knowledge was known
about the Force outside of the secretive Jedi and Sith circles. The Church had a nearly mythological view of the Jedi, teaching stories of
varying accuracy about their exploits as instructive fables, and holding the idea of the Jedi in high regard. Church followers often believed
the Jedi Order to be in some way representative of the light side of the Force, and were ready allies of the Jedi in times when assistance
was required. When the Jedi Order was lost, many members heralded the future return of the Order as a messianic, millennial event.
The Church teaches that the Force is with all of us, and encourages Jedi-like practices designed to encourage connection with the Force
even among those who cannot wield it. The Church also fosters the training of those with a limited ability to wield the Force.
The holy city of Jedha on the 'Pilgrim' moon of the same name was the center of this religion until its destruction in 7977 (0 BBY).

The Kyber Temple in Jedha City is venerated and maintained by the Church of the Force, and had at least a limited Jedi presence at some
points until the fall of the Order. It housed a large collection of kyber crystals from the moon's significant deposits, which were arranged
ceremonially or inlaid into pieces of religious art. The application of these crystals was intended to focus the Force at the temple, making
the temple both a pilgrimage site for spiritually minded visitors and a place of practice for those seeking greater oneness with the Force.

Those members of the Church who were committed practitioners were known as the Disciples of the Whills. They could be found on many
planets in the galaxy, sometimes living a semi-cloistered life within the local community. Those members of the Church which were Force
sensitive enough to wield the Force at some basic level, but who were not sensitive enough to be trained as a Jedi, could become one of
the Guardians of the Whills. They were the protectors of the Kyber Temple, and a sect which practiced unique disciplines as well as
Jedi-like practices designed to build an individual's connection to the Force. Those who attained a higher spiritual level through this practice
could sense the Force in a limited way, and even access some of the precognitive abilities of the Jedi. Combined with martial arts training,
the limited Force-wielding abilities of the Guardians made them exceptional fighters, but like the Jedi they greatly preferred to be peaceful.
The Guardians of the Whills were presumed destroyed near the end of the Imperial era, shortly after the destruction of Jedha City.
Although heavily persecuted under the Empire, many Disciples of the Whills could still be found around the galaxy.


The Dagoyan Order
The Dagoyan Order is a religious society of Force-sensitive Bardottans, a reptile-like sapient species from the planet Bardotta. The Dagoyan
Masters of this order connect to the Force passively, using the Force for knowledge and understanding, rather than manipulating the world
around them. As Force scientists, their passive interaction with the Force is used to sense "intuition, knowledge, the harmony of the universe",
and by not actively involving their personal will in the Force they avoid the issue of choosing between the light side and the dark side. They
are able to receive knowledge from the Force in the form of visions, often prophetic ones, when the Force wills it. Jedi mind tricks don't work
on members of the Dagoyan Order, due to their focused minds and powers with the Force. Long ago, Force-sensitive Bardottans were inducted
into the Jedi Order. The Dagoyan Order labeled the Jedi kidnappers, since their world has their own native religion of Force wielders which would
be depleted by the Jedi. As a result, the Bardottans don't trust the Jedi, who aren't usually welcome on Bardotta. The Frangawl Clan is a sect
of Dagoyan Masters who use the dark side, and worship Malmourral, the ancient Bardottan demon of war. They apparently ruled Bardotta with
an iron hand for most of its early history. They were warriors, and oppressive, but were also a spiritual people like most Bardottans seem to be.
The Frangawl were apparently destroyed, but had in fact simply gone into hiding, including amongst the Dagoyan Order. The Frangawl use
a kind of dust composed of Force-sensitive crystal particles, which has properties which in the SW universe is called magick, a kind of Force
alchemy. They can use these 'magick' powders to achieve abilities with the Force, such as invisibility or capturing and storing the energy of
the living Force removed from a being. This material may be in some way similar to the spirit ichor on Dathomir which the Nightsisters utilize.
The Dagoyans and their offshoot sect were both closely linked to their homeworld of Bardotta. The Frangawl, long officially outcast on
Bardotta, maintained a center of worship for Malmourral on the nearby moon of Zardossa Stix, also in the Colonies region of the galaxy.

The main temple and headquarters for the Dagoyan Order was the Bardottan Royal Palace, where they also functioned as a central part of
the government. The ancient shrine of the Frangawl cult is located beneath the Dagoyan Temple on Bardotta. The palace and temple were
built over the Frangawl temple as a 'purification of suppression', something often done in Earth history, as well as by the Jedi, who would
construct Jedi temples on top of the remains of Sith temples in many locations in the galaxy throughout history. The shrine is designed to
perform ritual Force sacrifices to Malmourral, in which the victims are killed by draining them of the living Force and their energy is
preserved in Force powder, which can be preserved when placed in a containment vessel. Temple of Malmourral on Zardossa Stix is
an artificial high-place, constructed at this location to harness the energies of this starsystem for use in their rituals involving Force
sacrifices. A tower placed at an optimum position near the temple holds up a mechanism of lenses designed to focus the energy of
this system's star, which provides a natural, non-technological way to provide the energy needed for their sacrifices.

The Bardottan government is a monarchy and a theocracy, with a Queen as head of state, and a ruling body known as the Bahk-tov Council,
made up of the Force-sensitive Masters of the Dagoyan Order. The head of the Bahk-tov Council, and possibly the Dagoyan Order itself, is
known as the High Seneschal. Bardottan leaders are chosen by virtue of enlightenment, qualifications, and likely seniority. Frangawl Masters
operate outside of the jurisdiction of Bardotta, or in secret on their home planet, sometimes even within the ranks of the Dagoyan Order.
Those Frangawl who are Force-sensitive apparently also have visions through the Force, which also shows them visions and prophecies.
The majority of their other powers with the Force come from Force alchemy and magick, similar to the Witches of Dathomir.


The Witches of Dathomir
The Witches of Dathomir are clans of Force practitioners who utilize Dathomir's strong connection to the dark side of the Force. They are
female Zabrak, or more often Zabrak-Human hybrids. Some have enough Force sensitivity to wield the Force on their own, however most
do not, yet through the planet can also use magick, also known as Force sorcery, to use the dark side for a wide variety of applications.
This is made possible by the Waters of Life, or spirit ichor, which appears as a glowing green mist. This makes their abilities and powers
intrinsically linked to the planet, although through the Force some aspect of that power can be wielded elsewhere. The Witches use
magick to simulate many Jedi abilities, including telekinesis, prophecy and vision, and defense against objects and energy. They also use
their magick to simulate Sith abilities like Force alchemy, Force sorcery, reanimation of the dead, and spells of confusion or distraction.
The Witches dominate their home planet of Dathomir, and maintain a loose control over the male Zabrak who also live in clans on
the planet. Although decidedly tipped towards the dark side, the limited way in which the Witches connect to the Force also minimizes
the addictive and corrupting effect of using the dark side, meaning that most Dathomir Witches aren't twisted sociopaths who are
single-mindedly bent on ultimate power. This is not to downplay the dark intention of their more powerful leaders, only to suggest
the Witches were not always consumed by evil. The Jedi were aware of the Witches of Dathomir, and while they weren't exactly friends,
they did seem to usually have a cordial relationship and a mutual respect. The Witches did not usually wish to antagonize a more
powerful group like the Jedi, in particular because the Jedi are neither aggressive nor intolerant. The existence of an order of dark side
practitioners which didn't usually pose a galactic menace, on a planet strongly connected to the dark side, was not a Jedi concern.
Many millennia before the era of the films, the Witches established some holdings on other planets, such as Arcana, and even discovered
the means to reach the planet Peridea in a different primary galaxy. The Witches there ruled over a kingdom on that planet which at its
height was so powerful that confusion seems to have arisen about that civilization's origins on Dathomir. The Sith had some historical
relationship with some of the Witches in the primary galaxy, what Dooku described as "the old alliance." It seems likely that when the Sith
were openly active in the galaxy during the millennia of the Old Republic, the Witches and the Sith were at one point in league together.

Most clans of Witches lived in covens, located in strongholds built around magick altars which directly linked their power in the Force to
that of Dathomir itself. These were usually located in places where the Waters of Life could be accessed, allowing direct manipulation
of this Force-imbued material, which formed the basis of most of their alchemy and spells. One significant lair of Dathomir Witches
is the Fortress of the Nightsisters on Dathomir, which was that clan's residence and central place of power. After the decline and fall
of their ancient kingdom, the Great Mothers on Peridea resided in a fortress there, until its destruction in 7986 (9 ABY).

Clans of Witches were led by Shamans, the older, more experienced, and more powerful women of the clan with the most knowledge
of the spirit ichor and the rituals for its manipulation. One powerful group of Dathomir Witches were the Nightsisters Clan, which was
prominent in the later days of the Republic under the leadership of Mother Talzin, who was a powerful Force wielder despite not
having a natural aptitude strong enough to wield the Force. Her knowledge of magick and power with the Force on Dathomir were
extensive, giving her abilities which were sometimes beyond those of the Jedi and the Sith, however limited she was by her means.
Old Daka was the elder shaman of the Nightsisters, described by Mother Talzin as the oldest and wisest amongst them. The chant of
resurrection she uses seems to be an example of the kind of knowledge she possessed that was beyond even Mother Talzin.

The Nightsisters Clan was devastated by the Clone Wars, yet through their unnatural powers, their total destruction was not certain
until the loss of their magick altar decades later. There are almost certainly other clans of Witches still living somewhere on Dathomir.
The three Great Mothers of Peridea returned to the primary galaxy to take up residence on Dathomir in 7986 (9 ABY).