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An NPC Organization
The Matukai are a roving nomadic tribe of force users who practice the force using meditative martial arts. They channel the force using their physical bodies, believing that it enhances their connection with the force and further empowers not only their bodies but also their minds. Matukai philosophy was centered around creating a balance and harmony between the spiritual Force and the physical body, using exercise and combat as a form of meditation. This paired with protecting the innocent, as per their light side of the force duties. Their training involves meditative martial arts, physical training and pushing one’s physical and mental limits in order to grow by any means possible. Using their bodies as a focus, they emphasized keeping oneself clean and strong, purifying oneself through physical activity and resisting the temptation from the dark side. Unlike the Jedi Order or the Exiles, they did not wield lightsabers, instead focusing more on hand-to-hand combat and other varieties of melee weapons.
In the beginning the more followers Orin obtained the more he was better trained to teach as he gained experience. Not only did he teach his pupils the ways of the force he ensured that they all were trained in order to defend themselves as well as those they wished to protect simply using their own bodies. Weapons were a luxury that sometimes you couldn’t afford, training this way meant that not only were you never unarmed but you were one with the force. Though, that did not mean the Matukai did not wield weapons period. While some focused on only the physical aspect some channeled their abilities into wielding melee weapons forged with lightsaber resistant materials in mind.
Over the centuries the Matukai have evolved. Initially starting as a way to simply improve ones self and to gain a relationship with the living breathing force. Eventually as the group of martial artists grew their mission grew. With the passing of Orin Cressor and with their understanding of the light side of the force the Matukai collectively took on a shared mission. They began to take it open themselves to patrol the galaxy, their nomadic nature lending itself to that mission perfectly. While the other peacekeepers of the galaxy never truly recognized the Matukai, the almost insignificant group made big waves in smaller settlements and planets. It made perfect sense, they were spreading the light and saving those who needed it the most.
During their noble mission they were noticed by the Jedi and were attempted to be absorbed into the order. It made sense, the Matukai were warriors of the light and were making (very) small impacts for the better due to their small numbers. At the core however they disagreed fundamentally with the Jedi on many levels, particularly their forgiveness of their enemies and their hierarchy where there were others who were above the individual. It seemed to the Matukai this would create conflict so they simply refused their offer peacefully, ironically making the right decision.
Not long later the Jedi Order faced a cataclysmic event, a massive chunk of their order splitting and going to war within itself. The One Hundred Year darkness was where the Matukai struggled the most. Their group was slain by Exiles and the more over zealous Jedi mercilessly (them thinking they were traitors of the order, thus, becoming Exiles). The Matukai were hunted for sport, typically the stronger ones needing multiple Jedi or Exiles to take on just because of their sheer intensity in combat. Soon the over 1000 year old nomadic band of warriors met an all time low, with as little as only one hundred Matukai total remaining in the entire galaxy. They do not have ways to communicate with one another and are spread out all across the Outer Rim, the organization needing to be united in their darkest hour when the light is at its dimmest.
Whereas most Force organizations utilized external expressions of Force energy, such as the common applications of telekinesis, telepathy, Force lightning and so forth, the Matukai instead channel all their Force energy into augmenting the physiology, such as augmenting the physical force they can exert, controlling their body temperature, enhancing their own stamina and heightening their speed and reflexes. Because the Matukai often harnessed the Force to augment qualities they already possessed, they did not depend strongly on extrasensory abilities, and instead heightened their own natural senses through consuming their own Force reserves. The Matukai did this through a process they called "feeding on the Light". Avoiding the all-too-often self-destructive energies of the Dark Side of the Force, the Matukai centralized their powers through the Light Side of the Force, which they simply acknowledged as "the Light". In this process, the Matukai effectively metabolized Light force energies within their bodies, instead of expelling it. It was because this process was often unnatural to many that the Matukai utilized extreme physical strain, even pain-inducing practices. The ideal and most common of these was full-contact martial arts. Because the Matukai did not adhere to a single form or style of combat, Matukai were able to utilize whatever martial art they wished, such as Stava, Teräs Käsi, Sholân Kha. However, Echani Art was the most common. More than a form of exercise, fighting was a form of meditation with the Force for a Matukai, and the greater the fighters, the stronger the connection to the Force one would extract from the experience. In many ways, the Matukai approach to combat was very similar to the Echani philosophy toward fighting, which was why the Echani Art was so common among its members. Fighting prompted growth, enhanced one's own awareness and deepened one's connection to the Force out of necessity. When pushed to their limits in the face of growing trials a Matukai was forced to use the Force to survive their obstacle. This was an additional reason why Matukai alternatively meditated by forcing themselves into still, and sometimes even uncomfortable, positions while enduring difficult environments or extreme seclusion.
In short, the Matukai strive to pass on the 'light' to as many as possible while strengthening their relationship with the force, aiming to become as close to it and become as enlightened as possible. The expansion of the light is vital to their cause, the Matukai taking it upon themselves to be the warriors against the dark. They believe the Jedi order is too indecisive, the Matukai more martial and decisively assertive. Though being nomadic and small in number they could never truly make a difference in comparison to the Jedi due to their small population, their beliefs clashing while still remaining within align of one another.
(To be added maybe, you get the idea from the history and philosophy lol.)
Proselytes were the initiates, assigned to either the oversight of the Elders or a Savant mentor alongside other Proselytes. These are the freshest Matukai faces, not quite earning the title of Matukai yet but are generally not far from it within months of dedicated training.
The rank of Adept followed, as a Proselyte completed their training as a Matukai. This is the standard rank of Matukai and most popular, the higher ranks taking a considerable amount of effort. Years of training and enduring the elements were necessary to advance, this did not mean Adepts were weak. Building up the bulk of the Matukai, the Adepts are an unrelenting force to face in combat.
Matukai experts were entitled to the rank of Savant, and often took the role of mentoring Proselytes ready for one-on-one training. They are not quite at the end of their journey but possess great strength and a fantastic connection with the force. They follow the Light and do not falter in their beliefs as an Adept could potentially. Once a Savant mentoring took precedence over other Matukai duties.
Elders were the leaders of the Matukai, directing and guiding the Matukai under them. Though the nomadic tribe of warriors did not have an official hierarchy, lacking a single figure head for leadership but had many to band together for the good of the order. Elders have a mastery of the force and their martial arts, having braved the elements and miraculously lived long enough to spread the wealth of knowledge they possess.
Uninterested in the Jedi and Exile conflict the Matukai have splintered into several different factions of their own. They are not massive by any means but simple, small tribes of wandering martial artists are scattered all across the galaxy. It is not known how many Matukai are still around (around only 100 in total spread across the various tribes), very few ever being trained and many of them unfortunately being caught in the crossfire of the Hundred Year Darkness.
The few groups that remain are discriminated against by normal people and other force users alike. To Jedi they are cowards who didn’t support the light in its time of need. To Exiles they’re easy targets to increase their powers against. To the average citizen they are just as bad as the other two, thinking that while they lacked lightsabers they were all still the same. This is why they keep moving, not only to preserve the legacy of Orin Cressor but also for their own safety. Someone revealing they are of the Matukai or trained with them is a potentially fatal secret. While they can become extremely powerful without the help of a lightsaber, while they strive to help as many innocent people as they can and while they all love a fight being a Matukai means they're a target. This means that they can no longer stay in one place for too long as not to draw attention to themselves.
The Matukai are now few in number but wealthy in knowledge. While they do not own any fancy ships or have homes of their own the knowledge they possess of the force is fascinating and at times intimidating. They have no hierarchical structure, the roving tribes looking at one another as equals even with their learning ranks. Even those who are masters of various different styles of martial arts do not look at themselves higher than their pupils, they are all one in the same and one with the force.
They simply serve to teach force sensitive people the ways of the force while providing a safe haven for learning, especially during the times of darkness. Unfortunately, being on the move means that they can not teach many people at once without the risk of being discovered by the Jedi or the Exiles. Many simply stay in an instructor role while many Matukai now a days find themselves as roving heroes, getting into trouble to not only preserve the light but to get stronger from conquering all that test them.
Being nomadic is their nature, meaning you never know when you'll run into the Matukai.
I think the Matukai could be a pretty solid addition to the forum’s lore as an NPC organization. They would never be a massive group by any means but it gives people the option to learn the force from a faction that generally keeps to themselves and don’t use lightsabers. It'd offer a nice bit of variety and also introduce force users who don't necessarily wield a lightsaber (though the Matukai could enhance those who do). Being Nomadic they could be handy for plot reasons, coming across a group of them whilst in trouble could be beneficial or for Exiles it would allow for a fun demonstration of their power against dangerous opponents but ones that lack lightsabers. They are flexible and can be found basically anywhere for those who want them and they’re balanced enough to influence player characters and making them stronger while remaining ultimately a background element. They won’t affect the overall Jedi vs Exile engagement but they can assist on the player level.
They're originally a not so well known Legends faction so I re-purposed it for the overall rp, hope you like it!
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