Origin of the Knights of Sokan

The explosion was loud and had shook the surface of Coruscant. The people, those who had been placed in the careful hands of Leyasu Wurray, looked up at him, shocked by the sound and searching for guidance. Smiling, he placed both his hands before him and instructed the group to remain calm while he left in search of able-bodied men. Upon meeting two Republic officers, he requested their assistance in keeping the people safe and well hidden. Despite the worries growing in his mind, Leyasu gave the officers a warm smile of reassurance and began to make his way into the city.

Hidden by the alleys and shadows, he spied pockets of resistance militia moving about. A squad of imperials blockaded a particular area of note up ahead – it seemed to be a headquarters of some sort. Leyasu slowly peered his head around the corner of the alley to achieve a better view but was startled to realize that he was staring into the back of the helmet of an imperial trooper. Eyes wide and alert, he slowly pulled his head back and pivoted sharply towards the opposite direction of the alley. Just as his body turned, he found himself face to face with the Force ghost of Odan Urr.

Odan-Urr

Within that split second Leyasu had reached for, ignited and swung his lightsaber to meet the apparition’s neck only to back off when he realized what he was seeing. “I thought a Jedi didn’t pull his lightsaber unless it was his last resort,” Odan joked, “At least since you are willing to pull your saber, I know that you are willing to use it.”

Taken aback, Leyasu was at loss for words. He had heard of former masters strong in the Force being capable of manifesting themselves after death, but seeing it for himself was something entirely new. Odan Urr placed his hand to his mouth, finger extended in a quieting gesture, and motioned Leyasu that he was to follow and not talk. Leyasu nodded. Urr’s spirit turned and seemed to glide effortlessly across the alley. Leyasu picked his pace up to a jog and trailed as closely as possible to the apparition. Using telepathy, Urr explained that the Order had taken another significant loss this day, one similar to something he had witnessed in his time. In that battle, he had lost – over-matched; there was nothing he could do. But now he swore to serve and continue to protect the legacy of the Order.

Urr went on to tell him of a holocron, located in the newly fallen Coruscant temple, which held Master Urr’s teachings of the lost tactics of Sokan. If Leyasu didn’t secure it, he was sure that a Sith would have sensed it and it would then be lost to the Jedi forever. It was then that Leyasu realized that Odan Urr was leading him towards the temple. He began to feel a sickness, like a disease in the air. Shaking himself off, he looked deep into himself to find calm and clarity from the overpowering dark side Force around him. Odan stopped and nodded, warning him of the Sith nearby. He assured Leyasu that he would suppress his presence so that the Jedi could pass unseen. As the pair got closer, Odan reached his hands out toward the rubble, moving them in a circular motion. The rubble began to adjust ever so slightly until a large holocron, glowing with the natural powers of the light, began to come into view.

Odan picked up the holocron, hovering it between his hands, and began to lead Leyasu away from the temple. Malgus was nodding to another Sith as he boarded his craft and shot away. Leyasu couldn’t keep his eyes off of the Sith or understand the dark side aura radiating off of him. The Sith stopped and looked back at Leyasu. Pausing, Leyasu knew that the Sith couldn’t see him, but the light side energy from the holocron would be harder to suppress. Odan turned to the young Knight to speak, but before he could manage a word the Sith lunged towards the power he sensed.

Leyasu reached out both hands to suspend the Sith in mid-flight, only to become overwhelmed with emotions. Next to him stood what was once the pride of his Order and his home where he was raised. What remained was a graveyard for hundreds of Jedi, including even the most fragile of younglings. He was uncertain of what was next – where he was going, the paths that he had before him, what he was to do – all these thoughts, which caused him to lapse in the moment. Anger and compassion twisted itself around him, slicing through the Force like a knife. Looking up, filled with raw emotion, he closed his fist, demonstrating a tearing motion with his hands. The Sith could feel the darkness of this telekinetic energy, and began to smile, knowing that he might use such weakness to his advantage. Leyasu stared back at him with a cold, unrelenting gaze – his grip tightening. The smile melted as the Sith felt the grip slice into his shoulders. Looking down, his eyes widened with fear as Leyasu closed his fist again and, in a rush of anger, violently ripped the Sith’s body in half.

Leyasu had never been that strong before. The wrath – the passion – had fueled something inside of him. For a few minutes Odan Urr stood silent. Regaining control of his sense, Leyasu looked to Odan in regret, “I am a monster.” Unfazed, Urr looked at Leyasu and explained that, through deep meditation, redemption could be found. For now, they needed to leave.

A year has passed since the fall of the Jedi Temple. In that time, Odan-Urr revealed that he had known ancestors of Leyasu, learning from them the true attributes of Sokan that were thought to be lost. Master Urr took these abilities and added his own wisdom and code but was killed before he could finish the holocron. Leyasu, with his new found teachings and outlook on the Order, started gathering Jedi from around the galaxy to fight for his cause – defense of the Republic. He meditated in the search for redemption – the ritual becoming a daily reminder that the Order should never forget again the meaning of the Jedi Code.

The High Council called upon Leyasu to explain his story and events that transpired on Coruscant. Upon hearing his story, the Council promoted Leyasu to Master and granted him the title of Protector of the Jedi Order, tasking him to establish an order of his own. Together, these Jedi gathered became the founding members of an organization acknowledged by the High Council and respected among fellow Jedi. With a training doctrine focused on the principal of Sokan as transcribed by Master Odan, he taught to them the secrets of the holocron and the importance of Urr’s wisdom. The group went on to produce some of the most disciplined and extraordinary Jedi that the Republic had seen in years.

This new Order made its way to Cammas for its first ceremony. Here, the Knights took a knee. Nodding to the spirit of Odan Urr, Leyasu recited the following words:

Sokan.
A Sokan Jedi is sworn to protect the Order.
Our hearts know only the Force.
Our words speak only Truth.
Our lightsabers defend the Helpless
Our might uphold the Weak.
Our Light vanquishes the Dark.
Sokan.

In unison, the group of jedi knights chanted the last line, rising to their feet, and cheered. They drew their sabers and one by one swore their allegiance to the Sokan Order.

Leyasu created holocrons with the knowledge of the Sokan Order and sent them out with his knights to give out to other exceptional Force-sensitives and other Jedi of the order to supplement the ranks of Sokan.