Gray Jedi

"Jinn always does things his own way, always sure he is right, always incredulous if we do not see it his way. Some think he is a gray Jedi."

- Tyvokka on Qui-Gon Jinn

Gray Jedi were Force users who skirted the line between the light and dark sides of the Force, but had not succumbed to the dark side. It did not directly refer to those who were capable of using both light and dark side Force abilities, but all Gray Jedi could do so. The term is similar to that of "Dark Jedi", which could also refer to Jedi and non-Jedi alike, and denoted those who were committed to the dark side, such as Dark Side Adepts. Sith were never considered to be Gray Jedi, as the Sith Order taught full commitment to the dark side. The term was also used&mdash;inaccurately&mdash;as a pejorative to describe those who operated independently from the Jedi High Council or did not follow strictures of the Jedi Code, such as those barring attachment or regulating training. Qui-Gon Jinn was slandered as a Gray Jedi for frequently opposing the will of the Council.

The term dated back as far as the Old Sith Wars. During this time period, Gray Jedi became associated with a certain variety of robe. By 130 ABY, the term was being used by the New Jedi Order to refer to entire Force traditions who held different views than the Jedi but did not embrace the dark side. The Imperial Knights were one such organization.

History
In the aftermath of the Great Sith War, Jedi leadership sought to re-evaluate the Jedi Code. Their more conservative interpretation left many dark side force techniques barred. Not all Jedi adhered to the revised Code, leading to the first Gray Jedi. Some of these early Gray Jedi were known to have worn unique, gray robes. Jolee Bindo once wore a unique version of these robes.

While the term originally applied to individual Jedi who experimented with the dark side, its use would expand. It would later be used to describe entire Force traditions and would commonly be misused to describe those who clashed with the High Council, regardless of the beliefs and traits of the dissidents.

Philosophy and traits
"If you would just follow the code, you would be on the Council. They will not go along with you this time.''" "''You still have much to learn, my young apprentice."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn

Gray Jedi had a specific set of traits, despite the term's occasional misappropriation to describe political and philosophical dissidents. Gray Jedi called on the dark side of the Force, but were not corrupted by it and did not embrace it. In fact, a Gray Jedi might oppose those who do embrace the dark side, such as how Jolee Bindo opposed the Sith. While Gray Jedi displayed a lax adherence to the light side of the Force, they were free of dark side corruption. Jedi who were corrupted by the dark side did not qualify as a Gray Jedi. Jedi who fell to the dark side and were later redeemed were also not Gray Jedi. Still, the Jedi claimed that Gray Jedi underwent a slow tranformation as they were tainted by the dark side, even if they were unaware of this process.

All Gray Jedi displayed the use of both light and dark side Force abilities. However, the use of a "mixed" Force power set was not, in itself, evidence of being a Gray Jedi. Around the time of the Invasion of Naboo, Jedi Master and member of the Jedi High Council Plo Koon displayed the use of a Force ability which he coined Electric Judgment that bore a striking similarity to Force Lightning, an ability strongly associated with the dark side. Koon struggled with the morality of using this power, but ultimately deemed it acceptable. Similarly, Kyle Katarn was a member of the New Jedi Order's High Council despite freely using light and dark side abilities, and encouraging his students&mdash;Rosh Penin and Jaden Korr&mdash;to think of Force powers as mere tools. Both Koon and Katarn held strong allegiance to the light side of the Force, despite their abilities. Penin fell to the dark side but was later redeemed, and Korr stayed true to the light, though he was plagued with doubt over his abilities.

While the term points to Force users who walk the line between light and dark, dissident Jedi were sometimes labeled as "Gray Jedi" to highlight their opposition to the Jedi High Council. Qui-Gon Jinn was thought of as a Gray Jedi by members of the Council for his frequent opposition to their demands, yet he staunchly opposed the dark side.

It was difficult for unorthodox Jedi&mdash;especially those labeled as "Gray Jedi", accurately or not&mdash;to join the Council or ascend to any position of real leadership in the Order. As the High Council chose its own members, its preference tended toward orthodox Jedi, such as the group described as the Old Guard. Qui-Gon Jinn's candidacy was rejected in favor of Plo Koon, and then Ki-Adi-Mundi, both of whom were more in line with the Council's way of thinking.

Jolee Bindo
"Well, I assure you, I see more grey than dark or light. I'm just a stubborn old man, tired of the foolishness of others."

- Jolee Bindo to Revan in the Shadowlands of Kashyyyk

Jolee Bindo was a Human Jedi who fought in the Great Sith War against Exar Kun, and went into self-imposed exile on Kashyyyk soon afterwards. Near the close of the Jedi Civil War, he joined Revan against Darth Malak and was awarded the Cross of Glory for his part in the triumph of the Galactic Republic over the Sith Empire. Previous to his exile on Kashyyyk, Jolee had married a fellow Jedi, Nayama, against the Order's Code (see "Pulling a Bindo"). As he was responsible for training her in the ways of the Force, her later fall to the dark side prompted him to divorce himself from the Jedi Order. For a time he operated as a smuggler in the Outer Rim Territories. He was a self-described Gray Jedi.



The Jensaarai
The Jensaarai were an order of Force-users from the Suarbi system, who arose during the Clone Wars. Their name was Sith for "hidden followers of truth." Their philosophy and methodology was a blend of Sith and Jedi teachings, but they maintained the discipline necessary to resist the dark side. Jensaarai focused mostly on defensive tactics and Force abilities. During its creation and early years, the Jensaarai opposed the Jedi. However, after the fall of the Galactic Empire, they made peace with the Jedi, and even sent students to learn at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4. They were still considered Gray Jedi&mdash;by both the Jedi and the Sith&mdash;for the practices of certain members, but the Jensaarai outwardly denied these claims.



The Imperial Knights
"As Imperial Knights, we obey the Emperor but only as long as he serves the light side of the Force."

- Ganner Krieg, an Imperial Knight.

The Imperial Knights were an order of Force-practitioners loyal to the Emperor of the Fel Empire. They were fully trained in the ways of the Force and rejected the dark side of the Force, unlike previous Imperial Force-based organizations. Contrary to the Jedi, who believed strongly in meditation and introspection, the Imperial Knights took a pragmatic view of the Force. To an Imperial Knight, the Force was a powerful tool that required care and respect. Though they did not adhere to the dark side, they did not strictly follow the light side either, and were viewed as "Gray" by the Jedi Order.

Behind the scenes
The definition of "Gray Jedi" has changed over time. The term was first used in the Star Wars Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War comic book to refer to Qui-Gon Jinn, specifically to his frequent opposition of the Jedi High Council. This version was supported in the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords video game by an item called "Gray Jedi Robe" that had the following description: "Gray Jedi are those who, though having completed the teachings of the Jedi, operate independently and outside of the Jedi Council. They are typically seen as misguided, though they have not necessarily succumbed to the dark side."

- Gray Jedi Robe item description

The definition was later altered in Issue 0 of Star Wars: Legacy. It was both expanded in meaning to include entire non-Jedi Force traditions and was shifted from specifying one's relationship to the council to one's relationship to the light and dark sides of the Force. This brought the definition more in line with that of the term Dark Jedi, which could also apply to non-Jedi and describes one's relationship to the Force. The new definition was confirmed at-length in the Jedi Academy Training Manual book for the Saga Edition role playing game.

The term Gray Jedi does not refer to Force users who believe there is no dark side, as such individuals would instead follow the theory of Potentium. Some Sith are erroneously considered Gray Jedi despite their adherence to the dark side. This is a misunderstanding of the term, as Gray Jedi&mdash;by definition&mdash;cannot have embraced the dark side. Examples of Sith who are sometimes confused as Gray Jedi are Kreia, Vergere, Darth Vectivus, and Darth Caedus.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Star Wars Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War
 * I, Jedi
 * Vision of the Future
 * Edge of Victory II: Rebirth
 * The Unifying Force
 * Dark Nest I: The Joiner King
 * Tempest
 * Abyss
 * Outcast
 * Omen
 * Star Wars Legacy 8: Allies
 * Star Wars Legacy: Broken
 * Star Wars Legacy: Trust Issues
 * Star Wars Legacy 12: Ghosts, Part 2
 * Star Wars Legacy 13: Ready to Die
 * Star Wars Legacy 15: Claws of the Dragon, Part 2
 * Star Wars Legacy 22: The Wrath of the Dragon
 * Star Wars Legacy: Loyalties
 * Star Wars Legacy: The Hidden Temple
 * Star Wars Legacy: Vector
 * Star Wars Legacy: Fight Another Day
 * Star Wars Legacy: Storms
 * Star Wars Legacy 39: Tatooine, Part 3
 * Star Wars Legacy 42: Divided Loyalties
 * Star Wars Legacy: Monster

Notes and references
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