Jedi Sentinel

"This Jedi ferrets out deceit and injustice, bringing it to light."

- Dorak

A Jedi Sentinel was the name given to one of the three distinct branches of Jedi that sought a balance between the other two branches, the Consulars and the Guardians. While they possessed adequate combat skills and had somewhat extensive knowledge of the Force. Sentinels blended both schools of teaching and amplified them with a series of non-Force skills, such as in the fields of security, computers, stealth techniques, demolitions, repair or medicine. These skills tended to take the forefront in their middle-road approach to problems; while a Guardian might bash down a locked door and a Consular simply knock, a Sentinel would instead use equipment available or ingenuity to pick the lock. While the role of the Sentinels within the Jedi Order had remained largely consistent throughout its history, the branch of study was first documented by the Sentinel Jedi Recruiter Morrit Ch'gally in the text, The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force.

Overview
While studying all of the traditional techniques and abilities that make the Jedi who they are, the Sentinels of the Order found their isolation in the Jedi Temple to be a hindrance if they are expected to be able to work with the civilians of the galaxy. While adherents to the Force and all that it can do, Sentinels were not blinded by faith and realized that the mystical energy field did have its limitations. Typically opting for missions requiring them to stay in a single place for long periods of time, the Sentinels would take on assignments not suited to the other Jedi branches.

The lightsabers of the Sentinels were rarely lit, but when they were they most often produced a yellow blade (although, like all other Jedi, their lightsabers could have been any color they thought was best). Because the Sentinels were so few in number, they had no superior title like the Sage and Warrior Masters of the other two branches; instead focusing on the variety of different techniques needed to be successful as a Sentinel. Known for practicing more specialized Force-techniques, a form of Force Immunity was favored amongst those in this class. Crossing Force-based training with increased mental conditioning, this ability allowed them to better withstand outside mental influences, including Force-based attacks. The most notable Jedi Sentinel serving the Galactic Republic during the Jedi Civil War was Bastila Shan who, while still a Padawan, mastered the ancient and difficult art of Battle Meditation, using it to great effect during the defeat, capture, and redemption of the fallen Jedi Revan.

While many of the other Jedi were hunted to extinction during the Great Jedi Purge, Darth Sidious suspected that many of the survivors were Sentinels due to their propensity to be serving on distant worlds and not on the front lines of war. While many died during the subsequent years, the memories and ideals of this branch lived on in a recovered version of The Jedi Path. While the New Jedi Order did not initially reinstate the title, their roles were filled by the new Jedi filling out the Order. Grand Master Luke Skywalker considered Masters Kam Solusar and Kyle Katarn to be prime examples of what that role signified. As of 137 ABY, the Order had begun to use the title, though many were slaughtered during the reign of Darth Krayt. The Sentinels who did survive felt personally responsible for failing to see the resurrection of the Sith scourge and began to hunt down members of the One Sith in hopes of rebuilding the galaxy and the Order.

Specialized paths
Sentinels focused on a variety of fields, some with honorifics in the Order, others with skills taken up by professional in the rest of civilization. Applying their abilities to the art of the slicer, technician, spy, and security experts, the Sentinels also take on very specific titles in the Order.

Jedi Investigator
Working as specialized trackers and even spies, the Jedi Investigators worked closely with law enforcement to track down criminals and discover the truth behind crimes. Going undercover for long stretches of time, investigators should not be confused with their Shadow cousins, as the role of an investigator focuses mainly on crime as opposed to Dark Side Adepts.

Jedi Recruiter
Working as members of the Acquisition Division of the Order, the Jedi Recruiters hone the talents learned from Jedi Investigators to track down and identify Force-sensitive to access whether they belong in the Jedi Order. All data collected on Force-sensitive infants from across the galaxy was stored in the Division's prized Kyber memory crystal and was reviewed frequently in order for acquisition to take place at exactly the perfect age.

Jedi Shadow
A highly respected and secreted group of Jedi, the Shadows went farther then the Investigators in their hunt for the truth. Working closely with the Council of First Knowledge, the Shadows seek and destroy all traces of the Dark side of the Force, and its adepts. While not always present at the Temple, the Shadows were based in the Temple Precinct and reported back as frequently as their mission allowed.

Jedi Watchmen
The Jedi Watchmen were a group of individuals who chose to work alone in the oversight of peace on a single planet or system. Focusing on bettering society and protecting the rights of a system for years at a time, they became a vital liaison between the planetary government and the Jedi High Council.

Additional specialization
Many Jedi Sentinels resided at the Jedi Temple, using their skills where needed and providing assistance to local law enforcement. The Technical division of the Order was staffed by tech experts who specialized in the maintenance of droids and other mechanicals, a skill rare amongst the generally anti-droid members of the Order. Developing a special technique known as mechu-deru, many were able to see the intuitiveness behind the complex structures that droids were comprised of.

Security experts and slicers also maintained their skills at the Temple by running through practice courses devised to test their abilities and the skills of their trade. Without the Force to assist them, these two skills were largely developed through unassisted training and the gift of years of hard work. The quartermaster of the Jedi Temple worked to ensure that all Jedi equipment had been updated and that the storehouse at the Temple was always stocked with the latest technology.

Behind the scenes
The use of the term Jedi Sentinel, first introduced in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic as one of the Jedi starting classes, was solely created for the game, and has only recently appeared in the pen and paper Saga Edition of the Star Wars Roleplaying Game as a Talent Tree for the Jedi class. This class is mostly signified by its use of yellow lightsaber blades. In Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, the prestige class that corresponds to Jedi Sentinel is Jedi Watchman. The dark side counterpart is Sith Assassin; it should be noted that Jedi Watchman also appears in other canon works, such as the Tales of the Jedi comics and others. The class presumably became canon in the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic comic series along with Jedi Guardian and Consular.

In the Star Wars Miniatures set Champions of the Force the Jedi Sentinel class is represented by Visas Marr. Although she was the Sith apprentice to Darth Nihilus, she was still of the Sentinel class and later redeemed, becoming an apprentice to the Jedi Exile.

In Star Wars Galaxies, there are two hidden Jedi Enclaves on Yavin 4, one dark and one light. These could be used by the Jedi of Galaxies as meeting places. Each enclave was guarded by two CL 500 Jedi Sentinels, dark and light, and served as protectors for the meetings should an opposing side try to disrupt them. Since Chapter 7, the Sentinels have been removed and the enclaves serve as sites for those who want to see the ruins of both.

Appearances

 * Shadows and Light
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Star Wars: The Old Republic
 * The Force Unleashed
 * The Force Unleashed