To know the darkside is to understand fully the capabilities of the darkside, and to understand the need for the light. It is within the light that one will find salvation, and only in the light that one can glimpse it. Long ago, my friend Dace turned from the light to embrace darkness. A devote Sith follower, Dace was redeemed by myself and fellow Jedi Knights, only to succumb to his darker inhibitions and rejoin his Sith predecessors. I regret that faithful evening that he left; but I remember what I said: "the next time we meet, it will be at the end of blades". He didn't want to fight me, the hurt in his eyes at that revelation was obvious.

It was then I decided that I had to understand the darkside. Long had I purged the galaxy of the darkness, but never had I experienced it myself. From Sulek Pharos, to Seres Undor, to Dace, to Erik, to that faithful evening when I met Kodo "Underpants" Jast. The darkside had manifested in my former master, and he had died from it, and it had manifested in my other master, transforming her into one of the most feared Sith Ladies of all time. It was she that infiltrated the Jedi Order, under pretense of being a captive, and laid waste to the entire council in one fell swoop... I, I could do nothing but watch, a victim of the machinations of Kodo Jast. Forever scarred, I bear the one sign of love that my master had for me--a cybernetic arm.

-Echuu Shinzon

A millenia later.. I came into this unhappy world. For the record, my name is Celise Shinzon. It would seem that the power of the Darkside knows no bounds in the level of corruption that it can wreak upon a sentient's mind. Such was the catalyst for my existance I suspect.

What my father wrote was true. During Ryuka tas Vorhn's fall from grace.. She was the most hateful and vile tyrant that had come into existance and would have few equals til Vader and Palpatine. In the same swoop however.. she was also one of the kindest and gentle women I ever met. It was this woman who was a first, and final master to me through the holocron, which I now have commited to the care of Master Skywalker.

Later in her life she did redeem.. as much as she truly could given her crimes. The same.. it cannot be said of my father. It is a scar and a wound in the force that is my burden to bear, until my death I suppose. But this is neither here nor there. The purpose of this text is to complete the assay of Echuunism for the man that he once was.. not the monster he became.

Following now are my corrections and updates on the Concepts of Echuunism, from the perspective of a Jedi Knight of the Republic. I will be eschewing the concept of "Outkasts" however, as it is my opinion that any Jedi doing their duties properly is no outcast but rather one who does what must be done. Sometimes as a Redeemer you must accept that there is no such thing as a happy ending or a Redemption, but rather the harsh reality of kill or be killed. In such cases ours is not to question. Only to act.

As Vorhn did in slaying S, and as Father sought to with the Jedai, sometimes the only way to achieve a goal is through agressive negotiations. As a Jedi we must always seek to resolve a issue without slaying our quarry.. but recognize and detach ourselves from our emotions in the event that conflict is the only possible outcome.

I. The Force

A. The Dark side of the Force

The Dark side is a manifestation of energies as allocated by the Force. To believe that there is no darkside or lightside is to believe as the Jedai do, which to say that it is to believe that the force itself is non-existant. The force exists, and with it lie the two spectrums. Consider, one can be angry or happy, but to be both would negate the principles of both, and thus, one would be neither. The potentium is flawed, and does not have any authentic knowledge of the force beyond intrinsic means of understanding that it exists. Although there are aspects of the force not understood, those following the Potentium as often naive and childish of mind. This is due to the fact that the users of the Potentium set themselves above the Force and believe that good or ill, they have the final say when in reality they are merely acting on the sum of their parts which in turn spring from the dual nature that is the force.

The dark side is a manifestation of the will of evil, or negative energies. The darkside twists and contorts ones physical and mental appearance. Picture a log, burning and being consumed. To touch the log is to burn ones self. This act then grants the log power. More power then it has ever known as merely a simple log. However, that same fire that the log itself is wielding against you now, is slowly consuming it, similar to how the human body is slowly eaten by the darkside. It consumes the body while offering unlimited power. As the amount of power needed or used is increased, the bodily decay quotient increases, much as a hotter fire will consume a log that much quicker.

The dark side of the Force must manifest itself physically more often than not. While some spiritual aspects do exist to it, which I will touch on later; It is important to remember that if it is to truly be a opposing side to the Light it like a physical entity must be of the baser aspects of existance and thus influence them primarily. This is particularly true of its exstension and manifested aspect which take the form of attacks more often than not. These powers are corruptions of the Force, or corruptions of the Light of the Force to be more precise. Whether they be physicalizations of electricity, the use of the force to cause physical harm, such as a choke, or the ability to influence the physical to a different growth outside the natural order of evolution, it is clear that the dark side of the Force is physical power, and the manifestation of power at the peak of it's prime.

B. The Light of the Force

The Light of the Force is also a manifestation of energies as allocated by the Force. The light of the Force is a manifestation of the will of good, or positive energies. While the darkside twists and contorts ones physical and mental appearance, the Light stands in a quiet opposition. It inspires the traits of kindness, goodwill and harmony. The Light of the force is harmony. Harmony is that which works in conjecture with the force. A Jedi's duty is to be part of the light, and to not work against the force, but to work with it and accept that you are simply a vessel of that which is life. To embrace the teachings of the Jedi is to learn patience, serenity, control, compassion, and harmony. Thus to perceive or even desire a Balance ties invariably into the passive and quiet nature of the Light of the Force. (Unless one's idea of "Balance" is the Death of the Force, which is of course the ultimate drive of the Dark side of the Force.)

The Light of the Force thus rarely exerts itself as a spiritual entity. Occasional exceptions do occur, but more often than not the Light stays in line with its theme of a quiet and gentle ebb of spiritual energies. While some spiritual aspects do exist to it, which I will touch on later; It is important to remember that if it is to truly be a opposing side to the Light it like a physical entity must be of the higher aspects of existance and thus influence them primarily. This is particularly true of its exstension and manifested aspect which take the form of defense more often than not. These powers are naturally existing extensions of the Force, or the invalidation of the Dark side of the Force to be more precise. Whether they be the dispersement of the physical, (Absorb / Dissapate Energy) the use of the force to save a life, (Assisted Atonement), or the ability to remove the Dark side from a Artifact or person. (Destroy Artifact / Wall of Light) The Light of the Force is a natural progression of using the Force for defense instead of offense. To use my father's appraisal of the Burning Log.. The Light of the Force is the water that a person would use to extinguish the fire to attempt and save the log, or if the log was too far gone to be saved, To remove the fire or dark side from the equation.

..In my situation, my father seemed at the time of our battle too far gone to be saved. It would be a lie to say I did not wish to reach into the fire and some how pull the log free but not the fire.. but the force does not work that way. In taking him I would have burned myself and perhaps been caught in the same Darkness that consumes him. I had no choice but to extinguish the dark side, as a absolute Jedi should be and stop him. I did so by amputating my own arm to release him. Perhaps he is not dead.. and a chance will arise to save him yet. Or perhaps I will regret my battle one day and fall to his wrath. But what I do as a Jedi I do with no regrets and with a love and trust in the will of the Force. I will sooner slay myself than allow the Dark side to turn my heart. It is the burden and price we pay as a Jedi. That lesson above all others must be remembered.

II. The Jedai

The Jedai were a cult formulated around the time of my father's twentieth birthday. They were probably the earliest Potentium believers, but for them--it was not a matter of whether the darkside/lightside existed, but to what degree both could be controlled to reach a balance. While Potentium users simply state that the force is the force, and that the darkside and the lightside do not exist, the Jedai believed that both did, but that a user could be both inherently light, and inherently dark.

Believing this is a folly, as the darkside can not exist within the light. If you consider, a light can not exist within shadow, for the light would destroy it, and shadow can not exist in the presence of light--one must defeat the other. To this regard, to achieve true balance is to do what can not be done, and therefore, in order to achieve this balance one must break the constraints of the Force, and in doing so--break the force.

Balance must be maintained, and therefore, the Jedai are a heretical group that should be destroyed. the Outkasts official mandate is to seek out and destroy the Jedai, this is called the Omega Principle.

I'll intercede here as it seems that these Jedai were a key component in my father's fall. (More noted in the Light and its Extreme.)
The Jedai are a perfect example of what happens when a sentient sets himself above the Force. Instead of accepting that Balance is only achieved on the spiritual level of a sentient's soul, they sought to rewrite the natural laws of the universe into something unnatural. This unnatural progression of events is as is the Dark side of the Force and its theme prone to attempt and "make things much better." while in reality creating a cascading effect that draws one into the darkness in the end, regardless of what short term good intents may have been realized. As Jedi we must however fight all aspects of the Dark side of the Force. The Jedai are no different. We cannot let vengeance be a part of what we must do, but at the same time we cannot be passive forever and when the need is dire be ready to fight to restore what is true Balance. The seperate but equal acknowledgement that Darkness and Light come in a pair as surely as morning and night fill the air. With regard to Redemption.. all that can be said is that sometimes justice is not the only right in this Galaxy. The Dark side can draw a person in. But a person can always if they believe they can return. You are the ultimate master of your fate until you are wholly consumed by the fire.

III. Omega Principle

The Omega Principle of my father's is a simple statement that: "Balance must be maintained".

Many Jedi refuse to admit that we require the Sith, but the truth is we do or so my father stated. I would disprove this however with this counter arguement which will be contained in the Lightside extreme segment. According to his take on Echuuunism, both dark and light must exist, for there must constantly be struggle. What follows now is his unaltered arguement.

"A balance between dark and light must be maintained. However, saying such, one should understand that to offer fair game between light/dark is to offer the dark a chance to stab you in the back. Therefore, a Jedi must be vigilant and ever prepared for the inevitable war against darkness. This is where Redeemers and Guardians are of import. A sentinel is a well rounded figure who takes care of the average day to day business of the Jedi Order. A Guardian is a sword arm, and the might of the Jedi, dispatched to handle disputes that require "aggressive negotiations". A consular takes care of the Order itself, and politics. A redeemer is in charge of maintaining a balanced inbalance within the force, to ensure that the lightside always prevail. A outkast is in charge of the Omega Principle. To ensure that the Redeemer does his job, and that the Jedai, or Nul-Force, never come back."

I will argue it further near the end and offer my opinion and counter point on it in the Vorhn / Shinzon Directive (Below).

IV. Neutrality

Original Text: My master feared it, and so do I. To be neutral in the force is to allow the force to be destroyed. Ever Jedi inherently has the will and duty to protect the force; not only from others, but from itself. the darkside seeks to destroy the force, the lightside to become one with it, and the neutrality--the neutrality is the destruction. To be one with the force and seek it's destruction is to create a rift of harmony and chaos, and this rift would inevitably destroy the force.

Addendum: I would disapprove entirely of the concept of Nuetrality with the arguement again that in the end a sentient is made up of varying quotients of Light and Dark. To champion one is to become a Jedi, or a Dark Jedi at least in thoughts and actions. The Dark side's goal is the destruction of the Force, while the Light of the Force is concerned with the preservation and growth of the Force. The growth of Life itself. Nuetrality is merely a term given to people who do not wish to call themselves Dark, or who are of the Light but occasionally blunder (As all Sentients will from time to time.)

V. The Light of the Force and Varied Extremes

Now for the start of my counter and appraisal to the matter of the Jedai, and the Omega Principle. This treads again very close to a percieving that you are bound to a Light side extreme, which is something to be avoided as it sets one as too "holy". Pride is the flaw in this frame of thinking and pride often comes before the fall. I would rather be a Light in the Darkness, than a Darkness in the Light as then I have become emmeshed in the dark side and thus have failed in my efforts to be a Absolute Jedi.

Heresy? Blasphemy? A Jedi is not some Inquisitor of the Light. We should never impose our faith on others, but as in all things be willing to think outside of the proverbial box and investigate claims and truths that other cultures cling to. We can of course correct fallacies where we find them and we do with regard to the opinion that the Force is magic, or such things. But never should we force someone to believe when they do not desire to. That falls back upon the exertion of Physicality and thus it is a tool of the Dark side.
Becoming to self assured of your self worth, purity and infallibility can also lead to the Dark side, by being blinded by the Light as I call it.

Our best day in the Light of the Force is but filthy rags compared to the true nature of the Light. Only complete harmony and acceptance at the end of your life in this admission allows you to become one with it. My holocron master realized this at the end of her life, and thus was the catalyst for her own final redemption. Thus I do not mourn her death. I know she lives on and aids me every time I touch another life, or touch the Force in communion. If I am so blessed to find such insight, I hope one day to meet her again. Until that time I will live in the moment as a part of the living force. (For more on the Living and Celestial Force, see Master Qui-Gon Jinn's studies)

Remember this however. If you cannot percieve the Light save what you as a sentient want to percieve that it is, then you have also fallenby being blind. To be blind is to see only darkness. Call it what you will, but evil is evil in the end. And to become evil is to reject the light and allow one's self to become a part of that eternal flame we call the Dark side of the Force.

The Light side of the Force in verity is a process of spiritual growth. So naturally the final step is to accept the Light within one's self and to embrace it at the end of a natural life, returning to the source of one's existance. Or essentially joining the force. This is something that can not be reached by a sentient save through celebrating the moment and the Living World. Never should a person strive to kill themselves to reach it as death is in the end a natural step for just as with darkness and light, Life cannot exist without death. By harmonizing oneself with the force, one becomes part of it. A part of the trees, the grass, the rock, and everything that has the force within it--including the metals used within starships, droids, and buildings. In essence, a true servant of the Light is he or she who embraces the force, and does not create a ripple within it's domain.

By ripples my father (I believe) refers to occasional lapses in judgement and the fulfillment of baser needs. Those ripples in turn cause the dispersal of one's light and darkness which may be why most never can maintain their existance within the Light as themselves. They were broken into their respective spectrums and then join their respective homes. This is why a sentient normally can not become part of the force, for a sentient will always create ripples within the force, and often not act in accordance (at least not one hundred percent) with the Force. These ripples are representations that until the moment of our death, we are bound up in the cosmic struggle of light and darkness. It is only in death, that if your heart is true and your understanding and acceptance of the grander scope of life and death is calmly accepted that you commit your spirit to the force willingly. This act of sacrifice is the catalyst that will harmonize you with the force. That is the way of things, and the ultimate way of being true to one's self or a Absolute Jedi.

VII. The Dark side of the Force and Unhealty Extremes

Physical manifestations can only physicalize themselves further. Therefore, the height of Darkside power is the height of destruction--annihilation. To not only create ripples within the force, but to create ripples to such an extent that no ripple could exist, that the force itself would become one giant miasma of chaos. In essence, a true darksider is not mortal either, for a true darksider is a suicidal sociopath who seeks to destroy the force, and in destroying it, ends the force, and it's tyranny once and for all. To master something, one must be able to destroy it. A true darksider will destroy the force. Thus my father and Master's appraisal of the Jedai was really a acceptance of Potentium and thus a acceptance of the Dark side of the Force.

VIII. The Jedi

The Jedi are not light siders, though we should all aspire to be. We are not intrinsically light to the extreme, nor are we dark. A Jedi is bound to the oath of protecting life. In the same fashion a Sith or Dark Jedi is in the end, bound to the goal of destroying and controlling life and death. Touching on my father's numerical spectrum, with lightside as a 1, and darkside as a 10. A Sithlord would be a 8-9, a Jedi would be a 2-3, and a Dark Jedi would be a 7. Jedi should always strive to be 1 on the spectrum, but Jedi should similarly accept that we can not always be 1, and that in order to fulfill the mandate of the Jedi, we must create ripples within the force, and act against the force in order to protect the balance. Learn to forgive yourself and understand that you are not perfect. Aspiring to the Light is a far better creed than embracing the dark side.

This is also true of what non-sensitives call "Force Powers". A Jedi should never physicalize the force. Electricity and choke are domains that should not be attempted by a Jedi, for to physicalize the force is to accept the darkside into one's heart. However, one must also understand that to exert an inertial change on another (such as Push or Pull) one must physicalize the force to an extent, and thus, must accept that they are not inherently 1 on the spectrum.

However, to constantly use the powers of the Force is to fall further and further along the spectrum. This is why the Jedi Creed stresses the union and discipline of your body and mind over the use of the force. It is too easy to become addicted to the power of the force, and to become addicted is to crave more. Self serving to the end, that is the path to the dark side of the Force.

IX. Balance.

Echuu: "The job of every Jedi is to maintain the balance of the force. The Omega Principle is specific to those Outkasts (Redeemers) who accept the charge of maintaining the balance of the Order over the Order itself. Sometimes, a "Shatterpoint" exists that can change the course of an entire conflict, for better or worse, and an Outkast must accept the charge of finding these Shatterpoints, and exerting proper influence on them.

All must remember: "The Balance must be maintained".

The Vorhn / Shinzon Directive: (Replacement and Supplement to the Omega Directive)- A wound in the Force or a Shatterpoint, is a chance to learn. Wounds exist due to injury and the natural progression of a wound is to heal and be strengthened in the Light of the Force's eyes. A wounds progression in the eyes of the Dark side of the Force is to fester, worsen and in due time kill. In the Force, this is literally a place where life or death can be created with far reaching ramifications to either spectrum.

Never be so blind to assume your way is the best is the best way of approaching this as a Redeemer. To assume such is to allow yourself to be devoured and become a further wound. Vrook Lamar's fate is a perfect example. He believed he was of the Light, but in the end his self percieved infallibility was his undoing by the invalidation of his own existance. When dealing with a wound in the Force, aspire to close it but do so with infinite patience, love and understanding. There is no such thing as heresy. There is merely a road you have not yet travelled or deigned to attempt to understand.

In the end, The Force is fully capable of healing itself and also of killing itself. Assumption of otherwise is to believe that you know better than the Force, which itself is not like us sentients. Our goal as the dictates of Echuunism state is merely to preserve and nurture, keeping true to our core calling as Jedi. Or to quote another ancient Jedi named Jolee Bindo. "Sometimes Swirling Force is just Swirling Force."

X. Conclusion.

We Jedi should strive to be the best on the spectrum, and should not physical there force powers. However, situations will arise that will call for the use of the force. It should be used sparingly. To show strength or to boast of it, is to be dark, and to physical strength (a darkside trait).

To be a servant of the Light is no easy task. What insight you gain through harmony, you can through joining the force. Through the force, you gain ultimate power. But while every Jedi strives to join the force, they should also strive to preserve it. At the end and only at the end do you understand.

And that... is my contribution to the thought process and way of living called, Echuuunism. If you exist still father on some astral ebb of the Force. I hope that you and Master Vorhn are happy with this assay. I have tried my hardest. I call it Echuunism though it has evolved with my additions, into something largely different as a homage and a warning perhaps to spare another of the burden I was forced to endure under Deralia.

All other thoughts I must leave to you the reader now.

Added (22 Apr 2009, 9:33 Am)
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OOC: Updated and Amended Plot Holes, and Segments from the Old AGW Story that didnt make sense now. Unless otherwise stated, the most Celise or anyone ought know of her at the present is that the Dark Lord of the Sith, and Former Jedi Redeemer; Ryuka tas Vorhn taught her the Redeemer way through one of her three holocrons. After a stint with Vorhn, she spent most of her training as a Padawan of Seraphix in the ways of a Jedi. Later then she had again returned to the Holocron and completed its training on Hoth. Upon her return she will deliver the holocron to the Jedi Council Members, Alies, Streen and Malius. (I dont recall if I have written this in a older post or not, so I'll likely reiterate this in the thread here. The Council's Wrath

While originally it was unknown why Celise alone could access the holocron which had a blood and enzyme encryption, it is now hown that it activated for her because of her relation to Echuu Shinzon. If nothing else, the existance of a carbon-dated holocron which bears a affinity to a young woman, is a pretty riddle in itself (As the art of making Holocrons is largely lost now).

The reason for this course coming to pass now, is believed to be that Ryuka Vorhn (both the holocron and later her actual Force Spirit) sought to use Celise as the vehicle for Echuu's redemption when both learned of his fall to the Dark-side. Despite the best intentions however, this did not occur and Celise was forced to fight Echuu Shinzon, now calling himself Darth Deimos, a Sith Lord himself.

Due to the events on Deralia, Celise is now aware that Echuu Shinzon is her father, although she believes he was killed in the duel. Primarily Celise wants facts and hard proofs to validate the claims that her heart tells her are truth. She (Celise) might fully of accepted it all, if she wasnt so ground in detective work and a preference for facts over fiction. Thus it is a seemingly impossible task that drives her to no end of frustration as she prefers the Living Aspect of the Force over the Cosmic Aspect of it. The very notion that a one thousand year and something old man fathered a daughter that is merely twenty nine? At face value its unlikely, if not outrageous at best. Yet she has to accept these things as fact because she cherishes the way of the Jedi Redeemer and what it represents, a cup of both bitter and rich flavour.

In light of the situation and what she does know, she has changed her name from Celise Denowai, to Celise Denowai Shinzon to remind herself where she comes from; and also to remind herself of what she can never permit herself to be.

So thus as characterization goes, I encourage the younger Jedi who are not in the know (like say Raztlain or Malius), to adopt if they like; the concept and perception which the Jedi Knight Jace Varitek has given, due to his relatively limited knowledge on the matter (much like Celise). It is entirely rational to assume that this is a Sith trick, that someone is lying, or that something very crucial has been lost in the story.

Or as Kyle Katarn put it six years ago when Celise was brought to the New Jedi Order, "Something nasty" is in the works.