Koren Omi-Ren
Name: Koren Omi-Ren
Species: Human
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Faction: Jedi Order
Rank: Jedi Knight - Watchman
Captive? The most Captivating of Captives.
Notable Race Traits: None, though people from Corellian are known for their stubbornness and their quick wit.
Flaws: Mentally Traumatized: While he is in control of his emotions, due to the traumatic events on Manaan he sometimes re-lives the event, and when that occurs he suffered from increased anxiety and finds it harder to keep his emotions in check.
Lonesome: Watchmen by their very roles in the Jedi Order aren’t as used to making connections as other Jedi. They never work in a team and quite often have to work behind the scenes in order to steer governments or organisations in the direction that is best for the galaxy at whole. While he is not opposed to teamwork taking part in a team will be a dynamic he is not used too, especially if he isn’t the one making the decision. A concept he would struggle with.
Left Knee: His left knee suffered extensive damage during his time as a Padawan, despite kolto treatment and Jedi healing the knee itself is susceptible to pains when overused, causes a constant limp and a soft point for attack. As such he tends to keep all his weight on his right leg when engaged in combat.
While talented on handling people, and political situations he doesn’t have technical know how or medical know how beyond the basics expected off all Jedi.
His strict adherence to the code has been found as an annoyance by several other Jedi that he has come across before.
Distrust: While those he saved from Manaan treat him as a saviour, his faith in the Republic, and in some small way the Jedi has been shaken due to their apparent unwillingness to assist Manaan.
Skills: Observational: As part of his training he has been trained to keep a keen eye, to spot anything out of the ordinary without solely relying on the Force to do so*.
Tactical/Strategic: Most of his jobs involve solving problems on planets before they truly become a problem, and this needs quite a lot of political wrangling and maneuvering and as such he needs to think several steps ahead to make sure his actions won’t have adverse reactions in the future*.
Sneaky: Without the use of the Force, he’s learned how to blend into a crowd and fulfill a role to make sure nobody notices him. A task necessary as Jedi can’t find out anything as Jedi, so sometimes to get to the route of the problem it requires improvising.
Independent/Improviser: As stated above a lot of his jobs he does by himself, and they require a certain degree of self reliance. Not to mention that with the roles he is performing quite often while performing a plan he has to improvise on the spot to make sure it works. This does not mean that he is unwilling to work with others, he actually prefers the company. However with a war on he could not always rely on support when he needed it.
Investigator: He can follow clues to where he needs to go, and is trained to do so.
Trained in Tràkata, Makashi and like all Jedi has received basic training in Soresu though has not went on to further study it.. Though prefers “Form zero”
Bi-Lingual: While versed in Galactic Basic also able to understand Selkath, and is also able to speak the language if he gives it some time to think about it.
*Both of these skills he has also refined in an underwater environment giving him good spacial awareness and is also capable of working underwater easily and is so used to it it barely affects him.
Force capabilities: Core Abilities: Regular practice with telekinesis has increased his proficiency in it, making him more precise and slightly more powerful than someone who has not dedicated time to specifically studying telekinesis.
Force Revitalization: Typically uses this to replenish himself physically or spiritually, especially since Manaan to prevent himself from dreaming.
Force Empathy: The Ability to use the Force in order to determine how people are feeling, this ability is more of an innate one that someone is born with however through training he has honed it so that he is not constantly feeling other people's feelings and he can focus on one specific person to tell how they are feeling. However extreme bursts of emotions sometimes break through his mental barrier and hit him. Though also true, that when he loses focus in an event such as an anxiety attack his mental barrier breaks which can flood him with other people's emotions.
Biography: Koren was born on Alderaan, and found at a young age by the Jedi. He was barely old enough to walk when he was taken to the Jedi Temple where he was cared for through his infantile years. Identical to most he was raised on the tenants of the Jedi, it’s hard for a child to learn not to grow attached to others, however he always knew he was a part of something greater with a war raging on. Though his role in the future was chosen from him at an early age. Since becoming he was six he was always slightly more observant than others. Already an emphatic individual unknowingly he used the Force to augment this in order to determine exactly others were feeling. When he discovered that this was a force ability, so much more seemed to make sense. All his life he had been able to determine how people had been feeling, fighting against it sometimes due to the fact that in a war there is a lot of pain. He admitted that it had been something that had always existed, and as of then he was taught how to control it. This revelation got him under the eye of Master Roln, who was one of the Watchmen for the Kuat System (Larger populace, more planets, more watchmen). Immediately interested in the boy, he made sure to keep tabs on his training.
Throughout the rest of his Jedi Training he focused on his study of people, many believed that he’d walk the line of a Diplomat. However he was invested in the Jedi cause, to do good where it was needed and to save lives and improve the order. In his mind a diplomat didn’t do that, these worries began to grow as he began to approach the Apprentice Tournament. What happened if his master didn’t follow the code as strictly as he did? What if he ended up having to fight on the front lines? Though he soon realized that these thoughts were themselves against the code for being selfish. Chastising himself for doing so unlike many of the other Initiates he spent his time leading up to the tournament in silent meditation, as he was always taught that to find his path he need only look the the Force for guidance.
He opened his eyes afterwards with a fresh take on the Jedi Order, and the Code itself. While he had always followed the code he had never truly
believed in it. He wasn’t quite sure but within that trance he realised that it was the way forward, a way to live by and to convince others (through nonviolent means) to follow it. For if everyone followed the Code there would be no war, no hatred. Only peace. In the trials this new state of mind became obvious to those who knew him, he moved without confliction.
When sparring he always moved for disarming blows. At the end of the fight, when his opponent fell to the floor what he did surprised everyone. He turned off his blade, and offered his hand to his opponent helping him up. Though this was the first trial of many, and other than a test based on a board game to test ones ability to plan ahead and overcome any challenge he may face. Afterwards, his future master didn’t hesitate on selecting him. Jedi Knight Tadia Wren, having being previously informed of his possible skills by her former master, Thaun Roln, she had decided to take on a Padawan for the first time.
His first years under her tutelage had little incident, working in the Manaan sector would do that. While there was always the necessity to keep an eye on the criminal underground and ensure that the Republic kept themselves in check while on the planet he had time to devote himself to his studies under her, as the war raged on throughout the Galaxy. She taught him her own favoured form of lightsaber combat, Makashi. The duelling form, specifically designed for taking out others wielding weapons similar to lightsabers. Over time he began to add a twist, whether he knew it or not he studied Tràkata. Turning off his blade at opportune moments when he could see that his master was putting force behind a swing so that when it met no resistance it would throw her off balance.
However while his studies continued there was still the need to keep an eye on Manaan itself. He was trained both as a diplomat, and a spy. He was taught how to blend into crowds, keep out of sight and play a role in a disguise as even when working with the Republic citizens on Manaan they could not always be trusted. This is when he began to distrust the Republic, as he saw the issues that lay within the group. It was supposed to be the ideal system, ideal government. Yet there was still corruption and extortion within its ranks. At the age of eighteen he himself found a plot connecting a hotel owner and a Republic Officer in transporting of Illegally obtained Kolto.
This was one of the situations he had to weigh carefully, and he even asked his master however she told him it was his decision to make. He would have to be the one to decide, both options had implications. If he did not take the deal to the Selkath council and they discovered it, and he didn’t apprehend the officer that could risk relations between the Selkath and the Republic possibly cutting off their supply of Kolto. If he did take it to the council they could lose valuable, life saving Kolto. Following what he believed to be the Force he went to the Selkath council after gathering evidence and apprehending the officer, then handing him over to the Selkath to deal with. While he may have gained an enemy, the choice he made he still believes is the right one.
--
Later he discovered that this was his Trial of Insight, as he saw through the problem to find the solution. That left four to go, spirit he himself completed afterwards. In time of self reflection after capturing the corrupt officer he went into a meditative trance to determine if what he had done was truly the right thing to do. He spent time thinking about the code, and what it meant to him and the galaxy. When he opened his eyes again and stood up he once again had a clearer mind, this was his Trial of Spirit. However, the other trials would have to wait. As members of the Selkath who were responsible for Kolto Production had begun to have problems.
The guards had memory loss, as did a lot of the high ranking members of the corporations responsible for Kolto. It was their families that contacted the council, who then contacted the Jedi. As they had been behaving strangely, leaning towards a less neutral position in the war. Occasionally indicating that Republic loss was inevitable. However they would slowly revert to normal, and then have another memory gap before they would get slightly more extreme in their beliefs.
Requested to intervene by the Selkath council (while being accompanied by at least one Selkath each at any given time) due to the fact that many believed to use the Force in order to trick the guards to letting them in, and then forgetting the experience. The hunt took them over the breadth of the cities sitting atop the vast oceans and some that sat below. However eventually, when someone's family was kidnapped it led them back to the city and then to a warehouse right beside the spaceport on Ahto, the capital city. Upon entering he was hit by a cold, forbidding feeling. Upon querying his master she informed him that that was the feeling of the dark side. The initial plan called for them to call for backup however expanding himself in the force he could feel the pain and horror on the Selkath minds. Feeling the need for urgency they progressed into the facility. Two Sith resided in the facility and seemed to be trying to use the Force to alter enough Selkath minds to get Manaan to supply Kolto primarily to the Empire. Tadia and Koren offered them the chance to back down, and drop their weapons. However, they did not accept and a fight ensued.
Both surpassed Koren in age and skill, however for a time while Tadia was fighting her opponent he managed to hold his own. Until his Sith, who was wielding two blades. Made a feint to stab one of the Selkath Koren moved off his centre and became distracted in order to see a telekinetic attack. Being sent against the wall, the Sith then sent a piece of apparatus towards him that slammed into his left knee, crushing it. The rest of the battle he waited for an opening, gritting his teeth through the pain. When he saw an opening he sent a beam on the floor into the head off the two sith - though only with enough force to knock them out, not to kill them.
As the Sith were tried in a Manaan court (With Tadia present to ensure that no tampering occurred, to prevent the Sith Empire getting involved the two captured Sith insisted they operated on their own motives, without the order of the Empire) he was sent to H’Ratth for treatment of his knee. The medic, Lea, tried the best she could and several other healers attempted however his knee would never be the same it was. Despite that he feels that it was Lea and her determination that truly got him walking again, there’s nothing quite like a eleven year old forcing you to walk again.
Upon arriving back at Manaan several weeks later, without a word as he passed his Master heading to his room she cut off his Padawan braid. The confrontation with the Sith, upon approval of the Jedi Council had been seen as his Trials of Courage, Flesh and Skill. With the need of a more experienced Watchman to take over the position of one who died in the Corellian Sector Tadia left, giving Koren her best wishes in protecting Manaan and keeping the people off it safe and peaceful.
Nothing, overly, eventful happened for the next 5 years. He still heard tales of the war, Kolto was shipped and deals were made. He always kept an eye out for Sith tampering, or under the table deals. Though, three months ago things went wrong. More and more offworlders were arriving, and he knew something was amiss as they remained behind without leaving. He started his own investigation, he had his suspicions that they were Sith pretending that they weren’t which would be enough to get them under the radar of Manaan security forces, though he had to find proof first. When he was nearing the end of his investigation, the Sith Ships arrived.
Demanding that they align with the Empire, Manaan tried to keep its neutrality. Be it as an example of why not to refuse, high tempers on the Siths behalf or anger that the previous plot as several years off manipulation should have had Manaan the perfect ground for taking they began to bombard the planet. He began rushing people towards the water, or towards ships. Whatever was closer, fire rained from the sky and the Sith he had been following received their own orders. Apparently trying to apprehend members of the Selkath species, for reasons he wasn’t too worried about figuring out at the time. He was torn between saving the lives of as many as he could and letting the Sith taken prisoners. He fought them where he could, sending out a request for help to the Republic to no avail.
He saved captives where he could, however when the whole city began to break apart he had no choice but to leave. Commandeering one of the Sith Ships he filled it with as many survivors as he could, managing to break orbit under the guise of being a Sith vessel, following orders till the last moment where he veered away and made it away just before the fighter tail he acquired caught up with him. Reaching Coruscant the news shook everyone, without Manaan Kolto was a hot commodity. The Jedi healing became much more important, however it meant something else for Koren.
He spent the next couple of months trying to keep to himself within the Jedi Temple. Some of the more warlike Jedi felt he should have done more, and that he failed. Some supported him, and called him a hero. He didn’t know what group was worse. For the first month he spent most of the time by himself. The Jedi Council considered sending him away, but felt that the possibility of a Sith Attack making Koren’s condition worse wasn’t worth the risk so instead kept him on Coruscant to give him time for his mental scars to heal through personal meditation and rest. The problem was that sleep was torture, so Koren eventually gave it up. Using the Force to refresh himself instead, thought of course that itself would begin to wear down and then he would have to sleep, only to be plagued by nightmares.
Though, when Xid returned to the temple (Who he had previously met on Manaan) now almost a man he was asked to spar with him. He did, Koren’s style was different and with Xid likely to be undergoing the trials soon. They began training and Koren immediately knew something was different with him, something had happened. Though he himself had something he didn’t like to share, to talk about and Xid seemed to be one of the few to understand. Over the next two months, a friendship was formed. Even after Xid became a Knight they trained together, and Koren also taught Xid some of the more calming meditative techniques he had worked on over the years and is one of the few people to know that Koren often chooses simply not to sleep.
Personality and/or Motivation: Quick of wit, and cocky. He has a strong desire to just
help other people. He believes in the code fully and wholly and lives his life by it in order to make the Galaxy a better place, though doesn’t believe in killing people and will always capture rather than kill. Maim at the most, that way the opponent is out of the fight but the galaxy is not one life shorter. Often asked about why he choses to still eat meat, wild animals also embody the Force, he still eats meat as most worlds that produce food are made specifically
for that purpose and as such animals are often given good, full lives.
Since Manaan he’s mainly kept to himself, with the exception of Xid, Sela and a couple of others.
Player’s long term goals: To develop new bonds, and work through the struggles of the trauma that Manaan caused with the character. Escape, naturally and not to succumb to the Dark Side. Though more importantly to have fun, that is my main goal.
Relations: Xid - Xid previously helped him on Manaan, and until after the Fall of Manaan he has not seen him upto two months ago. From there, via both having past experiences they don’t want to talk about, they have become good friends. Quite often sparring or meditating together.
Sela - Sela was Xids Master, and obviously Koren ended up spending some time with her as well.
Lea - Lea has undying gratitude from Koren. As it was her who initially tried to heal his leg, and when everyone failed to get it back to its original state it was her determination that he drew upon to get back on his feet and back to work.
Tadia - Tadia was his former master, and he will always feel a connection to her. She was the one that trained him everything he knew, however sometimes when he thinks of Manaan he wishes she taught him more.
Final Point - Secrets: His distrust with the Republic is deeper than his feeling of betrayal of the Jedi. He asked for help when the Sith Attacked but nobody came. This wasn’t even a battle it was an annihilation of most of the Selkath people, there wasn’t even a single Jedi that came to try and help evacuate. In terms of the Republic he has seen the corruption that lies within it through the people he has come into contact with, coupled with the sense of betrayal when they did not turn up to save Manaan there is a deep sense of resentment. In fact as such he does not see himself as a member of the Republic anymore, just a member of the Jedi Order.