By Petrarch (petrarch@delphi.com)
Based on the movie trilogy by George Lucas and the Dark Empire comic books by Dark Horse comics
"Before the first cities arose in the Middle Kingdom, before the first wars between the Vampires and the Immortals of Mesopotomia, the Jedi and their Akashic brothers lived in the high mountains of Tibet. According to our oldest holocron we are descendants of Lemuria, that land which existed during the Golden Age of Magic fifty thousand years ago. After the great fall we stayed in the high places, focusing and disciplining ourselves until the unawakened once again rose . But until that time no matter how long it would take we would protect the sleepers from those who walk the outer darkness. In those days of High Magic there were many who tried to control us, to corrupt us; the Great Old Ones, the Vampire Antediluvians, and things whose names are best left unsaid. But we prevailed with the help of those who would become the Order of Hermes, and with the Immortals, and those of the Changing Breed. For forty thousand years we fought until the cities rose again. Then we became the advisors to the princes of many lands and cities, but we spent most of our time fighting in the wilderness. Our Akashic brothers taught the sleepers our ways and showed them the true path; we were always in the background keeping the Dark Side from our charges." -from the teachings of Master Lieh-tze, stored in the Jedi Holocron.
"After the fall of the Sung we faced darktimes, since the Mongols had taken over all of Asia with their diabolic magic and assistants. The Jedi and the AB were systematically hunted in a vicious pogrom. During this time many other mages also faced persecution. When the Horde reached the lands of Islam the Subtle Ones were hunted, and in the lands of the CC, both they and the OoH were decimated. We eventually were able to strike back, and destroy the power of the Mongol Khans and their Dark Lords of Sith, but not before they unleashed a great Plague upon Europe and Asia. Shattered to not even a twentieth of our strength we and the AB retired to the Himalayas, and the mountains of Japan, and we heard nothing from the outside world for close to five hundred years. When we returned we heard tales of powers that had grown in the West and of their conquest of a New World and their manipulations in the old. We found out of the destruction of Mount Qaf. We were weak at first but eventually ousted the Europeans from our lands, but the Technomancers struck back with their puppet Mao, and their corporations." -from the teachings of Master Cor Ramai, from the Jedi Holocrons
"...We were in a quandry until one of us met with the Virtual Adept George Lucas and with his help we struck a mighty blow against the Static Reality. Through his films a new hope arose in the hearts of the sleepers. Because of him and his acolyte, Spielberg now they see the evils of the Technocracy more clearly, and these movies make them wonder, and perhaps in their ancestral memories and in their dreams they remember the Mythic Age and the heros of those times. We have many new apprentices and hopefully with them and the other Traditions we will win the Ascension War, and destroy the forces of the Dark Side which drive the Technocracy. Jedi, May the Force be with you!" - from the teachings of Master Seiki Taira, from the Jedi Holocrons.
Foci:
Philosophy: The Force is what gives the Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, it binds reality together.
Organization: Small chantries with only one master located in a hostile wilderness setting usually near a site of the Dark Side. Students can test themselves against their environment and be close to the living things that generate the Force.
Meetings: Though Masters and Students tend to congregate together, Jedi Knights tendto work in either very small groups (1 to 3) or by themselves.
Initiation: Destiny plays a great role in both the training and the life of the Jedi. Jedi choose those who are strong in the Force (Avatar 3+) but Destiny also tends to Awaken those to the Force.
Chantry: No Ancestral Chantry
(There may be more to this document, but this is all I have)