Author's note: As with many on the servers, I have to have a backstory for the characters I create to keep my interest. Ragdat here is my Jedi Knight. Giving him a backstory helps me keep his personality in mind as I play the game, as well as help me know what he'd choose in dialogue. Now, on with the tale!
Kel Dor Jedi Master Tila Koon felt a disturbance in the Force on Nar Shaddaa. Not an easy task on a planet like Nar Shaddaa, but the powerful nature of the disturbance drew her from her business and right to it like a beacon. She followed it to a combat arena, where a fight was being held; a young male Rattataki against a Nikto warrior. The Nikto, Bardaa, a red skinned, or Kajain'sa'Nikto, was a champion of the arena for ten years, and had hundreds of victories under his belt, was the fan favorite. But the Rattataki, Ragdat, was an up and coming warrior who seemed to be able to sense what his opponents were going to do before they did it, and moved with such speed and grace, despite his stocky build, and managed to hit harder than his build should allow for. Master Koon knew of two ways one could do this; mastery of Teräs Käsi, or sensitivity to the Force.
When the match began, she knew right away that Ragdat was not a Teräs Käsi master; he never used any of the stances she had read about, nor did he use the movements of the style either. Ragdat's fighting style was brutal, but also efficient. It was thuggish, but there wasn't a single wasted movement. Ragdat easily dodged the blows of the champion Bardaa, and put the Nikto down quickly and brutally when he was off balance. When the battle was over and Radgat's hand was raised as champion, Master Koon knew that the Rattataki was not only sensitive to, but strong in, the Force.
When the matches and celebrations were over, Master Koon tracked the Rattataki back to his apartment, and stood outside the door, trying to figure out how to approach him. During the celebrations, Master Koon could feel Ragdat's frustrations at his life, and how he wished to be more than just some pit champion. Master Koon figured that Ragdat knew he was meant for something greater, but didn't know exactly what, and felt empty because of it. She knew then how to approach her pitch as she buzzed his door.
When Ragdat opened the door, he took one look at Master Koon, and said "Sorry lady, I'm not into…whatever you are," and was just about to close it when Master Koon pushed through the door.
"I think you misunderstand my intentions, young man. I am not a groupie or a prostitute," Master Koon said, opening her cloak slightly so her lightsaber was in plain view. "My name is Tila Koon, and I am a Master of the Jedi Order."
"Jedi Order?" Ragdat said, his voice full of confusion. "What does a Jedi want with me?"
Master Koon closed the door behind her, and sat down on Ragdat's couch. "Because of something I can sense within you. I can feel the Force within you, strongly. You can train to become a Jedi."
"A Jedi?" Ragdat said, slightly interested in Master Koon's words, but also resistant to them. "Why would I want to be a Jedi? I've everything I want here; a nice place to live, good food, credits, and the chance to fight whenever I want!"
Master Koon nodded her head knowingly. She had read up on his species; the Rattataki were a violent race drawn to battle and war, so she knew how to reel him in. "Ragdat, the Jedi have many opportunities to fight. We are trained in combat from the moment we enter the Order in many fighting styles, both armed and unarmed, and have many opportunities to use these," She said. "And the 'peace' between the Republic and the Empire will not last forever. Eventually, the Sith will attack again, and we will be forced to defend the Republic once more."
Ragdat was intrigued by this; he'd been in a lot of fights, both on Nar Shaddaa and Rattatak, but a war? And against the Empire too. After what Darth Vich had done to his people, he would love a chance at payback. But he only saw one problem. "Don't you Jedi only take children for training?"
"It is ideal to begin training as children. Their minds are open and willing to learn," Master Koon said. "Adults have more difficulty opening their minds to the Force. But it's not impossible; many beings over the centuries have begun their training later in life, and had become powerful and renowned members of our Order."
Ragdat was convinced. "So what do I need to do?"
Master Koon stood, and extended her hand. "Come with me. I will take you one of our basic training academies to help you learn to open your mind to the Force and control the abilities you have used all your life. From there, you will head to Tython to complete your training."
Ragdat was taken aback. "You're not going to train me?"
"No," Master Koon said. "I have other responsibilities to take care of, and the masters on Arkania have experience in aiding nascent Force users begin their training."
Ragdat considered again for a moment before making his decision. He reached out to Master Koon's extended hand, and shook it. "All right, I'll accept your offer and become a Jedi."
Master Koon nodded. "You've just taken your first step into a later world."