"He has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so."
Biography[]
Early history[]
Arthas and Seltri Tiburi loved each other and they loved their new-born infant son. As was the Jensaarai custom, a first born child was not named until after the second moon and the public ceremony of dedication took place. The Tiburi family had been on Susevfi for over 200 standard years, almost as long as the Jensaarai itself. While stopping briefly on the planet Susevfi, Lord Ciscan was overcome with Farsight and sensed that the Tiburi's child would play a large part of her destiny - a destiny she believed to be a great ruler of the Sith. Ciscan discretely killed the Tiburis and took the child, her treachery not to be discovered until she was off-world.
Lord Ciscan named the child "Sho" and reared him to be her perfect weapon and tool for her own advancement. Sho was never permitted to be touched, except in punishment and battle Darth Ciscan arranged for individuals to enter the child's life to teach the Sho to dominate or destroy them, never permitting any social attachment or emotional bond. Emotional and physical torture were daily routines, teaching Sho that hatred and his will to survive for revenge and power are a Sith's greatest weapons.
With every new teaching that Lord Ciscan presented the child, Sho would be plagued by visions while sleeping, of what he thinks are his parents, calling him and beckoning him to the "true teachings" of the Force. As his training intensified so did his visions and the light side grew stronger in him, causing immense psychological, and emotional pain. During his private practice sessions, Sho began to feel the presence of peace, happiness and calmness filling him from the light side of the Force as he developed simple meditations and lightsaber movements that allowed the pain, hurt and anger to drift away. Something deep within him shouted and pulled at him with an overwhelming sense that everything he knew and had been taught was wrong. It took great concentration for Sho to hide the ever growing light side of the Force within him from his Master. While Lord Ciscan was away, Sho had a physical and psychological breakdown. He contemplated taking his own life, but once again in a vision he clearly knew his parents were beckoning him to leave Vjun and find those that could help him be a "follower of truth." After 7 standard days without sleep or food, Sho fled and simply allowed the Force to guide him - he was led to Ruusan.
A symbol of hope and peace.
Sho arrived on Ruusan in 230 ABY. Stumbling through the living areas he found the first quarters he sensed a life force inside, entered, and collapsed unconsciousness at her feet. This was the home of Master Seven Isarad, a Jedi Healer. That night, with the help of Master Seven's Force Healing and many other Jedi Master's channeling the light side of the force towards him, Sho entered a deep sleep. He awoke 9 days later and when he did Sho was gone, literally. The man that awoke had little memory of his previous life or experiences and a life lived in the Dark Side of the Force. The Force had given him a very precious gift, the gift of starting over. He had awoke a new person. His soul seemed clean and the world was welcoming. Occasionally, vague thoughts entered his mind of a life past, but they appear as if a mist or whiff of smoke barely there before disappearing. His ability to touch and control the Force had to be relearned, however his soul seemed clean and the universe was open.
A new life needed a new name. As he wandered the streets of the friendly Ruusan, he saw a group of children gathered together watching a small play being put on by some Padawans for Ruusan's local children. The name of the fictional "hero" was being called by one of the actors, "Norin Quan help us!" The children would echo, "Norin Quan, help us!" At that moment the new man, without a past, without stain of the dark side in his soul was hit by a wave from the Force. His mind, his body, his ears all rang with the words spoken by two, unseen yet heard, individuals. "This is who you are! Take this name and claim it! You are to be called Norian Quan!" His lips parted and the name came out, "Norin Quan". Once he said it out loud, he knew, not only was that to be his name but that was to be his path, a servant, a helper, a Jedi, Norin Quan.
With encouragement from Master Kaliwillo Lane, Norin began to pursue being a Jedi. Shortly thereafter, Norin was selected by Master Owyn Graves, to be his Padawan. After gaining approval from the council, Master Owyn trained Norin to be an "Elite Sentinel" from the start of his Padawan classes. This training was difficult and consisted of many long hours beyond that of the normal Padawan classes but Norin thrived in the teachings and through the Force exceeded expectations. Although the individual he once was gone, Norin still found it very difficult to have personal relationships and to feel the touch of another on his skin.
Armor[]
Norin was on an undercover recon mission to the planet of Coruscant when his cover blown and he was being hunted by the red hand, a clan of Sith that sought to bring his head to Darth Ciscan. While seeking to evade being captured Norin was aided by an Imperial Knight. The Knight gave Norin his armored uniform and had the Imperial Knight's help him escape off-world amidst their ranks. When Norin slipped on the armor it felt as if he was sliding into another skin. Once safely home, Norin sought to return the Imperial armor but the Knight refused, stating, "the Force has decided it was yours Norin. Use it as you see fit, but never dishonor it." Immediately Norin set about making modifications so that he could wear the armor and blend into the shadows at night, while doing recon work as a Sentinel. Also certain pieces of the armor were removed / changed to fit his style and need. He later realized that Norin entered a "build meditation" and three days passed with no sleep or food. Norin took much care in the modification of the armor, as he had done with his saber, something at the time he accepted but did not understand.
Norin's armor was designed and crafted by Mastor Armorer Hogrum Chalk. The armor is interwoven with small threads of Phrik filament to provide additional resistance to lightsaber attacks. The NOJ insignia is printed on the left shoulder pad and right gauntlet; the gauntlet itself was composed of pure cortosis, rendering any lightsaber blade that touched it useless for several minutes. The uniform also includes a black hood and cape. As a skilled Knight of the Force, Norin knows how to get the most out of his armor.
Jensaarai Additions: After finding out his Jensaarai heritage, Norin understood why wearing armor appealed to him so greatly. Immediately upon arriving back to Ruusan from Susevfi Norin researched Jensaarai armor and began to add more pieces to him armor modifying it to give honor to his Jensaarai heritage. Norin wears his "full armor" when in large scale battle or during special ceremonies on Ruusan.
Jensaarai heritage[]
While teaching one of the younglings how to use the Force to move objects, Norin directed the young one to use the Force to left a small pebble off the ground and then move it close to the temple wall. The youngling was having difficulty, so Norin simply concentrated on the pebble and with little thought began to levitate it. As he held it in mid-air, while talking to the student the pebble began to rotate very quickly and when Norin directed it as the wall it left the initial position with great velocity, slamming into the temple wall and embedding itself inside the stone. Norin was shocked. He tried it again and this time with some concentration was able to embed the pebble deeper into the solid stone. Excusing himself, Norin sought out council Master Seven Isarad and (at that time, now Master) fellow Knight Evo Hak.
Excited that Norin had discovered a new use of Force powers, he demonstrated the "pebble trick" again. Master Seven seemed stunned but Sir Evo looked thoughtful, "Tell me Norin, how did you hide your desire to be a 'lightsider' from a Sith Lord?" Norin explained that it took little effort to initially hide his aura but the long extended period took a deep toll upon him. Sir Evo inquired further, "and who taught you to mask your force ability while undercover, was it your Master?" Norin again explained that he needed no teaching in this matter and that the ability to hide his Force aura came almost naturally. Evo's eyebrow raised. Being one concerned with the NOJ archives Evo knew the small fact that those two combined Force attributes, when devolved naturally, are often attributed to one specific Force-sensitive group. “I believe we need to take an off-world trip to the planet Susevfi” Evo stated as Norin looked puzzled but agreed. When the three arrived, the planet was found to contain very few standing buildings. What seemed to be a humble simple city was in ruins. The destruction seemed to be only a few decades old. After many hours of searching they were able to get a console powered up and found birth records. Inputting Norin's DNA into the records a match was found. Norin was born on this planet. The records revealed that Norin was taken was from his parents two days after birth. Evo turned to Norin and said in a monotone voice, "My brother, you were born Jensaarai."
Two incidents[]
After Norin was Knighted and returned home to Ruusan from his crystal search, he took his first Padawan, Darand Fitzgerald. Norin began the same Padawan training with Darand as he had undergone. During Darand's Level 4 Padawan training, while she was deep undercover on the Sith planet Vjun, she began to fall to the dark side and became obsessed with obtaining dark side powers. As Darrand opened herself more and more to the dark side, Norin was forced to make a decision. Having no choice, and being forced to defend himself Norin killed Darrand in a battle on Ruusan in front of the academy. Stepping back from taking another Padawan after this incident, Norin rewrote and implemented the training material for all Sentinels to use. After the completion of this Norin accepted an away mission away from Ruusan for several months.
During his away mission, Master Oywn Graves, disappeared with no communication and no trace. Norin used every resource, skill and ability he had within the Force and every contact in every system dirt hole he knew and there wasn't one word of his vanished Master. With no clues and having exhausted every resource, Norin began to doubt his skill as the Elite Sentinel he was trained to be. One day on a mission to Onderon, he was contacted by a mysterious being who gave Norin a glimmer of hope. The information stated that Lord Ciscan had killed Owyn Graves. Hunting her down seemed to be more difficult than normal, as if she knew Norin was looking for him. A lead led him to his former home world of Vjun. Breaking into Lord Ciscan’s inner sanctum, he quickly felt a disturbance in the Force and knew something was wrong. Turning to leave Norin felt waves of Sith lightning course through his body, followed by the piercing sting of many poisonous needles. Dropping to the floor, about to go unconscious he gazed up to see Lord Ciscan smiling and laughing with one of her Sith - Darth Image Breen. Lord Ciscan smiled as Darth Image said, “Two for two, not bad, not bad at all, Master.”
Norin faded into the blackness.
Three months later[]
Shaking, laying face down on a desert ground, Norin began to choke on the dust particles filling his lungs. His mind was foggy and upon opening his eyes he saw only blackness—he was blind. Norin could not control his body as it continued to shake as if he were cold, however the opposite was true. Feeling around he quickly understood two important facts: one - his saber was missing and two - he was kneeling in mounds of hot, dry sand but that he was covered with something wet and almost slick to the touch. After momentary confusion, he drew the Force to him and it came easily. As it came he reached out with the Force to sense for danger. The Force filled him and calmed him. He sensed no immediate danger, however he did feel and hear the sounds of nearby fires mixed with burnt flesh and metal. With no immediate danger, Norin began to meditate and within a few hours his sight returned to him. As dawn broke over the barren sand hills of Halm (he later found out), Norin realized that whatever device that held him as an unconscious prisoner was being transported and the vessel crashed. He assumed that the casing that kept him unconscious may have also saved his life and that temporary blindness was a side effect. Searching the wreckage for survival items, Norin counted eight dead, all Sith, judging by their dress and the fact all carried sabers which upon ignition all blades displayed various red shades caused when a dark-sider forces a stolen Kyber crystal to do the dark-sider's will. None of them were individuals he had met before but they bore a mark of a red hand either inked into their skin, on bits of jewelry or stitched into clothing. Ripping some cloth, Norin took and stored all of their sabers to carry with him. Norin saw his saber clipped to a half torched body. Taking his saber, he hit the activation switch only to hear a dead "click" sound. Norin began to walk east where he stumbled upon an old Gran Mining Colony. The Force drew him within one of the deep mines. After building a fire, he soon collapsed from exhaustion and weakness, falling into a deep sleep. Hours later upon awaking, his eyes began to adjust to the light when he noticed a clear glimmer twinkling from the light of the fire protruding from the roof of the mine. It seemed to sing to him, a song not heard with his ears but rather his heart, his being, his true nature. Reaching for it the force allowed it to leave it’s him and land lightly into Norin palm. The clear Kyber crystal about double the length of his thumb rested In his hand and it resonated with a powerful aura that cooled both skin and soul. Sliding the crystal into his saber's empty chamber and thumbing the activation switch on the hilt, his saber buzzed to life while extending a bright, vibrant yellow blade, fitting for a Sentinel and his nature as a force users who clearly sees the dark side no matter the person, situation or circumstance. Norin was aware that Sith sabers could only be powered with stolen or purchased Kyber crystals since the Force never calls a dark-sider to one as it does those who use the light side of the force. He assumed his saber’s crystal was scavedged for a Sith’s own. Norin made his way further into the mine as the Force continued to draw him. Soon an exit appeared and upon leaving the old mine he realized he could see a space port in the distance. Upon arriving at the port, Norin grasped to understood that 3 months of his life were gone although, to him, it felt like only hours.
Arriving back on Ruusan, Norin received a warm welcome from his brothers and sisters in the NOJ, but the welcome from the NOJ Council was anything but "warm." The council strongly admonished Norin for not following protocol, for violating communication procedures, overlooking mission planning and for pursuing dangerous leads without advising the council of his whereabouts.
Current activity[]
Norin's Saber
Norin Quan served the Force and others with the title “Master” granted him by the NOJ council and humbly received. Norin also accepted greater responsibility from the Academy of developing the structure and lessons that all Initiates and Padawans learn. Norin had a great desire to be a true vessel of the force, and thereby helping others to NEVER touch the dark side of the Force. The High Council called on Norin often for the tasks that most of his colleagues deemed as “impossible,” for Norin believed that is the true sign of a Sentinel. Norin was asked to take his seat on the Council where he remained until his death.
He knew, Lord Ciscan would come for him. When she came, with three apprentices, Lord Ciscan was the only individual to leave, however not without grave physical loss to herself. Norin joined the force in body on that day. His presence shining bright to all who bore witness of the epic battle between one light side user and four from the dark side. The once forced dark-sider bore testimony as a vessel of light with his life that there is no death, there is only the force.
Personality and traits[]
Strengths[]
- Strategic planning and implementation.
- Verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- The ability to improvise and adapt quickly as the situation calls for it to accomplish his task .
- Norin is a very loyal Jedi to those he calls "friend."
- Norin also has a great connection and understanding of the Force's work in others lives and situations.
Weaknesses[]
- Norin is shy around women in personal situations, having never been touched before coming to Ruusan except during battle or for punishment.
- He is leery of taking or teaching another Padawan.
- He longs for a "father figure / mentor" after the situation from Vjun and the loss of his Master in his life.
Personal Aspirations[]
- To serve others as a bright vessel of the Force on the High Council of the NOJ.
- On 2011.04.18 I was asked to have a seat as a member as a Council Master. I gladly accepted and look forward to continuing to serve the Force, the NOJ and all through my new position.
Behind the scenes[]
Norin Quan's real-life lightsaber by Vader's Vault
Notes and references[]
- Age: 49 Standard Years
- Birthplace: Susevfi (aka: Suarbi 7/5)however he only knew Vjun as his home before coming to Ruusan.
- Species: Human
- Gender: Male
- Allegiance: New Order of the Jedi (NOJ)
- Rank: Council Master
- Path: Sentinel
- Advanced Path: Shadow
- Blade Color: Yellow
- Primary Language: Galactic Basic
- Other Languages: High Galactic, Ancient Sith, Mando'a and Bocce
- Lightsaber Form: Proficient in Form III - Soresu and Form IV - Ataru. Norin has developed a combination of the two as his own style.
- Heritage: Parents were both Jensaarai