Teepo Teachings
Teepo History
The Teepo way was made when Master Nars Teepo around the same time when the blaster became a common sidearm. Feeling that the force changes with the times, he contended that traditions should not remain static. Jedi's, he believed, should change and adapt along side of society and should adopt the use of blaster weaponry. Teepo was shunned by the Jedi community for his beliefs. They assumed he was heading down the path of darkness. Taking the loss of support by his colleagues he went into a life of hermitry, applying his knowledge and Jedi skills to his training in the blaster and its applications.
Many of his friends and colleagues in the order went to Nars to try to sway him from his descent to what they felt was the dark path. They tried to convince him to change his ways, but he converted many to his belief. With this new influx of masters and students the school flourished in a very isolated corner of the universe.
After many centuries, the Jedi's were called to fight a great evil. This great evil was such a threat that the old order swallowed is pride and called upon the Teepo's for help. The fought side by side as brothers in the Clone Wars onlt to be wiped out by Palpatine and Vader in the ensuing political chaos. The Teepo's were no more safe than the Jedi's of old. Many masters hid, but were sought out and destroyed. The onlt thing that kept the smaller school alive was the hermitic tradition of its founder. Many students and masters were in hiding from the outset of the Clone Wars and this saved them in the massacres that followed. Only a few survive to this day.
Teepo Tenets
Teepo's believe in change. Nars originally banned use of lightsabers, but many felt this was due more to his scorn of their view of him as a loss to the dark then actual philosophy. Most Teepo's now use lightsabers, albeit seldom. Teepos rely greatly on blasters but never use heavy blasters or anything greater in power. They never carried a concealed weapon. To a Teepo this is a symbol of who they are, much like a lightsaber to a Jedi Knight.
Teepos prefer to call themselves Paladins, not Knights. This is a way to distinct themselves from regular Jedi Knights. They still call themselves Jedis. Some very adept Teepo have been known to wear blindfolds at all times. They use their powers to see the force and what it surrounds. During the Clone Wars many of the great Teepo began wearing blast helmets with the face shields welded shut so they could not see. It is the mark of a true Teepo master to actually do this. The more novice students would never wear helmets but many masters say it is in the tradition of change that the order was founded. Also some Teepo have been known to wield two blasters at once. This is also a mark of status and ability.
Codes
Along with the Jedi Code the Teepo follow some rules:
1. Never draw your blaster unless drawn upon first.
2. Aggression is the Dark side. It should never be consorted with. Be at perfect peace and harmony before acting. Even if it means being killed. A Teepo paladin never acts in anger or hate. (This may seem to be a restatement of the Jedi code, but the Teepo's take it far more seriously. It has be said the some paladins have been killed without even moving a muscle simply becuse they could not control their anger. Of course these are the truly fanatical.)
3. Never use a lightsaber. (Nars Teepo was very clear about this. He made it Teepo law that they should never touch one. This seems to be a remnant of his scorn for the knights that dismissed him.Many Teepo Masters now say it is allowed,in the tradition of change , being a good defensive weapon.) Many Teepo Masters carry one now, yet hardly use them.
4. Teepos hardly ever wear armor. Nars did not allow it, but as weapons improved many Teepos started to wear some rudimentary armor for protection. Many more traditional ones will not due to traditions passed down but most Masters regard this as swaying from the teachings of Nars on change.
