MalproksimeA SWRPG UniverseOrder of the Obla’tai

The Order of the Obla’tai is an emergent Echani Force tradition that teaches that the greatest truth is spoken through motion and the greatest honor is to protect others. Known in Echani as “those who vow by armor,” members of the Obla’tai embrace the sacred promise to carry the weight of danger that others may live free of it.

Combat is used only as a shield. Anger is a spark to be guided, not a flame that consumes. Armor is revered as a physical vow of guardianship. Weapons preserve memory, ensuring the legacy of every protector endures beyond their life.

The Obla’tai refuse to rule over the people they defend. Instead, they ensure that power always remains within the communities they protect, not in the hands of those who would dominate them.

Foundation of the Order

Founding

The Order was formed by Arya Raseri, an Echani armorer, guardian and sentinel, who traveled the galaxy during the rise of the Galactic Empire. She developed the foundation for the Order from her experiences that defined the Path of the Obla’tai:

Guardians of the Whills on Jedha — silent vigilance and disciplined empathy
Ancient Jedi ruins on Ossus — wisdom of defense rather than conquest
Sith cultural study in Wild Space — awareness of corruption and emotional manipulation
Rebel Service during the Galactic Civil War — fighting tyranny through guardianship
Surviving Inquisitors and Darth Vader — clarity under overwhelming threats

Her six year journey of learning clarified that warriors must be guardians first, combatants second. Oblates are expected to follow there own path to learn the lessons of the Obla’tai.

Organizational Structure

The Order of the Obla’tai maintains a structure rooted in service, not authority. Titles reflect roles and vows rather than hierarchy or birthright. Advancement comes through demonstrated guardianship, specifically the willingness to bear burdens for others, combined with emotional maturity in the face of violence and fear. Each rank embodies a different aspect of the core Echani belief that movement reveals truth, and armor represents the vow of protection.

Guardian Prime

The Guardian Prime serves as the moral and philosophical heart of the Order. They ensure the teachings remain grounded in compassion, humility, and the vow of armor. Unlike a military commander, the Guardian Prime leads through example rather than command. Their primary focus is to maintain the spiritual clarity of the Order, ensuring that the Obla’tai never forget why they defend others, and never allow power to cloud purpose. The Guardian Prime is often the most experienced practitioner in managing emotion through combat and reflection.

Shield Captain

Shield Captains oversee field operations and the training of new defenders. They interpret doctrine into practical application, decisions made in real combat to protect lives. A Shield Captain balances tactical awareness with emotional guidance, often putting themselves physically at the front of danger. They embody the vow of armor by stepping into the line of threat first, so others do not have to. Their leadership style is personal and participatory; they do not issue orders from the rear, but defend from the center.

Way-Shield Dancer

Way-Shield Dancers are duelists whose expertise lies in movement, redirection, and control. They see combat as a conversation: every strike offers information, every dodge a response. These practitioners excel in non-lethal resolution: disarming, destabilizing, or misleading opponents to end battles swiftly and mercifully. Their presence on the battlefield turns chaos into graceful choreography. They prove that mastery requires neither brutality nor dominance, only understanding.

Forge-Sentinel

Forge-Sentinels are the keepers of legacy within the Obla’tai. They craft, maintain, and ritually sanctify armor and weapons, which are the physical manifestation of the vow. They also study the history of each relic, guiding ceremonies for reforging fallen armor and ensuring remembrance of past sacrifices. As guardians of tradition, they teach new members how to carry the emotional weight embedded within their gear. Their role bridges the living and the legacy of those who defended before.

Acolyte of the Flow

Acolytes are new initiates learning how to listen with their bodies and speak through their movements. Their training emphasizes emotional discipline and understanding anger without submitting to it. They study martial forms, the ethics of combat, and meditation techniques that blend stillness with motion. Acolytes are constantly evaluated not by their combat proficiency, but by their restraint and clarity of intent. Becoming Obla’tai is not a matter of strength, but of readiness to embody the vow of armor.

Core Doctrine

The Obla’tai follow a set of guiding principles known as the Core Doctrine, beliefs that define both how they fight and why they choose to stand in harm’s way. These doctrines ensure that every movement, every decision, and every swing of a blade remains rooted in purpose and compassion. The vow of armor binds each member to defend others before themselves, shaping not only their behavior in battle but also their conduct in daily life. More than rules, the doctrines are reminders that strength must always serve life, and that the Force is clearest when wielded without pride or cruelty.

Defense is the highest expression of combat.

Force and skill exist to protect life. Violence is justified only as a shield against immediate harm, not as a tool for intimidation or dominance.
Anger must be observed, redirected, and released without harm.

Anger is energy with purpose, but left unchecked, it becomes corruption. Practitioners learn to convert frustration into clarity and forward motion.
Armor symbolizes a promise to protect and endure.

Wearing armor means willingly taking on the burden of danger so that others do not suffer. Its maintenance is a sacred duty.
Weapons hold emotional history and must never be used in cruelty.

Every strike defines legacy. A weapon can carry honor and sacrifice, or regret and shame. Intent determines legacy.
The Force flows cleanly through purposeful action.

The Light only guides when the mind is focused and the heart is steady. Practitioners are trained to act with deliberation, not impulse.
Power belongs to the people; defenders serve them.

Authority must arise from community needs. Practitioners do not rule; they ensure that no one else rules unjustly.

Rituals of Reverence

Ritual practice within the Order of the Obla’tai is essential to maintaining emotional balance and honoring the vow at the center of their identity — the vow of armor. These traditions bind the living to the fallen, reinforce the purpose behind every movement, and transform tools of combat into symbols of compassion. Through ritual, defenders confront anger, acknowledge fear, release guilt, and renew their promise to protect others above themselves. In the Obla’tai philosophy, ritual is not ceremony for appearance — it is a practical act of continuity, remembrance, and spiritual grounding.

Ritual Cleansing and Reflection

After a battle, defenders gather in silence to clean and inspect their equipment. The process is meditative: every scratch is acknowledged, every repair represents renewed strength. During cleaning, a practitioner reflects on moments of anger or fear and consciously releases them. This ritual ensures that equipment never becomes a vessel for shame or cruelty.

Reforging of the Shield

When a protector dies, their armor may be reforged by a Forge-Sentinel. Metal, weaves and fabrics from the fallen’s gear are shaped into new plates — often reserved for a promising Acolyte. This symbolizes:

Their willingness to carry another’s burden
The continuity of purpose across generations

Through reforging, sacrifice becomes a literal shield for future defenders.

Duels of Succession

Weapons tied to a warrior’s essence cannot be casually passed along. If a relic blade, lightsaber or other crafted weapon is to be carried again, two practitioners perform a formal duel of remembrance. If the Obla’tai practitioner is alone, they should engage in meditative solo combat to experience the flow of the weapon and essence within. For all Duels of Succession, whether with two practitioners or in a meditative combat, there are:

No lethal strikes
No displays of superiority
Pure movements that honor the weapon’s previous wielder

The duel confirms that the successor understands the emotional weight and history of the weapon.

Shrine Placement of Honored Relics

Some gear has served its purpose. When a relic is retired, it is placed in a shrine — often a simple alcove within a training hall. The relic is accompanied by:

A record of its bearer’s deeds
A description of battles where it protected life

The Vow of the Shield

Chanted before dangerous missions: “Your strength is mine to bear. My strength is theirs to share.” This vow gives the Order its name: Obla’tai, those who vow by armor.

Trial of the Tempered Heart

A guided experience involving martial forms and breath training helps a defender regain balance after emotional strain or doubt.

Intersecting Force Traditions

The teachings of the Obla’tai were shaped not in isolation, but through Arya Raseri’s first-hand encounters with other Force-focused groups during her travels. Each interaction offered lessons, both cautionary and inspiring, that refined the Order’s beliefs. Instead of adopting any single tradition, the Obla’tai draw selectively from these influences, integrating practices that reinforced their vow of armor while rejecting doctrines that compromised autonomy or compassion. The traditions below represent formative contributions to the Obla’tai identity, carefully interpreted through the lens of Echani culture and the necessity of protecting others from tyranny.

Influences acknowledged but not obeyed:

Guardians of the Whills — sacred vigilance
Ancient Jedi — defense and humility
Sith Tradition — recognition of destructive temptation

Members of the Order learn selectively to remain grounded in Light.

Playing an Obla’tai

An Obla’tai character should approach every conflict with purpose and emotional discipline, acting first and foremost as a protector. Their instinct is to interpose themselves between harm and the vulnerable, using movement and defense as their primary language. Violence is never driven by anger, pride, or dominance; every strike must have a necessary, life-saving intention behind it. They constantly assess the motivations and emotional states of foes and allies alike, seeking opportunities to defuse danger, redirect aggression, or safeguard others through intelligent positioning and calm communication. In conversation and strategy, an Obla’tai remains humble, empathetic, and community-focused, advocating for solutions that empower people rather than elevate themselves. Whether in a tense negotiation or a desperate battle, their guiding question is always the same: How do I protect others without losing myself?

Morality and Conflict

Positive Morality

+2 Morality: protection at personal cost
+1 Morality: de-escalation without shame
Remove 1 Conflict: voluntary restraint in a volatile situation

Conflict

+2 Conflict: actions driven by anger or ego
+3 to +4 Conflict: cruelty or punitive violence
+5 Conflict: desecrating relic armor or weapons

Force Point Usage

Dark pip use is permitted when controlled and protective, and intent must be protective and with stable emotion.

Acceptable Light Side uses

Defense and protection
Healing and comfort
Mobility that prevents harm

Permissible Dark Side uses (no automatic Conflict)

Force push to protect non-combatants
Bracing collapsing structures
Immobilizing threats non-lethally

Custom Talents

The custom talents of the Obla’tai reflect their unique philosophy of defensive guardianship. Each technique emphasizes protection, emotional control, and the ability to read intention through motion. Rather than focusing on aggression or overwhelming force, these talents empower a defender to interpose themselves between danger and the innocent, using armor and discipline as both physical and spiritual shields. By mastering these techniques, an Obla’tai practitioner channels the Force through calm purpose rather than raw dominance, ensuring that every action aligns with the vow of armor.

Shielded Flow: +1 Defense when repositioning to protect another
Armor Is a Promise: regain 1 Strain after protection action (self-forged armor)
Weapon Remembrance: add Force rating to Wound Threshold when defending others
Calm the Spark: convert 1 Dark to Light pip when resisting anger
Redirect the Strike: attacker gains +1 Setback next attack after Parry/Reflect

Recommended Skills

Training within the Order of the Obla’tai prepares defenders to excel in controlled, highly intentional physical conflict. Mastery of body and emotion is required to transform motion into communication. Their skill set prioritizes close-quarters defense, reactive protection of others, and maintenance of sacred equipment — reinforcing the belief that a protector’s strength must be both disciplined and sustaining. These recommended skills represent the foundation of Obla’tai martial practice, ensuring practitioners can guard allies, interpret threats, and confront violence without succumbing to it.

Lightsaber
Melee
Coordination
Athletics
Discipline
Mechanics
Leadership

Recommended Force Powers

The Force powers favored by the Obla’tai emphasize precision, restraint, and the disciplined use of strength in service to others. Their training focuses on abilities that enhance physical capability and perception while maintaining emotional control. Powers such as Enhance and Sense allow practitioners to read the flow of combat and respond with exceptional speed and clarity. Protect reinforces the vow of armor by extending defense outward, shielding others from harm. Influence is used only to calm heightened emotions, aligning with the doctrine that peace must never be imposed through coercion. Move is practiced with refined control, enabling defenders to disable or redirect threats without inflicting unnecessary injury. Together, these Force abilities ensure that power is always directed toward protection, never domination.

Enhance
Sense
Protect
Influence (calming only)
Move (non-lethal combat)

Equipment of the Obla’tai

The equipment used by the Order of the Obla’tai reflects their vow of armor and their philosophy of mindful defense. Every tool is chosen not for dominance, but for its ability to preserve life, protect allies, and sustain the practitioner in close-quarters conflict. Weapons are crafted to encourage precision and emotional control rather than aggression, enabling defenders to end threats with minimal harm. Armor is sacred, symbolizing the acceptance of risk and the promise to interpose oneself between the innocent and danger. Even clothing and utility tools reinforce the discipline and restraint that define Obla’tai training. To wield or wear these items is to uphold the Order’s commitment: strength in service to others.

All of these items unique and must be crafted by a member of the Order. Aspects within each item type can be combined with increased crafting difficulty, setbacks, etc. and can be considered modifications or attachments if appropriate. The key consideration is that these are reverent acts and should be treated as such. Time should be increased for thoughtful meditation and consideration. Setbacks and advantages can be applied by the GM accordingly.

Lightsabers and Energy Weapons

Defender-Pattern Lightsaber — +1 Defense when Parrying
Reverent Echo Lightsaber — reroll attack; Strain on improved result
Jedha Pilgrim Saber — reduce first hit by 1
Sentinel-Shoto Pair — Linked 1; +1 Disarm Advantage
Ossus Wisdom-Hilt — +1 Success on defensive check (1/encounter)
White-Edge Crystal — +1 Advantage when defending allies (optional)

Echani Melee Weapons

Paired Echani Blades — Linked 1; +1 Advantage Feint/Disarm
Temple-Edge Staff — attackers suffer +1 Setback when Engaged

Lightbows

Defender Lightbow — Med range, + ignore 1 Defense via Light pip
Pilgrim’s Lightbow — apply Setback to target; Boost to allies after Fear checks
Focusing Draw — Boost if calm; Setback if angry

Defensive Armor and Gear

Echani Light-Defender Armor — Defense +1; remove 1 Setback (Agility)
Guardian’s Bracers — upgrade 1 Parry per encounter
Jedha Pilgrim Vestments — remove 1 Setback from environment
Ossus Memory-Plate — +2 soak vs debris/env once per encounter
Reforged Legacy Armor — +1 Strain Threshold; reduce Crit by 20 (1/session)
Sentinel Field Cloak — 1 Setback to first ranged attack
Temple Shield Gauntlets — +1 Advantage on melee-defense checks

Order of the Obla’tai