Lightsabers: A History

[Lord Iezkon]

Lightsabers: A History

By Assistant-Blademaster Arkiti

The very first lightsabers came into fruition with the desire to freeze a laser beam, creating a Force-imbued weapon, rather than a metallic sword. The research into this technology took a remarkably long time, and the very first historical record of a lightsaber-like weapon occurred earlier than 22,140 BTC, during a Rakatan invasion of Tython. This resulted in the introduction of the Forcesaber, a weapon surprisingly similar to the lightsaber of today,  and those who did make use of such a weapon at that time would likely have resorted to very basic and rudimentary practice, ones which could translate between mediums more easily. It is speculated that this could be where the root of Shii-Cho as a transition form came about, and later became suitable for live combat when its more modern incarnation evolved.

Historians estimate that the first protosaber was created around 11,840BTC, and this foundation brought from the Forcesaber could come into the creation of Form I as a legitimate form. The protosaber, however, was cumbersome, with a large power pack that was holstered to the belt of its user, with a cord connecting it to the hilt of the saber. At this stage, the protosaber was considered a weapon for ceremony, and it took adaptation and correction after this date in order to make it a weapon suitable for combat. Due to this, it is unlikely that Shii-Cho was endorsed as a lightsaber form until combat practices were conceivably possible using the weapon. When these faults were repaired, this is when Form I was able to find use, meeting the innovation of the protosaber, as well as its drawbacks and faults. Incorporated into Shii-Cho we see the cumbersome nature of these very early lightsabers, as well as their lack of maneuverability due to the hilt being corded to the belt of its user. Form I is discussed extensively as a transition form between swords and lightsabers, and the nature of the early lightsaber shows the true root from which the form appears. Over the many years which followed, the Protosaber and lightsaber combat as a whole developed to meet higher standards and become more convenient for the Force User in combat.

Where Shii-Cho was created to begin the use of the Protosaber as a weapon for swordplay, Form II was conceived from the evolution of technology and continual usage of such. For millenia, Shii-Cho dominated as the form used, likely due to the immaturity of the technology. However, as it was refined, our Ancient Enemy began meeting Dark Jedi in the form of duels, and Makashi became best suited for such an engagement.

Makashi and Shii-Cho were often in and out of the spotlight in this time as the two forms being used most, as the technology had matured to suit the needs of Form II. Makashi allowed the swordsmen to begin a different transition - one between the Protosaber and the more modern variants of the lightsaber, testing the scope of advancement and the limits of the new technology.  These archaic lightsabers were significantly more stable than their predecessors, but they still suffered from energy consumption issues, requiring the belt-worn power pack. The lightsaber became more dynamic and versatile as the years went by, creating a more stable blade which could be used for longer periods of time. This allowed a degree of refinement of bladework to bring about intellectual use, rather than a haste and rush of the predecessor. In this time, Form I quickly found itself inept for the art of the Duel, and the Makashi users began a journey towards stoic and elegant practice which Form II is famed for.

As the years went by, it was in fact the Sith who were most responsible for the developments made in lightsaber technology. We replaced the belt-bound power pack with a power cell held within the hilt itself, and began the use of synthetic crystals to create the crimson blade the Sith use to this day. While many notable Sith maintained the use of a Sith sword, we were also the spearhead for double-bladed sabers. With Naga Sadow, was the modern lightsaber introduced to the Jedi, but the Jedi maintained their use of the Protosaber, and the Sith their use of Sith swords, it was around 1100 BTC that the use of the lightsaber we know today came into regularity. In modern days, the Sith are much more likely to wield red bladed lightsabers than they are to wield metallic swords, and we are much more likely to meet the Enemy wielding the same weapons.


(*Post by Eddi Arkiti.*)