Hey everyone, for those that haven't read Star Wars: Jedi Trails chapter 4, don't read this post because it contains SPOILERS! But in case you're a little slow, I'll give you some time to cover your eyes and scroll down the screen to read Star Wars: Jedi Trials chapter 4 so here we go 3...2...1 here we go OK so the Sarlaac clan goes to Persilius to get their light saber crystals, Keegan and Coleman become closer in their relationship, the Lost Six meet the Jedi clan in the Temple of the Three Stones of Persilius and leave with Keegan's "semi-friend" Rez Fowler. Now we're going to go into more detail of what is going on and possibly reveal hidden parts of the chapter that you may not have noticed. That's right, fans, this is...

TALKING STAR WARS

Starting from the begining of the chapter, we find Kala Mly Shundi and Keegan Jinnar talking about the three stones of Persilius. Kala stated that he read from the archives the origin of the three stones. While talking he mentioned the date: "346 P.B". I looked up on the wookieepedia to see what the P.B stood for. I couldn't find anything so I went to the writer of Jedi Trials, Zen Utaru and asked him. He told me he made up the time period, saying the two letters stood for "Prior to Bane", referring to Darth Bane. I also asked about the Three Stones of Persilius and the the planet Persilius itself, and just like Kamino, it did not exist in the archives. My first assumption was that the archives were incorrect, but Zen corrected me. "That's funny," he said over the phone, "but no, I invented Persilius after needing a world for the Temple of the Three Stones. I thought of the name 'Persilius' just after saying the name: "The Three Stones of..." and the name slipped out." Honestly, (and I told him this myself), Zen Utaru's creativity and technique to coming up with characters and whatnot is incredible. 

While I was at it I asked him how he came up with the name 'Keegan Jinnar' for the main character. "I needed a name that had a similar feel to names like Quinlan Vos, Roan Shryne, Qu Rahn, Rahm Kota, and Kanan Jarrus. They all have a very retro unique feel in their names and needed something just like that for Keegan's character. I actually came up with the name after combining letters from all the names I told you." very interesting. Moving on! So going on their journey to Persilius, we get another reference to the hit series: Star Wars: Dead Among the Living. Rez Fowler mentions Bondo III, the world that get's infected by the dead, saying that it would be easier to get light sabers from their distant relatives instead of having to work for their own crystals. Another reason why I think Jedi Trials will somehow tie into Dead Among the Living, but Zen won't tell me. "It might," he said last time I asked, "It also might not. You never know, it would be cool...but cliche." 

Also during the trip, Coleman comforts Keegan when the young human feels he will not pass the trials. Master Coleman Trebor tells Keegan that doubting and fearing as a whole is a choice we make. He also said being angry and depressed is a choice as well. I really felt that and understood the logic. I had a very emotional talk with my friend Zen about this part of the chapter. "I struggled with all of these negative traits. But I got through it. That's when I understood that it was all a choice. That's how I wrote this scene because I went through the same thing this iconic character is struggling through. And I know how to get passed it." I was really touched, honestly. 

Then there's the three stones. This is another example of Zen Utaru's creativity. The way these stones work is fascinating. According to the story, the Three Stones of Persilius were once a single mountain approximately 346 P.B. Over the hundreds of years of being used for its light saber crystals, the three mountains soon eroded into three boulders. The three stones represent the three factions of the Force: 

LIGHT SIDE

GRAY SIDE

DARK SIDE 

I was once again fascinated by the creativity of this chapter. The origin of the three stones was awesome, but I also found the journey to getting the crystal interesting as well. First, the Sarlaac Clan had to close their eyes and point to the stone they wanted to go to. The reason behind closing their eyes was so that they wouldn't go to the same stone their friend was going to because they wanted to go with their best buddy. They would be guided by the Force to go to the stone they felt they had to go to. Genius. Next, the younglings had to place their hands on the stone. Once they did that, they would be taken to different points in time, seeing visions of possible futures and the past as well. During this scene, Keegan sees a vision of a possible future for both him and Rez Fowler. 

So here is Keegan's vision. He assumes that because he is in the same spot as he is before the vision, and the same for Rez Fowler, that the man standing on the right is Keegan himself, and the man on the right is Rez. Something to notice is that Rez is dressed in very dark colors. You just barely see him in the picture. Zen told me that the reason why it is black and white in this photo is that color represents clarity. Without color, nothing is set in stone. So this vision is something that could happen, but depending on the decisions the Jedi make, a new path could be paved.

Just to throw out there, here's the pic before the vision. You can see the similarities in both versions of the youngling and the Jedi. 

After the vision, the stones asked each individual youngling (through the Force)  a question that would determine whether or not they would pass. Apparently every student passes, and although we don't know the questions for each youngling, we do go into depth of Keegan entering the realm of the Force, and being asked the question: Are you worthy of being a Jedi? Keegan thinks of the right answer, he understands that a Sith cannot be worthy to be Sith, because come one, that's stupid. So if the Sith aren't worthy to be Sith, then the Jedi aren't worthy of being Jedi either...right? I asked my good friend Zen Utaru what Keegan answered to the Force, but he simply replied, "Nope. That will stay a secret...for a while." either way, whatever Keegan answered, he was right, and because he answered the question right, he got the crystal, but instead of getting a bright glowing crystal he gets a rock. The symbolization of this scene was explained in the chapter, saying that like Keegan, the stone was not perfected into its true elegant and glowing form.  

After this, the younglings collected pieces from trash and electrical parts to construct their light sabers. Just then, Keegan gets a chilling sensation down his spine. What I love about this series is that we get to know what it feels like to be a Jedi as we read. We wonder: what would it feel like if we sensed someone's presence, or felt the presence of a Dark Force user? Star Wars Jedi Trials tells you. So another thing I found interesting, is that Keegan actually senses the Dark Jedi's presence before Coleman Trebor...who is a Jedi Councilor. So in chapter 3 we get a youngling who according to Master Yoda is simply average. Now in chapter 4 he's all hyped up on Mountain Dew. What happened? I questioned Zen Utaru about this situation, and he replied, "You will see." 

So after sensing it himself, Coleman decides to find the source of the trail. He soon found the Dark Jedi, who is recognized as a member of the Lost Six. They soon fall into a duel. Now let's remember, Coleman Trebor was seen in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, where he attempted to take down Count Duku and failed. Miserably. 

Here he is going up against Duku...

Here he is losing against Duku, after Jango jumped in and done shot him up and threw him over the balcony. It makes me sad just thinking about it because Keegan and Coleman are so close already! 

But this failure DID NOT happen in this photonovel chapter. He kicked the Dark Jedi's butt! He was even able to tell what would happen to the Dark Jedi physically after each blow he used. So Coleman is a pretty bad-to-the-bone light saber duelist...so what happens in Star Wars II? I guess we'll find out. 

Well after beating the Dark Jedi to a pulp, Coleman realizes that the duel was a distraction so he goes back to his younglings only to find them held captive by a man in dark clothes and a mask resembling Kylo Ren's mask. "I will not reveal anything about the Dark Jedi with the taupe colored light saber. You have to read Star Wars Jedi Trials." my friend Zen told me. Which sucked because I really enjoyed reading about this guy. He was very light hearted and also very determined that his faction, the "Pure Jedi Order" were the real Jedi. He attempted to bring the Sarlaac clan to his side, but was only successful in claiming Rez Fowler as a new member. Honestly I wasn't surprised to see this. Since the very first chapter I saw this coming. So Keegan's vision was a possibility, and now that future is gone, because Rez ain't no Jedi no more...so what about Keegan? I guess we'll see. 

Well, that's all for this chapter of Star Wars: Jedi Trials in "TALKING STAR WARS", we'll see you next time following every upcoming chapter and don't forget to read the premier of Star Wars: Rise of the Planet of Living this May 4th!