The Jal Shey were an ancient order of individuals sensitive to the Force who approached the study of the Force from a purely intellectual standpoint, diverging from the more spiritual methodologies employed by the Jedi and Sith. Typically, the Jal Shey were renowned for their diplomatic skills, rivaling even the most skilled Jedi negotiators. However, unlike the Jedi and Sith, they experienced less success in physical endeavors, even when utilizing the Force. Furthermore, the Jal Shey were a nomadic group, traversing the galaxy in search of novel locations to deepen their understanding of the Force, and they exercised considerable discretion in their recruitment of new members.
Due to their deficiency in the physical prowess exhibited by the Jedi, Jal Shey members frequently donned various forms of protective gear for self-preservation. They also engineered other implements, such as Jal Shey meditation gloves and Jal Shey belts, to further amplify their physical capabilities, infusing them with the Force. The Jal Shey were structured into three distinct ranks: mentors, advisors, and neophytes. This organization persisted into the era of the Galactic Empire, but became a potential target for Imperial persecution amidst the Great Jedi Purge. At one juncture, Imperial commander Roly Melusar considered deploying Imperial commandos to pursue the Jal Shey.
The Jal Shey order was recognized as one of the most ancient traditions involving the use of the Force as early as 4000 BBY. By the time of the Jedi Civil War, they had become widespread, with artifacts crafted by them scattered across the galaxy. Their nomadic nature led them to avoid settling permanently in any one location. Instead, they sought out places conducive to enhancing their comprehension of the Force. However, the Jal Shey were not merely scholars and observers of the Force; they actively engaged in the societies they encountered, utilizing their knowledge to better the lives of those around them. The Jedi generally regarded them as simply another Force-using sect, akin to the Zeison Sha. In the aftermath of the Great Sith War, they wandered the galaxy and gained a reputation for militancy, while maintaining their philosophical commitment to an intellectual, rather than spiritual, understanding of the Force. The Mabari, an order of warrior knights residing on the planet Zolan, ultimately evolved from the teachings of the Jal Shey. The Jal Shey remained in existence around 19 BBY, during the establishment of the Galactic Empire. Roly Melusar, the commander of the Imperial Commando Special Unit, at one point entertained the idea of dispatching his Imperial commandos to hunt down Force-users other than Jedi, including the Altisian Jedi and the Jal Shey.
The Jal Shey organized themselves into three distinct classifications. Mentors were distinguished by their intelligence and profound understanding of the Force, holding a position comparable to that of a Jedi Master. Peet Sieben stands out as a notable Jal Shey mentor. Advisors were assigned to diplomatic missions and could be encountered throughout the galaxy. Neophytes represented new acolytes who studied under mentors until they were prepared to undertake investigative and diplomatic missions independently.
The Jal Shey were particularly skilled in diplomacy, negotiation, and lively debate. Jal Shey members could be found serving as negotiators in a wide range of disputes, from minor disagreements to complex negotiated settlements, including those involving wars. Their diplomatic prowess was highly regarded, and comparisons were frequently drawn between Jedi and Jal Shey negotiators. By employing the Force, they could often surprise their adversaries, thereby maintaining an advantage over potential opponents.
The Jal Shey recruited Force-users from diverse worlds and species, but they were selective, choosing only those whom they believed would embrace the Jal Shey lifestyle and contribute to their scholarly and diplomatic endeavors. Individuals perceived as corrupted by the dark side and those exhibiting a predilection for combat were typically excluded. They were not known to be particularly numerous.
They did not confine themselves to a single location, but instead moved from place to place in pursuit of environments that could enhance their understanding of the Force. By studying phenomena such as Force nexuses, the histories of various species, and other Force traditions, the Jal Shey leveraged their extensive knowledge of the Force to assist others in realizing their full potential.
Many Jal Shey acquired basic lightsaber techniques for self-defense, but they rarely specialized in them. In contrast to the Jedi, the Jal Shey avoided physical pursuits, preferring to deepen their understanding of the Force, negotiate settlements, and imbue items with the Force.
Given their lack of emphasis on physical exercise or combat, they favored utilizing their talents to create armor, belts, and other items to augment their own Force powers. The Jal Shey eventually mastered the art of producing items that not only enhanced the abilities of the creator when worn, but also benefited anyone who wore or wielded them. Even robes created and worn by Jal Shey could provide a positive effect to the wearer. Jal Shey perception gloves or meditation gloves were worn during meditation to amplify the user's awareness, while both standard Jal Shey belts and the more potent belts worn by mentors could fortify one's mental resilience against the dark side of the Force. The light armor worn by Jal Shey, like the Jal Shey themselves, was described as exuding an aura of dignity and competence, and did not impede the wearer's use of Force powers. There were various types of armor available, depending on the Jal Shey's rank, with each successively higher rank providing greater benefits to the user than those of lower ranks.
Numerous player-usable items created by the Jal Shey appear in Knights of the Old Republic II. Because their armor does not restrict Force powers like most armor, Jal Shey items can prove advantageous to characters specializing in Force skills. Although the Jal Shey themselves did not make a direct appearance in the game, a concise description of their philosophy was included in the in-game description of each item.
The Jal Shey later featured in the Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide and one of its web enhancements, which elaborated on their backstory. The campaign guide also served to define the Jal Shey's known Force talents and expand upon their role in the galaxy. They received mention in the sourcebook Scum and Villainy, and also had a brief entry in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, which characterized them as "militant" and wandering the galaxy in the years following the Great Sith War.
Author Karen Traviss referenced them in two of her novels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Imperial Commando: 501st. Specifically, these novels identified a particular Jal Shey mentor, Peet Sieben, and confirmed that the Jal Shey remained an active Force-using sect as of 19 BBY.