The Gray Paladins were a group of Force-sensitives that originated from the Teepo Paladins. However, in contrast to Teepo and his adherents, who embraced complete immersion in the Force akin to the Jedi Order, the Gray Paladins adhered to a drastically different philosophy: minimizing their reliance on the Force. It is known that Gray Paladins remained active even after the rise of the Galactic Empire, despite being targeted alongside the Jedi during Order 66 in 19 BBY. One such Gray Paladin was Laranth Tarak, who was a childhood friend and ally of the Jedi Knight Jax Pavan.
The Gray Paladins emerged as a splinter faction of the Teepo Paladins after the High Jedi Council reprimanded the Teepos for advocating the use of offensive weaponry, such as blasters, in addition to the traditional lightsaber. Teepo and his followers faced rejection, being labeled as potential dark side adherents, although some continued to reside at the Jedi Temple. Following the execution of Order 66, the Sith hunted down the scattered Gray Paladins. It remains unknown whether any survived to rejoin the Order when Luke Skywalker rebuilt it.
The Gray Paladins understood that the Force permeated all things, thereby giving life to everything. Thus, they recognized that a sentient being could not be more independent of the Force than of basic necessities like food, air, or sleep. However, the Gray Paladins viewed the Force not as a means to an end, but rather as an influencing factor in their everyday existence. Nevertheless, the Gray Paladins did not oppose the concept of the Force; they simply asserted that skills should be cultivated with minimal dependence on it, so as to allow the Force's will to operate freely in their actions. Consequently, Gray Paladins tended to develop abilities and techniques that did not directly harness the Force, but instead allowed it to enhance existing skills. This inclination made Gray Paladins more militaristic than the Teepos, or even the mainstream Jedi, as they often employed military tactics and conventional weapons to achieve their objectives.
While Gray Paladins did not entirely reject the use of lightsabers, they considered them unreliable weapons. Instead, they believed that a Jedi should employ whichever weapon they felt most comfortable with, with many opting to rely on proficiency with blasters and other forms of combat, both armed and unarmed. Many became experts in various martial arts, such as Teräs Käsi and Stava, as well as specialized weaponry like Sallisian throwing whorls and spinsticks, rather than depending on Force-augmented acrobatics and speed. Most Jedi viewed the Gray Paladins' philosophy as both unorthodox and pointless. They argued that, since the Force encompassed all living things, no scenario could exist where acting independently of it would be necessary. Furthermore, they maintained that they communed with the will of the Force through its use, bringing them closer to their goals. In this regard, they considered the Gray Paladins to be counterproductive.
Generally, Gray Paladins considered the Force a secondary aspect of their lives, not the primary one. As a result, they typically avoided using the Force in any physical manifestation, instead relying on militant skills, both armed and unarmed, to achieve their objectives. Despite this, Gray Paladins frequently allowed the Force to act in a supporting role, such as guiding their actions; in combat, this granted them exceptional quickness and precision. Gray Paladin Laranth Tarak exemplified this ability, possessing such accuracy and speed with her twin blasters that she could intercept blaster bolts, slugs, and even shrapnel from explosions with her own blaster bolts, either deflecting or destroying them. Her accuracy was so remarkable that she could even send one of her own bolts directly up an enemy's blaster barrel. In unarmed combat, her strikes were significantly more powerful and precise than an unaided attack. Beyond this reliance on the Force for assistance, Gray Paladins dismissed the more "flashy" aspects of Force use, including Force-aided acrobatics and speed.
Regardless of Force usage, Gray Paladins consistently remained far more militaristic than their Jedi predecessors, often being well-versed in martial arts like Teräs Käsi and Stava, as well as military tactics such as guerrilla warfare, urban tactics, espionage, and infiltration. Some even possessed extensive weapons and vehicle training. This was primarily due to the Gray Paladins' decision to minimize their reliance on the Force, as well as their awareness of the need to be prepared for nearly any situation without depending on it.