A female Anx Jedi Master known as Skarch Vaunk held the esteemed position of Battlemaster at the Coruscant Jedi Temple. Her tenure occurred in the years leading up to the Ruusan Reformation. During her service to the Jedi Order, she made numerous contributions, notably authoring several chapters for the Temple's guidebook, The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force. Her insights into the seven forms of lightsaber combat and meditation had a profound and lasting impact on future generations of Jedi.
Like the majority of Jedi during that time, Master Vaunk served the Order within the Army of Light during the campaigns against the Brotherhood of Darkness, conflicts known as the New Sith Wars. At some point in her career, Master Vaunk was appointed as the Battlemaster of the Coruscant academy and was regarded as one of the Jedi Order's foremost experts in the art of lightsaber combat. Snar Extruct, her sparring partner and companion since the end of the war, played a crucial role in helping her refine her strengths and address her weaknesses.
As Battlemaster, Vaunk maintained rigorous standards for her students. In her role as the primary lightsaber instructor, she determined admission to classes involving live lightsabers and oversaw the Jedi Trials. Given her deep understanding, Vaunk possessed the authority to instruct select students in Form VII, while preventing its misuse as had occurred during the Sith Wars. Indeed, Vaunk was a strong advocate for Form "Zero", which emphasized resolving conflicts without resorting to a lightsaber. With the codification of the lightsaber construction ceremony and the ceremonies of the Mid-Year Fete, Vaunk held the conviction that the Sith had been defeated during the Seventh Battle of Ruusan.
When fellow Jedi Masters proposed the creation of a guidebook for Jedi life, Master Vaunk eagerly joined the project, contributing three chapters. In the chapter on the Third Pillar of the Jedi: Self-Discipline, Vaunk detailed the three primary forms of meditation and highlighted their importance in mastering lightsaber combat. She also authored the "Introduction to the Lightsaber" and a guide to "Form I Combat." Her second chapter, "Lightsabers: Their Construction and Use," covered lightsaber variations, countermeasures, and a detailed examination of Forms II through VI, concluding with an in-depth explanation of the Marks of Contact. Her final chapter delved into advanced lightsaber techniques, including Form VII and other advanced methods.
Having attained the position of Battlemaster within the Jedi Order, it is clear that Vaunk was an exceptionally skilled lightsaber duelist. She was particularly renowned for her extensive knowledge of lightsaber combat. Possessing comprehensive understanding of all seven forms of lightsaber combat, as well as various advanced techniques, Vaunk was capable of effectively explaining the strengths and weaknesses of each form. She also described advanced techniques when she contributed to the guidebook created by her fellow Masters. While Vaunk was well-versed in Juyo, and explained its effective use in the aforementioned work, she was keenly aware of the risks associated with learning and practicing Juyo, thus restricting access to it. Vaunk was also recognized for her exceptional skills and knowledge in meditation, which she wrote about, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the importance of each form in mastering lightsaber combat.
- First Look: The Jedi Path on StarWars.com (original site is defunct)
- The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force (First mentioned)