Gathering

Overview

Dating back to the very origins of the Jedi Order and maintained across centuries up until the Clone Wars, the Gathering took place inside the Jedi Temple on Ilum. This ritual demanded that Jedi Initiates place their trust in their inherent instincts, rise above their internal challenges, and locate a distinctive kyber crystal that resonated with their individual Force presence in Ilum's Crystal Cave. For a thousand years, participants in the Gathering were transported to and from Ilum aboard the Crucible, a starship originating from the era of the Old Republic.

Accompanied by a higher-ranking Jedi, such as a Jedi Master or Padawan, a clan of six to eight younglings would journey to the planet Ilum, with the timing dictated by the planet's solar cycle. Given that the faint star reached the correct alignment only once every seventeen days, the voyage was timed to coincide with this solar event. Upon their arrival at the Temple, the younglings faced their initial test, tasked with clearing the Temple's entrance, which was frequently obstructed by accumulated snow, ice, and various other forms of debris. Once within the Temple, the younglings convened at its core, where their designated leader delivered a lesson on the essence of kyber crystal, lightsabers, and their significance within Jedi teachings. As the sun ascended above the Temple, its radiant light streamed through an opening in the structure's roof, focusing through a massive kyber crystal to melt the icy waterfall that concealed the entrances to the caves. Venturing alone into the depths of the Crystal Caves, they were urged to hasten their quest, as the waterfall was said to refreeze within a matter of hours. This claim was deliberately misleading, as the Force could be used to break open the waterfall. This fabrication was implemented to instill a sense of urgency and seriousness in the younglings, and to assist them in overcoming the strange illusory effects of the caves.

Once inside the labyrinth, the journey became increasingly individualized for each youngling. This personalization was a direct consequence of the powerful vergence present within the caves, which permeated the stone itself and amplified the Force. The vergence exploited the deepest vulnerabilities of those who entered, revealing their weaknesses and shortcomings. If the test was successfully completed and the individual's fears were overcome, a unique kyber crystal would manifest and illuminate, emitting a glow of either blue or green, or, occasionally, another color, which it would retain indefinitely. Failure to overcome the test would result in the student being overwhelmed by self-doubt and fear, potentially preventing them from ever finding a crystal.