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Kenobi, Obi-Wan (Ben)

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Obi-Wan was taken from his family at a very early age, once his affinity with the Force was evident. Note that the novelization of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi claims Obi-Wan was the first son of a moderately wealthy family, and he was a fast learner. He sailed through his education at the Academy, and was praised by his family as well as his acquaintances in the Old Republic. His ability to control the Force was also evident, and he was recruited into the ranks of the Jedi Knights. As a young Jedi, Obi-Wan was trained by Yoda, and quickly learned the value of patience and hard work in understanding the Force. Once Yoda was elected the Jedi Council of twelve Masters, Obi-Wan's training was continued by Qui-Gon Jinn. They were at odds with each other quite often, as Qui-Gon was headstrong while Obi-Wan was more practical. However, their opposing personalities blended them into an effective duo. Some twelve years before the battle of Naboo, Obi-Wan actually renounced his Jedi brethren while trying to help Cerasi and the Young. After helping to thwart Xanatos' plans to destroy the Jedi Temple, Obi-Wan once again accepted as Qui-Gon's padawan. Then, during a mission to Cirrus to protect Talesan Fry, Obi-Wan suddenly found himself falling in love with another Padawan, Siri Tachi. They had trained in the Jedi Temple together as long as either could remember, and their love forced them to choose between each other and the Jedi Order. Ultimately, both agreed to bury their feelings and never think of each other in anything other than a professional light. Several years later, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were dispatched to Naboo during the Trade Federation's blockade of the planet, and the situation brought their differences to a head. When Qui-Gon discovered the young Anakin Skywalker, he told the Jedi Council that he no longer needed to train Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan took it as a personal affront, and despite the thrill of actually becoming a Jedi Knight and progressing to Master, he resented Qui-Gon's impertinence. Their differences were quickly resolved as the Battle of Naboo came to a head, and they battled the Sith Lord Darth Maul in the depths of the palace in Theed. When Qui-Gon was killed, Obi-Wan was forced to watch from behind a laser barrier. As soon as the barrier dropped, Obi-Wan attacked, pressing the battle until he was caught off-guard. Darth Maul forced him into a power shaft and nearly killed Obi-Wan, but the Jedi managed to recover Qui-Gon's lightsaber and eliminated Maul. Shortly thereafter, Obi-Wan was given the title of Jedi Knight. At the same time, against Yoda's judgement, Obi-Wan was also named Anakin's Master. Together, they spent much of their time engaged in the search for Granta Omega, an underworld figure with a grudge against the Jedi Knights. Over time, Obi-Wan's relationship with Anakin became strained, as the young Padawan progressed rapidly and required a stern hand to keep him under control. After the death of Yaddle, Obi-Wan's confidence in Anakin began to waver, and for a short time he even blamed Anakin for Yaddle's death. Their internal struggle reached a head just before the Battle of Geonosis, when Anakin's love for Padme' Amidala caused him to overstep his bounds regularly. While Anakin was assigned to guard Padme', Obi-Wan traveled to Kamino to investigate its connection to the death of Zam Wesell. On Kamino, Obi-Wan discovered Jango Fett, as well as an immense army of clone troopers that had been apparently produced at the request of Jedi Master Syfo-Dyas. His pursuit of Jango led him to Geonosis, where he learned of the Separatists' plans to engage the Old Republic in battle. Like many other Jedi Knights and Masters, Obi-Wan was promoted to General in the Army of the Republic, and given command of a squad of clone troopers. He gained acclaim during the Clone Wars, fighting along side Anakin Skywalker and Bail Organa. He was captured by Asajj Ventress during the Battle of Jabiim and tortured on Rattatak, along with an ARC Trooper known as Alpha. After being tortured by all manner of Sith techniques, Obi-Wan was able to escape and return to Coruscant. He took a position on the Jedi Council, and was instrumental in the formulation of battle plans and tactics. Following the First Battle of Coruscant and the end of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan tried to refocus Anakin's dedication in the ways of the Force, but could not control his young student's need for more control and power. Anakin began to see plots and schemes against him, many of which were either created by or reinforced by Chancellor Palpatine. After Anakin became a pupil of Palpatine, Obi-Wan was powerless to stop his descent to the Dark Side. Obi-Wan was ordered by the Jedi Council to track down Anakin and bring him to justice, and went to talk to Padme' about him. It was then that Obi-Wan discovered their marriage and her pregnancy. He then waited for Padme' to leave, and stowed away aboard her ship, as Padme' was on her way to Mustafar to try and save Anakin. On the lava-covered planet, Obi-Wan tried everything he could to reason with Anakin and return him to the Light Side, but to no avail. Following a particularly heated argument in which Anakin nearly choked Padme' to death, Obi-Wan found himself drawing his lightsaber and dueling ferociously with his former student. Anakin faltered only briefly, and Obi-Wan took the opportunity cut off Anakin's legs and left arm, leaving him to fall into a pit of molten lava. Obi-Wan left Anakin behind, believing that he had eliminated one of the evil Sith from the galaxy. He then returned to take Padme' to a medical facility on Polis Massa. Padme's died during childbirth, but her twins survived the ordeal. Obi-Wan quickly discussed a plan with Bail Organa and Yoda to ensure that the unborn twins were hidden away from the Emperor. Bail Organa agreed to take in the daughter, to raise as his own with his wife. Obi-Wan then fled to Tatooine where he convinced Owen Lars and his wife, Beru, to take in the infant son of Anakin. Obi-Wan then hid himself in the Jundland Wastes of Tatooine, assuming the name Ben and promoting the image of a crazy old hermit. When Artoo-Detoo delivered a message from the daughter of Anakin Skywalker almost 20 years later, Obi-Wan was forced out of hiding. He enlisted the aid of Luke Skywalker - Anakin's son - in seeing the plans to the first Death Star safely to Alderaan. When this plan was foiled, Obi-Wan saw that he must sacrifice himself for the greater good of the Alliance. In a great lightsaber duel with his former friend Anakin Skywalker - who was now the infamous Darth Vader - Obi-Wan martyred himself, thus allowing his spirit-self to become one with the Force. This allowed him to continue to assist Luke's development as a Jedi while remaining hidden from the eyes of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader. Obi-Wan's spirit visited Luke on Hoth, after Luke's escape from the Wampa Ice Creature. He told Luke to go to Dagobah and seek out Yoda, for Obi-Wan sensed that his old master yet lived, and could help Luke ascend to the ranks of the Jedi Knights. His spirit reappeared twice more to Luke on Dagobah, urging the young man to continue his training.