Manakel Raio

Manakel Raio was a Jedi Padawan during the Galactic Dawn era.

Biography
Manakel Raio, or just “Kel Raio”, was born to his loving parents on the Echani homeworld of Eshan. There, he grew up just as any other of his species and culture would have. Despite his Force Sensitivity, he was at the time considered ‘too weak in the Force’ to qualify for training, so he was left with his family. He learnt the martial art of his people, grew proficient with swords and staves, and generally adjusted well to his warrior people.

Around his sixteenth birthday, a Jedi Knight named Kaz Oucoa came to Eshan and, for reasons unknown to Manakel or his family, offered him - a teenager - a place in the Jedi Order. With almost no hesitation, Kel was packed and ready, and he went out on a one-way trip to Coruscant and the Jedi Temple Academy. His induction into the Jedi Order was a difficult one. Between the reluctance of the Council to permit one as old as he to become a Padawan, the overwhelming culture shock of going from his Echani home to the Jedi ways, and his lesser apparent affinity for the Force compared to his peers, the first few months of training were in no way easy. However, becoming a Jedi was an honour that Manakel would not let pass.

Just after his seventeenth birthday, the first year of being a Jedi ended for Raio. Although he still found difficulty adjusting to the lifestyle, he made those first key steps to prove that he was fully capable of being a member of the Order. He found his strengths among the teachings of the Sentinels and their more skilful approach, and he was now prepared to proceed to his true training…

Appearance
Manakel’s general appearance is that typical of a young Echani. Fair skin, silver hair cropped to a medium length with the typical Padawan braid, and bright silvery eyes are the makeup of his at-a-glance appearance. He is about six feet tall and of lean build, which is also typical of his race. He has yet to experience life enough to have any significant scarring or other bodily alterations.

Personality
Manakel’s perspective on people as a whole is generally neutral. He is wary of strangers at first but is always optimistic that they can prove themselves. His upbringing and culture are very much that of the Echani and all nuances thereof. Despite Jedi training thus far, he is still inclined to try and ‘talk it out’ with a quick brawl rather than actually using his words.